There's room for everyone !

Let’s rip! If there’s a banjo out there in front of big audiences it’s all good , whether I’m a fan of the music or not. Somebody will likely discover Earl Scruggs or Bela Fleck….

Howdy, I'm one of those young people who's gotten into the banjo, partially from folk punk.

I'm born and raised North GA, but I didn't really have much exposure to banjo short of the occasional country hit that includes it. I was a metalhead/punk through highschool, and always kinda considered country/bluegrass/folk to be music that my parents and grandparents listened to. That being said, I impulse bought a banjo off Amazon when I was 16 after watching a banjo cover of one of my favorite metal songs, and ended up learning a couple of tunes on it for fun. Around this time, I was also finding out about Lost Dog Street Band, who started out as a folk punk group (as far as I know). Lost Dog led me to Matt Heckler which led me to Dock Boggs, which led me to Pete Seeger which led me to Clifton Hicks and so on. So even though I originally started on banjo music played by a bunch of crusty punks, it ended up helping me get started on the banjo rabbit hole to the point where most of my banjo playing is folk music nowadays. I still love folk punk, and it's practically all I play on guitar. As cheesy and rough as it tends to be, it still is an all around fun genre that (in my opinion) is turning young(er) people on to folk instruments.

Anyway, thanks for linking the pigeonpit concert, love their stuff. Sorry for the ramble.

This is nice music, and it's fine to play the banjo way. But taking a plectrum banjo for this style of playing would be more practical.

He sort of picks the banjo in the last song. Not that you can hear it.

Is this group anybody? Do they have a following?

To me, they sound a lot like Violent Femmes from the '90s. Listen to the song "Blister in the Sun."

I agree it's nice to see young groups playing acoustic music and including banjo -- even if banjo isn't being played what many of us consider banjoistically. As  Davis said above, maybe someone will pick up banjo to play this stuff, then (wanting to play the instrument as actual banjo players do) will go down paths of discovery to musical artists. 

They actually remind me of the days when Adam Sandler did funny improv songs in that silly voice. Kinda like something from a kids show like blues clues with harsher lyrics.

Adam Sandler does full music concerts now so it works.

I cant believe the term "punk" has survived for 60 years now! Ramones touring?

During my last stint of teaching in a music store I don't remember how many punk fans came in to the store wanting to learn bluegrass. I'd humor them and then I'd turn them on to the real punk that's been around for over a 100 years. Old time mountain banjo by guys like Dock Boggs and Roscoe Holcomb. There are many more like them out there. There is also the ultimate banjo/punk movie, Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus.

The musical term "punk" may only go back sixty years, but the actual word goes back further. I can remember when it denoted a rebelious teen, and even further back, "punk" was an adjective used to describe squishy oranges and other fruit on the verge of "rotten."

As far as any new use of a banjo is okay by me. I see no need to wish these folk punk dudes learn old styles. If it weren't for new styles, we'd all be playing stroke style on long scale Boucher banjos.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Old Hickory

To me, they sound a lot like Violent Femmes from the '90s. Listen to the song "Blister in the Sun."

---

Except not nearly as good.

My first thought was Boomswagglers Bootleg Beginnings.  But again, not nearly as good.

Folk Punk is not my cup of tea but I think it is good for the banjo. As mentioned above some of the folk punk banjo players are then drawn to folk music. I am all for the expansion of the banjo into any form of music.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=ngMJTWUanCA

This is what I grew up on , converted to banjo. These guys are awesome Europeans.

Cemetary Gates, Pantera original

m.youtube.com/watch?v=RVMvART9kb8

Saskatchewan guys playing _____ ? Is there a category for this music!?
youtu.be/B9FzVhw8_bY

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mad Hornet

quote:

---

Originally posted by Old Hickory

To me, they sound a lot like Violent Femmes from the '90s. Listen to the song "Blister in the Sun."

---

Except not nearly as good.

My first thought was Boomswagglers Bootleg Beginnings.  But again, not nearly as good.

---

I decided to be the nice version of myself and not express an opinion on their music or musicianship.

I will say I hear nothing new in the group's sound or in any individual player's approach to their instrument.

punk movement was english, started 1976, ended 1978, not sure what its got to do with the girl band at tiny desk, tis just folk music full stop.

quote:

---

Originally posted by G Edward Porgie

As far as any new use of a banjo is okay by me. I see no need to wish these folk punk dudes learn old styles. If it weren't for new styles, we'd all be playing stroke style on long scale Boucher banjos.

---

I don't see the banjo player playing any definable style. Neither do I see any particular command of the instrument. But what he does meets the needs of the band and that counts for something. This band is mainly a vehicle for the frontperson's songs and virtuosity is not required.

I dunno about folk punk. Hank 3 was considered "country punk" when he recorded Straight to Hell, Damn Right Rebel Proud, Rebel Within, etc. The musicians he brought along were top notch and to this day Straight to Hell is my favorite record.

But those guys in the NPR video suck!

I always feel banjo is like keyboards, it can fit in anything. The video linked to has a kind of grunge quality to it, interesting for sure. Not my cup of tea, but I'll listen. Banjo is banjo.

The video shows me that even folk punk bands have to wait for the banjo to tune, so that's comforting ... and all is right with the world.

Is this group anybody? Do they have a following?   Yes, ken, and do you use vinegar in your coffee, it sounds like it.

I volunteer at an acoustic music showcase.  We see everything from dinosaurs, to "this here's a real banjo." to young people.

What I hear is the banjo hangout in repetitive chorus.  

They have real arrangements, harmonies and solos.  They are pushing hard on their "screen,."  the future is here, they may speak a language you don't understand.  

An eagle landed in a barnful of owls.  "I sit upon the wrist of a king."  The owls said, "be careful, he might steal our food."

Have you heard Aunt Betsy, Bearpaw, The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs.

These Pigeon Pitters have enough "juice."    They sound like REM.

Banjo players mature, don't they?   She sings and plays fiddle at the same time.

1. www.kickstarter.com › projects › candyblossomCandy Blossom Live at the Herberger - Kickstarter

   Apr 15, 2021 · Candy Blossom is raising funds for Candy Blossom Live at the Herberger on Kickstarter! A live concert video of the band Candy Blossom.

   • Location: Phoenix, AZ
   • Here's a picture of them at Fiddlers Dream in Phoenix.  We grow people.  Some of the best fun I ever had.  this group started by playing open stage with us every Thursday, now the Herberger.
   • Don't be afraid it's only castles burning. Birthing hurts, otherwise what would be there for us to learn.  

I once watched an ice cube melt

pour_mu_sician. Way to go. Way leads unto way. Way. Put input in. Put output out. Rinse and repeat.

John Hartford once said
"My art consists of doing what I enjoy. If others also enjoy it, well and good.
If not, at least I haven't wasted my time."

If somebody buys one of my instruments, I don't give a flying flounce WHAT kind of music they choose to make on it.

I'm just guessing, but I would guess that for us to bemoan the fact that somebody somewhere might be enjoying the banjo in a manner other than the manner in which we would prefer to hear it, is a waste of our time.

This is the Banjo HangOut, not the "There is only ONE WAY to Play the Banjo HangOut"

Conic, I just have to tell you, regarding you comment that Punk music was English, no. Punk started in New York City, 1974, and went wordwide from there and then. The English copied it, and came up with their own version, just as they did with American Rock and Roll in the fifties.

Ive seen musicians of now famous bands literally learn how to play while getting paid to open up for then famous bands. First time I witnessed this I thought it was funny, but its kinda normal. How they get gigs to open for big names is beyond comprehension. But one really horrible sounding group became one of my favs 5 years later.

Names withheld cuz you can insert your own examples.

However, its hard to reconcile the need to hand out first place trophies to everyone. Theres a lot of homeless and broke musicians too that need to be told music is a great hobby.

quote:

---

Originally posted by stelldeergibber

Conic, I just have to tell you, regarding you comment that Punk music was English, no. Punk started in New York City, 1974, and went wordwide from there and then. The English copied it, and came up with their own version, just as they did with American Rock and Roll in the fifties.

---

I don't want to start a discussion on the definition of 'punk', it would be sooooo un punk it would be laughable, but despite what t'internet might claim, the likes of the Ramones amd New York Dolls et al where really proto punk garage bands, pure punk started with the clash, pistols and dammed in the uk and then quickly (as was its nature) burnt itself out to fragment into sub genres, as these things do. 
As far as banjo and folk punk goes, I recall seeing The Tofu Love Frogs, back in the early/mid nineties ( the dying days of the uk free festival movement), doing versions of Blyth Power (who could easily be described as folk punk although they had [indeed, have, as they are still happily banging away] no banjo contingent) tunes  using I think mando's and tenor banjos. I might be mistaken, it was a while ago.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Helix

Is this group anybody? Do they have a following?   Yes, ken, and do you use vinegar in your coffee, it sounds like it.

Banjo players mature, don't they? 

---

Really? You're calling me vinegary for simply acknowledging I don't know who this band is and was asking if they're a known group with a following? Really?

And, of course banjo players mature. Some of them mature enough to read, which enables them to see the title of this discussion includes the phrase: "The Future of Banjo."

To me, "future" implies "new." Am I to be criticized then for saying I hear nothing new in his banjo playing? I think a future of banjo in which young people continue to pick up the instrument and Deering continues to sell Goodtimes is a good thing. I think a less good future is one in which this is the level of professional performance.

I did say the banjo player "meets the needs of the band and that counts for something."