Little Ditty Live

Got together with the lads on Thursday, for the first time in ages.
I think we've got a few cobwebs as some of the audio is unlistenable even for us!
This is the little ditty which we are trying to work up a bit.

Hard Town - PB Guttenburg

PB says
'Hi - Here's another "recession song" inspired by the view of my town in my rear view mirror.It could be your town!'

Little Ditty

Haven't done much on the banjo lately, so I thought I'd have a play and this little thing popped out. Its probably part of some other song but it made me smile! I also thought, maybe I should get back on the old drum on a stick.

Lullaby of Leeds - Sam Barrett

I was trying to find some footage of Serious Sam playing 'Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy' as he plays a great version of it. I found this instead its from his Youtube channel and its a track from his recent CD Yorkshirecana

Headwater - In the Dock

Saw these fellas at In the Dock on Friday night. They turned in a set of real power, mixing low key numbers featuring great vocal harmonies with some fine rockin! Their self deprecating humour was refreshing too - great musicians who aren't up there own arses! Come back to Yorkshire anytime guys.
Tour dates and stuff at Headwater

Good Shepherds/Bad Shepherds

Last night I saw the Bad Shepherds at the Duchess in York and it was a bit of a rollercoaster - brilliant and horrible! The good bits way outnumbered the bad, but the bad bits were terrible.

The Good - Ella Edmondson, Adrian, Andy Dinan and Troy Donockley and 75% of the set list. This band really make clear the similarities between folk tunes and punk, especially when focusing on core songs from both genres - simple songs, verse, chorus, verse chorus. Brilliant!

The bad - It probably didn't help that the sound at the Duchess was poor, but veering away from the straight ahead choices, which suit the folk method, into post punk and 80s pop was a mistake. I've never really been a big XTC fan, but the rendition of 'Making Plans for Nigel' was painful as was 'Once in a Lifetime'. Stick to the seminal songs like White Riot, Sound of the Suburbs, Ace of Spades, even Rise, but don't go all proggy and clever it just didn't work.

The Brilliant - Anarchy in the UK, a ten minute thrash through some blazing traditional jigs and White Riot - I don't think I've ever heard a folk band play so loud, magic. Andy and Troy were awesome all night, as was Adrian when he kept to the punk ethos - keep it simple, play it straight.

Bad Shepherds/Good Shepherds!

A Right Nancy

Whilst trawling t'internet, I came across The Acoustic Music Archive it's run by musician Peter Webster and it's got a great archive of folk tabs and chords. I've always loved Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy and this is from Pete's chords for the song.

Try This at Home - Frank Turner

This guy manages to keep the punk aesthetic on an acoustic.

Middle-aged Kicks

Inspired by going to see the Bad Shepherds next week, I thought I'd have a go at an old punk song. But no matter how much irony I tried to apply the original words and sentiments of this song where just plain wrong coming out of my 44 year-old mouth. So I thought I should update it a bit so that no one could call the police! It's punk but without the hormones...
Middle-aged Kicks

CW Stoneking - Jungle Blues

Loving this guy!

As I get Older Losing My Hair...

It was a banjo birthday recently, and this book arrived with love from Mrs Banjoboy and the banjo boys! The Beatles for Banjo
It's a peculiar book mostly because I can't think of any songs by the Beatles which feature the banjo, and after trying out Across the Universe and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds I can see why!

It's been handy though for playing in open G on the guitar, and those tricky chords sound much better on the six string.

I did quite like this one though. It's pedestrian and suits my age.

Can you tell what it is yet?

but first....

It's the Bad Shepherds in October!