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17 Oct 98 - 03:37 PM (#42082) Subject: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles The Mudcat UK thread was a good idea and it has been interesting reading about what the weather is like in various parts of the UK and hearing about where people live. There is a colourful description from 'Frank in the Swamps', about where he lives, complete with some exagerated claims about his mosquitos, which can be found in the Jimmy Reed Request thread. As the originators of the the UK thread (somewhat bravely) confessed that they overlooked other parts of the world, maybe all the contributors to the Mudcat would like to use this thread to tell us about who, where, what music and most importantly, what the weather is like in their part of the world?.... This is the WWW after all. No need to make it too serious, although I know the weather is a serious subject. |
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17 Oct 98 - 03:58 PM (#42084) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: BSeed Shambles, you could have started with yourself. I live in El Cerrito, California, and teach in Berkeley. The weather right now is far too nice for me to be sitting here in front of my computer, but I'm hooked on the Mudcat and...but, as soon as I finish this post I'm going to take my two labradors to the Berkeley dog park where I will run them to near exhaustion so I can have some peace to get some work done around the house. I frail the banjo and am just getting to the point where I can play decent clawhammer breaks; I play enough guitar to accompany my singing, also autoharp and pretty good blues, folk, and country harmonica. I spend almost as much time at www.eBay.com, a great auction site--free for buyers, I don't know how much for sellers as I haven't yet tried to sell anything. I've posted a few of my songs, mostly in a thread called Movement Songs, but also the Missing Mudcat Blues and fa couple of new verses to Abilene which I like as much as anything I've written. |
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17 Oct 98 - 04:24 PM (#42086) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Roger in Baltimore As many have guessed from my Mudcat code I live in Baltimore, Maryland. Actually, I live near Baltimore (30 miles or so) in a semirural bedroom community called Westminster. I grew up here and have watched it change from a farming community to a commuter haven. Can't say I like the changes much. I perform sporadically, sometimes for money, sometimes for the fun of it. I play 6 and 12 string guitar tolerably well (I won't get by on guitar playing alone). I sing whatever strikes my fancy, much of it would not be called folk by many on the 'Cat. I bought a new National Tri-Cone resophonic guitar about a year ago. It still plays me, I don't really play it. I have developed some confidence in playing the blues and I'm working on getting better at that. I'm a single parent with a recently graduated son in San Francisco (looking for work) and another son who will graduate high school this year. At this point in my life they take up more of my money than my time. I have a fiancee who lives in Baltimore (so I am in Baltimore quite a bit). I work at the world famous Johns Hopkins Hospital as a manager in their community addictions program. I have developed an addiction to the Mudcat. I haven't decided if it is a positive addiction (and I might not care!) Roger in Baltimore (some of the time, anyway) |
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17 Oct 98 - 05:15 PM (#42096) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles O.K Seed. Tell me do you hear Simon and Garfunkel tinkling along in the background as you walk to work, past that fountain? I am lucky enough now to be living on The Isle of Portland in Dorset, (where my wife comes from) although I was born in West London. We did live in the Shetland Islands for about 12 years, where you do get a lot of weather. We have a German Pointer, called Chudley, who we don't get any peace from no matter how far we run him. Two burmese cats, one of which, by the name of Dennis, steals things like ornaments and garden tools from our neighbours. I keep showing him wallets and credit cards but he hasn't taken the hint yet. He is known as Dennis the 'cat burglar' I work part-time helping mainly eldely people, which puts my own problems in perspective and gives me plenty of time to play (in order of competence) bazouki, guitar, harmonica, tenor and five string banjo. I have been writing songs for about the last five years and performing them with my wife and my mate (who also write) with our band The Shambles. I first started playing 'Skiffle' in the early 60s, playing all those wonderful songs from Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, and all, which is one of the reasons I think I like it here so much. It's the songs. Oh, and it's dark wet and windy outside. Hey Roger! What's the weather like in Baltimore? Thanks for your help. |
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17 Oct 98 - 06:25 PM (#42111) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Zorro Hey Shambles, this is a great idea. It's good to know where folks reside. I've e-mailed to Alison in Australia and to Brian in Wales. I live in Houston, or outside of Houston in Pearland, Texas. I'm a member of the Houston Folklore and Music Society and the Houston y. I took some early retirement after having been with Dale Carnegie Training for 25 years in Houston and in Corpus Christi, Texas, the Rio Grande Valley etc. Now I teach public speaking at a community college, I have the rights to the Balanced Living Program and have r, blues harps, a little Irish Whistle. I prefer playing blues, but love traditional celtic music and American mountain music. The weather here is blue skies and shady, green lights and downhill as long as the Mudcat is up. Otherwise, raining and nasty. Anyone in the Houston area contact me please: hcarson@orbitworld.net |
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17 Oct 98 - 06:35 PM (#42112) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: BSeed shambles: I know of only three fountains in Berkeley (other than indoor or backyard ones): a newly refurbished one at the bottom of a hill, a rain-powered one (the mouth of a huge, ridiculous beast ridden by a humanoid archer--rain is caught in the beast's mouth and pours out via its penis [an unknown sculptor erected it at the Berkeley Marina--the city council wanted to remove it but public protest kept it there]), and a fountain at the university named after a dog, Ludwig--the fountain, not the university. If I taught at the university I might walk by it; I teach at the high school (retired, but still working with some independent study kids). Simon and Garfunkle are often in my head, even if they are not played too much around these days. "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme" and "The Boxer" get the most head time. And how come you get to have both a wife and a mate, and one who plays music with you no less? --seed |
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17 Oct 98 - 07:48 PM (#42123) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Seed: I said I was born in London. My mate is my friend, me old mucker, me pal (ie male). I'm beginning to sound like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins. It's funny how these things go I was always a bit ashamed of the 'way wot I spoke'. But I have just finished a song that was in leiu of a Valentine's Day card to my long-suffering wife and it's called My Trouble and Strife. Which, if you don't know, is cockney rhyming slang for 'my wife'. Or as Dick Van Dyke would say 'me old trouble and strife'. Where was that fountain then in the Graduate?
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17 Oct 98 - 09:33 PM (#42132) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Helen Hi all, I live in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, which is 100 miles north of Sydney on the east coast. I'd *like* to make you northern hemisphere dwellers green with envy and tell youabout clear blue skies and sunny weather with a gentle breeze, lounging around taking in the sun and then going for a refreshing dip in the pool.....but it's overcast here at the moment although I don't think it will rain today. I play Celtic/lever harp, flute (not well), & bodhran - (just learning), and am strting to learn some African drumming, also have done some classes in Middle Eastern drumming. I love Celtic music, and especially Carolan's harp tunes. Other than that I'll listen to and like almost every sort of music there is except disco and some country & western & I haven't found much operal that I like. There is a radio station in Oz called Triple-J which plays a bit of alternative style "youth" music and I like most of that. So, it's hard to pin me down on any one style of music being an all-out favourite. I am also addictive to Mudcat - Roger, should we form MCA (Mudcat Anonymous) or should we just accept ourselves as we are and just enjoy Mudcat and the other Mudcatteers? Helen |
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17 Oct 98 - 09:37 PM (#42133) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: BSeed God, Shambles, it's been so long since I've seen that movie that I don't remember the fountain in it: It may be Ludwig's Fountain, so named because Ludwig played in it for years. As for your "mate," I forgot how few of you Brits share the mother tongue. ;) --seed |
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17 Oct 98 - 11:13 PM (#42140) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: KickyC Wow! This is a fun thread! I am from the heartland of the USA good old Iowa! I live in a town right on the Mississippi River called Muscatine. I am about 2 hours southeast of Dyersville (Field of Dreams), 2.5 hours east of Madison County (as in "The Bridges of Madison County") and 1.5 hours from our latest mention on the big sceen, Cedar Rapids. (After surviving the Titanic, Rose went on to be a movie actress, later wed and moved with her new husband to Cedar Rapids.) Like you Bseed, I am a high school teacher, but alas, still working. I teach English as a Second Language which means I teach a little of everything to limited English-speaking students. I love that job ( most of the time.) I began playing piano when I was a girl and later took up the guitar when I got married and we didn't have a piano. About 3 years ago I began playing the Appalachain mountain dulcimer and my interest in folk and celtic music just took off. From there I went on to learn some tin whistle, recorder, banjo, and harmonica. I bought a mandolin last Feb., but haven't had too much time to get to it. I have just begun to do a little entertaining and that has been a lot of fun. My husband doesn't play, but he took up an interest in building instruments. He built one of my banjos and two dulcimers for me. It has been a lot of fun! Oh, the weather here is lousy. We were going to go away fro the weekend, but it is raining and storming. It is too hot for this time of year. 60-70 F. It is supposed to be cooling off any minute now. They always say, if you don't like the weather in Iowa, wait a minute. It will change. KickyC |
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18 Oct 98 - 02:35 AM (#42168) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Dawn Hey! - I thought that's what they say about the weather here in Wisconsin!!!! It was, beleive it or not, 75 in parts of Wisconsin yesterday - unseasonably warm. Today, it rained all day. Anyway, I listen more than I play, but have three guitars, two keyboards, a mandolin, and a dulcimer. I lean more towards the "singer/songwriter" spectrum than trad, but I grew up with "campfire music" and still help my father out in that department. |
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18 Oct 98 - 03:42 AM (#42173) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Joe Offer I was born in Detroit and grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin, so I call Wisconsin home. Don't know if I could stand the winters or mosquitos now, though - I've lived in Sacramento, California, for almost twenty years. It's beastly hot all summer, but a beautiful autumn day here today, shirtsleeve warm, with a touch of fall color. Four BIG wild turkeys walked down my street this morning - I'm right near the American River, and there's lots of wildlife around. I'm a 90-minute drive from a rather large ocean and a rather large mountain range. I've fooled around with a number of instruments, but the only instrument I use in public is my voice - church music, and group singing with kids and in the three monthly song circles in this area. I do background investigations on U.S. government job applicants, but that nasty Bill Clinton privatized my job and made it miserable and I'm going to retire any moment now and spend my days traveling and singing. My three children are in their twenties, and all seem to want a career in punk rock - but they tolerate me and even sing with me at times. -Joe Offer- |
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18 Oct 98 - 06:35 AM (#42183) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: alison Hi, (Helen you couldn't do it.... but I can).. It's 35 degrees here, and sunny..... it's too humid for my liking and I need a drink......... As you probably all know by now I'm in Sydney. I've been here for almost 7 years. Before that I was mainly in Belfast although I lived in other places around Northern Ireland. I have 2 young kids (Ryan is 4, Shannon is 3)and a hubby.... from Holywood, Northern Ireland. I play a heap of stuff which I've been carting around in this heat all weekend...... not much fun... love the playing though. At the moment I play whistle, flute, bodhran, keyboard, piano accordion, and sing. I'm still trying to teach myself uilleann pipes, button concertina, bones, and saxophone. I'm in a couple of bush bands and a duo with Alan of Australia, (who lives about 5 minutes away.) slainte alison |
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18 Oct 98 - 06:36 AM (#42184) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: DWDitty So, I'll represent New England - at least for now. Grew up on Cape Cod and now live in CT. The weather here ranges from partly sunny to partly cloudy with periods of sun, rain, sleet, snow, and ice in between. I play guitar and sing - mostly songs with a bit of humor, but also include folk, blues, jazz, and even a show tune or two. Also, I sing in the church choir so I better include hymns and anthems. My 19 and 20 year old kids don't sing much, but my 3 and six year olds sing constantly. DW |
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18 Oct 98 - 09:27 AM (#42193) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Jack Hickman Greetings All It's interesting to note the interesting blend of participants in this thread. I live in Kingston, Ontario which, for the geographically challenged is on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario at the point whereit joins the St. Lawrence River. It is a historically interesting and visually beautiful area. At this precise moment of time, we are enjoying typical autumn weather, maybe a little warmer than average, with a mixture of sun and cloud. The autumn colours have just passed their peak of beauty, but are still attractive. We have the good fortune of experiencing four very distinct seasons. In a month and a half from now, it will be cold enough to freeze the balls on a brass monkey. I am retired from having spent 36 years in law enforcement, 25 of which were with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Now I have a little hobby business as a tour guide, which keeps me in computers, but doesn't pay the rent. I also play in the Kingston Ceili Band (http://fox.nstn.ca/~jhickman) as well as being involved in any Celtic session occurring in these parts. I like to consider myself as an accomplished bodhranai(bodhradoiri?)and a very basic tin-whistler. My attitude to music is, if it ain't Celtic, why bother. I enjoy this thread. Jack Hickman |
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18 Oct 98 - 09:44 AM (#42196) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Roger in Baltimore Gee, Shambles, I didn't know the weather was required. It has been beautiful the last couple of days. Bright sunshine with just a few clouds in the skies. Daytime highs in the mid 70's and nightime lows in the mid 40's. It doesn't get any better than this in October in Maryland. Maryland likes to call itself America in miniature, that fits for landscape and weather. We have four distinct seasons and they can be severe at both ends. Temperatures in the high 90's in Summer and Low's in the single digits in Winter. Those are extremes and it is usually milder than either of those. It is often quite humid in the Baltimore area however. The ocean is about a three hour drive and the mountains (the tiny Alleghenies, Joe) are about the same distance. A right nice place, all in all, though chosen more by birth than by choice. Of course, Washington, D.C., is only an hour and a half away, so I'm familiar with big cities and big government. I would like to hear from those of you who don't often post on a thread, but who are regular readers. This is a subject about which you should be well-informed, YOU! Helen, just for fun, I may see if I can come up with 12 Steps for the Mudcat. Roger in Baltimore |
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18 Oct 98 - 09:52 AM (#42198) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Susan of DT I've been in New Jersey (Princeton area)for almost 20 years, before that Pennsylvania (central and west)and New York (upstate and city), with one year in North Carolina. There are two song circles around here Dick Greenhaus and I go to and Dick gets to another one near him in Connecticut. We usually go to the following festivals: Mystic (CT) Sea Music Festival (June), Champlain Valley (August)(VT), Old Songs (NY)(late June), Greater Washington Getaway (October). DWDitty: where in CT are you? we should be able to meet you somewhere. I love ballads and Scottish music. I sing (not well)rather than play. |
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18 Oct 98 - 10:00 AM (#42200) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Roger in Baltimore Susan, Weren't you playing some strange harp-type instrument at the Gospel Songs Workshop at the Getaway? Roger in Baltimore |
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18 Oct 98 - 10:52 AM (#42204) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Hello Roger and everyone else and thank you for describing the weather (and where you live) in such poetic terms, it's the next best thing to being there. It think some explanation is due for the weather discussion and why it seems to matter more than normal, to someone who lives in a country where sometimes the weather seems to be all we do talk about. It has to do with a wonderful sketch called The Radio Ham, written by Galton and Simpson and starring the late Tony Hancock. It is a satire on what was then (early 60s) modern technology, (Short Wave Radio) and how we use it. Home Radio was probably thought of in much the way The Net is today, in that it was possible to talk to people anywhere in the world. The joke was that Tony Hancock was constantly saying how "bloody marvellous" it was to be able to talk to another radio ham in Tokyo, when all they were actually struggling to say to one another was "it is raining here also". Oh well, maybe you just had to be there? It is not raining here also, today has been one of those bright sunny autumn days with the leaves just starting to gently fall from the trees. New England sounds like the place to be this time of year. |
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18 Oct 98 - 11:04 AM (#42206) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Dan Calder Hello, I'm sitting in Sprighill, Nova Scotia, on the East coast of Canada. Home of Anne Murray and Johnny Mooring (award winning fiddler). The weather here has been lousy for the past week, but today is beautiful: sunny and cool. As in Ontario, as Jack said, the autumn leaves have passed their peak, and are mostly on the ground now. I was born here, my wife was born here, and our two daughters were born here. I'm a grade six teacher, and vice-principal of our two elementary schools (and more years away from retirement than I want to consider at this point). Our population is hovering between 4500-5000. I have three guitars, two 6-strings and a 12, but I haven't performed in public since my college days. My music tastes have always been good guitar-based musicians. I've always listened to artists like Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, Stan Rogers, Garnet Rogers...tunes I can play (usually while sitting alone in a little cabin I have on a lake) with some degree of proficiency. Both of my daughters study piano, and we have a too large 97 year old Hanes Brothers piano in out dining room (which I picked up for nothing a few years ago...just the energy involved to move it). I've been reading the 'Cat for a few years, now, and have posted a few times. I just thought I would take Roger's advice. I am also throughly enjoying this thread. Keep it up. Enjoy, Dan |
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18 Oct 98 - 11:43 AM (#42210) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Ralph Butts It looks like Connecticut rules the Mudcat world (are you there, Barbara?). The Tiger's den is in extreme NE Connecticut (Pomfret), but remember, CT is a tiny state, so Mudcat HQ and the other Nutmeggers are really just down the road. As to my music, I got out my old guitar a few years ago and put it back to work. My goal was to be able to play the music I liked, so I could hear it any time I wanted. I'd always had a small list of songs and a folder of lyrics, but began the task of adding them to my word processor. I've now got almost 700, which currently live in three (about to become four) loose-leaf binders. I use them to learn the lyrics, often taking a few pages in the car to practice while I'm driving to client sites. I've resolved not to sing out of the books myself or let anyone else do so - they're just for study. The lyrics are available, in small quantities, from my web page at: http://users.neca.com/rsbassoc/ You need to send me an e-mail to get them, but eventually they'll be indexed web pages. My taste is eclectic, but folks like Tom Paxton, Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, the Clancy Brothers, Elvis Presley and Dave Van Ronk are well represented. I also have a lot of turn of the century, barbershop stuff, and 20's tin pan alley songs. I play fingerstyle on a Gibson LG-1 and have planned my arrangements based on me and the guitar being the only instruments (well, maybe a tambourine on the side). We have semi-frequent singalongs, mostly family. I've never done a gig or written a song. Good thread! Let's hear from more Mudcatters………..Tiger |
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18 Oct 98 - 11:56 AM (#42212) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Dan Calder Help... Can someone tell me why the posts I submit appear twice? It's happened before, so I take great care to make sure I click the "Submit Message" button one time only. Thanks, Dan (I'm really not trying to get more posting time than anyone else, or draw attention to myself...really...honest.) Can't give you a sure reason why it double-posted, Dan. Usually it has to do with using the "back" or "refresh" buttons on your browser instead of the navigational tools Max has provided. Whatever the case, I deleted the second post, so it's nothing to worry about. -Joe Offer- |
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18 Oct 98 - 01:22 PM (#42216) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: rosebrook How fun this thread has been for getting to know more about you all! It has been very interesting. This month marks my one year anniversary for hanging at this Cafe, and I appreciate having had the opportunity to learn so many important musical lessons from my fellow catters. Speaking of green with envy...I live on Oregon's beautiful southern coast. It's a 10 minute drive to hike along the rugged trails overlooking the mighty Pacific. We have two seasons here: wet and dry, with moderate temperatures consistently during both. When it's wet, it lasts for 7-9 months of the year. Towards to the end of the wet season, it's challenging to play my flute with those darn webs between my fingers...well, maybe the webbed features won't spark anyone's envy afterall. My musical passions include playing flute and recorder in a Celtic band. We'll be performing at the Eugene Celtic Festival next month! (We've never played outside of this culturally deprived town before..this is exciting!) Living so close to the cliffs of the shore, I play at a lot of seaside weddings. For the past 6 years, I have shared music in my children's classrooms. Last year, I taught 4th graders to play the recorder. That was the grand finale; this year I'm helping in the computer lab. Speaking of children, ours are 10 and 12. I was the birth mother, and my partner Jeanne is the 'nuther mother (who incidentally is totally into weather conversations, but only plays the stereo.) I'm looking forward to learning more about more catters! Rose |
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18 Oct 98 - 01:46 PM (#42217) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: rich r Greetings and salubrications, I sit here in Red River Valley (of the North) probably the flattest large inhabited place in the world. My home is Fargo, North Dakota. I lived from birth through the end of graduate school in Wisconsin, spent 5 years in North Carolina and been in Fargo since. Yesterday was a lovely autumn day with rain, temperature around 40 degrees Fahrenheit and a north wind around 30 mph (50 km), but the mosquitoes are gone. I have been a "folky" since the late 50's, so I guess that now makes me an old folky. I love to play and sing, but the opportunities here are too few. I am a self taught guitar player and my teacher was really not very good. So to paraphrase Phil Ochs, my guitar playing wouldn't suffer much if my hands were webbed. I am borderline cumpulsive about collecting folk music especially from North America in recorded and printed form. The result is I can sometimes pull obscure lyrics out of nowhere and more often have no clue what I actually have. I am another one of them gummint employees. With a degree in molecular biology from Univ Wisconsin, I now do insect DNA research for the US Dept. of Agriculture. I have occasionally stooped to the level of introducing puns into my posts, but that is probably a cry for help or a sign that I need help. The M-Cat is every bit as exciting as a three day blizzard. rich r (Rich Roehrdanz) |
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18 Oct 98 - 03:26 PM (#42224) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara Shaw I'm here in Branford, Connecticut, on the shoreline of Long Island Sound. Hi, Ralph and DWDitty, whoever you are. Yay, Connecticut! It's a beautiful, sunny day, a little breezy, and unseasonably warm for this time of year (72 F). The foliage is spectacular, lots of reds and yellows and oranges on the maples and oaks and beech trees, but it's not peak color yet in this part of Southern New England. It's so warm that there are swarms of ladybugs on every window and even one crazy bloom on a confused azalea. The forsythia thinks it's Spring and has little yellow blossoms along with the reddish-turning leaves. I have pumpkins and potted mums on my front porch, and roses still blooming in the back yard. And the lawn is beginning to pile up with fallen leaves. Thanks for asking, Shambles. It's really interesting to hear from people around the world, and I feel like I know many of you by your words. We all have this Mudcat neighborhood in common. We had a "hoot" at our house this past Friday, and spent Saturday showing some overnight guests from R.I. around the area, so no house chores got done at all yet. The music was fine, and wouldn't it be nice to play today, too. O.K. my break is over. Back to the weeds and the leaves in the yard, although the fiddle and guitar are calling me.
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18 Oct 98 - 03:33 PM (#42225) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: malena Hi, where is the whole Mudcat from - well of course it´s worldwide, but Max, do you sit in Britain or in the US? Myself, I`m from Germany, a small town called Hückeswagen (always sounds funny when Americans try to pronounce that),we have four seasons, which are cool and rainy (spring), warm and rainy (summer), cool and very rainy (fall) and cold and rainy (winter). Sometimes we even have a stretch of good wether, I remember even wearing shorts in summer, but this year has just been terrible. So right now it´s pretty cold and rainy - must be close to winter! My name is Daniel, I chose the alias of malena, because Daniel was taken... Malena is the name of a famous tango, and that´s what my favourite music is right now, but I´m also into Klezmer, and all kinds of American, Irish, French Styles and and and... Have been playing fiddle for half of my life and started with piano and accordion a few years ago. I talked with Alice (Alice Flynn - where are you in this thread???) a few days ago about the problem of not becoming too much of a profesional if you´re an autodidact an play lots of instruments in dozends of styles - but I love it. I play in two bands, in one of which we play mainly folk-dances, it´s a lot of fun to play for dancers, I like it much more than playing just for listeners. Oops, it just stopped raining... Daniel |
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18 Oct 98 - 03:55 PM (#42226) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Doug in colorado I'm in Colorado Springs, and enjoying the cool clear blue October weather. I cut my musical teeth on Joan Baez/Ian and Sylvia/Kingston Trio type folk music, took up banjo in high school and college, shifted into Bluegrass and rattled around the world with the Navy for twenty years. During a three year stint in Japan I fell in with some expatriate Irish living there and have been heavily into traditional Irish music for the past seven years with various bands in various places. I'm retired from the Navy, building houses and playing music. Doug |
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18 Oct 98 - 05:16 PM (#42233) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Susan of DT Roger - It wasn't me. I don't usually go to gospel workshops. I wonder if it was Ferrara with a zither or one of the other Susan's with a MacArthur Harp or something. I do own both a Celtic and MacArthur Harp, but don't travel with them. Max is in southeastern Pennsylvania, a couple hours from me, which we did not realize when he first picked up the DT. Barbara Shaw - I wish the Branford sings were Saturday instead of Friday so I could get to some of them. |
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18 Oct 98 - 05:50 PM (#42236) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barry Finn Hi all, from another New Englander, this time southern New Hampshire, been here about 12 years, Boston born & bred though. Spent some time living on Maui, great for sailing, starved for folk music (not Hawaiian folk music though), I probably knew all 7 of the folk musicians living there in 79 & 80. Following that I lived a short time in San Francisco, favorite music spot out side of Boston, lots of great music there, never was staved there.
Weather here is the same as for the other New Englanders, trees multi colored, sunny for the past couple days, very wet prior to that & winter coming's coming on, BBuuurrrr.
Fell into folk music in the 60's along with the great boom & had an interest ever since (shower singing). I first started clearing my throat in the mid 70's durning a workshop run by blues/folk singer Barbara Caans, she kept polking at me until I sang some songs that I had no idea were traditional (prison work songs) or what traditional was (still have questions). This past year while performing prison songs at a festival, she was in the crowd & came up after to say how much she like what we were doing, it was so nice to come back at her & tell her after all these years she was the one who gave me the 1st & most needed push. Since then I started hanging out at an Irish session pub (Brookline's Village Coach House), some of the greats in Irish music came there on a regular basis so I couldn't help myself when I started in on the Bodhran & singing Irish/Scottish songs. I sing in a group with a few others, mostly prison work songs & sea shanties ( mostly Afro American influenced ) both my 1st loves.
DWDitty, where on the Cape were you, my family's on Bass River, spent alot of my summer youth in it's waters? |
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18 Oct 98 - 06:06 PM (#42239) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: DWDitty Barry, I grew up in Barnstable - Cummaquid, actually, for those who are into details. Great place to grow up and can't figure out for the life of me why I am not there still. Susan, I am in North Haven - awfully close to Barbara Shaw. I may have to look her up for one of those sings, although I have never been to one before. BTW, doesn't Rick Von Scmidt live down your way - not to date myself or anything. |
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18 Oct 98 - 06:11 PM (#42240) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) Today, 18th October, is St Luke's Day. In various places throughout Europe, St Luke's Day is associated with a late Indian summer. Here in Ellan Vannin, the Isle of Man (middle of the Irish Sea - you'll have to get your atlas out and try to pinpoint the centre of the British Isles), the old weather prognostications have been vindicated with a pleasant day, despite all the forecasters trying to tell us it would be persisting down - which is all our summer has been this year., come to think of it. It was a good day for a sponsored walk to raise funds for a Manx Gaelic playgroup, and to launch a new Manx Gaelic ABC book. Lhieuish, Bobby Bob |
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18 Oct 98 - 06:15 PM (#42241) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: anne.... First, please have tolerance to my spelling. I'm from Denmark and it's cold and wet here. Some years back my brother put some headphones on me with some music. It was Maighread Ní Dhohmhnaill singing "An Cailín Gaelach". That was what it took to turn me on to Irish music and I started to look for Irish music every where. Thruogh the "Womans Heart" collections I became familiar with some of the female artists of Ireland. But I like also Sarah McLachlan, Shawn Colwin, Indigo Girls, Joan Osborne, Emmylou Harris and many more. I do not play and sing myself, but I am a big listner. I´m 50 and my children are 26, 24 and 22 my grandson is 3. The mudcat is good for me, since some of theese artist I like to listen to are not so well known in Denmark. Love to all of you anne.... |
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18 Oct 98 - 06:57 PM (#42247) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Animaterra I'm another New Englander, in beautiful southwestern NH (Keene) where it's Indian summer (75 F) after 11 days of rain. I've traveled all over this country and to the UK and France, but I'll be buried here. The autumn beauty is past its peak but the bronze and falling leaves are still lovely. First and foremost I'm a singer, accompanied by guitar and sometimes pennywhistle or recorder. I would love to fiddle as well, someday! I also direct a womens' chorus and teach public school music to the young ones. My 9 year old daughter sings like an angel and has just been asked to sing the page in Good King What's His Face this Christmas; my 13 yr old son has turned baritone and prefers not to join the family singalongs. Mudcat is truly an addiction; I admit I'm powerless and love it! |
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18 Oct 98 - 08:08 PM (#42254) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: harpgirl hi all, I've just returned from a weekend at Crystal Lake,northeast of Gainesville in Florida hosted by the Florida Fiddler's. We dance and play all night and showcase all the oldtimers in Florida who play the fiddle. Willie Jones and Eddy Keeny are my favorites. I am a fiddle groupie but only play autoharp, rhythm guitar, and sing. It seems like most of the folk musicians in Florida also love to dance (squares and contras). Tallahasse where I reside, has a great music and dance community. I have been playing autoharp and singing since my days in Ann Arbor. Born in Detroit and moved to Arkansas where I taught at UofA and my son was born. He is sixteen now and likes to sing Irish pub songs and bowl. He's cool. I have a private practice in counseling and I teach professional CEU courses and do program development as a social worker. I am an old activist and very devoted to social work. I spend alot of time camping all over Florida and swimming in the springs. I am happiest camped on the bank of a river (the Santa Fe is my favorite) singing and playing my buttonharps by the light of a full moon. I love to collect songs. I don't breed well in captivity! I am one of three DoneyGals and we play around the panhandle, mostly Irish music. Anyone coming down to Florida should write me about music and camping to enjoy in Florida. DoneyGals' next festival date is the Barberville Pioneer Settlement Fall Festival, a small, very fun festival north of Deland, Florida first weekend in November. It is always HOT here but we only have hurricanes from August to November! I am teaching a workshop on counseling aids patients tomorrow so off-line I go. I love the Mudcat and thank you all for being such great human beings! harpgirl aka Abby |
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18 Oct 98 - 08:14 PM (#42255) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Big Mick This is one of the best threads yet, and I guess it's time for the ole Big Mick to weigh in. Born and bred in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA area, I spent a great deal of my life in and around the Irish emmigrant community around the towns of Parnell and Grattan which are both named for famous Irish men. About Michigan, it has a history which is filled with the Irish. From Beaver Island whose town is called St. James and was settled by fishermen from the Aran Islands, to Corktown which is the oldest community in Detroit and everywhere in between you will find the mark of my people. Some of the Counties in Michigan have names like Roscommon, Antrim, Wexford and Clare, all names taken from Irish Counties. Our weather is four seasons, each of them lovely. Right now we are at the peak of fall color and the views on the hills and over the valleys are an absolute testament to the existence of God. Soon the skiing will start (Cross country and downhill) along with ice fishing. The specific part of Michigan I live in is West Michigan. I reside in a large wilderness area about halfway between the cities of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. If you look on a map of Michigan and find a large lake called Gun Lake, that is where I live with my wife and wee Ciara, who is my youngest daughter. She is 6 years old, and one hell of a fine Irish dancer. She also sings with her old man quite a lot. I also have a 22 year old daughter named Cass, and a 20 year old daughter named Elizabeth, two female cats named Jasmine and Esmeralda. I haven't won an argument in 20 years. :-)) My love for music is lifelong. I was raised around the music of my people. Being a teenager in the sixties, I was exposed to one of the most important times in the evolution of modern music. I had loved folk music in the fifties as a small child, so my tastes in the sixties moved to Baez, Dylan, Donovan, and folk rockers like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and so on. I also developed a love for the various blues styles and the great artists of those genres. While I was overseas in that one place with bullets whizzing around me, music allowed me to survive mentally during very stressful times. Cat Stevens comes to mind from that time, among others. Music has been a major influence in my career as a labor organizer. Of course, I love the old greats like Pete Seeger, Woody, Cisco, Odetta, and so on, but there is a wealth of great "movement music" being created by young people which has helped me to see the world through their eyes. I perform mostly Irish and Scottish music, and do educational performances on famous Irish people. One of my favorites in on James Connolly who died in the Rising of 1916. He organized unions in the States before he went home to Ireland and the rest is history. I play 6 and 12 string guitar, bodhran and various whistles including a Low D Shaw. I am attempting to build a set of uillean pipes this winter(are you listening lovely alison?), and am determined to learn to play them before I die. My band is called The Conklin Ceili Band and has 5 members including me. The other instruments are mandolin, Irish bouzouki, 48 button concertina, hammered dulcimer, banjo, bass guitar and fiddle. I consider the Mudcat to be one of the most interesting and valuable part of a life that has been pretty damned interesting. You have all touched this life in a special way and I am grateful. Hope I haven't bored you. All the best, Mick |
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18 Oct 98 - 08:45 PM (#42261) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara Shaw Susan, didn't I see you at one of the Branford hoots at Dave Green's? I'm only about 3 miles farther. . . DWDitty, I usually have the Branford Folk Music Society "house hoot" every other month, so the next one here will probably be in December. Try to come to it. You won't regret the effort, because the music is great, everything from folk to blues to Beatles to bluegrass to (last Friday) a medley of minstrel tunes. Ralph, you too. Allan S. was here, and did some great "dreary groaners" with the usual high body count. Dick Greenhaus shows up occasionally. Big Mick, you may be a musician, but you are also a good writer, and never boring. |
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19 Oct 98 - 12:40 AM (#42301) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: McMusic I'll make an entry for southwest Virginia--right by Tennessee. Mountains, hilly fields and spectacular fall colors. The air is cool and clean and the sky is an unmarred blue. I play the guitar and am learning (slowly) to play the fiddle. I'm 47 and with a brother ten years older than I, I've been listening to one style of music or another just about all my life, from Johnny Ray and Bill Haley to the Beatles, Byrds, Dylan, John Stewart and everything in between and alongside. My greatest love is traditional--no matter from where, but esp. Irish and Scottish. I've been writing songs since I was about 18, and am delighted to have discovered the Mudcat. Great, too, to get an idea where all these 'Catters are actually from. Hello to one and all! |
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19 Oct 98 - 04:33 AM (#42327) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: AndreasW Seems like I am the only one around here from Germany, or more precisely Munich (home of the worlds biggest beer festival) and one of the few Europeans around
Weather today is terrible, raining cats and dogs, temperature is about 8 degrees (Celsius), heavy wind in changing strength and from changing directions. |
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19 Oct 98 - 05:08 AM (#42329) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: anne.... Andreas, Read the threads again, there is one more from Germany, "malena"/Daniel. Anyway Münich is my favorite city of Germany. Maybee because of the English Garden. Love from anne |
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19 Oct 98 - 05:15 AM (#42330) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: DWditty Let's see. The "average" Mudcatter is 50ish, has grown children (and maybe some not so grown children), started out listening to 60's folk (Dylan, Baez, etc.), moved into folk-rock (Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and, yes, Barbara - Clean Living), now focuses on traditional music (be it folk, blues, bluegrass, celtic (never seen so many who play bohdran)or whatever, and are universally wonderful people. DW |
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19 Oct 98 - 05:43 AM (#42332) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Jon Bartlett Hi, friends-I've not-met-yet, from New Westminster, BC, Canada. I'm in the middle (2.35 am) of editing the next issue of 3/4 Times, the newsletter of the Vancouver Folk Song Society, something I've been doing in one form or another for it seems like 20 years (Come All Ye, Canada Folk Bulletin, the CFMS Bulletin, 3/4 Times). I'm a singer of traditional Canadian and mostly BC songs, but I also like Australian trad and some British Isles. I'm also a loud voice in whatever shanty crew you've got going. I used to sing (with me trouble and strife Rika Ruebsaat) professionally, mostly educational work in schools, but occasional concerts, folk festivals, and the like: now I think of myself more as an archivist (of the growing collection of the VFSS, and a curmudgeonly opinionated critic of the folk music milieu. What I'm interested in these days is questions like "what would modern folk music sound like if it was more traditional (i.e. less sentimental)?" Like I said, curmudgeonly! Jon |
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19 Oct 98 - 06:52 AM (#42340) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Graeme Well, I've only seen a couple of Brits in this thread, so I guess I'll chuck my two'penn'orth I'm in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England and the weather is ..... well, just weather really. We say here that if you can see the hills it's going to rain, and if you can't it already is. Although I don't know which at the moment 'cos I'm at the office and can't see out of the window. I'm a cartographer by profession, and that gave rise to a love of folk music from the days when I was a surveyor in various wild parts of Britain and stayed in country pubs that had folk evenings. Separated,46, two teenage daughters, balding ..........................(Arghhhhh!) Nowadays I sing in a folk club in West Wycombe, held in a 16th century pub - with real English ale (yes - warm and flat but very strong). Sometimes I stop drinking it long enough to play or sing a few songs. I play most of the "folky" instruments but not very well - so I floor-sing mostly, unaccompanied. I love old European ballads - and Celtic ones too (but I can't sing those too well - I always seem to get too croaky at the sad bits!) Anyway, if you have - thanks for reading this. Long live Mudcat and all it stands for! Graeme |
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19 Oct 98 - 07:19 AM (#42342) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Pete M Well DW, you seem to have got the profile fairly weighed off! I was born and raised in Dover, Kent and although I didn't realise it, had a lot of "folk" songs around during my childhood although we were not what you would call a"musical" family. "Music" at school did it's best to drive us away from any folk songs, they didn't stand a chance really with Rock starting, but if they had bother to explain the background to some of the songs it just might have helped. Like most? Mudcatters I got involved in Folk in the sixties and the anti Vietnam war protests. Went on to discover Ewan MacColl, Ian Campbell, Hamish Imlach, Matt McGinn and the books of A L Lloyd, Roy Palmer Stan Hugill etc and became more and more interested in the background to the songs especially with regard to the union movement and the fight against capitalism. I eventually lost touch with the folk scene sometime ago, during which period I moved to New Zealand. Then about two years ago I chanced upon the DT, downloaded the DB, emailed a correction to MacColl's "Joy of Living", got had a nice reply from Dick, and then forgot all about it. About a year ago I checked the site, found the correction hadn't been done(hint, hint), and discovered the forum. As luck would have it, one of the threads at that time was something I knew about (an esopteric bit of knowledge about sailing conditions on the East Coast of England) and I was hooked. I don't perform in public, althogh I have been known to inflict my singing on Trainees on the Sail training Ship "Spirit of New Zealand" of which I am a volunteer crew member. I have dabbled in instrument making (Psaltry) and my eldest son plays the fiddle in a band for Scottish country dancing. One other son, wife (whom I met at the folk club in Tunbridge Wells), dog and three cats make up the set, We live in Normandale, Lower Hutt (just outside Wellington) looking out to the Wellington Heads, and across farmland the other way. Wearther is a typical spring day - Clag down below the house, raining and wind gusting to 90 knots! Best wishes to you all, and thanks for a wonderful site and community. Pete M |
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19 Oct 98 - 08:00 AM (#42344) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bill in Alabama My name is Bill Foster. I am living now in Florence, Alabama, in the extreme northwestern corner of Alabama, on the beautiful Tennessee River at the Muscle Shoals, where I am a Professor of English linguistics and American Folklore at the University of North Alabama. Autumn comes slowly to north Alabama, and lingers long. Today's high will be in the low '80s, and the low tonight in the mid '60s. I play banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle (poorly), Autoharp, and assorted other instruments which cross my path from time to time. Banjo is my primary instrument; I played bluegrass semi-professionally for a good many years, but the clawhammer style which I learned from Uncle Arthur Kuykendall on Sand Mountain is my preferred style. I was born into a family which has lived in the southern Appalachians since the early nineteenth century, and I am a fifth-generation musician, although I can't read music. I grew up submerged in the traditional music of the southern Appalachians, listening to friends and family sing and play music on front porches and in kitchens in and around Big Ridge, Tennessee and Tunnel Hill, Georgia. When the Kingston Trio burst on the scene in 1958, much of their material was already familiar to me, although hardly recognizable. I was a field worker for the Dictionary of American Regional English as well as the Linguistic Atlas of the Gulf States, and I had ample opportunity to collect and swap songs with folk informants. For eighteen years my family traveled widely as The Foster Family String Band; we retired in 1995, and now my wife and I stay busy performing music together. I stumbled across Mudcat a couple of years ago, and I try to visit daily. |
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19 Oct 98 - 08:07 AM (#42345) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Ritchie Here We Go... 'the Brits are coming !' Greetings from Ritchie and as I look out of the office window in Newcastle ,where I work ,the sun is shining brightly and the seagulls and pigeons are flying around in harmony. The thing about the North East of England is that it has so much to offer in as much as it's so near both the country and the coast and Newcastle is a 'buzzing' city... but it's cold and getting colder...fortunately the people,who are affectionally known as 'Geordies' are generally very warm hearted with a great sense of humour. As for myself, well I'm married to Brenda ,who I met in 1968 when we were 16 and she has had to put up with me and my love of music for all these years (gosh I wish I had met her sooner), just thought I'd add a little sarcasm in there then ,and we have two sons Patrick aged 16 & Jonathan who is 21 oh yes and a 'Westie' called 'Archie' who is 18 mnths old,but I think in dog years that makes him a teenager. As for music I love most types, with ,as my kids never tire of telling me,lots of 'favourite records of all time'.. but the only snag is I can't play anything...I think that this is because,when I was younger,I especially liked the blues ,Willie Dixon ,Jimmy Reed,Muddy waters et al and noticed that they were all old guys.Being a young whippersnapper in no particular hurry I thought that I would wait until I was older before I would start to play....drat no one told me that these old men had been playing for years...the time has come and a crash course is needed (tell me that you're never to old to learn , please.) and as for me ,well, If you're American, people say I look like a cross between Bob Dylan and a white Bill Cosby and if you're English I resemble a fat Micheal Barrimore (in looks only mind). Just to add that I really like the Mudcat and let me be the first to wish everyone 'A Merry Christmas' Love and happiness, Ritchie |
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19 Oct 98 - 08:53 AM (#42346) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Susan-Marie Greetings from another New Englander (North Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts) who's currently living in Maryland just outside Washington D.C. Like DWitty, I often wish I were back in the land of scrub oak and winter beaches, but my work (developing national habitat conservation policy for the National Marine Fisheries Service) doesn't lend itself to small New England towns. I've been thinking about a career change, though..... I've been singing my whole life, but discovering Celtic music has given me a renewed passion for music. I'd give my right arm to be an accomplished fiddler like Maired ni Mhaonaigh, but singing is what I seem to have a talent for, so I sing every chance I get (mostly our UU church and coffeehouse). I'd like to sing for larger audiences someday, but I'm still prone to stage fright, so I'm slowly feeling my way along. I have a 3-year old daughter named Kiera (I know, that's not the traditional spelling, but we thought it would easier for teachers to pronounce) who loves to dance to fiddle music and play with my younger sister's violin, so I'm wondering what the right age is for starting lessons. I don't want to force anything on her but if she has an aptitude for music, I want to give her every opportunity to develop it. My husband Rob doesn't share my musical passion but he does like beer so he's amenable to hanging out in Irish bars when we can get a babysitter. Because I'm basically an introvert and have a hard time talking to strangers in person, Mudcat's been my lifeline to fellow musicians and music lovers. Next year I hope to go to the FSGW getaway and meet some of you face to face. It's been great learning more about you all on this thread. Hey MAX, can these autobiographies be saved to a page where people could access them by searching for names? I've seen that on other web sites and it's a great way for people to get to know one another. |
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19 Oct 98 - 09:00 AM (#42348) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au My name is Murray Adelman. I was born in South Phila and lived in London (Putney, to the initiated) for a few years and then moved to Sydney where I live at present (and in the future too I imagine.) I will be 59 in a few days. I came here to teach at Macquarie University and did so for 25 years. I retired this year; but I continue to do research. I played recorders and flute for many years. In the 60s, my wife and I built a clavichord and that was quiet enough for me to have the courage to learn the keyboard which I did. The funny thing is that I always liked to listen to blues and other folk music; but I always played classical. About a year ago I found myself humming John Hurt's "Louis Collins". I couldn't remember who wrote it or who sang it and I asked a folknick friend of mine who told me about this database called the DT or something. So I discovered mudcat. In the 60s I was too intimidated by Hurt's playing to try to learn what seemed to be such intricate guitar music. Now the "father William" phenomenon took over and I decided last year to buy a guitar and learn to play it--and I did! I can actually play "Louis Collins" at about half tempo. I have "Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me" just about up to tempo and I have started playing some bottleneck pieces. Kicky, My mother-in-law grew up in a farm right outside of Muscatine. She lives in Iowa City now. I have been on the farm when her brother and sister still ran it. Anne, in what part of Denmark do you live? I have spent a lot of time in Aarhus. In fact I wound up in a hospital there for three weeks once where I learned to speak a little Danish (and to bake rye bread). I haven't been there in over five years and I am sure I would have trouble understanding the language now.
Graeme: Did you say "Aargh" because you knew some idiot would ask you why both of your daughters are balding? Oh yes, as I am posting one day later than Alison, I can say that we are having a cool rainy day. The hot weather she mentioned started some bush fires and I was very happy to see this rain. For the third time in my life, I am trying to learn to play the harmonica. This time it might take, because a few days ago I suceeded in bending from A to A-flat on my Key of C Blues harp. I find it really different from all other instruments I play because there is no finger dexterity involved.
Murray |
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19 Oct 98 - 09:23 AM (#42351) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Hi; This is a great thread. I see only one other Nova Scotian.. an Inlander from Springhill..ha.ha.. It is great to see where everyone is...pretty geographically eclectic group. This is a great time for folk music in Nova Scotia.. it has always been here of course, but it seems that lately the rest of the world is sitting up and taking notice. I don't think that many other places in North America has produced such great musicians over the years.Now at last they are being recognized. Right now the Celtic Colours Festival is on and the lineup is wonderful. Too bad you couldn't all be here to see it..some good eh ? Aldus M. |
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19 Oct 98 - 10:08 AM (#42354) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Earl I live in Essex MA. which is somewhere between DWDitty and Barry Finn. I play guitar, mandolin and harmonica and I have recently become an adequate concertina player. My wife and I play as a duo, she plays standup bass, washtub bass and jug. We do blues, ragtime, jugband, oldtime country; about 30% originals. We have a twelve year old son who is beginning to learn guitar. We are also part of an acoustic band called Cheap Champagne which changes personnel and repertoire quite frequently. Every year we organize the Essex Music Festival, featuring acoustic musicians from the Cape Ann area, north of Boston. This year we had folk, bluegrass, blues, oldtime country, maritime, Celtic harp, and storytelling, and a couple of acts that defy description. The weather here today is postcard beautiful after about a solid week of rain. |
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19 Oct 98 - 12:39 PM (#42368) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: MMario another Cape Codder - (Sandwich) but transplanted to Finger Lakes region of New York. Don't play any insturments, but have recently joined with some friends and we sing at every available oppurtunity. something we all find we miss from our mispent youths, and that seems to be missing in the lives of many youngsters today |
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19 Oct 98 - 01:06 PM (#42369) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Joe Offer You're from South Philly, Murray? Gee, all this time I thought you were the quintessential Australian. Say, Aldus, are you close enough to Halifax that you could drop by the Public Archives of Nova Scotia and post a message in the Canadiana thread about the Helen Creighton Collection? Andreas, when you're counting Germans, don't forget Wolfgang and Susanne (and Malena, and maybe one or two others) - Germany is fairly well represented, and we are starting to get others from the European Continent in addition to our old-timer Ezio from Italy. We even have a sometime visitor from Russia, and at least one "regular" from Japan. Nobody from Africa or South America that I can think of, though. Susan-Marie, there may come a time when Max has to clean out the Forum and delete or archive older messages, but we currently have access to every message that has been posted in the Forum since it started 1 October 1997 - just do a Forum Search, and you can come back to this thread any time you like. Click here for a similar thread that Alice resurrected from a couple of years ago. Click here for yet another thread Alice found. Click here for a thread resurrected by Barbara Shaw, who has a memory almost as long as Alice's. You will note that even way back in 1997, Bill D. was needling me for my interest in mere pop music. Thanks to him and others, my tastes may have improved.... Then again, maybe my taste hasn't improved, but maybe Bill D. has learned to tolerate me. -Joe Offer-
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19 Oct 98 - 01:49 PM (#42372) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bill D I started my folk career in Wichita, Kansas in about 1961-2, and largely avoided the 'pop folk' of those days...(due to one or two people who knew about 'trad')...moved to Washington DC area in 1977 and immersed myself in the FSGW (http://www.fsgw.org/) I am now in Maryland, north of Washington DC. I started playing recorder to avoid singing, but soon took up Autoharp, and a little bit of dulcimer and decided to sing anyway.. :-)) I will never be classed as a serious musician, but I love the company and the people. (Roger...that WAS Ferrara playing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" on a Zither at the Getaway gospel songs..she is my wife..) Jon Bartlett..saw you about 1977 or so at the National Folk Festival near DC ..you did a wonderful parody of "Wraggle Taggle Gypsies" called "The Hippies & the Beatniks-O"... and other great songs...plus an impropteau version of "Thais" with Jon Eberhart under the stands...stopping Helen Schneyer in her tracks!!...It's neat to see you amoung us here at the 'Cat.. |
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19 Oct 98 - 03:02 PM (#42381) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: malena Imagine everyone from this thread would meet with their instruments and we have a big session... proudly presenting the Mudcat-Big-Band, featuring lots of beginners fiddlers, heaps of 6- and 12-string guitars and tons of bodhrans! I´d just love it! Susan-Marie, they say the right age for starting violin is about five or six, but it sure is never to early to let her fiddle around... Ritchie... it´s NEVER too late!!! Graeme, nice to meet you here, now I know a little bit who you are, let me get you a beer (but a cold one!) PS: Every new New Englander entering this thread has to pay a donation to the Cafe! Love you all, Daniel |
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19 Oct 98 - 03:20 PM (#42383) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Alice Hi, everyone, I had to go to Denver last week, so I missed the start of this thread. Got back at Midnight, and I'm too exhausted to re-type a bio, and decided to copy and paste part of my old one from "Why we gravitate to Mudcat".
Since we are dropping our virtual masks, I can tell you that my full name is Alice Colleen Flynn. I was born in Great Falls, Montana on Dec. 20, 1951, raised in Helena, and have lived in Bozeman since 1970.(Photo at http://www.mcn.net/~acflynn/Alice.html ). Back in 1976 I travelled from Montana to Central America and back in a 1949 Buick, and have a love of El Salvador, where I lived for a couple of months. I like most kinds of music. Irish and American folk music was my early family influence. We wore the grooves off the Clancy Brothers/Tommy Makem records. When I worked at the college FM radio station as a student in the early 70's, I would spin alot of blues, rock, and an eclectic mix of records. Since I have been taking classical voice lessons for the last few years, I developed a taste for singing and listening to Opera. I love to sing anything... but my main repertoire is Irish and Scottish ballads and other folksongs. I studied piano through my childhood, and now have a collection of instruments... guitar, harmonium, lute harp, bodhran, as well as whistles (that I still need to learn) and my grandfather's old violin. My son plays violin, piano, and harmonium, and seems to have a talent to pick up any instrument and play it. I have dabbled in classes of Polynesian dance, flamenco, tango... you can see I like lots of cross-cultural musical/dance styles.
I am a professional illustrator and graphic artist. My website
www.mcn.net/~acflynn/
has more information about me, my folk instruments, singing and our Irish session here, and is illustrated by some of my nature paintings that were created for my clients who manufacture tee-shirts for the tourist souvenir market.
Being the sole support of myself and my 11 year old son, I don't have the time I would like to spend on practicing and performing music. My degree is in fine art, and I have been a professional artist for so long that I am burned out on it... I wish I could just make music and get away from the tedium of the drawing board!
My grandfather was born in County Leitrim, Ireland and came with his parents and brothers and sisters to Tintah, Minnesota, when he was a teenager. They left the wet, poor farm behind in Ireland and started over in the US on a homestead in 1881. They spoke both gaelic and English, but unfortunately, gaelic was not passed on to us. My dad came to Montana in 1916, when he was 14, to work on the railroad along with his older brothers and relatives. My mother was raised on a homestead in Eastern Montana, and was a photographer in the 30's and 40's. My parents, with one of my aunts, were killed in a car accident in 1979. My son and I are pretty much alone in the world, but have a few good friends. We are happy as a family of two.
Montana is a beautiful place to live, 90's in the summer, and down to -20 (f) or lower in the winter. The state is sparsely populated, and is one of the lowest in income. I make money consulting for clients in more prosperous parts of the US. The internet has made it even easier to work from my home.
The Mudcat has been a great way for me to beat the isolation of Montana and the loss of my family. I have met Anne Cooke here, who teaches Gaelic and answered my thread on sean-nos, as well as Alison, who emailed to my son when he broke his leg last spring, (and thanks all of you, who emailed to him with messages) and many others who have contacted me with lyrics and other messages about music. The Mudcat forum has been a great asset. I love you all... Alice Flynn in Montana |
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19 Oct 98 - 04:10 PM (#42395) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Alice oh, yes... the autoharp! I forgot that one, but Bill D's message reminded me. It is the one instrument I have taken to our old-time session here to play and sing The Cuckoo and Katy Dear. alice in montana |
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19 Oct 98 - 05:02 PM (#42403) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Hank Well, I'm from Minnesota, and concequently I refuse to discuss the weather. (for those who havn't been to MN in the last five years, the media has taken to 50% weather on all outlets. I can't belive anyone would belive them, they aren't even right when they tell me what I'd see if I looked out the window now more then half the time) Minnesota is beatiful this time of the year. Just yesterday a flock of sky carp (canadian geese) flew right over our home at treetop level. Not to mention the trees, lakes and rivers. As for music, people prefer it when I sing tenor (so miles away). Accually when I hit the right notes I have a great tenor voice, but I don't often hit the notes I want. I'm getting better though. I alway play a little keyboard, problem is the only keyboard I have to play is cheep enough that I out play it, and I'm a novice. So I'm thinking about taking up mandolin or something. Any suggestions? Minnesota was mostly settled by germans, but a signficant number of swedish and norwigions settled here too. That would be fine, but the sweeds and norvigians mostly settled in the same remote village up north. If you know the sweds and norwigians, you can imangine how a norgian girl is gonna feel when she realsies that there is only one elliagble guy her age around, and he is swedish. It made for some interesting marriages, and the results have shaped our culture significantly. |
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19 Oct 98 - 05:42 PM (#42417) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bob Landry I was born and raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and, after spending 12 years in Ottawa and Halifax, settled in St. Albert, Alberta in 1980. We're near to Edmonton, approximately 400 miles north of the US (Montana) border. My father played his fiddle in the kitchen every Sunday and, as a result, down-east and Cape Breton fiddle music courses through my veins. I learned to accompany him on piano but have given that up completely since one of my pinky fingers was destroyed during a baseball game with a bunch of crazed Boy Scouts. I now play guitar and howl along with it every chance I get. My tastes are varied ... blues, bluegrass, folk, Celtic, 50's and 60' rock and roll. I usually play rhythm guitar (note - my dictionary defines strumming as "to play the guitar badly") and I try to get together with different people at least once a week for an informal session, usually in somebody's basement. One of my priorities is to play with better musicians than I am ... that's so that this old dog can continue to learn new tricks. These days, I'm concentrating on learning to flat-pick fiddle tunes on the guitar and developing a small repertoire of blues leads. I have never played for money but have played in front of audiences on a number of occasions. I guess I'm a typical Mudcatter ... a 51 year-old accountant with two boys (18 and 25.) The 18-year-old plays electric & accoustic guitar and sings - he prefers Christian music. The 25-year-old, who will return in a few weeks from a two-year sojourn working in pubs in England (Newcastle and Bristol), wants to play guitar ... he may become more dedicated once he hears what his younger brother accomplished during his absence. My house is about a five-minute walk from Sheye's who is also an avid Mudcatter ... which reminds me ... it's been much too long, Sheye. I'll call you in a few days about an upcoming jam. The weather here today is sunny and in the low teens (celsius). The leaves are falling down. As opposed to eastern Canada and the US, they're mostly brown and yellow; no reds and golds. The snow we had 10 days ago has long since disappeared but we're bracing for winter. Bob |
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19 Oct 98 - 06:32 PM (#42426) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Jon W. Not many of us from the American West - Doug in Colorado, Alice in Montana, and me, I'm Jon in Utah. I got into folk music through the blues - starting with blues/rock and working back to the originals like Blind Willie McTell. Then a friend at work introduced me to Irish music through the recordings of Planxty and others. From there I have started listening to other types of folk a little also. I used to play bass guitar, picked up six-string when I got into acoustic blues, later took up tin whistle enough to play the melodies but not the twiddly bits (as Alison calls them) and still later my current obsession, banjo. I play 5-string in a melodic finger oriented style based on a book by Ken Perlman that features mostly Irish & New England fiddle tunes. I have performed very rarely and only in local neighborhood talent show type of things, where I usually do so poorly I embarrass myself. But I keep trying. I have a wife and seven daughters ages 15 down to 2. Most have more musical talent than I. My wife has sung with choirs and symphonies and majored in music. The weather here (Salt Lake City area) has been nice for a few days, getting cold at nights but fairly warm during the days. The leaves are turning and falling. I've been visiting the Mudcat almost daily for over a year. Does that qualify as addiction? |
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19 Oct 98 - 06:54 PM (#42427) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: bassen Sorry this has acquired epic proportions, I'll never go on at such length again, I swear. Up here on the northwest shoulder of Norway, the low pressure centers have started marching in off the North Atlantic, a sure sign of ensuing winter. The last few days have seen sou'westerly gales slowly abating with the temperature dipping down to about +4 Celsius - the norwegian word for weather report "værvarsel" directly translated means "weather warning" which pretty much sums it all up. Actually I love it, having been raised in the bland weather pablum of sunny southern california. I'm new to the Mudcat, only been hanging out for a month or two, but music has always been a part of my life. I was born in East LA , grew up various places in So.Cal. My parents sang - old songs and hymns from Norway, my mother played piano, my father played mandolin. Riding in the car (which we seemed to do every weekend, for hours) my sister and I would sing and sing and sing - when we ran out of songs we'd sing theme songs from TV series and then commercial jingles, anything with a melody - anyone else remember the jingle for Eastside Old Tap Lager Beer...? My interest in folk music came via my sister, 5 years older than me. The Kingston Trio, yeah, but for me more than anything else, the Chad Mitchell Trio and Joan Baez. I got a mandolin for Christmas when I was 14 and learned Barbara Allen from a book. My sister had a 20$ Tijuana guitar, which I quickly took over. I never got into playing rock'n'roll, only folk music, old timey music, whatever. But I love all music, the first two albums I ever bought were the Beach Boys and Leadbelly, NOBODY else in my high school thought Huddie Leadbetter was cool in 1964, I guarantee. The real turning point came after hearing Flatt and Scruggs on the radio - that was music! I moved to Norway in 1966. Another expat there taught me the fundamentals of ragtime guitar and introduced me to jugband music which has remained a favorite. I spent part of the 70's in France - during the big Celtic revival, Allan Stivell etc. Lots of Fest Noz and pancakes in Montparnasse. Bought a bombarde and learned the fundamentals, spent a summer hitching around the west coast of Ireland and learned a little tin whistle, acquired a reverential admiration for uillean pipes which has never abated. A certain veneer of responsible adult attitude surfaced during the 80's, I acquired a degree in ethnology and eventually a family. I'm now director of the regional museum in Kristiansund, just south of Trondheim (NOT Kristiansand, another place altogether). I respect and enjoy norwegian folk and traditional music, but my soul does not respond the same way it does to "Rocky road to Dublin" "Reuben James" or "Boodle Am Rag". After about 10 years of dustgathering, I've dragged out guitar, banjo and mandolin and have started playing for my sons and anyone else who'll listen. I never stopped singing. "Little girls have pretty curls but I like Oreo..." bassen |
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19 Oct 98 - 07:59 PM (#42438) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Talking of commercial jingles I have just seen one for 'The Sisters of Murphy's'! |
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19 Oct 98 - 10:20 PM (#42456) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Big Mick Jon, Seven daughters??????? And a wife???? I will never again whine about 3 daughters and 2 female cats!! My friend, I want to buy you copious amounts of Guinness sometime, of course I will drink with you, but only to keep you company. :-)) After we are done, you should throw yourself in front of a train to avoid the wedding bills. **grin** All the best, Mick |
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20 Oct 98 - 12:23 AM (#42472) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Helen Ritchie, I thought you were talking about my Newcastle, on the east coast of Australia. The description fits with some name changes only - except for references to cold weather - ours is a temperate climate and it doesn't get too hot or too cold here at all. "The thing about the [Hunter Valley in New South Wales] is that it has so much to offer in as much as it's so near both the country and the coast and Newcastle is a 'buzzing' city... but it's cold and getting colder [no, that's not my Newcastle - just coming into summer now, anyway]...fortunately the people,[......] are generally very warm hearted with a great sense of humour." Helen
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20 Oct 98 - 03:52 AM (#42481) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Ferrit Ah well, suppose I'd better contribute - just to show that there are a few more Brits lurking around the cafe. I live in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and am yorkshire born and bred! I live in a house full of 'young professionals' - their belongings and my three ferrets - McBeth, McDuff and Shredder (Shrednivashta). It was raining when I walked into work (Sheffield Hallam University) - but the again, it often does in Sheffield! I can't play any instrument, and consistently make up for lack of tunefullness in my singing with shear volume, but I spend some of my free time looking for songs to compile into an ever increasing collection, for fellow tuneless Mediaeval re-enactors to murder around the campfire, once all the public have left! Folk, modern - you name it, it's in - including various parodies (Anthem of the Ancient Britons - the song about Woad, to the tune of 'Men of Harlech' - is one fine example!). Well, better go and earn my crust - look forwards to seeing who else is out there, TTFN |
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20 Oct 98 - 04:42 AM (#42482) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bill - Scotland Great thread!!!! Just to let you know that there are "Jocks" out here. I live in Aberdeenshire in the North east of Scotland. I'm actually writing this from an oil rig in the middle of the North Sea and the weather today is nice and bright if a bit cold and windy. I've been playing guitar for more than twenty years now and have almost reached the novice stage. Mostly folk and traditional music, I'm enjoying playing and singing now more than ever. I write my own songs, often in the Doric language of the area and have started performing them at our folk club and in some of the gigs. I also play the bodhran, harmonica and have just taken up learning the fiddle. Greetings to all the Mudcatters from the Wild North Sea.!! Bill |
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20 Oct 98 - 08:19 AM (#42507) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Rincon Roy Mudcat's one of my favorite places. Even post now and then when the spirit moves me, though can't seem to use the same name more than twice; just too goofy! Mornings here right now seem pretty cool & chilly to me which would amaze you cold climate folks. Shirt sleeves and hat at noon to keep clear of the sun. Big mountain to the north of me has been visual companion all my life. So where am I? Tucson,in USA's southwest near border with Mexico. Home of both the International Mariachi Festival & the Tucson Friends of Traditional Music: which makes for a strange cross-cultural milieu... A friend gave his homemade mountain-style banjo 10 or so years ago & so I mess around on that for pure pleasure; strickly amateur. Also, been playing Eb alto horn in old-time brass band: dress up in 1878 cavalry outfit & play pop music of the 19th century: polkas, quicksteps, schotiches, galops, and whole raft of great old tunes no one has heard in 100 years. (blue wool uniform in July on the desert is "an experience.") Celtic & folk types pass through every so often; have heard great concerts here, believe it or not. Especially one years ago when most beautiful sounds I ever heard came popping out of the "small pipes" (Northumberland style?) Can't remember the performer, mostly played concertina; any idea who? Too bad don't have too many spanish speakers reading the forum; a lot of fun music has been made south of the border not far from Tucson... tucjazz@juno.com
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20 Oct 98 - 08:47 AM (#42516) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Ritchie Rincon Roy, Alistar Anderson is a major exponent of the concertina up here in Northumberland , he was i think a member of the 'High Level Ranters'and he is also well known for his pipe playing you should also check out Kathryn Tickell if you like the sound of the Nortumbrian pipes. Hope I'm not messing the thread up...sorry. love and happiness Ritchie |
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20 Oct 98 - 10:47 AM (#42523) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Liam's Brother Greetings from the heart of New York City where the weather today is probably the best it will be until next May. I was born in the Midlands of England. My mother is from Co. Kerry and my father was half-Irish. I was raised in England, Ireland, Toronto and New York. We always had folk songs and other Irish national music in our home. My father had a few traditional songs from his grandfather, Patrick McKay, who came from near the far-famed Spancil Hill crossroads in Co. Clare. My grand-uncle, Lot McKay, was an NCO on HMS Victory. It was not until until 1961 when I returned to NYC from a stint in an English boarding school that I first considered what made the folk songs different from any others. My older brother, Liam, introduced me to a copy of a little 10-inch Robin Hall & Jimmy MacGregor recording of songs from Gavin Greig's "Last Leaves of the Traditional Ballads." It was a revelation. I sang at South Street Seaport and The Irish Arts Center in the early 1970's. I met Joe Heaney among other fine singers. Later, Margaret Barry stayed with me for 4 or 5 months. I never learned any of Margaret's songs but I learned a lot about life! Some of my favorite singers: Dominic Behan, Ewan MacColl, Peter Bellamy, Frank Harte, Almeda Riddle, Len Graham and Dan McGonagle. I play guitar and the bodhran. I formed The Flying Cloud with the Co. Longford fiddler Paddy Reynolds and Brian Brooks (later of The House Band) in 1975. We had a number of personnel changes over 3 our years and recorded an LP in 1977. Brian and I started the folk club at The Eagle Tavern and I ran it for 10 years; it continues at The Blarney Star under Don Meade. In the early '80s, I put together a folk song book, "A Bonnie Bunch of Roses," for Oak. Music became an occupational hazard and I stopped singing altogether for 14 years. Brian Conway, the great All-Ireland champion fiddler, and some of my old buddies from South Street Seaport got me singing again in 1996. That same year, I resurrected some old master tapes which were for an LP I started in 1982 with Lou Killen, Mick Moloney, Andy O'Brien, Billy McComiskey and Brendan Mulvihill. It's been finished as "Irish Ballads & Songs of the Sea" and it will be issued as a Folk-Legacy CD sometime next month. It has some great old standards on it and some totally unknown songs too. William Main Doerflinger very kindly helped me write the notes. In August, I retired after 30 years in the airline business. I'm trying to avoid taking another full-time job. I've been doing Irish sessions around NYC with Brian Conway and some concerts too. A very talented but totally unknown Irish-American singer, Bob Conroy, and I are working on another theme CD and have put together a touring repetoire. We'll be at the Nomad Festival in CT in a few weeks and we're going to San Francisco, Ireland and England next year. My "Rip Van Winkle" experience causes me astonishment every day. One of the most pleasant surprises has been DT. What a real treat! All the best, Dan |
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20 Oct 98 - 11:51 AM (#42530) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: folk1234 What a great thread weaving through our community to form a wonderfully colorful moasic of people, time, place, and song. My real name is Phil Norton. I came out of the closet (car & shower) in '89 to begin to publicly enjoy and share folk music with others thanks to the support and encouragement of Robt & Susan Kilheffer and Kate McDonald of the Branfrod/New Have, CT area. Barbara Shaw, I attended a couple of house hoots at Dave Green's and we hosted one in North Branford. I don't know if I ever met you, but I hope to do so in the future. I fit the "mudcat mold" pretty well. I'm twice retired (U.S. Marine Infantry Officer, and United Technologies Engineering Manager). We left CT in '91 for Oklahoma, where I now work for OK State Univ in an engineering outreach program assisting small rural manufacturers employ modern engineering and business practices. I've been to Pinewoods 2x, Swanannowa, Augusta, and Winfield 3x; Pinewoods is my favorite and I hope to go again in '99. We have a very active folk music club, the Oklahoma City Traditional Music Association, click here . Please stop by and share a song with us. |
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20 Oct 98 - 12:22 PM (#42535) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara Shaw DW, my musical progression was actually more like: (Rock era) Elvis, Fats Domino, Jimmie Bowen, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Beatles, Stones, Animals, Canned Heat, Cream, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat. (Never heard of Clean Living until I married the bass player). (Country & Folk period) Willie Nelson, Moe Bandy, Hank Locklin, Amazing Rhythm Aces, Emmy Lou Harris (Bluegrass & Traditional) Wynn Faye (bless his soul, the one who started many New Englanders down the bluegrass path) and the Field Pickers, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Del McCoury, Stecher & Brislin, Norman Blake, etc. I was never a "folkie," and I'm primarily a bluegrasser now, altho I'm currently president (in what was a hotly uncontested race) of a mostly classical music group. Phil, I don't remember ever going to a house hoot in North Branford, and I thought I'd been to almost all of them for the past hundred years. Lately, they alternate between the Greens and the Shaws. If you left CT in '91, that was before I started playing guitar or fiddle. I used to go to all the hoots and sink into a trance from lack of motion during the "dreary groaners." Nowadays, Frank and I are the ones doing bluegrass duets. The last I heard, Kate McDonnell (GREAT singer-songwriter) was in Maine, after having lived awhile in Washington state. Robert's new wife (Anne) does a folk show on WNHU on Saturdays. Come back and visit sometime!
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20 Oct 98 - 01:58 PM (#42542) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Mo Another Scot here, Glaswegian born and now living, though in my childhood I lived south of the border (that's England not Mexico-way - sorry Roy!). Though if I wasn't Scottish, I would want to be Nova-Scotian as I have a real fondness for the place. I play the tin whistle appallingly, but don't let the protests of my neighbours stop me, and occasionally, when in the mood, sing. Like so many others, Mudcat has been a revelation to me! Long may it continue! Cheers, Mo
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20 Oct 98 - 02:23 PM (#42545) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: FIDDLER MIKE Hi from Appalacia My name is Mike Thieken. Don't try to pronounce it unless you know German; Else I will think you're a salesperson. Which is OK if you'r on the Cat.(The hi is silent) I'm new to the Mudcat (around April) but it's at the top of my bookmarks. I live in southeast Ohio, just inside the boundries of Appalacia. Spent my childhood on a small farm near the Ohio River. One of ten children of a great fiddle player who would let me use his fiddle when I was 6 years old. I doubt I'll ever be as good as him and will probably never make grocery money with my talent, but it's still my first love. Also play Guitar and Mando. We don't wory about the weather in Ohio cause it will change by tomorrow. Twas sunny and 78 Sunday, the forcast is for high of 40 and snow Thursday. "The leaves are turning and falling in showers of gold." After spending most of my growing years playing rythem guitar for my Dad. I now play and sing with a wonderfull group "Home Remedy", which as we put it, "are dedicated to the music that celebrates the Joys and Trials of living in Appalacia". Thanks for being there! Mike T. |
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20 Oct 98 - 03:38 PM (#42549) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Martin Ryan Me? I'm just another ageing Paddy cursed with a good memory. When I was very young, I learned songs from my grandfather and, apparently, drove people demented by singing myself to sleep!In a family with six kids,that wasn't a great idea - even if I was the first born.
As a teenager, growing up in Dublin, I lost all interest in traditional song and became addicted to modern jazz and then Baroque music. Eventually I moved to Athlone in the Irish midlands, where I've been living ever since. Jazz being fairly scarce here at the time (and since!), I started hanging around the local folk club and suddenly got interested in singing again. Been singing and collecting songs ever since. Athlone is a small town smack in the middle of Ireland with a large (by Irish standards!) lake just to the north. Since I love sailing, its nice I know live within five minutes of the yacht club, in a quiet, beautiful area. We don't sail for the winter - had our last race at the weekend, so its hibernation time again. Actually, much of my leisure time in winter is spent birdwatching by day and singing by night.
Perversely enough, I have lately been listening to jazz again - mainly because, being separated from my wife and with my children grown up, I got rid of the TV and play music instead. Partly as a result of this reawakening, I've ended up presenting a music programme on a local radio station (in Dublin) - in Gaelic.
I don't play an instrument - although my partner (a fiddler and singer) is dropping hints about taking up the concertina! Meanwhile there's still lots of songs out there to be learnt. There's a local Singer Circle (bit like Frank McGraths Nenagh group) and we're about to bring out a CD, on which I sing a track. Its all go, as we say. Weather? Don't ask! Regards |
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20 Oct 98 - 03:46 PM (#42550) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Alice Dan (Liam's Brother) I would send you a message through the personal page, but my computer freezes whenever I try to do that. Please start a new thread and tell us more about Joe Heaney and the others. I have one tape of Joe Heaney, and I wish I had only known while he was alive that he was in Seattle, so I could have gone there for a workshop with him. Thanks. alice in montana |
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20 Oct 98 - 06:55 PM (#42580) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Rex Rideout To help fill out the western U.S. I'm sort of on the southern slope of Mt. Evans west of Denver in Colorado. I play music for fur trade, CW (US) and turn of the century (1900) historic doins. Fiddle and mandolin mostly. My two boys like to play the fiddle too somewhat. I wonder if Doug from Colorado Springs is the one I know. I also play bluegrass and even some folksongs if someone holds me to it. Rex |
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20 Oct 98 - 07:45 PM (#42585) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Joe Offer Hey, Seed, did you notice how Jon W. doesn't include us Californians in the "American West"? He may be right - Californians sure don't fit the "Western" image most people have. -Joe Offer, transplanted Midwesterner- |
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20 Oct 98 - 09:05 PM (#42591) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Joe Theriault I have been reading the cat for 9 months ,not because I am into folk music,but because you are all such interesting people I am learning so much by reading your comments .I am even learning how to run this computor. I do play the diatonic accordian .The band is called The Raaticoons..We play Scandinavian dance music. My introduction to music was via a crystal set with head phones back in the 30s. I paid the stagering sum of 50cents for a Honner hormonica and leared how to play it within a week. Shipped out of Portland Me .,where I wa raised ,In 1942 .I was dragging a 120 bass acordion. Music was always a big part of my life,but marriage children and the job put it all on the back burner.But then I retired. I was 60.Played the Bass in a bluegras band .Started to learn the button box at 65 and I have been squeezing ever since.And making money .I call it ." my new carrer" The weather here in the state of Maine Has been unusualy warm .Weather this warm this late in the season makes us Maniacs ,nervous. Peace to you all Joe. |
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20 Oct 98 - 09:17 PM (#42592) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Craig Hay Dudes! It appears to me that I may be the lone Southern Californian. What a bummer. I would sure like to be able to meet all of you. As far as I can tell there aren't to many folk music gatherings in this area. Which is about fourty miles north of San Diego. The Padres and Yankees have just started game three of the World Series. GO PADS. We are having a mild santa ana right now so the weather is quite nice. I attend church here and sing in the choir. In the past few months a group of us at the church have been gathering in the parish hall to sing and listen to folk songs. It'd be nice if we could get something going here. I also sing bass in a group we have here called The San Luis Rey Chorale. We sing in the Mission San Luis Rey a lot, hence the name. We're an ecumenical group and we don't care what you believe in. This season we're performing (along with other music) Malcolm Dalglish's "Star in the East" and it would be great if we could fine someone who plays the Hammer Dulcimer in this area. Thanks to all of you for being here.Craig |
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20 Oct 98 - 10:31 PM (#42602) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Big Mick Martin, thanks for the lovely thread. While most of the emmigrants in my family came from Galway, my grandmother lived in Athlone. I loved your comments. Joe T., I absolutely loved your story. What a great part of our community you are. Keep 'em coming folks. I can't tell you when I have enjoyed a thread more. Slan go foill, Mick |
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20 Oct 98 - 11:21 PM (#42608) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Jerry Friedman Orale from El Norte--northern New Mexico, that is, which for our overseas friends is south of most of the U.S. I live in Española, a town of about 8000 people on the Rio Grande between Santa Fe and Taos. The altitude is about 5600 ft (1710 m), and I thought I'd have to fight out the Mudcat altitude title with Jon, but I'll bet Rex has us all beat. Española celebrated its 400th anniversary this year (quibblers point out that the first Spanish settlement was actually not in the town limits, and that the modern town was founded by the DRG&W (I think) railroad in the 1800s), so this area was the second settled in North America. The local Hispanic folk and pop tradition is different from, but influenced by, the traditions of Mexico and the Anglo U.S. ('Fraid "Anglo" here includes the Irish as well as Jewish Americans like me.) A colleague and one of his students were just speaking in Spanish outside my office. Both are musicians, and a recent highlight of my community-college teaching job was listening to them jam when they should have been doing an electronics lab. Of course the Native American traditions here are still going too. I'm 37. I "grew up" in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, went to college in Princeton (where I overlapped with Susan but didn't know her) and grad school in Urbana, Illinois in physics, and then came out here. I enjoy the mountains, wildlife, and low pollution--BUT DON'T MOVE HERE! A rare overcast and rainy day. We have four seasons--spring is warm, windy, and dry; summer is hot, starts dry and ends wet; fall is dry and beautiful; and winter sometimes cold and sub-zero (Fahrenheit). But cool rainy days can occur in any season, and so can warm sunny days--in every month of the year, there's been a day when I didn't need a shirt to work in the garden. No wife, no kids, no pets, no musical performances (except that when I'm visiting my mother in Cleveland I pick out folk and classical tunes on her piano and her guitar). I learn a lot from you folks, and occasionally I get to share what I fondly believe is not useless knowledge. I'd list my non-Net hobbies, but lately I seem to spend most of my time supervising the construction of our college's solar car. |
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21 Oct 98 - 01:41 AM (#42619) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: STEPHEN MALONE Hi All, I've been reading your comments and I really envy those of you that are living in a warm sunny climate. I live in the south of Ireland a place called Blarney and its been raining nonstop all day, its coming down by the bucket full. The one great advantage with bad weather is its a great excuse to go to the local pub in Blarney village for the Trad session tonight. Regards, Stephen. |
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21 Oct 98 - 09:39 AM (#42652) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Ritchie Ritchie thanks; it was Alistar Anderson! |
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21 Oct 98 - 09:54 AM (#42656) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Andrea My name is Andrea and I write from Torino an industrial city in the NW part of Italy. Some news about my city, usually unknown by international people. Torino was the capital of Italy when the country got united (1861). Than the capital mooved in Florence (just for a cupple of years) and then definetly in Rome. It is a beautiful city of about one million inhabitants, well known to be the HQ of FIAT. The historical center of Torino is very nice and indeed it echoes the grace of an ancient capital. I discovered this forum 'cos someone suggested me to try to find out here someone to help me in my search of a Lyric of a song by John Renbourn (please have a look on my thread). Well nicce to meet you and excuse me for my terrible english. Ciao to everyone. Andrea |
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21 Oct 98 - 11:50 AM (#42663) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Jon W. Back again for clarification - To Joe and Seed, I lived in Sunnyvale, California from age 12 to 23, so I know where CA is. Don't mean to leave you out of the west, but often we here in the isolated hinterland feel, well, isolated from the populous coasts both east and west. To Jerry - I lived in Vanadium, NM for a year or so before California. It's near Silver City. As far as altitude goes, I'm currently about 4500 feet. But before we moved to Vanadium, we lived in Rico, Colorado, altitude above 8600 feet. My guess is that might even beat Rex. To Andrea - I spent about 10 months in Torino (1975 & '76). Say "Ciao" to the Mole Antonelliana and the Basilica di Superga for me. |
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21 Oct 98 - 01:23 PM (#42669) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Rex Rideout I guess you asked for it. We live at 9600 ft. Higher than most folks think sensible. Summers are glorious but the thunderstorms get a bit intense. Winters can be tough but the crosscountry skiing is great. I left out the weather report too. It was cold and foggy when I sent the first note. Today it is much warmer and sunny. Haven't had much snow yet. Last year at this time we got four feet at once. My canoe was behind the house and I didn't see it again until I saw one end peeking out in May. I had a closer look and discovered that it was crushed flat to the ground but that's another story. Rex |
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21 Oct 98 - 02:17 PM (#42674) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Alice Yes, Rex, you probably have all of us beat in elevation. Bozeman is at about 5,000 feet. Since the Rocky Mountain range decreases in elevation as it goes north, the peaks in Colorado are actually higher than Glacier National Park on the Montana/Canada border. It leads to some confusion when people say up or down, depending on whether they mean down South, or downhill. Some people here say they are going 'up to the Park' meaning up the mountain canyon (upstream of the river) to Yellowstone, and others say 'down to the Park' meaning down south of town.
It snowed alot here last week, but I was in Denver, where it was sunny. My son reported that the ground was covered, yet it all melted before he had to shovel the sidewalk. The branches of the rose bushes were all broken when I returned, from the weight of the snow. alice flynn in montana |
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21 Oct 98 - 04:23 PM (#42687) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bob Schwarer I guess I had better put in my input before the thread gets too large to load. I was born in Chicago, but grew up in So. Wisconsin (Janesville, where they shut down the GM plant because the night shift decided to stay home and watch the Packers). After doing my thing during the Korean action I used the GI Bill to get my Chem Engineering degree at Univ of Wisconsin in Madison. A semesters tuition was $70 then, but got bumped to $90, I think my Junior year. Kicked around from Illinois to Florida to Louisiana and back to Florida where I am now (Lakeland). Probably will stay here. I see a lot of you live in the High Country. I spent 14 years about 2 feet above sea level in the Louisiana swamps. Great food. The only one with much musical talent in this family is my wife's African Grey parrot. Does a great job with the Colonel Bogey march (Bridge on the River Kwai). Weather here finally dropped out of the 90's a week or so ago Supposed to have a cold front thru tonight to drop temperatures into the 50's; not unusual for the time of year. Kids are all gone from the nest now. Florida, Texas, and we left one in Louisia My wife & I try to do our island a year thing. The gal who was tending bar on Litle Cayman had some John Hurt tapes we played 'til all hours, so you can find your kind of music most anywhere you go. Bob S. |
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21 Oct 98 - 07:04 PM (#42712) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: RayBanks What a wonderful thread this is - some superb clear images of nice people in their natural habitats, and what they get up to for enjoyment. I'm a welshman living in Doncaster in Yorkshire in the north of England. I've always been a folkie, and play banjo, guitar, a little mandoline and blues harp, but I got a bit out of touch over the last twenty-five years because I've been doing a lot of mountaineering, skiing, rock climbing and occasional kayaking with my wife all over the UK, the alps, and bits in the Andes and the Rockies. Very few climbers are the least bit musical. However in Easter '97 I skied over a small cliff in Austria and knackered my left knee, which has slowed me up somewhat. To ease the boredom I got my banjo out and dusted it, and am learning lots of American old time clawhammer tunes. I've found (via the net) a superb old time session every sunday night in a pub in York, with a lot of very good musicians. I've also joined the Friends of American Old-Time Music And Dance, a superb old-time club. Its really reminded me of the fun I used to have back in the sixties, in the folk clubs and sessions we used to have all the time. I am now looking for a really nice open back banjo, so if anyone out there wants to sell one, I could be interested. Cheers Ray |
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21 Oct 98 - 08:00 PM (#42729) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Hey Ray you are so right about the images this thead turns up. I got one now of poor old you, stuck on a mountain with your busted knee, sitting in the snow, playing your banjo. Nice to hear from you all. |
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21 Oct 98 - 08:03 PM (#42731) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Ray That didn't read how I wanted it too. I am sorry about your knee. |
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21 Oct 98 - 09:12 PM (#42740) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Pete M Hi Ray, funny you comment about climbers not being musical, I (mis)spent a lot of my youth climbing and singing with my mates, and I always thought of them going together. Could depend on your idea of "musical" of course! Mind you, that was in the "good old days" when you had to shove bits of rotting sheep of holds and we "trained" in the pub. And tended to get re-arranged if you fell off! I read some time ago where "top" climber visiting the UK had refused to do a fairly easy (by their standards) route because it was too dangerous! How times change. I re-arranged my leg fairly thoroughly, winter climbing in the Lakes, and what with one thing and another haven't done much for years. My youngest (20) son is showing some interest now though, so perhaps he can be persuaded to drag me up a few routes. Pete M |
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21 Oct 98 - 09:47 PM (#42742) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Shanna Baldwin-Moore Hi I live in Kona Hawaii So happy I found you; I appreciate getting the words to all those old good songs, so we can sit on the front porch and play and sing all night all day, ALOHA I am on Icq as the "winemaker" |
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21 Oct 98 - 11:39 PM (#42755) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Art Thieme Was born and raised in Chicago, but then I moved to Illinois! (Peru, Illinois---100 miles S.W.)
Have always been a part of the Chicago folk scene--even when we lived in Oregon (Depoe Bay) back in 67-68. Opened a shop there---THE FOLK ART SHOP. Went broke there---but had a ball doing it. Traveled the first 3 years Carol and I were married. Camped out & sang wherever I could--just about every state in the U.S. As my dad died young, I always thought of it as "retiring first". Glad I dit it; climbed those mountains when I had the energy to do it. Can't do it any more.
Went back to Chicago. Played gigs--37 years at the NO EXIT COFFEEHOUSE. 10 singin' on the Misssissippi River.Got a degree; am a graduate of the University Of The Open Road. Now I stay in touch via this new-fangled computer thing and I meet new folks via Mudcat. As Robert Earl said one grand day on my old Flea Market (NPR) radio show, "The road goes on forever, and the party never ends!!" Love to all,
Art |
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21 Oct 98 - 11:59 PM (#42757) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Sheye Hi Y'all! Born, bred, and raised (wrong order??) in Northern Alberta and am now calling St. Albert home. 33 with two tag-a-longs (6 & 9) and a goal to travel the world. Bob - yes, it's been way too long. How ya doin, mate? BTW, I've moved...living in the "L"s now, same phone tho'. Somebody looking for the weather? I just got back from San Antonio about six hours ago. Spent most of last week in the flood. Much of the city was declared a national disaster. If you've got kin/friends calling that part of Texas home, ring 'em up and let them know you're thoughts are with them. It's WET!! Sheye |
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22 Oct 98 - 04:05 AM (#42777) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Sometimes the weather's not such a funny subject is it? My thoughts go out to anybody having serious problems with it. Hey Art! How come someone from 'The Windy City' don't tell us nothing about the weather? (I'm beginning to sound more American by the day!) Not too concerned about that really but, I and I'm sure a lot of us would be interested to hear more about your days/nights spent being able to see "Muddy on Monday, Wolf on Tuesday" etc. You did briefly mention it in an earlier thread, would you please tell us more? |
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22 Oct 98 - 07:37 AM (#42792) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Ritchie Ah don't mention it , you're welcome. love and happiness from the real Ritchie But now that I'm on.... tell me Barbara, married to the Bass player ????? Did that mean ...(Mrs Estrada) or have I mis understood it ? Little Feat were the best band I ever saw and if you did marry Roy ,I know why...what a mover. |
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22 Oct 98 - 08:15 AM (#42793) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Wolfgang Hell I'm Wolfgang Hell from Münster, Germany, researcher and teacher at Münster University, but since a couple of months and for several more I'm the main caretaker for our 1 year old daughter (don't jump to the wrong conclusion that having such a young daughter makes me younger than the average mudcatter). I was hooked to folk music when coming to Ireland and returning there for vacation more often than to any other country. (Perhaps it only started since the first girl that ever kissed me came from sweet Strabane). I played for some time in a not known German-Irish folk group. Now I'm collecting lyrics, background information on songs and recordings. My personal collection of lyrics is still larger than Mudcat's but I hope that changes in a couple of years. It took me some years to find out that (in the order of encountering not of today's preference) Scottish, Australian, American, Canadian and English folk music can sometimes even be as good as the Irish, when it comes to songs. But as for a Ceilidh, I see no rival for the Irish yet. Wolfgang |
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22 Oct 98 - 08:55 AM (#42794) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara Shaw Ritchie, the bass player in the band Clean Living. (He can move, too!) |
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22 Oct 98 - 09:04 AM (#42795) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Rincon Roy Ritchie, not trying to impersonate you, just got confused pasting in name; didn't notice error till signed on this morning. If I had half a brain, I'd be dangerous... Alasdair Fraser & Skydance are playing here in Tucson tonight & we have to "lead" some gathering & can't go hear 'em. Bummer! Also, the whole world seems represented in this thread. Surely I'm not the only Arizona denizen to haunt these hallowed halls! Step up and say Howdy. If you're from Phoenix, my condolences... One of my favorite songs has the chorus, "see how the land, yields up her treasures, to man's patient hands." (lyric somewhat hard on the emotions, but fun to hear litany of place names from Fresno on up since have had relatives (raisin ranchers) who spoke of all those places.) Best spontaneous folk experience I ever had happened years ago when I was camped with my folks overlooking broad beach and calm ocean near "Rocky Point" in 'Ol Mexico. It was dusk. we were all sitting around a campfire. Two local musicos were making the rounds of the camps and finally dropped by our spot. One was blind,(any one out there remember these guys?) both sang & played very nice guitar. Well, we asked them if they'd be willing to play the quintessential Mexican love song, "Malaguena Salerosa." Maybe they were just tired of the typical tourist "Spanish Eyes" requests, or maybe they just really loved the song like most of us do, but they swelled up and burst out with the most emotional, heart-felt rendition I have ever heard. We just sat there stunned. What a moment! |
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22 Oct 98 - 03:55 PM (#42830) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: sbook Hi all I'm from Denmark, and to tell you the true. The weather has been so bad for so long that I can hardly remember what sunshine looks like. Rain rain rain. I'm a school teacher (not on English, don't worry) main subject is music. I play guitar (not great but.....) but quit at good singer. I'm 42 and my husband and I run a pub and a booking agency. During the years we've met several musicians from all places and made some very good friends. Mostly Scottish musicians. Love to se so many of you out there. Anyway, this is a great site. I've already got one of the texts that I've been looking for for years. Thank you. Annette |
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22 Oct 98 - 07:31 PM (#42852) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara Here's my stone to tie on the end of this string. Songs stick to me like I was the hooked half of a piece of velcro. Twice in the grocery store and I'm absentmindedly singing what they've got on their Muzak. (Two years of that same tape and I'm looking for the manager with my chainsaw.) I can't remember a time without music. I went to sleep hearing the grownups in the next room singing; Mom singing the alto and playing the pump organ, Grandpa on his home made one string fiddle, Grandma's voice high and quavery, aunts, uncles, everyone singing. "Home on The Range" "Tenting Tonight" "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" "Whispering Hope" with Dad doing the bass counterpoint. We sang when we hiked (Happy Wanderer). When we drove (I've got Tuppence)(Out the Second Story Window) (Seventy Eight Bottles of... Would you kids like an ice cream? There's a DQ just ahead on the right.) I'm fifty, I live on a 60 acre farm in NW Oregon, rolling hills, white oak and douglas fir woods, creek, pond, and meadows, and where the weather is just gorgeous today, crisp, sunny leaf- raking weather, Indian summer, temp in the 60s.(F) Domestic stock includes me, my SO Mark, daughter Linnet, Arabian mare, border collie, three cats,(eww, a woodrat. Get that out of here) five goldfish, two gerbils and a rat. Wild stock includes great horned owls, deer, fox, canada geese, great blue herons, quail, ducks, coyotes, and lots of songbirds. We have orchards (mostly heirloom apples), gardens and raise grass seed commercially, like a lot of western Oregon farmers (achoo!). Recently I've found some folks in Portland who let me sing pub songs with them in the Widmer Brewery and Pub, and I am ecstatic. My life is now complete. As some already may know, I post from my studio, separate from the house, where I also sew (costumes mostly), play guitar and whistle, make clay gargoyles, and spend far too much time at Mudcat. Blessings, Barbara |
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22 Oct 98 - 07:52 PM (#42855) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Art Thieme You wanted to know about those blues nights with Muddy and Wolf and Li'l Walter? Well, first of all, this is how I got the blues! Several years ago I was employed in a lead-bellybutton factory here in The Illinois River valley (Meatskin County, Illinois-It's really HID AWAY!). My job, they kept telling me every day, was to get the lead out. The area around the river is made up of canyons and hills--some'd call 'em bluffs or coulees--even mountains. Hell if Mount Prospect, IL is a mountain then these sure were mountains. Well, I roamed & rambled and followed my footseteps through the sparkling sands of the bizarre area looking for local folklore and songs. What I found amazed me! Here in the pit of America, where one would expect to find literally tons of songs, I found NONE AT ALL. I did find numerous jokes(Who was that groupie I saw you with?---That was no groupie, that was...--Take my groupie, please!) but nobody in that remote area had ever been able to carry a tune. Whenever anybody began to "sing" for me, the truly unbelievable sounds emitting from their throats caused every moose within earshot to stampede through town. The locals began to get angry with me and blamed me for the moose mess all over the streets. It was definitely time to get to the bottom of the mystery. I started by asking around town for clues. (Nobody had a clue in that town.)One thing led to another, until, one day, I learned that the area's water supply, a pussy-willow swamp down in Art's Hollow (I named it so I can call it WHATEVER I WANT--OK?) was the culprit. Seems that the fuzzy stuff in the pussy-willows disolved in the water,and quite literally, the entire area was the victim of the effects of the phenomenon known as "cat got your tongue"."As soon as people switched to rain water they could all sing like birds; some like crows and some like chickens, but it was definitely music! The very next week I collected a definitive version of the old ballad and early rock song, "Rock A By, Baby". I was also introduced to a very local native instrument made by stretching 3 rubberbands over a sow's butt called the "swinet". The late Tammy Swinet allegedly, took her name from this unique instrument much in the same way that Elton John took his last name from the colloquial term for toilet. (He's been looking flushed lately.) In late September of '98 I left Meatskin County (it's really hid away--get it?)behind, and it's a good thing, too. This week the Illinois River flooded and erased Meatkin County (it's really hid away!) and those weird hills from the map. The folks who were kind enough to sing for me (if that's what you want to call it) all were drowned. And you've probably noticesd that there are no more mooses in North-Central Illinois now. Corn now grows where babby pigs once slid happily down rocky hillsides. Sometimes the rocks even fell on the pigs, squashing 'em. And that's why bacon is flat!!! The only legacy we have from those well-meaning, albeit tone-deaf people, are a few terrible songs and tons of lousy jokes! And I've been posting those here for several days now... Will get back to Muddy & Wolf in a while; but now ya know about our area here---floods and all---and how the blues fit right in! Art |
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22 Oct 98 - 09:33 PM (#42869) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara Geez Art, how do you do it? Someone ought to shoot you and put us out of our misery. Isn't it "Rock a Bi-, Baby, tho? Blessings, Barbara |
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22 Oct 98 - 11:01 PM (#42878) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: northfolk northfolk was originally the name of a radio show that my closest barstool comrade and I put together for a small northern michigan radio station...that never got on the air...thought I may as well use it for something...so here I am. I am terrifically jealous of most of you, I have no identifiable musical ability, but for much of my nearly fifty years I have taken a few runs at learning to play. I sing, loudly and raucously...I know no other way, but have done so to no great personal detriment. I sing in the shower and the car, at a campfire or in the streets...and more often than not when one of you real performers is singing on stage I'll be singing along in the back row. I have been in the back row a couple of times when Art played in Michigan, a number of years ago. I didn't know who he was but found that in Merriam Webster his picture is next to both encourageable and incorrigible, since then I have come to look forward to his "pun"ishment. I have kept no secret of my political enthusiasm, and interest and appreciation of the Ballads and Broadsides, good bad or otherwise, the music has afforded me a great deal of comfort. I have particularly enjoyed getting to know most of you through this new media, and hope that someday our paths cross in flesh and ...well I guess just flesh. |
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22 Oct 98 - 11:40 PM (#42880) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Big Mick Art, I am not worthy to stand in your presence. Mick |
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23 Oct 98 - 12:21 AM (#42889) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Art Thieme Mick, Then we'll just sit & drink. Truth is, that was a tall tale (albeit reworked a bit tonight to fit this thread) I submitted to Emily Friedman, esteemed editor of COME FOR TO SING MAGAZINE in Chicago, as my column for a 1979 (I think) issue of that distinguished rag---designed (hopefully) to "get a rise out o' her", as she wasn't speaking to me back then 'cause of a spat we had over some silly thing or other. I think that went on for a year---maybe two--and the stuff I wrote got more and and more outrageous until Emily, a good friend now for sure (I think), put her personal disclaimers at the end of all my columns. It's also true that hauling it out o' mothballs and posting it is graphic proof that I've got way too much time on my hands lately. Art
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23 Oct 98 - 01:03 AM (#42893) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: McMusic Ritchie--I'll confirm what's already been said: It's NEVER too late to start or learn! Go after it! |
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23 Oct 98 - 02:29 AM (#42897) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: BSeed Joe, I did notice that and thought about commenting on it, then I realized that he was thinking of the West as a state of mind, rather than a strictly geographical construct: Wyoming, Montana, Alberta, etc., fit the idea of "the West" better than Sacramento and El Cerrito do. Out here, only truck drivers and country singers wear cowboy hats (my son wore one, with a miniature TV camera taped to it, when he did a story for Channel 2 on rodeo clowns; he got chased by a few bulls and dumped by one). Maybe the San Joaquin valley, but most of the cows there are being fed other cows and road kill in feed lots: cowboys there use cattle prods, not lariats). --seed |
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23 Oct 98 - 12:55 PM (#42957) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Peter T. Memories! You want memories! Well, I don't remember a time without music around me. When I was born, my momma, who was humming "In the Pines" at the time, laid me into a Martin D-34 which had been disemboweled by a near sighted armadillo on the lookout for a charango. My daddy rode the blinds, which annoyed the deafs. The first distinct memory I have is of Grandpa pumping Grandma to an old Carter Family record about a flood that carried Tennessee into Kentucky. I was toilet trained using a glass fired bottleneck slide, and can to this day remember all those bass runs, and the fierce pride it instilled in me. My first real instrument was a Sousaphone that had swallowed a small child in the neighbourhood, and which they were thinking of putting down. I rescued it, tamed it, and sent away for lessons that never came. This all happened when I was drinking Nehigh to a grasshopper. Son House was the family retainer, and Muddy Waters used to plough for my paw, and when they left town, it seemed as if the life just went out of that world. I remember once Son coming up to me and saying, "Son, " And I said, Yes, Son?" and he said, "No, You Son, me Son," and that was how I began to get the blues. I had shots, but the blues kept getting to me. They came up my leg, and slowly covered my body like woad. I just kept singing, "Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor" until someone did, and I took the colours off that pallet and painted myself pink all over, so no one would ever call me whitey again. In 1947, Little Walter and his younger brother Smaller Walter and his youngest brother Big Walter and Goldilocks and I wandered the South Side of Chicago. We would play "Take the A-Train" while Little Walter played his B-harmonica, Big Walter invented the C-Drive, and Goldilocks played with her D-Cup. We played checkers with Leonard Chess, and backgammon with Chubby Checker, and never looked around to see where life was taking us. Then when the Newport Festival came along, Joan and Judy and Mary and Jennifer and Trudy formed the Trio Five Quartet, and the rest is folk history. I can remember Pete Seeger pulling out the plug on Dylan's hairdryer, and revealing his roots; I can remember Crosby, Hope, Lamour, and Young; I can still see Joni waking up on a Chelsea morning in Scranton. The memories flood back, because the dykes have all been liberated. I remember Tim Hardin building "If I Were a Carpenter" out of Popular Mechanics; and Don McLean defining American Pie as "3.14, but for you 2.99". I can remember when Yoko and Yoda got together and broke up the Beatles and the Empire. But all that is behind now, still gaining on me. Ah memory, and the wild Mountain Thieme. Yours, Peter T. |
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23 Oct 98 - 02:37 PM (#42972) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: BSeed Gawd, Peter. I'm gonna sue. I laughed so hard I got into a coughing fit so hard I hocked up my left kidney, which took out my uvula and soft palate (not pallet--it's kind of hard) on the way. I'm probably gonna need a transplant, and as everyone on Mudcat knows, I don't deal well with rejection, but maybe anti-rejection medications will help with that, and if they do, maybe I won't sue. --seed |
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23 Oct 98 - 04:03 PM (#42983) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Liam's Brother Well I'll be a dingo's dangler! |
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23 Oct 98 - 09:46 PM (#43018) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bill D *staring at the screen in wide eyed amazement!!* ....I hope I never get Peter & Art in the same room together...I doubt I would survive!! (seed...my goodwife having had a transplant, we have a houseful of anti-rejection drugs...and I assure you, they will do you NO good in the face of yarns like that!) |
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23 Oct 98 - 10:10 PM (#43020) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Dani Well, I was content to sit back and enjoy the conversation going on around me, until I read Wolfgang's comments. A German-Irish folk group?! You mean there's hope for me yet? I have such a background, and have always loved music. I find it wherever I can, sing my heart out and play percussion on anything available - except a drum, since I have not ever learned 'how'. Am drawn to African and Latin rhythms and music styles - always have been. Don't ask me why - maybe it's the old Black Irish legend. This, obviously, led me down a winding path to owning a lovely old banjo, which I aspire to play. Life always gets in the way of the sitting down, though. Any suggestions for carving out time when you're not surrounded by musicians? Anyway, I am by birth a Southern Californian, but travelled back and forth between the oceans for a bunch of years until settling with my love and two little girls in a small town near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We essentially chose this area blindly, but it is home now, and we wouldn't trade it. Have discovered that the area is a hotbed of all KINDS of wonderful music, and am beginning to meet people and explore. Weather? Today brilliantly sunny with Carolina blue skies and a crispy breeze. Leaves beginning to fall, but colors not very impressive due to extended drought this summer. Is that redundant? Anyway, the season still is lovely and all creatures seem to be getting ready for winter. I find myself with overpowering urges to make stews and fry apples and rake leaves! My feelings about the Mudcat have been ably expressed by others here. All I can say is thank you, all. What a treat it is to get to know you.
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24 Oct 98 - 08:04 AM (#43050) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Roger: It's good to hear the good news from Maryland this week on the peace front. Keeping my fingers crossed. Let's hear more from the 'lurkers' out there. Don't like the sound of that term though, it sounds a bit sinister. How about Mudcat Virgins? Come on in the water's fine. |
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24 Oct 98 - 08:37 AM (#43055) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Hello Dani Sorry to hog the thread, I did try to send this trough the personal messages but you are not there? You are very lucky to be living where you are and I'm sure you will soon be surrounded by musicians. Until you are you could carve out time by downloading some of the MIDI files that you will find HERE You can learn the tunes and play along with your banjo. You didn't say whether it was a five string or a tenor, would be easier with a tenor but not impossible with a five string. |
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24 Oct 98 - 03:04 PM (#43094) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Jan hi everyone, i'm from Sitka Alaska.... on an island in the middle of nowhere (southeast alaska). The weather.... well, it rains, and rains.... :) Good thing i like the rain!! i just found this site about a month ago.... love it!! Don't know a whole lot about folk music, just that i love to listen to it..... i'm 40, married, two kids, youngest a senior in High School. my dream, soon i hope, is to learn to play the harp. when (and i mean when, not if) i get one, you'll all hear about it. And prolly be glad you can't "hear me practice" nice to meet all of you. :) |
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24 Oct 98 - 04:27 PM (#43098) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Art Thieme Gonna start a TALL TALES thread & we can go at it! (but I've never told a lie in my life..Art |
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24 Oct 98 - 04:41 PM (#43100) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Big Mick Great idea, Let's call it "It's your story, tell it anyway you want" or "You Tell it and I'll swear to it". All the best, Mick |
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25 Oct 98 - 01:45 AM (#43154) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Dave T Hi All, Just got back from a week in Toronto, which is my home town. I now live just south of Ottawa with my wife, daughter and our dog. I'm an Engineer, although most of my work now is running our business (we have about 45 people). My daughter plays some fiddle. I play different styles on guitar from folk, to bluegrass to blues. I listen to most types of music except "formula" stuff. My earliest musical memories are of Bach, Beethoven and other classical composers. It's quite a different musical scene here than in Toronto. Ottawa has always maintained a strong traditional music community: folk, bluegrass and celtic. Since moving here ten years ago, I've met some great musicians who have introduced me to a lot of styles I wouldn't otherwise have learned. I play mainly with friends and sometimes at open stages. Well, I don't want to ramble too much. I couldn't get my email or internet browser working on my laptop when I was away, so I've suffered some Mudcat withdrawal. Good to be back Dave T |
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27 Oct 98 - 01:43 PM (#43404) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Is there no one else out there? |
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27 Oct 98 - 02:14 PM (#43405) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Yvonne Mahar Hello folks, I am Yvonne Mahar from Limerick City Ireland, I have lived in Albany NY since 1991. I am an artist and a folk singer, I love to sing ballads and I like to pop in a few A Cappella songs such as Colcannon or Hard Times. I am always on the look out for a great song. I have performed in places ranging from a garage session to grand music halls and funerals. I do not play an instrument though I fiddle around with a button accordion when I think nobody is listening. My musicial backup is usually a guitar, tin whistle bodhrán and mandolin. Right now the weather here in Albany is having an identity crisis, it knows not what to be, kind of like it would be at this time at home in Limerick. I just talked to the folks and they say they had a stormy weekend there. I have been a lurker on this board on and off since the start of it but my work does not leave me enough time to play on the internet these days.I have learned a lot from you folks I am happy to meet you all Nár lagaí Dia do lamh More power to you |
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27 Oct 98 - 10:50 PM (#43478) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: McMusic Bob Landry, how close are you to Ponoka? I have a sister who lives there. |
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28 Oct 98 - 05:58 PM (#43525) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bob Landry McMusic ... I'm about an hour north of Ponoka on Highway 2 - depending on traffic and weather conditions. I drive past there regularly on trips to Calgary. I hope your sister has found enough good friends and activities in Ponoka to compensate for having left the rolling green hills of Virginia for the frozen white north. Bob |
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29 Oct 98 - 12:05 AM (#43551) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: McMusic Yeah, Bob, she and her husband have some pretty good friends. I've been up a couple of times to visit them and found the folks in your part of the world in general, and in and around Ponoka in particular, awfully nice. But she didn't leave the green rolling hills of Virginia; she left the somewhat-less-cold-than-where-you-are Connecticut (we're originally New Yorkers, and all of the kids in the family went in different directions over time). She went to Alberta to take a job as a dental hygenist (sp.?) and married a local guy. He makes a great brother-in-law . Wait 'til I tell her about this. McM. |
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29 Oct 98 - 01:23 AM (#43560) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: JAMES STANLEY Wow, what a bunch of cool people. I tried to get through all the responses, but could not. I am 50. I learned to play guitar at the age of 11. I lost interest. At the age of fifteen I met the Duke. A full fledged activist folksinger and engineer. Taught me to finger pick and play traditional music on ny Harmony six string. I learned to play Josh White, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez and various country=blues artists. I was given an archive of folk music which at one time numbered several hundred songs. (Words and chords). I was taught that if you play folk music you must sing folk music. The singing became more important than the playing. When I got drafted, I came home and found that our piano got sold, and all my music was lost. I ran into the Duke in 1978 and he gave me all his music sheets. I now have some very interesting songs from 1961-1967. I am really flipped by the fact that Rockford, IL had a folk festival, I thought that this had gone by the wayside. I want to go to any folk festivals in the midwest. I am from Kenosha, WI. I would also like to play and sing with anyone in my area. I can play the guitar and sing baritone quite well. I always looked at folk music as the joy of singing and having an outlook where people join by their similarities rather than defining themselves by their differences. "A generation lost in space" is revived. I am elated. Pax |
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30 Oct 98 - 09:48 AM (#43687) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Big Mick Welcome to our town, James. All the best, Mick |
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30 Oct 98 - 12:52 PM (#43697) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: S. P. Buck Mulligan Assuming casual lurkers and occasional posters are welcome, I think (if I read aright) I make the third Granite Stater (New Hampshire), being in southeastern area - Rockingham County. 52 year-old leftover currently poaching in a day job in the software industry. Obviously S. P. Buck Mulligan is not my real name, but was once in a badn called "Buck Mulligan Band" (there was no one in it named Buck Mulligan, I swiped the name from Joyce of course), but being the Guy-In-Front I was usually addressed as "Buck" by members of the audience. The polite ones anyway, and nevermind what the rest called me. I am a subscriber to the notion that whatever music is played and sung by folk is folk music. Been hanging around here occasionally for a couple of years, but have posted very infrequently. Thanks for the lurking rights. |
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30 Oct 98 - 05:17 PM (#43715) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Maj Marvelous Hi, I am from Mapleton, Iowa, near Sioux City and close to the Missouri River. I always listened to music on the radio when Mom was sewing on the machine in the south room as we called it. I was about 5 or 6 years old. Finally learned a little about guitar when I was about 38 and had some spare time while waiting for final clearances to work in the Pentagon (Career Army) Did some songwriting and singing since the 70's Returned to Iowa and still sing and write a little with the Siouxland Country Music Association. |
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30 Oct 98 - 07:15 PM (#43721) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Susan from California Hi all, I was born 39 years ago in San Diego CA, grew up in Glen Ridge NJ, and have lived in the Southern California desert for the past 10 years-about 80 miles north east of San Diego. If you ever watch golf on tv, and they are playing in Palm Springs, we're on the other side of those beautiful mountains in the background...
Three kids-17,14 & 10...all in various stages of puberty-we live in what is not so fondly known as "Hormone Hell" My huband plays a 12 string guitar and writes music. I help with lyrics and harmonies sometimes, and sing in church and at the occasional political rally. I am a full time student, due to graduate with my BA in December (it only took me 21 1/2 years) plan to go to grad school and teach High School History/Poly Sci |
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30 Oct 98 - 09:45 PM (#43724) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Art Thieme James Stanley, You've got to get to THE FOX VALLEY FOLK FESTIVAL in Geneva, Illinois, west of Chicago on route 38 & 31, On an island in the middle of the Fox River. It is held over the Labor Day weekend. You won't be sorry you went---I GAW-RON--TEE !! All the folks that used to hang out in Old Town in the 60's (the Wells St. scene) moved to the Fox Valley, got together, had kids, got hi-tech employment and quit (some of 'em anyhow)hanging out late in bars. Voila, THIS WONDERFUL FESTIVAL ! Art Thieme |
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31 Oct 98 - 03:31 AM (#43754) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: McMusic To Andrea-- Please, there is no need to apologize for your English! You did quite well indeed. Your English is far and away better than my Italian. |
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01 Nov 98 - 01:14 AM (#43812) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: I've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottowa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, LaPaloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla, and Padilla, I'm a killer I've been to Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana, Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana, Monterey, Ferriday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa, Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Okaloosa, Tennessee, Hennesey, Chicopee, Spirit Lake, Grand Lake, Devils Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete's sake Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika, Shefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica, Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport, Hackensack, Cadillac, Fon-Du-Lac, Davenport, Idaho, Jellocoe, Argentina, Diamondtina, Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean Pittsburgh, Parkersburgh, Gravelburg, Colorado, Ellensburgh, Rexburgh, Vicksburg, Eldorado, Larrimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chattanika, Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika, Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity
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01 Nov 98 - 04:59 AM (#43824) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: McMusic Lord, Jon, And I thought my feet got tired! Or (no insult intended) should this be on the tall tale thread. |
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01 Nov 98 - 06:19 AM (#43825) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: DWDitty To "blank's" post ov Nov 1, this reminds me of a song I heard Dave Van Ronk do once called the Garden State Stomp in which every word in the song was the name of a town in New Jersey. The response when he was finished: "which exit?" |
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01 Nov 98 - 11:26 AM (#43831) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Sean Ruprecht-Belt Well, I'm a novice at this internet business, but after reading a fair number of the above postings, I guess its time for me to jump in and introduce myself. I'm 43, living in St. Louis, Missouri. The weather this morning is that gorgeous, cool autumn that we get around here where the grey skies show off the bright oranges, reds and yellows of the tree leaves to their best advantage. I'm loving it. I've been playing guitar for about thirty years now, and someday I'm sure, I'll be satisfied with my skill. I recently picked up a banjo and am attempting to learn to play clawhammer style on it. I was a pretty regular performer on the local coffee-house circuit in St. louis in the early seventies. But due to a side trip into acting, I haven't performed music on stage in several years (aside from some very rare benefit shows and an open mike night a couple of months ago). I think I may be ready for it again, though, and am 'wood shedding' a short set to test the waters. My beginnings in folk music can be blamed on a really great local library where I was exposed to Pete Seeger, Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie's Folkways recordings. Also, I had a grandfather who played guitar and fiddle and had been part of an old-time/country music band in Southern Illinois in the 30's. Between hearing grandpa Buck around his house and those Folkways lp's, I realized that one didn't have to play electric guitars and Beatles tunes to express oneself in music. It's been a great ride ever since. Somewhat off topic, but if you've read this far I hope you won't mind. I'm looking for an opportunity to jam with folks in a fairly nurturing, non-competitive setting. I'd love to hear from anyone who has information about this kind of thing going on in the St. area. |
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01 Nov 98 - 09:41 PM (#43859) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: KickyC James Stanley, There is also a festival over Labor Day Week in Avoca, Iowa, depending on how far you want to travel. Avoca is on the western side of Iowa on Interstate 80. It is a week long national festival. I read somewhere that it is the largest gathering of singers of public domain music anywhere in the US. I live on Iowa's "east coast" and since I teach, I am always busy over Labor Day, but the first year I retire, I am going for the whole week! Maj Marvelous from Mapleton, Have you been to the festival at Avoca? KickyC |
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01 Nov 98 - 10:52 PM (#43861) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: harpgirl I suppose I shouldn't complain about the weather in Florida considering the alternative but DoneyGals played outdoors today and the temperature was reputed to be 90 degrees. Don't you all think that is a little too HOT for November? Oh well, it will probably prepare me for the afterlife...harp |
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02 Nov 98 - 08:05 PM (#43938) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Maj Marvelous Kickyc: Yes, of course, I have been to Avoca, Iowa for the music festival. I think that I haven't missed for the past five years in a row. It is scheduled on our calendar without fail. This next year, The Rancheros, of which I am a member, will be the featured band at the Tuesday night Country Dance. $30.00 gets you a gate pass for one person for the event and camping with electric only is $8.00 per night. Jamming starts about a week before the actual weekend event and generally goes way into the morning hours. Lots of Bluegrass, yodeling, country music, shows, crafts, and contests. If you haven't been, go at least once. You'll get hooked. Come early for camping. |
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02 Nov 98 - 09:13 PM (#43944) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara You all just wouldn't recognize a song if it bit you.
I 'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE
I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road
I've been everywhere man, I've been everywhere manV I've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottowa, Oklahoma, Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, LaPaloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla, and Padilla, I'm a killer... check out DT for the rest.... |
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02 Nov 98 - 10:18 PM (#43958) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Snookums KickyC, Maj Marvelous I am from the heart of the heartland- I live in Boone- about 1 hour north of Des Moines and 20 min west of Ames. Be prepared for snow tomorrow- I'm going to Sioux City and I have never been to Sioux City in November without it snowing!!! I play mostly Mandolin, rhythm guitar, piano. Also do a little ocarina and tin whistle. Trying to learn 5 string banjo and fiddle, but these aren't going so well. Would really love to get into hammered dulcimer. Snookums |
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03 Nov 98 - 03:40 PM (#44037) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Pete M Ok Snookums, that may mean a lot to KickyC and Maj Marvelous, but how about telling the rest of us where you live? ie Start of with somewhere recognizeable to us non USA types, I am assuming the Sioux City is a bit of a give away so far as the country is concerned? Pete M PS is Des Moines related to Des O'Connor :-) |
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03 Nov 98 - 06:14 PM (#44066) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Eric in West Yorkshire.UK Hi all you folks/folkie's from around the world. I guess I fit the description of near 50 with grown up and not so grown up kids.Nicknamed "Viking". Lived in SE London 'til '72, moved to York. Trained as a teacher in Ripon.Have done lots of other jobs.Moved to Huddersfield in '82(Teach in a special school in Cleckheaton-I'm a bit fick,so excuse the poor spellings!Got a good sense of humour-need it in teaching now-a-days!!!!) Try to play the guitar!! Can't read them funny dots on paper but can pick things up reasonably well.Got a 12,a 6-both acoustics.Also a couple of electro acoustics and electric "strat clone" etc. Play a bit of Bodhran, mouth harp and banjo. Very occasionally get to sing- Looking for some one to work with possibly or just jam with - voice and fingers going! Male or female. Used to "do a bit" in London late 60's.Dylan, Donovan,Al Stewart,Simon and Garfunkel, MacColl,Rembourne, Paxton etc. Also into more modern stuff like Robb Johnson, Ian Bruce, Viki Clayton.Wide range of influences especially Irish.I Like Metal (Can't play it) and motorbikes. Still got the long hair and get to folk and other gig's. Blackstone Edge and Al stewart last month.(Rock bitch-next week-Please don't ask!)Cleckheaton has a great folk festival each year. I've got "hooked" onto Mudcat since I discovered it a few weeks back.Well I guess that sums me up sort of or else you'be asleep. Cheers-Viking. |
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04 Nov 98 - 07:33 PM (#44253) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Snookums Sorry- I'm from Iowa. We get a Democratic Govenor- Don't know what to do with one of those- I haven't ever seen one. (I'm non partisan, so please no flaming) Laura |
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05 Nov 98 - 01:55 PM (#44353) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Paul Ho there....Another one from the Canadians...This time from the West Coast. I hail from Maple Ridge, BC just outside of Vancouver, where we only have two seasons, Summer and the rainy season (the rest of the year) . We always dread this time of year because we fear that when the rain starts, it won't know when to stop! I found Mudcat a couple of years ago and have been truly blessed by it's existence. I work as a Music Therapist in the hospital in Chilliwack BC and several Intermediate Care Homes. Most of my work therefore is with seniors who grew up on a tradition of singing. The only problem is that they know hundreds of songs we young folk have never heard before. Of course, it then becomes my job to find these songs, learn them and sing them. Thanks to Wolfgang in Germany, Frank in Newfoundland, and Gene in (where are you Gene?, I forgot!, somewhere down south!) You've been able to furnish me with some of these much desired songs and music. I myself play piano, guitar, dulcimer, mandolin, Concertina (Wheatstone), Bodhran, Whistle, bones, and am currently learning the accordian (mostly by myself!) I would love to learn fiddle and dream about playing the Irish pipes. For all you Brit's out there, I am still searching for some little ditty from England called (I think) The wind that blew the pump up. ANyway, got to go to work now, happy singing and keep on picking. Paul |
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05 Nov 98 - 05:45 PM (#44381) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: northfolk Snookums, I suspect you won't be able to tell the difference. I wish you could, but that's the Dem's fault not yours. |
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05 Nov 98 - 08:23 PM (#44406) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: allan S. WOW just sat here and went through all 140 or so replies. Hi there Barbara Shaw Yes thehouse hoots at your place are GREAT as Tony the Tiger said. Just remenber the higher the body count the better the song I was active in the folk song and Outing clubs at U-Conn. back in the 50's and have been at it ever since. Have just finished transfering 40 plus reel to reel tapes of the old Yale Hoots to 90 min. cassettes have about 40 of them. New Lost city Ramblers Etc. Currently Some of us are trying to find people who sang at the YALE hoots from 1950-1974 possible reunion. Mostly I like the old timey Murder ballads also the "sad" songs of the 1900's nothing like "The Fatal Weding" Have lived in the New Haven area for past 70 years Also into Afrikaans Boer Music Must go now Tot Seins Allan.S |
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06 Nov 98 - 12:38 AM (#44422) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: TonyK I'm from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area of N.E. Pa. I've been reading your posts for 6 or 8 months and very glad to know a little about you. I love to sing and play guitar with the Folklore Society of N.E.Pa at their monthly sing-arounds. I also sing in the church choir and sometimes get to go to the Fri. nite bluegrass jam when our coffe house isn't putting on a show. Before I got married 3 years ago an old-timer asked me why I didn't get to the jam very often and I told him it was because I was dating a very special woman. He said "Why don't you marry her. Then you can come up here all the time." It didn't work. I've been working in an addictions treatment center for the past 10 yrs and I go to school at the U. of Scranton. I'm only able to visit here when I can get away with it. Oh, and the weather... It's hovering around the freezing mark on its way down to just plain cold. Not much sun lately. Should be snow before the middle of Nov. I'm grateful for the help I've recieved from many of you when I was looking for a lyric. I think this is quite a colorful group and I'm glad you're here. TonyK |
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06 Nov 98 - 11:51 AM (#44459) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: plankity My gosh.... I live in CT and play with the Fiddleheads, among others and I know Barbara Shaw (though we don't actually play together). From browsing through these posts, I realize that I've played at least one gig with her husband Frank, of Clean Living fame. The Lion's Den in Stockbridge, Mass. about 20 years ago with Ricky Tiven and Jon Graboff. Barbara? ask Frank, I was the mandolinist. |
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06 Nov 98 - 01:16 PM (#44469) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Carolyn Hi folks, I'm from Ohio, which our P.R. people like to refer to as "the heart of it all". O.K., you have to look at the shape of the state, and squint really hard and use alot of imagination, and then maybe, just maybe, you will see that it is almost, kind of, maybe shaped like a heart. I live outside of the small town of Genoa, between Toledo and Cleveland. Weather is the major topic of conversation here over the last several months, as in "yup, I heard it's gonna be a bad winter". Today is cold and overcast, and a great day to read all about my fellow Mudcatters. Music has always been a part of my life, my earliest memories are of my Mom singing to me. When I got a little older and couldn't find someone to sing with me I'd dig out my Dads Mitch Miller records and 'Sing Along With Mitch'. Girl Scouts was a God send for me, because I was always in very musical troops. After college I worked for almost 10 years in a childrens home - had a captive audience!!!!! And, although many of the kids I worked with had many problems, they also ended up with a great knowledge of folk songs, and some great camping experiences! Took the plunge about 11 years ago, got married, and now my we have 8 kids - the majority adopted and 2 from his first marriage. We usually have 2 or 3 foster kids, so once again I have a captive musical audience! My kids really like it when I sing to them at bedtime, but I'm afraid they just fall asleep out of self-defense! My musical talents are limited to a love of music, can't play any instruments and my voice isn't great, but I do love singing, and music in general. I check out the Mudcat at least once a day, but usually haven't got a lot to contribute, or the time to type in a message, but I love reading what everyone has to say, checking out the links, and learning everyday. Bless you all! Carolyn |
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06 Nov 98 - 04:27 PM (#44513) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Barbara Shaw Plankity, Who are you? Frank remembers your face and the fact that you guys did "Silence or Tears" and also played at the Station House, and several other details, but I know your name can't be "Oh, Shoot!" (As in, "Yeah, I can picture his face, but his name? Oh, Shoot!"). He also can't remember what the band called itself, but it was his first paying bluegrass gig. How do you know me? You must go to the Fischer jams. Which means you and Frank don't recognize each other 20 years later with grey hair and glasses! |
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06 Nov 98 - 10:00 PM (#44549) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Guy Wolff Hello All,Hello Mr. Plankity,I didn't know you even had a computer..There seem to be alot of us from Connecticut.If anyone finds themselves on the border between Litchfield and Washington on RT.202 and notice a pottery shop off on the side of the hill stop in. I'm a potter who played in rock bands in the early and mid 60's and then went to Jugtown Pottery in NC in 1969 {we were landing on the moon} and found CLarence Tom Ashley and freinds via records left buy Raulf Rindsler. Then on to the south of Wales to work in more potteries {I bought my first Banjo at Portabello Rd. after a motorcycle crash} Boy can they sing in Wales! I got to play in a rock band for alittle in Copehagen and then came back to my first spring at my shop and first visit to Union Grove Fiddlers con.{1971} It's been Old timy, Blues, Square dances ....Martin Carthy ...June tabor..Ry Cooder... Young Tradition.. Watersons.. Robert Johnson ... I got the addiction for studio fun working with my old freind Lui Collins in 1978 when we made the record "Made In New England" I love working in recording studios. Last year I did a "vanity Pressing" or Indipendent Prodject,of all the stuff I've a;lways played.This year I'm going to do one entirly blues.My 7 year old daughter is battleing a brain tumor and I found playing old Robert Johnson in the parents lounge at Yale Hospitol the best saport in the whole world! I love Newcastle {I worked a pottery in Penrith Combria} I also loved my time in the valleys outside Cardiff in Wales. Bridgend had a great sing-song every wednesday in the upstairs of a pub. Is mr. Henry Crabb still making concertinas? Islington has gotten posh somone told me! Sorry for the rambles but everyone seems so nice here ..Oh I'm 48 have two older boys who don't come to see me much {Devorce ah well} and then my 7 year old daughter and 2 year old son !Life has been very good to me .Regards to all |
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07 Nov 98 - 05:13 AM (#44585) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Hello Carolyn Nice to hear from you.... Bye the way, did you receive my message through the personal pages? |
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07 Nov 98 - 06:27 AM (#44589) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: DWDitty Barbara, Plankity, Alan S., as we are all in the New Haven vicinity (and I may have missed some others), perhaps a Mudcat string band is in the making. I may bring along a friend who plays musical saw with uncanny skill (forget about pedal steel, dobro, slide, etc.). Barbara, I have heard about the Fischer jams (and in fact know Bill from some 20 years ago, but haven't seen him since). I'd love to make it to one of the jams - can you tell me how to reach Bill or fill in the details of where and when? Thanks. DW |
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09 Nov 98 - 12:06 PM (#44635) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bert DW, Shouldn't that be a Mudcat THREAD Band?? Bert. |
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09 Nov 98 - 11:38 PM (#44760) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: x |
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10 Nov 98 - 09:55 AM (#44807) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bill Cameron Miltons Road, Long Sault Creek watershed, McDonalds Corners, Township of Lanark Highlands, County of Lanark, halfway between Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario, Canada, third rock from Sol. I'm a momentarily unemployed carpenter, stringed instrument junkie, age 42, married 14 years, two kids aged 12 & 8 who are both home sick today. Emily my eldest is learning guitar and flute. My wife Molly fortunately for us has a real job in the health food industry. I grew up in suburban Ottawa, have lived in one part or another of the Ottawa Valley almost all my life. Strong fiddling and stepdancing tradition here. I play mostly Celtic-with-a-Scottish-emphasis, as well as Canadian folk music, on guitar, mandolin, mandola, fiddle, sometimes hammered dulcimer, whistle etc. I'm a strong Canadian nationalist and an unrepentant socialist, and seem to spend most of my Net time trying to explain Canadian politics to Americans--I'm really not sure why, glutton for punishment I suppose. (I don't care about Clinton's sex life, but when he honored Ramblin' Jack and a bunch of other worthy artists last week and made a speech that said "The rest of the world looks to America for cultural leadership..."--I guess he didn't have _any_ idea how freakin offensive a remark that was.) Sorry. Soapbox off. I just ran across the Mudcat a couple of weeks ago when I tried to look up a song on the DT, and have become a regular habitue...which is fun. Bill "No Nickname" Cameron
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10 Nov 98 - 10:05 AM (#44808) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Maj Marvelous Snookums, The next trip to Sioux City should be on a Saturday and then you could stop at 3rd and Pierce for our Jam session which is every Sat. night from 7:00 to 10:30. Lunch break at nine. One dollar gets you in and then you sign up to sing or play or do your stuff. Somewhere between 80-130 generally show up. A lot of listeners and dancers. The place is called the Senior Citizens Center. We play mostly country, with some bluegrass and pop as well. Whatever fits is fine. We have one singer that had been on Lawrence Welk show. He tries to do country but does Pop better. Come see us.. |
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10 Nov 98 - 06:19 PM (#44863) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles Carolyn. I received your persomal message, thanks. I have resent mine, could you let me know here, if you do not receive it? There is only one Carolyn listed, if it is not you it could explain things. |
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10 Nov 98 - 06:52 PM (#44868) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Boo Bear Well, I'm a librarian in the mountains of North Carolina who loves Celtic and appalachian mountain music, in addition to being crazy about medieval and renaissance music. My husband and I are weekend lap dulcimer players who perform here and about under the name Gingerthistle. (Yes, I've heard what that means in Ireland... we're sticking with it anyway. Took too much time to figure out a name for us, and besides, who in the US knows?) Also play other instruments: guitar, recorder, mandolin, plucked and bowed psalteries... varying degrees of proficiency. This is the coolest place... I don't get to come much, since my computer is only my work computer on my office desk, and I mustn't stray too far from doing my work. Visit once in a while when I need some info. You guys are the greatest for providing that! Blessin's on all yer little heads! Boo |
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10 Nov 98 - 08:22 PM (#44884) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Snookums Maj Marvelous, I'll try to make it up soon. I was supposed to go again today and tomorrow, however, West didn't seem to be the direction to go. Snookums |
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10 Nov 98 - 09:18 PM (#44892) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Roger in Baltimore Hello, I am finding this thread is getting incredibly (and wonderfully) long. It is over 225 KB and takes quite a while to load. That's OK when you first come on, but when you are just catching up on the last two postings it is a chore. I propose to move to a new thread called "Mudcat (THE WORLD) Let us know Pt. II" I suggest all further postings be placed on that thread and let this be the end of this portion. You can reach the new thread by clicking here. Thanking you in advance, I remain, Roger in Baltimore |
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04 May 99 - 02:57 PM (#75586) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Bonnie Hi I know this thread is a bit old but seems to me its a good one. I'm new to the net so here goes. I live in Bath, England and live partly alone and partly with my daughter who is twelve. I got into folk about seven years ago after a long gap not playinging anything after a muasic degree twently odd years ago. I play paino accordion, flute and recently the mandolin. I also play in a quasi jazz type band, a nine-piece outfit playing ordinal roots based dance music. I love playing in the band as the other players are mainly better than me and include some professionals, so its a real buzz. I love Irish music and playing in the local pub sessions around this area, which seems to be full of great musicians. The main attraction of folk is its accessibility and the great friendliness of the people in the folk world, which seems to be reflected in Mudcat. Any Mudcatters visiting the southwest of England get in touch cheers |
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04 May 99 - 07:58 PM (#75637) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Roger in Baltimore Hello, I am finding this thread is getting incredibly (and wonderfully) long. It is over 225 KB and takes quite a while to load. That's OK when you first come on, but when you are just catching up on the last two postings it is a chore. I propose to move to a new thread called "Mudcat (THE WORLD) Let us know Pt. II" I suggest all further postings be placed on that thread and let this be the end of this portion. You can reach the new thread by clicking here. Thanking you in advance, I remain, Roger in Baltimore
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06 Jun 99 - 04:41 PM (#84440) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: mike Cahill Can't find my name in the list so must have missed this one. I live In Castleford in West Yorkshire, England |
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06 Jun 99 - 10:17 PM (#84501) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Gracie I feel pretty inadequate as a musician compared to all of you. I taught myself basics of piano when younger but never play, not that I was ever good, even with long fingers. Mom can, though, and her dad was in vaudeville from Ohio to Iowa that I am aware of. Mom does geneology, and it would be nice to someday find stories of the music the ancestors made and what they played. We do have a few stories of ancestor Francis Cooke, from Mayflower, but no mention of music. I really do enjoy the Celtic instruments and wish I had learned to play flute. So I just sing my heart out in church. I am in Indiana, where ,if you don't like the weather, be patient, it will change quickly. I live in a sparsely populated county that gets tornadoes that the nearest doppler radar can't even find; not even a hospital in the county. I really think you must be the most interesting and sincere people on the web. |
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29 Mar 00 - 04:52 AM (#203125) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: GUEST,ThunderChild Hullo, geordie calling from the north o' blighty! I live in Washington. No, not the city... No not the State, but Washington the original one where it all began... Anyway I just thought I'd write as I have nothing to do, being a music student at college. I play guitar, bass and sing and I write my own songs too. Well thats all from me but I would just like to say that The Lambton Worm is a rocking song!!! Thunder roars!!! |
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29 Mar 00 - 06:26 AM (#203130) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Scabby Douglas I'll download and read all the other 'Catters resumés later.. I'm in Scotland... Glasgow to be specific. I play guitar and mandolin (badly, but with enthusiasm), and like to sing anything from Crowded House and Travis to bothy ballads and Matt McGinn. Sunday nights at the Kincaid House Hotel in Milton of Campsie nr Glasgow is my outing where I get to inflict myself on others. Oh, BTW if anyone's around this Friday (31st March) we are hosting a Folk evening. Come along. Late Bar ( whatever that means! I love the café. And I use the database all the time. Cheers m'dears (and here's to yer big red nose) StevenC |
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29 Mar 00 - 06:38 AM (#203132) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: GUEST,Julie Its cold and wet today in Sheffield (England). I'm a Scot who now lives in the foothills of the Penines. I plan to join the Mudcat properly when we sort our link out at home. My partner is of Irish descent and our daughter considers herself a Scot of Irish descent ( the emphasis changes whoever is winning at football or rugby). We are involved with various folk activities in the City ( Irish festival , South Yorkshire Folk Network Events, Traditional Fiddle Society ) I have recently taken up singing but I am having trouble over coming my terror of performing in public alone. Julie |
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29 Mar 00 - 04:29 PM (#203443) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Teasle I'm living down south in Southampton, Hampshire,am originally from Alderney in the Channel Islands and have spent most of my adult life living in various parts of Australia!!! Lucky for me there are folk contacts in all the far flung parts of the globe - and in the main they have proved to be generous hearted folk who make the bestest friends. I think I have an addictive nature - I look forward to my daily dose of Mudcat! A-mazing. |
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29 Mar 00 - 05:03 PM (#203462) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: phil h Hi I live in Peterborough, UK. I dance with The Witchmen, a border morris side. I play Bodhran & my wife Ruth plays an English concertina & sings. The sessions we go to can be found at Pete Shaw's Home Page Hope this works it's the first time i've tried html We're spoilt here by the number of good English, Irish, (and American & French) sessions. We run out of stamina cash and babysitters before we run out of sessions. Phil |
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29 Mar 00 - 06:29 PM (#203509) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles As this thread is a little large for some 'Older' PCs to load quickly, Could you place any new posts to this second thread (THE WORLD II) and just leave this one for reading? Thanks. |
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30 Mar 00 - 12:05 PM (#203945) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: GUEST,Mrrzy-at-work Hi, I am an American by passport, and have lived in central Virginia, where the weather is great by my standards, for about 15 years with a summer researching in Spain thrown in. Before that, 6 years in the Boston area (froze my fanny shut!) for college and soon after. Before that, roughly 15 years in Africa, in mostly in Ivory Coast but 1 in Tunisia. Born in St. Louis but we moved to Abidjan when I was 5 so I don't really remember it. I like the weather in tropical Africa best - although I *love love love* snow. If it snowed in the 50's and never got below 40 I'd really be happy. I especially like the DC-area summers in the high 90's all the time, with everyone else wilting by the roadsides... they should try an African rainy season! I don't play any instruments although have always sung. Used to be tone-deaf then got into a very musical crowd at Tufts and now am no longer. The funny thing is that when attempting any songs I learned while tone-deaf and haven't sung since, I still sing those off-key! I have to hear them sung right to be able to myself. I love the Mudcat because I know many-but-not-all lyrics to tons of songs, mostly folk (my parents liked the Weavers and the Clancy Brothers, for instance), and I now have a place where I can look up the one verse I never quite got... And I also wonder where to submit lyrics when I have a good song to share with all of you? I have a repertoire in English, French and Hungarian, with some in many other languages thrown in. I even know some in Gaelic but wouldn't want to try writing them down... and anyway, how do you pronounce bodhran? I have twin sons about to start kindergarten, conceived while on honeymoon in Ireland without spending one night anywhere that wasn't in a Clancy Brothers song. I consider them Made In Ireland. X2B is no longer in the picture. Mom is a survivor of the Holocaust, of Hungarian Jewish parentage but from the Serbian part of Yugoslavia. Really tone-deaf, cannot tell which of two consecutive notes is higher, I do not exaggerate. My dad was a Quaker, killed by terrorists in the 80's along with intermittent bunches of other Americans. He played the guitar in his youth, though, and he sang a lot too. His mom was Russian. I have a Tasmanian brother-in-law, a Puerto Rican aunt, and relatives who espouse anything from judaism through Islam, Mormonism, Catholicism, and atheism. My sisters and I are the only people we know who were raised without any religious upbringing at all. Just in case we want to bring anything besides the weather into this thread, or into its new incarnation if we get one per prior suggestion... |
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31 Mar 00 - 02:42 AM (#204435) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Felisi 52' I'm from San Diego California - born and raised. I love living in San Diego I am amazingly close to so many different climates: I live only a half hour from the coast, and only have to drive a little over an hour to see snow in the mountains or to bake in the desert heat. I live in a portion of San Diego that lies between a mountain and a lake, so we get plenty of animals around our house and the college I attend is only 3 away. I am an adult member of the Sea Scouts (boys and girls between 14 and 20) ((I'm only 21)) So I get to go sailing every other week, as well as take many camping trips with a great group of people. |
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01 Apr 00 - 02:23 AM (#204970) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: GUEST,faswilli2 |
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01 Apr 00 - 02:46 AM (#204974) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: GUEST,faswilli2 Love this thread. Aways wanted to know where you guys were from. I hail from San Antonio, Texas, via New Mexico, Maryland, Pa., and Missouri. Right now its about 70 degrees and humid as usual here in South Texas, have been watching the threads for a year now but never had anything to say that wasn't already said. Play a Gibson j45 and havent sang in public in many years but gittin' back to it now. I belonged to several folk groups back in the 60's but after spending 2 years in Vietnam hung it up because I couldn't straddle the political music fence.Now that I'm apolitical, I realize that I enjoy folk music for its historical value and I'm also doing some writing. I grew up on theWeavers, esp. Pete Seeger, Dylan, Paxton, Judy Collins, PP&M, Kingston trio, Chad Mitchell , Doc Watson, etc. We are getting ready for the Kerrville Folk festival which is 2 months away and will be camping out again this year. Once you go there you will return every year for the rest of your live, guaranteed! Kerrville has become more of a showcase for new songwriters and you find more emphasis on that than traddies, but after the big shows at night, you can find whatever you're looking for at about 100 campfires. (blues, western, celtic, traddie, country, ballads, bluegrass, ==anything! Come on down Y'all. |
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01 Apr 00 - 02:50 AM (#204975) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: fox4zero I was born and raised in New York City in the first year of the Great Depression (although I still haven't figured out what was so Great about it). I am a retired physician and love not having to go to work...being basically a non-physical person. I play old-time music, frailing on the 5-string banjo. If I had to do this for a living I would be on welfare now. My wife and I live in Millbrook, Dutchess County, NY. When I see towns of all of my neighboring CT Mudcatters.. I've reached a point in life where I visit physicians in ALL those towns...Branford, Hamden, New Haven etc I live on a lovely place...28 acres of ponds, streams and wetlands (an occasional dry spot also). Winter was kind and Spring is very early this years. The peepers (tree frogs) started their serenade about 10-14 days earlier than last year. Fortunately for all, I am falling asleep at the keyboard and will quit now. Luv from Larry Parish |
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01 Apr 00 - 03:46 AM (#204990) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: DeeAnn Hello folks! I always read but seldom post. I was born in Oklahoma and spent my earlier years in Arizona, which I call home. Most of my family members still reside there, but I am now stuck in the central part of New Jersey (about 30 minutes northeast of Philadelphia, PA.)in the historical town of Willingboro. My town has become infamous for being the home of the long jump olympian, Carl Lewis. I play piano, mountain dulcimer, penny whistle, bodhran and sing. I've been playing and singing for the "Tapestry Dulcimer Troupe" for quite a few years and play all kinds of music, though not expertly. My favorite type of music is Irish, Scottish and British Isle tunes, waltzes, old time fiddle tunes, civil war tunes and English country dances. My nationality is a combination of Irish, Shoshone Indian, French and Welsh. Thoroughly enjoyed this thread! DeeAnn Between the cities and the seashore. |
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01 Apr 00 - 05:05 AM (#204998) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: The Shambles APRIL FOOL. Well I am for trawling through this one again. For the very last time.
COULD YOU PLEASE NOT POST TO THIS THREAD AS IT A LIITLE TOO LARGE TO LOAD NOW.
IF YOU CLICK HERE, YOU WILL FIND PART TWO OF THIS THREAD. IT WOULD BE NICE AND YOU WOULD BE VERY WELCOME TO PLACE YOUR CONTRIBUTION THERE. A DONATION TO THE MUDCAT OF ONE DOLLAR PER WORD, WILL BE REQUIRED FROM ANY FUTURE POSTER TO THIS THREAD. (SMILES). |
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08 Mar 09 - 03:02 AM (#2583686) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: Art Thieme refresh |
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08 Mar 09 - 06:46 AM (#2583752) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: terrier That's ONE DOLLAR to pay, Mr Thieme ;~) |
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08 Mar 09 - 07:10 AM (#2583763) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: skarpi AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! just got to old the old threads . you can find me among the elfs and the trolls, in an Island where there is a mystery . |
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08 Mar 09 - 07:29 PM (#2584205) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: GUEST,guest Ian Im sure glad to see this thread.I live in Western Oregon USA A small town called Oakland I play Folk , Comedy , Bgrass Oldtime country on guitar ,5 string banjo ,Roundneck Dobro .Any Pickers in this area ? |
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08 Mar 09 - 08:01 PM (#2584226) Subject: RE: Mudcat (THE WORLD)Let us know where you are. From: oldhippie I'm in Connecticut New England USA Planet Earth. I first discovered folk music when a friend loaned me a Carolyn Hester LP, and then went and found music by Molly Scott, Bonnie Dobson and Oscar Brand. More folk music followed - Dylan, Ochs, Baez, Paxton, etc. I bascially like all types of music. I own and occasionally pick up a hammered dulcimer, dobro, and mandolin banjo. Mostly, my hobby is being a college radio deejay, so I get to program my own show. |