Pacific Northwest Folklore Society

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: mg
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 09:49 PM

I am honored...if you think there will be copyright problems with that just do whatever...also we were podcast from Sunnycamp on the KMUN ship report....I will give a link tomorrow. mg

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 10:50 PM

The Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
has a new web presence at
http://pnwfolklore.org

We've completely redesigned the site
and added much more information
including audio files,
history, and more.

Check it out!

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 11:36 PM

Thanks for the link, Stewart.

You might want to rethink all of the red text. People who have color-blindness could have a hard time reading it.

SRS

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 12:19 PM

Well! And I had been disappointed because I was not likely to ever get out there to hear Bob & Don. Now I get something 'almost' as good.

Thanks for the files! Listening now.

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 02:09 PM

What a snort!!

It took us a couple of songs to get off the dime (it had been awhile since we'd done anything like this), but fortunately the audience seemed to enjoy it. At least we got away without being lynched! Nothing quite as humbling as listening to a recording of a performance one just gave!

Tends to make one practice a whole lot more!

Don Firth

P. S. But it sure felt good to be back in the saddle again.

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 02:27 PM

HEY ... that might be a good song title: "Back In The Saddle Again!" Let's see, maybe something like: out where a friend is a friend, where the lonley jimpson weed ... oh never mind. Doesn't grab me. Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 02:49 PM

Didn't some guy named Gene Artery sing sumpin' like that awhile back?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 02:51 PM

Or something in that vein. . . .

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 03:23 PM

Yes, but I don't think he ever amounted to much!

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 03:39 PM

He was that guy who drove a 'woody' station wagon till there were rustlers to chase...then he got on a horse, and had an entire band follow him!. Can't trust anyone with that kind of approach to know much about music.

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 03:44 PM

(but when I was 9, he was my favorite singer in the world)

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 06:24 PM

I am truly sorry to have missed the festivities at the Lutheran venue. By the way, they don't lynch people in Seattle any more, they take them down to Ballard and feed them ludefisk. I remember Lou Gottlieb saying that a previous performance had exceeded their expectations; meaning that the audience rarely left in groups...

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 06:30 PM

Lutefisk def. The piece of Cod that passeth all understanding.

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 06:54 PM

HEY .... Let's don't get personal. I never met met a piece of fish I didn't love. The joy of lutefisk is that can eat the same piece several times! SSHHEEEUUHHH! Don't you know what's good for you? Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 06:58 PM

Truth be told ... and that is difficult for me ... I have several fellow Finnish friends who call me asking where the next lutefisk feed might be. One of the joys of eating dinner at a lutefisk feed is that you are never bothered by neighbors or errant cops. Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 07:13 PM

I'll bet that you don't even like pickled herring? What's wrong with you? (I'll shut up now) Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 07:20 PM

This is my take on lutefisk:

at best it has no taste
at worst it has a taste

A t-shirt for sale in Ballard
Lutefisk - Just Say NO!

When I lived in Minnesota, I avoided all lutefisk dinners.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 07:29 PM

You obviously missed the best of what Minnesota has to offer. I'll bet you don't even eat fish eggs ... OH never mind ... you're obviously beyond saving! Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 07:29 PM

It just occurred to me that, considering the large number of Scandinavians in the local demographics, we may actually be collecting some Pacific Northwest folklore with all this nonsense. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 07:51 PM

The Swedes have an answer to Norwegian lutefisk.
It's the Swedish traditional dish of 'surstromming',
or fermented Baltic herring.
It has now been added to the list of dangerous weapons
such as shoe bombs, firearms, knives, and lutefisk
that are forbidden on airlines.
Swedish fermented herring dish considered safety risk on airlines

Lutefisk has been added to the list of prohibited substances
by the Dept. of Homeland Security.
The FBI branch office in Minneapolis has been alerted
to watch for signs of lutefisk production in that region.
And the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta warned
that any substance stored in lye
should be regarded as extremely dangerous.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 07:57 PM

What a bunch a damned spoilsports!

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 12:26 AM

My mother's first cousin was a fellow named Charles Husby. Maybe Bob knew him. Anyway, the Everett Herald used to print some of his lutefisk jokes every so often. They were always first rate!

SRS

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 05:02 PM

New video is now up on the website.
Don Firth and Bob Nelson each doing
a song from their reunion concert (10/14/07)

The Three Ravens - Don Firth
Wild Flying Dove - Bob Nelson

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 08:21 PM

Just added to the Pacific Northwest Folklore Society web pages

Cle Elum Girl - Nancy-Lu Patterson
A quintessential Pacific Northwest song sung by Bob Nelson
with sketches by an anonymous artist at a 'hoot' where Walt Robertson first sang this song.

see earlier MC thread here

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 07:44 PM

Stew ... I also enjoy the new LOGO! Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 07:19 PM

But wait, there's more!

We just added a page for the song
The Old Settler (aka Acres of Clams)
with a mp3 of Bob Nelson singing the song
the way it's supposed to be sung
according to Ivar Haglund who used
the last three words of the song
as the name of his Seattle waterfront restaurant.
It was also his theme song on his radio program.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 08:52 PM

I must pay a visit out there sometime. But wasn't I out there a few years ago? Lord knows, it's all so much a dream -- friendly people sitting out on a deck, singing along on songs they've never heard before, from some long dead poet who made quite a name for herself in and around Victoria, BC.

There's been another CD since then, with even more songs adapted from her poems, not to mention some other sailor-poets: Charley Noble Website

Meanwhile, consider sending out a flying squad to the Mystic sea Music Festival, second weekend of June where a whole bunch of us will be holding forth.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 09:18 PM

Yes indeed Charlie, your memory is still intact. And as I remember, I was one of those happy people enjoying your concert. IT's a funny thing about singers: teach us a chorus and get out of our way. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 10:57 PM

Stewart, shall I dig out a song or two of Dad's? Something signature? I wonder if I have The Ballad of the Merry Ferry, or Frozen Logger? I know I have The Reggie of Blue Canyon, and there is the Blue Canyon Mine Disaster song, but I don't know if the tape I've listened to for years will yield great quality songs. Let me see what I can come up with. I'll have to park them somewhere online for you to download, unless you think one can be emailed? Nothing immediate, I have to track a good song down first.

What do you think of his singing that you'd like me to look for?

Maggie

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 11:18 PM

Maggie ... I think that "Notice To Mariners" would be very fitting. Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 11:40 PM

Of course!

I just "dove into" one of the boxes here, randomly--and found tapes he labeled from 1984. Recordings of Mary Garvey and Mark Cohen. Lots of good stuff!

Maggie

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 20 Feb 08 - 01:27 AM

Maggie, that sounds like a great idea.
"Notice To Mariners" would be just the thing.
I can probably give you a ftp site that you
can send it to if you can make a mp3 file
out of the tape.

You know, it seems like we're the only group
interested in the 'folklore' and folk songs
and history of folk music in Seattle and the
Pacific Northwest. The other organization
doesn't seem to think there's any folk music
history or folklore here. It only exists in other
places from which they import singer songwriters
to sing their latest songs of instant 'folklore.'
Oops, I didn't say that, did I? Don't quote me!

Cheers, S. in Seattle
Actually that other organization is good,
because every once in a while we get some
great folk icons. They're bringing Mike Seeger
here on April 26th.

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 02:12 PM

This is an aside, but still I think this is the best group to direct this question to. I'm trying to track down information about two mountain dulcimers my father bought from a maker in Stanwood at "Traditional Instruments" on Village Road. He signed his instruments "Matheson," and they're works of art that sound as good as they look. We don't play them much, and it's time to sell them. Do any of you have other instruments made my Mr. Matheson, or can you tell me something about him and how his instruments were received? I suspect Dad talked to his folksinging friends about instruments as he collected them (there were quite a few folk instruments in his estate that were divided among us).

These are both hourglass-shaped dulcimers, but aren't identical. One has four equidistant strings, one has a course of two then two more equidistant from the rest. Both are hourglass shaped and of beautiful wood.

I've tried many types of searches to find this fellow or evidence that he existed, but come up empty handed. I thought I was on track when a business in Yreka, CA came to the top once, but while they were very nice and helpful, they weren't related (they relocated from Vashon many years ago).

Any suggestions you can offer will be appreciated. His granddaughter Moonglow is in college, so the sale of one of these will go to help her with fall semester. (Maybe enough to cover a few textbooks?)

SRS

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 02:53 PM

Hi Maggie ... I do remember that name and one of the instruments. It will take me a few days, but I think I can track him down. I remember he was quite populiar for a while back in the 70's, I think. Hugs, Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 03:13 PM

He could have bought this as far back as the 70s. I remember I was carrying one of these around for a while, but I can't remember if it was as far back as the years I lived in New York City (until late 1980). I'm sure I had my hands on it by the time I worked at Friday Harbor (1985).

SRS

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 03:52 PM

I've found a photo of him ... now I just have to locate him. Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 04:47 PM

I do wish I had known of you people in 1967 when I started my FOLK-ART SHOP in Depoe Bay, Oregon. Back then we couldn't find any interest in folk music anywhere in Portland or on the coast and environs. We might've looked further north if we had realized you were there---=- and possibly I'd never have left the Pacific Northwest and returned to Chicago where I perceived that being in a folk scene was, at least, a possibility of sorts. I did love the coast and was very much into low tide exploration and marine biology.

You started in 1953!!?? Pretty amazing!

Such is life.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 06:12 PM

Art,

Yes it started in 1953 (I wasn't around here then, but Don Firth and Bob Nelson were), but died out after a few years due to the red scare (folk music organizations were considered suspicious or subversive by the authorities). In 1966 a different organization, the Seattle Folklore Society, was founded, but they have since turned into a booking agency for out-of-town singer songwriters. So Bob, Don, and I revived the PNWFS about a year ago to promote more traditional folkmusic by local musicians.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 06:49 PM

Art, I don't know what happened in the Portland area after the mid-1960s, but from the mid-1950s up to at least the mid-60s, there was a lot of activity there, particularly around Reed College. Several Reed students used to pop back and forth between the San Francisco Bay area (particularly Berkeley) and Seattle when they had the chance between terms, and they were pretty avidly involved in folk music—pre-Kingston Trio. It was from them that I first heard of Bay Area musicians like Rolf Cahn, Jo Mapes, and Barbara Dane.

A few of them would zing down to Berkeley for a week or ten days between terms and take a couple of long guitar lessons from Rolf Cahn, and the way their playing improved as a result was most impressive. One of the things I wanted to do when Bob and I went to the Bay Area in 1959 was to take lessons from Cahn. We got together a couple of times, but he was due to head off to Cambridge, Mass. a week or so after we got there. But in that short time, I did get a chance to pick up some great licks and lot of new ideas from him.

There was a pretty active bunch in Portland during that period. I have no idea what became of them.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 06:56 PM

Hmm! Just occurred to me! Maybe Genie knows. She's been living in or around Portland since about 1976. Could be she knows some of the local history.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 07:01 PM

Now I see. Thanks for the explanation. I guess we did the right thing.

What you said rings true. In '67 I was in the shop one beautiful day and California Gray whales were sounding off shore. As I was told, their leaping leaping almost clear of the water was to navigate by spying out for landmarks that meant something to them.

Well, I wandered outside to get a better view and talk with neighbors who were out there too. When I went back in, I wandered over to my desk where I found a magazine there that hadn't been there before. It was open to an article on the Communist influence in folk music with pertinent warning things underlined for my education and enlightenment. I figured whoever they were was letting me know that they were watching. Nothing unseemly ever followed after that, but I do still remember it.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Art Thieme
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 07:23 PM

Don,
I was answering Stewart's post with mine before this one. But thanks for your insights as well.

Our shop was right on the ocean---U.S. Highway 101. There are a few photos of it and that town then, I think, at my folk photos site.
Depoe Bay had few ways to make a living then. Salmon fishing and lumber jobs was about all there was. Now, folks tell me, there are tons of condominiums along the ocean north of town. They've even got a stop light!!! Again, such is life.

When we were there the town had two good restaurants.---The Chinese one was owned by a retired actor, Mr. Lee, who had played the attending physician in the death scene where Yul Brynner was dying in The King And I. -- Fond memories--and it's fun to dredge 'em up.

Art

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 11:30 PM

Hi Art ... nice to see upon you! Yes, it really is kinda amazing. But what I think is REALLY amazing is that folks like Don and I, Stew, Nancy Quense, Phil and Vivian Williams, John Ashford, Gary "O", Stan James, Mike Lieb, John Weiss, Alice Stewart, and several others, are stil alive and kicking. And ... we're still singig about it! CHEERS, Bob (still in Everett, Washington, where the wimmen are pretier than the men and the cats run faster than the dogs)

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 12:55 AM

Whoa, Art--that's downright creepy, the magazine left as a warning.

I have to agree with Bob's assessment of the Seattle/Everett area--it's amazing what has stuck around, considering all of the changes in the last 20-30 years.

SRS

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 01:19 AM

And no one mentions Idaho....

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 01:27 AM

"AWAY IDAHO, WE'RE COMING IDAHO,
OUR FOUR HORSE TEAM WILL SOON BE SEEN,
WAY OUT IN IDAHO"

Whatch' mean that no-one mentions Idaho ... sheeuh! Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 12:57 PM

Maggie, I remember that his first name was Stewart. Monday, I'll call "The Folkstore" in Seattle and see is I can get a lead on him. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 01:23 PM

I'm a Guest again. Will fix soon.

IDAHO, you say!----An old friend from Chicago, Brian Gill, has an excellent folk radio show out of Moscow, Idaho. I know it is streamed on the web, but because we have dial-up, I don't hear it as often as I ought. But another friend has sent me tons of his shows on MP3.

I heartily recommend it to Mudcatters. Find da man - and listen in.

Art

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Stewart
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 07:04 PM

We had our last PNWFS Sunday Afternoon Concert
in the Everett Public Library last Sunday.
It was a fine finale to the series.
You can see some video of it on our web site HERE

Jerry Middaugh singing
Erin's Green Shore
Handsome Molly
Swannanoa Tunnel
Clayton Boone
Backing To Birmingham

Nancy Quense, Bob Nelson, and Jerry Middaugh Singing
Warp And Reeling

Nancy Quense and Jerry Middaugh Singing
Long Journey

You can check out video of some previous concerts HERE

Cheers, S. in Seattle
where PNWFS is still "in the tradition"

Subject: RE: Pacific Northwest Folklore Society
From: Deckman
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 08:15 PM

A very fine job, Stew. Thanks!