Sambo - Posted - 11/16/2006:  08:59:30

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Okay...I've been playing banjo since 1975...Along the way lots of influences..of course Earl & Ralph first and then J.D. and then along came the melodic fling with Bill Keith & Triska and all that stuff and then basically came to realize that J.D. was the way for me. Lately though I have been giving Joe Mullins my utmost attention...and ya know what...I can't stress the impact his playing style has had on me. His timing is impeccable...his licks couldn't be any cleaner or crisper...and the most amazing thing is his choice of where to put them in. He has beautiful phrasing up the neck...His breaks are fairly easy to decipher which allows me to play them as well. I have 2 of the Longview albums and plan to get the 3rd one...I'm also going to order the Tradition Grass albums he's on. If you want to hear a heck of a picker who , by simply listening to, can elevate your playing style...please give Joe Mullins a listen...sorry J.D.

"Don't you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with Possum fat,
Change your name to Mrs Earl Scruggs!"

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Edited by - Sambo on 11/16/2006 09:02:14

wrangler - Posted - 11/16/2006:  09:32:48

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Is that the same Joe Mullins that is the son of Moon Mullins of the Boys From Indiana?

Mike

To peace, happiness, banjos that stay in tune and people likewise.

arnie fleischer - Posted - 11/16/2006:  10:25:54

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Wrangler - Yes, and Paul "Moon" Mullins played fiddle in the Traditional Grass while Joe played banjo. Sambo: He and his bandmate Gerald Evans also have a wonderful banjo-fiddle album called Just a Five-String and a Fiddle, or something like that. It's one of the best traditional instrumental albums around, and Joe's picking is just remarkable, for all the reasons you stated.

Arnie

Sambo - Posted - 11/16/2006:  10:35:16

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Thanks Arnie...I'll definitely add that CD to my order...Joe's a great guy too...seems very humble...I seen him a few years back when I was at the Winterfest in Tacoma...blew me away...I also e-mailed him at his radio station where he DJ's and he took the time to chat back with me a bit...If you ever want to contact him...he's here.....[jmullins@myclassiccountry.com]

"Don't you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with Possum fat,
Change your name to Mrs Earl Scruggs!"

Chris Quinn - Posted - 11/16/2006:  11:01:29

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Joe is a superb banjo player! His break on Hancock County is one of the best in terms of the three T's. He is also a great tenor singer, which, I feel, informs his banjo playing.

Several years ago in Dayton, Joe was behind a tribute to the influence of Earl Scruggs wherein many greats such as Tom Adams, J.D. Crowe, Robbie McCoury, Jim Mills, Sonny Osborne, and Kenny Ingram were featured. Joe acted as host and organizer and modestly stayed out of the limelight. Joe is every bit as good as any of these other players, but chose to play a supportive roll; no pun intended. I have never met the man, but I get the impression he is a class act.

Get the Longview CD's. Get the Traditional Grass CD's. For straight up Scruggs playing, Joe can't be beat!

Chris Quinn

www.foggyhogtownboys.com

wrangler - Posted - 11/16/2006:  11:01:52

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When Joe was a littlun, Paul "Moon" Mullins, Joe's father played in a band called Boy's From Indiana. The early banjo player was a man from Middletown, Ohio named Noah "Noie" Crase. His father was a fiddler from Kentucky and Noie played with Bill Monroe in 54 and 56. Joe was around a great banjo player growing up and influenced by his fiddlin father, Moon. Joe has made the most of his upbringin.

Mike

To peace, happiness, banjos that stay in tune and people likewise.

Sambo - Posted - 11/16/2006:  11:25:38

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Thats all geat to know...I heard about his dad....and The Boys From Indiana...they were a very traditional ..fast playing bunch of guys...I remember having an LP by theem...but couldn't get over the speed they played at...amazing....Anyway........Hey Chris...I've heard alll about the FHB up here and plan to take in a Saturday matinee combined with a 12th Fret Trip....All the boys around here...you know the DuBoer bunch....have raved about your playing, but I haven't had a chance to hear you yet.

"Don't you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with Possum fat,
Change your name to Mrs Earl Scruggs!"

Catman - Posted - 11/16/2006:  14:14:19

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Joe Mullins has always been one of my favorite banjo players. Living in southeastern Ohio, I have been fortunate to see Joe and the Traditional Grass on several occassions at different festivals witin traveling distance. As noted before, Joe is one of the best tenor singers in the business. On one of the Traditional Grass recordings, Joe does the best version of "Dixie Breakdown" I have ever heard including his Reno touches in one of the breaks. A great banjo player and a great guy to boot!

wrangler - Posted - 11/16/2006:  14:23:27

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Catman,

What was the name of that heavy banjo player that was from down around Athens that sang "One Loaf of Bread"?

Mike

To peace, happiness, banjos that stay in tune and people likewise.

Chris Quinn - Posted - 11/16/2006:  14:31:15

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quote:

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Hey Chris...I've heard alll about the FHB up here and plan to take in a Saturday matinee combined with a 12th Fret Trip....All the boys around here...you know the DuBoer bunch....have raved about your playing, but I haven't had a chance to hear you yet.

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I hope you can come out to one of our shows. When you do, please say hello. We play at The Brunswick House on Bloor Street west of Spadina every Saturday 3:30-7:30pm.

And now, back to more raves about Joe. Yes, his version of Dixe Breakdown is wonderful! On Longview's version of Brighter Mansion, during his solo, he also does a really nice move transitioning from the A to the D7

Incidentally, I was hanging out with Don Rigsby recently and he told me that Longview's new line-up will be: Marshall Wilborn on bass, Ron Stewart on fiddle, J.D. Crowe on banjo, Lou Reed on guitar, James King on vocals, Don Rigsby on mandolin. How 'bout that!?

Chris Quinn

www.foggyhogtownboys.com

flatthead - Posted - 11/16/2006:  14:42:19

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I think that would be Dave Evans who sang One Loaf of Bread.

Joe Mullins, in addition to being a great musician, is a great businessman as well. I believe he owns 2 or 3 radio stations around Dayton and Middletown. These stations are unique in that the DJs play whatever they want...no clear Channel, no corporate instructions: if the DJ feels like playing Walk Through This World With Me, followed by Blue Moon of Kentucky, then that's the way it is....like *real* radio should be......

Check out WBZI, WKFI and WEDI or go to http://www.myclassiccountry.com/

Chris Quinn - Posted - 11/16/2006:  14:48:46

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flatthead,

I forgot about Joe's involvement in radio! Allowing the DJ's to program what they want, as it should be, may be Joe's most important contribution to music today; almost more so than his banjo playing.

Chris Quinn

www.foggyhogtownboys.com

Sambo - Posted - 11/16/2006:  15:33:14

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Back to the new Longview...that sounds like an awesome line-up Chris...but I can't help but wonder why Joe's not in it?

"Don't you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with Possum fat,
Change your name to Mrs Earl Scruggs!"

wrangler - Posted - 11/16/2006:  15:56:50

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Flathead, Thanks for Dave Evans. My mind is like a steel...ball bearing.

Moon Mullins was a DJ on WPFB in Middletown. Does Joe own that one?

Mike

To peace, happiness, banjos that stay in tune and people likewise.

pstroud1 - Posted - 11/16/2006:  16:04:10

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I heard Joe with Tradional Grass at a festival is south central NY one time and I almost wore out the casette on the way back to WV. Love that sound.

Also Love longview.

Paul

Sambo - Posted - 11/16/2006:  16:29:40

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Thats it...Gotta get those Traditional Grass CD's......Speaking of Dave Evans...Man can that guy sing...gotta be the strongest voice in Bluegrass....add a banjer picker to boot! I also love that song Fields of Plenty. Sends shivers up my spine.
Have you heard Jimmy Arnold singing "Jesse James" (not the traditional )...its absolutely wild....there another great bluegrass musician done gone!


"Don't you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with Possum fat,
Change your name to Mrs Earl Scruggs!"

Larry Maples - Posted - 11/16/2006:  16:44:53

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I watched Joe practice in the acutab room for his performance on Benny Mccoy at IBMA a few years ago, some of the finest banjo work I have ever seen, and he never cracked a sweat.

fgodbey - Posted - 11/17/2006:  15:56:50

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I've known Joe Mullins since he was a kid. In the beginning, when our paths crossed, his Dad would occasionally say, "Hey Frank, show Joe how that goes..." but after a VERY short time it became, "Hey Joe, show Frank how that goes..." Joe's a hoss! And he takes up a couple of spots on my list of preferred banjerpickers.
--Cheers, FG

Daveol5string - Posted - 11/17/2006:  16:24:10

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I must live in a cave! I first heard of this group this week while listening to XM radio. When the song started playing I set up and took notice! And wondered "Who Is That!" The song was Lost Cave. As a matter of fact I was going to post a thread here to see if anyone had any info on this band but I did a Google search and found them. Guys I listen to Bluegrass juction on XM almost constantly. How did I miss them? Ive just heard the one song but man that banjo work was SWEEEEET!!! I am out to find the CD. Wonder if it can be found in local music houses or if I'll have to order it on line? Thanks for the post, like I said I was fixin to post one myself.

Dogg gone sheriff you sure can render

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Edited by - Daveol5string on 11/17/2006 16:25:44

Sambo - Posted - 11/20/2006:  08:37:33

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I think Amazon has all three Longview and two Traditional Grass.
They're also to be found here....fhttp://www.bluegrassoutlet.com/

"Don't you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with Possum fat,
Change your name to Mrs Earl Scruggs!"

wbloomfield - Posted - 11/20/2006:  15:52:57

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I got to see Joe Mullens for the first time this weekend at the Southern Ohio Indoor Bluegrass Festival. Mullens organized the festival, and I can't say enough about his professionalism in organizing the event, his excellence in mc'ing the event, his depth of knowledge regarding the bands, and last (but not least) his banjo and singing ability. Joe Mullens is a class act! Thanks Joe for organizing an outstanding weekend of bluegrass.

Will Bloomfield
www.myspace.com/willbloomfield
www.mp3.com/willbloomfield

Sambo - Posted - 11/20/2006:  15:59:56

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The first time I saw Joe was at the Winterfest in Tacoma Wa...Get this...Its a banjo workshop...what a lineup...Sammy Shelor, Tony Trishka, Scott Vestal, Ben Eldridge, Danny Barnes...and Joe Mullins.........thought I died and went to heaven! Anyway , Joe's the greatest thing since Gibson banjos...Gotta go...Joe's on the radio!

"Don't you marry Lester Flatt, He slicks his hair with Possum fat,
Change your name to Mrs Earl Scruggs!"

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Edited by - Sambo on 11/20/2006 16:00:56

Bad Bernie - Posted - 05/10/2007:  04:23:45

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Hey, Mullins fans! I’ve been out of touch with the banjo scene recently – babies and stuff have interfered for a couple of years. But I am such an obsessive fan of Joe’s playing, I feel I should have STARTED this thread, not arrived late like I have !! But I am so pleased to find it here. Joe is such an unsung hero in banjodom, and, for me, his hard (I mean HARD) driving, yet tasteful blend of Scruggs, Reno and Osborne is the most thrilling banjo playing I’ve ever heard. And there are a few of us (not many enough) who feel the same. To anyone not familiar with his playing, I recommend – even more than Longview – the Traditional Grass stuff, in particular the 10th Anniversary Collection, Howdy Neighbour Howdy and Songs of Love and Life. Get the Acutab book and get your fingers around Country Girl Blues and then go for Be True to Yourself. If you can manage the latter, try working out his break on “Pretending” (if you dare!) And then listen to his backup. All of it. We are talking seriously grown-up banjo playing here. Adults only.

Oh, if you get the the Acutab book, you can read about his Rich and Taylor that he recorded all that stuff on. According to the book, it’s “the finest R+T ever made”. But it isn’t Joe’s any more. He sold it to me a few years ago. And I’m still thrilled to bits with it.