Dawnbreaker's blog friday 8-7-09
I don't know who's gonna read this but I'm told the blog is here to stay - so here 'tis: my voice echoes thus in your mind...
Started our show following a great Wiggle Room show 3-5:30 AM hearing some early Beatles - we danced our way into the day.
When we play Darkness on the Delta it's always with a nod to our friend Jinx Davis.
Sunbonnet Sue is actually by the Fort Worth Doughboys which included both Milton Brown & Bob Wills. They had quit the Lightcrust Doughboys & recorded a couple of sides together. Then Wills went on to Tulsa, OK & Brown went to Fort Worth, TX both winding up in fame if not fortune.
Oh Atlanta sounds like it was recorded live in Atlanta. Reminds one of the old days; somebody'd shout out Brooklyn & the vocal minority would respond with a "WEAH!!" (if they were a vocal majority they'd pull the joint down to the sub floor - but good people to know in a tough situation).
Blind James Campbell was recorded on the Yazoo label with his street band. They were out of Nashville TN play with that experienced street band elan that says, "nothing's too weird for us to play or play through".
George Pegram is the proto-typical banjo playing goof off. He worked for the railroad in North Caroling - PLAYING THE BANJO for god's sake. We love his playing, his singing & particularly his attitude.
Our friend Jack introduced this Dublin Blues to us this past week at his jam. He's still learnin' it & it sounds like he's got another hit on his hands.
Herb Jefferies just sounds like a Happy Cowboy ought to (as do the Holy Modal's when they do the same song - which is more of a stretch). Hey, maybe it's the song.
New York Town is a Woody Guthrie gem, sung this time by Ramblin' Jack Elliott, who sounds just like Woody if Woody could sing.
King of the Road by the hillbilly hipster himself, Mr. Roger Miller. He'd come out with his shiney, narrow lapel suit & tie (no hick he) & just get crazy. Him & Willie - suits, Nehru jackets & turtle neck sweaters. Back when country wasn't cool. Maybe it's still not.
Malaguena by Riders In the Sky almost as good as the one in the Kill Bill 2 soundtrack. That guy is positively operatic but the Riders do a very credible job - though it does take 3 of them.
Two by a couple guys that sound like they've lived the songs they sing. Judging by the tales told by Geoff Muldaur, Bobby Charles may well have been or may be, he's a Katrina survivor. Gus Cannon on the other hand, veteran of the minstrel show & jug band circuits, was in his 90's & a very dapper & nattily turned out gentleman. Your best silver & your daughter would have been safe with him.
Gov Scrivenor never fails to satisfy & you can just feel Doc Watson back there in the band keepin' everybody on their respective musical toes.
Foolish Frog is by Alphonso Blake Higgs, AKA the Bahamian Blind Blake. He was a very popular band leader, song writer & performer in Bahaman hotels, restaurants, bars and civic events from the 30's into the 80's. He has been an influence and inspiration for the likes of Joseph Spence, Dave Van Ronk, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash and Harry Belafonte; (even the Beach Boys?).
I'm Gonna Cross the River of Jordan One of These Days is by Jay Bird Coleman. You see a lot about so called guitar evangelists but not much about harmonica evangelists; but they're out there.
What can one say about Django. He featured humor in music & never opened his mouth in song & yet, puts a smile on our face every time he plays. And it sounds like Play. I used to listen to his recording of The Continental. It had a vocal by the Hotclub's bass player. I saw somewhere that he did it phonetically but it sounds like the guy on Georgia has a better than passing acquaintance with the english language.
My Lazy Day goes out to Lorna. That's the composer himself on the vocal. After a singer songwriter open mic one night a friend of mine remarked that most songwriters should have their lips sown shut. Not in brother Burnette's case.
And now the bad news. Mike Seeger has gone into a hospice. He's had a type of leukemia for years & things don't look good. He's had a good run though & has meant a lot to folks that were discovering, or re-discovering, this kind of music in the 50's & 60's. He's been a constant fan & attendee of Portland's Old-Time Gathering, which is coming up again this January.
More bad news. Travis Edmonson has died. Half of the duo Bud & Travis in the early 60's. This is a cut off of the album 10,000 Goddam Cattle (thanks Jane). I can still hear the echoes of "I'm a Drifter" by Bud & Travis. Think about it.
Revelation & Inspiration by the Harmony Kings. When you stop & think about it inspiration & revelation go hand in hand; like releasing the sculpted figure from the stone. The King's are the house bands from one of the Universal House of Prayer founded by Daddy Grace. No idea what the tenants of their religion are but I can live with the name - especially with that band.
That's all for this time. We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did.
Henry & Moggy