Great jam to end the year!

Chris, Joe, tell Wayne about it. I'm headin' out on the road.

Thought it would be small and chill. It was paked!

If Trouble Don't Kill Me

As our blog audience is almost entirely literate, I've got some big news.
Not only can all the members of the band read, one of them can write real good, too.

Ralph's book, If Trouble Don't Kill Me is generating pre-release buzz. I'm angling for a role in the movie.

Cybergrass writes:

Ralph Berrier, Jr.'s book If Trouble Don’t Kill Me: A Story of Family, Brotherhood, and Bluegrass, the true story of Ralph's music-playing grandfather and his twin brother, is slated to be published by Crown in July, 2010. The book is a memoir about Ralph's grandfather, Clayton Hall, and his twin brother, Saford. Briefly put, the brothers grew up in the hardscrabble foothills of Patrick County, Va., where they learned to play music and sing from their mother.

In other news, I'm changing the name of the Java Brothers to "Judy Hall’s Bastards."

Blue Highway

This is what we were gonna see.

Damn you, snooooowwwwwww!!!!

Blue Highway Canceled

Snow done the show in...

> We apologize for any inconvenience. Our hope is to have a rescheduled date as soon as possible and we will alert you at that time. Information will be emailed to you as well as posted on our website as soon as it is available. Your current tickets will be honored at the door. If you are unable to make it to the rescheduled date, we will refund your purchase. If you have questions, please call the box office directly at 540.345.2550 x 1.

Hope they come around again soon.

Blue Highway

I'm organizing a party to see some fiery bluegrass.

Blue Highway is playing Friday Night in Roanoke. Who's with us?

These guys are the real deal and they've made it 15 years. That's somethin.

The JB's are approaching our 3rd anniversary, by the way. We're 20% as long-lived!

Ho Ho Ho-down 2009

The Coffee Mill Fiddle and Banjo jam had our Christmas party last night and it was, as usual, a good ol time.

We had caroling - Kendall led the group and fired up the Christmas spirit up and down main street. We even got called back for an encore at Mi Puerto. We hit Barry's, the Nail Shop, the Chrysalis shop, and got 'em fully riled up in Sharkey's.

Then we picked some tunes and had a fine feast. I ate way too many cookies and too many of those baked potato skins. Dang, they were tooo good.

George Smith led the tour de force "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." Lucy did some fine jinglin' on Jingle Bells.

I'm glad to know you all and we did some fine pickin! Merry Christmas!

Encore for Jack

Buckdancer's Choice. This one's a great example of his ragtime style.

Jack Rose 1971-2009

The world lost a great guitarist and a fun guy to be around. I did not know Jack all that well, but had made music with him on several occasions when I was with the Black Twig Pickers. He had become an influential fingerpicker in recent years and seemed to have really found his musical voice.

Jack was best pals with my friends and fellow BTPs Mike Gangloff and Isak Howell, who are grieving over his death.

Jack was only 38.

Only the good, as they say.

Smokin' Jam tonight

The jam is in a very healthy state right now, IMO. George Smith got out tonight with his fine banjo; George always seems to elevate the pickin. Hanging out with no desire other than to see and hear music were Bill and Wayne. Christian and Dan expanding the mandolin section. Timmy Mills, playing the whole night! Ralph, Richard, and Geoff fiddlin' up a stawm! Corey and Wayne en fuego.

Chris, Joe, Nancy, Kendall, Super Doug-E Fresh.

The jam was cookin'.

I enjoyed the John Hardy particularly.

Blue Highway in Roanoke 12/18

FYI Y'all!
Blue Highway in Roanoke!

Too busy!

I guess we were all to busy to write it up, but the jam on the night of Monday 11/30/09 was a fine one. We had an excellent crowd, and excellent bunch of pickers, and a bunch of familiar and not-so-frequently-played tunes.

Remember that the Christmas party is coming up on Dec 14th - little less than 2 weeks away.

"We'll have food, drinks and fun as part of our annual holiday party."

Monday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.
The Coffee Mill
Bring your instruments and an appetite.

No turkeys at this jam

We worked off the pounds during a pre-Thanksgiving throwdown at the Mill.

At 7 p.m., I wouldn't have bet a nickel that we'd have a big crowd. We had no more than 10 folks in the place, which was fine, because the small group included a good mix of players.

At 8 p.m., the place was PACKED. The jam rolled full-throttle till about 9:30, then a few of us left to get an early jump on the holiday. At 10, a few stragglers were still working through a few tunes.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

Jam Christmas Party Dec. 14

We'll have food, drinks and fun as part of our annual holiday party.

Monday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m.
The Coffee Mill
Bring your instruments and an appetite.
Menu details to come.

Big time at big jam

Y'all were there. Was fun, warn't it?
Good to have most of the regulars back in the house at the same time, even if it was for a one-week-only appearance.

Bluegrass growing in our backyard

The Gibson Brothers
November 13, Friday, 7:30 p.m. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke

Cadillac Sky
November 13, Friday, 8 p.m. @ The Lyric, Blacksburg

Franklin County Fiddle Fest
Featuring Junior Sisk and Rambler's Choice
November 14, Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. @ Franklin County High School, Rocky Mount

NRCC Fiddle, Banjo and Dance Club
Featuring John Viers, Zephyr Lightning Bolts
November 14, Saturday, 6 p.m. @ New River Community College, Dublin

Coaltown
November 14, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. @ Fairview Ruritan Club

More at radfordfiddle.com.

Tell me 'bout the jam!

Sorry I missed. We're all in recovery mode now.

Bluegrass in the Area

Sounds like a good show Sunday in Marion...

Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out will take part in a special performance on Saturday, November 7th at the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, VA. The performance will be taped before a live audience and broadcast next year on PBS stations across the country. The concert starts at 7:00pm and will also include performances by Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper and Williams & Clark Expedition. Song of the Mountains is hosted by Tim White. For more information including directions and tickets, call 276-783-6092 or visit www.SongOfTheMountains.org

I'm not sure when Russell Moore stepped out front of IIITO, but oh well. He's one from the Doyle Lawson farm school of bluegrass, so he's already ok with me.

Extry fun jam

We missed some familiar faces last nite, but welcomed a slew of newcomers and old pals to the jam.

A dobro player named Sandy (forgot his last name) from Tuscon stopped by on his 2,000-mile trek to hear real bluegrass music. He's on his way to Nashville, but knew he had to get to the Va/NC mountains first. He heard about our jam while in Floyd on Sunday. Heard about it from the young banjo picker who has come a few times (name escapes me). Sandy said he loved the jam and had a wonderful time.

A guitarist named Dan from Conn. sang and picked many good ones. Wayne, this is the dude you've been e-mailing. He had a good time, too.

Otherwise, we had a full house of pickers and grinners. George, Joe, Kendall, Dale (!), Nancy, Mary, Doug, Frankie, Timmy, Sloane, Jeff the fiddler, Richard, Cory, Christian, young mando picker whose name I think is Ian, aforementioned young banjer plucker, and the 2 new fellers. And me. Hope I didn't forget anybody.

Joe sang "Long Gone." Dale sang a bunch. Dan the new guy sang "Highway of Sorrow" among others. Sandy the dobro man sang a gospel number and played beautifully. I forgot the words and tunes to songs I've been singing for years.

Cookin' with the Java Brothers

Come down to Sinkland Farms in Riner for "Up in Smoke" Chili Cook-Off and Wine & Brew Festival
Saturday, November 7, 2009
12 noon - 8pm

JBs Play 3-4:15

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge

From the New River Old Time email list:

Here's some after squaredance fun to get into this Saturday in Blacksburg, VA:

LARRY KEEL AND NATURAL BRIDGE

"A lot of new things popping up so check out our tour dates for Holiday Shows and other events. Really looking forward to this weekend at the REX THEATER a new venue for us in Pittsburg…Friday is with Tony Rice in Richmond VA…then back to Blacksburg for a Saturday Night Show Down at Attitudes."

SATURDAY

November 07, 2009 at Attitudes

Blacksburg, VA

900 Prices Fork Rd. Tickets $10. Showtime 10pm. 540-552-7001

Side Door Sessions Survey

Hey y'all, I'm trying to gather some feedback on the Side Door Sessions.
What do you like?
What do you not like?
Who do you want to see?

Please click this link and try this very brief survey.

Side Door Survey

Thanks a bunch!

How was the Jam?

It's raining in Jersey.

Go Phillies!

Frankie's Jam Report

From Frank Fitzgerald:

Just an update to this past Monday night jam. No Ralph, Wayne, Chris, or Joe, so it was almost Java "Brotherless" with the exception of Doug C. on the bass. Others included Jason and George on the banjos, Richard and another guy on the fiddles (the other fiddle player works at RU and has been jamming with us; Jeff is his name; rbjr.), Curtis on the dobro, Mary on the mandolin, and rounding out the accompaniment were the following guitarists: Kendall, Nancy, Cory (who sat in Ralph's chair, played a few leads, and broke a string), and yours truly. Another mandolin player showed up [Christian, I assume; rbjr.].

We also had an electric bass player (I think his name was "Neil") join us with a mini amp powered by batteries. He has toured with Jane Powell and Clarence Carter along with others (didn't catch all of their names). He was originally from Radford (went to RHS) and he recalls Wayne and Joey. He has lived in Atlanta for 25 years.

Smaller crowd than usual, including the spectators. Good time had by all as George and Kendall provided most of the lead vocal with Curtis and yours truly providing the backup on the chorus. I thought the highlight was when Curtis did a version of "Not Afraid" which was spectacular.

Both Kendall and I left a little after 8:00 p.m. Not sure what happened then.

Definitely missed you all but everyone seemed to enjoy the music!

The Spectrum

Before I spent all my time playing bluegrass, I blew all my money going to concerts. A good bunch of em at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
First show? George Thorogood in 1985.
Followed immediately by Rush.
Then over the years, YES, Springsteen, Jethro Tull(!), Moody Blues, INXS, U2, David Bowie, LIVE, Roger Waters, 3 Dead shows, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, REM, had tickets to see the CARS but got grounded and couldn't go. I listened to FM rock and roll exclusively.
In 1987, I went down and when faced with a wad of cash, I scalped my Springsteen tickets. I later regretted this, but live and learn. I'm sure I'm missing some in there. Saw a handful of Flyers games, a couple of Sixers games, a lacrosse game of some kind. When the Flyers moved to a new arena, the Spectrum hosted the Philadelphia Phantoms hockey - tons of fights!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Christine hooked me up for this birthday.
Monday we set Isabella up with Grandma and we headed down to South Philly for a big ol' time. We hit Pat's for a cheesesteak and then down to see Bruce play one of the last shows at the Philadelphia Spectrum. We got to meet up with my old pal Andy and his bride who just happened to have tix to the very same show. He was my next door neighbor growing up and our birthdays both in October. I guess was the obvious gift for both of us.

Springsteen has been treating fans to performances of albums from the discography. We got Born to Run, which was a good one to get.
I've been a fan since I can remember, and I think Born to Run was the first album I bought with my own money, so I'm always willing to give Bruce the benefit of the doubt.

I thought of the JBs during this one - Bruce taking requests. I liked this one, not because it sounded great, but because he took a chance on it. IMHO you never want to have the whole show planned out - gotta call some audibles!


I thought Bruce might have been pulling a Del McCoury - pretending to ask for requests, and then when a million people yell up some song, he plays what he wants, but whatever...
As for the King, (whoever he was) he made the most of it, as I would have - he drove the band into Blue Suede Shoes and made Bruce take a break. Sweet.
Lighters are gone from the arena shows, replaced by glowing cell phones. In this case Phillies fans tracking the Phils-Dodgers game that ended after the show. (Phils win!)
Thanks Christine!

JBs at Sinkland Farms

JBs got rained out on Saturday, but tore it up on Sunday. We missed Doug C, but Bob Thomas sat in and laid down a righteous groove.

Check the JBs out at Sinkland Farms next week, Saturday, 10/17, 3:00-5:00PM.

I shouldn't have to twist any arms here:

Bluegrass
Ice Cream
Pumpkins
Corn Maze (Maize Maze!)
Live Animals
Hay Ride

Must I go on?

The Jam Was Good, Chris

We missed a few of our regs, but we welcomed many other folks, including PJ sitting in (or standing in) on bass. Tim T thumped the doghouse for a while, too.

Nearly 20 musicianers played indoors and out. Four fiddles, four banjers, myriad six-string-stranglers, 1 dobro (that I saw but never heard) and a couple o' mandolins comprised the ensemble. Jam groupies were kinda light, but an outstanding time was had.

How was the jam?

I'm getting ready for Dailey and Vincent.

Music in October

Here's a sample of stuff that's happening within an hour's drive. Check www.radfordfiddle.com for updates.

Autumn Leaves Festival
October 9-11, Friday-Sunday @ Mount Airy, N.C.

NRCC Fiddle, Banjo and Dance Club
With Mountain Thunder, Appalachian Mountain Girls
October 10, Saturday, 6 p.m. @ NRCC, Dublin

Dailey and Vincent
October 10, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Little River Bluegrass & Gospel Barn

Red Head Express
October 10, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. @ Fairview Ruritan Club

Film: "From Wood to Singing Guitar"
Appalshop film about Wayne Henderson
October 11, Sunday, 2 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Mac and Jenny Traynham
Oct. 11, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

John Cowan Band and the Waybacks
October 14, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke

Charlie Parr with the Black Twig Pickers
October 15, Thursday, 8 p.m. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke

Tribute to Round Peak musicians
October 18, Sunday, 2 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Shawsville Square Dance
October 24, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Meadowbrook Center, Shawsville

Dixie Bee-Liners
October 24, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. @ Fairview Ruritan Club

When the Ship Comes In

I loved this version since I first heard it.

This is the previously mentioned Chris Hillman, playing mandolin and singing with the Hillmen.


I've done that drive, too.

Chris Hillman and Herb Peterson at Kirk Ave in Roanoke

This orta be good show Saturday night that the Kirk Avenue Music Hall in Roanoke. These guys have a serious bluegrass history. Hillman was in the Hillmen before he was in the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers or even the Desert Rose Band.

Herb Peterson has done many things and is a fine banjo player. He played with the Dillards, but his final obit should not neglect to mention that he wrote Old Train.

Here's Chris HIllman with Gram Parsons...

Local media ambushes young Jason at jam

We had a great jam at The Coffee Mill Monday night, despite the absence of the Hon. G. Wayne Frye. Had groups playing inside and out, including a posse of fleece-wearing young pickers relegated to the windy streets of Radford. They were a suspicious-looking bunch, even hassled by local constables at one point.

("Are those FIVE fiddles in there?" the officers might have asked. "Yes," would have been the reply.)

One of the fleece brigade was our very own Jason Wheeler, who was spotted before the jam GIVING AN INTERVIEW to an ink-stained, blonde, hottie reporter from The Tartan. Look for a People-esque celebrity profile in a student paper near you.

The jam put the capper on a great weekend/beginning of music in Radford, following yet another successful episode of the Side Door Sessions, which ended with a raging late-night jam (see Chris's post below).

Thanks!

Guess we'll do it again.
The Side Door was another real fun time. Maybe cause it was all folks hardy enough to brave the rain who made up the audience.

Probably it was the musicians who threw themselves into putting on a fine, totally new show.

Thanks to Bill, Kendall, and Doug for throwing down the real deal country sounds of Hank Williams. Awesome steel playing, there Mr. Bill!

Thanks to Scott, Slash, and the expanded Hillbilly Hot Club for a really special mix of flatpicking and Gypsy jazz. I read somewhere that Django hated other guitar players. If that's true he really would've hated Scott, because Scott is awesome and he and the band threw down on Saturday night.

Thanks to Jim, Jeff, and Michael of Rocket Surgery. I really enjoy playing with those guys. I like to play with groups that don't really sound like anybody else, and they achieve that.

The jam went later than we ever have I think. Orla/Viola, Corey

We had some fresh faces and new converts to the Side Door. Spread the word and we'll keep Rockin' Radford. (We'll keep Radford rockin'? Both, I guess!)

I'll let you know about the next Side Door when I know when it is.

See y'all at the Jam,
Chris

Tonight's the Night

Come on out to the Side Door!

Once the Hokies are done stompin' Miami in the mud and rain, you'll need somethin' to do.

Come SEE!

Rocket Surgery
Scott Fore
Bill Adams, Kendall Weddle, and the Lonesome Drifter Band

Side Door - 3rd and Grove in Radford is where it's at.

Doors open at 7, music starts at 7:30.
$5 donation appreciated.

Newport Fest Bands

Newport Fest was a ton of fun and I'll encourage everyone to get out next year.

Till then, here's a sampling of the bands who played there this year.

Scotch Tasting!

In my opinion, one of the best kinds of tasting.

The Highlander Fest is a great weekend to throw down, but if you're looking for something a little more high end (and hey, aren't we all?), get on down to the Farmer Auction House for a little bit of fine scotch with entertainment by the Fabulous Java Brothers.

It's gonna be a real boss good time.

Support Local Business and Local Music

Whenever possible, I recommend doing both.

Here's a couple chances. Scott Fore is playing out at the River Company Brewery on Friday Sept 25th. I believe 6:30 - 9:00 is their normal dinner music timeframe.

Then he's playing at the Claret Cafe in Radford on the morning of September 26th.

And don't forget, Scott is a featured performer at the Side Door Sessions on Saturday night.

There ain't no music scene without you people!

Update:
Looks like the Side Door is your only chance to see Scott on Saturday. Claret Cafe closed. Dang.

We already know this one

Just not this fast.



This version's even better.

One for us to learn up on...

It's important to play Bluegrass music

Our pal Doug Connor said he might be able to round these guys up for a show. I love Junior Sisk. I think he's from down Ralph's neck of the woods.

What will they do to the Old Home Place?

Any entraypreenoors out there?

More Yodelin'

Nora Jane Struthers

Met this lady through PJ. Those of you who made it out to Casey's Going Away party would have met miss Nora Jane. She's been to the jam a couple three times with PJ. Saw her out at Newport Fest with James Leva. She gave me a cd and I was really impressed.

This girl can play and sing.


We got to get her out to the Side Door before she gets too famous.

Side Door Sessions - Sept 26th

Mark your calendars!!!

The lineup for the Side Door Session on September 26th, 2009 will be officially released...Now!

Come and See!

The DRIFTIN' COWBOY BAND, featuring Bill Adams and Kendall Weddle gettin' their full Hank Williams on.
ROCKET SURGERY - making old favorites from your old vinyl sound totally new.
and returning to the Side Door stage, flatpicking champion SCOTT FORE for another session.

It's been a long time, y'all and I know we've missed each other.

Let's take our summer picnic inside to the Side Door and enjoy some music to kick off the Autumn!
Tell your friends. $5 suggested donation. 7:00 PM Saturday September 26th, 2009.

Good jam last night

Noteworthy? Tim sitting in on bass! Who's a good boy?

Orla on the viola. Our dobro pal on the fiddle. (Sorry, I'm terrible with names.) He played "The Auctioneer" which I dug. We dusted off the Used to Be and the Sugar Coated Love. I like those.

Joe arrived late but contributed. We played a late Jerusalem Ridge. We'll get it down within 3 months, I think. Got to play Texas Gales with Corey. I enjoyed that.

I can't remember much else. Brain dull.

Some other witnesses can chime in.

Bluegrass Song Material

There's a whole concept album here.


And is that Bill A in the comments?

Labor of love for jammers

Not sure we even need a jam post for folks who weren't there -- because everybody was there for a Labor Day musicfest. People were playing by 6:40. Three separate jams were happening for most of the night. One inside the Mill, two on the sidewalks.

As the inside jam slimmed down, the boyz dusted off some less-tried tunes -- Roll Muddy River, The Crow, Dark As a Dungeon, etc. By 9:30, the street people had come in from the cold and we went out in a blaze of raging tunes. A good time.

Lost JBs Tapes

Restored!

The recordings will delight and surprise. Surprises like, Sally Gooden actually turned out pretty great.

It'll blow your minds. Which is perfect for a holiday weekend!

In other news, got out to Newport Fest. On stage there were Mountain Legend Express featuring Jon Benfield, the Jugbusters, and James Leva. Other bands followed, by I had to split. It was tons of fun out on the mountain side. Local beer, local coffee and a local pig got bar-bee-q'd!

Yum!

Triple B Trio at the River Company

Support local music, y'all!
This won't involve any arm-twisting. Bill Adams, Brian Mueller, and Bob Thomas - the Triple B Trio - are out at the River Company tomorrow night.

That's Friday evening from 6:30 to 9:00.

Go hear good music, eat good food, and drink good beer.

Like I said, no arm twisting needed.

Steam Powered All-Stars

This song makes me cry. Yes, that's Mark O'Connor on the mandolin.

Little ol Band from Texas!

I was super stoke to discover that my favorite Amerkin band, ZZ TOP, is playin' in Roanoke on September 11th.

ZZTop - TV Dinners
Uploaded by jpdc11. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

I'm so there.

September Songs

Marty Stuart
September 4, Friday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Newport Fest
Sept. 5-6, Saturday-Sunday @ Newport

Labor Day Mountain Music Concerts
Sept. 5-6, Saturday-Sunday @ Peaks of Otter

Albert Hash Memorial Festival
Sept. 5, Saturday @ Mount Rogers School, Whitetop

Roanoke Fiddle and Banjo Club
Sept. 5, Saturday, 6 p.m. @ Vinton Farmers Market

Song of the Mountains
Kruger Brothers, Fescue, Paul Williams
September 5, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Lincoln Theatre, Marion

Josiah's GrahamFest
Sept. 5-6, Saturday-Sunday @ Major Graham Mansion, Grahams Forge

The Flying Cowboys
Sept. 6, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Rockbridge Mountain Music and Dance Festival
Sept. 11-12, Friday-Saturday @ Glen Maury Park, Buena Vista

ZZ TOP
Sept. 11, Friday, 8 p.m. @ Roanoke Civic Center

Bill Kirchen with the Harris Brothers
September 12, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

The Moor Hounds
Sept. 13, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
September 18-20, Friday-Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Bristol, Va./Tenn.

Music in the Mountains Weekend
Sept. 19-20, Saturday-Sunday @ Peaks of Otter

Heaven's Mountain Band
Sept. 20, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

The Chapmans
September 25, Friday, 8 p.m. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke

Virginia Carolina
Sept. 27, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Java Brothers Raze Hillsville

The Java Brothers had a really good time playing at the Carroll County Ag Fair and played as good as we ever have. I'm listening to the tape now and want to go find the sound man and hug him. We sounded good on stage and that was good enough. I remember thinking (as I often do) with some wonder that, in fact, we do not suck. We are quite good. But now I have tape to prove it.

JBs live in Hillsville was really good and lots of fun.

And on top of that we made it back in time to catch the end of the Radford-Pulaski Bridge Battle game and the Bobcats made a real game of it.

Final score 19-7 Pulaski.

Thanks Ralph, Doug, Joe, and Wayne in no particular order.

Java Brothers in Hillsville, Friday

Hillsville is well known as the place to be, so I expect this is unnecessary, but in case you've recently had a head injury, I'll remind all that they should get down to Hillsville Friday evening for the Carroll County Agricultural Fair.

JBs are on from 6-8 playing their fuel-injected brand of bluegrass.

Be there!

Real Boss Jam at the Mill

Maybe it was cause it had been such a long time since all them JBs got together in one place, but the jam was indeed cookin' last night. The full complement of JBs, supplemented by new ace Cory and Banjo Jason Wheeler lending their talents, the jam ran through a whole stack of old favorites, and added some new ones like Sugar Coated Love and Used to Be from the dusty songbook we keep there. They sounded pretty fresh if you ask me.

Least that's how it seemed to me - I didn't get there till after 8.

Good Times at Nesselrod

Congratulations to everybody who made it out to the Hackensaw Boys/Patrick and Goorskey show at Nesselrod on the New last night. Thanks to Ian Fortier for putting the shows on. The earth mover was still present on the outer ring of the amphitheater which tells me that they're in this for at least the short term long haul and the shows will be back next year. I hope so. Maybe I'll even ask somebody who knows!

Saw lots of pals last night, and lots of families with lots of kids dancing around. Good times had by all as far as I could tell. The rain held off, Scott and Abe played the kind of music I love to hear - lots of brother duet stuff and fiddle tunes, the beer was available, and the sound was good. What more do you want in the NRV? Come on people!

Anyhoo, I was glad to see so many familiar faces supporting local music venues. Good job, folks!

Hackensaw Boys at Sunken Garden

This Sunday, august 23rd - check it out!
The fun, fun Hackensaw Boys will play some thrashy old-timey music, and opening up will be our pals, Side Door vets Scott Patrick and Abe Goorskey. Don't miss it.

The Hackensaw Boys
With: Patrick & Goorskey
Sunday, August 23, 2009 - 5:00pm
Sunken Garden Amphitheater at Nesselrod - Radford, VA
Buy Tickets
Tickets: $15 In Advance, $18 Day of Show
Ticket details here

Those of you in the know consider visiting my pad for some pre-show cocktails.

New Sam Bush Record!

That's big news for me, and it comes out on my birthday!

Circles Around Me, Bush's seventh solo album and sixth with Sugar Hill, will be released Oct. 20. The album is an aurally inspiring mix of bluegrass favorites and complementary new songs. "I don't know why, but it felt right at this moment in my life to go back and revisit some things that I've loved all my life, which is bluegrass and, unapologetically, newgrass," says Bush. "After all these years of experimenting --and there's experimentation on this record too --I've come full circle."
Produced by three-time Grammy winner Bush, the 14-song set includes appearances by Del McCoury, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas and New Grass Revival co-founder Courtney Johnson (posthumously). The album also employs the phenomenal talent of Bush's band: Scott Vestal, Stephen Mougin, Byron House and Chris Brown.

Buy it! Buy it!

Aug 17th Jam

Not a bad little jam last night. Started off kinda slow but got better. We started with Jason, George, Nancy, Richard, Frankie, Kendall and myself. When we figured Doug was not coming, we gave Chris a quick call and he bailed us out with the bass. After he got there, we added Joe, a new guy on the guitar, Cory, and then PJ took a turn on the bass. Kendall took one too, in order to give Chris' finger a break.

We had a good crowd, some of which looked to be new to the jam. I left at 9pm to head to work, so I can't speak for the happenings after that. I know Tim was in the house, but don't know if he played any. We missed our fearless leader, Ralph, but muddled through in his absence. Hope we are at full strength next week.

Mill Alum Wins at Fries

Down at the fiddler's convention in Fries this weekend, our old pal Matt (Fast in B) Osborne took first in the guitar competition.

Guitar:
1- Matt Osborne
2- Tony King
3- Asa Gravley
4- Gary Dalton
5- Glen Skaggs

Who's a good boy?

I'm sick. How was the jam?

Hope you got some post-Galax boost! I think I got strep so even if I felt good enough to go out after staying home sick from work, I wouldn't risk youzall's health.

Hope Mr. Christian is out there pickin', or maybe our Galax winner Mister Mueller.

Better Late than Never?

Ralph suggested a couple weeks back that I do a review of FloydFest, and I had every intention of doing just that, but I have been a bit too busy.

This won't be long. Suffice it to say that I had a great time at FloydFest and I would encourage everyone round here who likes music and having a good time to check it out.
It is not a bluegrass festival, but rather a music festival with all kinds of music, including bluegrass, represented.

I spent a lot of time at the Dance Tent, as I was there to help out Blacksburg's own Jugbusters. (My job was pretty much to tell the sound man to turn down the drums. Since the sound man was good, all I really did was dance around and listen to music.)

Over the course of the weekend I saw tons of fun bands, drank a fair bit of tasty local beers, did a little hula hooping, slept 2 nights in a tent, and got fired up to see music.

Hightlights:
Jugbusters - good job guys! Please invite me again next year.
New Familiars - can't remember songs other than an awesome Who cover to end their set. For those who know what I like about bluegrass, these guys had it. Ka-bam! They had a banjo, but were not really a bluegrass band. They looked like an Amish ZZ Top, and I guess played like it, too. They were all about attack. Loved it.

The Horse Flies -
Pyschedelic Old Time band. Not afraid of a digital delay or controlled feedback jam.


Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Led by aforementioned GP on organ, funky rock n roll. Did an appropriate cover of Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit around midnight.

Hot 8 Brass Band - Awesomely funky marching band. Oxymoron? The Tuba player played the funkiest bass I heard all weekend.

Nathan and the Zyedeco Cha Cha's - I only bother with Zydeco bands in the dance tent cause out in the open you lose that awesome feel of everything building up under the tent. Lost about 2 beers sweating dancing to these guys. (Attractive image, no?)

Peter Rowan - Sentimental favorite. Pearls before swine, maybe. When Pete played I was able to walk easily right to the front of the stage. No land of the Navajo, but a good Midnight Moonlight that made me yearn for the old JBs.

White Top Mountain Band - our old pal Jackson Cunningham sounded great with this fine old-time band.

The Smart Brothers - two actual brothers fronting a quartet that sounded like I imagine the Beatles sounded when they were in Germany. Lots of good noise and harmony = tons of fun.

I could keep on listing but why bother. The point is, there are literally dozens of acts who made it onto the festival roster by proving somewhere else they could move a crowd. I didn't see anybody I actively disliked.

So I'm starting recruiting today for next year. What made it REALLY fun was seeing lots of people I knew. The more the merrier.

This festival is not overstuffed with attendees like Merlefest. You can still hop from stage to stage with ease. There's plenty of room to roam and there's a nice vibe. I saw NO ONE having a bad time. Considering the numbers, that's amazing.

Galax Winners

Congrats to our friends who placed at Galax this year:

Brian Muller finished second in mandolin
Tim Thornton was seventh in dulcimer
Avery Davis placed fifth in youth bluegrass fiddle

Probably had some familiar faces among the winning bands, too. Let us know if we missed anybody.
See full list of winners here:

http://www.oldfiddlersconvention.com/2009win.htm


h/t to Ralph!

Joe Abercrombie last seen flatfootin' to a buncha tie-dyed hippie fiddlers in Galax at 3 a.m. with an empty bottle of Jim Beam in his hand.

4:30, Joe? FOUR-THIRTY IN THE A.M.???

That's the way you do Galax!

Mississippi Waltz

Another great, if somewhat lesser known, Bill Monroe tune.

Steppin' Out - American Roots

There's always lots of music at Steppin' Out, but put this on your calendars:

American Roots will be performing at Steppin' Out this year on Saturday at 12:00 Noon on the Acoustic Stage. The Acoustic Stage will be at the intersection of Lee Street and Main.
Drop by if you are in the area.

So say our pals Jon and Fred, and so says I.

Radford jam, Galax bureau

Seeing all of our friends from Radford down at the fiddlers convention was way cool. We have a great traditional music community in Radford-Cburg-Bburg and our little corner of SWVa was well-represented at campsites and jam sessions all over Felts Park.

In just a few hours traipsing around the site I saw:
Vernon and Paul Elkins (picked a few with them)
Sandra Lyerly (claims she heard me on the radio while driving 460 then high-tailed it to Galax)
Brian Muller (backed up his dad in OT fiddle)
Nancy Corey (cheering on the local fiddlers)
Scott Patrick (wearing a Red Man hat)
The Thornton Family (Spoke to Curtis and Maggie, saw Tim onstage)

I heard that PJ George and some of his gang were there. Not to mention Wayne, Joe and Jason. George Smith will be there tonight. Didn't see Tim Mills, but he'll be there, too.

Plus, li'l Avery Davis placed 5th in youth fiddle on Monday, which is awesome. The young siblings who come down to the jam -- and who played a rousing "Brown County Breakdown" a couple weeks back -- also competed in the youth contest and even in the adult old-time fiddle competition. The future of the NRV's bluegrass and old-time scene looks and sounds secure.

I also saw NRV neighbors like Jack Hinshelwood and Kathleen O'Connell, who don't make it out to the Radford jam, but are key figures in the local music scene.

It's really cool to me how all these people, most of whom would have never met otherwise, have gotten to become really good friends all because of their shared love of music. Down in Galax, most of us spin off into separate little communities, which is also kinda neat because it shows how far our tentacles stretch into various musical groups all over Virginia and beyond. Because of those musical associations, many of us are separated from bluegrass big shots by just a matter of degrees.

But it's not the big shots who are near and dear to me. My friends are. Keep making those sweet ol' sounds!

Galax - 8/4

No matter what the judges say, Ralph tore 'em up with his rendition of Cumberland Gap last night. The roar from the crowd (the Radford contingent) was amazing! Bunch of fine fiddler's up there, our guy included.

Not a whole lot going on jam-wise that we could get into. Ralph, Jason, Joe and myself picked for an hour or so with our old friend Vernon Elkins, his brother Paul, and several of their buddies. Had a good time with them. Joe, Jason and I looked around the grounds for some others to pick with, and even though we found some folks we knew, not much pickin going on. We stopped and listened to a couple of groups playing and then ended the evening sitting down and watching Heather Berry and some of her friends jamming at a campsite. They were mighty good.


Had a good time. May not wait 25 years before going back again!

It's Galax Time

Everybody get down there. You'll see lots of people you know, meet new ones you don't, hear enough great music to fill a campground and even get the chance to pick a tune or two.

Here's the August rundown:

Galax Old Fiddlers Convention
August 3-8, Monday-Saturday @ Felts Park, Galax

Big Dog and the Fat Cats
August 4, Tuesday, 7 p.m. @ Bisset Park, Radford

Steppin' Out
August 7-8, Friday-Saturday @ Downtown Blacksburg

Poison Bottom Boys
August 9, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Radford After 5
August 14, Friday, 5:30 p.m. @ Radford Farmers Market

Fries Fiddlers Convention
August 14-15, Friday-Saturday @ Fries Ball Park

Vinton Old-Time Bluegrass Festival and Competition
August 15, Saturday @ Vinton Farmers Market

Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain
With Southern Pride
August 15, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Roanoke Valley Pickers
August 16, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Dailey and Vincent
With Ashlee Blankenship and Josh Underwood
August 21, Friday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
August 22, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. @ N.R.C.C., Dublin

Sunken Garden Sundays
Hackensaw Boys
August 23, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

American Roots
August 23, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Kenny and Amanda Smith
With Bill and Maggie Anderson
August 29, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Mountain Fling
August 30, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Marty Stuart
September 4, Friday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Tight Unit

This post got eaten, so I'll post again, just for YOU!

Sup homies?

Chris got back to the jam after missing a couple in a row, and he was glad to be there. A small but talented unit held forth at the jam last night. Ralph, Doug, Joe, Wayne, Asenath, Christian, Larry, Kendall, Richard, and Mary were there when Chris arrived. They whacked out a bunch of fine tunes. Midnight Moonlight in honor of Peter Rowan's visit to Floyd Fest, a groovy Wheel Hoss, Stuck in the Middle of Nowhere, Temperance Reel, Rebecca, Deep Elem Blues, and I don't know what else.

Timmy showed up at 9:50 to pick one or two and help clean up. I saw Tim Pak there, but didn't here him play.

We had Pete and his wife in from New Zealand which was cool. They're friends of Richard's and appear to be living charmed lives of world travel and leisure. My hat's off to them, and I hope we'll see them again next year.

Casey Elder was at the fine Floyd Fest and sends greetings.

OK, since it appears everybody's abandoned posting to this blog but me ...

... I'll tell you about last night's jam.
It was a good one.
Two large jams, inside and out, went late. I left at 10 and Wayne and Asenath were still holding court inside (literally, since Wayne's a magistrate). On the sidewalk, the bluegrass brat pack (with elder statesmen Kendall and Bill) looked like they were in for the long haul.
Large crowds gathered in the Mill (where they need folks to spend money to keep the doors open) and on the concrete. Fiddles were played and fun was had.

7/6 Jam

At straight-up 7 p.m., we had three fiddles and one banjo in the place.
Three hours later, we had somehow sailed through another fine evening of music, singing and caffeine-fueled fellowship.
Chris showed up, bass in tow, and hung tough for more than 2 hours before relinquishing the doghouse to Kendall.
T. Mills also thumped the last number -- "Sitting On Top of the World."
Mary, Christian, Sandra, Larry, Tim P, Jason, Richard, Doug D, Bill and I (maybe some others?) along with the aforementioned troika rocked and reeled through the night. Jason and Doug played "Big Country," among other oddball numbers.
A fine time was had by all.

Jam nation

Musicians brought their usual fervor and pep to the Mill last night. Multiple banjos, mandolins, fiddles and guitars swarmed downtown, even spilling onto the concrete jungle of The Street Formerly Known As Norwood.

A great session was enjoyed indoors by a sizable crowd. Outside, a band of young whippersnappers, not to mention Tim Mills, played well past the 2200 hours mark.

Don't forget to come see the Java Brothers at the 4th of July hootenanny in Bisset Park, right at 5 p.m.

Fandangos, Floyd and Fests dominate July

Cadillac Sky
July 3, Friday, 8 p.m. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke

Radford 4th of July Celebration
July 4, Saturday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. @ Bisset Park

Floyd Fandango
Featuring Buckwheat Zydeco
July 4-5, Saturday-Sunday @ FloydFest grounds, Blue Ridge Parkway

Sunken Garden Saturday!
Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band
July 4, Saturday, 8:30 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

Roanoke Fiddle and Banjo Club
July 4, Saturday, 6 p.m. @ Vinton Farmers Market

Whitetop Mountain Band, Kentucky Wild Horse
July 4, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Sunken Garden Sundays
Second Impressions
June 5, Sunday, 6:30 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

The Happy Mountain Boys
June 5, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Wayside Bluegrass Festival
July 8-11, Wednesday-Saturday @ Wayside Park, Stuart

Phil Wiggins, Rick Franklin and Nat Reese
July 11, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Avett Brothers
July 11, Saturday, 8 p.m. @ Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre

Sunken Garden Sundays
Larry Keel and Natural Bridge
June 12, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

Olen and Frances Gardner
June 12, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Mineral Bluegrass Festival
July 16-18, Thursday-Saturday @ Mineral, Va.

Radford After 5
July 17, Friday, 5:30 p.m. @ Radford Farmers Market

Alleghany County Fiddlers Convention
July 17-18, Friday-Saturday @ Sparta, N.C.

Robin and Linda Williams
With Willard Gayheart and Bobby Patterson
July 18, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Sunken Garden Sundays
Paul Thorn
June 19, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

Appalachian Heritage
June 19, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

FloydFest
Featuring Blues Traveler, Peter Rowan, Railroad Earth, many others
July 23-26, Thursday-Sunday @ FloydFest grounds, Blue Ridge Parkway

Linda Lay and Springfield Exit
With the New North Carolina Ramblers
July 25, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Judy, Henry and Jack
June 26, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

Roanoke Fiddlefest
July 31-August 1, Friday-Saturday @ Hollins University, Roanoke

Appalachian String Band Music Festival
July 29-August 2, Wednesday-Sunday @ Clifftop, W.Va.

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
With Scott Freeman and Friends
August 1, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Song of the Mountains
Featuring Karl Shiflett and Big Country Show
August 1, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Lincoln Theatre, Marion

New River Rock Skippers
August 2, Sunday, 7 p.m. @ Roanoke Mountain Campground

For more links, go to www.radfordfiddle.com

All Kinds of Music at the Sunken Garden

I had to miss the Infamous String Dusters last week, and it sounds like it was definitely my loss.

This Sunday approaching features Jimmy Thackery and as added enticement, our own (and he is our own) Scott Fore will be opening up.

Will our own Slash be there, too? I'll be there to find out.

A good jam to see

If Mr. Seibert had to go out after last night's jam, he coulda done worse.

It was an interest jam last night. That's what I logged on initially to say when I was sad discover that Mr Simpkins had passed. It was a fairly small group of pickers, and missing some of our leading lights. I was dog tired, so I played and sang even crappier than usual, but I always when the regular group is shuffled, we got to some new and some neglected songs, and different folks got to take breaks. Ralph and I got to harmonize, which was fun. Christian and Mary go some serious solos in on their respective mandolins. Our new pal with old Martin mando was there. Richard is getting more fluent every week on his fiddle. Doug held us all together, as usual.

An average night of pickin is alwasy way better than a good night of anything work-related, to paraphrase a bumper sticker I read somewhere...

So I retroactively dedicate "Over the Waterfall" to Mr. Simpkins - safe travels!

Heaven gains another fine banjo picker - Seibert Simpkins

It's with great sadness I learned that Seibert passed away early this morning peacefully. I enjoyed my brief friendship with him and his company at several bluegrass jam sessions including Snowville on Thursday evenings and Coffee Mill on Monday nights.

Although I wasn't able to make it to the Coffee Mill last night, I understand from Richard that Seibert was there listening and enjoying the fine music --- it gives me comfort he was enjoying himself!!

Seibert fully enjoyed the music, and although not always out in front, was a fine banjo picker and always ready with a smile. You'll be missed. Joe

Great show at Sunken Garden

The Infamous Stringdusters were in terrific form during the latest Sunken Garden Sundays showcase yesterday. They drew the biggest crowd yet -- more than 100 in the "amphitheatre" and a lot of people on the hill. I'd say easily 150 total.

I didn't know a lot of the new material, and they definitely cut loose with the jammy stuff, but they played 2 excellent sets. Would have more details if I hadn't spent most of the evening chasing a 2-year-old all over Fairlawn.

They tore up "Uncle Pen" just as I piled into my car.

Super Solstice

We have phenomenal music coming our way the rest of June.

Merle Haggard
June 16, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. @ Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre

Maury River Fiddlers Convention
June 17-20, Wednesday-Saturday @ Buena Vista, Va.

Radford After 5
June 19, Friday, 5:30 p.m. @ Radford Farmers Market

Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival
and Guitar Competition
June 20, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. @ Grayson Highlands State Park

Floyd Town Jubilee
June 20, Saturday, 11 a.m. @ Lineberry Park, Floyd

Black Twig Pickers with Jack Rose
June 20, Saturday, 9 p.m. @ The Cellar, Blacksburg

Chatauqua Festival
Featuring Bluegrass, Beach and Country Music
June 20-27 @ Wytheville

Sunken Garden Sundays
Infamous Stringdusters
June 21, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

The Duhks
June 23, Tuesday, 8 p.m. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke

Song of the Mountains Festival
June 25-27, Thursday-Saturday @ Rural Retreat

Grayson County Fiddlers Convention
June 26-27, Friday-Saturday @ Elk Creek, Va.

Boogie Woogie Piano
With Daryl Davis, Wayne Henderson and Gary Patton
June 27, Saturday, 7 p.m. @ Blue Ridge Music Center

Sunken Garden Sundays
Jimmy Thackery
June 28, Sunday, 5 p.m. @ Nesselrod on the New, Radford

And just wait till July gets here! Details at RadfordFiddle.com.

Chris Burgoyne: Wagon Wheel Hoss

Great jam last night. Chris has already patted himself on the back here, so I'll say no more about his musical gifts -- although he really did sound good on the bass. Asenath took a turn, too, and also sounded great.

Had a good group and a nice crowd, including several first-timers. At the end of the night, a passel of Sharkey's-fueled college kids wandered in and requested one more song. I eyed Dale and he knew which arrow to pull from the quiver. When we started up "Wagon Wheel," one of the girls shouted, "That's what I was gonna request!"

The kids all sang along and high-fived us. Do we know our audience or what?

You all owe me.

Except Ralph, he bought me coffee, so I owe him.

Thanks to Doug's unexcused absence, I got to be the bass playah of the night. While I enjoy playing the bass, I must confess, the Key of B is pretty exhausting.


Just kidding. I dig playing bass and I had a great time. My fingers are actually blistered, though, which is the down side.

C'est la vie.

Bass la vie?

We Used our Bible for a Roadmap

It's always nice to play music in a church. To be honest, there's little else these days that will get me there.
The Java Brothers exposed themselves (musically speaking) to another congregation this morning. This time is was Radford's Central United Methodist Church. It was nice for me especially cause I walked over, enjoying a perfect June morning.

We saw some very kindly folks and enjoyed some fine community. We played the aforementioned Reno-Smiley number - "I'm Using my Bible for a Roadmap." On top of that, Deb helped us with "I'll Fly Away," and we gave 'em "Hallelujah, I'm Ready to Go."

I dedicated by unspoken prayer request to Miss Ella Watson, who's been blessed with the chance to get the liver transplant she needs, but even on your luckiest day, that's not a procedure to sneeze at.

So keep her in your thoughts.

Come on down and see us at the Coffee Mill on Monday, and remember we'll be doin' our thing July 4th in Bissett Park.

Dan Tyminski

This one is called "Wheels" and Frye likes it.

I like it, too.

More music ... in Radford! (and close by)

OK kids, we don't get a whole lotta weekends like this in the River City, so let's show 'em what we got.

Your old pals the Java Brothers re-open the Music on the New series at Glencoe Museum on Friday at 7 p.m. Good tunes, food and drinks. The music is free, not the rest of it.

Saturday, the New River Land Trust Land Jam unfurls at Sinkland Farms. Lotsa familiar names on the bill.

Later Saturday, James King performs out by the confluence of the Little River, New River and Claytor Lake in the debut of a new venue. Check www.radfordfiddle.com for details and directions.

Sunday is the second edition of Sunken Garden Sundays at Nesselrod. Electric bluesman Chris Duarte headlines. Gates open at 4 p.m.

See ya at the shows!

Jam report 6/8/09

Plenty of musicianers mowed down some bluegrass Monday night; too many to mention by name, but enough to support jams inside and out. Crowd was still a little light -- probably because of The Coffee Mill's rep as a place that boils over in the summer. Wasn't that hot last night, tho.

Lotsa music coming up. Check www.radfordfiddle.com for details.

Live Music

We got some awesome shows nearby in the near future.

The second concert at the Blue Ridge Music Center at 7 p.m. June 6 features gospel greats Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and the Paschall Brothers. Tickets are $15 at the gate. 12 and under admitted free. 7-9 p.m.; concert seating begins at 5:30. Free Gospel Workshop preceding at 5 p.m. Seating limited. Call to reserve seating (276) 236-5309.

Sunken Garden Sundays at Nesselrod on the New present our inaugural performance on June 7th featuring the award winning Blue-Grass/New Grass stylings of Raleigh-based Chatham County Line, an all-acoustic band comprised of guitarist/lead vocalist Dave Wilson, bassist Greg Readling, fiddler/mandolin player John Teer and banjoist Chandler Holt. Chatham County Line is fresh off a whirlwind of critical and commercial success in Europe following the release of Amerikabesok, their album with Norwegian legend Jonas Fjeld.

Opening band for Chatham County Line is the Harwell-Grice Band featuring our pal PJ on the bass.

I love Chatham County Line and I've never been to the BRMC, so this might be a serious weekend for Bluegrass.

Bass? Who needs a bass?

A hardy band of a dozen or so bass-less pickers had a fine ol' time during a Memorial Day jam. The crowd was a little lighter than usual, but even so, the place was mostly full. The smaller numbers and the stellar work of the rhythm players (esp. Asenath, Kendall and Nancy) made it a little easier to handle the lack of the ol' doghouse.

We welcomed a rare visit from old pal Wilson Rankin, who spun some of his classic country stylings. Tim Pak sang more songs than he has in all his previous visits combined (3, I think). Chris, Kendall, George and Asenath vocalized all nice and bluegrassy. Jason, Richard, Christian and Nancy were among the regulars, and we were joined by a young lady who has just begun playing mandolin. Hope we didn't scare her off!

The real highlight, IMHO, was the fiddling of our new young friend Avery "AveDave" Davis, who soloed on "Devil's Dream" and "Salt Creek." She earned big ovations for both, well-deserved.

Floyd Country Store

It took slightly longer than usual, and two mandolin strings were lost in the process, but the JB's had that crowd bouncin' by the end of the night. They were warmed up good, and maybe worn out from dancing with Katie and Bubba-tones, but all in all it was another Friday night at the store.

Can't beat it when the whole place gets their feet movin'.

1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Del McCoury Band at their best.

Liberty

Hey Ralph, Let's give 'em some of this...

Java Brothers. Floyd. Friday. Be there.

Hey hey! The Java Brothers make their triumphant return to the Floyd Country Store on Friday night! (5/15/09 on your calendar thingies.)

Here's the schedule:

Friday, May 15
6:30 Bluegrass Inspiration
7:30 Katie & The Bubbatones
9:00 The Java Brothers

It's gonna be awesome and you should make it out there.

Struggling onward!

We were missing both Doug and Ralph last night, so the folks had to suffer Chris on bass for a while. On the upside, they got to suffer through Asenath, Kendall, Wayne, and Tim Pak on bass also. Kudos for those guys for stepping up. All in all another fun, if slightly exhausting night. Christian Hearn sitting in, Richard on fiddle, a young girl on fiddle, and older lady with a nice voice, demeanor, and autoharp, Jason and his pal playing guitars, Harlow menacing the crowd with a toy knife, Kendall singing a bunch, George, Frye, Joe, and George Smith in there.

Good times.

Don't forget the Java Brothers at the Country Store this Friday night!

Duelin' Banjos

Now I know what I can do at the next gig if I forget to bring my banjo :).... gotta learn some of these licks and runs he does....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEJKrz_Jxig

Inquiring Minds Want to Know...

How was the jam?

JBs will Rule the World

Let's get on one of these festivals.

All Jams Great and Small

For most of Monday, a very large group played before a considerable audience -- some of whom sat on the floor with their kids.

For the last hour, a smaller group played to a considerably smaller crowd and continued to jam well past The Coffee Mill's closing hour.

Wayne, Chris showed up after you left. Chris, Wayne left before you got there. Is there a problem between the two of you?

For the first 2 hours, we played a ton of rousing bluegrass. Kendall, Wayne, George, Curtis and Asenath sang and played like the dickens. At one point, we had four youth players going strong (including 3 fiddlers; for future reference, Blake wants to play Jerusalem Ridge, and I keep putting him off; we need to attempt it). Mary M. tore up some mando solos. We went from 0 to 60 banjos in one week with George, Jason, Garland Finn and Joe laying down some three-finger discount. Frankie, Nancy, Doug, Dale, Richard and probably a host of others kept the jam pot bubbling, while Tim Mills read the paper. Oh, we sang Happy Birthday to Brittany (again! That girl's getting older by the day).

During The Coffee Mill After Hours session, we played some Old Dangerfield, Nellie Kane and Asenath played Wayne's guitar. When I left, Chris was giving FIDDLE LESSONS!

Side Door 12...on the uh...shelves...

Thanks everybody! We had another awesome time. Thanks extra to Wayne, Ralph, and MC Dale Cash for helping me with the boring heavy lifting stuff.

I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout this time. Lots of new faces and a great mix of die-hards, regulars, and semi-regulars.

I dug Lucinda and Shelly harmonizing, I was really impressed my Tim -- he's been hiding his Dobro skills under a bushel-basket!
The JBs tore it up with an all 70's set of fiery bluegrass. (We didn't get to the Allman Brothers, but almost!) Finally, we saved the best for last (and that is my opinion, not reflective of the management of Absorb Bluegrass) American Roots dug really deep. I loved the Blue Monk most of all, but they gave almost an hour of Doc and Merle style finger pickin -with a bass player this time.
Awesome.

Talked to an attendee who praised the mix of music. I take no credit because it's mostly random, but I think we did have a real good mix of good, and also varied acts.

Don't know yet when the next show will be, but we're looking at June.

Thanks again to all the musicians and music lovers who are keeping this show rolling.


Your pal,
Chris

Fun One at the Mill

We had a packed house at the Mill tonight. We had visitors from all over the world. We had Martin from Sweden taping. Alison and her friends from Scotland fiddling.

No Wayne, no banjo for a long time until PJ showed up (beckoned, as I understand it). Timmy Mills showed up about the same time.

Don't y'all forget- another Side Door on Saturday night.

We're expecting:

Lucinda and Jon Piro
Tim Pak and Andrea Marshall
The Java Brothers
and American Roots

Good times!

Kalas dies at 73; was voice for Phils, NFL Films

Kalas dies at 73; was voice for Phils, NFL Films

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Seldom Scene at the Birchmere

The quality is so so, but I think the fun of the show comes right through.

Chili Cookoff May 30th

The combined folks at The Side Door, Main Street Radford & The Chamber of Commerce have organized the first annual NRV Chili Festival to be held May 30th @ the farmers market in town.

They want to know:
Do you make awesome chili?
Think you can win a contest?



"Join us on May 30th for some fun and friendly competition
at the Radford Farmers Market.

Businesses, not for profits, churches, clubs, families, individuals and teams are welcome
to enter. See the rules & regulations and enter today!
Monetary Prizes and bragging rights will be awarded for the Judge’s Favorite, First
Runner – Up and People's Choice.

Don’t make chili but love to eat it? Stop by that day, sample all the chili & vote for your favorite.

Each team will receive: 4 T- Shirts and 2 Aprons to get their team competition ready.


First Annual New River Valley Chili Festival Application:

The deadline for applications is 5:00 PM, May 15th 2009.
An entry fee of $150 per team gives you the opportunity to participate in the
First Annual New River Valley Chili Festival.
Make entrance fee check payable to Main Street Radford


To register, complete the form below and return it and the entry fee to:
NRV Chili Festival
202Third Avenue Radford, VA 24141
ATTN: Joel Cadwell


For more information please contact Joel Cadwell at (540) 320- 8393 or you can email nrvchilifestival@gmail.com.
Thank You."

Tar Heels Deplete Jam

The Heels are playing tonight? Is there a big game or something?
I got to the jam at my usual time, very late and found that I had to park very far away, but the Mill was not the least bit crowded. Seems everybody went to Sharkey's to watch the big NCAA champeenship.

I don't have a dog in that fight, but my friends seem to like Carolina, so God bless em. But the Coffee Mill's loss was my gain (and Sharkey's too). The jam was sparce enough that everyone could actually hear each other, and we dug deep in the song book for tunes we don't normally play.

Wayne must've liked it cause he stayed till almost 10 even though I know he was planning to watch the game. He probably knew it would be a blowout. There's nothing more boring than a blowout.

Wayne tore up a good ol "Freeborn Man," Asenath did an Alison Krauss tune I haven't heard her do before, we whipped out the Ramblin' Man, and Wayne even did a John Denver. We was all over, and it sounded real good.

Things We Said Today

I'm thinking we could JB-ify this one.

Hard to go wrong with the Beatles in any case.

Pretty Good Jam

I got there late, but it was cookin' when I arrived. There was a couple fellas trying to get an old time jam started outside, and if I'd been feeling a littel better, I might have jumped in.

Notable? A fair bit of Gospel tunes- I guess people are ramping up for Easter. Lots of fiddlers. Wayne Frye getting more and more Tony-esque on his guitar every week.

We spend a good bit of time in G, which I think is healthy every so often.

Late night, Joe whipped out a song that if I'm not mistaken is called "The Crow" from Steve Martin. Sounded real good.

Hope everybody picked up an S.A.L.A. button from local firebrand Stephen Schmidt.

Hope y'all are ready for Villanova to win it all in the NCAA tourny.

Interesting Times over at RU

I don't know Penny Kyle. Might have bumped into her once. I believe she hired the JBs to play a banquet for the Tennis team in 2007. What I do know is that I've never been around someone who was actually hated as much as she is in Radford. Usually when people say, "I hate so and so," it means that so and so is driving them crazy or inflicting mild to medium social discomfort on a somewhat regular basis.

People HATE Penny Kyle. If she ended up suddenly missing, foul play would be immediately suspected and there would be a thousand worthy suspects.

Most of the people I know who despise Kyle are longtime RU staff displaced or adversely affected by her tenure as head of RU. Apparently now the student body is joining the ranks of those in less than love with Kyle.

Our boy Stephen Schmidt, Coffee Mill's Monday Night man for the last year or so, is a leader a group of students called SALA - Students Advocating Liberal Arts.

They're not happy about the new direction of RU that is cutting a lot of the liberal arts programs.

There was an open forum to discuss the budget and issues that concerned the university community last night, and it ended with a significant number of students marching out in protest.

I liked this part of the story:

An early hint of the discontent in the crowd was evident when Kyle, answering a question from a longtime staff member and single mother worried about her job security, said that the difficult economy had affected everyone.

"I'm personally not living like I used to live," she said, as members of the audience laughed out loud and groaned. Kyle's annual salary is $359,256.

The piece went on:

Several of the students at the forum are members of Students Advocating the Liberal Arts. Radford students Emily Walker and Stephen Schmidt started the group last week to voice concern about the impact budget cuts and the university's strategic "Radford 7-17" plan will have on educational quality at Radford. More than 700 students have joined the group on Facebook.

[snip]

A chaotic back and forth ensued as Lerch, Kyle and Stanton tried to calm the students by referring to the volume of questions and telling them that there is an established process for program review.

"Why do you get to choose?" one student shouted. "This is an open forum."

Kyle said Stanton would set up a separate forum to discuss questions about program review. Kyle added later that the university could not discuss it publicly now because it could taint the process.

"Why was anthropology cut without the program review?" another student shouted.

Kyle repeated that no program review questions would be answered at the forum and most of the students got up and walked out.

Schmidt said he was not surprised by the outcome of the forum and said the program review has "everything to do with the budget."

"I wanted them to be honest and I wanted them to be straightforward in their answers," he said. "What this school has needed and what it needs now is a watchdog."

Ain't No Party Like a Bluegrass Party

Check it out, yo.
Some video from Casey's Going Away Pick - a - Thon!

All the Good Times are Past and Gone

Well some of them are anyway. The mighty Casey, a star picker in the NRV for a good chunk of the last decade, is movin' on to Raleigh. I met Casey through Christian Hearn, who I think met him at a Blacksburg jam. I can't place the time exactly, because I have no memory cells left, but I think it was around 2003 that we got together to do some pickin'. I remember we went to the Triple Creek festival in 2004 in Rocky Mount with Bass Player and guitar builder Greg Van Nest. There we of course bumped into Timmy Mills lurking in the shadows, and we saw Charlie Waller for the last time in person. We sat in our folding chairs and watched a ton of bluegrass - the best way to spend your time.

Casey picked with me in Doublenaught Jethro, tho he never quite accepted the name. Casey was my go-to guy to try and learn challenging tunes. He's the only other person I know who likes to play the Woodchopper' Reel. He's got a non-bluegrass musical background just like me. He's a heck of an electric bass player, and claims he once knew how to play Charlie Parker's Donna Lee. That's faster than Salt Creek, even. Casey has been on board with the JB's since the beginning. We've played out at Selu, we've played the Country Store, my house, Casey's house, the Side Door - he was in the first act ever! We played tunes at Joe's house, Matt Osborne's porch when he was in Blacksburg, we played with Matt at the Cellar. That was where Casey got together with Gabe and they did some recording. Casey and I got stuck out at Osborne's place in Long Shop during an ice storm and we didn't get unstuck till noon the next day. We played up at the banquet hall on North Main in Blacksburg. We played the Coffee Mill, the Pumpkin Patch, Bissett Park, and who knows where else. That guy is everywhere. Simultaneously, Casey was often a JugBuster, I think he played with F150 some, he recorded with the Clatterbucks. The guy is ev-ry-where. With Casey at least temporarily out of the local picture, there'll be a big hole to fill in the picker community. He's the only guy I know who's as likely to rip out one of those super hard Chris Thile tunes as he is a straight up old time tune. He's wicked mandolin picker, and ace guitar player, fine bass player, a tasteful selector of songs, and a reliable pal. I pronounce him here and now, totally unnecessarily, Casey Elder - Good Egg.

One other good thing about Casey, and a reason I don't sweat him movin' too much is that he's always been willing to travel for music. We've been down to NC for MerleFest. We went up to Club 202 and saw Chatham County Line one time, and the Steep Canyon Rangers another. We went and saw Bela Fleck's trio with Bryan Sutton and Casey (the lesser) Driessen. I'm confident we saw a show or two at the Lyric. I met him in New York for Grey Fox. I met him in DC to see Hot Rize. We drove up to Charlottesville in 2005 to see David Grier, Mike Compton, and Butch Robins up at the Prism Coffee House. That was after Butch dropped into the Coffee Mill jam. Casey, like myself, was often a late arrival to the jam, when things thin out and the pickin' gets faster, that's right where Casey oughta be.

I'm leaving it to Casey to identify a group of NC pickers and local shows and give us a good reason to have a musical road trip.

Last night's Casey Send-off Pick-a-thon was a real good one. I showed up after set one, but I heard that was fine. And while we were bummed that Casey is movin' on, it was great to see the who's who of NRV pickers out to wish him well, and more importantly, tear up some tunes.
Who'd I see? Ralph with Miss Lucy, Wilson and Liz Rankin, Dale Cash, Christian Hearn, Liam Kelly, "Matt", a fiddler named Rachel who didn't fiddle, Ginger, Bob Browder (who I think I met through Casey). Bill Adams was there - fired up to pick and staying later than I think I've ever seen. Brian Muller showed up. You know Timmy Mills wouldn't miss it. Joe Abercrombie was there - he's played a set or two on stage with Casey. PJ came with his fiddle and his very talented friend Jane, and those guys and Brian led the jam for a long, excellent time. Doug Capobianco held down the bass chair for a good long time on Casey's awesome Fender Jazz bass, -- sounded like John Paul Jones, it was awesome...however, I digress...
Everyone was there to pay homage to our pickin' pal Casey, and I tell you, it was good one.

Wayne Frye had to work and couldn't make it, but he made sure to call me and tell me to pass on his good wishes to Casey. I forgot of course, so I'll do it now.

End the end, this just gives us an excuse to get out the calendars, find a festival a few months off, and mark that date in red. We'll all meet somewhere and do some serious jammin'.

The time in Manila

Here is a neato clock that tells me what time it is, right this minute in Manila.

Ground Zero for Music Now

As soon as I get my time machine fixed, I'm gonna go back to certain places at certain times where important music scenes were really happening.

Louis Armstrong in Chicago in the 20's, Charlie Parker on 52nd Street in New York in the early 40's, I'd go see them. I'd drop in on all the different rock and roll movements - The Who and the Kinks and the Rolling Stones in London; CCR, the Grateful Dead, and the hippie bands in San Francisco; the Doors and the Byrds in LA, punk in New York, early 80's in Athens, Georgia, Grunge in Seattle...then I'd go back to Paris and see Django Reinhardt and on and on...

And when I was done, and back to NOW, and having dealt with whatever tears in the space-time continuum I'd caused by dancing with my grandmother at a Duke Ellington concert, I'd be in just the right place.

Clearly, the New River Valley is where thing are at right now.


We've seen the Side Door Sessions flourish, and these two guys are among the many voices you've heard there. Read this and realize we are where it's at. Our pals Scott Patrick and Abe Goorskey have made an album! Go buy it y'all! And then make your own album, and sell that one, too. This place is crawlin' with talent.


[Photo by Alan Kim, Roanoke Times]

PS: Don't forget the Casey's-leaving-town-and-we-gotta-pick-with-him-one-more-time party tomorrow night! Be there!