BS: A perfect band

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: fogie
Date: 11 Jun 02 - 06:42 AM

Declan- I think when I first saw Blowzabella in the late 80s when they had cutting eaton james swayne fraser, and Shepherd ,and they introduced French type music in their "wall of sound -Vanilla " era. I had never been so blown away, excited and liberated by the completely new twist they put on the standard dance . I was still in love with it a decade later. It got me out of the doldrums of 15 years of Irish music which was palling on me. I'd never before heard those rhythms, or felt such affinity with something new.

English jon s choice is nice, I dont know who plays kitchen utensils best.... another thread?

Alinact, well it was nigel eaton. You seem to be leaning heavily towards my own era, but I liked the idea of Jimmy Shand. Its funny imagining how these guys would have got on with one anothers musical genre.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: GUEST,Peter from Essex
Date: 10 Jun 02 - 06:55 PM

How about the line up playing Speed the Plough for the morris at Bampton last Monday.

Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Rod Stradling, Jamie Wheeler, Reg Hall and Katie Howson. If you need a percussionist then it has to be Brinsford.

But I really can't imagine who Greg would have playing guitar with his suggested line up.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: JohnD
Date: 10 Jun 02 - 02:35 PM

I would like to know why M.Ted thinks, "The ultimate folkdance band wouldn't be from GB--" Where would it come from?

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: allanwill
Date: 08 Jun 02 - 04:55 PM

Come on guys! I came to work tonight really looking forward to seeing what everyboy's folk "supergroup" would be.

Somebody put me out of my misery.

Allan

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: allanwill
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 01:31 PM

STRINGS Dave Swarbrick/Eliza Carthy; GUITAR/BOUZUKI Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Andy Irvine; ACCORDIANMELODEAN Jimmy Shand/John Kirkpatrick; KEYBOARDS Dolly Collins/Sandy Denny; PERCUSSION Dave Matticks; BASS Dave Pegg; WOODWIND Matt Molloy/James Galway; BRASS Brass Monkey; PIPES Paddy Moloney; BAGPIPES Duncan MacGillivray/Iain MacDonald (Battlefield Band);CONCERTINA John Kirkpatrick (when he's not backing up Jimmy); HURDY GURDY The guy that plays it on the Led Zeppelin Unplugged concert; BANJO Bela Fleck; WHO FRONTS? Paddy Moloney.

and me mopping everyones brows.

Allan

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: English Jon
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 12:58 PM

John Dipper on fiddle Damian Barber on melodeon Mike Jary on Concertina James Fagin on Bouzouki Martin Green on Accordion Anna Tabbush/Rachel Unthank/Eliza Carthy singing Mike Beeke on English Bagpipes EJC on tin-opener

And I want to stand at the back and play triangle!

Cheers, EJ

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: Declan
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 12:04 PM

Fogie,

I saw Blowzabella for the first time at Sidmouth (2001 I think) and enjoyed them a lot, but wouldn't have rated them as highly as some of the other bands mentioned here. Could be a matter of taste, or maybe they had a better line up some time back ?

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: fogie
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 11:59 AM

Well lets not have qualms then, lets go for a best of all time band from anywhere in the world if you want including those who have passed on. I think guitarists like Henrix probably ought to be asked before reccommending!.I'm enjoying the memories. I like Bottine/ Bothy, although my own favourite will always be Blowzabella at their peak.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 11:16 AM

Damn, all the folks I'd want in my perfect dream band are dead!!

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: M.Ted
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 11:02 AM

The ultimate folkdance band wouldn't be from GB--

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 10:58 AM

Banjo - Dwight Diller Fiddle - John Morris Guitar - Larry Combs

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: Declan
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 07:29 AM

Fogie,

Don't want to 'politicise' this thread, but if its a GB thing Liam is out by definition. Not sure about Andy, who is nicknamed "the man from God knows where". :-)

The band that John McCusker & Kate Rusby tour with have a lot of those listed above - John McCusker, Mick Mc Goldrick, Ian Carr, Ian Seward, Andy Cutting. Also had Gino Lupari last time I saw them, but he doesn't qualify on the GB rule, and is probably too busy on the Drumcree thread.

In my opinion you mentioned the name of the ultimate folk/dance band in your initial posting - I've never seen better than La Bottine, except maybe the Bothy Band on a good day.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: Watson
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 07:23 AM

Well yes, it made me smile too.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 07:21 AM

I did suffix it with a :-)

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: Watson
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 07:20 AM

Macca on bass?... Why, when there are good bass players in the folk world - to start with, there's Régent Archambault from La Bottine, then there's Tim Harries, Mat Davies or of course Danny Thompson.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 07:02 AM

I'd go for Kate Barfield on fiddle, Tony Weatherall accordion(melodeon) Mark Burke percussion. I'm not sure about guitar...Carr or Carthy are possibles but there are others, I'll think some more.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 06:44 AM

Fogie,

please no keyboards!

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: fogie
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 06:39 AM

I cant argue with Kirkpatrick or Cutting, I like the idea of Carr- all those jazz chords, but what about Richard Thomson on guitar, I dont know about Macca on bass, but maybe he'd bring along George Martin to do the arrangements. I'll plump for Liam O'Flynn on pipes, although my mate Bob is taken with Pauline Cato , I don't think Northumbrian pipes are a patch on Uillean for expression. We'll have Andy Irvine in there on bouzouki. Rick Wakeman on keyboards, maybe even Eno?? for a bit of intellectual retro glam, -talking of which Kathrine Lock on cello. I think I might start a new thread on who I wouldnt want in a band see previous thread on worst live performances.

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 06:16 AM

Strings: Eliza Carthy/John McCusker
Guitar: Ian Carr (though it's hard to argue with Martin Carthy)
Melodeon: Andy Cutting
Wind: Michael McGoldrick
Concertina: John Kirkpatrick
Bass: Paul McCartney :-)

Subject: RE: BS: A perfect band
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 06:07 AM

Nice one!!
Strings...Eliza Carthy/Jon Boden;
Guitar....Martin Carthy;
Melodeon..John Spiers;
Bass......Ashley Hutchings;
Concertina..Tim Laycock;

Subject: A perfect band
From: fogie
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 06:04 AM

Having just seen La Bottine Souriante, I wonder what the ultimate folk-dance band might consist of if money were no object. Categories would obviously vary depending on the style of band, and limitations might bring out completely different nuances, compare for instance Bottine with Blowsabella. The basic rhythm unit usually consists of drums and bass, but what sort? I favour percussionists rather than drummers, theres so much more variation in sound possibilities, and cellos seem to be able to conjour up a lot more than bass guitars can. Then theres the wind section, how many, what instruments, what about multi instrumentalists? Who should be playing what? Limit the players to British only and living artists otherwise we'd go on for ever. Dont forget the early musical instrumentallists like the Mellstock Band. This is a G.B. thing . USA can make its own lists.

STRINGS.............................. GUITAR / BOUZUKI..................... ACCORDEON / MELODEON................. KEYBOARDS............................ PERCUSSION........................... BASS OR EQUIVALENT................... WOODWIND............................. BRASS................................ PIPES................................ BAGPIPES............................. CONCERTINA........................... HURDY GURDY?......................... BANJO................................ WHO FRONTS THE BAND? DO THEY ALSO SING? CALLER FOR DANCES....................

I know that a bunch of prima donnas probably wouldnt be the supergroup that they appeared on paper, but its fun to idle away the hours isnt it? The only one of the categories that Im certain of is Nigel Eaton playing gurdy , and I think thats the easy one, so over to you catters for your thoughts.