Archive for the 'bluegrass' Category
Singing
I am not a trained singer, and on those occasions when I hear myself on tape, I am often appalled. And then I say “fuck it” and keep singing anyway. I like singing: it’s one of the things that make me happy.
My favorite singing is close harmony, like the Louvin Brothers and the [...]
Light Posting This Weekend
I’ll be playing bluegrass festivals all weekend, starting at about 4:00 PM today in Georgetown Delaware.
I’ll also be appearing at the Pocono Mountain Bluegrass Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
Have a nice weekend, and say hi to your pops on Fathers’ Day.
Better Days
Better Days
That Chris Ziter sitting on the bed with the bass, Zach Ward looking in the wardrobe, Neil Cleary playing a guitar that you can’t see because i’m sitting in front of him. This picture was taken in October 2001 in a hotel in Amsterdam. Neil and I were playing drums and bass [...]
Read More..>>Eat More Possum: a Tribute to Mike O’Ferrall
Mike O’Ferrall was a bass player I met back in 1999 or 2000, when I played a gig in a fire hall in Marydel, Maryland. Mike was one of the organizers, a big-bellied self-described hillbilly in ovreralls and a baseball cap, whose passion for bluegrass, friendliness, and outright hilarity was contagious. We spent [...]
Read More..>>Friday Videos: Stanley Brothers
My son’s favorite country song is “In the Pines”, and it’s one of mine too. The lyrics, written in prison by Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, are about as lonesome as you can get, and the Stanley Brothers do a great job in this video clip from the 1960s. Banjo player Ralph Stanley’s tenor has [...]
Read More..>>Friday Videos: History of Bluegrass 101
These youtubes are all from the 1994 Rachel Liebling documentary High Lonesome. It’s well worth watching in its entirety. These clips are kind of long, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.
The narrator by the way is Mac Wiseman, “the voice with a heart”. That’s also Mac singing “I Wonder How the Old [...]
Friday Videos: Karl Shifflett and the Big Country Show
Bluegrass Stomp & The One I Love Is Gone
I shared the stage three time with Karl Shifflett’s band back in 2000. This is the classic lineup with Lyle Meador on mandolin, the great Jake Jenkins on banjo (who also writes songs and cowboy poetry), Chuck Westerman on fiddle, and Karl’s son Kris on bass. [...]
Oh Snap. It’s Bill Monroe.
Reuben’s Train, a slightly different version than the one I know. Oh snap! Vic Jordan on banjo!
A Voice From on High. The audio sync is off, but guaranteed this is live. Bill didn’t do lip sync-ing.
Wicked old footage of “Uncle Pen”
Bill Monroe is like a god to me. Bluegrass music changed my life, and [...]
Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass
Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass are my favorite bluegrass band today. They are so good in every way, especially Dan Paisley’s incredible voice. The band was led for years by Danny’s father Bob, who passed away last summer. In fact, everyone in the band is related to an origianl member [...]
Read More..>>Buzz Busby: “I’m A Long Ways From Home”
I’m a long ways from home
So all alone
Oh Lord, Please Watch Over Me.
I can’t get used to this hunger
Nobody seem to notice when I’m cold
This life is not making me any younger
I should have stayed at home like I was told
I’m a long ways from home
So all alone
Oh Lord, pleas watch over me.
I slept last [...]
