Lonely Barn

Lonely Barn
Originally uploaded by banj.

I shot this out near Dorchester, TX. I think it reflects the heat of this summer. The brittle corn stalks, a puple sky and wind like a hairdryer. (Of course you can't see the wind, but it seems that way, doesn't it?)

Jacobs Coat

Jacobs Coat
Originally uploaded by banj.

I wanted to share a few of my recent photos while they are still in season. This is a Jacobs Coat rose that we installed back in April. Ms. has been keeping it pruned and it's trying to put on new growth. In this Texas heat it's remarkable that it looks this good. I took this the day after this bloom came on. Otherwise the heat and wind would have whisked it away. Beautiful rose.

Quotes from Chris

Here is a inspiring quote from Chris Thile regarding his new cd out in September. He's taken the music back to the basics he grew up on. He reflects on a short comparison between the great Nickel Creek and his new endeavor. This is interesting, especially if you are a musician:

“For me, at least, New York demands that you find what it is about you that’s unique. There are so many talented people — exceptional people — that to stand out, you either have to be completely average or really, really different. And having been trained in the ways of bluegrass as a kid, I realized how much that meant to me. I felt, you can’t fight yourself; any time you’re fighting yourself, you might not lose, but you just can’t win. And I realized, I do that well, because that’s what I grew up with. So it signifies a return of sorts; I’m realizing what a meaningful part of my life that music is.”
-Chris Thile

Back Home

Nashville is such as cool place. It's changed so much over the years. Very progressive. I hated to leave but sure was looking foward to getting home.

The flight back was good until we made the hop from Houston to Dallas Love. Flew SW and jumped an earlier flight only to be seated C. I don't know if you are familiar with Southwests seating assignments, but they have three categories. "A" goes first, then B, etc., I never want to be a C if I can help it, especially from Dal to Hou or vice versa. My partner and I were two of the last 4 to get on the plane, we had no choice than to have to search for a seat.

Do you ever notice how when you are one of the last ones on the plane, that everyone else looks up at you like you are intruding? I never do that to people, because I know how it feels. Makes me wanna say "what the crap are you looking at?" Maybe it was because I had on my PRS Guitar shirt, they though I was some big time guitar picker (yes I am picker, but not a "big time" one by any stretch).

We ended up going to the back of the plane and checking our very small mind you, bags. There were no places to stow anything! I had a middle seat but luckily the flight is only 50 minutes.

I hate being a C, but I'm really glad to be home.

On The Road

I'm in Nashville Tennessee tonight, setting in a hotel room downtown, about 6 blocks from the Ryman Auditorium, The Ernest Tubb Record Shop and all the other historical marks in Music City. It's been 24 years since I've been here. The last visit entailed performing on WSM's Midnight Jamboree following the Grand Ole' Opry broadcast. We were live from the ET Record Shop near the Opryland Mall, I remember that it snowed that night as we played before a crowd of around 250 and a radio crowd of tens of thousands. I'll never forget it.

The city has changed a lot. There's now a large structure which I believe to be a bank and hotel directly across the street from the Ryman. The home of the Nashville Predetors is awesome! It's just down the street from the Auditorium about a block.

I took a drive from our stay here at the Holiday Inn around 10 p.m. just to re-live some old memories. The site of the orginal Grand Ole Opry was touching.

I'm coming back and brings Ms. I've already got the hotel scoped out. I think we'll have some real Tennesse BBQ while we are at it. There is much to see.

The Fender

So I picked up a Leo Fender 5 string from a friend of mine over the holiday. I am actually bringing it back to Texas for someone else to look at. It's a 1978 model, still in the original Fender yellow fir lined case. It sit idle in the back of some music store in Indiana for it's entire life. No one had ever played it before last fall when I found it at the Arlington guitar show. My friend who is a dealer and luthier wanted to take a look at this instrument I was having a fit over (I don't really like banjos, I just play them), as I'm not impressed very often. He ended up buying it from the other dealer, turned it the next week and ended up buying it back from a gentleman who had too many banjos and needed to liquify. The man who he bought it back from had changed the pot and tone ring out to a Snuffy Smith setup with an arched top. To those who read 5stringking but don't know about the banjo, an archtop actually has a raised ring around the outer parameter of the head (the big white thing). This allows a more treble, but louder sound. Basically, I want the banjo. The problem is $$. I kinda hope the guy I'm showing to doesn't take it and I still have a crack at it months down the road. It's been 30 years since I actually owned two 5 strings. As I said, I don't really like them anyway.

Saturday Pickin

I played the little Opry last night with the "Odds and Ends" band. We had a small crowd of about 30 or so, but the music was pretty good. I've brought back a couple of my older songs that I had forgotten about. The crowd seems to like them, but our keys are off. I've got to adjust, but when I do it's going to throw the tenor out because no one can reach it.

This little group i've been sitting in with is turning out to be pretty good. It's probably because we've limited our playlist to about 20 songs. When you do them enough you start to get tight. Our timing issues are improving as well. That was an element a few months back that was making me question whether or not I even enjoyed the sit in or not. But I've tackfully issued citations and they've been well recieved. I'm not the perfect one either, but the playing has helped to improve my own timing.

I accepted a chance to help someone who's learning to play. They approached me about lessons, but I let them know right away that "no" I don't do the lesson gig anymore and don't want to start again. I'm pleased to help someone whos struggling. On top of that they live the next block over. He's also looking for a new banjo. He bought a Deering Good Time, but told me it didn't have the sound he was looking for. I just smiled as I know what he's talking about. They are a little hollow and don't have much of a tone ring.

Check out the opry website at www.chrystalopryhouse.com.