Hee’s Riley Baugus – looking forward to seeing him perform at Merlefest!
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Differences
Regular readers know the truth. I’m an unrepentant folk music freak enthusiast. That’s just the way it is. I think it was squeezebox king Flaco Jimenez who said something about folk music being very simple music dressed up to seem really complicated. Still, there are nuances that create firm separations between various strains.
For instance, polka freaks could argue all day about the differences between Conjunto, Push, Honky and Slovenian polka styles and never get bored. Or step back and start talking about polkas and paso dobles and Cajun two steps and Portuguese marches.
Recently I’ve immersed myself in fiddle and banjo music after years lost in the land of the free reed. This naturally leads to a discussion of the various forms using that instrumentation. My brother the trout, Salvelinas Fontinalis was kind enough to send me an article that clearly explains the differences between Celtic, Old Time and Bluegrass music and as an educational service I’ll share it with you here. There will be a quiz later. This came from the National Folk Festival website.
A taste: An Old Time banjo player can lose 3 right-hand fingers and 2 left-hand fingers in an industrial accident without affecting his performance. A Celtic banjo player flat picks everything. A Bluegrass banjo player puts jewelry on his fingertips to play. An Old Time banjo player puts super glue on his fingernails to strengthen them. Never shake hands with an Old Time banjo player while he’s fussing with his nails.
Always Be Closing
Our cat Rossi died today. He had a stroke or maybe strokes about a year ago and since he’s been living with seizures that have become increasingly severe with the passing of days. He was a good cat, grumpy, independent and yet in a strange way the most affectionate of the bunch – on his own terms. I admire that.
His first name, the name we called him by when we first met him, was Always be Closing, from GlenGarry Glen Ross. We called him that because when he showed up on our porch at Blackthorn, he did everything he could to close the deal.
We realized soon enough that Always be Closing was a stupid name for a cat, so we changed it to Rossi.
Rossi
Always be Closing
RIP bud.
Just Sayin’
Countdown
At Sea
At Sea
This photo reminds me of Life of Pi. Which one of them is the tiger?
West Fork Gals
West Fork Gals is a great old time tune. I was listening to it today and wondered about the West Fork. I have no doubt that some fine gals live along its banks. The name must refer to the West Fork River in North Central West Virginia. It’s a slow moving river – definitely not a trout stream as we think of them although it does hold some trout. It’s a popular fishing river, stocked with muskies and also holding carp and catfish bass, sauger and walleye. It has officially been the West Fork River since 1902.
The first video features fiddle and guitar back-up by Gadaya. The second features Curt Alsobrook
Writing this post, I just thought about that wonderful tune all about rivers – The Brazos. Let’s give it a listen…Here’s Townes, found on the YouTube machine….
Oh that was so good I need one more taste. Here’s a version featuring an autoharp by Chris Twomey.
You move no you move
Tuffy P took this shot this morning.
Jerry and Rossi
I declare spring
Ellie Mae and friend
Ellie Mae met this youngster out on a walk today.
Ellie Mae makes friends
Daniel Boucher and Friends
Tuffy P stumbled upon a fantastic concert from the Library of Congress this morning of French Canadian fiddle music from Connecticut. I had no idea there was a French Canadian fiddle tradition in Connecticut, but it must be a good one if this concert by Daniel Boucher and Friends is any indication. Normally I don’t post long videos but this one has really delighted us this morning. If you’re hanging around the house this morning, doing whatever, enjoy the concert at the same time.
27th Street 