Nickel Creek Rocks!
 

We went to see Nickel Creeklast night at the new Ice Center at BCC. If we were bluegrass purists we would have been disappointed. We're not and we were not. They're really some kind of jazz/bluegrass fusion band. Chris Thile (mandolin), Sara Watkins (fiddle), Sean Watkins (acoustic guitar), and Some Guy (stand up bass) were all excellent musicians. They played two and a half hours without a playlist doing mostly there own music with the occasional nod to musical influences like the bit of speed Dylan they covered and a quick Cobain flyby. Thile has been spending time with Bela Fleck and Jerry Douglas and has been positively effected. They ended the night with a wonderful version of an 8th century Celtic folk hymn called Slane, which we occasionally butcher at Mass. They noodled around classic Celtic tunes like As I Roved Out and Saint Annes Reel. I can play both these tunes (badly) but never conceived the variational possibilities they rolled out, it was wonderfully mind expanding and a little humbling. The musicians had fun, you could feel it in the music, see it in their interplay, and hear it in their chit chat. Very funny bunch of extremely talented kids. If you like acoustic music you must see this band.

Great! I'm glad you went. Sounds like a terrific show- they made the tunes their own, and the fun was contagious. (Particularly with Guy on bass. he's my favorite. Related to Buddy, right? He sure gets a lot of gigs these days.:) )

I need to scan the calendars for a fun show. Maybe NC is heading west (?).
Although lately, most entertainment has centered around Wild hockey.(See this segue works because of the BCC ice arena connection.) Last week it was an emotionally exhausting 2 overtime wins within 3 days, Avs and Sharks no less. For an expansion team, these are the highs. They come early in the season.

This just in: I'd like to know how to play the accordion. I think it would be a handy skill.

Well looky what I found!

Nickel Creek will play Dec 8 Minneapolis, MN: The Quest, 110 North Fifth Street
What kind of venue is that?

I see they're playing Portland ME, gotta call my bud up there.

Accordian!? :)

Well cool. The quest is a big multiplex kinda place, main stage is a large but not too large room, and I think a smaller (more for acoustic) venue inside. Its right downtown in a converted warehouse. I will investigate.

Portland! I spent a great week of my 20th year there eating lobster and hiking rocks.

The accordion thing may get hung up on my lack of musical ability. or maybe it can work for me.

No talent worked for Weird Al but listeners may prefer you going the Flaco Jimenez route.

So I'm doing a little scouting ..I'm not just talking accordion here, I'm almost taking action. Learning an instrument, like a language is good for the aging brainpan. (even if it may jeopardize the domestic calm!) Anyway, I'm surfing around for lessons and find that my Minneapolis accordion headquarters is in a classic, reused White Castle. (I thought it would pull at Syc's heartstrings, the vending of sliders is still intown but has moved to more modern facilities).

Then I found my timing perfect for the big Nord East Accordion Festival, which is scheduled this weekend at Kramarczuks, the famous house of sausages and smoked pork treats, blocks from my home. :)

One of the best things about accordion is the many styles possible- yes Cajunto, but also celtic, cajun/ zydeco, swing, tango. Lets see if I can find a cheap squeeze box...

Sweet! I haven't seen an old-school White Castle like that since they tore the last one down in St. Louis back in the mid-80s.

So Warren T lays down the rhyme, warch carries the mood and I make a killing in the black beret market. nice

edit dulp rhymn? and jag gets job checking the copy fer spellin

What is your choice of weapon? Is it 'round midnight when the market is bustling with the sale of illegal hats?

When did this turn into a crime drama?

Bravado. I suppose so.

Second stanza.

Made me think of the tune "Stone Cold Dead in the Market". (calypso beat)

Does Mr. Warch live in fear of the frying pan?

"My girlfriend's mad...she's got the frying pan..."--The Urge

I'm a happy guy as the miles go by
there aint too much that I'm missin'.
But I gotta wife with a fryin' pan
and when she talks I listen.

- Jr. Brown - Broke Down South of Dallas:)

Junior Brown, Wednesday at First Ave. I'm there.:)

Cool! The Guy Brothers backin' him?

Some Guy is on rhythm guitar and Another Guy is on drums, but that sweet old dog Jonny Penner is on bass!

Last night it was Jonny on bass, Pete Something on drum (great with just a snare and cymbal) and That Guythatwillnotbetherenexttime on rhythm guitar. Jr. was his usual freak genius, but the performance wasnt as tight as last time. That Guythatwillnotbetherenexttime got some looks and words shot at him, the end of a long roadtrip I think. Still a lot of fun, and when we got out, it was nice to walk through a light snowfall with our ears ringing.

Made me hanker some late night Texas fun. Like a 3:00 am run to Taco Cabana for some greasy chips and queso, plus 17 mini cups of fire roasted salsa :)

Last weekend came and went- I didnt catch Nickel Creek- I blew out my back and was a pretty gimpy, whiny baby all weekend. But this weekend, Sat and Sunday Acoustic Hot Tuna is at the Cedar Cultural Center. The Mr. works all weekend nights, so I may venture on my own. :)

Ow sorry bout the back. Acoustic Hot Tuna! Very Cool!

Re: Parallel Musical Universe
 

Hope you don't mind me asking, Griff but when you said one of "your" old bands is that from the view and standing point of a performing artist or a fan? I conceived and recorded alot of those vocals while stoned and wearing headgear. Petty is my tribute to my impression of the personae of Bob Dylan.
They might be giants was nothing more than a brain fart for me actually, and I requested that my sister-in-law fill the position as the "stage" performer for the cranberries. I used to use the term stage "puppet" quite frequently, but that does seem such cruel and unusal punishment after the fact of the stress these individuals must have to endure while merely working for peanuts.

It's really not such a serious question matter for me after what I have been through just to hold the title, just curious that's all. I wouldn't die without a reply from you.

We are not so different, you and I.

Thank you Griff.
 

Even Rob Zombie is a mutherf'kin lip syncing idiot- Brian. Griff is your DADDY, boy. GRIFF GRIFF GRIFF!!:p

I caught an article on Alpha Blondy in our paper the other day. He has a new album called Merci. I guess he's become increasingly distressed with the state of the Ivory Coast. The revolution there was attributed in part to the frustration which he expressed in his music. Some soldiers threw a coup and as is common with revolutions it was time to "meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Do I have a point, not really, I've just been thinking of my own idealism and how it sometimes gets in the way of living life...

I think I know what yer saying, but how so?

Apparently, the revolt in IC became known as the Reggae Revolution when one of the first acts of the revolutionaries was taking a radio station which featured Blondys socially aware music. The soldiers wheeled around the country with Blondys music cranking in their Jeeps. Now the IC is teetering on the brink of total meltdown and Blondy is thinking maybe he should have been more circumspect.

As it relates to me (barely) its far less dramatic. I've got an inside track for a teaching position, which I need to decide if I want to pursue, while at the same time, I just don't like the idea of living on tax dollars. I'm in a much better place intellectually and emotionally to teach now than I was way back when I graduated, so I'm going to check it out, just to see if I can still bring it in the classroom.

Hmm. What are your views on/about teaching? What do you think you'd personally get out of it beyond tax dollars.(You hint at the creative challenge but you could maybe get that in another way.) What would you bring? (knowing the humor and intelligence of the cyber Griff, that could be considerable)

I find tax dollars funding public education to be a valid, essential, I dare say, noble expenditure. But then, I am on the dole. ;)

Okay... I dumped my first reply accidentally so lets try to get back to that place.

First, making money is never the issue with me. I have everything I need. Taxation is how education gets done, so I need to set that aside. I have a passion for the material and do bring "a quiet humor" to quote my observing prof, to the classroom which I was known to use to de-fuse potentially messy situations. What I need to discover about myself is, do I have a real desire to teach or is another creative outlet good enough? I have projects but most involve my holeing up in a woodshop, over a notepad, or another isolated place around the farm. I love those things but am I missing a place in the greater society?

There will be levels of bull to contend with but if I enjoy the staff that will be fine. I like teenagers with their certainties where uncertainty should reign and uncertainty where there should be no doubt. I want to open minds without following up with the ideological brain washing. I have a passion for living that I know is sometimes missing from a school enviroment. I've been the lazy student who at all costs, even of a decent education, just wants to skim through without making a ripple. One thing I don't like to feel is that I'm coercing someone. I need to prove that my enthusiasm can surmount reluctance.

I've found a good building with a solid principal, rural kids, and a positive first impression. So I'll sub for a while, gauge the impact on my emotional health, and we'll see if its something I should be doing. Will I miss my solitude? Can I maintain a reasonable level of energy at school and still be a solid Dad/hubby? Can I keep drinking the Black Bush I was just handed at this pace? Well, I have one answer tonight.

Hey who hijacked my thread?

Thanks for making me think on e-paper. g

I can relate. I came to teaching reluctantly. I was doing the self-employed solo art thing. My business was a living, but hard, and getting to feel like sweatshop production. Generations of teachers in my family,it was what I was expected to do, so I think I avoided it for those reasons.

I can do old school stuff like weave. Run looms, spin, dye, the works. So I started to get these requests to teach. I did it for $, but I found it was fun, and I felt comfortable. I would pick up teaching gigs at schools, museum, festivals, shops. Finally that led to school for teaching licensure, art K-12 and a teaching job, at a school I later realized was amazingly supportive and cool.

For me teaching is socially, hothouse creative, very different than the lone pursuit, and can charge up batteries in an unexpected way. But like anything it can also drain ya dry. I found I go in cycles, but the creativity is all connected and cross-pollinates freely.

There's the rub. At least for me. Later I got into a particularly bad school situation, and had to face that I was no match for the chaos. Way beyond reluctance, it was physical violence. My ideals said to take the job, my intestines wouldnt let me stay. I did learn where my strengths were and weren't. You sound far more aware of your potential situation that I was.
Surmounting the reluctance, thats where the creativity gets addictive, when you find a way to engage. One thing I take great satisfaction in is getting to know and really like students- those relationships.Thats why I dig it and that is what I would miss terribly.

My job now is the best balance Ive ever had between working with students (all ages), getting energized with new material, supporting for my own learning, and down time. I'm having urges to do more solo stuff, and It feels like it will work.

Subbing is a good idea, get the inside view and a feel for the demands. I would imagine there could be all sorts of partial contract possibilities... maybe?- community based learning, enable you to find a balance, rather than the FT deal? Interesting. All the best, man.
:)

Music! Oh yes.
Do you like the Meters?

The FunkyMeters? I just googled that since I had no idea but check out these funky tunes! funky New Orleans sound

Dats dem babe. With the cold cabin fever it gets you moving, or rather, chicken strutting. This is what we've been listening to, Funkify Your Life . I'm particularly fond of Disc 1, the Josie Years. Its just greasier. So in sites and places with technology I can only dream of these tunes flow for free.....

listening or'd internet
 

These guys are very Neville Brothers, huge organ work complex rythms FUNKED UP! Going on the wish list.

Okay I'm confused about the cross-pollination situation her.

From e-music description of a Cryril Neville album-

"This record really cooks. Cyril Neville definitely has the right recipe." - Fats Domino.

Having performed as a sideman on albums by Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Willie Nelson, Robbie Robertson, and Daniel Lanois, Cyril's roots can be traced to the legendary Meters. While the Meters never broke into the mainstream, their sound influenced much of the funk and hip-hop of the '80s and '90s. In 1976, the Meters disbanded, but along with their brothers Aaron, Art and Charles, they once again joined forces to form the internationally renowned Neville Brothers, the "Uptown Rulers" of New Orleans funk and R&B.

In a tribute to the Patron Saint of New Orleans R&B, Professor Longhair, the youngest of the Neville Brothers has created a masterpiece of classic New Orleans tunes. These songs, originally recorded by legends such as Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Benny Spellman, Chris Kenner and Eddie Bo, New Orleans Cookin' features some of the Crescent City's finest player. Allen Toussaint, Eddie Bo, "Mean" Willie Green, Marva Wright, and James Andrews join Cyril to create the best New Orleans tribute album since Dr. John's Gumbo.

There is much continuous pollination, or is it file powder?

Here is the official bio, but it may be helpful for more visual folks to create their own diagram.

Of all the various Nevilles, Art is the senior Meter. Here is some history from a site about George Porter, the funky bassist:

In 1967, George was the bass player for Art Neville and the Neville Sounds. The band also featured Neville Brothers Aaron and Cyrill, and Leo Nocentelli. Art dropped his brothers from the band, added drummer Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, and they played a steady gig at the Ivanhoe club in the Quarter for a couple of years. It was at the Ivanhoe that Allen Toussaint contracted the band to be the house band for his Sansu record label. They
scored a contract with Josie records, but changed the name to the Meters to shorten it a bit. George continued to play with the Meters until the breakup of the band in 1977. The Meters cut eight albums during that period, but were not successful commercially. Art, George and the band were an overwhelming critical success, however, and they were in hot demand as studio musicians. As a live band, they became ambassadors of New Orleans Funk, even touring with the Rolling Stones.

Perhaps we should all just head down to the New Orleans Jazz Fest this May for some extended research.

Oohh, my first stab at resurrection!

I thought of this thread yesterday as Nickel Creek received mainstream air play on a Mpls "adult contemporary" radio station with an instrumental. They are also one of the headliners at a major 2 day outdoor concert here in July. Nice to see that talent can blur the music categories. Maybe they'll break it wide open.

Bluegrass
 

Speaking of Bluegrass, Longwood Gardens is mixing in a lot of Bluegrass acts this summer. Last week was the Tuesday Mountain Boys and tommorrow (Thursday) is Dean Sapp & Harford Express.

It's my son's last day of school and I'm taking him to the Chadds Ford Hooters on 202 and the Bluegrass concert.


Bluegrass Concert: Dean Sapp & Harford Express, traditionally-based band with Dean Sapp, guitar, vocals; Dan Curtis, mandolin, vocals; Darin Hirschy, bass, vocals; Ben Sapp, banjo, vocals; original music, old favorites, tight harmonies, hot pickin’, and a good dose of fun, 7:30 pm

Longwood Gardens Bluegrass and Old-Timey Music Schedule

What a great place to see a concert!

In honor of the successful resurrection, how about some Stan Rogers.

She went down last October
in the poring driving rain.
The skipper he’s been drinking
and the mate he felt no pain.
Too close to Three Mile Rock
and she was dealt her mortal blow
And the Mary Ellen Carter sitting low.

There was just us five aboard her
when she finally was a-wash.
We worked like hell to save her
all headless of the cost.
And the groan she gave as she went down
it caused us to proclaim
That the Mary Ellen Carter’d rise again.

Instrumental break

Well, the owners wrote her off,
not a nickel would they spend.
"She gave twenty years of service,
boys, and met her sorry end.
but insurance paid the loss to us,
so let her rest below",
They laughed at us and said
we’d had to go.

But we talked of her all winter,
some days around the clock,
She’s worth a quarter million,
a-floating at the dock.
And with every jar that hit the bar
we swore we would remain
And watch the Mary Ellen Carter rise again.

Refrain:
Rise again, raise again,
Let her name not be lost
to the knowledge of men,
For those who loved her best
and were with her to the end,
We’ll make the Mary Ellen Cater, rise again.

All spring, now, we’ve been with her
on a barge lent by a friend.
Three dives a day in a hard hat suit
and twice I’ve had the bends.
Thank God it’s only sixty feet
and the currents her are slow
Or I’d never have the strength to go below.

But we’ve patched her rents,
and stopped her vents,
dogged hatch and porthole down
Put cables to her ‘for and aft
and girded her around
And tomorrow, noon, we hit the air
and then take up the strain
And watch the Mary Ellen Carter rise again.

Refrain

For we couldn’t leave her there,
you see, to crumble into scale.
She’d save our lives so many times,
living through the gale,
And the laughing, drunken rats
who left her to a sorry grave,
They won’t be laughing in another day.

And you, to whom adversity
has dealt that final blow
With smiling bastards lying to you
everywhere you go
Turn to, and put out all your strength
of and heart and brain
And, like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!

(Last refrain only) 2x
Rise again, rise again,
Thou your heart, it be broken,
your life about to end,
No matter what you’ve lost,
a home, a love, a friend,
Be like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

First off, Is Chads Ford "Hooters" part of the the bar/restaurant chain noted for hiring young girls servers with,...ah hem, big eyes?

Longwood Gardens looks great! I'd like to hear some Dean Sapp, He's definitely got the look. I was hoping his site would have a snippet.

Looks like I need to come to Longwood. Music, yes, but I want the plants! (drooling) 62 Chamaecyparis, 67 Cornus, 98 Pinus,...! When that next career shift comes I can get my Masters in Public Horticulture through their program at the U of Delaware, then go to work weeding, watching the fountains, and grooving to the music.
OH MY! What a great venue to have nearby. Lucky duck.

This is the gig that features Nickel Creek. It started as a concert to save the old Basilica and has grown to a big two day event. One band I really want to see is The Thorns.

More time at the Longwood site: The Carillon restoration project and concerts are fascinating. Its like, so how does someone get into mastering a carillon? Such a specialization. Ok I really want to go now.

I like the Jayhawks as well... we're going to have to dig up some live music 'round here.

Yeah, I like the Jayhawks too. They're hometown guys. Theyve been around ferever and really anchored the alt country kinda thing for many a year.

Just wrote a long reply, tried to load too large an image file, and lost it all. Created this reply and clipped a copy to notepad when the upload seemed to drag and Explorer crashed. This is my third try.


We had a great time tonight. Jeffrey just finished classes today. Jeffrey is 18 years old, but he is autistic and will be attending school until he is 21, so this was a year-end graduation.

The Chadds Ford Hooters is at routes 1 & 202. It is so new you can literally still smell the sawdust.

We got there at 6:15. This is significant becuase from 3 to 6 pm, wings are 20 cents each with a beverage (or was it fries). Anyway, this did not apply to us.

Jeffrey had 20 wings, 1 order of fries, and a soda. She also brought celery and blue cheese dressing, which costs an extra dollar. I had a cheeseburger with fried onions and nothing else. This all cost $22. (ouch).

Anyway, Jeffrey was checking out the waitresses and had a great time. I brought my digital camera and got a picture of him and the waitress.

Hartford Express was great. The show was moved into the indoor pavillion which is an enclosed permanent tent-like structure. The thunderstorm rolled through during the performance and added some drama to their rendition of 'The Long Black Veil'.

They were selling their CD's for $10 (most artists at Longwood charge $15 or $20) so I got Jeffrey two as a graduation present.

They permitted still and video photography, so I took pictures and video with my Canon A70. Unfortunately, even the 30 second video clips are close to 2 meg, so I cannot share them with our foreign visitors. If I upload them to my personal site I will provide a link.

I cut down one of the images to 20-something kbytes.

Sounds like you had a really good time ... and getting out of a Hooters for $22 is really not that bad. Heck, that's my bar tab! ;)

Is it in what used to be that cute little shopping center that got remodelled into a megaplex with the theater, or did it take over the space that used to be the nightclub and is actually a hair further south on 1 from the intersection?

Not to hijack so close to ressurection but do you have any thoughts about Jeffrey's educational experience? Its looking like I'm going the special education route for my masters and I'd like to hear what a Dad thinks of the system as it is now and how well its served your son. I've been impressed with its development since I was in school when the kids were separated from the rest of the population.

Long Black Veil is a personal favorite of mine whether covered by Johnny Cash, Sting, or [your Irish bar band here]. Just googled it, I was thinking it was a traditional tune but this page attributes it to Wilkens and Dill.

Well now I'm hungry for hot wings and blue cheese dressing...
Good pic Rich. I commend your posting dilligence. Now I am curious to see Jeffrey and the waitress!

I went out last night and this silly place charged $6.20 for a pint of Newcastle. Geez. I'm not racing back there.

I'm glad the show was good. So youre headed back next week?

and to add to the special ed topic: cool, Griff.

Well, it all depends on the show. The concerts are Tue, Thu, and Saturday. I'm partial to bluegrass, folk, and world music. I like some jazz and classical, but I am indifferent to band music.

I don't know if I want to post Jeffrey's picture, but here is the waitress.

Since you're a jazz fan ... do they still do the live jazz nights at Vincent's in West Chester? I haven't been there in a number of years, but it always used to be a very good, very relaxing time, with astonishing food.

Actually, I don't get out much for music except for Longwood Gardens and some Celtic/Irish/British shows sponsored by The Green Willow

West Chester, for some reason, has always been an in-and-out destination for us. We only do there if we have to go to a specific store, maybe grab a quick bite to eat, and leave. Maybe its the traffic and parking that seem to make it a chore.

I'll have to see about Vincent's. My biggest problem is finding something my wife will want to see, or deciding to go alone.

I am considering the Train concert in July. It's on my birthday.

My! she does have big eyes!;)
Definitely looks like fun was had.

I went out to a local park today and couldnt believe that I got to hear the Paladins from San Diego under the clear blue sky. Lots of fun- Rockabilly trio: drums, standup bass, with guitarist/vocalist Dave Gonzales who is so f**king good. It was a not very promoted concert and I was glad I heard a tip. The Paladins have been playing hard for a long time and are high energy fun. I recommend looking for them touring some club or festival near you, I bet they'll be by your way.

Oh I forgot to mention, I picked up the Thorns new album and they do a great great cover of my favorite Jayhawks song, "Blue". And with the exception of Mpls they are opening for the Jayhawks on tour this summer.:)

Blue is one of those tunes that seems like its always been out in the ether, somebody just had to play it.

I love that ether. One listen and love.

Ether you do or you don't.
I'm sorry.:blush:

Nickel Creek
 

Went to see both the Thorns and Nickel Creek last Friday- Outdoor concert, the sound was a bit challenging but both put on a good show.
The trio of the Thorns (Sweet, Mullins and Droge) must have brought 67+ guitars and various other stringed things, and all changed instruments after each tune. The harmonies were great to hear, see who's singing where. Shawn Mullins is the anchor voice. Matthew Sweet had a serious early Peter Fonda look going. All tunes and firmly stuck in my head. As they were closing their set, they heaped lots of praise on the upcoming Nickel Creek.

Nickel Creek was the headliner, (The night was beautiful and clear) and they seemed to be having a blast. There was a core of followers, but most there, like me, had never really heard them. They tore it up. They are all major scary players that can really sing. And the tunes were wonderfully all over the map, bluegrass, celtic, jazz, folk, rock. Sarah the fiddle player really reminded me of Rickie Lee Jones when she sang. And Chris on mandolin was explosive- (had his own screaming teen girl section of the crowd) They did originals, instrumentals, and some souped up covers that drew the skeptics in- Beatles, Dylan, Cold Play, Mozart.
Very very fun. Thanks for the tip Griff!:)

Rich,

Where and when is said Train concert?

Dagney

Re: Nickel Creek
 

I've been following these kids since they were barely teenagers, and even a bit younger. All are former national junior champs at one instrument or another, and they are truly, truly amazing. They were truly amazing even back seven or eight years ago when I first saw them at Winfield, doing straight bluegrass.

Re: Nickel Creek
 

Excellent! I figured you'd go for them. I'm with Patrick, those kids are"truly amazing." Hopefully they are playing some venues with better acoustics (I saw them in a hockey arena).

STATE THEATRE
107 West State Street
Ithaca, NY 14850

Wednesday, October 15, 2003 at 8:00pm/Doors at 7:00pm. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

I'll hafta check my class schedule but this looks pretty inviting.