Lyr Add: High Cost of Livin' (Critton Hollow...)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HIGH COST OF LIVIN' (John Johnson)
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 19 May 97 - 04:47 PM

This is a repeat of a post made shortly before the "Great Unraveling of the Threads" last month. If anyone knew or knows of this band's work, I'd love to hear from you.

Subject: High, High, High Cost of Livin'
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 04/21/97

THE HIGH COST OF LIVING
(As performed by the Critton Hollow String Band)

The landlord wants his money and the grocery bill is due.
My ol' wallet's gettin' flat, and, boys, I'm tellin' you,
My clothes are getting ragged and my shoes are getting thin.
Just lend an ear and you will hear the awful fix I'm in:

CHORUS: It's the high, high, high cost of livin'.
Oh, tell me what a workin' man can do?
It's the high, high, high cost of livin'.
I'm in the red and feelin' mighty blue!

There's no T-bone steak at our house, and no more choc'late pie.
We can't afford those luxuries; the prices are too high.
I used to drive a Cadillac until the other day,
But I had to trade the darn thing off and get a Model A. CHORUS

My little wife she told me just the other day:
"Throw out the chest and tell the rest that Junior's on his way."
Now since you can't go shoot the stork, a helpin' hand I'll need.
Oh, tell me how I can afford another mouth to feed? CHORUS


The Critton Hollow String Band folks were local favorites in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia in the 70s and early 80s when I lived there. The four members covered a wide variety of cowboy, folk and mountain music, mixed with some originals. Fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin and hammered dulcimer were the featured instruments, along with fine, authentic backwoods harmonies. They put out at least two albums on a small label whose name now eludes me. Worth looking for, however.

Anyone else out there know these folks or their current doings? It's been years since I've seen them play, but still find myself whistlin' and pickin' many of their tunes.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Bert Hansell
Date: 19 May 97 - 04:56 PM

Hollow Strings?
Gotta get me some of those.

Bert. :-)

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From:
Date: 19 May 97 - 05:31 PM

Bert

They must be for an electric guitar. Hollow strings would probably go best with a solid body.

Frank Phillips

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 19 May 97 - 06:59 PM

Best of all, you can sell the broken ones to Zamfir to make repairs to his piccolo pan pipes...

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Dale Rose
Date: 24 May 97 - 11:05 PM

Critton Hollow String Band, Route 1, Box 167, Paw Paw, WV 25434, 304/947-7314. I found this address while looking for something else.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Dale Rose
Date: 25 May 97 - 02:20 AM

I'm back. They have a CD available from Camsco.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From:
Date: 26 May 97 - 10:50 AM

Many years ago (15-16?), I was at Winfield,KS (the National Flat-Picking Championships & Bluegrass Festival), and watched a thin young lady in a costume that looked like it had been made from flour sacks walk away with first prize in the hammered dulcimer contest! It turned out to be Sam Hermann (no, not short for Samantha...just Sam) of Critton Hollow String Band.She was just plain GOOD! And I have enjoyed their music ever since. It's good to know they are still out there.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 27 May 97 - 10:54 AM

Dear Dale Rose,

Many thanks for unearthing the address and info on the Camsco CD. I'll use it to get back in touch with those good folk!

(Note to Dick Greenhaus: Here's another unsolicited real-world plug for DT's outstanding sponsor!)

Dear Bill D,

Thanks for your reminisce. I knew Sam was a world class dulcimer player, but didn't realize she'd been officially recognized as such.

Dear Frank and Bert,

You really oughta give them Hollow Strings a listen!

Again, thanks to all.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: GUEST,kd tunnell
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 11:16 AM

Could someone tell me how to get in touch with the Critten Hollow String Band? I'd very much like to book them for a gig. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 11:40 AM

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/chsb2

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 10:43 AM

I am WELL acquainted with them since I lived in Berkeley Springs for a while. their dulcimer work is sublime! Go to the Berkeley Springs web site every once in a while and they will show up. OR you could contact the folks who own the movie theater. they will know all the news.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 10:47 AM

here you go .... Hoe Hermann's web site with a link to a schedule for him AND the band.

http://www.crittonhollow.com/schedule.html

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 07:06 PM

Guest is of course referring to Joe (not Hoe) Herrmann who's the fiddler for the Critton Hollow String Band. He's the brother of John Herrmann who's another great fiddler (The Rockinghams etc).
Ray

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Janie
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 07:21 PM

Glad to see at least some of them are still playing. Can't tell if the composition of the band is pretty much the same. I thought they had disbanded completely as they haven't put out a CD as Critten Hollow for a long time.

One of my favorite groups. I always loved their song selections.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: open mike
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 09:42 PM

they did jsut put out a c.d.
and they had a release party
nov. 14.

the address given is paw paw.
that is a fruit, for those who
do not know.

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pawpaw.html

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Janie
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 09:53 PM

"Gather 'Round", released Nov. 14 is a Joe Herrmann CD, not a Critton Hollow CD.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Claymore
Date: 23 Nov 09 - 11:03 PM

I did the sound for them at the old Star movie theater and although they changed the line-up for virtually evey song (requiring a different mic set-up for each number - try miking a hammered dulcimer, a Dorbro with a HOT condenser mic, and a trumpet. In addition, the theater had no power to the stage, so I ended up with parallel power lines on 16 gauge wire from the rear projection booth. After Ralph Gordon got done plugging in his bass amp and we dropped to 110 delivered power we went to micing Ralph's cello and still stayed up. (And Janie is right about it being a Joe Herrmann release on "Yodel-ay-hee 001" records although Joe Fallon did back up a couple of numbers.

I left the FOH board to Nick Blanton (who builds hammered dulcimers for his day job) and spent the afternoon (it started at 2PM with a very full house) working the stage for each set-up. and we were able to clear out in time for the first movie of the afternoon

The CD is well worth it and I will use mine (I always get comped) as one of the several I use for a speaker set-up test.

If you want to write or call Joe his address and phone number are on the CD:

Joe Herrmann
Rt. 1, Box 167
Paw Paw, WV 25434
Phone [phone]
email [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Janie
Date: 24 Nov 09 - 12:14 AM

Claymore,

Is Critton Hollow String Band still together? And if so, who are the members now?

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Claymore
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 02:41 AM

Janie,

I saw no sign of Paul Kovac, June Drucker, or Pete Gordon;, only Joe Fallon from the original group. I have been way too busy to ask them that night or since then (Xmas Holidays). And to be honest, I have done Joe and Sam at numerous Dulcimer and Fiddle retreats in the Shepherdstown, WV area and have not seen them perform as a group.

So I just don't know...

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 10:41 PM

Janie,

Critton Hollow performed as a group at the 2008 Vandalia Gathering in Charleston WV.

They recently appeared at something called "Music at Penn Alps".

Music at Penn Alps

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Janie
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 10:44 PM

Thanks Claymore and Russ.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 11:44 PM

We used to live in the same neck O' the woods when I lived in Romney, WV. I used to see the Hermans at the Hampshire County Arts Council meetings from time to time, and Sam bought a scarf I wove for the arts council auction. That was several years ago. They are/were a great band.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 11:47 PM

Wow. Just saw that "Music at Penn Alps" link. That sure brings back some memories. Penn Alps is where I learned how to weave back when I lived in Garrett County, MD. How appropriate.

Subject: RE: Critton Hollow String Band from WVa
From: Claymore
Date: 22 Jan 10 - 02:54 AM

Updated info:

Joe Herrmann will be performing and giving lessons at the annual Fiddle Summit at the Presbyterian Church (across from the Post Office) in Shepherdstown, WV, at 8PM on Friday, Jan 29 and his classes will be taking part in an Open Band for the next night (Jan 30th) at the Mens Club in town. Also appearing and giving classes will be Elke Baker (Scottish) and Larry Unger, with Eden MacAdams-Somer and Adam Hurt.

Contact Joanie Blanton at [phone] for further info. (Her husband Nick is a builder of hammered dulcimers and is a cohort of the famous Sam Rizzeta, of Trapazoid fame).

Even if you can't attend the classes, the after-action jams are legendary.