The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL

Subject: The Bluegrass Shop
From: Banjer
Date: 07 Sep 02 - 05:26 PM

Just came home from a wonderful afternoon at a place known as The Bluegrass Shop. It is where my grandson takes guitar lessons. I discovered some other folks interested in the lap dulcimer and several folks that play guitar and we all met at the shop at 2PM and had a good time for about two hours. Elson, the proprietor enjoyed it so much he said we need to make this a weekly thing. I am already looking forward to next Saturday. Great bunch of folks and much good music! Just had to share this with somebody that would understand!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 08 Sep 02 - 06:15 AM

You might like to share your experience in this discussion, too Banjer -- not obvious from the thread title: I deal with........., because........

BJ

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 08 Sep 02 - 10:06 AM

Thanks BF, I would never have opened this thread if you had not given me the headsup on it.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 08 Sep 02 - 10:43 AM

Hey, Banjer, I live in St. Pete and I don't know where this place is. Could you give us an address?

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 08 Sep 02 - 11:32 AM

Hi Gern, more than happy to give Elson a plug! Go in a visit with him, look at the pictures on the walls and get him to tell some stories, its an interesting place. He just opened and is still trying to stock it so don't be disappointed by the low number of instruments he has hanging right now, he is expanding rapidly! The adddress is 4125 66th st n. His phone # is 302-9470. If you do get out to see him, let me know what you think of the place and of Elson. BTW, right now he is on abbreviated hours, he still works another job the better part of the day. He is usually open from 4 to 7 in the PM weekdays and 10 - 5 on Saturdays. I will probably be there around two on Saturday.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,mmb
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 10:54 PM

I also live in St. Pete, and would enjoy playing, and possibly singing, with an informal group. I will not be able to drop by the shop this coming weekend, but will check back next week to see if anything seems to be developing. Thanks for the info. M.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 06:07 AM

mmb, since last Saturday was just the first get-together of what I hope bnecomes a regular thing, it was very informal. I suppose as time goes on there will develop a group of 'regulars' and a bit of system. Last week those present would just be talking about a certain song and the guitar player would start to strum and I would join with my dulcimer and another guitar would join in...very unstructured and NICE....I suppose as it grows a bit we will do a song circle type of arrangement, each choosing what he/she wants to play in some form of order. I will be there from about 1:30 to 4 on Saturday, barring any unforseen catastrophe. Look forward to your visit!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 08:17 PM

If I remember I will wear my Mudcat t-shirt.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 06:43 AM

It's Saturday again!!! Only about 7 hours to go! So looking forward to it......

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 07:15 PM

Well, what an afternoon. What started out last week as a small impromtu gathering continued this week as a pretty good jam. Gern made it and SingSong and her hubby came up from Bradenton to visit with us. There were also some more folks, guitar, banjo and dulcimer all were represented. We need a mandolin player to join us and the set will be complete! So, not only a good gathering for the Bluegrass Shop but a Mini-Mudgather as well. I was very impressed, as were others, with Gern's banjo playing. He plays both three finger and clawhammer. He also belts out some good singing on bluegrass numbers. He also has some other talents and abilities which I will let him release here on the Mudcat when and if he sees fit. My dulcimer (and my playing ability) were both hugely outclassed so I was more a spectator and applauder than anything else, but had a real good time. Looking forward to next Saturday already!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 11:48 AM

Outclassed? You made it happen, Banjer. But let's send out an APB to get more pickers. I'm hearing impaired, and really need a strong rhythm section to keep my tempo under control. Any bass players in the Tampa Bay area? A strong mandolin chop would help too. Any fiddlers around? We've got the nucleus for a good session here, but more is needed. While I won't be able to make it every week, I too look forward to my next chance to play there. I thought I would miss out on this sort of thing when I left Kentuckiana to come to Florida. But, like West Nile virus, good old-time mountain music is everywhere!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 09:53 PM

I'm looking forward to next Saturday already! It was a blast. Maybe I'll bring my banjo next week. I have two, a resonated and an open back for old time. I cna;t play either well, but I am working on it. I have too many irons in the fire I suppose. I am also getting my old Kay ready to restring..Cleaning and waxing and touching up bad spots, etc. It currently has nylon strings but it originally had steel, which it will again. I also glued up those loose parts on the Guild today, that project worked out real well! I've been doing much reading today and really enjoy it!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 09:55 PM

BTW, Gern...If you desire to e-mail just put reanes@ using the same ISP you have! Later.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 08:43 PM

Anybody else in or around St. Pete feel free to drop in at the Bluegrass Shop this Saturday. I plan to be there around 1:30!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 Sep 02 - 04:22 PM

I'm living in Texas now but I grew up in Largo on Indian Rocks Blvd. We have plans to visit St Pete Beach some weekend next summer so you might get that mandolin chop you were looking for. I'll let you know if our visit pans out. Best wishes to everyone at the session.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 05:10 AM

Just a reminder to those in the area...Saturday afternoon around 1:30 we'll be cranking up again!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 10:41 AM

I'm aiming at it, but we'll have to see. After my first gig at the nursing home, I've been predictably sick all week. If I can make it, I'll bring my Deering. but I'll never fit the piano into my Pontiac.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 27 Sep 02 - 11:08 PM

Two trips??

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 06:19 PM

Boy what a good afternoon!!! Gern was there playing two banjos, in one song he played them both!!! A fellow I had met some time ago and then lost track of, Bob Miller, a left handed banjo player with a custom built left handed Mastertone was there along with a bass player and another guitar player. Another fellow from another jam I used to go to years ago was also there. My grandson and several others made up the group, and what fun we had. Wish you all could have been there!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: harpgirl
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 06:41 PM

...hey banj...I'll be at Boyd Hill Nature Center the second week of October for Sunshine State Music Camp. If you give me directions, I'll try to drop by....harpgirl

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 28 Sep 02 - 07:19 PM

Yes!!! That would be the 12th of October wouldn't it? I'll be more than happy to give directions. You can finf US 19 or 34th St (one and the same) with no throuble. Go north (you will be coming from the south end of town if you are at the Boyd Hill Park) on US 19 to 38th Avenue North, turn left (headed west). Go to 66th St and turn right. Then follow 66th St to 41st Avenue and you'll see the Bluegrass Shop on your right after 41st Avenue. The address is 4125 66th St No. The phone number should you get turned around and need talked in is 727-302-9740. Please come to see us!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 11:19 AM

Yeah, c'mon down, Harpgirl, and show us what they taught you. I'll second Banjer's assessment: a fine session. Four banjos on the premesis (sp?), which is enough to require an Environmental Impact Statement. The store owner is an accomplished guitarist and hospitable host. I must say, though, that there were too many unpacked guitars and modest mandolinists. My example should prove to you that you don't have to be good to be fearless. Doesn't anybody in Florida play the fiddle? I'm not sure I'll make it next week: I'm supposed to be kayaking and camping in the Keys. But with Lili troubling the waters, some bluegrass bonding may be called for.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 29 Sep 02 - 11:37 AM

The grandson has told me that next week he will unpack his guitar earlier and I promised him that I also would try to get my hand back in on the guitar. He has been told the best way to get into it is to just follow along until he loses it, then pick it back up where he can. I will use the same logic to get my playing honed once again...it has been so many years!! Look forward to next Satutrday already..!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Lauren
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 04:14 PM

Hi, Ive been following this thread with interest. I will try to come by next Saturday. I play the fiddle. I play mainly oldtimey music, so don't know a lot of bluegrass tunes. However, last month, I spent a few days in Mountain View, AR, and fell in love with playing bluegrass music, so I'm starting to quickly get into it. What a perfect way to learn some new stuff. Hope to see you all then.

Lauren

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 30 Sep 02 - 08:07 PM

Yes Lauren, a fiddle is greatly needed at the jam. I hope you can make it on Saturday. If you have any questions feel free to PM me. The folk at the jam would love to hear some old time and I'm sure would even be able to play some. I am looking forward to seeing you there this weekend. Folks start gathering around 1:30 or so and it usually runs til around 5 PM.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 10:29 AM

Mountain View, AR? Hey, any home to Grandpa Jones sounds like home to me. Lauren, I'm a clawhammer banjo picker into old-time, and I come to the shop evey one or two weeks. Would sure love to have a fiddle join in. Can't say for sure about this Saturday, but others will be there. Hope to see you soon.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: harpgirl
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 10:37 AM

...oh joy! I love to play with fiddlers! I expect to be there and thanks for the directions, ya'll! I'm a Guest at Sunshine State Music camp so I'll probably go to the mando classes only, and hope to play the concert Saturday night! More fun to jam with the St. Pete bluegrassers! hg

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 07:44 PM

Sounds like a good session building up here...Am I correct in figuring you for the 12th Of October? If Gern can make it that day and Lauren can be there we could have a mini-mudgather right here in St Petersburg....Neat!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: BigDaddy
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 01:16 AM

I may even swing down from my current home in Pasco County. Probably the 12th not the 5th. Sorry, no fiddle.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 05:56 AM

OK Big Daddy...Like they say on one of those old TV shows....Come on dowwnnnnnn!!...No fiddle, no problem. I sit and listen more than I play most of the time also, just getting into it a little at a time. But like I said in an earlier post I promised the grandson I would start trying harder if he would. This may grow to something great!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: harpgirl
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 07:54 AM

Yup on the 12th!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 04:45 AM

I'm waiting patiently (well, maybe not very patiently) for Saturday. Gern, what has the storm Lili done with your kayaking plans? Is she far enough northwest to allow the trip, or are the Keys still under threat? That is one of the biggest and most well defined hurricanes in recent years. One of those mixed emotion things....glad she passed us by but feel bad for those that are about to get her! Either way we'll see all that can be there Saturday around 1:30.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 04 Oct 02 - 07:09 PM

Waiting with baited breath........

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 06 Oct 02 - 01:10 PM


I was flabbergasted!! This lady with a fiddle case whom I recognized as a performer from several past musical festivals at a place near us known as Heritage Park walked in the door. It was Lauren. What surprised me that we were able to meet close up at The Bluegrass Shop by means of the Mudcat! She plays a real nice Old Time fiddle and we had a good session. I couldn't get the dulcimer in tune with any one else....well, I was in tune but no one could pinpoint what I was tune to...(**BG**)...So I just borrowed one of the consignment banjos and plucke on it every now and then. Good to meet ya, Lauren, and as we told ya, do come back again!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:25 AM

Yeah, I was plowing thru the Keys while you all were picking. Managed to stay upright and even picked a little with a street musician at Key West. I hope to see everybody on the 12th.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 08:53 PM

OK, so you 'plowed' through the keys and managed to stay upright....Kewl...But did you get a chance to do any kayaking??

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: harpgirl
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 09:02 PM

Banj, try tuning DAD on your dulcimer. That tuning should allow you to play lots of stuff with everyone else!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 09:38 PM

OK, I'll try it during the week. If I can't seem to get it hopefuly you will be able to make it on the 12th and show me!! Looking forward to it.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: harpgirl
Date: 07 Oct 02 - 10:12 PM

I expect to be there. I'm playing the concert Saturday night along
with about fifty other people! I'm hoping to mend fences with my old Doneygal partner. Wish me luck!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 08 Oct 02 - 05:39 AM

OK, good luck with whatever you undertake to do! I've tried several different tunings and all seem to have their good and bad for different melodies. Just need to experiment farther. Is your event open to the public or is it a closed camp? Might be interesting to go to see.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 05:37 PM

Well, I did it!! I met Harpgirl after lo these many years of chatiing here on this forum. She is a delight to listen to. Harpy, I'm glad ya made it!! So we had Gern, Harpgirl and a new member that has been attending the sessions, he signed on as Stoney Creek. That makes four of us, does qualify as a 'Mudgather'?

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: harpgirl
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 06:59 PM

...that was a great session, Banj! I had a lot of fun. Thanks for telling me about it! Banj has a very cool Ford truck with lots of reenactment stickers and a handsome grandson! All the men were so cute!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: mmb
Date: 20 Oct 02 - 05:03 PM

I have a way of forgetting things, even things I really want to do, and completely forgot about Mudcat, which is why I haven't shown up at any of the gathern's. Housecleaning my inbox I came across the original link that my daughter had sent me, and now that I've read down the postings since then and know the shop's address, there is really no excuse for not at least stopping by: I'm only about a ten-minute drive from the Shop!
    My voice is my primary instrument, and I'm pretty good at harmonizing. I'm a fair-to-middlin' basic rhythm guitarist, and also have an old Oscar Schmidt autoharp. I am desperately in need of help finishing a re-stringing project if I can just find the box with the strings!   
    And if anyone is into Celtic tunes, I'm very out of practice but after a week's instruction and practice with Craob Rua's bodhran player back in '95, I was told that I have some talent in that area, as well. (For those who don't know, klutzy and/or insensitive bodhran playing is like fingernails on a chalkboard to good string groups.)
    So why haven't I gotten out to any FOFF events or club events, etc? I have attended some gatherin's and gone to some concerts, but have been forced to leave with severe headaches and/or nausea because the room and its occupants were not smoke and fragrance free. If someone is a cigar smoker with the residue on (most likely his)hair and clothing, I'm history.
    It's not practical to expect public events to ask paying customers not to wear their favorite smelly stuff, but I'm hoping that if I find a small group of musical folks with similar interests, they may be willing to accommodate my hypersensitivity. If this offends any of the established members of the group, please let me know and I'll keep looking elsewhere. I can be reached directly as mmbryan on roadrunner.
    I hope to see y'all next week! M.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 26 Oct 02 - 05:56 PM

Hi mmb, it was a pleasure to meet you this afternoon. Hopefuly you found the 'abbreviated' group fun. As I told you we had a few folks missing at another event. I myself will be gone next weekend and possibly the weekend after as well. It's the season for Civil War reenacting, you know. Hope you will join us again and often. Maybe next time you come Gern will be there as well. Since your interest is largely in old time music he will keep you entertained for sure!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: mmb
Date: 26 Oct 02 - 10:35 PM

Hey, Banj - -
    It was really a pleasure meeting the group and jammin' for a bit today. I realized while I was playing how "gone" my callouses are, and now typing is reminding me again! Good motivation to practice and build them up again.
    Your note made me realize that my Old Songs pin left an incorrect - or, rather - incomplete impression of my musical preferences. The Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music and Dance has been held in the Albany (NY) area for nearly 30 years, and encompasses music and dance from a wide variety of traditions, but mostly from North and South America and the British Isles, although African culture is frequently represented, as well.
    Given my druthers, I spend most of Saturday and Sunday mornings at the shape note/Sacred Harp singing, which draws anywhere from 150-200 voices (mostly from New England, NY, NJ and PA) singing shape-note hymns in 4-part a capella harmony.
    Other than that, I tend to divide my time among the workshops, a staggering challenge, since there are 5 or 6 areas, running simultaneous sessions at intervals of 60 or 90 minutes! If there's Celtic music available,whether vocal or instrumental, I'll hit that first; traditional ballads come in a close second. Traditional string-band music is next, with Bluegrass just slightly ahead of what is commonly thought of as "old-timey" music. Saturday nights after the Main Concert ends there are two primary large gatherings from 11-ish to whenever people drop: Contra Dancing at one end of the grounds and an a capella sing at Creature Comforts, the area where all the performers, festival staff, and their families are fed for the three days of the festival. Other, smaller, groups gather at campsites in the end of the campground that is not reserved for those who want to sleep (BG): strolling along, you can hear Bluegrass, Old-timey, Blues, and one genre I can never label - a group that likes to do the "pop" tunes of the 20's and 30's.
    About three years ago I found a St. Pete group that enjoys playing contradance tunes. They're really a nice group of folks, but one of the regular members plays a bodhran like a bass drum in 3/4 time on all the waltzes, and has no idea how it should be played on the other tunes. It's just too painful to ignore. They were together long before I came along, and I didn't feel it was appropriate to criticize someone they obviously accept, so I just drifted away.
    The nearest regular shape-note singing takes place down in Fort Lonesome only in months when there is a fifth Sunday. Otherwise, joining in on my most favorite singing requires driving to either Ocala, Micanopy, or Gainesville, or worse yet, to Tallahassee or Georgia! I've heard that there will be a day-long sing during the Pinellas Folk Arts Festival, and you can bet I'll be there!
    Sorry to blather on . . . I really did enjoy today, and will try to brush up on my guitar over the next few weeks, as well as haul out some selections that I may be able to lead sometime.
    I wrote to Becca when I got home today and thanked her for bringing us all together. Enjoy your re-enactment next weekend. See you whenever!   M.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Gern
Date: 27 Oct 02 - 10:28 AM

Sorry to miss the bluegrass bonding this weekend. I was out rocking my nursing home fans with some ragtime piano, on the occasion of their 'senior' prom. Great idea, isn't it? Local teens even donated old prom gowns, which had to be taken in considerably to accomodate the older gals. Hope the pickin' was productive. Given the absence of hell and high water, I intend to attend next Saturday, Nov. 2. Banjer, you gonna be there, or will you be sleeping in the mud and eating hardtack?

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 27 Oct 02 - 10:40 AM

Next weekend will find me on the shores of Lake Weir living in a tent. That will be the last event for us until mid-January. I may or may not have a date with the cannon on Nov 9th, (the following weekend) but that is not for sure yet. I will be there every Saturday after that until our January event!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: GUEST,Lauren
Date: 02 Nov 02 - 03:17 AM

I will be there this afternoon! I've been gone and busy these last few weeks...but I expect to come...and other members of our oldtime band were planning to stop by too (not sure if they will play though). See you all then!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 07:00 PM

Tomorrow, (Nov. 23) the "big boys" are playing at a picnic. So, the attendance at the Bluegrass jam will be a bit smaller than in the past few weeks. If you have been shy about hopping in, tomorrow could be your day.   I will bring bass and drag along a banjo. Gonna be fun.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 07:21 PM

Good to hear it guys!! I am looking forward to it as well! Sounds like it's building up to be a good 'Old Time' session.....Don't know if I'll have my open back banjo with me..Elderly upset my applecart. I ordered sets of nylon strings for it last Sunday on their website and just tonight (11-22) got an e-mail that they had just sent them out. Five days to put three lousy sets of strings in an envelope and mail them!! I've half a mind to refuse shipmant when they get here! Anyhow, I'll be there with the dulcimer at least. I plan to be there around noon, see ya all there!