Geography Div (Productivity subsection)

 Economic productivity of each state compared to their population.

Regional Margins:

Northeast: 18.77% (New England: 12.69%)

West: 11.15%

Midwest: -10.17%

South: -13.18%

A Little Plumb Poor Pitiful Christmas Bluegrass Div

No cheering up for you! Here's the late Ray Davis doing Little Orphan Joe. I can't number the times I heard this when I lived in the DC area.

Merry Christmas.

Geography Div (Bang! You're Dead subsection)

 This is probably unfair to Chicago ............ but then again .................

A little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Furriners subsection)

Even in Finland !! I never cease to be amazed at the spread of Bluegrass music around the world.

Self Rising Flour doing Rakin' the Flour.

 Kalie Tuovinen on banjo,  Johannes Oksanen on mandolin, Benjamin Oksanen on guitar, and Hannu Vanhatalo on bass.

Geography Div (Plague subsection)

 I can't believe that anyone over the age of 12 hasn't gotten vaccinated. Of course, there's no vaccination (or cure) for stupid.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Geographic Nostalgia subsection)

Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen doing Bluegrass Breakdown outdoors in Columbia, Maryland. It's nostalgic since I recognize the location -- about 200m from my old front door !!

Frank Solivan - Mandolin, Mike Munford - Banjo, Chris Luquette - Guitar and Jeremy Middleton - Bass

Geography Div (Make mine pepperoni subsection)

 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Fisherman's Friend by the Thomas Cassell Band  - -  more than just a cough drop, eh?

Thomas Cassell - mandolin Johnny Calamari - bass Drew Matulich - guitar Max Silverstein - fiddle

Geography Div (Corruption subsection)

 Ain't it amazin' that the good ole USofA comes in at number 35? Relly nuttin' to be proud of, eh?

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

The Punch Brothers have released a new album, Hell on Church Street, Dedicated to the late Tony Rice.

Here's a new adaptation of one of my favorites from Tony, Church Street Blues.

Have to admit, I like Tony's better.

 Chris Eldridge - Guitar, Chris Thile - mandolin, Noam Pikelny - banjo, Gabe Witcher - fiddle, and 

Paul Kowert - bass.

Geography Div (Airmail Delivery subsection)

 Hard to imagine, but 75 years ago the China Clipper took off from Alameda,CA carrying 110,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific mail run.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

New single from the Alex Leach Band, Up to You.

Alex on guitar and lead vocals, his wife, Miranda Leach, on vocals, JT Coleman on bass, Joshua Gooding on mandolin, and Jason Johnson on banjo.

Geography Div ("Stickem up" subsection)

Funny, I've never felt threatened in England or the Continent. Maybe that will change.

 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Guitarist Tommy Emmanuel doing Copper Kettle, Helped out by Trey Hensley(Guitar) and Rob Ickes (Dobro).

Geography Div (Failure subsection)

 Face it, Geography isn't always everyone's strong suit ..........

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Cajun subsection)

Currently here in Louisiana ..... have heard some of this.

T'En As Eu (I haven't the faintest what that means) by David Doucet (sounds Cajun, eh?)

Geography Div (Meatless subsection)

Going to visit Mrs.Bear's eldest this week. He's become vegan, should be interesting, eh? 

Looks like South Dakota wins for the fewest. Amazing, we didn't even beat Mississippi.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Spooky subsection)

Tomorrow is Halloween so I thought I start you out in the right direction. The Country Gentlemen, from a reunion concert, Woodstock 1992, doing Bringing Mary Home.

Trick or treat !!

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

Geography Div (Jobs subsection)

 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

New video from Unspoken Tradition, Irons in the Fire. Filmed in an actual working blacksmith shop !

Audie McGinnis - Guitar and ead vocal, Ty Gilpin - mandolin, Tim Gardner - fiddle, Sav Sankaran - bass, and Zane McGinnis - banjo.

Geography Div (Pay up subsection)

Toll Roads, Bridges and Tunnels  - -  

Long before EZ Pass was adopted in the DC area, I subscribed to it through New Jersey. We often made trips to New England and it made the trip much easier. It eventually came to the Mid-Atlantic region (as did the charges in Virginia).

Now the hassle is going to the Denver area. It's almost impossible to figure out what's free and what's not -  especially when in motion. 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Student subsection)

Pike County Breakdown by Haley Stiltner on banjo with ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band.

The ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band is composed of leading students and faculty of the school's Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Program in the Department of Appalachian Studies

Performing are Raymond McLain (fiddle), Dan Boner (guitar), Tara Sansom (fiddle), Leah Needham (dobro), Haley Stiltner (banjo), Danny Stewart (bass), and Colby Laney (mandolin).

Geography Div (You're from WHERE? subsection)

The Oddest town name in each state. I think I've been through a couple of them.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Backline doing a cover of Tennessee Ernie Ford's Sixteen Tons, written by Merle Travis. It's unusual to hear it led with a female voice.

Katelyn Ingardia - Guitar and lead vocal, Travis Tucker - Dobro, Zachary Carter - Banjo,

Milom Williams II - Mandolin, Clint White - Fiddle and Chris Williamson - Bass

Geography Div (Have a drink Subsection)

 Easier to buy a drink or a 6-pack when I was young. Most of the traffic deaths involve that and the freedumb to avoid wearing a seat belt. 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Tribute subsection)

Lonesome River Band doing Cumberland River Shore, a tribute to John Hartford written by Billy Smith and Matt Combs.

Lonesome River Band:  Jesse Smathers on lead vocal and mandolin, Sammy Shelor on banjo, Brandon Rickman on guitar, Mike Hartgrove on fiddle, and Barry Reed on bass.

Geography Div (Speling subsection)

Amazing isn't it ........... Congratulations Wisconsin.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (More furriners subsection)

Professional Deformation from the Czech Republic doing One Way Rider.

H/T Lee Zimmerman

Jakub Racek – guitar, voc. Radek Vaňkát – dobro, voc. Petr Vošta – banjo, voc. Miloš Peter Klápště – double bass, voc.

Geography Div (... and you're from where? subsection)

Amazing to think that 1%  of Americans hadn't heard of the USA.

A Litle Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Don Rigsby stepping out as a solo artist, These Days I Stand Alone.

Rigsby is supported on the track by Jason Roller on guitar, Greg Martin on bass, Tim Crouch on fiddle, and Elmer Burchett on banjo. Larry Cordle and Billy Droze provide vocal harmonies.

Geography Div (Taxes subsection)

There's a lot said about the "Red state/Blue state" divide. Some correlation can be found here:

Today holds so many sad memories of where we were and what we thought .............

United Flight 93 by Caleb Bailey, trading verses with Wayne Taylor.

'nuf said ..............

Geography Div

 Lots of folks will be hitting the road for vacations now. Wonder what the weather will be like ......

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Ride the Train by Wildfire

Robert Hale - Guitar, lead vocal,   Curt Chapman -bass, Scott Napier - mandolin, Johnny Lewis - banjo, and Matt DeSpain -reso-guitar. 

A Little (Sadly) Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (RIP Subsection)

Don't know why this didn't post as scheduled. Mini-Bears deny any blame !!

Last week saw the passing of one of the giants of Bluegrass music, banjoist Bill Emerson.

John Lawless has an excellent summary of his career.

Here he is from 2010 with his band Sweet Dixie doing (what else) Sweet Dixie.

RIP Bill

Bill Emerson - Banjo, Teri Chism - Bass, Wayne Lanham - Mandolin and Chris Stifel - Guitar.

Geography Div (Barriers subsection)

 Haven't seen this division of the states before - - -

Geography Div (Eclipse subsection)

Five years ago (on the 21st of August) Mrs Bear and I had the good fortune to view the latest US total eclipse in Broken Bow, NE. 

Here's the outlook for the next thirty years or so ........

..... and here's what we saw  ..... (the tiny dot to the left of the sun is Mercury).

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Shannon Bielski and Moonlight Drive doing Tuscarora.

Shannon Bielski-fiddle, Cory Jeter-guitar, Kyle Windbeck-mandolin, Greg Mulley-bass and

Rob Benzing - banjo.

Geography Div (Heat subsection)

.... and it's gonna get hotter.

 

Doyle Lawson has reorganized Quicksilver and released a new video, I'll take Lonesome Every Time.

 Doyle leads the band on mandolin, supported by Eli Johnston on banjo, Ben James on guitar, Stephen Burwell on fiddle, Matt Flake on fiddle, and Jerry Cole, the lone remainer from pre-COVID days, on bass.

Geography Div (Vehicle subsection)

Although it's 2017 data, It probably is pretty close .... though it seems that every fourth car here in Hay Camp is a Subaru (of some ilk).

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (It's that time of the year subsection)

Well, by now the population of Hay Camp, SD is half deaf from the sounds of motorcycles attending the annual (and now during the pandemic)  Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Covid Super-Spreader Event.

Anyhow, here's the Del McCoury Band doing Richard Thompson's Vincent Black Lightning 1952.

Del McCoury - Vocal and Guitar, Rob McCoury - Banjo, Ronnie McCoury - Mandolin, 

Jason Carter - Fiddle and Alan Bartram - Bass

Geography Div (Can You Hear Me Now subsection)

 There used to be a lot of quiet places in these here United States. Now, not so much.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (James Taylor subsection)

The Steep Canyon Rangers by themselves at Merlefest last year, doing James Taylor's Sweet Baby James.

Woody Platt on guitar and vocals, Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, and Barrett Smith on bass and vocals.

Geography Div (Roadtrip subsection)

 How's this for a roadtrip with only one highway number to remember ??? Highway 1 in Australia. The longest national highway in the world.

Of course, you'll have to remember which side of the road to drive on !!!

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass DIv (RIP Subsection)

Byron Berline passed away last week. One of the most influential fiddlers to impact the Bluegrass scene.

I'm sure that the loss of his Double Stop Fiddle shop couldn't have helped to his rapid decline. I was introduced to  him via the Dillards in the early '60s. What a wonderful talent.

Here is one of my favorites, Cherokee Shuffle.

RIP Byron

Byron Berline - Lead Fiddle, Daryl Anger - Fiddle, Ned Lubercki - Banjo, Sally Van Neter - Dobro, Sharon Gilchrist - Bass and  Johan Heldenbergh - Guitar

Geography Div (What's in a Name subsection)

Interesting idea;  the original names of famous US cities. The Bear's are currently residing in Hay Camp.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Kiwi subsection)

The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band from New Zealand doing James Taylor's Carolina on My Mind.

• Alan Rhodes (Guitar / Banjo / Mandolin / Vocals)
• Paul Trenwith (Banjo / Vocals)
• Dave Calder (Mandolin / Guitar / Vocals)
• Colleen Bain [Trenwith] (Fiddle)
• Leonard Cohen (Mouth Harp / Guitar / Dobro / Vocals)
• Sandy McMillin (String Bass)

Geography Div (Climate subsection)

 ... and you think it's hot now ???

Climatological warmest (entire) month of the year is still ahead for almost everyone. Something to look forward to!

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass from the new album Bluegrass Troubadour, Here's He Can't Own Them. 

Danny Paisley - Guitar and lead vocal, Ryan Paisley - Mandolin, Mark Delaney - Banjo, T.J. Lundy - Fiddle and Bobby Lundy - Bass

Geography Div (Climate Changed subsection)

 Last week we looked at Europe during the last Ice Age.

Here's what the whole world looked like .................

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Video of Rusty Veins by the Timber Rattlers from Missoula, MT.

Jamie Drysdale on guitar, Caleb Dostal on banjo, Dillon Johns on bass, and Jesse Brown on fiddle. 

Geography Div (Climate Change subsection)

 Just imagine what it's going to look like when sea level rises two feet or so ...........

Europe 19,000 BC, during the height of the last ice age. The Black Sea was a lake, Ireland and France shared a coastline, and Scandinavia was buried under hundreds of meters of ice.

A Little Saturday Nite Black Hills Bluegrass Festival Div

This week is the Black Hills Bluegrass Festival with the headline act The Special Consensus.

Here they are doing Chicago Barn Dance.

Greg Cahill - Banjo, Dan Eubanks - Bass, Nate Burie - Mandolin and Greg Blake - Guitar

Geography Div (Breakfast subsection)

Hungry this morning ??

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Bennie Boling with an instrumental from his upcoming album of the same name, Ann the Dreadful Snake.

It's a play on and reference to the Bill Monroe classic.

Bennie Boling - Banjo and Bass, Jason Roller - Fiddle and Guitar

Geography Div (Roadtrip subsection)

I would be so totally up for this !!!

 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Jeff Brown & Still Lonesome doing Gone Like the Wind, a recently released single.

Jeff Brown - Guitar & Vocals, Austin Brown - Bass,Nick Goad - Mandolin & Tenor Vocals and Rod Smith - Banjo/Dobro/Vocals

Geography Div (Wee Dram subsection)

I must note that I am Partial to the occasional (?) dram of a good Highland Malt.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

From Rock Hearts' debut album Starry Southern Nights, a cover of the Osborne Brothers' Don't let Smoky Mountain Smoke Get in Your Eyes.

Alex MacLeod - Lead Vocals - Guitar, Billy “BT” Thibodeau - Mandolin - Vocals, Danny Musher - Fiddle, Rick Brodsky - Bass and Joe Deetz - Banjo - Vocals

Geography Div (Urban Growth subsection)

 What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas ... sort of ......... 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Tommy Emmanuel in collaboration with Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley doing Copper Kettle.

Geography Div (Astrophysical subsection)

And you can't help but wonder that there ain't no intelligent life in this picture!

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

An interesting question: Where does a Hobo Go? New album from the Caleb Daugherty Band.

Caleb Daugherty - Guitar, Zion Napier - Mandolin, Kyle Clerkin - Banjo, Zach Collier - Bass 

and Kyle Ramey - Fiddle.

Geography Div (Homeric subsection)

I don't know how many of us had to read The Odyssey in high school, but I'd have found it more interesting if my volume had had a map !!

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Busy Fiddler subsection)

New first solo album from Maggie Denton (Dan Tyminski Band), Hope You Hang Around from the album of the same name.

Maddie Denton- fiddle and harmony vocals, James Kee- lead vocal, Harry Clark- mandolin and harmony vocals, Jake Stargel- guitar, Cory Walker- banjo, Gaven Largent- dobro and Geoff Saunders- bass

Geography Div (Infrastructure subsection)

We could so do this:

France’s inter-city high-speed rail lines superimposed on the Midwest with Chicago taking the place of Paris.

... but we probably don't have the will. 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Pandemic Production subsection)

This Covid thing certainly has generated a lot of creativity in how music groups geet things out there.

Here are three Swedes Doing Randall Hylton's Cold Sheets of Rain.

All the instruments are European made.

Mandolin - Erik Igelström Banjo - Jens Koch Guitar, bass and Vocals - Max Tellving

Geography Div (Downa Local subsection)

 The pub is more than just a bar, and no two are alike even if they have the same name.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Snowman subsection)

Back in February, the Amanda Green Band had to cancel a concert in Virginia due to it being snowed out. They decided to video some of the performance at home where they were rehearsing and release them as The Snowman Sessions. 

Here is Gordon Lightfoot's Bitter Green.

I should note that guitarist Aaron "Frosty Foster passed away suddenly on February 10th, a week after this video was recorded.

RIP Aaron.

Amanda Cook - Vocals/Guitar, Carolyne Van Lierop-Boone - Harmony/Banjo, Troy Boone - Harmony/Mandolin, Josh Faul - Bass, George Mason - Fiddle and Aaron “Frosty” Foster - Lead Guitar

Geography Div (What's in a name subsection)

 It's amazing just how many State name aren't derived from Native American words.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Crypto Currency subsection)

I'm not sure just what this bitcoin stuff is, and I'm not sure I want to know!

Anyhow, here's Cole Quest and the City Pickers (animated) doing Bitcoin Gambler.

Cole Quest Rotante - Dobro / Harmony Vocals, Christian Apuzzo - Guitar / Vocals, Matheus Verardino - Harmonica, Mike Mulhollan - Banjo and Larry Cook - Bass

Geography Div (Divisiveness subsection)

 Not even Canadians agree on everything !

Scroll left-Right, up-down.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass div

New video from Beck Buller; Don't Look Back, from her latest album Distance and Time.

Becky Buller (Vocals/Fiddle), Dan Boner (Vocals/Guitar), Nate Lee (Vocals/Mandolin), Ned Luberecki (Banjo), and Daniel Hardin (Upright Bass).

Geography Div (Have a cuppa subsection)

Pretty much self-explainitory, eh ?  

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass

Sixteen year-old Daisy Caire doing Remy's Breakdown. 

What caught my eye was the grandson's name !! (and he's much cuter than the goat!)

She is supported on this track by Laurie Lewis on bass, Brandon Godman on fiddle, and Rainy Miatke on mandolin. This tune had won 2nd place in the Mike Auldridge Instrumental Composition Contest in 2019 – when she was 14.

Geography Div (Perspective subsection)

 Something wrong here? Not if you are Maori.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass (Basque subsection)

I keep sayung how amazed I am by the spread and popularity of Bluegrass music throughout the world; often combined with local twists. Here's Howdy Bluegrass doing Titi's Breakdown.

Gorka Arranz on guitar and main vocal, Julen Maestro on diatonic accordion, Jon Arzelus on double bass, Jose Mari Pulido on banjo, and Urbil Artola on reso-guitar

Special to the Geography Div (Home run subsection)

Today is baseball's opening day. Here's an interesting bit of trivia:

Geography Div (Neighbor to the North subsection)

Today  in 1867, the British Parliament  passed the North America Act to create the Dominion of Canada. 

Lots of stereotypes up there, eh?

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Whatca' doin' for Covid? subsection)

So many bands are idle due to the virus. Here's what Frank Solivan is doing.

Anyhow, here's Frank and Dirty Kitchen doing Bluegrass Breakdown.

Frank Solivan - Mandolin, Chris Luquette - Guitar, Mike Munford - Banjo and 

Jeremy Middleton - Bass

Geography Div (Global Warming subsection)

 Does it gettin' warmer ???

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

I first heard this song performed by Steve Gillette (the composer, along with Tom Campbell) who was the opener for Judy Collins, at the Golden Buff in Boulder, Colorado 52 years ago. I immediately fell in love with it. Here is Darcy Farrow performed by Jeff Scroggins and Colorado.

Jeff Scroggins - Banjo, Greg Blake - Guitar, Vocal, Tristan Scroggins - Mandolin, Vocal, Ellie Hakanson - Fiddle, Vocal, C.B. Deonson - Bass

Note: Greg Blake will be joining The Special Consensus , replacing Rick Faris

Geography Div (Statehood subsection)

Guess what state was added to these here United States today in 1820 ?

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass (Chicago style subsection)

Special Consensus' founder and leader Greg Cahill hails from Chicago. Here's his tribute to local radio from their latest album (of the same name ) Chicago Barn Dance, the IBMA 2020 Song of the Year.

Greg Cahill - Banjo, Rick Faris - Guitar, Nate Burie - Mandolin and Dan Eubanks - Bass.

Also performing: Becky Buller, Patrick McAvinue and Michael Cleveland on fiddles and Marcia 

Campbell doing the clogging.

Geography Div (Altitude subsection)

I'll leave it up to you to do the conversions ...........

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Korean subsection)

The popularity of Bluegrass Music and its spread world wide never ceases to amaze me. Here's a group from Korea, Country Gongbang doing Nothing is Impossible. 

Hyunho (banjo), Yebin (vocal, mandolin), Kiha (double bass), Jongsu (fiddle) and  Sujnae (Guitar)

Geography Div (Roadtrip subsection)

The question is, will you make it through alive?? The Pan-American Highway.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Pick 'em up Truck subsection)

“With Ford’s 1965 introduction of the Twin I-Beam, they touted several benefits of the new front suspension system including rugged construction, improved wheel alignment, reduced tire wear and front-end maintenance, smoother ride, and better control.

Jason Owen tells the story in this song of a country boy’s new found freedom driving Daddy’s truck on the backroads of Charlotte County, Virginia. Back in a time when gas was cheap, and the girl, she’s pretty! And then there’s Mamma, who worries every time he gets behind the wheel! We hope everyone enjoys this rural American story from a different era of time, and that a good vibe will be had by all with Daddy’s Twin I-Beam.” -- Steve Thomas (Props to John Lawless - Bluegrass Today)

Jason Owen (guitar and lead vocals) Steve Thomas - Mandolin & Vocals Josh Matheny - Dobro & Vocals Chris Wade - Banjo Evan Winsor - Bass

Geography Div (More climate change subsection)

 Well, maybe we'll do better now.

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Rhonda Vincent was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Ferbuary 6. Here's on older cut by her and her band (the Rage), Kentucky Borderline.

Rhonda Vincent - Mandolin, Hunter Berry - Fiddle, Brent Burke - Dobro, Mickey Harris - Bass, 

Aaron McDaris - Banjo, Josh Williams - Guitar

Geography Div (Measurement subsection)

Like I said last week  .......... Here are the countries that don't use the metric system* !

*The other two are Liberia and Myanmar (Burma).

 

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div (Bass subsection)

The bass is usually fades into the background in most bluegrass bands, outshone by the flashy banjo, mandolin and guitar. Bassist Jeff Picker's new album With the Bass in Mind emphasizes his instrument and talent. A trio version from the new album, here's Disturbance in the Kitchen.

Jeff Picker (bass), Dominick Leslie (mandolin), and Jake Stargel (guitar)

Geography Div (Return to Sanity subsection)

 Next, maybe the Metric System !

A Little Saturday Nite Bluegrass Div

Carolyn Eyerly singing her composition Red Toad Road (there actually is one) from her new album

The Sunny Side of Life. Great voice and she's accompanied by some "all-stars" from the Northern Virginia area.

Carolyn Eyerly - lead vocal

 Danny Knicely on mandolin, Chris Luquette on guitar, Mike Munford on banjo, Ronnie Simpkins on bass, Ron Stewart on fiddle, and Fred Travers on reso-guitar. Harmony vocals are provided by Eyerly’s Sweet Yonder bandmates Mary DeGuire Romagnoli and Janine Lewis.

Geography Div (Let's pick on someone subsection)

 Today's victim: West Virginia ....... or is it West Virginia picks on everyone else? Anyway, this is what West Virginians see for the rest of us.