Baby Gramps

Subject: Baby Gramps
From: NormanD
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 07:27 AM

I recently had the pleasure of seeing American singer / guitarist Baby Gramps at the "Rogue's Gallery" concert at London's Barbican. Here's a short clip of him (I chose at random) from YouTube: Baby Gramps
There are plenty more, but you'll get the idea.

He sounds like a cross between a Tuvan overtone singer and Popeye The Sailorman, combined with hobo chic. He's really entertaining, and has probably honed his act from years of busking, though I know little about his background.

Has anyone seen him for more than a couple of songs? Is he a link with the weird musical past, or a one trick pony?

Norman

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 02:41 PM

Gramps has been a fixture busking and small-venue concertizing in Seattle and around the Pacific Northwest for decades. I like your very apt 'cross between Tuvan and Popeye' descriptive of his voice, and I think he would too. Gramps also loves palindromes, of which I bet he did some at the concert you saw. He is, as you say, a wonderful entertainer and pretty good National picker too. He's also done some wonderful stuff occasionally with Bainbridge Island brass player Jas Linford as well. Tuba and dobro. Yeah!
Carter

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 04:08 PM

He's definitely got the Tuvan thing going on! Thanks for the youtube links. Here's his WEBSITE. Intersting stuff! Definitely unique!

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: Stewart
Date: 02 Aug 08 - 09:27 PM

Yes, Baby Gramps is a "one-of-a-kind."
I did sound for a Halloween concert of his about ten years ago (lots of reverb!). You would think this guy is completely bonkers, the way he performs on stage. Except that he's able to play some terrific blues guitar. Off the stage he's a very articulate, intelligent person, very friendly and approachable. We consider him a real treasure here in Seattle.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: open mike
Date: 03 Aug 08 - 01:35 PM

i have seen him at the Oregon Country Fair
he is a hoot!http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Aug 08 - 02:39 PM

During one of the Northwest Folklife Festivals in the late 1970s, I was scheduled to sing in one of the evening stage shows that they were broadcasting (was that in the Playhouse or the Arena? Can't remember.) I found out that Baby Gramps was scheduled to go on before me. And here I am, this bland ballad singer. The cliché that popped into mind was "This guy's a real tough act to follow."

But little did I know. I checked program list posted backstage. It turned out I wasn't following Baby Gramps directly. I was following Elizabeth Cotton!!

But it was a generous audience. They let me live.

I first heard Baby Gramps busking in the University District, I think it was back in the mid or late 1960s. When I first heard him, I thought, "What the hell is that!??" But then I really started listening and realized that the guy is a snort and a half. You never know what he's going to do next. A real entertainer.

Love his palindromes!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Aug 08 - 02:41 PM

And especially his rendition (!?) of "Teddy Bears' Picnic."

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: NormanD
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 08:15 AM

I've seen another mention of his palindromes. On one of the YouTube clips he plays a chord progression, and says that you can play this forwards and backwards, which I guess is a musical palindrome. But does he go in for word play too?

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: johnross
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 02:03 PM

Although his apeparance and personna might suggest otherwise, Gramps is far from a one-trick pony. I've seen him perform dozens of times, and his show keeps changing.

He pays close attention to both his music and stagecraft, and is often seen in Seattle (and on the road) at other musicians' gigs, watching and listening. I was once sitting next to him at a club, and I asked him "why isn't this guy more interesting?" He was able to point out exactly what the performer was doing and why it wasn't holding an audience. He knows his stuff.

Gramps' repertoire includes a lot of old jug band and pre-WW II novelty stuff taken from old records, but he can also put his own spin on Dylan songs and his own material.

Subject: RE: Baby Gramps
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 01:04 AM

Word palindromes indeed, as shtick in his performance. I believe it was from Gramps that I first heard "Doc, note: I dissent. A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod." Is that great or what?!