Mountain Time

Shortly after singer-songwriter John Denver's small plane fell out of the sky and ended his life, something unexpected began to happen: His beautiful and sensitive tunesmithing started to appear in the set lists of artists with some serious credibility to burn. A generation of musicians raised on his genius melodies and aching twelve-string guitar began to make John Denver hip again. The inevitable and frequently gorgeous indie-rock tribute record, Take Me Home, appeared in 2000 to critical raves. At 8 p.m. tonight in the Florissant Civic Center (Parker Road and Waterford Drive, Florissant), another tribute to Denver's life and music takes place. Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver, an off-Broadway smash conceived by Denver's longtime friend and manager, Harold Thau, features six vocalists and a live band performing twenty-eight stunning Denver melodies. There's no awkward, pasted-on story line in this show, just "Annie's Song," "Rocky Mountain High," your honey and you. Tickets are $23 to $25 and available by calling 314-921-5678; for more details visit www.florissantfinearts.com.
Fri., March 28, 2008