…and even though there’s not quite enough chill in the air to feel like WV this time of year, I suddenly had a very strong memory come back of waking up as a little girl on the weekends to the smell of bacon and sound of bluegrass music on the stereo. It happened countless times. And it’s a sweet way to wake up! Usually it was the Country Gentlemen- When it was the Country Gentlemen, I knew my mom was in an especially good mood, maybe cinnamon rolls good…?
And to this day, the smell of bacon can make me very happy…wonder why?
It is the perfect food. Goes with everything including Bluegrass.
At the C&O Restaurant, Charlottesville, Va, a long time ago- a guy came up to me after our set and talked about how much he was liking the music and then said,
“I don’t know you but you know me ‘cause I’ve seen you play”
Alcohol may have been a factor here…I’m just sayin… :))
Okay, so I’m remembering some classic stuff… Here’s a favorite-
I was playing with the Claire Lynch Band in Minnesota. Small town, family event, lovely setting…and the sweetest little old lady comes up to the cd table. She’s cherub-faced, grey-haired, clutching an old-style clasp purse, just all pink and sweet, and she leans over the table and looks me straight in the eye and says, “Honey, you kick Ass!”
I wanted to kidnap her and make her my Grandmother!!
For years, I’ve thought of writing down or somehow documenting all the things that folks have said to me at shows, whether it be at the Cd table or just getting to or coming off stage.
If I had, I could literally fill a book with some of the most interesting, thoughtful, sometimes hilarious and always wonderful comments from people from all walks of life who graciously take the time to come up and share their thoughts. For me, part of the allure of traveling out on the road to make music IS seeing the world and the people in it- seeing folks in their natural habitat- if you will. Tasting local food, hearing local dialects and learning about the area you’re in that night. It’s like a lifetime of cultural exchange and I love every minute of it.
I’ve decided to start (finally) writing down some of the things I hear at the Cd table and sharing them with you here. I doubt I’ll always be able to credit who said what, and most of it will be quite out of context, but I think that’s what makes it entertaining.
This past Saturday, we played an In Store at Horizon Records in Greenville SC. We had a note left for us after our set and I was so touched by it, I wanted to share it with you.
I never got to meet the authors and if they see it here, I hope they won’t mind and know we appreciate their taking the time to tell us how they felt.
(a note from an audience member at Horizon Records…)
“Just a Note to say how much we loved your music. Today we came here from a funeral. Stopped for lunch and you lifted us more than words can say. We were sitting by the door- the grey hairs who looked too dressed up for lunch.
“You remind us ourselves once upon a time. In the 60’s we were hippies. So Remember when you see grey hairs, maybe they are or were Hip one day, in the distant past. It seemed like yesterday. Thanks.”
To all hippies and hipsters, both young and old- we salute you!
So, now that we’ve been documented by publicist and tweeter extraordinaire Pigeon O’Brien live, in public and in a photo unretouched in any way, we can prove there are 5 band members. From left to right: Ethan Ballinger on the guitar, Missy Raines on the upright bass, Rob Crawford on drums, Mike Witcher on resonator and lapsteel guitars, and Dominick Leslie on mandolin.
Well we wanted to crow a little bit about making the 9513’s #1 slot of their Top 5 Bird Songs of the Year (see, we’re out there cutting the mustard in categories we never even dreamed of!) But before we could get the story posted, it turned into a teeth-bared, fists-brandished knock-drown drag-out fracas right there in the comment section, all about the New Hip and confusing things that have been said about us.
Not as confusing as calling us “cajun-zydeco-klezmer-latin-ska-swing-techno-progressiverock-
with-a-hint-of-middle-eastern marching-band-folk-disco-and-German-gospel” (see this)…no, nothing’s that confusing. But confusing nonetheless. Look for a post introducing everybody in the band, coming right up!
Yep, this is officially busy time. Debut at the Americana Music Fest in a couple days, head back to KY’s coolest club next Thursday, play Miami U. with the Sam Bush Band next Friday, the Sunday after that hot-rodding with friends and family in Missy’s hometown for CanalFest. And after that it’s the body slam that is IBMA week!
Hey Folks, I’ll be there bright and early Friday morning, Oct 2 to help serve up some breakfast and raise some money for Bluegrass Music! I’ll be joining my friend, Larry Stephenson on his team so come on out and join us. Here is a little more detail from Dan Hays at IBMA….
FanFEAST = Fun
Only 200 Tickets Available
The newest fan-friendly and fun experience for fans coming to Fan Fest is FanFEAST!
Everyone has to eat at some point during Bluegrass Fan Fest and what better way to kick-start the festivities on Friday morning (Oct 2 – 9 AM Central) than breakfast with the stars. And this intimate little gathering will offer a unique twist.
“We’re organizing everyone’s favorite artists into teams to serve breakfast at FanFEAST and each team will be competing for tips. And the team that earns the most tips will earn a donation to their favorite charity,” says IBMA executive director Dan Hays.
Every patron who buys a ticket to the events will be given $15 in play “tip money” when they arrive at the breakfast. As they’re served during the breakfast buffet, they’ll be enticed by the artists through whatever creative means the artists can come up with to turn loose of their tip money. You can expect excellent service from each of the teams or likely an impromptu serenade if there’s a need to compensate for any lack of waiter and waitress skills.
The breakfast only costs $20 and although fans aren’t expected to contribute their own “real” money as tips, they’re welcome to if they run out of the play “tip money” and want to reward their waiters and waitresses and help put them over the top.
At least 30 artists (still being organized at press time) will be on hand and the breakfast is limited to 200 attendees.
“Everyone should arrive expecting a lot of personal interaction with the artists and what’s sure to be some unexpected antics and fun,” according to Hays.
Tickets are available by contacting IBMA at 1-888-438-4262 or on the web at:
http://www.ibma.org/events.programs/wob/online.registration.asp
I tell you, we were already excited about playing the Americana conference here in Nashville in a couple weeks. They’ve given us a prime spot - 10 o’clock, Mercy Lounge, Saturday night. (Does it get any better?!)
Now Examiner.com has written up the whole shooting match, and we like the looks of the company we’ll be keeping: “…Holly Williams, Mary Gauthier, Matthew Ryan, Missy Raines, Nanci Griffith, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band…” Nice, huh?
And while during the day the conference is a get-your-music-business-done kind of deal, at night it turns into SXSW-come-to-Nashville: get you a highly affordable wristband and you can see dozens of venerable and breaking roots acts at all the best venues in town.
I’ve had so many inquiries about the health of my bass since this summer’s mishap that I wanted to let everyone know that my precious, if not worn, Kay bass (aka Bob) is alive and well!!
Thanks to Dustin at Williams Fine Violins in Nashville for putting it all back together, stronger than ever. While it was there, we decided to do some other work including a new bridge, and OMG! It’s awesome. I’m having a blast playing it and can’t wait to take it out on the road again. Thanks also go to Southwest Airlines and their employees, Bert (here at the Nashville Airport) and Louis in Dallas at SW Headquarters, who have made this whole experience worry-free and painless. They have made sure I was taken care of, and have proven once again, they are number 1 at taking care of their customers and very tuned in to the musicians who use their airline.
Thanks to all of you who have asked about “Bob” the bass. As many of you know, this bass is mighty special to me and it’s just great having it back.
Thanks also go to my friend, David Harvey, and to Mike Bub for loaning me a bass to get through.
Missy
