by Christine | Jan 31, 2017 | Welcome Column
We be talking bass again this month. I mean the stringed instrument not the fish. You know, the doghouse, bull fiddle, bass fiddle or just plain bass (but not base). The one where you can never find more than one in a jam or band unless the band name has a city and...
by Christine | Dec 6, 2020 | Welcome Column
We be talking bass again this month. I mean the stringed instrument not the fish. You know, the doghouse, bull fiddle, bass fiddle or just plain bass (but not base). The one where you can never find more than one in a jam or band unless the band name has a city and...
by Christine | Oct 17, 2017 | Welcome Column
Yup, that’s where we’re at and that’s where we’ll be till next Sunday. For over 40 Octobers the California Bluegrass Association has convened for several days of jamming, catching up, eating, jamming and more jamming. The Grape Festival...
by Christine | Apr 9, 2018 | Welcome Column
With the continued transition of bluegrass into an adaptable genre, there is room for earworms that previously hadn’t been heard with a fiddle and banjo. One songwriter and performer who has taken advantage of this is fiddle player Becky Buller. Like other bluegrass...
by Christine | Nov 2, 2020 | Welcome Column
The Tuttles. No, not the Turtles (remember that 1960’s Rock Band?). This is the Tuttles, the family band that plays bluegrass music. This is the Tuttles who also play “out of the bluegrass box” music. If you follow California bluegrass and by now you haven’t heard of...
by Christine | Jan 29, 2020 | Welcome Column
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I REALLY LIKE COPS! Proof?1. One of our nephews is the Chief of Police in one of those small Kansas towns where the picture show is hanging on by a thread. “The two biggest problems we have here is drugs and other stupid stuff.”2. The stepson...
by Christine | Jul 6, 2009 | Welcome Column
music. They get a fire in their bellies and brave the frustrations and battle the shyness to become parking lot pickers or even talented performers. I love beginning bass class students. You know they are there to get playing with others ASAP. Unlike some of the other...
by Christine | May 1, 2013 | Welcome Column
Don’t worry, this is not a serious piece about serious matters. The beginnings and endings I’m referring to are for songs (or tunes, since bluegrass people make a stark distinction between the two). I have written before about the importance of crisp beginnings and...
by Christine | May 24, 2019 | Welcome Column
The Daily Grist: “Becoming famous was extremely disappointing to me. When I became famous it was a complete drag and it’s still a complete drag” … Van Morrison.I’m amused by all those people who pore over magazines and tabloids about the latest doings of the rich and...
by Christine | Jun 14, 2020 | Welcome Column
“I like to watch TV”. That’s the famous Peter Sellers line from the late 70’s film for which he got an Academy Award nomination. At this point I am sure many like you are pretty tired of watching TV. We want to be with our friends playing music and socializing. It’s...
