The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 05:43 AM

I miss ALL the good ones!! :(
I guess his heart is in the right place and he has more nerve than I do...Can't help but wonder what folks say about my playing when I'm not there!! :) See you Saturday...I will be there as close to noon as possible, but have some things to do that may run me a bit late!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 03:48 PM

That is what really happened, 'cept we didn't kill him. I made that part up. YES! I remember the gourd of death.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 08:53 PM

I guess I will have to wait 'til Saturday for someone to tell me what really happened! I see you are back to making things up!! :) I know of whom you speak and somehow it doesn't surprise me. Remember the little four string gourd thing with the yellow ribbon?? I didn't think he could top that one!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 01:44 PM

Well, you see... "somebody" who comes from time to time, plays fiddle, but shows up with unusual (really unusual) instruments... well, he showed up and started plinking the kiddie xylophone with a little plastic hammer while we were playing and while Buddy was singing. "SKRINK!" I looked down and stopped playing, thinking something was broken on my dobro. Saw nothing... then it happened again. "SKRINK!" I looked again. Maybe I was hitting the coverplate or something with a pick? Sounded really weird. Then, it happened again "SKRINK!" and I looked at Doug and he was checking out his banjo to see what just broke. Doug looked back at me. After a dozen times or so, we noticed the xylophone. Aha. So, when the music stopped, I said, "Wanna do us a favor and leave that damned xylophone on the floor?" He agreed. Good, cause I already looked it up: They call it justifiable homicide in Florida.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 05:28 AM

"the brightly colored kiddie xylophone"? Oh Bobo...I can't wait til Saturday to hear this one! Please spill it!! I will be there this next Saturday....we had a wonderful time at the Manatee County event.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 27 Oct 03 - 02:19 PM

What a great jam on Saturday the 25th! Buddy showed up to sing, Elson, Gern, Doug, Mike and the hammer dulcimer guy. Plus a new bass player we haven't seen before. Nice and clean for 1-1/2 hours! Then... there was the arrival of the brightly colored kiddie xylophone... another story. Overall, awesome session.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 06:01 PM

Saturday Ocotober 25th I will be south of the Skyway, see you Nov 1!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 03:54 PM

SATURDAY OCTOBER 25: I hear that Bob (banjo) and Pete will be playing at a gig on Saturday. I will be there and have asked Doug and others to show so we can jam. It'll be fun.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 21 Oct 03 - 02:00 PM

Photos from Magnoliafest 2003 if you want to take a peek:

Resonator Guitarist Photo Gallery

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 07:57 PM

Won't see this soldier on the 25th! Our unit will be deployed to Sarasota's Hunsader Farms to help repel the invading hordes! I won't see you now til November 1.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 02:45 PM

Headed up to Magnoliafest this weekend, Banjer. So you'll have to start promoting the Ybor Trek yourself. See you on the 25th.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 04:41 AM

Bobo, that sounds like a good idea!! Let's start promoting it this Saturday and knowing that parking is often times hard in Ybor, maybe we can set up some sort of car pool thing! Bruce, is Irish music all you do or would Bluegrass also be welcome. Some of our guys do only Bluegrass and others are a little more diversified in their playing. Sounds like a good time starting to build here! What a weekend that could be...picnic jam on Saturday and Ybor City on Sunday!!

Bruce, if any of your folks would like to and feel they can get away Saturday afternoon, all are welcome at the Lake Seminole Picnic/Jam as well! It is scheduled from 11 AM to whenever, (usually starts breaking up around 4) There will be at least two distict groups there as far as I know...Bluegrass and Old Time...you could add Irish to the list if you like!! I can give you directions if yu want! Please think about it!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 11:31 AM

I'm in Florida, but in the Pensacola area - about as far away from Tampa/St. Pete as you can get and still be in Florida. But our son recently moved to Tampa and we're planning on doing several art shows in the area (like Gasparilla). The 11/22-23 show is probably just the first of many. Will try to get by the Shop sometime.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 11:10 AM

Maybe we can get a group to go over and pick on that Sunday the 23rd?

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 06:08 AM

Bobo...I think they have in mind at the shop. Probably will be a cookies/drinks kind of thing. I heard a suggestion for a 'secret Santa' type thing...you know, drawing names from a hat...with limits as to amounts...more like a gag gift type exchange I guess...We have a little time to develop whatever!

Well, Bruce....That Saturday is the date for our Jam/Picnic in the Park, but possibly Sunday is do-able! Where are you usualy headquartered? Do you live in Florida? You might get by tho visit us at the Bluegrass Shop if you aren't too far away! You coul dlisten to 'Irish' Bluegrass music!! :)

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 09:20 PM

Hi guys!

Just a note that I'll be selling pottery at an arts & crafts festival in Ybor City on Nov. 22 & 23 and I will bring a guitar along. Hammer dulcimer player Marcille Wallis will also be at the show peddling her CD's and she'll probably talk some friends (like fiddler Frances Pisacane) into coming out. I'm requesting adjoining booths with Marcille and we'll probably make a big jam session out of it. Come out, say "Howdy", play some Irish music.

Bruce

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:43 AM

What sort of party do you imagine? Like outside the shop in the park or something? Or at the store...

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 10:28 AM

Ideas please...it has been decided that Decmber 20th will be the Bluegrass Shop Christmas Party. Any suggestions for the party would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Also don't forget that 22 November will see us at the Lake Seminole Park again. See you all there!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 07:24 AM

For those interested note that the November 22nd date is a SATURDAY this time. See you there!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 05:38 PM

Yes, Bobo, November 22nd, shelter #13 with more room and much more parking facilities. The official headcount had 125 souls at one time. It seemed like everyone did have a good time and the two groups worked well. See you Saturday at the Shop!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 04:48 PM

Gotta say the picnic was a blast. Congrats to Elson and his elves (Ray, Fred & Co.)   Great there were two big groups of pickers... one old timey/country and the other bluegrassers. Awesome!


...and we are looking forward to the next one. I think I heard November 22nd?

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 08:35 PM

Here's wishing you a safe journey and speedy return!! See you when you get back!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 02:13 PM

We are coming* all the way from Maine to attend!

*Coming as in "returning" from a trip to the great white north.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 06:00 PM

Just to remind any that are within distance of us there will be a picnic/jam at Lake Seminole Park on OCT 5, shelter #3, beginning around 11:00 AM....Bring what you like to eat, drinks will be furnished by the Bluegrass Shop. Grilles on site as well! Come one, come all!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Gern
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 04:02 PM

Probably shouldn't expect me. Saturday morning is the Race for the Cure, which I'm hoping will find a cure for middle-aged exhaustion to apply to me after the race. It's early, but I typically need several hours of oxygen after these things. Belt out a few sour yodels on my behalf.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 18 Sep 03 - 01:14 PM

No. But, you can get plenty of "R" letters up in New England. They don't use them.

See you Saturday 12:30-ish. Leave some tamales out for bait and maybe Gern will show.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 08:37 PM

Can I buy a vowel, Pat???

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 10:44 AM

Wait a minute... you are gonna be playing the part of a yankee in the next re-enactment... and you don't follow football? You just might be one of them red Chinese commie agitators? I'm keepin' an eye on you...

Actually, and seriously, the letter "u" is what Laurie said, too.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 11:09 PM

Oh, I don't follow that stuff, but from what the boys and my wife have been saying I would use the letter 'u'...I think!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 10:04 PM

Champs with an "i" is Chimps. That is the way the Bucs played. You missed nothing, even if you watched the game. Feel adjusted now?

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 08:58 PM

Did I miss something here??

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 10:49 PM

Superbowl Champs is spelled with an "a" not an "i."

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 01:50 PM

And, now that you know all this, please allow me to introduce myself: Nearly-Lame Crabapple Lincoln Bobby, if you please. Wrote a song about it... want to hear it? Here it go...

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 10:07 AM

Saw this on the Jerry Douglas BB:

HOW TO SING THE BLUES

by Lame Mango Washington (attributed to Memphis Earlene Gray with help from Uncle Plunky, revisions by Little Blind Patti D. and Dr. Stevie Franklin)

1. Most Blues begin, "Woke up this morning."

2. "I got a good woman" is a bad way to begin the Blues, 'less you stick something nasty in the next line, like " I got a good woman, with the meanest face in town."

3. The Blues is simple. After you get the first line right, repeat it. Then find something that rhymes ... sort of: "Got a good woman - with the meanest face in town. Got teeth like Margaret Thatcher - and she weigh 500 pound."

4. The Blues are not about choice. You stuck in a ditch, you stuck in a ditch; ain't no way out.

5. Blues cars: Chevys and Cadillacs and broken-down trucks. Blues don't travel in Volvos, BMWs, or Sport Utility Vehicles. Most Blues transportation is a Greyhound bus or a southbound train. Jet aircraft an' state-sponsored motor pools ain't even in the running. Walkin' plays a major part in the blues lifestyle. So does fixin' to die.

6. Teenagers can't sing the Blues. They ain't fixin' to die yet. Adults sing the Blues. In Blues, " adulthood" means being old enough to get the electric chair if you shoot a man in Memphis.

7. Blues can take place in New York City but not in Hawaii or any place in Canada. Hard times in St. Paul or Tucson is just depression. Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City still the best places to have the Blues. You cannot have the blues in any place that don't get rain.

8. A man with male pattern baldness ain't the blues. A woman with male pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg cuz you skiing is not the blues. Breaking your leg cuz an alligator be chomping on it is.

9. You can't have no Blues in an office or a shopping mall. The lighting is wrong. Go outside to the parking lot or sit by the dumpster.

10. Good places for the Blues:

a. highway b. jailhouse c. empty bed d. bottom of a whiskey glass

Bad places:

a. Ashrams b. gallery openings c. Ivy League institutions d. golf courses

11. No one will believe it's the Blues if you wear a suit, 'less you happen to be an old ethnic person, and you slept in it.

12. Do you have the right to sing the Blues? Yes, if:

a. you're older than dirt b. you're blind c. you shot a man in Memphis d. you can't be satisfied

No, if:

a. you have all your teeth b. you were once blind but now can see c. the man in Memphis lived. d. you have a retirement plan or trust fund.

13. Blues is not a matter of color. It's a matter of bad luck. Tiger Woods cannot sing the blues. Gary Coleman could. Ugly white people also got a leg up on the blues.

14. If you ask for water and Baby give you gasoline, it's the Blues.

Other acceptable Blues beverages are:

a. wine b. whiskey or bourbon c. muddy water d. black coffee

The following are NOT Blues beverages:

a. mixed drinks b. kosher wine c. Snapple d. sparkling water

15. If it occurs in a cheap motel or a shotgun shack, it's a Blues death. Stabbed in the back by a jealous lover is another Blues way to die. So is the electric chair, substance abuse, and dying lonely on a broken down cot. You can't have a Blues death if you die during a tennis match or getting liposuction.

16. Some Blues names for women:

a. Sadie b. Big Mama c. Bessie d. Fat River Dumpling

17. Some Blues names for men:

a. Joe b. Willie c. Little Willie d. Big Willie

18. Persons with names like Sierra, Sequoia, Auburn, and Rainbow can't sing the Blues no matter how many men they shoot in Memphis.

19. Make your own Blues name (starter kit):

a. name of physical infirmity (Blind, Cripple, Lame, etc.) b. first name (see above) plus name of fruit (Lemon, Lime, Kiwi,etc.) c. last name of President (Jefferson, Johnson, Fillmore, etc.)

For example, Blind Lime Jefferson, or Cripple Kiwi Fillmore, etc.

(Well, maybe not "Kiwi.")

20. I don't care how tragic your life: you own a computer, you cannot sing the blues. You best destroy it. Fire, a spilled bottle of Mad Dog, or get out a shotgun. I don't care.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 06:35 PM

Looks to me like Bobo's tastes are a whole smorgasbord. A veritable cafeteria of musical tastes!! I'll try to be there by 12:30 at the latest, see you all then!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 01:49 PM

Should be fun. Bring yore banjer. I'll drag along the guitar with hubcap. We will butcher some music. Hope to be there 12:30-ish but can come earlier if anyone will be there.   

My music tastes: Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, BB King, ZZ Top, Patty Loveless, Natalie McMaster, Mark O'Connor, Itzak Pearlman, Jerry Douglas, Andres Segovia, The Country Gentlemen, Merle Haggard, Nancy Griffith, George Jones, Reno & Smiley, Blue Highway, Ricky Skaggs, Pavarotti, Leon Redbone. In other words, I don't have a clue.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Gern
Date: 05 Sep 03 - 08:43 AM

I don't need no stinkin' caffeine... but I am sorry for any confusion. Clearly too much time on my hands when the water's too rough to kayak (another 5th place finish at the race in Ruskin last week!) I'm often chided as a purist, which is a little odd for someone who listens to Coltrane, Zappa and Yellowman. My wife isn't always pleased with my musical tastes. So I kid others, but honestly know less than most of the musicians I play with. I should have mentioned Earl Scruggs' foray into punk rock, though. Remember his work with fuzz box on the Ramones' bluegrass-punk classic, "Baby Let Me Whip Your Cow"? And that duet by Alison Kraus and Mother Maybelle was actually the older, traditional version of Madonna's first hit. This Kentucky ballad was originally entitled "What's a Virgin?" I'll probably see you all Saturday, if the roads are open.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 11:06 PM

And, by the way, you need to cut down on the caffeine.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 08:44 PM

And you do, and I love it. Don't ever change! ;-}

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Gern
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 07:01 PM

Blue-grass, that is. And how's your sense of humor? A lot of people underestimate the influence of various musical genres on bluegrass. Bill Monroe was working on a rap session, for example, to be called "Killa' Bill." He only finished two cuts for this album, a reamke entitled "Pretty Polly was a Ho" and a fusion classic called "Bake Them Hotcakes, B***ch." He was to team up with Eminem and Marilyn Manson to record "Eminem, MM and M." Apparently Bill preferred not to be called 'BM'. Others too have utilized influences from modern contemporary music. Who could forget at the CMT Video Awards, when Allison Krauss planted an open-mouthed kiss on Mother Maybelle Carter? Mrs. Carter, who had been dead for years, had no comment. So, as you can see, bluegrass is a diverse entity. I too have blues credentials, but prefer to give folks good-natured shit.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 03:36 PM

Do you have any sense of humor, blues expert? By the way, I grew up in Memphis and played in our BLUES group with 10 pieces, including 3 black singers who played horns. Belonged to the American Fed of Musicians AFL/CIO when I was 18. Played with BB King one eve, played many times with Wilson Pickett, Bobby Blue Bland and others downtown on Beale Street.

My point: The shop, last I looked, is "The Bluegrass Shop." I could be wrong.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Gern
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 01:50 PM

...Ralph Stanley vocals on "Oh Death", "Limehouse Blues" recorded by Don Reno and Eddie Adcock, whom you were just discussing, Bill Monroe's "I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome Too," and I haven't even mentioned Roscoe Holcomb and Dock Boggs ...

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 01:23 PM

I'm not separating blues from bluegrass. Just for the record, the modern version of a clawhamamer is drop forged, heat treated steel with a rubber grip handle... maybe 1.25 pounds or so. So where do you come off claiming to play clawhammer, eh?

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Gern
Date: 04 Sep 03 - 10:37 AM

OK, wise guys, what's this "no more blues" business? Just how do you spell bluegrass anyway? Blues is essential to bluegrass; intimately related, as its best practitioners have proven. Bill Monroe's first gigs were with black blues guitarist Arnold Schultz, and Bill pondered a blues career thereafter. Jimmy Roders, lauded founder of modern country music and songs performed for yuears on bluegrass stages, wrote and performed dozens of strictly blues compositions: T for Texas, Blue Yodel #1-79, No Hard Time Blues, etc. etc. Even your own oft-cited influence, Uncle Josh, played blues on nearly every solo. Exclude the blues and you eliminate a lot of bluegrass standards. Ex.--Bill Monroe: Muleskinner Blues, Rocky Road Blues, True Life Blues. Carter Family: Jealous Hearted Me, Coal Miner's Blues. Earl Scruggs: Lonesome Road Blues, Mama Blues, Take this Hammer.Jimmy Martin: Freeborn Man, Sitting on Top of the World. Doc Watson: Deep River Blues and dozens of other recordings. I wouldn't suggest a Stevie Ray Vaughan jam, but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater (one of my favorite expressions, by the way.)The purest purist in bluegrass couldn't separate blues from bluegrass. Neither should we.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 07:13 PM

Did they feed you while you were waiting for that one light to change? See ya Saturday!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 09:53 AM

Alas, you're right. We sat at that light. And, they have a Village Inn which fed us breakfast on Saturday.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 04:56 AM

I'm glad to hear that you had a good time...but I do think you are being unfair in your assesment of Dade City. I have been there and I know they have at least one traffic light!!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Bobo
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 04:05 PM

Had a great time in beautiful... slow down, I think we missed it... Dade City. Met and talked to Eddie Adcock for over an hour, twice. He even showed me his picking patterns and how he uses his picks a little differently than Earl. Martha was a great lady, too. Charlie Hamrick's Flatland Band was a big hit. Laurie and I got a chance to sit with them while they were practicing for the shows at a private practice and meet the members of the band. Great folks. Bit hit was "Wildwood Valley Boys" who tore the house down. I have pix sent to Fred and Elson. See you Saturday. No more blues. Bluegrass rulez.

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 04:56 AM

AS it turned out it was a real neat session...the 'big boys' went elsewhere for the Labor Day weekend and some of the regulars just sat around and did whatever came to mind. King Richard cut loose on guitar and did some blues stuff, there were some old time songs played and I even got into the mix with the openback! Look forward to the full house again next weekend, but it was different for a change!

Subject: RE: The Bluegrass Shop, St Petersburg FL
From: Banjer
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 08:47 PM

Keys, keys...??? We don't need no stinkin' keys....ain't no locks on the doors anyway!!

We will miss your smiling countenance and bright, battery powered shirts...Heck, we may even have to turn the lights on to see this week!

I wonder how many others will also be going to the Dade City event?

Oh well, we will amuse ourselves with whatever comes along!