Banjo versus TV week 117: The Ballad of Bering Strait

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Posted by jrjenks on Sunday, May 30, 2010

A check-in on the Banjo versus TV project — J.R.'s ongoing plan to spend more time on his banjo than on TV. This post covers 5/23/2010 through 5/29/2010.

I watched the film The Ballad of Bering Strait (and you can watch it too, for free, on Hulu). This 2003 documentary follows the Russian "redgrass" band Bering Strait.

It's a little bittersweet watching this film about a group of kids trying to make it to the big time when I knew that the band would break up due to lack of sales only three years after this film was released.

But there are some great scenes, like this one of banjo player Ilya Toshinsky trying to explain his bluegrass set (Natchez Trace and Foggy Mountain Breakdown) to the faculty at a traditional Russian art academy.

Also in the last week:

I discovered Songsterr.com...

...a site that plays guitar tabs for you. It looks to be a useful practice tool.

And for extra geekiness, it's got its own Songsterr API!
The various mutes that I mentioned ordering have now all arrived. I hope to have a chance to try them out and compare them soon.