jimh269b - Posted - 08/13/2010:  11:56:50

well don borcheilt,don couchie and i at clifftops camp site became banjo hell,wonder how that came to be

Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/13/2010:  13:35:06

Jim: I believe that it's a reference to the now famous cartoon below, by Gary Larsen, from his "Far Side" series. I actually only heard it from a couple of folks, and I'm sure it was meant as a good-natured joke. We did pick a lot of that forbidden bluegrass music! But hey, we played Greasy Coat, too!



I think there is a resemblance, don't you think?

Edited by - Don Borchelt on 08/13/2010 13:35:52

jimh269b - Posted - 08/13/2010:  13:49:08

they sure are don, i really enjoyed it buddy,you two are the best i have ever picked with,and i do know what im talking about,first hand

skeller77 - Posted - 08/13/2010:  15:40:05

Great picture guys, bet it was a blast!

drew-gurbach - Posted - 08/13/2010:  15:48:29

That Far Side cartoon was a hoot! Reminds me of a Banjo Camp I went to years ago! #61514;

GSCarson - Posted - 08/13/2010:  20:24:46

Jim and Don, had to share this.

In 1982 I finished building an ornate tenor banjo for a collector friend. I spent a year and a half on it and gave him a really good deal. It was one of the last banjos I actually built for sale when I was into that. He felt like he wanted to do something more for me so he offered to take me to the 1982 FIGA convention in Chicago, I think at the O'Hare Hilton hotel. I knew nothing about it but agreed to go, it was the week before I got out of business working for myself and started a new job and it sounded like fun. He told me I would see every rare banjo I could imagine and he was right. After a long ride to Chicago in a van with five guys playing tenor and plectrum banjos the whole way out... (I played five string and fiddle), we arrived and were immersed into a sea of fancy four string banjos and a a whole bunch of fantastic players. I had the only five string I saw the whole time. From what I recall they had a concert with some really hot players and then a whole group broke out their banjos and lined a long hallway and started playing and singing, maybe 50-60 or more players, it was deafening and they were having a ball. My friend Gene and I were just standing in an open doorway across from the elevators grinning at the mayhem. The light lit up above one of the elevator doors and it opened to reveal two fellows with beards in full Arab dress, full headpieces, etc. As the door slid open and they were fully exposed to the sight and sound of all those tenor banjos pounding away their eyes grew large as fifty cent pieces and they each leaned in to pound on the buttons to close the door and get out of there. Gene and I laughed until we were blue in the face and I'm still laughing now thinking about it. It is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I can't look at Gary Larsen's cartoon without picturing the look on those two faces.....we've descended into banjo hell........
Glenn C.

Edited by - GSCarson on 08/13/2010 20:25:26

Trapperharm - Posted - 08/14/2010:  06:19:17

Hey guys , Can I go to Banjo Hell with you? Anybody else want to go with me next year? Looks like fun!!!

chip arnold - Posted - 08/14/2010:  07:04:35

Hope to see you again next year :-)

Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/14/2010:  07:27:02

Trapper, you're definitely welcome in banjo hell. Chip, I'll be there for sure, playing the devil out of the thing, God willing.

BrittDLD1 - Posted - 08/14/2010:  10:49:10

Of course... Gary Larsen knows well, about that which he draws...
He plays plectrum banjo. (And collects them too.)

Best-
Ed Britt

Edited by - BrittDLD1 on 08/14/2010 10:49:32

banjerpickor - Posted - 08/14/2010:  11:07:11

I always saw Jims banjo and beard when he played in the chat so
i did not recognize him in the photo.
I can tell you that those 3 are some great friends of mine though we've
never met personally.
Thats what makes this site so great.


2006 goldstar praying for a gibby or huber or cheif ;prewar ect.

Edited by - banjerpickor on 08/14/2010 11:11:24

Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/14/2010:  14:22:44

banjerpickor wrote: "I always saw Jims banjo and beard when he played in the chat so i did not recognize him in the photo."

Ronnie, Jim told us that his grandson went after that healthy beard with a pair of scissors while he was asleep. I figure Jim's wife probably put the little boy up to it. He looked so civilized when he showed up at Clifftop, I didn't recognize him at first. I accused him of using Grecian Formula!! You decide...



I'll tell you what, though, unlike Sampson, the haircut didn't effect Jim's talent any, he still played like son of a gun.

Edited by - Don Borchelt on 08/14/2010 14:33:30

rb4player - Posted - 08/14/2010:  14:45:06

Wish I'd been present to hear these three play together. Talents, all.

Jim

Don Borchelt - Posted - 08/14/2010:  15:07:52

Jim, if you come you gotta bring that RB-6! There were a couple of guys there from Bay City, a fiddle and guitar player, that I jammed with. We played Sals Got Mud Between Her Toes, and a bunch of other old tunes.

Edited by - Don Borchelt on 08/14/2010 15:08:36

rb4player - Posted - 08/14/2010:  18:04:08

Thanks, Don, but you guys are out of my league. I know my limitations, and keys outside of G (or A) make me break out in a cold sweat.

Jim

Couchie - Posted - 08/14/2010:  21:57:23

You can call it banjo heaven or banjo hell. It was way too much fun.