Parallel Musical Universe
 

Okay, I admit it, I have no idea what they're talking about over on the other music thread. Occasionally someone will toss in the Cranberries, Tom Petty, or They Might be Giants but mostly when someone mentions one of my old bands its in an historical context so to quote my old US History 2 Prof "I'm taking you guys up to WW2, cuz after that it ain't history its life." So in the spirit of that, I give you the Parallel Musical Universe.

At this moment I'm listening to Acoustic Hot Tuna- Live in Japan
Its a really fine jam album that starts out with the Hesitation Blues and keeps rolling from there.

On the Bluegrass front I downloaded Muleskinner (A David Grismann project taped for PBS) off the emusic web site last week. Really good cover of Orange Blossum Special very tight band.

Hello.....who's there? I thought I was alone in here!? Well hey Griff. I can dig it.

Yah, I don't know if a second thread is a good idea or not. But, to me Linkon Park is in Chicago and used to be spelled differently. So what are the warchs listening to these days? We've been trying to expand our listening lately so I dug up some jazz guitar by Django Reinhardt, it just may catch and continues my trend of getting into the music of dead folks (at least I assume Djangos checked out),... always jumpin on the train a little late.

Django has passed, but he can still swing! Who needs all 10 fingers?!

I'm quite fond of a swing trio out of Texas called Hot Club of Cowtown. They tour a lot-check it out at http://www.hotclubofcowtown.com/ and if they're headed nearby, its a road trip recommend. Fun will be had.

Rotating currently here is much greasy B3 organ jazz- Jimmy Smith, Bill Doggett and Jack McDuff under the hand of Mr. Warch. Its the Blue Note stuff that counters the academic arty jazz with bluesy, gospelly, honkey tonk stuff- the guitarists are Grant Green or Kenny Burrell.

What can ya tell me about bluegrass? any recommended listens? I like strings and harmonizing.

R 'n B
 

The R n B Boys are a hot band with free MP3s of some of the best covered songs on their site, if you're into it.

Bluegrass
 

The first band that comes right to mind are the Johnson Mountain Boys. My brother-in-law gave me a copy of their Live at the Birchmere album. They have the full package, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and harmonies. I'm gonna pick up more of their stuff at the next opportunity. They even thow in a little bluegrass gospel.

You'll never go wrong with the Del McCoury Band (which recently backed up Steve Earle) or Alison Krause and Union Station. I believe the mandolin picker from Union Station is Dan Tyminski who did the singing while George Clooneys character hides behind the mic emoting in O Brother Where Art Thou?

Thanks, Alison Krause I've heard a bit. I'll check the others out.
Have you heard any Peter Ostrusko on mandolin? He played here at a benefit I was involved in and blew me away. He's done alot in the folky world I guess- but it was pretty bluegrass too. very cool.
I love a house full of music. Its important to get all get those kids dancin'.

That Hot Club of Cowtown stuff was really cool! Very smooth trio there. I'll have to look for Peter Ostruski.

I was getting an absurdly long download estimate at the RnB Boys site, I'll have to try again when I'm not already downloading something (Los Mocosos -their hype says they are a fusion of ska salsa and punk).

Kraus has been getting a lot of love lately from the CandW crowd as folks get tired of the hats. Ricky Skaggs has a bunch of bluegrass out now, having escaped the evil clutches of his antibluegrass label he's set up his own shop and is making up for lost years under an inflexible pop country contract. As I'm typing this I'm listening to Bela Flecks Bluegrass Sessions. Bela is simply an awesome banjo picker who has done a ton of work in jazz, probably because bluegrass is too easy for him. I think I'm hearing Jerry Douglas' dobro in the background so in stream of conciousness writing I should mention Jerrys appearance on the Transatlantic Sessions album blending bluegrass with celtic along with too many other artists to mention. Oh no! Now I have to mention Dan Ar Bras a spectacular acoustic guitarist from Brittany who plays in the celtic style, the album I have of his has a wonderful cover of Sheebeg an Sheemore. enough! gotta go

Bella Bela!
I've been hearing that name alot lately- connected with some great stuff on the radio. I love it when great players break across styles, its all good.
OK Griff, can I get a consultation?
There is a venue here that has lots of touring stuff. My plan is to pay closer attention and get out and see more.The place is really near my house and I have no excuse. Here's their site.http://www.thecedar.org/ If you have a minute, check out the calendar and tell me if you see anything I really ought to catch...I know the Lounge Lizards and Trout Fishing in America. Recognize any other names? Is there a best bet?

Michael Doucet
 

One of the players in Fiddlers Three is Michael Doucet from Beausoleil (sp?), the cajun band. He also appears on that Transatlantic Sessions album I mentioned before. Thats probably a can't miss. Their web site says Darol Anger was hooked up with David Grisman Quintet (saw them last summer with a different fiddler, simply awesome) yah gotta trust Grisman (Bela played with him as well), thats the show to see, of course you'll have to review it here.

Whats the story on Trout Fishing?

I've heard a song or two, Its a duo that augments themselves as desired and much of their repertoire is geared for kids and families. Like the Lounge Lizards, fun novelty-type songs, good musicians. Content that young families can relate to-like a baby who hides truck keys and the frenzied hunt in the morning... I'm sure they have more serious stuff, but I've only heard the funny.

Thanks for the tips...I will let you know what goes down at the Fiddlers show.

Butch Baldisari. He plays about the cleanest bluegrass mandolin music you will ever here. His precision reminds you that these F-5s were original meant to be orchestral instruments. I'm three tunes into his tutorial and am quite impressed with his ability to explain technique. He actually teaches some of his best music. Very cool.

I'm downloading Mustang Sally off the RnB Boys site we'll see how that comes off. The Los Mocosos (bilingual stutter) music I downloaded the other day is really something else, I'd call it latin ska very fun stuff.

Whoops download complete... crisp band! Great vocals needs a human drummer, and a rougher guitar maybe a blues injection... but I'd go see 'em.

"Smoke from a Distant Fire" is my favorite of the RnB Boys' mp3s on the link above ... a must download imho.

I miss Chet Atkins.

Yah, Chet was excellent. That was the music my parents filled our house with. Chet Atkins, Floyd Kramer, Johnnie Cash, etc...that sax player? Yakety Sax what was that guys name? Chet got some love from the next generation before he moved on, I think he did an album with Mark Knofler (Dire Straits) a few years ago.

Atkins used to come to the TwinCities fairly regularly to do spots on Prairie Home Companion. He could play/pick any style -not unlike Bela Fleck. But the swing country stuff is the best.

One of the most amazing performances I ever saw was Johnny Cash in Austin as part of SXSW a few, ? 5+ years back. He was in this small club, with all the history coming through his quavery deep voice and obviously just having fun playing- Enjoying his rediscovery by a younger crowd. There are moments when you just need to hear "Ring of Fire" or "Folsom Prison Blues"- good for the waning hours, sun down part of a road trip, through really rural Kansas- Any Sun Studio stuff works well.

I'd love to see Cash. I suprised my Mom by swiping her copy of Johnny Cashs' live album from San Quentin when I went to college. Boots Randolf was the sax player I was thinking of, kinda forgetable really. Merl Haggard goes on my list of favorites from that generation.

Other than a greatest hits collection, the only Cash recording I own is "American Recordings," which is pretty good. The Reverend Horton Heat did Cash justice when he did a cover of "Folsom Prison Blues" on his "Holy Roller" compilation.

I don't remember how I got into Cash, but the man just oozes cool...and life.

My review of the Fidders concert(Michael Doucet, et al)will not be forthcomming cause I didnt go. Boo.I meant to...just missed it. BUT

I will get my butt to see Junior Brown on May 8th at First Avenue. Mr. Brown is not to be believed and will give you his best live. He invented his own instrument, a guitsteel- hybrid guitar and lap steel. I've seen him before and he's what I love, a musician who defies categorization. Sure he's country, and then he throws you some Hendrix, Slack key, and Segovia, what the..?! He's gotten play for his goofy songs- "My Baby Won't Dance to Nothin' but Earnest Tubbs", "Venom in Denim", "Cagey Bea of the KGB", "Hillbilly Hoola Gal", but he's not faking it for laughs, the country gentleman is a player and having fun. His lyrics are masterful and his bass voice a classic.
Junior and his spare and talented band (bass,snare, and rhythm guitar) head toward California from here, then maybe east in the summer/fall. hes got a web site http://www.juniorbrown.com
Big, I mean BIG, Fun.

tsk...tsk...tsk... You're gonna get a pay cut. ;)

A Celtic band which has played our local Irish Fest a couple times is hoping that their big break is on the horizon. The band called Kilbrannon is out of Buffalo. They are a whole lotta fun and way more talented than your average celtic bar band should be. They are not afraid to go on a metal riff ala Metallicas Whiskey in the Jar but really shine when it comes to drunken sing a longs. On 8:00 May 24, 2002 they'll be playing the Riviera Theatre (in Buff me thinks) but it will be available in 90 million homes in the US and Canada on cable. Its their big shot. Good luck Scotsmen maybe you'll show North America that you only wear what God gave yah undernearth those kilts.

http://www.kilbrannan.com


Actually North Tonawanda.... http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...wanda&state=NY

Here's a really neat site with all kinds of new and used instruments, with a very high drool factor.

http://www.elderly.com

If you don't live near a big city its quite a chore sometimes to dig up the right instrument or accessory. You're definitely taking a chance buying an instrument without playing it so... let the buyer beware. I bought my wifes vintage fiddle from them and she's very happy with it.

Mr. Warch can be found with a drool bucket under his gob at the following site:
http://www.gruhn.com/catalog/index.html
He's the musician in the family and a Gibson fan, but I don't think he'd have the juevos to buy long distance. I'm glad your fiddle was a keeper.

Junior Brown was a ton of fun. A perfect venue for him. Big enough club, but not too huge, with a good stage and sound. He'll tune his guitsteel down to match his bass voice, very cool. And his understated backup band was great. The concert and the refreshing Newcastle almost made me forget that Detroit is still in the playoffs. Damn the octopi.

Cool, I can't wait for our local summer music fest to publish their schedule, keeping my fingers crossed. They've done well...Grisman, Seamus Eagan (of Solas and Riverdance fame plays every instrument you can think of at a level that you'd think it was his only one), Barrage (crazy fiddle troup from Canada), Neville Brothers, Clancy Brothers, Cherish the Ladies, many many others...

I've been listening to Alpha Blondy lately. He's a spectacular reggae artist from the Ivory Coast, unfortunately, I don't speak any French so for all I know I could be endorsing a kill whitey artist. But what the heck its beautiful, great rythyms, great riffs, great vocals...

I've listened to some of Blondys English recordings now and happily report they're very positive peace between the races cuts. Bunny Wailer has been on high rotation here as well. I just got an album of 70s dub reggae which has the Skatalites horns backing different Jamaican artists, very cool.

Sound like de warm weather has arrived in North Eastern PA, Ya Man.

Ha! It finally stopped raining and there are signs of life in my new asparagus patch. I'm in a mood.

Me too! No asparagus to harvest (Mary Washington), still too young, so I'll wait till next year. But the rhubarb is superbarb. The heirloom tomatos are in the ground- Brandywines and zebras. And I just picked up some blooming regent serviceberry plants. Now if I can only get the berries before the birds do.

Going to hear the BelAirs tonight. Another terrific traveling band that I'm sure hits Dinosaur BBQ. Excellent musicians. We caught them a few years back in St Louis, they played a nice club called Off Broadway with Johnny Johnson on piano. Johnson played in the 50s with Chuck Berry. It was very cool and even Mr. Warch was moved to dance- a very rare siting indeed. Learn more about them here: http://www.belairs.com
Looks like they are mostly midwest in the near future, though.

But if you are in Syracuse June 4, you can catch Gary Primich at the Dinosaur- they are at the Rochester Dinosaur on June 5th.

Whoohoo! I have something to contribute to this thread again! Heh. :)

The BelAirs are great. Saw them play at the Blue Note in Columbia, MO in late 1995. They've been around forever, it seems.

Johnny Johnson is the granddaddy of rock and roll...although there are many argued as such. IIRC, he was a bus driver for senior citizens when he was "rediscovered" a few years ago (8-10 years ago). He now does regular gigs in St. Louis, and has a star on the Walk of Fame in University City (a St. Louis suburb). Apparently, there was some rift between he and Chuck Berry that has still not been mended. *shrugs*

Chuck Berry still plays a once a month gig at Blueberry Hill, also in University City.

Off Broadway is a nice club, although it's in a bit of a rough area. At least it's close to Cherokee St.'s Antique Row.

Hey Syc,
Have you ever been to BB's Jazz, Blues and Soup in St Louis?
I haven't yet, but its on the list for the next parent visit. What a great name. They seem to have great music and apparently... soup! You gotta love that, comfort all around.

You know what? I never did head down there while I lived there. My friend and I always talked about going there, but never did before I moved. It has been highly recommended though.

The one place I did go to a lot was a place called Bobby's. It's at 7401 Manchester Road in downtown Maplewood (just west of the city)...primarily a creole restaurant and bar. I used to go down there almost every Friday night after work. On Fridays and Saturdays, they have free jazz and blues performances in the bar. They used to serve free red beans and rice on Fridays, although that might have changed in the 3 years since I've left St. Louis. The artists play (or at least used to) on this really tiny stage above the bar. Good stuff.

completely off topic except Roy Rogers?
 

I put two varieties (purple passion and supermale) in the ground this spring, so I won't harvest for 2-3 years. The old German lady we're hatching goslings for has been harvesting from the same patch for something like 25 years so I'd say its worth the investment. What do you use to protect your tomatoes? Mine are still in flats. We got 2 inches of snow Sat night and a hard freeze last night, I had to cover the peas and put mason jars on the potatoes brrr...

Something to warm up with... Theres this slide guitarist named, believe it or not, Roy Rogers... He plays high energy blues and you can tell there is absolute joy there. He has played with Bonnie Raitt (yah!) John Lee Hooker (all right!) and Keith Richards (shoulda retired). His album is Slideways and was actually recorded by EMusic so I assume its an internet only deal.

BelAirs report: Wow! The boys can sing, and the drummer was deeply dug into his groove. Great musicians. You could not not dance. In a rare siting, even the spousal unit was spotted moving his feet. And further, the gripping heartbreak of a rainy Twins 14th inning loss to the damn Yankees was soothed.

The BelAirs still have the genie figurine lamp on stage, I had forgotten about that atmospheric touch. Apparently they have been traveling with the lamp for about 15 years- it has undergone many bumps and major repairs. The beacon still shines. Well worth the $5 cover charge. Find them in your town if you can.

And what goes with fine music? Why, tomatos. I buy seedlings, as I only put in a few plants. Mine are about 6 inches tall- plant them deep.
I protect my babies with faith, hope, pep talks and pragmatic darwinism. "Alright tomato, you gotta want it. Show me what you're made of."
We seem to be past the spring freezes, (but you never know up here) I am in an urban lot, with some protection from wind, some heat sinkage microclimate action.

See, we can multitopic. Roy, eh?

You know, I completely forgot about this...and I HAVE heard this before.

From Ike Turner's induction plaque at the St. Louis Walk of Fame: "His band's 1951 single 'Rocket 88' is often regarded as the first rock & roll record."

Honky Tonk Music
 

I got a little country itch so I've been listening to The Flying Burrito Bothers. Its 70s-80s country rock with a lot of pedal steel plus the occasional fiddle/banjo riff to keep the folkies in line. They even cover some Bob Wills not bad stuff if country doesn't make you physically ill.

I wonder how many acts thought they were first? Some of the older country acts try to lay claim to that first rocker apellation. I think I heard someone argue it was Waylon Jennings but he's not old enough... Probably really belongs to an older bluesman, pretty subjective, depends where you want to draw the line... Bo Diddley might be close but still a little young I think....? We'ed need criteria, do you need a percussionist? How is rock and roll defined?

I think you can thread it back to the singing breakman- Jimmy Rodgers in the 20s. Blues and Yodeling- Now that's a rockin' combination! then thars all that rockabilly. Dang, thats good stuff. Rauchier than the touring swing bands from the 30s and 40s- When the white country bands really integrated the blues. Rock came right out of jump blues. Memphis' Sun Studios in the 50s- Carl Perkins was a groundbreaker.

But I would say a defining criteria would be the lead electric guitar and strong, driving rhythm section. And some obvious country/folk element- yodeling optional.

When country music is good, it is very very good. When it's bad, it's horrid.:)

Joke:
Q: How many female singers does it take to sing a Patsy Cline tune?
A: Apparently all of them.

Ok, this just in. Comming attractions (or repulsions?) Country-Bluegrass Pink Floyd. I admit its intriguing.

As I understand it, Muddy Waters invented electricity so...

That PinkFloyd stuff as covered by Luther Wright is awesome. It goes well beyond the silly bluegrass covers everybody does, maybe even standing on its own.... tempted to pick up the album.

Hmm... Luther Wright is tomorrow night...If I can force my attention out of the garden, maybe I'll check it out.(my garden is the great time vacuume from March to October).

And you're right, the mud man plugged into Chicago and made some new kinda blues that directly impacted rock. How about Howlin' Wolf? There's some raw wires. Yikes! Definitely a key contribution. Funny that it took the Brits revering these guys to wake America up.

Does seem that everything comes back to blues- its primal from the heart. Like with jazz- if jazz loses the simplicity, rhythm and emotion brought by blues, in my opinion, it deteriorates to empty chromatic exercizes. Over playing. dweedle dee dweedle dee- it doesnt express anything. Same with rock dogs- you need that true blue foundation. I suppose its like any art that chooses form over content.

I heard recently that Bill Monroe the father of bluegrass music is the one who actually coined the phrase rock and roll.

So I got this package in the mail with all this awesome classic Texas swing and blusey stuff on it but some butt head misplaced the card with the band names on it. So I'm wondering which cuts are the Cowtown and Lester Browns? Is that Bob Wills doing Moonlight Serenade (I think thats the instrumental tune) ? Gorgeous! I gotta change stereos in the pickup it really wasn't doing music justice but now that its on my home system I'm really pleased. Thanks much!

How is the other fair use material working out?

Groovy! I bet you mean Jr. Brown. If its a deep baritone and steel, thats Brown. Cowtown's guitar-fiddle work sounds remarkably like Wills- do you mean Stardust? That's Cowtown. Best song ever.

I'm diggin' the honky tonk classics...but you knew that!
Here I reveal further wierderness, (perhaps not quite parallel, a bit diagonal in track)- I have been curious to find zither music. I love the haunting theme from "The Third Man" Its akin to mandolin, the string thing, but has that old world connection. There is more to hear...Tales From the Vienna Woods, Strauss I think, also has this haunting zither passage...Any ideas for some good zither music? I think it calls for a good record store safari. Its like a craving for Thai food.:)

I'm not overly familiar with Bill Monroe, but I saw him on Jay Leno not too long ago and I was digging it. I wouldn't mind checking out his new CD.

Jay Leno Master of the Dark Arts
 

He is dead, deceased, not among the living, toes up, extinguished, pushin daisys, feedin worms, de-composing so to speak. ;)

link

link2

C'mon Griff! You didn't see him perform? It was the day after Hendrix and Lennon did a duet. ;)

Now that you mention that Griff, I remember reading about Monroe's death in Rolling Stone. The performer's name who appeared on Leno escapes me...Earl Stanley? Ralph Stanley? Scruggs? Time for Geritol for me. :)

I bet it was Ralph Stanley, he's been all over with the O Brother tour and stuff. I had never heard anything by him till that big soundtrack. And he's haunting when he sings. It was cool he got a grammy.

What I think is interesting is how similar bluegrass form is to jazz quartet- there's the instrumentation, the improvisation, and the turns going around. Just kinda interesting. That music can be made at all is sort of magical to me.
I tried to play instruments as a kid, but sucked in a big way, thankfully I had a kind music teacher who took pity, gave me all the wierd instruments to try- bass clarinet, baritone, bassoon, maybe one would click. He basically allowed me to sit in the midst of the real players, surrounded by the music if I promised to play very softly. It was great. I still remember going to Lebanon Valley College with the high school orchestra. We were playing Dvorak's New World Symphony and the acoustics were new and perfect. We did the first two notes and it echoed like mad. Everyone stoped and just went, whoa. Pretty primal stuff. Like laying on the floor with your head between two big speakers. Rock on.:)

Yep...it was Ralph Stanley. I did a google search just to make sure. :)

Thats pretty cool. Bluegrass on the Tonight Show, who'da thunk it?

Duh! Stardust. Anyway great stuff there.
Wither to zither? That is the question.

I downloaded some Lightnin' Hopkins the other day. Its a two disc set called Fishing Clothes. Apparently Lightnin' wasn't to forth coming with information. He let his guitar do the talking. The name of the cut was actually Insufficient Clothes but the folks in the studio couldn't understand him. I think we had a thread on misinterpreted lyrics a while back but I assume that usually the producers knew the songs. This album is in Texas country blues style, and has really nice, simple riffs delivered with authority set against his country voice.

Like Warch said, "O Brother" gave him a boost. His latest album hit number 1 on the country charts and I imagine it made a nice dent in the Billboard Top 200 as well. Of course, Jay Leno is good about bringing talent on that you probably wouldn't have seen during the days of Carson.

There is a cool film about Hopkins, its older I think like 60s, I just remember great shots of him playing on his porch and making the neighbors dance. The Mr. may have it on tape somewheres...

I liked Roy Rogers (!), and just learned of a crazy (now dead) guy named Speedy West. Guitar players from outerspace. The disc is titled "Stratosphere Boogie". Its rocka jazza billy.

Sunday morning, Sukay (Andean music) to Grosse Point Blank Soundtrack to Alpha Blondie. Now if I can just isolate that smell in the kitchen, we'd have a perfect day. :)

Gross Pointe Blank- its right in that 80s wheelhouse, eh? John Cusack. (girlish sigh)

I need to correct myself- Speedy West aint dead! I was getting him mixed up with Jimmy Bryant who is. both worked together on the Stratosphere Boogie- Jimmy was guitar and Speedy pedal steel.I had them crossed till I read the CD book more closely.

This Labor day AM- it may as well be Sunday- Dave Brubeck-Take Five to Van Morrison -Celtic Heartbeat to Dwight Yokam - Hillbilly Deluxe! And this years current winner for summer meal: fresh from the farmers market- sweet corn and BLTs with purple and gold meaty heirloom tomatos, lettuce with a bit of basil, and thick cut bacon on crusty bread. Dang.

We're still getting tomatoes!

Big music news Nickel Creek is coming to Bingo!

I've got nasty urban crows the size of large cats that pecked holes in some of my biggest tomatos. They were really late to set fruit. Grrr. Picked most everything left- and the loot is getting red on the windowsill. We've had the threat of frost this week already but its only dropped into the low 40s. I'm gonna put in for a small allotment next season to grow produce- the sunny bits of my yard arent enough to do much more than herbs.
BEST APPLE TIP: "Honeycrisp" - find 'em, buy 'em, eat 'em.

In the musical universe...Are you gonna go see Nickel Creek? Ya better, what I've heard sounds great. Whats the Bingo venue like?

I just saw a poster today announcing R&B legend Bobby "Blue" Bland is going to play at a smallish club here in Oct. Tickets are a bit steep, well, I'm a bit cheap, but it a rare gig so I will go if possible. These guys arent going to be around much longer, the real deal.

We're suddenly getting rain here so some of our 'maters are splitting. No threat of frost here yet but the clock is ticking. I'm moving my garden closer to the house next year so we can't ignore the weeding.

Nickel Creek is going to play the new hockey arena at Broome Community College. To my knowlege, its not completely built yet so I'm crossing my fingers. Yah baby, I'm going, no way I'm missing Chris Thile. We almost road tripped to see them over the summer so this is especially sweet.

reach out...
 

Heard something today that just might get Sycamores juices flowing. Johnny Cash, the man in black, has a sweet cover of Depeche Modes Personal Jesus. Right in the ole wheelhouse eh?

My sprained finger is coming back a little so I've started a new tune, Rayleens Reel by Siobhon Egan (sister of Seamus of Solas) of Cherish the Lady. Here is the scorch version. The transitions are just beautiful and it feels like I'm gonna catch it!

Get out of here! Seriously?! Is he recording again? I hadn't heard anything out of him since the Storytellers album with Willie Nelson.

Here it is. Johnny as Trent

I'mma have to buy that.

Wow...me too.

Dear God...Nick Cave and Johnny Cash together...talk about morbid. :)

Men in Black unite.

This new Beck CD Sea Change is really, really nice. I'm not sure to or from which universe its drawn. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. Its sad, lush and mellow...am I a mellow lush? Nah. He's in concert here soon- sold out though.