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Cell Perches & HVO

Banjo music speaks volumes….

June 22, 2015

Since its inception eight years ago, our annual community Blues and Roots Barbecue Festival has hosted a rich cavalcade of musical Americana including tip-top Bluegrass acts.  Two years ago,  the duo of Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn headlined as performing artists. Last year, Hot Rize took the stage, and the front page of the program featured a bushy-tailed squirrel  (modeled after Utah Phillip`s song “Rock Salt and Nails”..?) clasping a banjo in its furry mitts. squirrel

For this year`s BNR fest, it was recently announced that the grounding-breaking Punch Brothers will be appearing on stage with their consummate banjoist Noam Pikelny who won the 2010 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. It looks like another great Fall festival is shaping-up, especially for humble devotees of the 5 string who dream of maybe someday briefly becoming a banjo “…player that strums and frets his hour upon the stage,  and then is heard….”. **

No more, till later. In the meantime, the BRC wishes its faithful readers a pleasant summer, and we encourage all you musicians to stay tuned.

** Adapted from Will Shakespeare`s Macbeth, Act 5, scene 5, 19-28.

https://twitter.com/muhealth/status/545632826230452224

Bio

Embrace Your Inner Hillbilly….

June 7, 2015

“Country rocks, but Bluegrass rules! ” – J.D.Sumnerhillbilly

“Three chords and the truth”- definition of country music attributed to songwriter Harlan Howard

“Bluegrass music is an addiction, and I ain`t lookin` for a cure”- unknown picker

“Redneck-tify?” -BRC founder`s daughter

“Thanks for playing that music. That`s what God created you guys for.”  -an appreciative farmer at an outdoor gig by the BRC founder`s band.

D18-37

 

 

 

At a jam session in Eldon, MO, the BRC founder admires Ross` restored 1937 Martin D-18 guitar. What a classic gem!

 

P.S. Due south of Eldon is the Willow Springs landmark  `Hillbilly Junction` roadside rest center.

G&F Band

Soggy boys, Bottom?

May 11, 2015

Spattering rain and cool temperatures raked over the Children`s Hospital complicating the outdoor Safe Day Kids carnival scheduled in the parking lot. Most of the festive booths were hastily relocated into the Hospital`s mini convention center and its hallways. The BRC founder`s band was consigned, however, to perform outside in the brick car tunnel leading to the Hospital`s main entrance where recently installed metal drums, chimes, temple gongs, and rubber mallets  awaited playful children visiting patients. Despite the forbidding and inclement weather, hundreds of parents braved the constant rainfall to bring their kids to the annual festival.safe 22015

Challenged by the echoing din of mallet-hammered drums, chimes, and gongs, the undaunted Bluegrass pickers steadfastly played their almost inaudible music for the soggy festival goers.  Where do you find generous  musicians so devoted to performing at benefits for the Children`s Hospital?

“And yet, to say the truth,  reason and love  keep little company nowadays, ” spake Bottom (Shakespeare`s clown) in Midsummer Night`s Dream.

 

BRC Activities, G&F Band

Two Your Health

April 12, 2015

It was a gala evening dinner with a two fold purpose: a fund-raiser for the Children`s Hospital and a `roast` of two of its favorite doctors. As in past years, we were the band greeting the throng who came for a wholesome meal and an evening of affectionate comedy. Half way through the gig, the band posed with the Hospital`s mascot “TJ the Tiger” while hungry well-wishers took a couple of photographs.1 roast 2015

As the milling crowd found their seats for a delectable and  low-cal repast, an audience member admired the healthy menu and joked with us, ” What kind of music are you guys playing, anyways?” With gentle wink, one of our pickers replied, “First, we are a free range  acoustic band. Secondly, we play only naturally processed Bluegrass music allowing 2 feet of space between musicians when we perform.”  The listener looked up from the festive dinner program distractedly and politely mused, “Too sweet.” We all chuckled warmly, and the band soon decamped to a nearby Mexican restaurant for our yearly family dinner.

2 roast 2015

 

 

The food was a little too hot, but that`s kind of the  way we like it.

 

 

Dear Reader: For students of Vega Martin history interested in a fun update from the VM marketing archives, please scroll back to the home page posting of 9-12-14 devoted to Bobby Joe Fenster lore- a minor legend.

Cell Perches & HVO

Bones and Bluegrass…?

March 24, 2015

Archeological digs on many continents suggest that rhythm bones are the second oldest musical instrument after the human voice.  These percussive instruments came to  America with Irish and English settlers. In Celtic music, bones are played with only one hand, whereas  in the US , the minstrel show tradition established a two-handed technique of performance still used today.  Mr.Bones

Most every Sunday afternoon, a former street busker named `Mr. Bones` (above second from the right), joins our weekly Bluegrass jam session benefitting the Children`s Hospital.  In the clatter of a busy family restaurant, our songs are usually followed by a wave of silent gratitude from the audience. But, when Mr. Bones arrives, patrons at the brewpub always turn their heads to watch and applaud his energetic and syncopated rhythm tones. After complimenting our waltz tunes with juggling in 3/4 time, he entertains the kids with train whistles,  a little soft shoe, and a stick-held dancing limberjack wooden doll.  Several times a year, he performs children`s shows with his band “Mr. Bones and the Skeleton Crew” made up of volunteers from the jam band as pictured above at local church fest. For his showmanship, he was inducted into the BRC Hall of Fame three years ago.

Check-out the below link and witness Mr. Bones` kinetic solo on the classic train song “The Texas Eagle”. Too cool or what?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvmkwn7HBXU