3 posts tagged “bluegrass music”
8 February 2009 Vienna Community Center, Vienna, Virginia
From the start of "Lost Indian" all the way through to the end of "Orange Blossom Special" Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition delighted the full-house audience once again at the Vienna Community Center on a beautiful, balmy, early spring Sunday afternoon. And yes, the appearance of this group has become a welcomed Post-Groundhog-Day tradition here in our fair neighborhood that straddles Route 66. As far as I know, this is the third winter appearance of "ABC" and Roger Green (rhythm guitar) let it be known that they'll be back to grace our Town Green Stage on June 12th, 2009.
The town audience is as interesting as "ABC." I wouldn't call it your usual hard-core bluegrass audience. But never the less, "ABC" has built a strong fan base here, and each performance of this outstanding group serves as a "Bluegrass 101 primer course" for the eclectic gatherings that show up for Vienna's free town concerts. We're richly blessed here with a town Recreational Department that keeps the entertainment line-up interesting and always varied. One big reason why I like this particular group is, you don't get the usual patter, lame jokes, or false attempts at any kind of flash. I've seen and heard better banjo and mandolin players. I've heard better individual vocalists. The trick is to put it all together in a package of solid entertainment, and Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition never disappoints.
Roger admitted to the audience that this particular annual date is an opportunity to try out new stuff for the upcoming performing season. I noted five or six new numbers, including "Senor" by Bob Dylan and "Walking the Long Miles Home" by Richard Thompson. (Richard Thompson played by a bluegrass group? - you haven't lived until you've heard "ABC" do Thompson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightening" ) I like the old chestnuts and here they offered up "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "Airmail Special," and many more. Notable was the group's rendition of "Dark as a Dungeon." Roger spun this usual 2/3-timed golden oldie into a finale of 6/8 beat - had to smile at that little twist. The harmonies were fabulous, especially on "I Thought I heard You Calling My Name" and "Gone Home." The harmony work is provided by Roger Green, Sue Tice (fiddle), and Dan Kimball (mandolin). Always mellow, subtle, just right for the work to be done. The vocal work is grounded in Roger's rich baritone.
"ABC" has been going strong since 1999 and is continually busy in the Washington, DC area and beyond. I also need to mention the two other driving forces, Bob Tice on banjo, and Jim Duvall on bass. They're kind of the 'silent' members but their instrumental work speaks for itself, along with Sue Tice's outstanding fiddle work. 26 songs, delivered with conviction, quite an afternoon for ridding one's self of the Winter Blahs.
Roger Green and Dan Kimball meet the audience at the CD table, Vienna Community Center
Next appearance is at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Herndon, Va. 28 March, 2009. Doors open at 6:30, Showtime is 7:30 $12. per Ticket
For more info: www.holycrosslutheranchurch.net
This Just In! Catch Roger Green's "Bluegrassorama" Program on WRYR 97.5 fm out of Sherwood, Maryland. See website calendar for streaming show times. This is more good news for Washington, DC region Bluegrass fans. WRYR fm is another non-profit radio group which needs your support for more Bluegrass and alternative, locally-directed, FM programming. (Good On Ya, Roger! - from Ed Henry)
10 January, 2009 (Massaponax High School, Massaponax, Va.)
The new Bluegrass FM radio station opened its 2009 concert series on January 10th with two winners: Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice and the duo, Kenny and Amanda Smith. This was the first time we had attended one of the performances so we didn't know what to expect. We were blown away when around 500 people showed up on a rather nasty, snowy evening to enjoy a full evening of music. The Massaponax High School Fine Arts Department provided snacks, home-baked goods and plenty of drinks for the excited crowd. The venue is beautiful, and perfectly suited for this style of music. It's not that hard to find off I-95 if you're coming from the Big City. Take the Spotsylvania/Massaponax Exit. A word to the wise - Google Maps has got it wrong on its pages. After realizing the error, back-tracking, and then two attempts at getting into the huge high school parking lot, we were ready to be entertained. The staff, Arts Department students and teachers, and personnel from the Radio Station cordially welcomed all to a great night of music. We'll definitely be back for more as the concert season progresses toward spring. Go to the radio station website for a full schedule.
Here's the really good news! the Bluegrass FM Radio events are FREE but you must contact the radio station first and apply for tickets. (My tickets came in the mail in less than a week.) Here are some more tips for this series of events sponsored by the Station: 1. Get there early. 2. Don't show up without tickets. 3. Bring money so you can support the Station, buy CD's, and support the fine arts program at Massaponax High School.
Bluegrass FM is totally, 100% non-profit and needs your support. You can donate in a number of ways. Go online at or call 540-582-9700 or 888-582-9701
22 November 2008: Report from Lucketts, Virginia
One of the coldest Novembers on record, but the Lucketts Community Center is warm - jam-packed with Nothin' Fancy Fans. I just knew we should have left home earlier than usual to drive out to Lucketts, and my fears were confirmed when we pulled into the Old School House Parking Lot and there wasn't anywhere to park. The staff had opened up the 'pasture' for additional parking and that was filling up, too. We hurried into the Old School House just as Nothin' Fancy started playing. No seats! SRO. The staff scrambled to get us some folding chairs, back at the ticket counter we could hear them turning people away. "Sorry, we just can't possibly bring in any more people." This is every performer's dream situation. And this band is worth it. I should have known what to expect when I saw all the West Virginia and Maryland license plates in the parking lot. This band has an incredible fan base that travels wide to hear it. And do they live up to their reputation? You bet! This is tight bluegrass - tight, perfected musicianship - and tight vocals. Every once in a while the Lucketts Community Center gives over a whole evening devoted to just one band and last Saturday night Nothin' Fancy filled the bill. Mike Andes (mandolin) assumes the role as band leader, but this group is so tight and polished that oftimes it's hard to tell exactly who is singing the vocal harmonies. Nothin' Fancy does it the hard way - one microphone - that's it - with different band members stepping up to add this and add that into the perfected, time-tested blend. Midway through the first set the humor and banter commenced and the audience reacted to it. Mike Andes started it. He started making jokes about going back to the CD Table and everyone laughed. More humor followed, with continual comments to go back to the CD Table and buy more CD's. It got tiresome quickly - and then everyone lit into Chris Sexton (fiddle) for his classically inclined violin scholarship work at the Shendandoah Conservatory of Music (Good On Ya, Chris!). This got old also. There's a danger here. Are you going to play music or just 'goof around all night? - especially when you're such damned good musicians. This was the only distraction in an otherwise brilliant night of performance. These guys are so good they can afford to 'goof around (at least a little bit) with what they're doing - as shown by two rock and roll selections and a medley of TV theme songs, driven by Chris Sexton's fiddle work. The distracting humor and on-stage banter aside, Nothin' Fancy was here to entertain their fan base and that they did in spades. What I found distracting, about 230 other audience members found loveable - and they kept yelling for more. These guys are a piece of work . . . . .
