WHAT YOU MAY FIND HERE

RANTS, RAVINGS and RUMINATIONS along with
RAUCOUS RIBALDRY and RAMBLING REFLECTIONS

Saturday, December 26, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (St Stephens Day subsection)

My favorite Carol. No info on the artists ... sorry.



However, here's the Irish Rovers doing the version I post every year !!
I especially enjoy the final stanza.

Friday, December 25, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

I post this every Christmas. Can't see any reason not to do it again.
Hope you and your families had a wonderful Christmas.



All the Best from all the min-bears and the proprietier of the Idle Hands Dep't.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas from the Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The Trinity River Band doing a very nice medley. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
.


Trinity River Band: Mike Harris - Guitar, Lisa Harris - Bass, Sarah Harris - Mandolin,
Josh Harris - Banjo, Brianna Harris - Fiddle.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Geography Div (Warmer climes subsection)

Thought that since today is the Winter Solstice (well, here at least - at 9:49PM) and it's cold, a venture to somewhere warmer would be nice. Christmas Island ...how appropriate, eh ?


Saturday, December 19, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Yuletide subsection)

A standard of Bluegrass Christmas songs. Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys doing Christmas Time's a' Coming



. Bill Monroe - mandolin, Dale Morris - fiddle, Blake Williams - banjo, Tater Tate -Bass and Wayne Lewis-guitar.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Geography Div ( Lost treasure subsection)

Growing up in Arizona, I continually heard the legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. I spent hours in the Superstition Mountain Wilderness hiking and climbing ... and yes, speculating on the various landmarks and the probable location of the treasure.
Drove through this area last week while on a visit to see Mom. Ah, the memories.

Here's a copy of the Peralta-Ruth map and its "solution"  Happy hunting.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Yuletide subsection)

Well, time to get on with some more songs for the approaching day. Samantha Casey and the Bluegrass Jam from Eastern North Carolina doing Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.



Samantha Casey - Lead vocal and Fiddle, Daniel Casey - Banjo, Ray Tims - Guitar and
Dell Tims - Bass

Saturday, December 5, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (a Yule-tide kick-off from the Plum Pitiful Subsection)

Yeah, Yeah, it's December and you thought that the Plum Pitiful stuff would be gone.

When I started this, I mentioned Ray Davis from WAMU radio. I listened to Ray all the years I lived near the GWTP. Sadly, Ray passed away on December third, last year.
Here's Little Orphan Joe, with Don Reno and Red Smiley's band in the background.



RIP Ray.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Terrorism Div (gunfire subsection)

Just an observation: mass shootings have become the American equivalent of car bombs in the Middle East.

The part that flummoxes me is that they aren't called terrorist acts. If someone set off a car-bomb, it most certainly be so identified; but guns ?? Nah, just a "mentally deranged, lone wolf (or wolves)" and strangely, mostly committed by young Caucasian males.

Trust me, I know terrorism. I lived with it daily (and was present in Regent's Park on 20 July 1982   and additionally, had to redeploy and reroute a cruise missile convoy due to the Hungerford Massacre in 1987) when I resided in England and was present for the rampage of the "DC Sniper" - which caused so much mind bending terror. I remember being called  by a motorist who was afraid to buy gasoline and asked my advice.

Seems like that "well regulated militia" portion of our Constitution has been ignored by our spineless Congress.

Mr Obama keeps saying that "enough is enough." Trust me, there'll be more until people are so scared and/or fed up that something might be done ..... but, I'm not holding my breath.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Geography Div (Epidemic subsection)

Well, the merry month of November draws to a close. In 1630, November, the Italian Plague had accounted for 16,000 deaths in the city of Venice -- over 10% of the population. By the end of 1631, 46,000 had died out of a population of 140,000.


Saturday, November 28, 2015

Monday, November 23, 2015

Geography Div (TARDIS Div)

In 1963, Dr Who began his many journeys.

The History of Doctor Who as a Tube Map, with a Line for Each Doctor


Saturday, November 21, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Plum Pitiful Subsection)

Something a little lighter (but still pitiful) this week, Jimmie Brown the Newsboy. Probably done somewhere between March and September of 1967.



Bill Monroe - Lead vocal and Mandolin, Roland White - Guitar, Byron Berline - Fiddle, James
Monroe - Bass and Lamar Grier - Banjo.

Notes: Roland White is usually associated with the mandolin, but in Bill Monroe's band .......; Lamar Grier is the father of bluegrass guitar virtuoso David Grier.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

SPECIAL - - to the Geography Div (clown car road map subsection)

This Just In !!! The Ben Carson campaign has released a wonderful map of the lower 48 !
(the mini-bears are rolling in the aisles)

Remember, this is the guy that can't name any of the countries he wants to enlist in his war coalition.

Perhaps those in New England are now part of Canada (and will get decent healthcare).





Monday, November 16, 2015

Geography Div (Civil War subsection)

This morning, in 1864, folks east of Atlanta awoke to the second day of Sherman's March to the Sea.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Plum Pitiful Subsection)

An old standard,  Bury Me Beneath the Willow.



Allison Krauss - Lead vocal and Fiddle, David Grisman - Mandolin, Tony Rice - Guitar,
J.D. Crowe - Bnajo and Mark Schatz - Bass.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Geography Div (Nostalgic cartooning subsection)

Today, in 1938, cartoonist Al Capp created Sadie Hawkins Day celebrated in that metropolis of DogPatch USA. If you hail from my generation, you'll surely remember the high school dance to celebrate it.


Saturday, November 7, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (introducing the Plum Pitiful Subsection)

Every Membership campaign on WAMU (the NPR affiliate there in the GWTP), Ray Davis' "Bluegrass Country" show always had a gift of the Plum Pitiful CD. I thought thatI'd dedicate the month to that genre -- we've seen some before, but these will be classics. Anyway, next month will be filled with Christmas cheer, eh ?
So, let's get started with a real tear-jerker Willie Roy, the Crippled Boy," done here by All That Grass, a Japanese band.



Sorry, couldn't find a link with a list of the players.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Geography Div (Statehood Day subsection)

Today, in 1889, North Dakota became the 39th State and South Dakota became the 40th.
Here's what they looked like in 1873 (until 1889). Note the absence of places named Deadwood and Rapid City - both in territory pledged to the Lakota Sioux - we know how well that worked out.


Saturday, October 31, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Fix yer Mickey subsection)

At 2AM tomorrow (your time),  be sure to set your clocks back one hour - -  unless you live in the un-Navajo part of Arizona.
Unless your living in this time zone that is.
Larry Cordele & Glen Duncan and their group of the same name form 1994, doing Lonesome Standard Time.



Lonesome Standard Time: Larry Cordell - Guitar and lead vocal, Glen Duncan - fiddle,
Billy Rose - Bass, Larry Perkins - Banjo and (sadly) the late Butch Baldassari - mandolin.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Geography Div ( Getting even subsection)

Last week it was stereotypes of the Brits and Irish. But what do they see when they look at
 the US of A ??

(H/T mini-bear JS)

Saturday, October 24, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Byron Berline (again). Here doing a song (which has become a standard) that he wrote along with Bill Monroe. Gold Rush.

Byron Berline - Fiddle, Mike Compton - Mandolin, Terry Baucom - Banjo and Kenny Smith - Guitar

Monday, October 19, 2015

Geography Div (let's make fun of the Brits andIrish subsection)

Having lived there for six years, I can relate to some of the references ............

(H/T mini-bear JS)

Saturday, October 17, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass

One of my favorites (and you've heard it before) Cherokee Shuffle here done by Gold Rush along with Byron Berline.


Byron Berline - Fiddle. Gold Rush: Jen Larson - Guitar, Michael Sassano - Mandolin, Keith
Edwards - Bass and Jerry Oland - Banjo.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Geography Div (World-wide set 'em up subsection)

Last week was favorite cocktails here in the US. What's the rest of the world's favorite tipple ...?

(H/T mini-bear JS)

Saturday, October 10, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass

Berline, Crary and Hickman .... with the addition of Steve Spurgin. Shortly afterwards, the name of the group became California. Here  doing They Don't Play George Jones on MTV. 



Byron Berline - Fiddle, John Hickman - Banjo, Dan Crary - Guitar and Steve
Spurgin - lead vocal and Bass.

Saturday, October 3, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

A 1992 reunion of the original Country Gentlemen doing Bringing Mary Home.
(I probably should have saved this for Halloween but I have other plans for that date).



John Duffy - Mandolin, Eddie Adcock - Banjo, Charlie Waller - Guitar and Tom Gray - Bass

Monday, September 28, 2015

Saturday, September 26, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The Seldom Scene from 1979 doing Rider.



John Duffy - Mandolin and Lead Vocal, Mike Auldridge - Dobro, Phil Rosenthal - Guitar,  Ben
Eldridge - Banjo and Tom Gray - Bass.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Saturday, September 19, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

New Grass Revival doing Deviation.



Bela Fleck - Banjo, Sam Bush - Mandolin, John Cowan - Bass and Pat Flynn - Guitar

Monday, September 14, 2015

Geography Div (Chinese mini-Bear subsection)

Just in case you ever wondered ................ What European Countries translate to in Chinese.


Saturday, September 12, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The original Hot Rize doing the old Stanley Brothers standard  Rank Stranger (written by William York).



Hot Rize: Tim O'Brien - Mandolin and lead vocal, Pete Wernick - Banjo, Nick Forster - Bass and
 Charles Sawtelle - Guitar.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

NewTown Bluegrass doing Guy Clark's Dublin Blues. Great song - reminds me of so many places.



NewTown Bluegrass: Kati Penn - Fiddle and lead vocal, Jr Williams - Banjo, Clint Hurd - Mandolin, Tony Mowell -  Guitar and Travis Anderson - Bass.


Monday, August 31, 2015

Geography Giv (Small Screen subsection)

Lately, what with moving and all (and unpacking all the boxes!) there hasn't been much time to sit in front of the "boob-tube."
Can't say as I've seen many of these .............

Saturday, August 29, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

A Little "Local color" here with a South Dakota fidler - Kenny Putnam doing Dixie Hoedown accompanied by East of Westreville, a band from Sioux Falls.


Kenny Putnam - Fiddle. East of Westreville - Boyd Bristow, Kaija Bonde, Al Slaathaug, Brian Bonde

Monday, August 24, 2015

Geography Div (thanks for the Mini-bears subsection)

It's been a hectic week for an old Bear, what with driving (safely) across half the country (well, 1765 miles of it) and then dealing with a moving van  and all those boxes !!!
Thanks to Honorary Mini-Bear JS for sending this map .... just in time !! I know, there've been others like this, but this one is appreciated !!! (and I don't appreciate their opinion of our neighbors to the north).


Saturday, August 22, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

A wonderful set by Alison Krauss & Union Station  - -  (I keep hoping to sway Judy's Grand- Daughters to learn "Fiddle" as opposed to Violin or Viola !!).



Alison Kraus - Fiddle and lead vocal, Barry Bales - Bass, Dan Tyminski - Guitar, Ron Block - Guitar and Banjo and (of course) Jerry Douglas - Dobro.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

YGTBSM** Div (Embarrassing photo Div )

Last time, it was Michelle whatshername eating a corn dog.
Now, It's the indicted guy from Texas doing something with a barbecue.


Well, you certainly don't want it to flame up, eh ??
I'm gonna have a great time explaining this to the mini-bears.

** You Got To Be Sh*@ing Me

Monday, August 17, 2015

Geography Div (Road trip subsection)

Leaving this morning to drive across the state to the Hills. Schwartz and I are finally going home (and I've never been a happier Bear!)


Saturday, August 15, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass (Road Trip Subsection)

On the final trip from the GWTP to the new home in the Black Hills. Yesterday, I was on the Road to Columbus, an old Bill Monroe standard (here with Noam channeling Kenny Baker). Today it's the Road FROM Columbus and on to Iowa (nope, not running for President !).



Noam Pikelny - Banjo, Brian Sutton - Guitar, Barry Bales - Bass, Luke Bulla - Fiddle
and Jesse Cobb - Mandolin.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Geography Div (Gotta Eat Subsection)

No mistake, the United States of Pepperoni !
(Though MA, RI, CT, NH and NY look pretty cheesey

(Note: Domino's used to be pretty good pizza -back in the 80s. I'm pretty sure you can get pepperoni at your favorite parlor, eh ?)

Saturday, August 8, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The David Grisman Bluegrass Experience (DGBX) doing Billy in the Lowground.




David Grisman - Mandolin, Chad Manning - Fiddle, Sam Grisman - Bass, Keith Little - Banjo and 
Jim Nunnely - Guitar.









Monday, August 3, 2015

Geography Div (VROOOOOM ! subsection)

Today kicks off the official week of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This will be its 75th anniversary.
Those of us living here in the Hills usually try to go away on vacation for the event. It's already in full-swing with people having started arriving a week earlier and they'll be departing for a week after it officially ends. Emergency response crews, EMTs and police from a 200 mile radius will be working full time.
All the two-lane blacktop in and around the Black Hills will be crammed with bikes (and riders) of every description.


Saturday, August 1, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (VROOOOM! subsection)

In honor of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally starting Monday, here's an appropriate repeat (though Harley Davidsons will outnumber every other brand there).



Del McCoury - Guitar and lead vocal, Jason Carter - Fiddle, Rob McCoury - Banjo, Ronnie
McCoury - Mandolin and Alan Bartram - Bass.

Monday, July 27, 2015

Geography Div (Let's pick on someone subsection)

A while back the minibears picked on Texas. Time for someone else to get the needle (again).


Saturday, July 25, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div - (Goin' to the Church and Gonna get Married Subsection)

One year ago tomorrow I reunited with a wonderful, talented lady that I met 36 years ago. Tomorrow, we will be married and will spend the rest of our lives growing old together.
Judy, this one's for you.



Donna Ulisse - Guitar and lead Vocal, Greg Davis - Banjo, Jon Martin - Mandolin, Bobby King - Bass   Rick Stanley - Guitar and Scott Neubert - Dobro.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Geography Div (Gimme Shelter subsection)

While old Bears can find a nice hollow tree or cave, most of us have to pay to live somewhere. That means there must be income ........ but how much ??

Map showing how much per hour a minimum wage worker would need to earn to afford a two-bedroom rental unit
Time to #RaiseTheWage
The National Low Income Housing Coalition's annual housing report has been released and it once again shows the dramatic divide between average housing prices and income in the United States.
In order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment in the U.S., renters need to earn a wage of $19.35 per hour. In 13 states and the District of Columbia they need to earn more than $20 per hour. The Housing Wage for a two-bedroom unit is more than two and a half times the federal minimum wage of $7.25, and $4 more than the estimated average wage of $15.16 earned by renters nationwide.
Take a look at the NLIHC maps to see how your state stacks up:
Map showing how much per hour a minimum wage worker would need to earn to afford a two-bedroom rental unit
Time to #RaiseTheWage
Hours needed to afford housing at minimum wage in the US
attribution: http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/oor/OOR_2015_FULL.pdf

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Love Div (Letting Go Subsection)

Earlier this evening, I scattered the ashes of my late wife Diana.
I'm back in Maryland packing up the house for my move to the Black Hills. So many memories and reminisces.
I went down to a place on the Little Patuxent River, which flows nears our home of 22 years, sat on the bank and had a long talk (and yes, a cry) with her telling her of how much I loved our life together, our home, her cooking and how devastated I was when she passed away so suddenly. I told her that a smidgen of her ashes were placed in a Chico's store and that some would be spread in places from her childhood that held special memories.
While standing in the water and scattering one handful at a time, I told her of the journey she would be taking - down the Little Patuxent to the Middle Patuxent to the Patuxent, the Chesapeake Bay and finally, the Atlantic to join with her brother.
As I was walking away, I turned back to look at the river and think about my letting go. A heron came  in and landed to start his fishing -- I couldn't help but think that her spirit was there saying "it's ok."
When I got home, I mixed a manhattan (her favorite cocktail) and Judy (my fiancé ) and I mixed a portion of her remains with the whiskey and poured it over the roses she planted just before she passed away. I hope she's happy.


Goodbye Diana, enjoy the journey - I'll never forget -- Bear

Saturday, July 18, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Here's an oldie but goodie written in 1949 - Sugarfoot Rag, done by Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out.



Russell Moore - Guitar & Lead Vocal, Wayne Benson - Mandolin, Justen Haynes -Fiddle,  Edgar Loudermilk - Bass and Steve Dilling - Banjo.



Monday, July 13, 2015

Geography Div (More from the Summer Vacation subsection)

Well, as Elmer Fudd (and a host of politicians, pundits and putzes) has been known to say: Be afwaid, be vwerry afwaid."
If you're still planning, you might want to look at this:


DRIVE SAFELY !!

Saturday, July 11, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

A really great old spiritual, I'll Fly Away, here done instrumentally by (then) 89 year-old Doc Watson accompanied by the Nashville Bluegrass Band. This was Doc's final performance at Merlefest in 2012.


The Nashville Bluegrass Band: Alan O'Bryant - Banjo, Pat Enright - Guitar,  Mike
Compton - Mandolin, Stuart Duncan - Fiddle and Andy Todd - Bass.
...... and of course Doc Watson.

PS - today is also my Mom's 93rd birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM !

Monday, July 6, 2015

Geography Div (Austerity subsection)

Guess how the Greeks feel about bailing out the bankers ??


06-07-2015 02:51

Registered9.858.508
Reporting100,00 %
Voted62,50 %
Invalid/Blank5,80 %

61,31 %
38,69 %

H/T Huffington Post

Monday, June 29, 2015

Geography Div (Road Trip subsection)

So, you're out there touring the country, eh ?
Here's an interesting map. All the highways in the U S of A. Note the concentrated places where many come together and also the "empty" spaces - like Yellowstone or Glacier National Parks,

Saturday, June 27, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Well we're well into day two of the Black Hills Bluegrass Festival and this is the headline act.



Adkins and Loudermilk (as shown):Dave Adkins - Guitar and lead vocals, Edgar Loudermilk - Bass, Andrew Crawford - Guitar, Glen Crain - Dobro, Jordan Rice - Mandolin and Chad Davis - Banjo.
*** Note  - -  The group has since been changed a bit with Jeff Autry on Guitar and Zack Autry (Jeff's son) playing mandolin and fiddle.
.......... and yes, their afternoon show today was AWESOME !!!  - -  Not to mention what a wonderful, friendly, personable  group of folks. Meeting Jeff Autry was a special treat - have admired his skill since I first heard him on the Bluegrass 1996-2001 series of instrumentals produced by Scott Vestal.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Geography Div (Summer Vacation subsection)

esterday just after noon (on the East coast) Summer officially (well, astronomically anyway) began.

 Once you've decided on where you want to go, you might want to keep an eye out for ......


Saturday, June 20, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Feels like this here in the Black Hills -- lots of it this year, Rapid Creek is over it's banks, but nothing like 1972.
Lately, this is how I fee about the weather ! (But my heart is happy).


Lynn Morris - Lead Vocal and Guitar, Marshall Wilborn - Bass, Tom Adams - Banjo and David McLaughlin - Mandolin.

On a happier note, I heard today that Tom Adams has returned to playing banjo in a new group after some medical issues with his hand. Best of luck Tom !

Monday, June 15, 2015

Geography Div (get your tour on subsection)

Well, it's that time of the year again to think about the ever-popular SUMMER VACATION! (what little there is of it - and most folks don't use all of it, but those are different matters).

Anyway, for your planning pleasure and entertainment:


Saturday, June 13, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Three members of Leftover Salmon doing Wild Bill Jones.



Drew Emmitt - Mandolin, Vince Herman - Guitar and Andy Thom - Banjo

Monday, June 8, 2015

Geography Div (Viking subsection)

 Vikings plunder St Cuthbert's monestary on Lindisfarne on this date in 793.


It's a wonderful place to visit -- but always keep an eye on your watch and the tide table or you'll be spending more tim there than you bargained for !!

Saturday, June 6, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Well, here it is June -- so why not a song with "June" in it ?? June Apple by the Tuttles with Brittany Haas.



Brittany Haas - Fiddle, Molly Tuttle - Banjo, A.J. Lee - Mandolin, Sullivan Tuttle - Guitar, Michael Tuttle - Mandolin and Jack Tuttle - Bass

Monday, June 1, 2015

Geography Div (non-terrestrial subsection)

It's June -- go out and look up in the sky (here in South Dakota, we have more stars than they do near the GWTP).

Saturday, May 30, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

A great jam from long ago The Red Haired Boy (sometimes referred to as The Little Beggarman - as recorded by Ian and Sylvia in the 60's)



The Musicians (in case you didn't recognize any of these youngsters); Tony Rice - Guitar, Mark O'Connor - Fiddle, Jetty Douglas - Dobro, Sam Bush - Mandolin and Mark Shatz - Bass

Monday, May 25, 2015

Geography Div (What's in a name subsection)


Here in the Black Hills, there's lots of history - much of it concerned with their takeover by the white man even though guaranteed to the Native Americans by the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868.
Harney Peak is the highest point in South Dakota and the highest point in the US between the Rocky Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. It's named for General William S. Harney of the US Army.

The Peak's name has lately been the source of controversy due to the General's leading a battle against the Lakota in Nebraska at the beginning of the Indian Wars where he earned the nickname "Woman Killer."

There has been a push to change the name (Black Elk Peak being one of the more mentioned choices) to something less offensive to Native Americans.
Last week, the South Dakota Board of Geographic Names recommended the name be changed to Hinhan Kaga - the original Lakota name for the feature which translates  to "Making of Owls" in English.

I'm sure there will be many on both sides of the debate that won't be happy (though apparently, no one has asked the owls).

Saturday, May 23, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

All-girl bluegrass bands aren't that rare any longer, but they're still not common. Here's one with two banjos doing the old Bill Monroe classic Road to Columbus.



The Augusta Bluegrass Women: Murphy Henry and Casey Henry - Banjos, Laurie Lewis - fiddle, Sharon Gilchrist - Mandolin, Kathy Kallick - Guitar and Mary Burdette - Bass.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Geography Div (National Parks subsection)

A couple of weeks ago my sweetie and I took a road trip and Arches NP near Moab, UT was one of the stops. I haven't been to Arches since late 1981 and on my two previous hikes into Delicate Arch, I've seen maybe a total of six people (and in 1979 I was, eerily, alone).

The hike is a mile and a half and the result is spectacular.


I was amazed at the crowds of people (and wondered if some would make it up). One person told me that the day before (a Sunday) the line on the trail reminded him of photos of the miners trekking up Klondike Pass during the Yukon Gold Rush.








Saturday, May 16, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band doing Herb Pedersen's  Old Train. (One of my favorites)



The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band: John Jorgenson - Mandolin, Herb Pedersen - Banjo,  Jon
Randall - Guitar and Mark Fain - Bass

Saturday, May 9, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

A band known mostly for it's gospel numbers.ere's Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver doing Ashland Breakdown.
Doyle introduces everyone, but the names are in the usual place (and I've never gotten comfortable with drums in a string band - on well).





Doyle Lawson - Mandolin, Jason Barl -  fiddle; Jessie Baker -  banjo; Corey Hensley - bass; Mike Rogers -  guitar; Josh Swift - dobro; and Carl White - drums.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Canine subsection)

The Spiney Brothers from Nova Scotia doing I Want My Dog Back.



The Spinney Brothers:Allan Spinney Guitar and lead vocal, Rick Spinney - Banjo, Gary
 Dalrymple - Mandolin and Terry Poirier - Bass.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Geography Div (Drifting along subsection)

A wonderful reconstruction of the breakup of Pangea. The heads of the 6000 year-old earth brigade are probably starting to explode.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Arizona subsection)

Every year since 1971 in Payson (where my Mom lives) they hold this competition.
Visited her this week and thought this might be appropriate.
Flop-Eared Mule -- John Kennedy (the fiddler) introduces it as a Rex Allen tune. Its origin is unknown but it's sometimes called The Donkey Reel.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Geography Div

Will be traveling thru these places over the next week - these don't show the highways, eh ?

Saturday, April 18, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

My lady love and I are in Colorado fo a performance by her chorus so I thought something from Colorado might be appropriate. The SteelDrivers doing the old fiddle tune Whiskey For Breakfast.



The SteelDrivers: Tammy Rogers - Fiddle,  Mike Fleming - Bass,  Gary Nichols - Guitar and Richard Bailey - Banjo and Brent Truitt - Mandolin

Monday, April 13, 2015

Geography Div (what you can't find out any longer subsection)

Chanced upon this little tidbit from the WaPo.
There's a link to a nice little interactive map of where Presidents lived in the GWTP (and surrounding area) before moving to the White House.
My, My. How times have changed, eh ?


Saturday, April 11, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The old Bill Monroe standard Wheel Hoss made famous on the fiddle of Kenny Baker. Here performed by two of the preemenint bluegrass musicians of today.



Noam Pikelny (Punch Brothers) - Banjo and Stuart Duncan - Fiddle

Admin Note: Posting times for scheduled stuff have been changed to the Mountain time zone.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Geography Div ( Whoo Y'all subsection)

Happy Birthday to JS, aspiring mini-bear research assistant. Congratulations on your new nest.


Saturday, April 4, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Found this "fun" little ditty while looking for posts. Always enjoyed Ned Luberecki on Sirius XM (until they screwed me on my renewal). So, have a listen to Chris Jones and the Nightdrivers doing his "perfect Bluegrass song," Cabin of Death followed by Chris Jones' If You're Willin'.

c
Chris Jones - Guitar Ned Luberecki - Banjo, Lead Vocal Jon Weisberger - Bass  Mark Staufel - Mandolin

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Saturday, March 28, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The old Grandpa Jones composition and one of my favorites, Eight More Miles to Louisville.



The Sam Bush Band: Sam Bush - Mandolin, Stephen Mougin - Guitar, Scott Vestal - Banjo, Todd Parks - Bass and Chris Brown - Drums.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Geography Div (more from the Y'all subsection)

Aw heck, let's keep pickin' on 'em.


Deja vu Div (all over again subsection)

Jim Wright over at Stonekettle Station has pretty much summed up my feelings on the current foreign policy discourse occuring down in the GWTP and in the media. It's long, and at times repetitive, but, if you care and have the memories I do, it deserves your time and attention.

http://www.stonekettle.com/2015/03/the-narrow-gate.html

Saturday, March 21, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

There's a group of pickers and singers that I jam with a couple of times a month here in the Hills. I seems at the end of the evening, this song is always played.
Written By Carter and Ralph Stanley, here's Who Will Sing For Me ?


Ricky Skaggs - lead vocal and guitar, Doc Watson and Earl (betcha didn't know he played guitar) Scruggs - harmony/chorus vocal and guitar.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Geography Div (Y'all subsection)

I know we've done a similar one (or two), but it's just so ripe for picking (aside from having some of the world's dumbest legislators and politicians).

Saturday, March 14, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

An old folk song given a new treatment by Nickle Creek (with a bit of Bob Dylan thrown in).



Chris Theile - Mandolin, Sara Watkins - Fiddle, Sean Watkins - Guitar and Byron House  - Bass.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

To my way of thinking, this isn't "country." Modern "country music" seems to me to be Rock and Roll wearing boots. This is 100% acoustic and done by some masters.



Byron Berline - Fiddle, Dan Crary - Guitar, John Hickman - Banjo and Steve Spurgin - Bass.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Heading back to the Black Hills next week. Can't say that Western Skies by Hot Rize doesen't make me feel a bit anxious to be there.



Hot Rize: Tim O'Brien - Mandolin, Pete Wernick - Banjo, Nick Forster - Bass and Bryan Sutton - Guitar

Saturday, February 21, 2015

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Bugle Call Rag, an old Earl Scruggs tune given a new twist or two by Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen.


IBMA 2014 Instrumental Group of the Year
Dirty Kitchen: Mike Munford - Banjo, Frank Solivan - Mandolin, Chris Luquette - Guitar
 and Danny Booth - Bass