On October 24nd I had the once in a lifetime experience of hearing Joan Baez live at the Egg. She opened with a strong acapella song, where she demonstrated that she could still sing after all these years. There was no music to cover her failings of her voice and it was live unlike what we have seen in recent years with pop singers.

When she stepped on the stage and started singing I was struck with awe. I was taken to a surreal place in that small Hart Theatre in the Egg. It was almost as though I wasn't just one person listening in a large crowd, but instead that she was singing to me.

When she started singing Steven Earle's "Christmas in Washington" I was so taken aback. It was just like the first time I had heard it on NPR's Prairie Home Companion, but with clarity beyond that of FM radio. Its lyrics were so familiar, yet the depth and passion the live concert had on me was profound. Baez's famous political protest was part of this song, as was her rhetoric throughout the concert.

Part of Joan Baez's magic comes from what she says and how she says it. Her music is free and folksy, it asks political questions and sells political ideas without being harsh and tactless. It does not matter the song she sings she always presents a fascinating message for the listening.

Unfortunately for the audience that night, Joan Baez was sick and unable to perform a few of her most famous songs. Left out where hits like "Love is Just a Four Letter Word" and "Blessed Are...". I certainly missed such songs, but was impressed at how well she sung, despite her sickness. During the concert she had to take some Dayquil and was constantly drinking water to keep her vocal chords wet, yet that failed to stop her from performing so well.

I was a bit disheartened by the audience. It was dominated by graying liberal establishment figures, with the average age being close to 60 years old. Many of my parents colleagues were there, along with Alan Chartock and my Computer Science professor. Old maybe, but it was good to see the liberal establishment still existed and was supportive of such solid artwork.

At the end of the night, I was dazed and amazed. I had heard what I had only previous heard on scratchy vinyl records and sterile compact discs: a woman who could really sing and protest at the same time. I just wish more of our music were as political and free as what Joan Baez brought to that stage that very special night. I am so saddened noting that this crowd is rapidly aging, and with Joan's graying hair it is unlikely that I will ever be so fortunate to see her sing again.