Christine Lavin to bring her zany folk music style to Logan

The Bridger Folk Music Society presents singer-songwriter-guitarist Christine Lavin in concert at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22, in the Eccles Conference Center at Utah State University.

On Sept. 20, Lavin released her 17th solo album, “Folkzinger.” Steve Leggett of the “All Music Guide,” describes Lavin’s latest album as “very much a New York Album.”

“The feel of the city and the after-effects of Sept. 11 seem to drift in and out of the background of these songs like a half-remembered dream,” Leggett said. “Lavin hasn’t by any means abandoned her good humor and wry, gently sarcastic view of the little oddities of contemporary life. She has always been a New Yorker, and it shows here.”

Lavin’s newest record, “Folkzinger,” was produced by Brian Bauers, a New York rock musician of the band the WMD’s. They had never worked with each other prior to this project but found, after recording songs together off and on between other projects, that an album was emerging.

This record has been different from Lavin’s others because it didn’t have a recording contract or a release date, so there was no pressure when it came to creating it and Lavin was able to work on it in her own time, she said.

“It was a very nice way to work. It’s so nice to have the luxury to have time to get it done right, as opposed to having a deadline,” Lavin said.

Lavin will be performing some of her newest songs at her concert Thursday evening. She said that her concerts are not like any other.

“You never know what’s going to happen at my show,” Lavin said

Besides her more traditional musical influences, old standbys like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, she said Dame Edna has been a big influence on the way she performs.

“I went to see him 25 times when he was here on Broadway,” Lavin said.

She said she liked how he could just stand on stage for two hours and talk to the audience. Lavin also likes to interact with her audience members and gets them involved using question and answer and also through different games and contests, she said.

A favorite part of the show for Lavin is when she sings a song called “You look pretty good for your age.” She chooses the best-looking man in the audience, brings him on stage and awards him with a newspaper crown made out of the sports page.

“It will be a transient moment for some guy who will become Mr. Logan 2005,” Lavin said.

Mr. Logan 2005 will not only get a crown handmade by Lavin, but also will receive a slew of other prizes including a brand new car – although not quite full size, she said.

“Unlike Oprah, I pay all the taxes on the cars I give away,” Lavin said.

Lavin said she will also give a prize to the best knitter in the audience. She calls herself a “beginning, but avid knitter” and will be holding a knitting circle one hour before the show that anyone, including crocheters and quilters, are welcomed to attend, she said.

Tickets to the concert are $12 in advance and $14 on the day of the show. They are available at Maya’s Corner, Sunrise Cyclery and USU ticket outlets.

Lavin’s new CD will also be available for purchase at her concert. They will be selling for $15 or two for $25.

Lavin said that she has the two-for deal so that when people are standing in line, they can make an “instant friend” collaborating with one another and save themselves both $2.50.

-nnaylor@cc.usu.edu