Posted by Jim Yates on Saturday, August 15, 2009
Last Thursday two friends and I filled in at the Port Hope Bandshell concert for a band that had to cancel out. We decided to do some jug band music and, considering the amount of time we had to put it together and the size of the repertoire (two 45 minute sets) it went off pretty well. We played everything from Gus Cannon and Carl Martin tunes to a Guy & Carmen Lombardo song, including Blues In The Bottle, Walk Right In, Boodle-Am-Shake, Ukulele Lady, I'm Satisfied With My Gal, Police Dog Blues, Get Out Those Old Records...
This was the largest number of instruments I have ever played at a single gig. I played 5 string banjo, four string banjo, ukulele, guitar, mandolin and high strung mandolin. I had 35 strings to get and keep in tune... I know, an Autoharp player has one more.
Ted played banjo, guitar, resonator guitar in open G and slide guitar in open D plus kazoo.
Ian played washboard, snare, trombone and kazoo.
Once again, it's nice to see how a love for music spans the generations. I'm 65, Ted's in his early fifties and Ian's in his early twenties.
Ted's dad was a musician and we had a music stand banner from his old group that was black velvet, embroidered with a gold MLC. (His band was the Merry Land Collegians) We decided to name our jug band using those initials. We had plenty of suggestions, but we're still searching. Ted's partial to Mama's Little Cuties, but Ian and I aren't very enthused about that one. Please let me know if you have any ideas.
We have made a choice and are now the Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band.
We also played at the Queen Street Stage at Port Hope's Estival.
3 comments on “The Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band”
NMD Says:
Sunday, August 16, 2009 @10:11:31 AM
Sounds like a blast!
How about "Misery Loves Company", "Musicians from Lower Canada" (although I think you guys are probably Upper Canada), "Musicians Love Canada", "Must Love Canada", "Must Love Canucks", "Manitoba Lotteries Corporation", "Meat and Livestock Commission", "Music Lovers' Consortium", "Mystery Lake Campers", "My Last Cent" . . .
Would love to know what you finally pick.
Banjo75 Says:
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 @11:04:02 PM
it would be worth attending just for the shirts!
Jim Yates Says:
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 @8:29:56 AM
We are now the Maple Leaf Champion Jug Band.
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