There are two completely different tunes (that I know of) called Diamond Joe, which appear to be unrelated. The first one is a cowboy song. I first heard it from an Ian Tyson record back in the early 80s, but it’s a tune that has… Read More
Here is the Gladson Family Band performing Black Eyed Suzie. In Old Time Music, vocals can come in at almost anytime. Sometimes only a verse or two is sung, while at other times many, many verses are sung. The brief bit of singing in this… Read More
I’ve been listening to some Metis fiddle music lately on the YouTube. Here’s the tune known as the “Metis National Anthem”. The player is Patti Kusturok AKA Patti Lamoureux, and she is playing two versions of the tune, which she refers to here as the… Read More
Time for some Canadian Old Time music. Here’s a few selections by Mac Beattie and his Ottawa Valley Melodiers. Join me in my time machine. We’re going to the Ottawa Valley in the days of the log drives. The Log Driver’s Song A Little Shack… Read More
I only know the music of Meredith Axelrod via YouTube. I know she lives out on the west coast, and I also know she sometimes plays with another performer I really admire, Frank Fairfield. I don’t know if she has any recorded material available (if… Read More
For those of you who prefer a bow to a crank, there is this excellent Swedish instrument called the Nickelharpa… As I was listening to this, it occurred to me that it is only a matter of time until somebody tries an AC/DC tune on… Read More
I came across an excellent demonstration video about the Hurdy Gurdy. It’s quite the complicated Medieval instrument with drones, melody notes and even a rhythm device, but it is beautiful in its own way, with a hypnotic quality.
I arranged for a primo table at Hugh’s Room for the April Verch Band’s CD release well before I tumbled from the front steps and broke my ankle – and we didn’t want to miss this show. There were some challenges. To start with, dinner… Read More
Some fiddle tunes go by different names in different places. One I play on clawhammer is Western Country, which is sometimes called Susananna Gal or Fly Around my Pretty Little Miss. Here’s another tune that goes by different names. In this first video, these guys… Read More
Since I was back at the hospital today I wondered if there were any tunes about going to the doctor, or tunes about doctors. The first one that came to my mind is Ramblin’ Jack’s performance of Arthritis Blues. I’m fortunate not to have arthritis,… Read More
27th Street 