Post-Easter Jam was Hoppin'

Hey Teens,
The Radford Fiddle and Banjo Jam lived up to it's name last night featuring both fiddles and banjos, and a bunch of serious pickin.' Ralph and Lucy had to split early cause Lucy had had enough. We poked along without Ralph, and had a couple pretty good jams in his absence. Probably the most notable thing about the night was Casey sitting in with his fretless acoustic bass cause Doug was AWOL. I wisht I'da known!
I picked up Slash's bass on Good Friday -- a Good Friday indeed! - and could have plunked along. It's just as well, tho, cause Casey is GOOD, and I'm just getting acclimated to the big upright.

We whipped through the Red Haired Boy and Blackberry Blossom with Sloane. We played the White Freightliner, Roll in my Sweet Baby's Arms, John Hardy...those are the one's I could remember the words to, anyway. Last Train from Poor Valley.
Wayne gave us an Old Train, a Lonesome Pine, and one or two others, I think. Kendall was there with his high voice--filling out Can't You Hear Me Callin', and singing a few others. I know he did the Nine Pound Hammer. We did a Ground Speed with Timmy. We did a Home Sweet Home. I think maybe a Pike County Breakdown, too. Daybreak in Dixie? I think so.

I was kind of worn out last night. I don't have much excuse for why, and I feel worn out now. If anybody can remember what else we played--post it here.

Don't forget Side Door Sessions are back in action on April 5th, with all (or most of) your local icons present!

Out of Season...but still funny

Due South BBQ Jam Bigger and Better

No news here. The Due South Jam rocked through another Thursday night and we chowed down some fine barbequed pork. As they say in Manila, "Masarap!"
I was talking to Wilson, who was one of the first 2 or 3 people to make that a jam, as we sat watching 20 pickers in full pick, and he seemed impressed by how far this jam has come in such a short time. Dale was there, but looking and feeling pretty low. Said he burnt some brush and inhaled some poison sumac. If you've never had the pleasure...he said he spent two non-consecutive nights in the ER. Not cool.

Kendall was there reminding me of standards I forgot were my favorites. "The Old Hometown."
"...Then you'll call on Mother, but she won't be around..."

That's bluegrass, baby!

Saw a new (to me) mandolin player who's more Bill Monroe-y than Vernon, even.
Scott Patrick blew through a bunch of notes. Casey played a couple instruments very quickly and well. Bonnie deserves our attention, as her bass playin' in getting more and more solid. I've said it before, and I'll say it again--when she plays, the jam gets a groove that other jams don't have. Keep it up!

I was dog tired, but I love to hit the Due South Jam after work on Thursdays, eat some good grub, get a drink, and hang with my friends.

If you've never been there, you gotta check it out.

Oh yeah...things I learned.
Mary sells jewelry.
Jason's name is really Alex and you should call him that. (Or "Big Al")
Jared's middle name is Doug, so people called him Jug, and you should call him that.

For Wayne...

Country Roads...



Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
Rocketman!!!!!

Bill Monroe 1956

A young Bobby Hicks on fiddle.
And here's an interesting Pike County Breakdown.

Crowe Show Boffo

Well, if you missed JD Crowe over at Christiansburg High School, start kicking yourself now. There were at least a few hundred lucky souls out there in the freakishly cold weather, to see some hard core bluegrass. And it don't get any harder than JD. Heather Berry opened the show, and she was a treat. My compatriot remarked that she could "flat out sing" and that about sums it up. She had a three piece band that included her husband on the mandolin and banjo. And if you never thought much of the autoharp, she might make a fan out of you. When I last saw Heather Berry, it was in the same spot, opening for JD when he was at Auburn High School, and she was more of a bluegrass act. This time out she played some bluegrass, but most of the set was Carter-style tunes that came over well and were well-received.

JD Crowe then came on and played about the set you'd expect - hard driving, with tight harmonies.
Shawsville native Steve Thomas is in the fiddle chair, and John Bowman on the bass. Steve Thomas has apparently been everywhere, and John has too, though he seemed to have picked up some style tips from his time with Doyle Lawson--he was the sharpest dressed member of the band. Ricky Wasson claimed to have a cold, but he sounded good as ever to me on lead vocals and guitar, and Dwight McCall is one mean tenor singer and a clean, clean mandolin picker.
Crowe did his thing, and it was great to see him. Like Doc Watson, age doesn't seem to be slowing the man down. He says he's not afflicted by any arthritis or pain of any kind, and is happy about it. JD must've signed 30 banjo heads at the break. I don't play the banjo, so I picked up a copy of Bluegrass Holiday, and had him sign that, "...to my Best Friend Forever, Chris--Love JD." I'll post it up later. Highlights for me were the Mississippi River Raft, Wild Fiddler's Rag, Blackjack (that got some hoots from the Coffee Mill crowd), Goin' Across the See, You Don't Know my Mind, Rock, Salt, and Nails, Old Home Place, and many more. It was my kind of show where it was song after song after song after song with nary a break. Keep 'em comin!

The real highlight of the night though, was when Tim Mills got his pony tail cut off on stage. Hope some pictures surface of that. Timmy played a solid Flint Hill Special Earl's Breakdown with JD. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy! Timmy, keep those shows comin'!

JD CROWE!

The Lonesome Road Blues.

Hot diggitty dog.
I love JD's band right now, because some of them make me look skinny.

Jammin!

Monday is Jam night in Radford, and the dudes were cookin'.

The Mill was about 80 degrees inside, and it was nice outside too, almost warm enough for an outside Jam.

We had a visit from Vernon, which is always great. He's our resident master.

Don't forget JD CROWE is comin' to town, y'all!!!