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barbbanjo - Posted - 11/01/2009: 15:41:57
Our family band was asked about a month ago to perform for a church school benefit concert at a local church. At the time we were asked to participate I got the feeling there was going to be maybe 3 or 4 different kinds of performances, a couple of them being a saxaphone player and a trumpet duet. In my mind I pictured a couple of pews in the back filled with people - probably older folks whose hearing would allow us to feel comfortable with all our mistakes. We arrived early, went into the back room to tune and warm up. When we went back into the sanctuary, I was shocked to see that it was filled - every pew! There went that part of my "vision" for the concert! Then I was handed a program listing the musicians. For just a moment I felt like I was in the wrong place. The first performance was an "Acapella Women's Choir" followed by a "String and Woodwind Ensemble". Then came 2 vocal solos (One of them practically an operatic piece!), a piano solo, another vocal "His Eye is on the Sparrow", then a soprano sax solo accompanied by one of those tracks you can buy at the Book and Bible House with a whole orchestra accompaniment to play along with. Then came the trumpet duet and then "Family Bluegrass Band" was listed - that was us we guessed, followed by a piano solo! As each performance came and went, I began to wonder even more if we were in the wrong place! The women's acapella choir sang like angels, the piano solos were worthy of awards, the Ensemble belonged in a professional venue. This was high brow music - what on earth were we doing here I wondered???? I motioned our guitar player who is our son in law outside and we went into the back room and laughed so hard that I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to go on and we were 2 performances away. Finally, the jig was up and we had to go forward and move the mics up on stage, arrange our little band - the 10 year old banjo player on my far right, then the guitar player and then me. Next was my husband on the dobro and then the 13 year old stand up bass grandson and finally the 11 year old grandson on the mandolin. I looked at the audience and said, "Well, there are a lot of ways to praise the Lord and this is how we do it." We started off with Amazing Grace. We each played through a break and then I sang the first verse with my son in law. I noticed a few mouths quietly moving along, singing the words so when we came to the chorus I said, "Now, everybody, help us out....." Before I knew it they were lustily singing along on every chorus as we sang the verses. We moved on to Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The audience clapped, they sang, they tapped their feet, they swayed to the music, some even cried and mopped their eyes with Kleenex. We received a huge round of applause and everyone said we were the best part of the whole event. Go figure! I'd say bluegrass beat out the high brow that day! We all left on a high, went out to dinner and never felt so good!
f#dead - Posted - 11/01/2009: 15:55:33
Barb, nice going. I still find irony in playing the lord's music on the devil's instrument. =:-) Sounds like you had an uplifting gig and good for you.
"We're lost. But we're makin good time".
wkb28791 - Posted - 11/01/2009: 16:28:08
Nice job Barb!
Regards,
wkb28791
"If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it-----Now quiet! they're about to announce the lottery numbers!"
Homer Simpson
Granada - Posted - 11/01/2009: 16:29:21
"Well, there are alot of ways to praise the Lord, this is how we do it." Ya' brought it right to em', and made them feel comfortable with what y'all were doing! Way to go! We have a church "gig" next weekend, I hope the response is similar to yours'!
Good Pickin' and God Bless
double E - Posted - 11/01/2009: 17:05:53
Thats where our group plays about 90% of its music. We love it, the people love it, but most of all, I know the lord loves what we do!
Isaiah 38:20
double E
R.T. - Posted - 11/01/2009: 17:08:14
I love to hear stories such as yours. Way to go Barb! 
BANJOS ARE FUN
Ron Terrell
walshb - Posted - 11/01/2009: 17:21:39
That is a totally awesome story!!! Thanks for sharing!
"I need a louder banjer, my hearing aids just quit on me!"
mike gregory - Posted - 11/01/2009: 17:26:35
Said it before, saying it again:
Anybody wants to do "Run, Mary, Run!" in church or anywhere, it's on my Music Files, and you are welcome to it.
It's good around Christmas, and, if you understand Herod's basic desire to keep his butt in the Big Chair, it could be about any Big Chair, any where in the world, any time of the year.
=):{ )
Mike Gregory, Banjo Maker Infraordinaire
When I say my instruments are as good as anything Gibson or Martin ever made,
I mean MEL Gibson and DEAN Martin!
My banjos can be seen on my own website
http://littlebanjos.lunare.net
See me & my SQUARED EEL banjo on the Y'all tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97EfvhFgRBY
Dale Farmer - Posted - 11/01/2009: 18:08:54
That you were able to have a big laugh before going on was great. Shows your attitude toward playing is in the right place. Also sounds like the congregation has their act together too. Playing in church is more than performing, its sharing, and its great when the people respond the way the did with you. Thanks for posting this story.
Dale
cfs1 - Posted - 11/01/2009: 18:59:29
well done, on the performance and the telling of the story here.
Concrete Finish Solutions
Making the ordinary.. Extraordinary!!
pickNgrin - Posted - 11/01/2009: 19:07:42
Good story Barb! Bluegrass may be "low brow" music, but it sure has a way of cutting right through to a person's soul. Especially those old Gospel tunes.
-matt
Cuzzin Donny - Posted - 11/01/2009: 21:57:09
Great Post Barb.Enjoyed it very much. Great lookin family too 
If It Feels Good Do It!
blugrssmom - Posted - 11/02/2009: 21:55:35
I loved this story Barb. Your pictures of the grandkids were great! It's very neat and even more fun when you have your family playing with you, having fun with the music and sharing the passion with you. We both know that don't we?
Raynae Redman.
A banjo can get you through times with no money, but money can't get you through times with no banjo. John Hartford
John Allison - Posted - 11/03/2009: 06:31:17
Way to go Barb. Our band has played at one gospel festival, at the Good Tyme Barn where we played gospel music for an entire Sunday afteernoon, one church social and one other church activity. In all cases, we have found that the old time gospel music goes over really big and that these tunes, done in a bluegrass style really gets the audience activated and involved. Like Matt said ..... "...it sure has a way of cutting right through to a person's soul."
Froggie
"Courage is Fear that has said its prayers.
barbbanjo - Posted - 11/03/2009: 11:17:44
I've enjoyed reading all your responses. BH is a great place to be able to share and have other people who really understand what you're saying and feeling. We are really blessed to have this place and I'm glad I found it. I have learned so much from all of you. The only problem I have with it is that once I log on I have a hard time getting off. Before I know it, 2 hours have gone by!
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