MatthewSYoung - Posted - 02/22/2014:  20:15:05

Hi everyone - 

Which young players these days are you inspired by?

Who do you see as the future of Clawhammer, either in terms of carrying the traditional torch or in breaking new ground?

I've been really enjoying Brad Kolodner's stuff on Youtube lately.

Looking forward to your answers!

Paul R - Posted - 02/22/2014:  20:28:48

Frank Evans plays banjo with the Slocan Ramblers, out of Toronto. He splits his time onstage between his Nechville Bluegrass banjo and his Rickard open-back. Unfortunately, there's just one clawhammer tune on their CD, Shaking Down the Acorns: "The Law and Lonesome". He does much more CH in concert. If you like melodic CH, check them out when they come to a venue near you.

Edited by - Paul R on 02/22/2014 20:32:39

MatthewSYoung - Posted - 02/22/2014:  20:38:58

Thanks for the heads-up - I'll definitely check him out!

Dale Morris - Posted - 02/22/2014:  21:55:48

You might want to check out Riley Baugus, and Adam Hurt.

Clockwork John - Posted - 02/22/2014:  22:52:27

Lately I've been finding inspiration for my CH playing in my favorite Irish Tenor players. I listen to current groups like The Tossers, Flogging Molly, and The Rumjacks, as well as older groups like The Pogues, as well as earlier Irish Trad stuff, and hear things I can recreate, or at least approximate, playing clawhammer. It's a definite departure from tradition and convention, but I can definitely say the future of MY clawhammer playing lies in punk-influenced celtic folk/celtic folk-influenced punk, depending on your perspective on the genre.

BlowingRockNC - Posted - 02/23/2014:  05:49:09

quote:

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Originally posted by Dale Morris

You might want to check out Riley Baugus, and Adam Hurt.

===============

Riley isn't as young as he use to be, but he's far from being as old as many of us. I really like to listen to Riley play the banjo, although he also plays just about everything else too.

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brummeister1 - Posted - 02/23/2014:  06:17:32

This is a new, young band from my neighborhood. They're pretty big in WI and they're not the only local band that use a clawhammer player.

youtube.com/watch?v=QG0G9feEvzM

thisoldman - Posted - 02/23/2014:  08:30:19

Young is kinda relative.  I enjoy listening to the youngsters who take part in the monthly contests and it seems a good share of them place at the top. I don't know if Patrick Costello or Mike Iverson are what you consider young, but I enjoy their playing and the sharing they have done here on the BHO and elsewhere.   Probably the youngest player I can put a name to is Tyler May -- I can't seem to find his website now though, that had some of his clawhammer tabs and music.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/23/2014:  08:47:50

quote:

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Originally posted by thisoldman

Young is kinda relative.  I enjoy listening to the youngsters who take part in the monthly contests and it seems a good share of them place at the top. I don't know if Patrick Costello or Mike Iverson are what you consider young, but I enjoy their playing and the sharing they have done here on the BHO and elsewhere.   Probably the youngest player I can put a name to is Tyler May -- I can't seem to find his website now though, that had some of his clawhammer tabs and music.

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How anyone can mention Patrick Costello and Mike Iverson in the same breath amazes me.

Bluesage - Posted - 02/23/2014:  11:21:47

quote:

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Originally posted by Marc Nerenberg

quote:

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Originally posted by thisoldman

Young is kinda relative.  I enjoy listening to the youngsters who take part in the monthly contests and it seems a good share of them place at the top. I don't know if Patrick Costello or Mike Iverson are what you consider young, but I enjoy their playing and the sharing they have done here on the BHO and elsewhere.   Probably the youngest player I can put a name to is Tyler May -- I can't seem to find his website now though, that had some of his clawhammer tabs and music.

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How anyone can mention Patrick Costello and Mike Iverson in the same breath amazes me.

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I don't find it strange at all as both Pat and I encourage players to stretch themselves beyond the boundaries of "old-time" music.  Plus we both love photography and take a lot of weird shots of insects and things!  Pat has inspired a whole lot of people to take up the instrument and I, for one, am grateful for all his hard work.



If fact, the only thing I find weird is mentioning us in the same sentence as "young"...

Edited by - Bluesage on 02/23/2014 11:22:25

JTRoberts - Posted - 02/23/2014:  11:39:21

Pat Costello gets slagged a lot on this forum. He can be cranky for sure, but he has certainly been criticized here. That said, Pat Costello has made a lot of contributions to OT music and banjo in particular, and deserves to be recognized.

Another young player I like is Dan Wall. Others will be mentioned when they come to mind.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/23/2014:  12:48:24

Well, my feeling was that Patrick and Mike were about as different in approach as I could imagine - so I found it odd to see them paired. On the other hand, if Mike doesn't find it odd - who am I to find it so?

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/23/2014:  12:54:33

The young players that have most caught my attention are Abigail Washburn and Sarah Jarosz - though I don't think either of them is so innovative in their playing technique per se -  it's the musical contexts in which they choose to use clawhammer that I find really appealing and innovative. Also, they're both terrific singers and songwriters.

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 02/23/2014:  13:19:44

Back Around 1978 or 79 I discovered a kid named Ritchie Stearns. He was great. Just watching him and talking to him helped me completely change my approach to banjo.

When I say kid I do mean kid - as in Short. The next time I met him (a year or two later) he was taller than me.

I suppose no one considers him to be a kid today

Some of the other great "Kids" I've found:

R.D. Lunceford

Frank Lee

John Herrmann

Alan Julich

​Rick Farkas

​Kevin Fore

Hunter Robertson

Remember folks: "Young" is a relative term - I'm definitely a full generation older than any of them.

I think Mike Iverson is my generation so I guess I can't call him a young player

Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 02/23/2014 13:21:36

thisoldman - Posted - 02/23/2014:  15:10:19

It is my understanding that Patrick was "flamed" at some point on the BHO, but that is some time before I took up the banjo. Don't know what started it or keeps it going (and don't really care), all I know is that I  learned from his videos and written material when I first got my banjo and appreciate that he has done that for raw beginners wanting to learn clawhammer. I have also learned a lot from Mike's videos, his website and his forum.  So -- bottom line -- is that I appreciate the contributions they have made.  Glad this thread came up, as I always enjoy watching others play, especially the "youngsters", so it is good to see new names to look/listen for or search for on youtube.

Edited by - thisoldman on 02/23/2014 15:11:50

BrendanD - Posted - 02/24/2014:  16:35:54

quote:

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

Some of the other great "Kids" I've found:

Remember folks: "Young" is a relative term - I'm definitely a full generation older than any of them.

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Well, Tony, you're definitely not a generation older than John Herrmann. In fact, he may even be a bit older than you; a 2004 Old-Time Herald article was written about him marking his 60th year!

Corkhill Cobbler - Posted - 02/25/2014:  05:38:46

Brad Kolodner and Riley Baugus perform in the Northeast now and then. Hopefully they can influence more CH player vocalists. RB does a good Darlin Corey. It would be good to see more singer/players but it seems most go to bluegrass or Guitar. David Holt and Laura Boosinger and all on the Old time Banjo Fest CD. Just my opinion but I think most young players are drawn to the showbizz of Bluegrass with banjo.

As a beginner I give more Credit to Pat ( the father) Costello. His free series of starting CH instruction is what got me Started. Easy to follow for the basics and the first time I discovered you can play a Banjo without having to put a bunch of pics on your fingers. Its worth a check for newbies who never touched a banjo.

Bill - Posted - 02/25/2014:  06:36:13

If clawhammer's future is in Brad Kolodner's hands, then it has a very bright future indeed.