PorterBranch - Posted - 06/28/2024:  05:28:28

This weeks TOTW is Wild Shoat, a terrific G tune from Mentone, Alabama's Mack Blalock. He and his family are the source of several great Alabama tunes such as the popular Farewell Trion, written by Mack's great-uncle, Joe Blalock (b. 1854). That family being some of the earliest recorded fiddlers in the state, their tunes are often very old and all have this awesome, archaic sort of feel to them. Unfortunately, I don't believe there are any extant recordings of Mack Blalock or any of his relatives. Their tunes were all brought to the public by James Bryan, a close friend of the family.



James recorded it as a part of "Blalock Medley," track B6 on his wonderful album Lookout Blues. You can find the album version here (second tune in the medley): youtube.com/watch?v=Wb1RfxtbUkk



And here is another great version of James playing it with Matt and Rachel Combs: youtube.com/watch?v=Mx8AsJbuNak



There's not a lot about the tune on the Traditional Tune Archive, but there's some sheet music for it if that's your jam. That page can be found here: tunearch.org/wiki/Wild_Shoat



There's a handful of good versions from banjo players on Youtube.. One is from our own Janet Burton, who by my estimation is James Bryan's biggest fan outside of Alabama. You can hear her playing it beautifully here: youtube.com/watch?v=NuE5DduZpL0



Here's another version, from a player named Stefan Curl: youtube.com/watch?v=VaAIJktMneg



And one from Larry Warren and Cork Washburn: youtube.com/watch?v=VICPkhLM3VY



Here's a version from an account named HeadlessBanjo on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=U0K7LVyleqM



I also recorded a version for this post, which can be found at this link: youtube.com/watch?v=IsvKc7nu9bs



I've attached a PDF of a tab I wrote for it, but if you don't feel like scrolling to find it here's a link for you: hangoutstorage.com/banjohangou...62024.pdf



Mine isn't great though, so here's a link to the tab I just found on Janet's website, MyBanjoWorld.com: mybanjoworld.com/_files/ugd/52...82a3e.pdf



...as well as a tab from Ken Torke I just found on TaterJoes.com: taterjoes.com/Warehouse/Banjo/...Shoat.pdf



It's a great tune, and I look forward to hearing more versions of it! If you feel like taking a whack at it, please post your version here for us all to enjoy!

Edited by - PorterBranch on 06/28/2024 05:29:38

Wild Shoat Tablature

 

JanetB - Posted - 06/28/2024:  11:01:21

Thanks for choosing a James Bryan tune, Porter. The tablature link above uses open G tuning.  In the video I actually used old guitar tuning where you tune up the first string to an E note.  It plays more easily than the open G I tried at first. That tablature is below and includes the down-the-neck A part.  

The Wild Shoat