It actually falls into a category I like to call hobos, tramps and bums. Here’s Dean Martin sounding just great, performing Bumming Around
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Best Laid Plans
My intention was to bang together my raised veggie garden on the weekend, but with the snow pelting against my face I just didn’t feel the love for gardening activities. Reading and enjoying an afternoon nap seemed to me to be far more civilized activities. Fortunately the Easter long weekend is coming up. I have all the materials I need, including the soil.
What time does your train roll by?
The train song of the day is Danville girl. This one is a personal favourite. Let’s start with Woody.
Now here’s Spider John. I’d like to send this one out to my pals Candy and Stagg, who have been out on the road.
Now for something else again. Here’s Dock Boggs.
Love that banjo!
Something is very wrong with this picture
I started some prep work out in the back yard this morning for the new raised garden I’m creating. Suddenly the sky got all dark and it started snowing on me. That’s just not right. It’s stopped now and none of it is sticking, but still, it’s not right.
Train of Love vs The Love Train
The train song of the day pits Train of Love against The Love Train. Which do you like?
Of course that was Johnny Cash. I also love Bob Dylan’s tribute…
That’s hard to beat, but Love Train by the O’Jays still stands up as great pop. This is singing in the shower music coming at you.
This is not to be confused with Peace Train, friends..
Better not tell the Mayor…
Or…how to get a busking permit.
I drove up to beautiful East York today, to the East York Civic Centre to get my Toronto busking permit.
Here’s how it works. First you stand in line at intake. This line-up is for any kind of license so buskers have to line up with folks who want a patio license for their restaurant and so on. At intake, you’re asked for two pieces of government issues ID. Then you’re asked what it is you’re after. A busking permit, I say. OK, go sit down and we’ll call you. A short while later my name is called over a loudspeaker. Mister Anchovy to desk 6 please. At desk 6, I’m asked for two pieces of government issued ID. I ask if the same two pieces I showed that last person were OK or did she require two different pieces. She gave me that please don’t be a smart-ass look I know so well, and I forked over the ID. She asked me what kind of busking I planned to do. Musical performance. What instrument. Squeezebox. Huh? Squeezebox. Accordion, you know. Oh, accordion. Do you use an amplifier? I swear on my honour I will not amplify. Do you just play accordion. Well, what if I were to bring out my ukelele one day? Would the long arm of the law come down on my with great prejudice? Just put ukelele on the form. It’s OK, I’m just messing with you. Do you sing? Never. You wouldn’t want that. OK. Step over to the camera. She takes my picture and sends me back to sit down. After a while, my name is called again. Mister Anchovy to cash please. I go to cash. That will be $39. I fork over the dough and she gives me a laminated card with my picture on it that says busker on it and a paper permit. It used to be they only gave me a paper permit. Then they upgraded and gave me a cardboard card. Now I’m so official, I can hardly stand it. Look out Toronto, Mister Anchovy is coming.
Back from the shop…
Chris at Musical Instruments of Canada did a fantastic job repairing the grill of my Guerrini triple row button accordion. The grill, including both corners, broke last weekend in what I can only describe as a macabre accordion accident. With some super-glue, epoxy and magic, Chris repaired it to the point where you have to look very closely to see it had ever been damaged. Fantastic!
Train 45
You might think I’m running out of train songs. No way. Here’s Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys performing Train 45. This one goes out to Salvelinas.
Now for a much different take on the tune, here’s Woody
And one last version, this one featuring Grayson & Whitter
Stuff to Do
Not working Friday, but it looks like I have a full day ahead of me. In the morning I’m going to pick up the materials I need to build the raised veggie garden I have planned for the back. I don’t have full sun back there, but with the old apple tree gone, I think I have enough to grow a number of things. Then I’m off to the East York Civic Centre, which is where I have to go to pick up a 2011 busking permit. Then on the way back I’m going to pick up my button accordion, the one with the broken grill, at Musical Instruments of Canada. They’ve managed to somehow or another repair the grill! I can’t wait to see it and to play it again. If I have time after, there’s some shelving to build in the basement, a bathtub that needs new silicone, and more.
Freight Train Boogie
Har! There’s even an accordion. That was Red Foley.
This is your train song of the day, by the way.
Do you know the Delmore Brothers? I love the harmonica opening to this version.
And one more…here are the Louvin Brothers, with an understated, stylish take on the tune with some nice singing.
27th Street 