MUSIC MUSIC
Mary Chapin Carpenter P H O T O : A A R O N FA R R I N G T O N
Mary Chapin Carpenter Gets Dirty Mary Carpenter Gets Dirty The countryChapin stalwart finally gives her 2020 album The Dirt and the Stars the full-band tour treatment. BY A N S C U Lstalwart LEY TheA Lcountry
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finally gives her 2020 album The Dirt and the Stars the full-band tour treatment.
bit into the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, country star bit into the COVID-19 panMary Chapin Carpenter wanted demic in 2020, country star to find ways to stay creative, connect Mary Chapin Carpenter wanted with fans and get some music out into to find ways to stay creative, connect the world at a time when concerts with fans and get some music out into weren’t happening and albums were the world at a time when concerts being put on hold. weren’t happening and albums were One way she accomplished that was being put on hold. with her “Songs from Home” series – One way she accomplished that was solo performances from her kitchen with her “Songs from Home” series – of songs from her own catalog as well solo performances from her kitchen as other artists, sometimes with guest of songs from her own catalog as well appearances by her golden retriever as other artists, sometimes with guest and “producer” Angus and her cat appearances by her golden retriever and “producer” Angus and her cat
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White Kitty. Every week or so, fans could tune in online and see a fresh White Kitty. Every week or so, fans performance. could tune in online and see a fresh It was all quite casual, fun and genuperformance. ine, and gave fans a bit of a window into It was all quite casual, fun and genuCarpenter’s world at home. ine, and gave fans a bit of a window into Another project meant to provide Carpenter’s world at home. some solace and entertainment during Another project meant to provide the pandemic, however, was not so some solace and entertainment during spontaneous or modestly produced. In the pandemic, however, was not so November of that year, Carpenter and a spontaneous or modestly produced. In crew carefully followed COVID protocols November of that year, Carpenter and a and filmed an entire concert at one of crew carefully followed COVID protocols Carpenter’s favorite venues, the Filene and filmed an entire concert at one of Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Carpenter’s favorite venues, the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the
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Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia. That show, ultimately titled One Night Lonely, Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia. That was released on DVD and CD in 2021. show, ultimately titled One Night Lonely, “I just had this idea of wanting to was released on DVD and CD in 2021. not only keep putting music out there “I just had this idea of wanting to in the form of a concert, but also have not only keep putting music out there it be, understandably, a document of in the form of a concert, but also have the times that we were in,” Carpenter it be, understandably, a document of explains. “So making it abundantly clear the times that we were in,” Carpenter that there were no people in the audiexplains. “So making it abundantly clear ence [was important], and there was no that there were no people in the audineed in my mind to have patter between ence [was important], and there was no songs. It would have been actually kind need in my mind to have patter between of ridiculous, I think, to be speaking to songs. It would have been actually kind no one. But [I wanted to] film it with of ridiculous, I think, to be speaking to no one. But [I wanted to] film it with
totally sort of world-class production and beautiful lighting and the beautiful totally sort of world-class production stage that Wolf Trap has at the Filene and beautiful lighting and the beautiful Center.” stage that Wolf Trap has at the Filene At 26 songs, it’s a generous set that Center.” encompasses nearly the entirety of At 26 songs, it’s a generous set that Carpenter’s career of more than three encompasses nearly the entirety of decades. It also presents her music in Carpenter’s career of more than three a format she had yet to represent on decades. It also presents her music in her albums – solo acoustic. Carpenter a format she had yet to represent on has played solo concerts over the years her albums – solo acoustic. Carpenter and often has included solo acoustic has played solo concerts over the years segments in shows she performs with and often has included solo acoustic a band. But the Filene Center perforsegments in shows she performs with mance was a unique experience, she a band. But the Filene Center performance was a unique experience, she
