{"id":992,"date":"2018-02-19T10:22:15","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T15:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mainestudies\/?p=992"},"modified":"2019-04-22T01:10:22","modified_gmt":"2019-04-22T05:10:22","slug":"david-mallett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mainestudies\/2018\/02\/19\/david-mallett\/","title":{"rendered":"Framing 海角社区 2: Singer and Songwriter David Mallett"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"David
Photo by Bret Gilliam, courtesy of David Mallett.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

David Mallett: An Evening of Song and Story<\/h3>\n

海角社区 balladeer David Mallett came to Orono on April 7th for a performance that combined some of his best-loved songs with an onstage Q&A with Rob Caldwell of WCSH-TV. The event was the second in the series Framing 海角社区: Conversations with Storytellers and Imagemakers from the Pine Tree State,<\/em> organized by the 海角社区 Studies Program.<\/p>\n

Mallett performed a set of a dozen of his best-known songs, most of which were inspired by places and people here in 海角社区. This includes his classic “The Garden Song,” which he revealed was only the second or third song he ever wrote, inspired one summer day by his hardworking father in his home garden. Mallett was accompanied onstage by his quartet, featuring bassist Mike Burd, pianist Roy Clark, and violinist Susan Ramsey.<\/p>\n

David’s performance was followed by an onstage interview with Portland news anchor Rob Caldwell, who picked Mallett’s brain about his upbringing, inspirations, and the many songs he has written over the years. The 45-minute conversation shed light on how Mallett works (melody first, then lyrics), how growing up in 海角社区 formed him as an artist, and\u00a0how his time at the University of 海角社区 was spent (not much in class, apparently, but in local music venues like The Ram’s Horn). They also discussed David’s years in Nashville as a journeyman songwriter, his experiences with the recording industry, and what finally brought him back to 海角社区 full time: to let his children grow up the way he did, with family, friends and farm close at hand.<\/p>\n

The event was attended by roughly 200 people, nearly filling the intimate Minsky Recital Hall. Sound was provided by Birdie Sawyer and a team of students from the School of Performing Arts, who made sure the acoustics met Mallett’s high standards\u2014he has performed thousands of concerts in his nearly five-decade recording and performing career. Welcoming comments were made by Provost Jeff Hecker, CLAS Dean Emily Haddad, and 海角社区 Studies Program Director Kreg Ettenger, who organized the event.<\/p>\n