WHAT YOU MAY FIND HERE

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

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

A Little Sad Bluegrass Div (Tony Rice subsection)

IBMA Hall of Fame guitarist Tony Rice Passed away on Christmas Day.  No cause of death has been announced, but he had been diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia in 1994 which led to the end of his singing live. Further muscular issues forced him to stop playing - his last performance was in 2013.

This is one of my all-time favorites, Norman Blake's Church Street Blues.


RIP Tony ...... I'll bet Clarance White was there to greet you.

Monday, December 28, 2020

Geography Div (Division subsection)

Well, 2020 will soon be behind us and, hopefully, we'll soon start turning our country around. For anyone who objects to the coverage and name of the red area my only consolation is that you have to live in it to really appreciate how bad it is.




Saturday, December 26, 2020

NO Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Boxing Day subsection)

I've posted this piece every year for quite a while. One of my favorites, so why change now ?? 

Friday, December 25, 2020

Christmas Story Div

I've posted this every year ...... and I tear up every time I hear it.  

Monday, December 21, 2020

Geography Div (Interactive fun subsection)

 Have you ever wondered what the area around your hometown was like during the Cretaceous period, when the Tyrannosaurus rex roamed? How about before then, when Earth had just one supercontinent?

Now you can find out.  

https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#240




Saturday, December 19, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Happy Holidays subsection)

It isn't Elvis. Alan Bibey and Grasstowne with a "grassified" version of the 1957 Elvis classic. 


Alan Bibey - mandolin,  Justin Jenkins - banjo, Tony Watt - guitar, Zak McLamb - bass and
Ron Stewart - fiddle.

Monday, December 14, 2020

Monday, December 7, 2020

Geography Div (History subsection)

This was what East Asia looked like today in 1941 ....... we know what happened on that day, don't we?



Saturday, December 5, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Yuletide subsection)

Well, here it is that time of year again. I haven't decided (yet) whether or not to put up Ray Davis' Little Orphan Joe, but let's start off the month with that Chuck Berry favorite Run, Run Rudolph, here performed by Colebrook Road with some updated Bluegrassy lyrics.

Jesse Eisenbise- Guitar, Mark Rast- Banjo, Jeff Campbell - Bass, Wade Yankey- Mandolin and Joe McAnulty- Fiddle,

Monday, November 30, 2020

Geography Div (Whoda thunk subsection)

This is what it looked like on 25 January 2020 ..... and with you know who still running things (into the ground) dog knows what what it will look like when he finally can't actively damage things.




Saturday, November 28, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The Punch Brothers doing Boll Weevil. 
Guess I missed their on-line concert back on Sunday the 14th ..... shame on the miniBears for not keeping 
me informed. Of course my new knee and the painkillers probably contributed!!


Chris Thile (mandolin), Gabe Witcher (violin), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Paul Kowert (bass) and Noam Pikelny (banjo)

Saturday, November 21, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Late Show subsection)

I can't say I'm a fan of his voice, but here's Sturgill Simpson with an All-Star backing group doing
Breakers Roar" from his new album Cuttin' Grass,Vol 1 - The Butcher Shoppe Sessions.


Scott Vestal was on banjo, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Tim O’Brien on guitar, Sierra Hull on mandolin, Mike Bubb on bass, and Miles Miller on drums.

Monday, November 16, 2020

Geography Div (Borders subsection)

Imagine what the US map would look like if natural features were used to define the state boundaries. 



Saturday, November 14, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Banjo subsection)

Russ Carson is the Banjo player in Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder band. Here he is playing Earl
Scruggs' Flint Hill Special on a Walker Mini Banjo.

Monday, November 9, 2020

Saturday, November 7, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div ( Swiss subsection)

I'm constantly amazed by the reach of Bluegrass music to foreign lands. Jessie and the Gents from 
Switzerland recently won the first place at the Swiss Country Music Awards (whoda thunk there was such a thing?) and Best Song for this one - I Ain't Gonna Ride With You.


Jessie Hardegger  (vocals and mandolin), Rick Noorlander (vocals and guitar), Geri Zumbrunn (vocals and bass), Rainer Hagmann (fiddle), and Putzie Mayr (vocals and dobro) 

Monday, November 2, 2020

Geography Div (What do you think subsection)

Depending on where you live, you might have a different opinion, eh ?

I shudder to think how many I've visited !!



Saturday, October 31, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Halloween subsection)

It's Halloween, time for a spooky song. The Country Gentlemen doing Bringing Mary Home.
Trick or Treat.



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

Monday, October 26, 2020

Geography Div (California subsection)

 Good question: Where is Northern California?

What with all the fires this year there may not be a California soon !!



Saturday, October 24, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Last week I mentioned Chris Luquette being mainly a guitarist. Well, Here's a demonstration.
Harvey's Reel, performed live by Chris Luquette, Nick Dumas & Connor Hutteball at Deep End Sessions. Formerly they were the trio, Northern Departure. Chris Luquette, is 2012 IBMA Instrumental Momentum winner and guitarist for Frank Sollivan & Dirty Kitchen. Nick Dumas, is mandolinist for The Special Consensus (equally adept at guitar, Nick plays a 1936 Martin guitar). Connor Hutteball plays great bass and owns a beautiful old Kay!

Saturday, October 17, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Glenn Miller Mandolin subsection)

Mark Stoffel is the mandolinist with Chris Jones & the Night Drivers. A new solo album just out,
Coffee and Cake includes this international assembly of mandolinists doing Glenn Miller's In the Mood. 
I'm not going to try to list all the participants since they are identified in the video.
You'll see many names you recognize.
My two surprises were the absence of Chris Thile and the presence of Chris Luquette who's known mainly for his guitar work.
Enjoy.

Saturday, October 10, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Fireside Collective from Asheville, NC doing Movin' on Down the Line.



Jesse Iaquinto - Mandolin, Tommy Maher - Resophonic Guitar, Joe Cicero - Guitar, Alex
Genova - Banjo and Carson White - Bass.

Monday, October 5, 2020

Saturday, October 3, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Country Music, Automobile subsection)

Thirteen years ago my Dad (the BEST driver I've ever known and who taught me to Love being behind the wheel) bought a red Mustang convertible for his 90th birthday.
I've channeled him a bit and jumped the gun for my next milestone (#75-- Glad I've lived long enough to afford and appreciate one).
I found a near new 2014, C7 Corvette Stingray in a small town in Montana (4155 miles on the clock!)


So, the only song that fits here would be George Jones' The Corvette Song!!



Happy Birthday Bear (early).

Monday, September 28, 2020

Saturday, September 26, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Bonus subsection)

Seattle based band The Warren G. Hardings doing California Blues.
Embedded in the link is the title cut from their album Road to Nowhere, released last March.



Andrew Knapp - Bass, Gabriel Marowitz - mandolin, Heath Reinhard - banjo, Joe Ellington - guitar, and Lee Callender - fiddle.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Geography Div (I'll Drink to that subsection)


An Island of Boozy Pleasure
If the shape of this island looks familiar, that makes sense—it’s a human skull, doing double duty as the so-called “State of Inebriation.” This satirical map, made by H. J. Lawrence in 1931, “lampoons Prohibition in its final days,” writes PJ Mode, a collector whose trove of maps is accessible through Cornell University. “Soused sardines” pass through the Whiskey Strait and swerve right toward Cocktail Inlet and Port Wine, which sit south of the lighthouse at Intoxication Point. A weather report in the lower-left corner forecasts a “gradual rise in temperature while drinking.”

Saturday, September 19, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

NU-Blu Bluegrass Band doing a traditional piece: Rea Haired Boy.



Carolyn Routh - Bass, Daniel Routh - Guitar, Levi Austin - Banjo and Austin Koerner - Mandolin

Monday, September 14, 2020

Geography Div (It's HOW big subsection)

We often forget (or if we're from Texas, don't want to admit it) that Alaska is REALLY big !

Saturday, September 12, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Cowboy subsection)

One thing we have a lot of here in South Dakota is real cowboys. Here's a nice, gentle song about one; When Charlie Dreams, written by David Stewart and Brice Long. Performed here by Indiana band Branded Bluegrass



Larry Norfleet - Lead Vocal and Guitar, Jesse Norfleet - Banjo/Dobro, Tristen Norfleet - Mandolin and Mike Martin - Bass

Monday, September 7, 2020

Geography Div (Labor Day subsection)

Labor Day is about the people who do the work, It's a shame it's been turned into a shopping holiday.


Saturday, September 5, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Working subsection)

** Apologies department: Apparently, the video didn't load on last weeks ALSNBG. Minibears have been punished, but the new blogger really sucks!

Next Monday is Labor Day. Here's the Darrell Webb Band form 2018 performing Working Man Blues.



Jason Davis - banjo, Tina Miller - fiddle, Kameron Keller - bass, Darrell Webb - mandolin and Zeb Snyder - guitar

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

A Little Early Week Fascism

Stumbled upon Rick Steves (the travel guy) on PBS tonite (you certainly won't find this on FAUX news).

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/fascism

See if there's anyone you recognize .............

Saturday, August 29, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Traditional Subsection)

I think every group at one time or another has done Reuben's Train. Well, here's the Foghorn Stringband doing it.


Caleb Klauder, vocals & mandolin; Stephen “Sammy” Lind, vocals & fiddle; Reeb Willms, vocals & guitar; and Nadine Landry, vocals & bass.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

The Occasional Mid-week Molly

"Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia. Members of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia. Permitting unregulated citizens to have guns is destroying the security of this free state." 

Molly Ivins

... and seventeen year-olds aren't either.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The Magnolia Street String Band from New Jersey. All long-time pros who have jammed together since 2014 yet just released an album. Here's Onion Grass from their album Wrong Side of the Rain.



 Paul Prestopino (dobro and former backing musician for Peter, Paul and Mary, The Chad Mitchell Trio and others), Bobby Baxmeyer (banjo, dobro, mandolin, vocals), Matthew Backes (vocals, mandolin), Sheila Shukla (vocals, guitar), and Ron Greenstein (bass)

Monday, August 17, 2020

Geography Div (Hard of hearing subsection)

"Can you hear me now" might have been a catch phrase for a cell phone company, but there are places in the US that really are quieter than others.

The Loudest And Quietest Spots In The Continental US



Saturday, August 15, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Something different subsection)

A bit different take on a bluegrass group. The Railsplitters, A progressive group from Colorado doing
Two Weeks.



Dusty Rider - Banjo and lead vocal, Lauren Stovall - Guitar, Peter Sharpe - Mandolin, Joe D' Esposito - Fiddle,  Jean-Luc Davis - Bass

Monday, August 10, 2020

Geography Div (Gimme Shelter subsection)

I think we knew this already (save one orange-hued individual who has no idea whatsoever).


Saturday, August 8, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div ( Young Folks subsection)

A new young group from the Boston area (three of them are currently studying at the Berklee College of Music).
Here's Garfield's Blackberry Blossom.


Eli Wildman - mandolin,  Victor Furtado - banjo, Aila Wildman - fiddle and Sean Newman - bass

Saturday, August 1, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (See if you can pick out all the references subsection)

Donna Ulisse released When I Go All Bluegrass On You last February. It's certainly has enough references to performers, groups and songs to hold your interest. Have fun pickin" (sorry, bad pun) 'em out.


Donna Ulisse - Vocal, guitar, Cody Kilby -  guitar, Greg “Papaw” Davis - banjo, Josh Swift -  reso-guitar, Mason Nolen -  mandolin, Evan Winsor - upright bass, Stephen Burwell -  fiddle, and Nathan Fawcett - snare drum. 

Monday, July 27, 2020

Geography Div (Fake News subsection)

Freedom of the press is pretty important, eh ? We're really going to need strong reporting over the next four months.


Saturday, July 25, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div ( More Furriners subsection)

I find it amazing just how well accepted Bluegrass music has become in foreign lands. 
Here's Abalone from the Czech Republic doing Separate Ways.


Josef Plecitý (upright bass), Lukáš Mayer (banjo) and Darek Houška (dobro), Matthew Whitten (Guitar) 
and Miloš Andrt (Mandolin).

Saturday, July 18, 2020

A LIttle Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Curves subsection)

There's been lots of talk lately about curves - mostly about "flattening" them. The Grascals sing about a different kind of curve on Straighten the Curves from their latest album.


The Grascals: Danny Roberts - Mandolin, Chris Davis - Guitar, Terry Smith - Bass,  Adam
Haynes - Fiddle, John Bryan - Guitar and Kristen Scott Benson - Banjo.

Monday, July 13, 2020

Geography Div (Travel subsection)

I realize we aren't traveling as much as we once did. However it's a bit interesting to consider how far you could get in one day (from New York City) ... then and now.


Saturday, July 11, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Happy Birthday Mom subsection)

Today is my Mom's 98th Birthday.  
It's hard to find a Bluegrass song where Mother isn't on the "other side." 
Sugarland does a great job on appreciating her.
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM .... Here's to many more
Love ...... Bear


Sugarland: Jennifer Nettles - lead vocals and Kristian Bush - vocals, guitar, mandolin,
Annie Clements - Bass, Scott Patton - Guitar, Thad Beaty - Guitar, Brandon Bush - keyboards and
Travis Mcnabb - Drums

Monday, July 6, 2020

Geography Div (Dang me subsection)

Use Of The Word "Dang" Across The Continental US


and as an added bonus feature for your entertainment .......

Saturday, July 4, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div ( July 4th subsection)

Another 4th of July sale weekend.
John McEuen and friends doing Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever.


Sorry, no information on the band.

Monday, June 29, 2020

Geography Div (Exploration subsection)

Today in 1534 Jaques Cartier discovered Prince Edward Island. Neither Prince Edward nor Anne of Green Gables was around then and it was originally part of the French colony of Arcadia. It's name was Ile Sainte-Jean, but the Mi'kmaq called it Epekwitk, meaning "cradled on the waves" (much more poetic, eh?).


Saturday, June 27, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div ( Furrin wimmen subsection)

Midnight Skyracer from across the pond, doing I Don't Make the Rules.


Leanne Thorose on mandolin, Charlotte Carrivick on guitar, Laura Carrivick on fiddle and reso-guitar, Eleanor Wilkie on bass, and Tabitha Benedict on banjo. 

Monday, June 22, 2020

Geography Div (Threat subsection)

Results of a survey asking the world who they see as the biggest threat to world peace.
Discuss among yourselves ...............




Saturday, June 20, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

From John Lowell's February album Long Stretch of Gravel. He's backed here by an all-star group doing Without You Being Here With Me.



John Lowell on vocals and guitar, Missy Raines on bass, Ron Block on banjo, John Reischman on mandolin and Stephen Mougin and Chris Jones on backing vocals.

Monday, June 15, 2020

Geography Div (Bribery Subsection)

Compared to m major portion of the world, we here in the US of A (despite the Orange Menace) are relatively clean.




Saturday, June 13, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Winners of the 2020 SPBGMA Band Championship, Coyote Ugly, from Kingsport, Tennessee doing Good Morning Country Rain.



Tom Horton on guitar, Beverly Horton on vocals, Joey Cox on banjo, Crystal Shipley on fiddle, Mitch Bentley on bass, and Vince Bullins on mandolin.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Saturday, June 6, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Jake Workman with a track from his recently released, all insturmental album Landmark. 



Jake Workman - Guitar, Sierra Hull - Mandolin, Stuart Duncan - Fiddle, Russ Carson - Banjo and
Jeff Picker - Bass

Friday, June 5, 2020

He is what he is Div (from the idiot's mouth subsection)

“Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying this a great thing that’s happening for our country. “There’s a great day for him. It’s a great day for everybody. It’s a great day for everybody. There’s a great, great day in terms of equality.” -- donald trump,  5 June 2020.


I rest my case.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Geography Div (Matrimonial subsection)

Here it is June bustin' out all over. Traditional month for marriages. Well, here's a map for the blessed state of Matrimony:


 Likely made by John D. P. Douw in 1827—highlights several potential destinations in a journey from courtship to marriage. Some seem lovely; who wouldn’t fancy an afternoon in the Vale of Gladness? Others are much less appealing: The Land of Spinsters, for instance, sounds like a cruel and sexist place to be, and the potential for disaster is high in the Str. of Flirtation, where the map warns of “dangerous navigation.” As you sail around, try not to crash ashore on the Isles of Jealousy.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Thanks for your service subsection)

Today will always be Memorial Day for me. I've written about this before.
I won't be working today as a ranger with the Park Service this year; the presence of the COVID-19 virus and my family's vulnerability have caused me to forego my appointment. People always said  "Thank You for your service,".... it always made me uncomfortable. I always answer " It was my honor to serve."
Here's Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers doing A Folded Flag.



Duane Sparks - Guitar, lead vocal, Joe Mullins - Banjo, Mike Terry - Mandolin, Jason
Barie - Fiddle and Randy Barnes - Bass.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Geography Div (National Cemetery subsection)

The National Park Service manages and administers fourteen National Cemeteries. Today is the "official" (don't get me started) Memorial Day.




Saturday, May 23, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

One of my all-time favorite fiddle tunes, Forked Deer, Here done by three masters.



Byron Berline - Fiddle, Dan Crary - Guitar and John Hickman - Banjo

Saturday, May 16, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

When I first heard this song I thought it was going to be another Coal-Minin' thing. Turns out I was wrong. Here's Sideline doing Return to Windy Mountain. 



Steve Dilling - Banjo, Jason Moore  - Bass, Skip Cherryholmes - Guitar, Zack Arnold - Mandolin,
Jamie Harper - Fiddle and Jacob Greer - Guitar.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Appreciation Div (Nurses Subsection)

It's been called to my attention that today is National Nurses Day. So much attention is currently being focused on their sacrifice and dedication during this current pandemic. However, a couple of personal reflections:

In 2007 after having had 25% of my guts removed for cancer, it was the nurses that saw me through critical dehydration, and just wanting for the pain and hurt to end that gave me the the encouragement, and yes, the orders to fight my problems, get out of bed and drag the post of IVs around the ward. Later that year when my system shut down during radiation, these are the people who saved my life and got my kidneys re-started.

In 2013 it was the the nurses in the Brain ICU of Johns Hopkins that kept me appraised of my late wife Diana's condition and progress (and its lack thereof).
It was her nurse, T*** who put her hand on my shoulder early in the morning of 13 September, to say, "Bear, she's gone, you can let go now." and then give me a hug and a tear.

We rarely acknowledge just how much these professionals give of themselves to ease our suffering, urge, and contribute to, our healing our well being and that of our loved ones.

Thank you to all those who cared for me and mine. I know you will be there in the future to help.
🐻 ❤️

Monday, May 11, 2020

Geography Div (Road trip subsection)

Well, two weeks of old "road" maps. Here's a modern trip -- whooda thunk there were that many
Springfields ??

The Most Efficient Road Trip Through Every Springfield In The Country


Saturday, May 9, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Double Furriners subsection

New album featuring Jean Marie Redon and Luis Gomez. Here's the track called Mr. Gulbo.



 Carol Duran and Raphael Maillet on fiddle, Marta Roma on cello, Josep Traver on guitar, Jesper Rubner Petersen on mandolin, and Maribel Rivero on bass. And, of course, Redon and Gomez on the five.

.... and Mr Redon doing the same number solo ..........

Saturday, May 2, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Audie Blaylock and Redline doing Love Is An Awful Thing from their recent album Originalist.



Audie Blaylock (lead vocal & guitar), Even Ward (banjo), Mason Wright (fiddle) and Reed Jones (upright bass)

Monday, April 27, 2020

Geography Div (Social Distancing Subsection)

How far away from another person can you get? Depends on where you live. How big is your state?

           State Size Based On Population Density


Saturday, April 25, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Canadian subsection)

John Reischman and the Jaybirds doing their band standard Saltspring.



John Reischman - Mandolin, Nick Hornbuckle - Banjo, Patrick Sauber - Guitar, Trisha
Gagnon - Bass and Greg Spatz - Fiddle

Monday, April 20, 2020

Geography Div (More ancient roads subsection)

Last week was an ancient "trip-tik" Here's another version of a "road" map; only these are Roman:


The Tabula Peutingeriana, an itinerary map, is a reproduction of a Roman map, showing the highways of the Roman world all the way from England to Sri Lanka. It isn’t to scale and manipulates space to show the road system. Pictured are stopping places, prominent towns, and mountain ranges. The Tabula Peutingeriana is also massive at 22 feet in length. At that size, it wouldn’t be useful for a road trip, but with 555 cities and 3,500 place names, it is a chronicle of Rome’s reach. The map’s geographic information dates back to before at least 79 AD, since you can spot Pompeii. The original map has been lost, but we still have a copy thanks to a monk who reproduced it on 11 scrolls in 1265. 

Saturday, April 18, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Lotsa Fiddlin' subsection)

Becky Buller's new video The Barber's Fiddle. See if you can spot all the "All-Stars."


Becky Buller Band: Becky Buller - Vocals, Fiddle Ned Luberecki - Banjo Dan Boner - Guitar, Fiddle, Harmony Vocal Nate Lee - Mandolin, Fiddle Daniel Hardin - Upright Bass, Harmony Vocal

Fiddle Solos: Laura Orshaw, Michael Cleveland, Stuart Duncan, Jason Carter, Deanie Richardson, Johnny Warren, and Sam Bush

Group Fiddlers: All soloists, Bronwyn Keith-Hines, Jason Barie, Katie Penn, Fred Carpenter, Tyler Andal, Brian Christenson, Laurie Lewis, Shawn Camp, Nate Lee, Dan Boner, and Becky Buller

Monday, April 13, 2020

Geography Div (Nostalgia subsection)

When I entered the travel industry I worked for the Auto Club (AAA) as a "Service Counselor." The biggest part of the job was marking maps and producing "Trip-Tiks" for members. The "trip-tik" was a bound series of strip maps showing the towns, services and points of interest along the route. They were assembled and marked by hand (Mapquest, etc had not yet made an appearance). Many folks were amazed to see one for the first time. However, they've been around for a long time. Here's one from 1250:


At first glance, this medieval itinerary map by Matthew Paris doesn’t even look like a map. Instead, it’s a line of castles and buildings crossed by red text and blue waves. The map charts a route from London to the Holy Land, highlighting all the sights along the way. The mapmaker included rivers and hills, alternate routes, and places to stop on a religious pilgrimage.  At the bottom left of the map, you can see Matthew Paris’s depiction of London as a thick city wall ringing a blue church.  Like many medieval maps, this one was not intended to be carried on the road. It was an expensive work of art that may have been used for an imagined pilgrimage - one where the pilgrim never had to leave England.







Saturday, April 11, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

New album and video from Chris Jones and the Nightdrivers, We Needed This Ride. 



Chris Jones - Guitar, lead vocal, Mark Stoffel - Mandolin, Grace Van't Hof - Banjo and Uke and
Marshall Wilborn - Bass.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Midweek Bluegrass Div (Obit subsection)

John Prine passed away yesterday, a victim of the Covid-19 virus.

As mentioned in the NPR obituary linked above, Paradise, the Kentucky hometown of his parents, recalls
his boyhood memories of a place destroyed by the coal-mining industry.

RIP John ..........

 
  • Dudley Connell - guitar, vocals
  • Ronnie Simpkins - bass
  • Rickie Simpkins - banjo, fiddle, guitar
  • Fred Travers - Dobro, vocals
  • Lou Reid - mandolin, guitar, vocals

Monday, April 6, 2020

Geography Div (Passing on subsection)

Moe Lane from moelane.com has created this hilarious satirical map which shows the most common cause of death that keeps getting covered up, in each U.S. state.



... and if you look at Mike Pence you'll suspect this map has some truth to it .....

(Sad note subsection -- The late contributing mini-bear JS would have been 70 today .. RIP.)

Saturday, April 4, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Della Mae doing Bourbon Hound from their latest album The Butcher Shoppe.



  • Celia Woodsmith - vocals, guitar
  • Kimber Ludiker - fiddle, vocals 
  • Jenni Lyn Gardner - mandolin, vocals 
  • Courtney Hartman - guitar, banjo, vocals 
  • Zoe Guigueno - bass, vocals

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Pandemic Div (Supreme Leader subsection)

Well, it appears that the Mango Monster has, again, taken a test for the virus currently ravaging
the country. Like his first try, this one proved negative for the virus but once again proved what he's full of.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

A Little Mid-Week Bluegrass div (Obit subsection)

This seems to be happening more often lately. This isn't due to the current malady sweeping the
Nation, but I hold my breath.
Banjo prodigy Jimmy Henley here with Marty Stuart when both were much younger doing the old Bill Monroe standard Rawhide.
RIP Jimmy ..............

  
Jimmy Henley - Banjo, Marty Stuart - Mandolin, Roy Clark - Fiddle ..... Guitar player unknown
to me.

Monday, March 30, 2020

Geography Div (Future statehood subsection)

In 1867 the US purchased Alaska from Russia. If trump is successful and we purchase Greenland from Denmark (assuming it hasn't melted), Alaska won't be the largest state; and Texas (Readmitted to the Union today in 1870) will be #3.

I just couldn't resist .................


Saturday, March 28, 2020

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Furriners subsection)

Swedish bluegrass group Dunderhead doing Down the Line. Quite refreshing !!



Angelina Lundh (vocals, accordion), Mikael Grund (vocals, guitar), Agnes Brogeby (violin, vocals), Anders Ternesten (banjo), and Carl Karlsson (bass)