So the RNC in St. Paul and other recent political events have reminded me of these lyrics from Laurie Anderson . I saw her at the 'old' Guthrie back in the day and have the vinyl Big Science LP from which this song is from:
SWEATERS
I no longer love your mouth.
I no longer love your eyes.
I no longer love your eyes.
I no longer love the color of your sweaters.
I no longer love it.
I no longer love the color of your sweaters.
I no longer love the way you hold your pens and pencils.
I no longer love it.
Your mouth. Your eyes.
The way you hold your pens and pencils.
I no longer love it. I no longer love it.
Vocals, Violins: Laurie Anderson
Bagpipes: Rufus Harley
Drums: David Van Tieghem
Context:
Today's NY Times/CBS News Poll Headline: "Obama Retakes Lead Over McCain"
From the link above:
Palin’s favorable rating stands at 40 percent, down 4 points from last week. Her unfavorable rating, which stands at 30 percent, has risen eight points in the same time period. Her favorable rating among women has fallen 11 points in the past week.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Playing at Dulono's
Lynn and I are playing our 3rd gig at Dulono's this Friday night (8:00-Midnight, Sept. 19th, 2008). We first played a Friday night last January and then a weekend in March. In my comments on our first gig, I said that one weekend night was enough; however, when Al Jesperson called us to fill in for another band for the whole weekend, we didn't hesitate and we survived. Since you can leave most of the sound system set up overnight (we take the amp and the microphones back home with us), I'm almost disappointed that we aren't playing both nights. (But we are playing both Friday&Saturday the weekend of Jan 2,3 2009).
Having regular gigs at Dulono's is a real privilege. If you look at their schedule, you'll note that some of the top bluegrass/old-time bands in the area play there. I found this link to an article which describes some of the history of bluegrass and Dulono's. Al Jesperson started booking bluegrass and related bands in 1974 and Adam Granger describes it as the 'oldest bluegrass venue in the world'.
We were on the Dulono's stage a couple of times when we took a couple of bluegrass jam classes in the early 90's from Brian Wicklund and Kevin Barnes (who were then part of Stoney Lonesome). The 'bands' that were formed in class each got to do a few numbers. These were public events so some of our friends came to watch.
In 2002 Lynn and I started to 'play out' and a few years later started to do MBOTMA fundraisers at Dulono's. You play about a 40 minute set and in addition to helping to raise money for a good cause, the fundraiers provide a way to meet other musicians and expose your music to the bluegrass and old-time audience. Al Jesperson was at one of these and suggested that we call him to perform, so we are now on the list to do 2 or 3 Dulono's gigs a year. And we still love to do the MBOTMA fundraisers when our schedule permits.
For this Friday's performance, we have the set list mostly figured out and Steve Wold, a musician friend from our church, will sit in for a few numbers on the first set. Although the audience continues to 'change' throughout the night, we try not to repeat numbers so we have about 45 songs and tunes on the list. Three are relatively new: O The Raging Sea, Pretty Little Miss, and I've Got a Bulldog. We've done these at Farmer's markets but not 'on stage'. We've also revived Tim O'Brien's Late in the Day, and Norman Blake's Last Train From Poor Valley, which we haven't performed for a few years.
We are rehearsing most nights this week - making sure the words are still there and that we 'agree' on tempos and arrangements. We'll get to Dulono's on Friday by 6:00 to set up sound, Steve is coming around 7 to go over the 3 numbers he'll be doing, then hopefully time for a little food and ready to hit the stage at 8:00!
Having regular gigs at Dulono's is a real privilege. If you look at their schedule, you'll note that some of the top bluegrass/old-time bands in the area play there. I found this link to an article which describes some of the history of bluegrass and Dulono's. Al Jesperson started booking bluegrass and related bands in 1974 and Adam Granger describes it as the 'oldest bluegrass venue in the world'.
We were on the Dulono's stage a couple of times when we took a couple of bluegrass jam classes in the early 90's from Brian Wicklund and Kevin Barnes (who were then part of Stoney Lonesome). The 'bands' that were formed in class each got to do a few numbers. These were public events so some of our friends came to watch.
In 2002 Lynn and I started to 'play out' and a few years later started to do MBOTMA fundraisers at Dulono's. You play about a 40 minute set and in addition to helping to raise money for a good cause, the fundraiers provide a way to meet other musicians and expose your music to the bluegrass and old-time audience. Al Jesperson was at one of these and suggested that we call him to perform, so we are now on the list to do 2 or 3 Dulono's gigs a year. And we still love to do the MBOTMA fundraisers when our schedule permits.
For this Friday's performance, we have the set list mostly figured out and Steve Wold, a musician friend from our church, will sit in for a few numbers on the first set. Although the audience continues to 'change' throughout the night, we try not to repeat numbers so we have about 45 songs and tunes on the list. Three are relatively new: O The Raging Sea, Pretty Little Miss, and I've Got a Bulldog. We've done these at Farmer's markets but not 'on stage'. We've also revived Tim O'Brien's Late in the Day, and Norman Blake's Last Train From Poor Valley, which we haven't performed for a few years.
We are rehearsing most nights this week - making sure the words are still there and that we 'agree' on tempos and arrangements. We'll get to Dulono's on Friday by 6:00 to set up sound, Steve is coming around 7 to go over the 3 numbers he'll be doing, then hopefully time for a little food and ready to hit the stage at 8:00!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Playing for Farmer's Markets
Last Friday I went to the coffee shop e.p. atelier to hear the Floorbirds, Mill City Grinders and the Lulu Gals (I had a great time). Lisa from the Lulu Gals noted that Lynn and I were playing at a Farmer's market the next morning. She said that she had played farmers markets before she moved to Minnesota and had fun but said the St. Paul Farmer's market was too 'formal'. I haven't been to the St. Paul Market so I couldn't comment.
For the last several years, Lynn and I have been playing at farmers market gigs set up by Bob Estes of the Rhubararians.
At the beginning of the season Bob sets up a number of dates at several farmers markets. Most commonly Lynn and I play at the Prior Lake and Bloomington farmers markets as 'guests'. (see earlier post here). The original Rhubarians (Bob, Tom , Dave and Joe) usually cover the Kingfield market in South Minneapolis. This weekend Lynn and I joined Bob at the Prior Lake market on Saturday; on Sunday only Bob and Tom could make it to Kingsfield. I hustled on over after church and played with them the last hour and a half.
Lynn and I usually wind up playing with Bob and Tom: there are a number of common reels,jigs, marches and polkas from the Rhubarbarian repertoire; otherwise we 'jam' on each other's songs. This provides us an opportunity to try out new songs - on Saturday, we did O, The Raging Sea and I've Gotta Bulldog. There's a couple of songs that we do that have become Farmer's market 'standards', including Otto Wood and One More Dollar. I did 'em both days (with Lynn on Sat, just with Bob and Tom on Sunday). Jesse James is an old jamming tune that I only play with the farmer' market gang.
Of course, at a farmer's market we're mostly playing background music - although, we usually have a few people who sit and listen to a few numbers. And the vendors really like it. On Sunday we got corn and tomoatoes!
We also provide a baby-sitting service: kids like folk music and there's usually a baby stroller or two that a Mom or Dad brings up next to where the band is set up. There's almost always a few kids who dance. Not only to jigs and reels but also to some of our bouncier songs like Milwaukee Blues or If I Lose. On Sunday a 8 or 9 year old girl was dancing to a few tunes and even did a modern dance interpretation to One More Dollar (which is a ballad).
The Bloominton and Prior Lake markets give $100 to the band, plus any tips we can busk up. Kingsfield is about $25 but is much closer. Thus we usually cover gas and a farmers market gig often means we can skip getting cash from the ATM for a week or two. Lynn and I played Prior Lake on our own in July on our wedding anniversary and paid for our anniversary dinner from the proceeds.
I sometimes tell Lynn that our 'mission' is to take old-time music to the masses and playing at Farmer's markets certainly accomplishes that (and shows the universal appeal of folk and old-time music ).
For the last several years, Lynn and I have been playing at farmers market gigs set up by Bob Estes of the Rhubararians.
At the beginning of the season Bob sets up a number of dates at several farmers markets. Most commonly Lynn and I play at the Prior Lake and Bloomington farmers markets as 'guests'. (see earlier post here). The original Rhubarians (Bob, Tom , Dave and Joe) usually cover the Kingfield market in South Minneapolis. This weekend Lynn and I joined Bob at the Prior Lake market on Saturday; on Sunday only Bob and Tom could make it to Kingsfield. I hustled on over after church and played with them the last hour and a half.
Lynn and I usually wind up playing with Bob and Tom: there are a number of common reels,jigs, marches and polkas from the Rhubarbarian repertoire; otherwise we 'jam' on each other's songs. This provides us an opportunity to try out new songs - on Saturday, we did O, The Raging Sea and I've Gotta Bulldog. There's a couple of songs that we do that have become Farmer's market 'standards', including Otto Wood and One More Dollar. I did 'em both days (with Lynn on Sat, just with Bob and Tom on Sunday). Jesse James is an old jamming tune that I only play with the farmer' market gang.
Of course, at a farmer's market we're mostly playing background music - although, we usually have a few people who sit and listen to a few numbers. And the vendors really like it. On Sunday we got corn and tomoatoes!
We also provide a baby-sitting service: kids like folk music and there's usually a baby stroller or two that a Mom or Dad brings up next to where the band is set up. There's almost always a few kids who dance. Not only to jigs and reels but also to some of our bouncier songs like Milwaukee Blues or If I Lose. On Sunday a 8 or 9 year old girl was dancing to a few tunes and even did a modern dance interpretation to One More Dollar (which is a ballad).
The Bloominton and Prior Lake markets give $100 to the band, plus any tips we can busk up. Kingsfield is about $25 but is much closer. Thus we usually cover gas and a farmers market gig often means we can skip getting cash from the ATM for a week or two. Lynn and I played Prior Lake on our own in July on our wedding anniversary and paid for our anniversary dinner from the proceeds.
I sometimes tell Lynn that our 'mission' is to take old-time music to the masses and playing at Farmer's markets certainly accomplishes that (and shows the universal appeal of folk and old-time music ).
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