The IBMA awards were held yesterday and I just wanted to congratulate Ronda Vincent (who won best female vocalist for the seventh consecutive year), Rickey Scaggs, Tim Obrien, Bryan Sutton, Rob Ickes and all the other winners! I was a bit suprised to see that Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush won nothing as they’ve both released incredible albums in the last year! Here is the complete list of winners.
One of the most exciting new talents in bluegrass is Old School Freight Train. They have a style that fuses bluegrass with jazz and a pinch of several other styles including motown and the result is very original and very cool! What a smoking group of pickers! Old School Freight Train is releasing their first live album! Details are below.
Here is the info from their website:
Old School Freight Train has just released a brand new live record, LIVE IN ASHLAND. Recorded this spring and summer in Ashland, VA, the album features six brand new OSFT originals and some never-before-recorded covers. The record will be available online in our store and at shows only.
David Grisman is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of his musical carreer with a new release on October 3rd entitled The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience. I can’t say enough how much I love and respect the Grisman’s work. Bill Monroe once said that if you love bluegrass music, you should take it and use it to make something new. That is exactly what the dawg has done. You can download The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience right now on livedownloads.com
Here is the info from acousticdisc.com
| For the past few years, one of the best-kept secrets of the Bay Area music scene was a David Grisman Bluegrass Experience show. With lines stretching for blocks, it would be standing room only to hear this amazing band. Now at last, everyone can hear David Grisman and his stellar group of Bay Area bluegrass musicians on DGBX - The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience.
The band includes Keith Little (Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton, the Country Gentlemen) on 5-string banjo, guitar and vocals, Jim Nunally (John Reischman & the Jaybirds) on guitar and vocals, Chad Manning on fiddle, Samson Grisman on bass and of course, David Grisman on mandolin and vocals. The CD opens with a dynamic version of the Monroe Brothers’ “I’m Rollin’ On.” The DGBX trio wails on the Carter Family classic, “Engine 143″ as well as a unique bluegrass interpretation of Charlie Poole’s “Baltimore Fire.” Jim Nunally’s renditions of “Down the Road” and “Ruben’s Train” would make Flatt & Scruggs proud while Keith Little’s eloquent delivery of both “Dream of the Miner’s Child” and “Are You Afraid to Die?” (highlighted by Samson Grismanís bass solo) pay heartfelt homage to the Stanley Brothers. Rounding out this traditional bluegrass program are the Grisman favorites, “Dawggy Mountain Breakdown” (the popular theme from radio’s Car Talk show) and the ever popular “Old and in the Way.” DGBX is the debut recording of a the Dawg’s own hand-picked bluegrass band. |
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(via mandolin cafe)
The Dopyera Brothers’ (inventors of the Dobro) collection of musical instruments is up for sale. The brothers immigrated to America from Slovakia in the early twentieth century and created tons of amazing musical instruments. The dobro or resophonic guitar has a metal cone in it that provides a natural amplification mechanism. The dobro was originally invented as a way for guitarists to have a voice in big bands where they would often get drowned out by horns when electronic amplification was not always readily available. The dobro grew to represent a unique sound in blues, bluegrass and other americana styles. The Dopyera brothers adopted the resonator to other instruments as well including the fiddle and the violin (see ham can). Boy what I wouldn’t give to get my hands on one of these beauties!
(via boingboing)
Here is something to get all you Chris Thile fans over the news that Nickel Creek is breaking up. Sugar Hill Records is holding a contest on YouTube to see who can make the best video for a song off of Thile’s new album How To Grow A Woman From The Ground which was released yesterday. The grand prize is an iPod. I can’t wait to see some of the creative ideas that people come up with. I have a couple of my own. Check it out!
Today, September 9, 2006 marks that 10th anniversary of the passing of Bill Monroe.
Bill Monroe was one of the most (if not the most) influential musicians in American history. He paved the way for so many musicians and styles of music that are around today and inspired generations of musicians. In addition to creating bluegrass music, Monroe personified what it means to be a musician in modern America. Bill Monroe dedicated his entire life to music touring throughout the years and always puting his fans at the top of his priority list. He was a rare breed and they broke the mold after they made him. His music will live on in the hearts and minds of bluegrass lovers forever. Thanks Bill!
Here are some relevant links:
Its been a good long while since I’ve written anything here and I just wanted to mark my return to actively writing this blog with a story that is very near and dear to me.
Three years ago I made my annual pilgrimage to Telluride on the third weekend in June to unwind and party with my friends at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. As I do every year, I entered the raffle that Martin holds for a one of a kind Telluride Bluegrass commemorative guitar. I purchased two tickets and strategically folded them and put them in the box. This was on the first day of the festival, Thursday.
Three days of friends, beer, music and relaxation later its Sunday and the drawing is occuring. By now I’ve completely forgotten about my $4.00 raffle ticket purchase and am not even paying attention to the drawing when I suddenly hear Pastor Mustard’s voice announce “The winner is Matthew Price from Albuquerque, New Mexico!” Time stood still for several moments as I analyzed the situation and tried to rationalize it with some explanation other than “O man I won!”
I finally collected myself I ran to the side of the stage presenting my drivers License so that I could collect my prize. I then got to go back stage where all the performers hang out and meet some of the people from Martin and the festival organizers. Then I saw her for the first time, my one of a kind Martin D18 GE with custom inlay that reads “Telluride Blugrass 30 Years”. I was overcome with emotion, could hardly contain myself. I must’ve looked pretty silly to the Martin guys because I was just completely beyond words. After getting about 10 free sets of strings I carefully carried the guitar back to my tarp for all of my fellow festivarians to check out. I strummed a few chords on it, but felt unworthy of playing it at all. By now a small mob was surrounding me so I decided that it’d be good for the guitar to make its exit from Town Park. I very carefully carried it back to my lodge (making sure to take the back way) and put it away. For the rest of the festival the guitar was all I could think about.
When I got the guitar home I would force myself to scrub in like a surgeon before ever playing it. I would warm up on my old guitar before playing it. It took me about two weeks before I could play my beautiful new guitar without feeling like I wasn’t worthy of it. The guitar sounded absolutely astounding everytime I’d play it. I’d been playing guitars for many years prior to winning my Martin but it humbled me and made me feel like I’d just started playing again.
As the months went on I’d play my new Martin D18 almost everyday and I got alot better at guitar, thouroughly enjoying it everytime I’d play it. I’d look forward to playing the guitar and pick it up as soon as I’d get home. I experienced the joy of music like never before. The guitar was such a pleasure to play that I started really analyzing all aspects of my life and asking myself what other things are out there for me that I might be missing out on. I looked at everything. Friends, relationships, lifestyle choices, you name it and I was wondering if it could be improved upon. My Martin had been a catalyst for change in my life.
The invaluable lessons that my Martin has tought me are to always strive for the best life has to offer and never settle for mediocrity. Three years have passed since I won my Martin and virtually everything about who I am has changed. The only constants are that I still play my Telluride Bluegrass Festival Martin D18 and I still attend Telluride Bluegrass Festival every year.
None of the modern bluegrass acts carry on Bill Monroe’s legacy quite like King Wilkie does. King Wilkie was Bill Monroe’s favorite horse and with a name like that, you’d be obligated to stay to your bluegrass roots! King Wilkie is widely regaurded as bluegrass prodigies after winning the IBMA’s best bluegrass act of the year for 2004. I had the honor of seeing King Wilkie at Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2005 and they really blew me away. Southern Living magazine has a great article about King Wilkie in this month’s issue:
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| Soul of the South: King Wilkie New Kings of Bluegrass: King Wilkie, Charlottesville, Virginia |
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King Wilkie plays bluegrass with charisma, confidence, and the certainty that they’re following in some mighty big footsteps.They named themselves not after legendary bluegrass master Bill Monroe but after his favorite horse. If that seems humble, it fits the respectful, down-to-earth demeanor of the young Charlottesville-based band, who put their hearts and considerable talents into every show, no matter how big or small the audience.
In tonight’s gig at Smith’s Olde Bar, a dark, smoky Atlanta rock club with sparse patronage on a Sunday evening, King Wilkie entertains a small group of fans in a way some bands reserve for a crowd of 2,000. Guitarist John McDonald and mandolin player Reid Burgess smile through friendly, low-key banter with the audience between songs. Anticipating the show, lead guitarist and songwriter Ted Pitney says, “Sometimes a tiny intimate club or room is really great because you’re super connected, you know?” The band, which also includes banjo picker Abe Spear, fiddler Nick Reeb, and bass fiddle player Jake Hopping, makes connections playing songs about loneliness and heartbreak, tragedy and bravado. They run through pieces they wrote–including “Wrecking Ball,” “Angeline,” and the rest of their 2005 six-song EP Tierra del Fuego. King Wilkie chooses bluegrass when other performers in their twenties might be following the well-worn path of alternative rock. Reid and Ted love this essentially Southern music enough to let it pull them out of Ohio, across the Mason-Dixon, to where bluegrass first grew. “A friend of mine played me a Bill Monroe record when I was 19 or 20, and I was blown away,” Reid says. “I became really obsessive.” Then he got lost at a festival and wound up in close proximity to John Hartford. “It was a real southern Ohio traditional bluegrass festival,” he recalls. “It was just so small you could actually go up and meet the musicians.” They’ve met plenty since forming the band and releasing three albums: True Songs; their critically acclaimed follow-up, Rebel Records’ Broke; and then Tierra del Fuego. Now some hail King Wilkie as the young lions of the genre. Others suggest the band may help save the time-honored traditions of bluegrass. Not so fast, Reid says. “I don’t think you have to worry about the music becoming extinct,” he explains. Bluegrass lives in the playlists of dozens of traditional bands–and the hearts of untold thousands of fans. “It’s just so much bigger than us.” King Wilkie’s picks: If you want to hear where bluegrass all began, the Charlottesville band recommends The Essential Bill Monroe & The Monroe Brothers, The Essential Bill Monroe & His BlueGrass Boys, and Appalachian Stomp: Bluegrass Classics. In addition to King Wilkie, some other musicians keeping the tradition alive include banjo virtuoso Alison Brown and singer Gillian Welch. |
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One of my all time heros is Bill Monroe. I’ve read many articles, books and documentaries about him and in addition to being a musical genious he was a man’s man. Not too many people can claim to have invented a style of music but Bill Monroe can. Bill Monroe’s family would play traditional songs and by the time Bill was old enough to play the only instrument that wasn’t claimed was the dreaded mandolin which Bill happily took up. He learned all of the traditional songs, many were taught to him by his favorite uncle Penn. Monroe took those songs and sped them up to a breakneck pace. He added the fiddle and banjo and before you know it bluegrass was born. He would channel the ancient tones by adapting traditional music to his newly found style. Thousands of people flock to bluegrass festivals every summer and they can thank one person for pioneering the high lonesome sound. Bill Monroes was tough as nails too. There are many stories of his staunchiness and legendary bar fights where he and his brothers Birch and Charlie would beat up fifteen men. He plowed his fields by hand when he was in his seventies not because he needed to but because hard work was in his blood.
For your listening pleasure:
Cheyenne (Bill Monroe) Decca 29406. Nashville, December 31, 1954.
Roanoke Decca 29406. Nashville, December 31, 1954
Muleskinner Blues From Grand Ole Opry’s “Prince Albert Show,” November 25, 1939. From the CD collection “The Music of Bill Monroe” MCA.
Uncle Pen Decca 46283. Nashville, October 15, 1950
Can’t You Hear Me Callin’ (Bill Monroe) Solo by Mac Wiseman. Nashville, October 22, 1949
What Would You Give (In Exchange For Your Soul) by the Monroe Brothers (Charlie and Bill) Bluebird B-6309. Charlotte, February 17, 1946
Cryin’ Holy Unto My Lord Bluebird B-8611. Atlanta, October 7, 1940
Wicked Path of Sin (Bill Monroe) Columbia 20503. 1946
Little Community Church (Bill Monroe) Columbia 20488. 1948
That Home Above Columbia 20488. 1948
Shine Hallelujah Shine Columbia 38078. 1948
I’m Traveling On and On Columbia 38078. 1948
The Old Cross Road Columbia 20576. 1949
Walkin’ in Jerusalem (Bill Monroe) Decca 28608. 1952
A Voice from on High Decca 29348. 1954
I’ll Meet You in the Morning (Alfred E. Brumley) Decca 30739. 1958
Welcome to my bluegrass website! I’m starting this site because I love bluegrass and want to share my passion for bluegrass with others. I’ve written a few bluegrass related articles on my other site which fired me up to start a site dedicated to the subject. This site will allow me to learn more about bluegrass and find other people that are interested in that high lonesome sound. When I listen to bluegrass, it takes me to another place in my mind where its summer in the mountains. Bluegrass puts me in a happy mood and makes me want to jump out of my seat and dance around!
I realize that there are two types of bluegrass fans out there, the purists and the non purists. I am a non purist bluegrass lover which means that I will be writing about musicians that have bluegrass roots but take the style to new places. These musicians include Bela Fleck, Yonder Mountain String Band, New Grass Revival, John Cowan, Sam Bush, David Grisman and Peter Rowan. I will also be writing about some very traditional bluegrass acts such as Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Del McCoury, Ricky Scaggs (the newer stuff), and many many more. I hope you have as much fun reading this site as I do writing it. If you want to talk about bluegrass music, contact me at starlightlounge(at)gmail(dot)com.
