Description

Featuring Amelia Curran, directed by Moya Walsh.
 
Vintage Ron Hynes. This small venue show from December, 2009 is Ron at his best; intimate, compelling, the greatest songwriter Newfoundland has ever given birth on stage in the ideal setting.
 

The show opens with Ron immediately in full command delivering a pure storyteller’s introduction to “Boy From Old Perlican”, flawlessly performed followed succinctly by the bittersweet country and western flavoured, “Where Does Love Go Wrong” as folks settle in for a gem of an evening.
 

“Atlantic Blue” is introduced with a truly heartfelt dedication to the friends and families of the 84 lives lost on the Ocean Ranger and is a show highlight played and sung to perfection followed by a crisp, clean take on “1962”, from 2003’s “Get Back Change” for which he won an ECMA for Album Of The Year and Country Album Of The Year.
 
Like a master portrait painter, “Sawchuck” is the jewel of the crown on the night. Ron serves up a riveting rendition of this inspired work. If the last verse fails to draw a tear from your eyes you’re a rock. The audience is hanging on every word, obviously spellbound as Ron eases into “Godspeed” a now classic driven by unfettered emotion and respect for Gene MacLellan, clearly a kindred spirit.
 

“Man Of a Thousand Songs” is a staple of Ron’s live shows and rests comfortably as the second half unfolds. At this juncture the audience is introduced to a clearly nervous Amelia Curran just starting to make a name for herself as one of Canada’s emerging singer/songwriters. Together Hynes and Curran perform a wistful version of the classic, “St. John’s Waltz”. This duet is lovely; the vulnerability of Curran paired with the elder statesman Hyne’s confidence provides a video track to be treasured for the ages.
 

“Dry” is perhaps Ron’s most profoundly autobiographical song and certainly one of his most powerful performances on the evening followed by the equally potent “My Old Man” prefaced beautifully by his Dylan Thomas-esque “Kilkenny In The Cold Sun”.
 

And of course no Ron Hynes show would be complete and proper without his world known signature song, “Sonny’s Dream”. Ron has a bit of fun with his audience on his quintessential number as a warm and personal performance comes to fitting close.
 

On a personal note I can say without a doubt this DVD will bring back good memories, smiles and perhaps a few tears to those of us who shared and witnessed many of Ron’s shows at The Ship, Rose And Thistle and The LSPU Hall when his health was good . His music will endure for many generations to come.