Meeting other Musicians

This past Sunday, January 25th, we had the opportunity to attend a house concert by Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin in Gainesville, GA. They did an outstanding job and I recommend you go see them if you get the chance. Until you can see them in person, check them out on YouTube and MySpace. Wil and Robert are outstanding examples of being not only world class musicians, but also great people.

I love performing every chance we get. It is a lot of fun to interact with an audience while doing something you love. The only disadvantage of performing regularly, at least to my thinking, is that you do not often get the chance to hear many other musicians in person. When you are playing a festival or event with musicians other than yourself you may have that opportunity. Many times though, you are warming up, cooling down, or talking with others while they are playing. Still you try to hear as many as you can, and there are some who you will make an extra effort to go and see.

We have had the chance to meet and hear many musicians over the years. Some are famous, some are a little infamous, and some are neither of the above. It is always nice to get to hear good musicians, and a privilege when you to get to talk with them as well. While you often hear of musicians that are demanding and hard to get along with, that has not been my experience overall. I have found the majority to be very friendly and open. They are people who enjoy what they do and are happy to share that experience with others.

My intent here is not to just drop names and make it sound like I am friends with a lot of well known folks, because I really am not. However, I do want to express how many outstanding and even famous musicians are also good, approachable people. While I will list some names, it is by no means complete, and I will likely need to add others over time. If any of this sounds like bragging, it is about them and not about me or us.

A couple of years ago we had the privilege of meeting Jim Hurst at a festival and spending an afternoon visiting with him and listening to him perform. I do not believe you will find a better guitarist than he is. There are many excellent pickers, but I don't think you can find one any better all around. Yet he listened to us and treated us as peers, giving his thoughts and asking about ours. I have had the chance talk to him a couple of times since and am always impressed with what a decent and real person he is. Then I listen to him pick and am just blown away.

Another festival gave us the chance to meet and spend some time with Mike Cross. He is as friendly and fun offstage as he is on. And what a performer, songwriter, and picker he is. Be sure to see him as well. We even managed to get a picture made with him and put on our website.

We have also had a few chances to talk with Norman Blake after his shows and have been impressed with his willingness to visit with fans. This is another legendary guitarist and decent human being. This past summer I had the chance to talk some with Mark Schatz. We have followed him and his music for years, having heard him shortly before he joined the Tony Rice Unit. His bass playing has always been phenomenal and now I know more of his banjo picking and dancing. If you don't know him, or have only heard about him, look him up and have a musical treat for yourself.

Maybe it is that the type music we listen to and enjoy so much is populated with people who are very approachable and personable. Outstanding musicians and people as well. Whatever it is, I recommend you make to effort to say hello to these folks that you have enjoyed listening to. You may be surprised at how welcome you will be made to feel.

Nelson

Practice

Practice is a small word that conjures up certain feelings within almost everyone. The feelings or thoughts associated with it have a lot to do with each persons past experience(s).

One of the first things many people associate with practice is about some type of sport. Every sport has regular practices scheduled before a game or competition. This is necessary for the athletes to learn their sport sufficiently to compete. It is really the same for any endeavor you become involved in, though you may not think of it as practice. Maybe it is your job and you are just thinking of it as working on your job and slowly becoming more proficient and efficient. When in school you think of your work in math, science, and other subjects as homework. Much of it is practice to help you learn and retain the lessons you need to master in order to move on to more complicated levels.

So why am I thinking of practice today? Mainly because we had another good practice session last night. Also because it is a necessary part of playing and performing music. How much you perform often determines how much you need to practice. As you are first learning to play, you have to spend a lot of time practicing, or woodshedding. When you start performing regularly, there is less time to spend in formal practice, though a certain amount is still needed to upgrade your music and add new songs.

Just about everyone has heard the old saying that practice makes perfect. An update to that is that perfect practice makes perfect. Relating this to music I find one of my favorite quotes from Doc Watson, who said, "If you want to play like an angel, you need to practice like the devil".

If I could have heard how I play today when I first began playing an instrument, I would have thought how happy I would be to play that well. Today though, I find that I have a long way to go to be where I really want to be. That is okay though because I am still playing, I am still learning, and I am still enjoying it. And I am still practicing.

A few times over the years I have taught some basic lessons on the guitar and banjo. Part of my advice to everyone is to enjoy the journey. If all you want to do is be on stage playing great music, you are not likely to make it. You need to enjoy all the time you have with an instrument. I once heard that you can tell a real musician because they are happy playing whether they have an audience or not. I think that is true to a point. I have had many great times playing alone or with a few other people. However, there is a special warmth and satisfaction achieved when performing for an appreciative audience. There is a real give and take that benefits both sides of the stage. So, at least for me, I need to have both the private times to play as well as the times to perform.

David and I have been practicing and performing together for most of the past 36 years. He started a little before me, but we got more serious about it around the same time. The first couple of years were spent learning basics in my parents basement. We listened to a lot of good music and were especially motivated by John Denver, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Flatt & Scruggs, and Doc Watson, as well as many singer/songwriters, bluegrass, and traditional bands.

We lived about 200 yards apart (when home from college) when we were first beginning. Later I bought a cabin near Vogel and David lived at Tugaloo State Park and then Unicoi State Park. We got together regularly with others in a band we had formed to practice and perform. Many nights were spent awake and playing in that old cabin. Many wonderful memories were established.

For the past several years, we have lived a little over 60 miles apart and usually alternate going to each others house to practice. We take some times off for family and other things we need to take care of, but then get back to our practice and perform schedule. Most times we want to get together at least once a week for a practice or a performance. Life would be a little (lot) less enjoyable for me without the music involved. There have been times that I thought I should stop playing because it takes up so much time. But that is just not a realistic idea, as it turns out.

Our last two practice sessions have felt extra productive. It may because we are in one of those

breakthrough times, or it may be due to the fact that we did not practice at all over the Christmas holiday season. Whatever the reason, I like it.

Our practice finished last night just a little before midnight (about the time I had told my wife I would be home). As we were packing up, we discussed the idea that we better love playing music. Otherwise it would just be too much work. The truth is that we were both on a little bit of a high from having had a really good practice. It was one of those times that you feel elated on what you have accomplished and what you see as possible for the near future. There are times you feel frustrated, but this was not one of them.

Of course we love playing music. If not, there is no way we could still be doing so after all these years. And certainly not with the enthusiastic outlook for doing even more. I have often said that there are many, many people who can play better than I do. However, I know that there is no one that enjoys it any more.

I hope you love your music, whether you are playing or listening. And I hope you are enjoying your practice - no matter what you are practicing. Have a good one and we will see you soon.

Nelson

Happy 2009

I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year. Mine was somewhat subdued, but very enjoyable.

My youngest son, wife, and I went to some friends house to share a dinner and fellowship. There were about 5 families represented. It was a nice time to sit quietly and talk with one another. We did have on a football game that became a rout and required little attention. This was a very nice way to close out the year and I am thankful to have been among these friends.

We were back at our house before midnight. Vincent called Caroline and had her on speaker phone. They, along with their mother, did some Wii bowling as the year ended. I went to bed as I had to get up at 6:00 to be at work by 7:00. I managed to hear the New Year arrive as Vincent yelled Happy New Year to me! I think I mumbled it back to him and then went promptly to sleep. I had wished them a Happy New Year before going to bed as well.

I have great hopes for 2009 and I hope you do as well. It is nice to be able to celebrate the beginning of another year, though it is still hard for me to believe that we have already arrived at this point in time. It was just a couple of years ago that I was in college, but that has been more than 30 years ago now. Lots of good memories to recall since then. I am glad that we tend to remember the best things and not dwell on the others.

May you make great memories in 2009. I'll see you there.

Nelson

End of the Year - 2008

What a year this has been! As always there are good and bad that happens in a year. This one has been eventful to say the least. It has also been a busy one. If you have anything else you want to do in 2008, I strongly suggest you do so very soon. It is quickly coming to an end.

The end of the year is often a time for reflection. This is evidenced by the song "Auld Lang Syne" used for so long as the song to end one year and begin the next. It is more often thought of as the time for a new beginning and plans for the future. Think "Resolutions". The year outlasts most resolutions, but it is at least good to recognize the need to make changes for the better.

Last year David and I resolved to record a new CD. This year we are resolving to finish it. There are other resolutions, though I usually don't think of them as such. I like to think of them as plans, that way I don't feel like I have broken something when it comes later than anticipated. Plans can be changed or modified as needed, though they should never be changed just on a whim. Challenges that came up in 2008 caused some important plans to change, or really just be postponed until they can be completed properly.

Now don't start thinking that all plans and resolutions were broken or postponed. Many were realized and completed. Others were increased as we reached the point we had planned for. Now to work on the plans for the coming year.

We have already been booking programs for the coming year. There are more places to call and to book. I'll get back on that after the first of the year. Everyone is so busy with Christmas and New Year's that I think it is best to let them enjoy this season with all they already have to do.

January is set aside to work on finishing our CD. Keep an eye on our schedule though, you never know when a plan will change.

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

NHT

Thanksgving to Christmas

There is an old joke that I have used often. It says "Sometimes I sit and think and sometimes I just sit." This time of year, when I do get to sit, I tend to sit and think.

Fall has held a special place in my life as long as I can remember. It has always conjured up feelings of warmth, energy, and a little bit of melancholy. I also enjoy winter. I like hiking in the woods when it is cold and especially when there is a little snow on the ground.

It seems that people, for the most part, tend to associate fall and winter with the end of something. I have never really thought of it that way. In my mind it is more of a continuation, another change, or a time of celebration. Some of that is probably from my rural upbringing, as fall was the time of harvest. There was some rest involved, along with the celebration of the year - especially if the harvest was good.

That I was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1953 may also have something to do with how I feel about this time of year- it was the beginning for me. Though I have no personal recollection of that particular day, or many days thereafter, I understand that there had been snow on the ground for about a week. The weather has changed quite a lot since then, most of the change happening since around 1980.

This is a season that I am anxious to play music as well. Well, I seem to always be anxious for that, but even more so in the fall and spring. The air feels so good after a hot summer. It is nice to find some cool mornings and evenings.

Whether you look at fall and winter as an end, a beginning, or something else altogether, I hope you enjoy it as much as you possibly can. It is a wonderful time for us to reflect on the past year and plan for the next. It is a time to think of all this season and it's holidays mean to us and the world. So whatever you think and wherever you are, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.

Nelson

Driving Though the Night

There have been many nights in my life that I have been driving down the road. Sometimes it has been with family. Sometimes with friends. Often it has been alone and the result of work or traveling for work. Many times it has been for music and while that is also a profession, it is more play than work. Although I am exhausted when we finish a program.

I enjoy driving in the night, even as I realize that it can have it's own special dangers. There is usually less traffic during the night however, at least until the truckers begin waking back up and getting on the road (if you happen to be driving the Interstates). I really do pretty well up until around 2:30 or 3:00 am. My natural tendencies are to be awake late and sleep a little later, though that isn't always possible.

When my children were younger, we would drive late in the night and sometimes all night to make distance while they slept. We would trade off on the driving. I will say that my children always were good travelers though, and especially on long trips. Even as they have grown up, we have continued to drive many times at night to make up time on our trips.

Sometimes I like to listen to music as I drive. Other times I just want it quiet and have time to think. I have solved many problems, or what appeared to be problems, as I drove along a road. Late at night it is fun to listen to AM radio stations. It is amazing some of the things you hear on the old AM stations in the middle of the night. Some things are great and mind expanding. Some are funny. Many are just plain strange. Still others will transport you to another time or place.

David and I have had the chance to drive several nights together as we returned from a gig somewhere close enough to drive back from. That has often meant getting back home around 2:00 am or later, but still close enough to be there well before daylight. Those trips have often been productive times for us as we discussed songs (and sometimes worked on them), planned places to contact for gigs, talked about musicians we enjoy (and listen to their music), and enjoyed a bit of the road while knowing we didn't have to be on it all the time.

We have enjoyed meeting a lot of people over the years. People who have become friends and acquaintances - great musicians and music fans. As we have ventured farther from our home turf, it has been great to be greeted by good people everywhere we go. It is exciting to learn about new places as well. Whenever possible we try to get to a place early so we can look around the area before setting up to play.

This summer we went to Boone, NC for a program. I have been to Boone many times, but it had been a few years since I had been there. We went early to see where we would be performing, then toured town and the area. It was interesting to see the changes that had taken place since my last visit, and it was good to see that many things had not changed. We then drove over to Deep Gap, NC to see the hometown of Doc Watson. We didn't get to see Doc, but did take our picture by the Doc and Merle Watson Highway sign.

That evening we were on a double bill with Baldwin and Haney (Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney), one of our favorite duos. It was a great evening for us as we were able to perform, watch their show, and then go to dinner with them as well. I usually just eat supper, but it was nice to have dinner that evening. Then a drive through the night that got me to Blairsville around 2:30 am.

This past Saturday we played in Johnson City, TN. This was our first trip there and again arrived early enough to look around. We checked out the town and then drove around East Tennessee State University to look it over. ETSU has a big Bluegrass Music Program going, so there is a lot of music in that area. Our program was at the Acoustic Coffeehouse and we had a great time. The patrons are music fans and the food was excellent. I do have to remember that college towns tend to go later in the night, so next time we should try to play the 10:00 pm show instead of the 8:00. The crowds really started getting there around 9:00.

Driving back, or maybe I should say riding back since David drove on this trip, was good. We listened to the CD from our program at Boone - they had recorded it for us. It gave us a chance to listen and see what we liked and what we might want to work on. Then we listened to some other CD's. Somewhere after midnight, I put in the Claire Lynch CD call Crowd Favorites. It was a great choice for that section of our trip. I love to hear Claire sing and what a band. Jim Hurst can't be beat on guitar for technique and taste. Missy Raines is outstanding on upright bass (as is the current bassist with Claire Lynch - Mark Schatz). The other musicians on the CD were top notch as well. It was fun to listen to them spread their wings as they played an almost 9 minute version of Wabash Cannonball. Good music as were ramble through the night.

Be careful as you drive around, especially at night. We may be somewhere on the road and while we would love to see you, we don't want to actually run into you. Have a great day and we'll see you down the road.

Nelson

Buck's Bits

For years , Nelson and I have played a song called "Kickin’ Mule" at many of our performances. For this song, Nelson plays banjo on which he imitates the sound of a mule braying, and I (as Nelson says) imitate the other end… Oh, well !

Nevertheless, this song always reminds me of something that happened long ago when I was a teenager (or young Buck, so to speak).

As was our habit, Nelson and I had been playing music in his basement into the wee hours of the morning. At about 3 a.m., loaded with instruments, I began walking home. Now, it was only about 200 yards to my house. That night I was wearing the cowboy boots that I wore when riding my motorcycle. They made a good clopping sound as I walked on the pavement. It was also a very foggy night, making it hard to see more than a few yards in front of you.

When I got to the end of Nelson’s driveway and stepped onto Mauney Street, I thought I saw something coming toward me. Thinking I was imagining things, I kept going. Then I noticed that when I stopped, it would stop; and when I would go, it also moved toward me. At this point, I didn’t know whether to drop my instruments and run or what! Somehow, I managed enough courage to walk on a few more steps.

When I was about 15 yards from "this thing," I recognized a faint outline of a man and I also began hearing some mumbled words. There he was, weaving back and forth in the road, with arms outstretched sideways as far as they would go, and he was saying in a soft tone; "woah…, woah…, woah…" By this time, I was too scared to run, so I just yelled out; "hey !!!" When I did, the man jumped back all the way to the town square… (well, actually only a few feet). ….As it turned out, Tommy Duncan’s mule had gotten out and Tommy had spent half the night and morning roaming the streets of Blairsville looking for it.

Yes, I had been mistaken for a mule (maybe Nelson’s right after all), but I’m still alive and pickin’… and I’ll take that any day. It does make a good story and a funny memory for me, and probably for Tommy too.

Woah, Mule, Woah !