For pickers from, living in or interested in Japanese Bluegrass.

23 Members, Created 4/14/2012 -

Administrators: MiG-19 (owner)

Saturday Night のんのん Live

From banjocase on 8/12/2012 12:17:11 AM

I won't go into full detail about last night, 8/11/12, at Clubhouse Nonnon.  Let me just say, if you've never been there you've been missing out on some super bluegrass shows.  And these musicians aren't professionals.  That's simply because they don't get paid for their performances.  And, I don't want to call them amatures, so I'll call the ones that standout semi-pros.

Last night's two host bands, Rise and Shine and Winds are these semi-pros.  You should have seen their picking and heard their vocals.  They were at Nashville level and no if-ands-or-buts about that.  And, last night more and more of these professional-like pickers and fiddlers kept trickling in the Clubouse to listen and jam a bit with their peers.

Cula, our group member (mandolin), was called up to the mics several times during the jam times.  Once with Ken, my son (guitar), they picked Arkansas Travler, Blackberry Blossom and, Cula's vocal and with my banjo, they did Daddy Played the Banjo.  I must say, "My banjo never sounded so good."  Later on though my banjo returned to as usual when I went up to pick Cripple Creek with Cula, Ken and a bass plucker.  Cula, vocal, and Ken also did Country Roads.  The two work well together.

An honor, in my opinion, was when Cula was invited up by the leader of the J-Project Band to join them in jamming a few songs.  Some good improvising by Cula, too!  Ken was invited up by Winds for a few songs.  There was much more and I just have to say, "This was an action packed night."  And Cula will confirm, an intimidating one too.  They're just too good!

Finally, I have to confess that I've never been to Rocky Top in the Ginza, so I don't know if Rocky compares to Nonnon.  Other than, Rocky Top might be informal and a bit more comfortable with listeners as customers.  At Nonnon it's casual with little or no listeners.  It's just the same Rocky Top bluegrassers at a place where they can cut-loose!  The sound equipment is excellent, too.  So, you'll have to visit and judge for yourself.  Y'all come, hear?