From the category archives:

Bluegrass

Hey, Why Didn’t You Tell Me There Was A New Danny Barnes Album? (with hell of bonus Bad Livers)

October 30, 2009

Champion of the banjo and preacher of the Good News of music Danny Barnes has a new record out on ATO Records called Pizza Box. Stream it all here, then go to dannybarnes.com to download “Caveman” for free.
And while you’re at it, read what this man has to say! He’s incredibly warm and astute, knows [...]

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This Just In: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Is Totally Going To Blow Your Underwear Off

July 17, 2009

Full lineup at http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com, but can I just say:
Amadou & Mariam
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys
Mavis Staples
Okkervil River
The Chieftains
Gillian Welch
Nick Lowe
Doc Watson & David Holt
Emmylou Harris
Marianne Faithfull
Robyn Hitchcock
Hazel Dickens
Earl Scruggs
The Knitters
Elvis Perkins in Dearland
The Del McCoury Band
Neko Case
and of course, MC Hammer.
October 2-4, SF’s Golden Gate Park — and, as always, free. (Thanks, Warren!)
[photo [...]

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Wonderin’ Where The Years Of My Life Has Flown

July 14, 2009

Here’s a sweet little number for those of us who’ve spent time recently thinking about the days that used to be.
Del McCoury & The Dixie Pals – High On A Mountain from High On A Mountain

http://www.delmccouryband.com
http://www.myspace.com/delmccouryband
Bona Belle Ola Belle
And here’s songwriter Ola Belle Reed’s version (audio only):

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Lead Me Away From Here

February 12, 2009

Today’s Vedge comes shrouded in tears of mystery (the best kind!).
It’s one of my favorite weepy bluegrass numbers, but I’ll be darned if I can figure out just what exactly is going on in it. Repeated analysis has produced deeper levels of bumbleheadedness. Ope, wait, OK, I think I got it. I’ll stop thinking now. [...]

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Take A Drink In The Morning, Our Love Won’t Be The Same

January 14, 2009

Holy crap, dear hearts, did you know THEY ARE STILL MAKING OLD TIME AND BLUEGRASS MUSIC?
Well for number ones, I am thrilled to the teeth. And for the others, how could it possibly be that this sweet, soulful sound is originating from my dear old San Francisco and I didn’t even know it till now? [...]

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Now Looky Here Gal, Don’t You High-Hat Me

July 29, 2008

[Man, I have no idea how this happened, but I plumb forgot to publish July 23rd's post. I wrote the draft, put in on the imeem playlist and forgot about it. Whoops! I'm on the road in the AM, so enjoy the Whoo-fer Wednesday!]
Lester Flatt had the kind of talent that could only have been [...]

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Sigh

January 28, 2008

Today, all the songs are making me cry because someone very special was taken from this world too soon. TP was the definition of the word “lovable,” and he touched countless people with his generosity and his commitment to creating a better world.
In addition to being one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever [...]

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Prop Every Leanin’ Side

December 21, 2007

A little spiritual number to get you through the holidays.
The Nashville Bluegrass Band – Every Humble Knee Must Bow from To Be His Child
Mandatory Christmas Content – I’m At Peace With The World
The King of Christmas songs.
Elvis Presley – If Every Day Was Like Christmas

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I’d Crawl Every Inch Of That Ground

September 6, 2007

Listen, dear hearts — please go see The Del McCoury Band when they come to your town. Worthy successors to Bill Monroe And The Blue Grass Boys. Who will be the worthy successors to The Del McCoury Band?
The Del McCoury Band – A Far Cry from The Family (which seems to be out [...]

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A Wiggle In The Middle

July 23, 2007

John Hartford was a supergenius. He wrote “Gentle On My Mind,” got paid, then invented one of the smallest genres of all time, crackpot folk/bluegrass. He recorded Aereo-Plain in 1971 with a ton of talented musicians, and pretty much wrote about whatever came into his noggin. It’s one of my very favorites, [...]

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