warpdrive - Posted - 11/15/2018:  13:16:40

Thanks for thoughts Guys,
I am at the library right now. They have there wireless password posted, "bookworm" and it's nice and quiet.
Yeah it would be nice to have a connection i could get on from the house, but there isn't even anything that scans within the boundaries of what this laptop will do.

I did manage to get on a local motel's wifi from the laundry mat parking lot yesterday, before going to McDonalds, but i really think that in a town of 2700, probably over half or more don't have wifi and cable in there homes, i know i can't afford the rates around here, but that is the price you pay for solitude and scenery....i guess.

I know it sounds strange, but i long for the sounds of gunshots and sire wales, and stepping over the occasional heroin overdose.

They really frown on you coming to the emergency room at 4am just because your up and board and there isn't anything else to do, in fact, they get down right nasty!

It certainly is nice enough and warm enough to pick, and i went up to the square to see if anything was stirring......not a nibble. So i went in the music store, made some small talk, and went and got a dip of ice cream, sat in the sun and ate it, and came down here since there was nothing else to do. Big life....huh?

I figure tomorrow afternoon and saturday will be large around here.

Guess i'd better get back to the house, Bernidine and Andy will be ready for a walk about the property.
I give ya'll a shout in the morning, again, thanks for the thoughts especially for Bernidine, and as for me, well.... y'all knew where this train was headed when you got on it!
Later.....
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/16/2018:  07:50:15

Friday, Nov 16th, 9:am...McDonalds

Good Friday Morning

The temps only dropped into the upper 30's last night, so i am holding my breath that it will heat up quickly later this morning, headed for a high of 60 today, and in my book that constitutes picking temps, and i will certainly head up to the square and sniff.

Last night was good for PMS tv (as good as i have come to expect from PMS).
After suffering through the BBC and Pms news hour with "squigward wooddruff" i managed to stomach the British Antiques Road Show. Man those Brit's are a lively bunch aren't they?
Last night was a double shot of "JamesTown" back to back episodes made the evening pass nicely , and before i knew it , it was 10:00 and time for bed.

Bedtime is something that me and dogs all look forward too, and truth be told, i've become a pack animal, and i know the days are coming when i will look back on this life i've had with my babies, as the happiest times of my life, and it saddens me just thinking about the coming days when they won't be with me, so i live most of my moments with them in my mind, and Truthfully(and ya'll don't hold this against me)
The very reason i quite being social and picking out more and other social ventures is because i have dogs, and i treat them as my kids, but i just can't view animals and especially dogs and something we have dominion over and that they are lesser simply because we don't speak the same language. Ok, Enough of that, preaching is on Sunday!
Bedtime for us is me getting a mattress off the bed in the small bedroom, and dragging it out in the middle of the living room floor, and bedding down with myself and Bernidine on the mattress and andy up in the recliner or on the couch with in arms reach of me.
For any "lurking psychologist" you can read between the lines that i have many broke toys in my attic. But this sleeping in the middle of the room is something i've only started doing in the last 3 months since me and the babies have been in transit and it is something like a safety re-set i do harkening back to my army days in reference to controlling and covering access and entryways in un-familiar places and being able to defend them.
And yes, in case anybody was wondering, i have large caliber handguns within arms reach as well as blinding tac lights, and as a younger man, i was highly trained. My skill set probably isn't what it once was but just as Toby Keith sang about.......

"I ain't as good as i once was, but i'm as good once, as i ever was"! Same goes for banjo picking!
Ok, enough of my mental problems, and on to what the day may hold?

I have been using some "working hands" hand treatment cream each day on my finger tips and cuticles , i don't know about any of the rest of you, but the winter and cold temps reek havoc on my cuticles and when they start tearing and cracking, it's difficult to pick when your picks hurt you fingers! I also have a bad habit of cutting my nails to short and they will sometime grow into the quick and make notation on my fretboard painful, i guess i 'm just becoming a "big wuss", hey, that could be the name of a good instrumental, something i should work on huh?

Well, it's getting nigh on to 10am, and they should be done pulling down the mail and putting it in the post office box, or close to it. so i guess i should be getting back and heading for home, i promised the babies that when it warmed up today, we would go out on the front porch while i picked " and yes, i talk to them just like i am talking to you guys.

Ok guys, here's hoping to warmer temps and good picking, and something good that will happen to get me out of here and back to Cincinnati.
Y'all, have a gooderun,
Warp!

Aradobanjo - Posted - 11/16/2018:  19:52:38

Hello Warp,

Cincinnati has been recovering from the first fall winter-storm. The ice was not nice to many. I was without power, phone, and internet. I got power the same day I lost it. The internet was restored at 10:00 pm tonight. That is story by itself. But, we are in the clear so they say. The worst is over. I am picking with my family tomorrow.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/17/2018:  08:58:22

Saturday Nov 17th, 8:56 am... McDonalds

Good morning,

Well the temps yesterday crept into the mid 60's, so last night, it didn't drop below 40 i guess, in fact, i didn't have to turn the heat on to knock a chill out of the house, in fact, when i came back in from the square yesterday, i had to turn a couple of fans on.

I guess i got my banjo out somewhere in the neighborhood of 10:30, quarter of 11. It was nice on the front porch, and the babies like being out milling around on the deck, especially Andy, my Begal Bassett mix. He is a sun hound, and likes finding where the sun is hitting the brightest and hottest, and then he stretches out and bastes himself, done to a turn! Bernidine, not so much, English Bulldogs are the most heat sensitive dogs there is, and many a English Bulldog has stroked out because of the sun, so she being a bit on the retarded side, i am ever mindful of how much sun she is getting, she's been known to not know when to say when, and i have to much money invested in her to let something happen to her out of my stupidity, besides the fact that i love her more than life itself!

I guess we stayed out on the porch for the better part of an hour, and i got my fingers good and loose, and i knew it was about time to fix a light lunch and head up to the square. We went inside and i fixed half a tuna salad sandwich and a handful of chips, and of course the kids got little bites of my meal (that's how we all stay trim, one meal between the three of us). I took each of them around the property for a bathroom romp, and then sat them in there chairs and told them i'd be back in a couple of hrs, and out the door i went!

I don't think it was quite noon when i parked around the corner beside the ice cream shack that sits on the same property as Mt View Music Store. The Corn Hole throwers were already in the midst of a hot match, and there were several people out milling around, but no pickers did i see.
One of the corn hole throwers asked me "where's your banjo" and i told them that if they didn't mind, i would get it and serenade them whilst they threw there bean bags, but not to get mad at my playing and chunk one at me," of course, they were all wanting to hear some music so i turned to head back to my suv to get my banjo, and was 2 steps behind another man who had already said he was going to get his guitar.

The man that got his guitar has the nickname of "Scobby" i don't recall seeing him around the square before, but then i've not been here for 5 years or better. We both took up positions on the porch, and eventually had to move out of the sunlight, it got warm in a hurry.
We got tuned up and i let him start(i will give reasons for never going first later).
Scoub is not a rhythm guitar player for banjo seconding, not by any stretch of the term. He is good at accompanying himself, but has no idea about playing behind a banjo.
Scobby is a deeply religious man, and every thing he did was of the religious nature, not that its a bad thing, i have no quarrel with playing gospel, and i am good at it, i just was not expecting a whole afternoon of it, and with a not so good rhythm man.

Scoub and i played about 15 minutes or so, and then Bob (one of the expert corn holers ) come up on the porch with a fiddle, and i didn't even know he was fiddler at all.

Bob didn't prove to be much relief in being much more than a bit better than Scobby. He was ok at a certain speed, but more of a old time country fiddler, staying on single strings and no double stops what so ever.
The big attribute that Bob did bring to the jam was a "booming Baritone Lead Voice" it was powerful and deep, kind of like Tennessee Ernie Ford. Bob lead off with a slow jam version of Red wing, but followed up with an old Hank Thompson Tune and i quickly adapted my banjo from bluegrass mode to country back up, it was refreshing to get to use the steel guitar bends again and other electric country guitar back up i use in these situations.
I knew i was not going to be able to pick up the pace much, in just wasn't in these guys abilities, but i was happy to be in the sun and picking some.

A few minutes went by and here come a mandolin. I had seen this gentleman a few times, jamming with others, and he was a competent picker, not fast, but he could play country and western swing tunes, and his timing was adequate, his name was Clancey.
Now as it turns out, several of these guys play regular, 3-4 times a week, but not bluegrass, mainly old time country and texas swing and gospel, and when the weather is permitting, they are regulars out in front of the store.
Clancey had not been there for more than a couple of tunes when the bass showed up. I had played with the bass player in years past, and we recognized each other, although his name escapes me at this time. He is a decent bass player, primarily a 1/5 player with a passing tone run, now and then, but not often.

We had all the elements in place, but for me, this was going to be on the threshold of what for me is a slow jam, still, i was content to make it work for me.

Clancey brought out the "dreaded personal song book" and we started the "circle of death"! Why do say it like that?, because for professional road musicians, or professional musicians period, that is exactly what it is, something that you only see in slow jams and musicians of a lesser ability, and not to be confused with a stage band set list!
When the circle got back around to bob, he gave another wonderful booming rendition of a cowboy ballad, something along the trail, i forget, but it was good, and he amazes me at 69 to still have such a good voice.

Well the moment i dreaded most was here, I was up. I had no idea what to do, because what ever i did, was going to have to be at half my gas, and i was going to have to monitor the timing real close, because these guys weren't accustomed to playing with banjo pickers, especially a banjo picker that plays as far to the front of the beat as possible with out being in front of the beat.

In the last few years, my natural hand timing is more like early Earl, than mid to late 60's earl, and if you can't hear the difference, there is nothing i can say to you, that is going to help you or make you hear it, you either know it, or you don't, it's that simple!

To have your hand timing be "fluid and flowing " and out on the front of the beat(jimmy martin's timing was like this) and then to try and play banjo tunes with a band that is deeply rooted in old time country and western swing time, is like running a marathon in combat boots! I know not another way to put it, and not offend!

I decided to play Earls version of "shorting Bread" thinking that it would be simple enough and a recognizable medley, "You would think"....... not a chance!
I kicked it off, and it coughed and sputtered and they all looked like "Possums sitting on a limb just blinking". Not a single one of them knew it, but that didn't stop the "butchering" and they hacked there way through it! I couldn't get out of this tune fast enough.
Now the dye had been set by Scoub back when we started, most of the tunes were staying fairly religious in there scope and at some point, somebody(i think it was Clancey)invited one of the onlookers up onto the porch to sing and play with us but first he had to go to his car for something.
I was expecting the new comer to come back with an "accordion or a set of bag pipes my mind conjured up all sorts of malignant thoughts and then my worst night mare was realized , he brandished the "spear of destiny" for banjo pickers, a real live , right out the church pew, "Red Hymnal"!

I said earlier that i don't mind picking some gospel tunes, in fact i play many of them as instrumentals, but i don't want to do it for a whole afternoon and at half my ability. And as for the religious incantations, if these guys knew my history and past, and if any of them were "good Catholics" they need to go to confession just for being on the same porch as me, i've been that bad......in my past!

The death march continued and eventually it got back around to me, and the bass player was indicating that he was ready for some bluegrass, (at least what they thought was bluegrass) and somehow they got it in there minds that the banjo was the one to give them "bluegrass".
I think i know how the "cave men" felt when they discovered fire, but this was not that moment, not by a long shot.
The one thing i've learned in my years of being a "gunslinger banjoist" is the one rule that you must obey when your the fastest gun in town and confronted with new jammers........."you must be able to read your jammers ability" if you break this most sacred of Banjo gunslinging," a pox will be upon your head and the curse of the seven crows will then ensue"!

I countered and stayed in the religious vein with my signature "Farther Along" played with my Cheat-A-Keys! It got there attention, and drew some nice applause from the audience.
When the circle got back around to Bob, he had a request to do one of his "famous renditions" of the Leroy Van Dyke classic "The Auctioneer"! Bob has quite the following for this tune and some others.
Bob was trying to show Scoub(remember i already told you, he's a slow guitar)how to second him on this song, and it was going right over Scoubs head, it was not going to happen.
I ask Scoub if i could borrow his guitar and i would set my banjo down and do the backup, Scoub nodded with a look of relief and handed me his Taylor and his flat pick.
I nodded my head toward Bob and said"let her rip, potato chip" and away we went.

It felt good to have a guitar in my hands again , something that is just as familiar as a banjo, maybe more. I held Bob at about 110 bmp, probably close to the original recording and he was in fine voice, this song really suited him, and the rest of the band being familiar with Bob, was holding pace like champs! I switched from Bluegrass boom chuck to Bar/sock chords(cowboy chords)back and forth, it was the most fun i'd had all day.
Now Scoub was in no hurry to take the guitar back and i kept it and backed up a full circle of songs. The last song i backed up on Guitar was with Bob making an attempt at "Kansas City Kitty" i must admit, i really miss playing western swing rhythm guitar, it was fun, but now it was my turn again..... and the afternoon was waining.

The bass player was intent on making a do something with some speed on it, and I was having no part of it........remembering rule #1 of gunslinging banjo.

There was no way i was going to kick something off in the 150-180 range when these guys top end wasn't much above 110 and that is being generous!

I closed out the jam with one of my personal favorite Gospel tunes that make a great banjo instrumental, "Life's Mountain Railway".
As a younger man, i was going to make my first Banjo instrumental album(if there ever was going to be one) all gospel, they are just fun to play, and i've worked extra hard to get medley lines "spot on" played just as there sang, and keeping them in a Scruggs format. i have a great "up the neck second break" and i like this song, probably as well as Farther Along its just not as flashy because of no Cheat-A-Keys!

The song was a good one to end on, and it brought some of the audience up on the porch, to shake and howdy, with the bass player still insisting that we should play some thing more rousing and banjo like, which i wanted to say something like "yeah, its easy when all your doing is hitting the 1/5 all the time, but no body else was heralding his sentiments and the jam ended with salutations and possibilities of what tomorrow's jam might hold.

Well, that was yesterday and this is today. I will drive by the square on the way to check the mail at the post office and see what is stirring. The temps will hit 70 today, and i'm already in a short sleeve shirt.
I'm still going home first, I must let my babies go out on the porch deck and i will play and loosen up my fingers in hopes of a more "taxing" jamming experience today and more suited to my level, but i'm sure i will make do with what ever is offered, and who knows, i may not even jam at all......again.....always remembering rule#1.

You guys have a gooderun,
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 11/17/2018:  16:38:37

It's stories like these that make me so happy to have you back Warp. I really enjoyed reading it, and am happy you got out to pick a bit even if it wasn't exactly what you expected. But, that's what a professional does, adapts to the situation. I wish I was there to listen or even pick a few with you guys. I don't know much gospel, but I can usually keep up with the changes and walk up and down to the chords.

Ciao - Posted - 11/17/2018:  16:51:11

"Possums sitting on a limb just blinking"

A fabulous line - so descriptive - I'll be using that sometime for sure.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/18/2018:  08:29:08

Sunday Nov 18th, 8:29 am....McDonalds

Good Morning...

Here we go gang, another episode of "Warpdrive In Hooterville"!

I guess i should skip the nights activities of myself and Bernidine and Andy, and our sedate existence at the house, with no internet, and only PMS TV and 2 short wave receivers.
I guess the highlight of last night was Bobby Osborne and Rocky Top Express, turned in a fine performance on the Opry, Bobby was in fine voice. Oh yeah, on a side note, his banjo player that has been with the last few weeks i've listened is Gary Reece and as i've said before, he pulls a great tone in the spirt of Sonny's days with Bobby, i would be curious as to what brand of banjo he's thumping on?

Ok, what everybody i know is "chomping at the bit" to hear......The Jamming on the square yesterday, or should i say, The Jam on the square, as i think we were the only group, if there was another one, i didn't hear them or see them!

I don't know what the official temp got to yesterday, but i would not be surprised to know it hit 70, i would have made that bet!
I warmed up on my front porch in the porch swing, with the babies happily running about and Andy finding his sun spot on the deck, it was a beautiful fall morning, and i really like the way my banjo sounds on that porch, just the right amount of "reverb" bouncing off the walls and out into the empty park. We probably stayed out there the better part of an hour, but i was in no hurry, not after friday's "fiasco", but as the say in the movies...."hope springs eternal"!

After a good ole "microwave cheeseburger" and a handful of chips, and the routine bathroom romp for the babies, i was off to the races, with wonderment of what would rear its ugly head in the form of a jam today.

I was kind of shocked that there wasn't more cars upon the square and i could pull right up in front of the Music store, but then again, it is past the season and getting into winter time a coming , so the town is really down to just the locals, and that especially means the jammers in front of the store.

I could see there was a small group, not on the porch, but down in front of the ice cream shack where the jam usually takes place, with a few on lookers sitting up next to the fence.
There were people in line at the ice cream shack ready to get some of that good "Blue Belle" ice cream. I'm guilty myself of getting a dip of the butter pecan now and again, it's "gooder than snuff, and not half as dry"!

I walked up "unarmed"(without banjo)! This is just a habit i've developed over the years to keep me from getting invited into jams i'd rather not get in, i've covered that ground before, so i'll not rehash it with you now!

I could see that Bob, the fiddler with the great Baritone Voice was facing and a guitar player i didn't recognize and another guitar player with his back to me as i walked up....it was Scoub, and the bass player from yesterday, i believe his name is Don and he was already in position.
Bob asked me if i came empty handed, and is said "no, but i wanted to make sure i was invited first." I says to Bob" you know where i come from, you don't just walk up in a man's front yard without an invite, or you liable to get shot" he acknowledged my custom and said "well....Your Invitied" so i headed back to my suv to get my ax!

I won't go into detail about the jam, needless to say, it was only "marginally better than yesterday, with only a couple of high points worth writing home about!

There was a good "harmonica break" on an invited onlookers version of "just a closer walk with thee, with me an bob echoing the "just a closer walk" on the choirs. Oh yeah, one of the 'corn hole throwers is a good harmonica tooter, and actually caught me off guard with how much i liked his break, he could really bend those notes in a "charlie McCoy kind of way! But that was his big moment and contribution, he quickly fizzled out like a 4th of July sparkler!

The "Circle of Death was in play as usual, and i sat with a lump in my throat, and a pit in my stomach, wondering what the hell i was going to do with these guys, that they could get behind with something that resembled "Drive".
Now don't get me wrong, these guys can play old time country and western swing, and they don't need a banjo, really, they don't, they just kind of like having one around like a church likes having a "Chandelier" hanging in the middle of the auditorium, it looks good, but doesn't do anything for the message!

The circle finally got around to me, (i followed Scoub). I had at the very least, got scoub to do what i considered the "best" bad rhythm song he does, "poor rich man" which he absolutely burns up at about 60 bpm!" By the way, Scoub is probably younger than me, so age has nothing to do with his playing, he just can't pick, but his heart is in the right place, and i'm just trying to be a good influence on him, ....when i can!

Bob looked at me, (as if i didn't know) and says "kevin, your up"!
Now yesterday i told you guys about "Rule #1 of gunslinging banjo" and never to break it........well, today's lesson class is about Rule #2...Never Let The Lesser Expeirenced Jammers Give You A Request!
Although i'm real good about not breaking Rule#1, i frequently find myself unable to sustain from breaking Rule #2, i guess because in my heart, i know breaking Rule #2 is the lesser of the 2 evils, Just the same, the deed was done, and i took a request from the Harmonica tooter.

The Harmonica tooter said" since we got a banjo player here now, i want you to do
"foggy Mt, Breakdown" and i will take a break on it too!

Now i can't tell you how many times i've sat up on the side of the bed, first thing of the morning when i wake up and said to myself....." I sure hope I get to jam with a harmonica tooter today, and we can play Foggy Mt Breakdown, just as god had intended it"!

By the time this "Greek Tragedy" was getting ready to unfold, another guitar player who was decent enough, but not somebody i would ever seek out, had joined the group, and the bass player don, decided to take a break, and the new guitar player, took up the bass, and the concept of 1/5 managed to "befuddle him"!
So here's today's line up......Bob the baritone but not a fiddler....on fiddle....Don the bass player, who is solid on 1/5 but now on the steps eating a ice cream cone, and pinch-hitting for don is "new guy who put his barley decent guitar ability down to play in Don's stead. The Harmonica playing corn hole thrower who requested this soon to be top 10 hit and of course.....batting clean up, on rhythm guitar.....Scoub!

You know, in my past, i've been shot at, and cut with knives and was caught in the middle of a "drive by shooting" walking across a parking lot in Wichita one night, and i would gladly go through any or all of them again to get out of what i knew was coming, but it wasn't meant to be, and sometimes, all you can do is take the beat down you know is coming, that's all you can do!

I was wondering how i should kick this off......dare i attempt a "classic 49" kick off....or should i go with the sedate "67" re-boot(i know that's where the harmonica tooter learned it from).
I went with the third option....the well known "country musician's perception of bluegrass kickoff" the "512 three beat claw pinch "sneak up on it" intro....surely to God, they could get this right and keep time.......you'd think........."NOT"!

I was hopeing for a limping 110 bpm steady hold, but from the kick off, the timing and speed plummeted faster than falling temperatures in a Rocky Mountain Blizzard!
Scoub held right in there on rhythm guitar with the "predictability of a terrorist bomber" i never knew where his beat was going to strike, but it was always going to be where i didn't want it, and by the time the "harmonica tooter" had finished his break, there was no choice but to kick my leg up and "bale out" in shame!

The Train Wreak that killed Casey Jones probably was no less a "catastrophe " than this song, and none of the participants in this should ever be allowed to speak Earl Scruggs name in public ever again, and that especially includes me!

From there reaction, you would have thought these guys had been "bear hunting with a switch" and killed the bear! They felt like they had really burned up a good one, and i guess i should be happy for them and the take away should be i brought some joy to some jammers and onlooking audience.....so lets go with that!

There were a couple of high points in the form of a couple of the local country guitar players that play in the local theaters came by, and because they were playing acoustic made them think they were playing bluegrass because they played " Bob Wills, Rolley Polley" and "My window faces the South" with a banjo picker....and i let them have there thoughts , but we all know that working out country licks on a acoustic guitar does not a flat picker make.
One of the good country guitar players even got out his RB-100 and showed me his prowess of playing "wheels on the banjo" great tune, and he did a good job with his loping roll he has developed, but seriously, he was a good country guitar player, very advanced and good up the neck country work, but no Leon Rhodes, but still very welcome to help with Scoub's timing!

The jam ended at about the same time as yesterday, and i was glad to have done it, but was glad to get back to the babies, and the front porch, where we sat, and i decompressed and called my friends in Cincinnati because i am homesick, and just wanted to hear there voices.

The night went as usual and today is another day. I don't think the temps will make it out of the 50's today, and i am not looking for a jam and i mean........"I'M NOT LOOKING"!

Y'all have a gooderun.
Warp!

chuckv97 - Posted - 11/18/2018:  10:17:11

Hah... good stuff Kevin. Ending up in a pickle at the country store or in a jam at the jam.....

patrick martin - Posted - 11/18/2018:  19:22:25

I'm sure the people you're playing with are thrilled to have you present. I love to play and also live vicariously through you and them. Thanks for the updates. Go man go.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/19/2018:  07:16:53

Monday Nov 19th 8:43am....McDonalds

Good Morning,

This will probably be short and sweet as yesterday was a big nothing but sitting around and listening to the radio, and watching what could hold my attention on PMS and taking the babies out for bathroom walks.

I did find an interesting program in the middle of the afternoon to watch on PMS, it was about a previously unrecognized hero of the Pearl Harbor Attack and how he helped 6 guys escape from the Bombed Out and sinking Arizona, it was very good and brought a tear to my eye.

Last night had me looking forward to at least 2 shows i've been keeping up with on sunday nights, but after 9pm, there is nothing left to do but walk the babies one last time for the night, take my sleeping pill, and throw the bed down on the floor and wait!

I tell ya....these are the times that i was dreading the most when i decided i should come here to "get back on my feet" which so far, just isn't happening.

I'm too broke to do anything that is even cheap by regular folks standards, the weather isn't good enough to constantly pick, and i don't know anybody good enough that if i had a true emergency i could ask for help, i'm too old, (and too broke) to chase women, and to young to go hang out at the nursing home, i've said it before, if i didn't have my babies, i would have already found a reason to go to prison, Why you may ask?
You get three squares a day, you have a roof over your head, you have at the very least network tv to watch, and you have health care, and even get a love life(weather you want it or not) from where i am right now, if it's being homeless(yes i know i'm not there yet) or prison, i'd take prison, and i know many, many homeless people back in Cincinnati that will agree with me!
Y'all don't read to much into this......as you know....i'm just venting right now.

I'm trying to decide weather or not it will be "hungry man" or Mrs Fields for thanksgiving dinner. Last year i went hungry man for both thanksgiving and Christmas, so i may try mrs fields, either way, Bernidine and Andy will be pleased, i might even spring for some pumpkin pie, i just have a "plethora " of choices don't i?

I guess wednesday evening, i'd better come here to McDonalds and get a extra or two senior coffee's to take home, since the town will be shut down Thanksgiving Day and i mean boarded up tight, nothing like the big City where restaurants and coffee shops are open.
I always take a re-fill of my senior coffee home, and i re-heat it the next morning after i feed Bernidine and Andy, that's my new routine, come it, reheat the coffee and sit on the couch and listen to the morning radio with the tv on and muted.
The only news on in the morning on PMS is the Tokyo News and i just can't wrap my head around it enough to pretend to care about what's going on over there!

Its very grey and overcast today, not a speck of sunshine anywhere. The temps dropped into the upper 30's last night, but my little space heater that sits on the floor next to me keeps my area warm, along with Bernidine, growling when i make her move over to give me room(she's a terrible bed hog).

Well people, thats about all ole warp's got for now, i will refill my coffee, and make a stop at dollar tree, then head to the post office, but this day ain't looking like much!

Y'all have a gooderun,
and if i don't say it, or i miss a couple of days due to just nothing to write about
"Happy Thanksgiving"!
Warp!

1935tb-11 - Posted - 11/19/2018:  14:30:34

its just like being there warp,,, i love it ,,,,,, esp the froggy mtn jam ,,, thats great stuff !!





terry m

warpdrive - Posted - 11/20/2018:  07:37:50

Tuesday Nov 20th 8:47am....McDonalds

Good Morning

The temps last night managed to dip into the upper 20's, and me and Bernidine fought over positions in the bed, but when i threw part of the cover up over her, she settled down a bit.

Last night was decent enough, the "Mark Twain Prize" for comedy was on PMS last night, so i got an hour and a half of almost regular TV, meaning no british accents, but right after that, i got "Dowton Abby" which i am starting to get really into, but it was during my sleeping pill taking effect time, so i don't remember the last 20 minutes or so, i was getting into bed.
As little as i sleep,(i'm usually awake after 3 hrs or so) i could probably turn the tv back on, and catch a replay of shows i'm sedated in at bedtime, but i usually try to just go back to sleep and try and squeeze another hour or two out and force myself to stay down till at least 4am, but that doesn't alway work.

The sun is bright and shinny this morning, and it has hopes of warming up to maybe 50.
It's trash day, and the garbage truck will run later this morning, so my can is already out on the curb, cheerfully waiting.
It's also "supply/grocery/day, and when i leave here, i will go to walmart, and get some much needed groceries and toiletries.
I've still not made my decisions on our Thanksgiving Dinner, but i'm leaning on going with a big one, one that will last both lunch and dinner, hell i may even get a can of
"whoop bisket's" just to have something to sop up gravy with(bernidine and andy love a good gravy soaked bisket), and so do I.

I don't know what tonight is supposed to bring for PMS Tv, i know there is a nature special on this week on the "Paragon Falcon". I'm really wanting to see that, i really like the nature shows, and have never regretted giving up hunting years ago, at least 4 legged creatures, i'm still willing to hunt the two legged ones, there the worst!

The weather forecast is calling for sunshine and 60 on Saturday, and this saturday is "small business Saturday" so the shops and square here on the mountain should be busting at the seams.

As for the jamming prospects, well....you guys have read my previous posts, so i'm not going to hold my breath for expectations of anything different or better than what i been getting, it will be what it will be.

I think i've made the conscious decision that i'm going to try to be out of here by March, if not sooner.
I've got friends back in Cincinnati trying to find a old house or trailer that somebody has sitting empty and can't rent, and would be willing to let me move in just for paying the utilities, until i get back on my feet, but this is just a plan that is in the "thought stages right now, but it's nice knowing i got a paying gig in May there at the Appalachian Festival.
What i should do is swap my Trailblazer for an old Motorhome that would make the trip back to Cincy, and then i could just find a small rv park to stay in, but some of those are just as expensive as rent.
Anyway, i figure i'm stuck here for the winter months and at least i've got a roof over my head, and we aint going hungry, but i am concerned about not seeing my regular doctor's appointments.
I'm long over due for check up's by my Oncologist, Rheumatologist , primary care physician, and i'm due for my 3 year colonoscopy this spring.
Free rent be damed, what good is free rent, if your dead from poor health maintenance?
Anyway, for right not, i'm just suffering from Isolation, i don't guess anybody ever died from that!

Ok guys, time to kick this pig, and get my day started.
Y'all' have a gooderun,
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/23/2018:  07:56:28

Friday, Nov 23,.....9:10am.....McDonalds

Good Morning,
Happy "Black Friday"

Well,
I guess most of you are still full from yesterday's "heaps and helpings" of everything that wasn't nailed down, and fit for human consumption".
I guess many of you will have to put on your "day after thanksgiving pants" affectionately known as "fat pants" and will head out for the day of days, the dreaded "Black Friday" shopping fiasco.

Black friday no longer has any meaning for me, other than foolish people going out and spending money and going into hock for un-appreciative friends and relatives.

I gave this tradition up 9 years ago, and i don't think i've even bought a present for anybody in the same amount of time, mainly because i just can't afford it, and mostly because i've got a understanding with the friends that i do have, that i don't want your money and gifts, i want your friendship, and to have conversations, and meals, and jam sessions and such, you know......real human interaction, and thusly, most all have complied with my wishes , but occasionally i get something from a friend when i least expect it, and all i can do is just shed a tear, and shake there hand, or give a hug, and say, "Thank You!".

Personally, i have come to experience that the holidays bring out the worst in people and we really are "stinkers".
Two things in life, that i believe should be "mandatory" if ever a law could get passed
#1, Everybody should have to serve a hitch in the military for at least 2 years, but 4 would be better.
#2, everybody should have to work in a retail department store or venue, during the Christmas Holidays, and return departments right after the season!
Both of these ventures would change your outlook on life....me thinks!

So, how was everybody's Thanksgiving?

Mine, and Bernidine and Andys was a good as i can remember, we had our meal prepared by Marie Calendar, and as it turns out, the ole gal is a pretty good cook, and took her all of about 7 minutes in my microwave to fix as good a meal and i could have paid for anywhere , and i didn't have to put up with un wanted conversation, and opinions and screaming kids, and it was in the company of my most beloved pals and we were all thankful for our meal and getting to spend it together, i've no complaints!

Yesterday was beautiful, the sun shined all day and by 10am it was already in the 50's and by 10:30, me and the babies were out on the front porch, and i was picking in the swing whilst they basked in the sun, i bet we stayed out there the better part of 2 hrs.
I can't remember a nicer thanksgiving day as far as the weather goes, i wouldn't be surprised if the temps didn't flirt with 70.

Today is over cast, not supposed to get out of the 40's, chances of rain showers, and i think appropriate for Black Friday.

Tomorrow is heralded as "small business Saturday" and the temps are supposed to be favorable in the upper 60's.
I spect the local pickers with gather in front of the music store for some jamming and the lookey Lous will be out, watching and milling about.

I'm still having mixed emotions about weather i want to continue to go up to the jams and fight the battle of Bluegrass/vs/old country timing.

I really am not taking anything away from the jam sessions, and i long for the company of someone or one's that can play "banjer "timing , and if you don't know what i'm talking about, i'm truly sorry, there is nothing i can say or post that will help you. I'm not trying to be facetious, just stating a fact, there is a huge difference, and once you've experienced one, you become less enthused with the other, or at least i have!

Since this is Friday, that means if there isn't something good on PMS tonight(and you know the odds on that) i can tune in the Friday Night Grand Ole Opry.
I must admit, it still sounds good with the popping and cracking of the AM radio, and listening by the light of one dim lamp, and for a few moments, when i hear a band that i like, i am transported back in time to the days of my youth and all the miles i've driven going down the road at night, listening to the opry, and having been there several times, especially in the Ryman when i was a child, i can see the stars walking out of the wings on to a stage filled with musicians, and on lookers heading for center stage, yeah, it still does it for me!

Well gang, that's about it for today's installment, i can't think of anything else of reading value, that will help this post.

Hope all of y'all had a good Thanksgiving, and are looking forward to Christmas.
Y'all, have a gooderun,
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/24/2018:  07:47:09

Saturday Nov 24, 9:15 am....McDonalds

Good Morning

Well we had a few sprinklings of rain yesterday, but not enough to puddle up or make the ground too muddy.
The temps stayed in the 40's, and the sun never showed itself, so i didn't pick any on the porch yesterday, me and the kids just layer around all day, listening to the radio.

Last nights Friday night Grand ole Opry, was really good, or least i thought so.
Mike Snider kicked off the first show and did his usual bang up job, and then he brought out the guy that played "jerry lee lewis" in Walk The Line....Waylon..something or another, anyway, turns out his dad was the lead guitarist for Willie Nelson and he brought out Jennie Sealy, and they sung a duet together, "old flames" i'll reserve my comment about her singing, lets just say, the old opry members are way past any vocal ability, and i really respect one of my Hero's decision, to not preform past his prime and abilities.

The highlight for me, of the opry last night, was this young group of Juilliard Trained musicians, that had grew up there in Nashville, these kids brought the house down with there Christmas arrangements and vocals, i don't think in my life , i've ever heard there equals, not even from "Manheim Steam Roller" these kids where that good, and were opening there holiday tour there at the Ryman. I wish i could remember there name, it is a show worth going to see, especially if you like beautifully arranged Christmas Music heavy with strings and vocals, it was magnificent.
I felt sorry for every act that had to follow them, there was just nothing anybody else could do to even get close to what had entertained the audience.

The sun is really shining bright, and it's warming up quickly, and i will probably drive by the square and see who's up there picking, and i'm not sure that i won't park a good distance away, and look through Binocular's first....seriously.....i just don't think i can stand another afternoon of "drag time" and trying to fit in, even though they like it, i think i should be getting some satisfaction out of it every now then, and i'm not.

If there isn't anything on the square to get me picking, there are some good specials on PMS this afternoon and Tonight that i am looking forward too.

One in particular, is a special about The Carpenters that i have seen a lot, but i was such a fan of there music growing up, and i've never hear Karen Carpenters equal with here tone of voice, she was truly one of a kind, and both her and her brother were jazz musicians, him keyboards and she a drummer, she was really really good, and did many of the studio tracks they recorded, but here singing prowess became such, that it demanded she start fronting the band and the rest is history.

Well, i guess that's about it for today. I need to stop at wallie world and get some sweet taters and green beans and carrots(those are for bernidine) and me some yogurt and mixed nuts.
No need to stop at the post office, the Mt View post office is closed on Saturdays, been a long time since i stayed in a town that the post office closed on a Saturday.

At the very least, it will be warm enough to play on the porch by about 11 or so, and that will make the kids happy, and give me a chance to warm up, in case i see a need to play up on the square later, .....but i have my doubts.

Y'all have a gooderun..
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/24/2018:  07:59:50

Just a quick Follow Up to this mornings post....

The name of the band of siblings that knocked it out of the park on the Opry last night was "The Annie Moses Band".
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/25/2018:  09:17:07

Sunday, Nov, 25th, 10:41 am...McDonalds

Good Morning.

Not much of a day yesterday. The temps busted 70. and me and the kids sat out on the porch and i played till i got hot(the temps, not my picking).

I decided not to make the pilgrimage up to the square, just didn't see the percentage in playing drag time for the sake of getting out of the house, besides, jams like those hurt your picking in the long run. I won't go into details on that here and now, but there are certain things you should not do for too long, and one of them is exposure to slow jams for too long a time.

I heard a great Opry last night. Rodney Crowell, besides being one of my favorite all time performers and song writers, had a "acoustic" lead guitar player last night, that was nothing short of incredible, would love to have seen a whole show like that.
The rest of the opry was about par for the course.

I've never payed much attention to the "Folk Music Movement" from the 60's.
I do know that one of my favorite all time banjo pickers, Eric Weissburg , was a member of a folk group, and i've heard some of there material, and i like it. Where i'm headed with this is the trio "Peter, Paul, and Mary".
I didn't know i liked so much of there material, until last night. I am strictly talking about the music, not the lyrics and politics of said music, but there vocal harmonies and the drive they got out of 3 instruments( i could see a bass in the shadows) but i was finding myself wondering about what there material would sound like with a banjo, because much of it lends itself to the use of a banjo, at least in my mind.

I really did enjoy the special, and overall wasn't a bad night for PMS tv watching!

Well, its overcast, but warm today, feels like we could get some thunderstorms, and there is high wind warnings for "high profile vehicles"(i know about that).
Don't think there will be any thing of value in the form of picking today, and i am looking forward to the end of the week, specifically Friday, when i go down the mountain to kroger for prescription refills, and will do some light grocery shopping and such.
I had a nice pm from Rod Durst(ks 5 picker) and he is sending me some old banjo newsletters for me to look through,(i don't read, i just look at the pictures).

I got a call from my old friend and bandmate yesterday in Cincinnati, who heads up the Appalachian festival, and he needed my address to send me my contract for this springs festival.
I do hope i have my ducks in a row and am resettled in Cincy a good deal before that.
Each and every day i spend time, wondering how i am going to get out of this mess, and truthfully, i think i'm going to have to do way much more suffering before i come up with a reasonable solution, but ultimately, i feel me and the dogs will have to rough it out of the suv, or spring for tent, or used camper trailer, those are the simple answers i keep coming up with.
I do know, that there are many people, who are having a worse time than i am right now, and they live each and everyday, wondering about a place to shelter, and where there next meal is coming from, so as bad as i sometimes think i have it, i'm thankful it's not worse.
I tell the kids everyday, " i don't know how i could have weathered this without there loyalty and company and i can face anything, as long as i have them for companionship, don't know if any of you can relate to this or not, but if you can, then you know where i'm coming from.

Ok guys, that about it for today, guess i will refill my coffee for in the morning, and head back to the babies, there probably wondering what we are going to have for lunch. I think i will throw in one of the hungry man turkey dinners and surprise them, and why not? i mean regular folk eat thanksgiving left overs for days on end, why should we not have at least one or two more turkey dinner days?.

Y'all have a gooderun
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/26/2018:  07:53:46

Monday, Nov 26th...9:17am...McDonalds

Good Morning,

Well yesterday turned out to be a "ringed tailed tooter" but not for picking so much!

The temps did make into the 60's and me and the kids got some front porch time in but it stayed over cast all day, then when nightfall came......"all hell broke loose"!

There where times that wind blew gusts, in excess of 50mph, and i'm guessing we had sustained winds of 25mph or better for 3-4 hrs.
The wind banged the front porch swing up side the house, on the front porch, so hard, i thought it would come through the wall.
The wind blew a heavy rocking chair, and one of my big trash cans, off the side porch, and i think some of my mom's outside flower pots, with arrangements still in them, are over in the next county somewhere. One of the most windy nights i've ever seen that didn't involve a tornado, and then, long about 9 o clock or so, it was all done.

Andy,(my hound) was a frazzled mess, from barking and jumping up when a bang he didn't like would hit the house, but he's always been skiddish of loud noises.

The temps plummeted down into the upper 20.s, and after hitting 60, a 40 degree deficit was really noticed during the sleep cycle last night.

Speaking of it being nice enough to porch pick yesterday..... i've started working out, and playing my "seasonal Christmas tunes" this is something i've done all my life, and i especially like playing them because of the challenge to make them sound "bluegrassey" in a scruggs format with completion of rolls, something i've noticed that many banjo players struggle with.

This year i think i will add "Frosty The Snow Man" to the medley list, (that is what i do, play a medley of about 4, usually about 5 minutes on a recording, in the past i've done the following....

Oh Christmas Tree
Oh Come All Ye Faithful(new as of last year)
What Child Did This
The 12 Days Of Christmas( new as of last year)
In Excelsis Deo
Auld Lang syne

There are others i also do, but those are the most fun for me, as to keeping a good lick going, although i've mixed emotions about O Come All Ye Faithful as the roll is "double the singing speed, which sounds good if your used to listening in a "Born to Be with you format" but regular folk don't tend to identify with this style as much, and like something to be played exactly like it's sung.
12 days of Christmas is the fun sleeper for me this year, it really came along well and fun to work out at 135-150bpm, that keeps the 12 verses from getting monotonous after about 5 going up, but coming down from 12, its a real hoot and a half.
I plan to record these on laptop video sometime this week out side on the porch, if anybody is interested in a copy, shoot a pm that isn't a banjo hangout address and is one something that will allow for that much recording, and i will shoot you a copy.
My Little Christmas Card for this year!

Well, that's all i got this morning. Its cold, but the sun is bright, supposed to get into the 40's and maybe by wednesday, it might push 60 again, that's what i'm hoping for.

Y'all have a gooderun,
Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/27/2018:  08:52:35

Tuesday, Nov, 27th, 10:28am... McDonalds

Good Morning,

Well, this morning was laundry day, and since Bernidine pee'd the bed linens before we got settled last night, today laundry load was bigger and more urgent, and believe you me, she got a good talking too about that shenanigan, but i love her, and only hope somebody will there for me, when i start peeing the bed again.

I said yesterday that i started playing the seasonal christmas tunes for this year and have had some interest by some of you for copys when i record and send out my Christmas greetings to various people.

Yesterday after noon, i was itching to pick, and it was just to cold out on the porch and i didn't relish the thought of playing inside because of the volume to my ears, the tinnitus is so bad, my banjo just hurts indoors.

Anywho, i remembered an old trick i used to use when i had a family and they were all in bed and it was early in Morning and i was wanting to pick.....i put the old "cloths pins" on the bridge, and found i really liked the tone i was getting sitting there in the living room.
The resonance reminded me of the sound Alan Shelton got when he recorded with Jim and Jesse using a dojo, and i am thinking about recording some stuff in that format.

I remembered a Christmas tune that i worked up as a teen, after watching a John Denver Christmas special that had Steve Martin as his guest, and they were playing the holiday tune "Good King Wenceslas" or as i've heard it said by these hillbillies around here "The good King's wench is a hog"!

I really like the up the neck break i worked up for it, as a younger man, i just did the lower break, but at the age and experience i've got now, i found myself going up the neck, and dipping into my "Bobby Thompson" bag of tricks and i soon found myself having a great time, just working up a solid melodic influenced up the neck break, and still keeping it driving, i plan to work on it some more today, and may include it in the video when i record it.

I listend to Eddie Stubbs on WSM last night and learned that on tonights Tuesday Night Opry(i only learned last week it was broadcasted).
Tonight the Milk Carton Kids are going to be on, and they are some of my favorites, i just love the lead guitar "dave Rollins" style of playing, they do some great material and they are on my short list of new talent i would go see in person if funds allowed it.

I guess this will about do it for today....
time to head to the post office and see if Rods old banjo newsletters have made it down here, hope they got some nice "banjo centerfolds" there is nothing sexier than a "scantly clad five string banjo dressed in a leather strap"!

Y'all, have a gooderun
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 11/27/2018:  10:48:00

Here's Steve Martin and John Denver playing Good King Drinksalot. It would be cool if you could put your videos up on YouTube and link them here...but I guess that's out of your skill set. Another trick you can try to quiet your banjo is to stick some pajamas in the pot between the rods and the bridge.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/27/2018:  11:04:44

Warp,

You are the man!. I have been telling my wife we should cancel the cable TV. If we are not sitting in front of it clicking like zombies we are watching news and getting po'd. You are using the "purity" of your environment to pick more.

also I was looking for a tune on the internet done bluegrass style and got directed to a group from your woods of the neck - the Comet Bluegrass All Stars. Have you been to the Comet bar where they play? Do you know the group? I thought they were fun and interesting. I could not believe they made "Wild Horses" sound good in bluegrass style. anyway, I do a little bluegrass radio show some saturdays and wrote them that I wanted to play some of their stuff. I got a great cd from them and will feature them this Saturday. Going to play wild horses and My Old Kentucky Home form their cd.

In southern Indiana we have had lite flurries the last 2 days. the snow is sticking but can still see a little grass thru the snow. 

Came upon 2 nice bands I had not heard before, The Gentlemen of Bluegrass and Borrowed Tyme Band. Have played each of their CD's thru back to back to back to back. Good CD's. All good songs on each and good singing.

Within a week or so I get to go see Arthur Hatfield. Always a drive and visit I love to make. Take care in and of the Ozarks there.

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 11/27/2018 11:08:26

FlyinEagle - Posted - 11/27/2018:  12:05:57

Warp, I remember you saying a while back that you were getting a new hearing aid...did that help the tinitis at all?

FlyinEagle - Posted - 11/27/2018:  12:08:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossom

anyway, I do a little bluegrass radio show some saturdays and wrote them that I wanted to play some of their stuff

ken

---

Ken, does your radio show broadcast online too or airwaves only? 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/27/2018:  12:42:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by FlyinEagle

quote:

---

Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossom

anyway, I do a little bluegrass radio show some saturdays and wrote them that I wanted to play some of their stuff

ken

---

Ken, does your radio show broadcast online too or airwaves only? 

---

Hey Jeff,

It is online wfhb.org/ I do it 2-3 times a month from noon -2 on Saturdays. Usually I co-host with Richard Torstrick. He is a gentleman fiddler who used to play in the Old Brown County Barn as the warm up group to Bill Monroe. richard usually does the 1st hour and I do the 2nds.  He and I both love the traditional music and it is fun because i listen to music and try to plan some of it ahead of time. I started doing it this last spring and still make some dumb mistakes like giving a build up to a song and then pushing the wrong button and playing a different song. but I think the music we bring is the real deal and we mention Bean Blossom from time to time.

ken

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/27/2018:  12:44:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mooooo

Here's Steve Martin and John Denver playing Good King Drinksalot. It would be cool if you could put your videos up on YouTube and link them here...but I guess that's out of your skill set. Another trick you can try to quiet your banjo is to stick some pajamas in the pot between the rods and the bridge.

---

Moo,

Warp sent me one last year and it was GOOD! I love his playing anyway. So be good and maybe you will get more than coals in your stockings this year.

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 11/27/2018 12:45:17

FlyinEagle - Posted - 11/27/2018:  12:49:22

 

---

Hey Jeff,

It is online wfhb.org/ I do it 2-3 times a month from noon -2 on Saturdays. Usually I co-host with Richard Torstrick. He is a gentleman fiddler who used to play in the Old Brown County Barn as the warm up group to Bill Monroe. richard usually does the 1st hour and I do the 2nds.  He and I both love the traditional music and it is fun because i listen to music and try to plan some of it ahead of time. I started doing it this last spring and still make some dumb mistakes like giving a build up to a song and then pushing the wrong button and playing a different song. but I think the music we bring is the real deal and we mention Bean Blossom from time to time.

ken

---

That is really cool.  I am usually putzing around the house on Saturdays, especially in winter. I will tune in and give it a listen.  I know you must play stuff I want to hear. 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/27/2018:  13:05:18

Dang Jeff,

The pressure is on me now! I'll probably screw something up and you will be hearing the Rolling Stones!

ken

Edited by - From Greylock to Bean Blossom on 11/27/2018 13:07:03

warpdrive - Posted - 11/28/2018:  08:36:19

Wednesday, Nov,28th, 9:04am....McDonalds

Good morning,

First and foremost, thank you all for embracing me, and this "blogging" I'm doing about my stay here in the ozarks.
I'm tickled that you guys tolerate my rambleings and moronic views on life and my life situations that have manifested themselves, mostly due to my bad life choices, but that seems to be my superpower.

I consider all you my friends(the ones of you that don't go out of your way to PMO!).

That being said, i am going to answer all of your responses and questions since my last post, and i will do it in this thread post , but first...........

A very special shout out to my friend and Ks buddy, Rod Durst. He did me a solid by sending me a years worth of old Banjo Newsletters from 1977 and 78, during a time in my life, that i didn't even know there was such a thing as a banjo newsletter, not in NE arkansas.
Rod went a step further and did a very un-expected Christmas thing to do, and really caught me off guard, in a way that i could never re-pay except to say with a tear in my eye, "Thank you old buddy"! you can't possibly know how much good you did, and how far it will go!
That being said, Rod had posed a question to me, in a pm and asked me about my thoughts on one of the interviews of a "legend who will remain un-named" that i had a friendship with years later.

Let me say this, opinions are always subject to change, especially over the passage of time, and i believe the opinions that the legend were giving in 1977, certainly were not what was expressed to me, in 1997.
Its a well known fact, that our life experiences form and shape our opinion of things, and i know i don't have the same out look and opinions now that i had 20 years ago, and i'm sure they will change again in the next 20 years.

One of the subjects the legend was commenting on was the use of a different material in banjo sound and set-up(yes, i am being vague for a reason). In fact, the very thing he was doing at that time in his career, and that interview, he admonished me for, when i tried a similar set-up on one of his banjos i was playing
(he just said that his banjos, in his opinion, didn't lend themselves to that particular material very well, and he left it at that.)
This did not in any way, hurt my feelings, or skew my opinion of him, and he still remains my biggest influence as far as heroes and legends go, i rate him not only as good as Earl, but in many ways better, why? he played all of Earls stuff, and came up with his own to boot, that's a un-beatable hand in my book!

During that interview, i laughed and marveled at how he talked about the price of "original 5 string pre-war master tones" and that someone he knew had just paid the "exorbitant" price of 6,000$ for a original hearts and flowers rb-4.
Little did he , or anybody at that time know that 30 years later, the old pre-wars that are original would be going for 20x's that and that he would be marketing a new banjo that would be selling for close to the same price as what he paid for his pre-war, talk about not knowing what the further holds huh?

Let me just express this, and this is my opinion only, of having the ears of peers and heroes, and legends, and getting yes"helpful insights" and personal access to learning licks that are to be done "exactly that way"!

When your out, and your picking for a living , and your rubbing elbows with superior musicians and heroes and such, you, as a individual and fellow entertainer, you want to fit in, and be excepted into the fold, so to speak, your trying for a "place at the table" the grown ups table.
In this environment, you are at a disadvantage, and are subject to personal influence, which in many cases, is a good thing, i can't put a dollar amount in value on what i learned from some of my dealings with some of these people , and most were good.

In the case of this legend, he was right about everything, in the way of picking a banjo, that he ever told me, and the greatest lesson came in letter form one day, when he took the time to evaluate my playing, this isn't "verbatim " but it's close, i just have the letters packed away and can't lay my hands on them right now so i will paraphrase..

"you have all the licks that your ever going to need, but some of them you got wrong, because you learned them second hand from someone (and he named names, i will spare them here)who did not learn them correctly either.
You need to go back and listen to "early Earl" stuff before about 1957 or so.
There is a reason why we played those things a certain way to get that sound that way.
Right now, because your not playing the lick, the right way, it sounds out of place, when you go back and learn the proper way we did those licks, you will be able to mix and match them to your hearts content, but till then, they will sound out of place as they do."

"I found out later on that not just him, but other legends share the same opinion and views, and why not, they all sound good in there timing and rolls"!

People, its not just happenstance that the pros and legends sound the way they do, the really good ones, all do it the same way, there is a reason that when they play,"little Darlin pal of mine, or sally ann, that someone will say" wow, you sound just like earl did
or if you play "the cuckoo" they say , you sound like sonny, or if you play "runaround" you sound like JD,. The didn't learn to play it that way by listening to and learning from, well, i'll spare some of the authorities on the hangout right now!

The downside to all of this, well for me, its been like knowing the secret behind knowing how a really great magician does his most secret tricks and illusions .
Once you know how the trick is done, it's no longer magic, the magic is gone, and i really hate that has happened to me. Not that i'm that good, i 'm not, but i know how its done, and many times , i wish i didn't!.

Let me answer some responses now, i think i answered Rod's in his question about the legends banjo newsletter interview

Ken(greylocktobeanblossom), yes, i do know the comet bluegrass all stars, and i see them each and every year at the Appalachian Festival i'm booked at. They are local Cincinnati staples and back when they were playing at the comet bar, i attended several of there shows, and have jammed with them a couple of times, all nice guys and great musicians.

Jeff(flyingeagle)
No, the new hearing aids did not help, in fact, on the new ones, just before i left Cincinnati, i went in and they turned the hearing aid off, and just set it to a "tinnitus" damper! which after a few minutes gets to be painfully annoying". So there useless!
They were very frank with me, and said i had one of the "more severe" cases that they have seen , and there is nothing that can be done, and i should wear hearing protection every waking moment because even normal sounds that don't seem loud to regular folk, really hurt my ears because of the severe damage that they've endured, the term is called "hyperacusis" and the famous rock singer and performer "Hughey Lewis" suffers from the same thing, and in fact, canceled his touring because of it.

Moo,
oh how i wish i had the skill set to post some of my most recent stuff, sooner or later you guys will see that i really can't pick, but i am funny looking, and i hold a banjo real good.
Tell ya what mike, from now on, i will just send you my video's and you can attach them to the hangout anytime you like.
Seriously, i've really tried to figure out how to attach a link on the hangout, and as you so "eloquently " put it, just aint in my skill set!

Guys, if there is something i've not answered, or covered, either respond on this link, or give me a pm, but i guess this is going to do it for old warp today.

I did watch a good PMS special from 1987 last night, its"pledge drive time" so they re-played a special i'd never seen before, it was "Chet Adkins, certified guitar picker" it has the "dire straits Mark Knophler and The Everly Bros and Emylou Harris, Michael McDonald, Waylon and Willie, and a back up band second to none. I really enjoyed it.

I think the temps may bust the mid 50's today, so if it's warm enough, i think i will do the video form the porch swing, right now i think i've got about 6 or 7 tunes in a medley that's probably 4 minutes? in length, so i will send out copies once I've got it down, that is if i can with these wifi hookup here in the mountains and if some of can receive that much data, i don't understand how that works, but if i hit send, and get a message in my inbox that the data was too much, there is nothing i can do.
Ok that's it
Y'all have a gooderun
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 11/28/2018:  23:59:17

quote:

---

Originally posted by warpdrive

Moo,

oh how i wish i had the skill set to post some of my most recent stuff, sooner or later you guys will see that i really can't pick, but i am funny looking, and i hold a banjo real good.

Tell ya what mike, from now on, i will just send you my video's and you can attach them to the hangout anytime you like.

Seriously, i've really tried to figure out how to attach a link on the hangout, and as you so "eloquently " put it, just aint in my skill set!

---

I would be happy to Kevin. I can set up a Warpdrive Channel and put it on YouTube and just add a link here to the BHO. Send me a private message if you want to try and I'll get started.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/29/2018:  08:37:08

Thursday, Nov 29th 10:19 am...McDonalds

Good Morning,

This will be short as i am running out of laptop charge, and will have to go home and re-charge, but i will send more later.

It was too cold yesterday to do the video, the temps did get out of the low 40's, and it just would have been too cold for the porch.
But when i went out with the kids last night for the final walk before bedtime, i noticed that we had a warm front moving through the mountains, and it was warmer at 9pm than it had been all day, i had a hunch that this morning would bring a nice enough temp to maybe get the video shot, and i was right.

The video is 5 minutes and 12 seconds long, consisting of a medley of 7 tunes, and i didn't go for perfection, it's just me sitting in the old porch swing, playing christmas tunes on the banjo, so here's your chance to poke at me, and ridicule my playing, and say "dang warp, you don't play near as good as you post" !

The long part of this process is sending it, the sending process has been running about 26-27 minutes and i've sent out 2 already this morning here from McDonalds, but the process since recording this morning is really draining the laptop, so i need to get home and re-charge, but i will get back out later, and send more, and to who ever request one, but remember, it is over 25mb so it gets sent as "Google drive", that is all i know.

I've sent a pm to Moo, and am going to take him up on doing a youtube link, so he can post whatever gets requested for me to do. Not that i should be posting at all, but if i can be of assistance to somebody, in trying to figure out something, i'll be glad to show you how i do it, but after you hear these christmas tunes, you may change your tune!
Talk you ya'll later
have a gooderun.
going back to re-charge now,
Warp!

Mooooo - Posted - 11/29/2018:  10:08:58

I am happy to present this Christmas Medley performed by Warp and one of his babies. Thanks Kevin, try to make one with your doggies on the swing.

Edited by - Mooooo on 11/29/2018 10:15:16

VIDEO: Christmas Medley By Kevin "Warpdrive" Hendrix
(click to view)

 

Tractor1 - Posted - 11/29/2018:  10:31:27

I love your rendering of melodies so perfectly Kevin and your right hand is evidently tireless.The part I am really jealous of is the scope of songs you threw out at once.Thanks for posting,hope you get your internet excess a little easier

arnie fleischer - Posted - 11/29/2018:  10:50:13

quote:

---

Originally posted by warpdrive

Thursday, Nov 29th 10:19 am...McDonalds

 

so here's your chance to poke at me, and ridicule my playing, and say "dang warp, you don't play near as good as you post" !

Warp!

---

Far from it, Kevin! 

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 11/29/2018:  11:13:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mooooo

I am happy to present this Christmas Medley performed by Warp and one of his babies. Thanks Kevin, try to make one with your doggies on the swing.

---

Mooooo - Posted - 11/29/2018:  11:17:31

I gotta admit, I am also impressed by the beard.

warpdrive - Posted - 11/29/2018:  12:07:05

Thanks guys,
right now in my life situation, this is a whole lot of what i need to get me through these tuff times!

Speaking of my beard....

I let the Three Eyed barber here in town, trim at least a 1/3 of it, oh, i guess a month ago. I've got a video somewhere , stored on here of me in a jam session at the Appalachian Festival this past may, when my head was shaved all way up to a short,
high and tight Flattop.

If i can find it, and get it sent to Moo, i'll have him post it.

Oh btw, and fwiw....

I officially put Mike(Moo) in charge of all Warpdrive video productions, so any thing that sounds out of sorts, or just plain old is just terribile, (especially with my banjo picking) you will kindly direct all questions to him!

Thanks guys, and like i said, if i can be of help to somebody, and you want me to help you with something that might be in my wheel house of licks and rolls, give me a shout, and if the internet is up, we'll give it whirl!

Merry Christmas to all of ya'll, and a special Thanks to Mike(moo) for helping a tired, demented, old man, and his in- ability to navigate the world wide web, (do they even call it that anymore)?

Warp!

Ks_5-picker - Posted - 11/29/2018:  17:31:37

I sure enjoyed the pickin as well. Downloaded it on my youtube page as well. Christmas songs are fun to play. I don't know if you had a list there whe tee we couldn't see it,but I sure would have had to to g o so seamlessly from one to the next. Enjoyed it a lot.

FlyinEagle - Posted - 11/29/2018:  19:30:06

That is SMOKIN HOT Warp!!!

Get that Youtube channel rockin, I want to hear more of your pickin!

I'm diggin that goatee too.

HarleyQ - Posted - 11/29/2018:  20:04:18

That was REALLY!!! good Warp!..........Thanks and Merry Christmas.......my right hand is tired

phb - Posted - 11/30/2018:  09:03:51

That was really great, I love it! Merry Christmas to you and your dogs!

warpdrive - Posted - 11/30/2018:  09:57:42

Friday, Nov,30th, 11:33 am, ....McDonalds

Good Morning,

Thanks to all, for the kind thoughts and response to my video.
I've always enjoyed working up the Christmas Songs and most of them are old hat by now, but working up new ones like 12 days and frosty were new to me this year, the hard part for me, is muscle memory in the hand on jumping to the "start string" for kicking off the next song.
I don't know about how you guys feel about it, but for me, Christmas songs are a bit on the unorthodox side to play in a scruggs format on the banjo. To keep the melody like a person sings it, can be a challenge, and that is what i strive for is it to be recognizable to a non banjo person.

I've already told Bernidine that the next video, she has to sit up on the swing with me.
I don't thing Andy will fit, as he is a fairly good size, but he might stick his head in the shot.
Who was it that said" never try to follow little children or a dog and pony show" i can by the responses to Bernidien sticking her head in where you guys loyalties lie, LOL!

I got in the mood to change up the sound of my banjo, after hearing it on video yesterday. To me, it's gotten a bit mushy, so last night, i put a harder bridge on, and liked my initial sounds, but i was "ambien'ed up, and it was just before bed, so i will see later if my ears still like what i heard.

The weather is very warm today, and i could easily pick on the porch, but i've no idea what i would do, so........if some of ya'll can come to an agreement on something i could help you with, or would like to hear me attempt a certain song or songs, give me a shout by pm or on this thread, tomorrow is supposed to beautiful, and i'd rather record for you guys, than duke it out up on the square with the same old same ole.

I'm hopeing we don't have severe weather today or tonight, i don't relish the thought of having to leash up the dogs and drag them into the crawl space outside under the house, my mom calls it a basement, but she is only 4'8, a real live "oomph lumpa , so we see crawling under the house differently, granted I'm only 5'7 myself, but it hurts to bend over and go under there, especially dragging 100lbs worth of dogs!

Well, i've already been down the mountain to Batesville this morning to kroger and got our prescriptions filled, and bought gas, it was 50cents a gallon cheaper down in Batesville than up here on the mountain, a savings worth the 34 miles each way.

Well guys, i don't know what more to write about this morning, It being Friday, if there isn't anything good on PMS tonight, there is always the Friday Nite Opry, we will see, what we will see huh?
Ok, i'd better get, i.ve been gone about 3 hrs, and the dogs with be calling the police and emergency room, if i don't get back soon.

Y'all have a gooderun
Warp!

pappy c - Posted - 11/30/2018:  09:59:22

Thanks Warp! From one old guy to another. Great job and again thanks for posting. Over the years I have read many of your posts. Also, have read many on here criticize your advice and comments. Next time they decide to be so critical, i challenge them to post an equivalent video of them playing. My bet is if they take that challenge, we want read nearly as many ridiculous comments. Keep it up Warp! Thanks for sharing.

pappy c - Posted - 11/30/2018:  10:03:18

i should also say Thank you to Mike (Moooo) for helping Warp navigate this world of tech and bringing his talent to us. I could not do it either,Warp. Probably have to get one of my daughters involved.

Mooooo - Posted - 11/30/2018:  11:43:41

I really enjoyed Bernadine on that last video, so a request for a new song will be difficult. Just kidding. I know you like to do some unorthodox songs on your banjo, I would love to hear one that you worked up. I know I try all the time to pick non-banjo songs, so for me it would be a great help to hear how you approach it. I am sure our banjofication styles are similar, but yours is going to be much better. Anything you like will be appreciated.

arnie fleischer - Posted - 11/30/2018:  14:17:37

Kevin, Bernadine's cameo makes me think that you might get a chuckle out of this story about dogs and banjos.



About 30 years ago, when all of our friends' and relatives' kids were little, I recorded a cassette tape (remember those??) of bluegrass and old-timey songs for kids and gave them all a copy. Somehow I managed to stay on pitch while singing. I accompanied myself on bluegrass and clawhammer banjo and overdubbed guitar and mandolin.



All the kids and their parents seemed to like the tape - to this day, the daughter of one of my friends, who's now in her forties, starts singing an original song of mine from that tape every time she sees me.

The name of that song is "Banjo Q. Doggy," from my dog Banjo, a stray golden retriever/sheltie mix that we rescued from the street when she was around 9 months old. She turned out out be pregnant with six puppies, which were born in a closet in our first apartment (we'd been married less than a year at the time). We gave away five to friends and kept the sixth, who was twice her size but with identical coloration and markings. We named him Fretless, and that was his personality, not a care in the world, always wanting to please.



When I recorded Banjo Q. Doggy, I wanted to have Banjo bark along with the chorus, which went, "Who is that barking overtime? Banjo Q. Doggy!" So I recorded the song and set up the system to overdub Banjo. Normally, Banjo would bark at the drop of a hat. She was exuberant and excitable but had that golden retriever trait of instantly calming down if you whispered to her. I figured I'd get her worked up and she would bark as much as I needed.



Fat chance! She would not bark. No matter how I tried to coax her, she would just look at me like I was crazy. Until, of course, I shut down the recording equipment. Then she decided to bark!

I tried to record her for several days and then gave up. The only "barking" on that song is me singing, "Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!"

warpdrive - Posted - 12/01/2018:  07:48:05

The only thing that bernidine will bark to, on a regular basis, is when she hears something that she feels she needs to go on patrol about, or she want's her Green Ball, so we can play tug.

She will every now and then, when she hears certain hounds on tv will throw her head back and try to howl like a hound dog, it's the cutest thing i've ever seen.

Warp!

warpdrive - Posted - 12/01/2018:  08:33:48

Saturday Dec 1st,9:49am ...McDonalds...

Good Morning,

We had some pretty hefty thunderstorms move through last night, we were under a couple of warnings, but it never got bad enough i felt like me and the kids should head to the "fraidy" hole, and by midnight or so, they had blew themselves out, and all was peaceful and quiet, in fact, when we got up at 4 this morning, the stars where out and it had cooled down into the upper 50's.

The sun is bright and it's clear, and feels like a spring morning, and i know i should pick today, but i can't decide what to do, record something on the porch for you guys, or go to the square, and put up with the "half timers", i'm certain the porch swing picking will will out.

I told ya'll yesterday that the night before(wilst in an ambien stupor ") i had put a different bridge on my banjo, to stiffen up the sound some. When i went out on the porch yesterday, i really liked my initial results of the change, so i also when around the head just a smudge to reenforce what i thought i wanted.....I like the changes.

Now i don't believe that in most cases, with these recording devices, that subtle changes can be detected , but to my ears, in the environment of my porch, i was getting the good "maple" warmth sustain that a good forth string should give you when you hit it with authority, not to mention the up the neck sustain.
I had about as good a picking session by myself yesterday as i can remember in a long time, you know, one of those days that you think that your playing it just the way you hear "The man' doing it, and so you spend all after noon playing all the famous breaks to "if i should wander back tonight" or "i'll never shed another tear" and these are with a capo on, so that just really makes you"get it".
Lately, I've been enjoying emulating (or trying to emulate) earls famous kick off to the radio show recording from the 50's, where lester says" now here's Earl to kick off an old number, "I Have Found The Way" and Earl steps into it, gives her a solid PINCH and "BAM" the gate opens and the horse is a hauling."
I also had to pay a visit to "Get in Line Brother", and something i like to do, and i've done it for years, and that is to just sit and play the singing songs as an instrumental, you know, " Blue Ridge Cabin Home and Your Love is like a Flower, those are great to just sit and play.
I don't know about you guys, but when i'm sitting and picking like that, i hear the rest of the band with me in my head, sometimes i play the whole song as sung, and sometimes i just play the breaks, and do the back up licks, but it's always "constructive" and i never feel cheated.

I remember one time i was at winfield ks, and i working out with a friends Stelling, just sitting by myself, under a small canopy , and this banjo was "Screaming" and the tone was just warm enough that up in B where i was capo'd it was making me want to go whole hog Earl, and i'm sitting playing Blue Ridge Cabin, and Your Love , you know the standard Scruggs stuff done in that key, oh yeah, "doing my time" anyway......
i'm concentrating on my speed and tone, and i was in the pocket, it was a good ride, and i sense someone come up and had taken the chair across from me and is sitting and just quietly listening and watching me, i look up and it's James Mckinney.
Now i wouldn't say i'm best friends or even great friends with james, but i had been in several jams with him just to be an "alternative " to what he does, witch is a lot of single string at high speed
I look at him, and he's just sitting and shaking his head, so, out of curiosity i ask him what he is so puzzled about, he says to me,"your about the only person i know, that would play a primarily singing song as an instrumental" and make it work"!

I just grinned at him, and he listened a bit longer then got up and went about his business, but my take away from that, was this......
"Even if there are set rules for playing things a certain way, or in a certain environment or grouping, they can still be altered to fit your own stylings", That is what i've always done, and continue to do to this day.
Do i want to play it like Earl, or Sonny, or Don, or JD, sure i do, but i also want a lot of kevin to be in it as well, because in the end, all people have to do to hear it played like the masters, is put on a recording , where as if you want to hear Kevin play it, well, I've kind of got that market cornered, good or bad!

Well , last nights storm knocked out the tv reception, so as bad as i thought having only 2 PMS channels to watch, now i got none, at least so far today there isn't anything. I'm sure that the powers that be in Little Rock won't let it stay down for long because they are in the throws of a pledge drive, meaning the longer it's down, the more money they don't get!

That's about all i got this morning gang, still thinking about this afternoon and weather i should go to the square or not. I think i will at least go up for an ice cream cone, and i can weigh my options then, but i'm betting i will just leave with an ice creme cone.

Ya'll have a gooderun
Warp!

Tractor1 - Posted - 12/01/2018:  09:44:51

Kevin,I surely enjoyed that vid. I can hardly wait for more. There is so much you no doubt know ,your styling on the Christmas vid makes me wonder "what is this man gonna do,on down there in the middle of the neck". But I sure am not saying that vid needed that at all. Just got me thinkin,I bet warp has got all kinds of things ,he has run across.

Mooooo - Posted - 12/01/2018:  10:01:10

Hopefully you are at the Jam. You can make a video for us anytime. But, there's only so many jams to go to. Plus, it keeps us wanting more. Have a great day Warp.

Tractor1 - Posted - 12/01/2018:  11:19:00

Yep ,wanting more already ,certainly not asking anyone to miss a jam ha ha.

Edited by - Tractor1 on 12/01/2018 11:20:07