Hatrack River Forum: bluegrass -- they want us to play again!

This is topic bluegrass -- they want us to play again! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

I feel like I stepped on a lot of toes when I first came over to this side of the forum, and because of that I've been reluctant share much about myself. But tonight something happened that I really wanted to share with somebody.

Myself and two friends performed some bluegrass pieces tonight at a very informal get-together. It was only the second time that we got together to play. We could have done better, could have done worse.

But we were asked to be part of a bluegrass concert in Pason, Utah this next Tuesday. I was thinking "What, didn't you *hear* us?", but we agreed. And we're even getting the BYU bass instructor to be our bass player!

It's a scary thought. I only started playing in September, and I'm definitely the weak link in this group. But I'm still excited.

On a related note, bluegrass music has changed my life lately. I've done Aikido for the last 7 years, and only started bluegrass back in September. But lately I've come to realize that I don't have enough time to do both properly. I love both Aikido and music, but I've decided to quit Aikido, at least for now.

One of the reasons is that with music, I get to share it and enrich others' lives. But my aikido studies are laregly selfish. It just doesn't help anybody else besides myself and my dojo-mates.

The decision feels right, but I am still mourning the loss of something beautiful in my life. Oh well...

I just thought I'd share.

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

MPH,

that's cool. passion is a fickle mistress. let her lead you where she may.

[Smile]

*wishes he could play bluegrass*

fallow

Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :

Yay! Congrats on getting the concert gig. ::loves bluegrass:: Sounds like we have some entertainment at Kamacon! [Big Grin]

Posted by Damien (Member # 5611) on :

[Hat]

Someone had better tape the show and upload it, i wanna copy!

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :

The scary thing is I am their current hope for a mandolin player. I picked up the mandolin for the first time just 3 months ago. Pressssure....

Posted by CalvinMaker (Member # 2032) on :

*picked up the mandolin a year ago*

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Whoo hoo!

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

Well, it went OK. We originally were only going to play three pieces -- Old Joe Clark, Cripple Creek, and Blackberry Blossom. Then we found out that they wanted us to play for longer, and we added Dueling Banjos and Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

We were pretty nervous. We weren't able to get a bass player. Two of us are very much beginners, and the third hasn't performed in years, and is naturally nervous.

So while we were waiting to go on, a family band was on stage before us. They opened with Old Joe Clark. Visions of A Mighty Wind flashed through my mind when they played one of the pieces we were going to play. We talked about it, and decided that now was *not* the time to change things. But I was concerned, because I had heard their banjo player practicing Blackberry Blossom earlier. Too much overlap!

When they got to their final piece, it wasn't Blackberry Blossom after all. It was dueling banjos! Nooooooooo! [No No]

Actually, it turned out to be Rocky Top, but they just started it like Dueling Banjos.

So they were done, and we went up. While we were playing our first piece, my 4-year-old son Sanford came up on stage and tried to get me to talk to him. We almost lost it from laughing.

Anyway, we played our pieces, and we did OK. We weren't great, but I already knew that. We all messed up in places that we don't mess up normally. But we stumbled, and continued on our way. We didn't fall on our faces. That alone made this a victory for me.

All in all, I'm glad that we got to do this. I'm hoping that I'll be able to convince the other members to get together regularly to practice, and that beverly will be able to join us with her mandolin.

Well, there you go. I just figured it would be rude to tell you that I was going to perform without giving you some kind of report.

Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :

*applauds*

when do voice lessons start?

Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :

"Bluegrass... it ain't music, but it's ours."

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

[ROFL]

, err, I mean [No No]

[ June 02, 2004, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: mr_porteiro_head ]

Posted by RyFitz13 (Member # 6582) on :

That sounds really cool... First performances are almost always nerve wracking.

I had a couple bands in college - the first time I got to "play out" with one of them, it was a horror! We played 2 songs for a talent show - on the first one, I forgot one key part of the song how to count to 4. Yup. I did one chord progression 3 times, then jumped to the next, while everybody else was on the right part of the song. Then, in our other song, the other guitarist came up with a new arrangement just before we went on. And never told any of us about it. Sounded like the whole band just dropped our limbs right there on stage.

But you got through the hardest part - get the other folks on board and go for it! You can only go up from here!

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

And Celia, I have the name and phone number of somebody that could give me voice lessons, but I haven't had the courage to call him yet. It scares me. Even though the guitar is new to me, I'm used to the idea of playing an instrument. But singing... that scares me just thinking about it.

I would really like to be able to sing, but I'm a big fat coward. Singing is so much more personal. I feel much more exposed singing than I do playing an instrument.

So I haven't done anything yet. Maybe I just need some encouragment.

Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :

I'm not much for bluegrass, but that's really cool! I love playing shows, even when they don't go quite as well as they're supposed to. [Razz]

Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :

one of my high school buddies played the trumpet, loved it. he went to a summer music camp thing and ended up rooming with a singer. he said he was so jealous because if he could sing he'd always have his instrument with him.

that's the mind set i go with when forced into kareoke. i'm playing my instrument poorly. [Wink]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Mr. P-H,
Hang in there and it will get better! Go to music festivals and sit in on the campfire jams.
Do you like old time music, too?

Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :

Mr. P-H:

Good luck! Hang in there. You can do it!

[Razz]

And note that if they want you back, you must be good. Remember that on the rainy days, when you have no will to continue.

[ June 02, 2004, 04:11 PM: Message edited by: Phanto ]

Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :

Hip hip hooray! [Big Grin]