When I saw this my feeble mind harkened back to my days as a 10-15 year old youngster. Each Sunday night we would, as a family, watch the Ed Sullivan Show. It was probably the last of the true variety shows that featured entertainment for all ages. Every few months someone would come on to play the glasses filled with water. The next few days would find my brother and I getting in trouble when trying to duplicate the performance with my mom’s glasses, china, vases, and what have you. It never ended well for us. The above vid is short and the performance is sweet so give it a listen. I can’t stick around while you do so. I have to go upstairs and find the wife’s crystal.
This morning was spent doing Lions Club banking (Something which is taking far too much of my time as of late!) and gardening. The gardening carried over into the early pm and now it is suppertime. Tonight I will be playing violin and mandolin. I am back to work on the romantic dance album again. It has been a slow process but, like everything else, it will get done eventually. It will be nothing at all like the vid below. Our apologies to the Japanese.
Saturday I played in Covington at the Artists Market there. It was during the Finnfest held at the Rec Center and they shuttled folks back and forth via a small bus. It was great fun if you don’t count the pouring rain. I played concertina, fiddle, and guitar and had a great time talking with people that I haven’t seen for quite some time. The concertina was a big hit amongst those in attendance. I may need to get it out more often in the future.
OK. So I am revitalized and bordering on acceptable human behavior. (Albeit Cro-Magnon.) Today is a work day and catch-up day. I also expect to get to the marina at some point and rid myself of these landlubber legs. The seamen swagger is more appropriate for the workaday musician anyway.
On an unrelated note………How many of you out there are using one of these puppies?
It is something that I am looking at but would appreciate any input from those who are out using it in the field. Reviews are plentiful but you never know who is a Sony shill and who isn’t. If you have any first-hand experience with this unit drop me a line or comment in the comment field. Thanks.
Apparently beatboxing is a rather common craze in South Korea. For those of you who may be wondering…….Yes! He does all the sound effects with his voice and mouth. (Except once he uses his hand.) Apparently if you live in Korea and don’t have a life or ever expect to get one then this is what you do. Then again, how different is this than our citizens who play xbox or wii for hours upon end? There is but one question that springs to mind. Where are we headed and why am I in this handbasket? I would have lots more to say on the subject but will stand mute…….for now.
I am headed to the deep woods nowhere named Hulbert in Michgan’s Upper Peninsula to play the country music fest there. It will be in the American Legion building. If you go to Hulbert you can’t miss it. Finding Hulbert is the hard part. It is 25 miles east of Newberry (Wherever THAT is!) and then north off the highway by a couple of miles. You are truly in the country once you get there. Now that I have picked on them I should also state that the nicest people and greatest musicians in the midwest live there. That’s covering a bit of ground.
I will be back in the studio on Monday and actually back to recording again. Springtime ‘to do’ lists have been massive this year and it will be absolutely wonderful to roll tape, play music, and smile for a bit. Don’t call Monday or Tuesday. The phone will be disconnected until the 16 track is shut down. Email is all right though and I will check it each morning early and again late in the evenings.
Every now and then there is something out there that is just so cute and cuddly that I have to post it. I may get flamed in a big way for this but it’s worth all the trouble. I hope that at age 90 I can do something like this. I can’t even imagine ever being age 90. (No comments out there in P-Gallery Land!) If you don’t enjoy this video then there is something seriously wrong with the way you are wired internally. You prolly hate kittens too.
In the completely boring section of bloggerville we are up to an average of 70 unique hits daily. The Psalter for the 21st Century and the Viola Jokes posts are the most attended sections over the last year. As always, thanks for visiting. Dave
Tonight (5pm-7pm) I will be giving another of the summer fiddling workshops at Good Times Music. Last time we had 15 fiddlers show up for a bit of learning and a great time. Tonight’s learning tunes are the Ookpik Waltz and the rousing Kitchen Girl. Both tunes are fun to play and excellent dance tunes. Pictured below is yours truly fiddling away on a violin made by Art Kole. (Who is also a great fiddler in addition to building violins.)
Today I have been working on Lions Club projects and the garden. Actually the garden doesn’t exist yet but it will by the end of the week. Right now it looks like dirt and little else.
Wednesday I will hold another of the Summer Workshop Series fiddle workshops at Good Times Music store in Houghton. (Flyer tomorrow.) On Friday it is on the road for a festival in Hulbert. If Friday or Saturday finds you in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan then stop in at Hulbert and have a great time with us. I will be on fiddle and mandolin for most of this one. There will be a couple of hours where I get to back up Jeff Guenther as he fiddles the crowd crazy. (I will be on guitar.) Jeff is amazing and a great storyteller in addtion to being a fine musician. Stop in if you are around for the weekend.
This morning I spent researching mic pres. (Again!) I have a couple of great pres but could use one more that would be used mainly for acoustic guitar. Currently my goto pres are my Universal Audio LA 610 (Naturally.) and my FMR RNP. Speaking of clever marketing names…..the R N P stands for Really Nice Preamp. It is great on bass and good elsewhere but I need something that will make the acoustic guitar sparkle. The LA 610 does a great job but it is my main vox pre and if I do a single take guitar/vox song then I end up with a so-so sounding guitar. Of course this is completely unacceptable when there are only two tracks to the song. Anyway…..I am getting close to buying this one. If any of you out there have differing ideas then please chime in via email before I send Daking the buckolas for this one.
