So soon? It's already time again for another Bluegrass And Beyond jam this Monday, Sept. 21st, 7:30 at Paddy Reilly's Music Pub (SW corner of 2nd and 29th).
I don't what else to say but...
AH-OOOOOOOH!
Where does Warren come up with all these tunes? He seems like such a mild-mannered guy. "Werewolves Of London" by Warren Zevon - great - and on the banjo!
AH-OOOOOOOH!
After Bill and Sarah's gospel warm-up, Karen made sure that the bar got into it with the classic "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music).
Tony wandered in with his bass on his way downtown and led a "Blues In E", never straying too far from the aforementioned bar...
Irv ("Izzy") and Brenda also made a rare appearance, leading several great duets.
However, it turned out that neither Bill, nor Sarah were quite done for the night.
Bill led a classic medley of "Goin' Up The Country" / "Roll Over Beethoven" - in commemoration of Woodstock - Sarah's favorite part of the evening.
Sarah was coerced into a soulful version of Jimmy Cliff's "Too Many Rivers To Cross" by request from Walter at the bar. Walter, originally from Antigua, somehow decided that an Irish music bar was the ideal stopover on his way home to the Bronx after dancing all day at the Caribbean Day parade in Brooklyn. The guitarists really rose to the occasion on that one... the resonator guitar? Not enough Guinness... but Walter stayed all night anyway...
Luckily, I redeemed myself on banjo with the Beatles "I Saw Her Standing There". My only mistake was announcing it as the flip side of "I Wanna Hold Your Hand". Sarah said nobody but me (and co-host Bill) will understand that reference - and, sure enough, Jon and Liz (the young-uns) immediately were seen turning their IPods over to see what was on the "flip" side. I felt like Austin Powers!
Speaking of Liz, it felt like 2008 all over again. She pulled "Waterbound" out for the first time in a year. I asked her how come we never hear it anymore, considering that's ALL she ever played for the first 6 months of the jam - she told me that she never liked that song! Fortunately, we do... and, fortunately for her, she's learned lots of other good ones.
Laura's friend Arthur showed up again - this time with his guitar. It's hard to believe that such a good guitarist had never jammed before. He had a little trouble getting his "Pig" out of it's "Pen" - but luckily, farmer Jon was there to help him out with the verses.
Rob again impressed with his guitar soloing - and Leslie with her mando breaks (what else is new?... complimenting Leslie is like telling the Pope he said a good Mass...).
And I don't even want to talk about Bob, but I will. This was the first time I've stood next to Bob for a whole night, and I was really blown away from close distance. The guy never misses on guitar. Unfortunately, the flip side of that story is that he had to stand next to me for a whole night... no doubt he'll be back on Bill's side of the room this week!
Finally, Andrew has written a scholarly tome on bluegrass jamming called "Bluegrass Tao" (he must go to a different jam - grasshopper). If it was a book, it would definitely weigh a lot! Nice job, Andrew.
It can be found at the new Bluegrass And Beyond web site - a depository for all (non-bloggable) things B + B.
There's also a short photo album of a road trip that Sarah and I took through the heartland of country music... Ralph, A.P., Maybelle, Elvis (and something else... what was it?)
Oh yeah... I proposed to her at Maces Spring, VA. at the ford where A.P., Sara and Maybelle had to cross the Holston in their old Essex to begin their own life's journey!
Romantic, huh? I got a few points for that one!
Great jam, see you Monday,
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