by Bert Daniel | Mar 9, 2025 | Welcome Column
The pedal steel guitar: what it is, how it works Sean J. Barry-2025 The pedal steel guitar is closely identified with country music as a main contributor to the “traditional” Nashville sound, but it has also been used frequently in jazz, swing, and rock music. The...
by Bert Daniel | Feb 26, 2025 | Welcome Column
Unless you count the untold dozens of dollars most bands pay themselves, the biggest expense by far is travel. It is daunting enough to move a solo or duo act from home 20 miles to Point A and then 20 more miles to Point B while ensuring that everyone arrives on time...
by Bert Daniel | Feb 13, 2025 | Welcome Column
Part one: California Zephyr: Getting in When I graduated from UC Davis in the mid-1970s with a degree in Zoology, I decided, like so many others in my place might have, to join an established band, and go on to make dozens, if not scores, of dollars and a few platinum...
by Bert Daniel | Jan 10, 2025 | Welcome Column
Editor’s Note: I’d like to welcome a new columnist, Sean Barry to our writing staff. I’m looking forward to hearing more from him. Take it away, Sean. In October 1978 Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys appeared at the Coffee House at UC Davis, a show I was unable to...
by Bert Daniel | Jan 4, 2025 | Welcome Column
If you’re in a casual jam at any bluegrass jamming venue you are certain to come across a situation where a great song is in progress and the lead singer has a brain freeze. The solo breaks might be very good but a song tends to falter unless there are lyrics. Most...
by Bert Daniel | Nov 25, 2024 | Welcome Column
I have been watching a new direct to consumer drug ad recently that reminds me of a spoof article I wrote a few years ago. The new ad is for a drug called upadacitinib which goes by the brand name Renvoq. The amazing thing is that the commercial actually includes a...
