Wednesday 28 August 2013

Cluck Old Hen

Another old nugget that I've overlooked because its everywhere. Its another modal tune in sawmill tuning gDGCD.

Salty Paws: Maid of Amsterdam

I'm absolutely lovin' this - you can beat a good old shanty!

Monday 12 August 2013

Old Joe Clark

I've had a bit of a hankering for going back and looking at some classic tunes. Old Joe Clark is one of those songs that are in all the tutor books and its usually the one which is used to introduce the F chord. Its also such a simple tune that I'd over looked it. The other night I saw Rebecca Findlay playing fiddle at the local pub and on top of being a fantastic musician she played a version of Old Joe Clark and I thought hang on this is a bloody great tune - I should have another look. It's one of those tunes like Cripple Creek that are apparently simple but once learned leave a lot of room for improvisation or elaboration. Not that I've got that far yet but there is something hypnotic about a tune which is seven and a half bars of one chord, G, and half a bar of a second F. It has a really archaic feel to it, apparently it's a modal tune in the mixolydian mode.
As a song its got about ninety-five verses and lots of them can be found here http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiJOECLARK;ttJOECLARK.html

Friday 9 August 2013

I know you shouldn't read your own reviews but..


A really nice review of our July gig at Doc Brown's for 4 Play by Simon Rylander
I can honestly say this months four 4PLAYS were the best I’ve ever seen! And what a start! Grass Route managed to get McCormick, Cherry Head Cherry Heart, Head Of Light Entertainment, and The Alice Charmers all into one gig, for the 4th July 4PLAY. McCormick started us off with a set that had everyone “stomping” along. This guy switches effortlessly between ballads that have lyrics that make your heart melt and mid-tempo songs that quite literally give you Goosebumps. Make sure you visit his really cool website www.mccormick.com 
What a pleasure it is to listen to Head Of Light Entertainment. Its rare to find a band so expressive in what they do, and if you’re ever having a bad day/week/month/year, just spend five minutes watching their set and all your troubles will melt away. Cherry Head Cherry Heart gave us all a lesson on how duets should be sung, and then The Alice Charmers took to the stage with banjos in hand. 
These magnificent men and their strumming machines combine polished talent, humour, and a voodoo-like ability to get you off that bar stool and dance with random strangers! Top tip for when you go and see The Alice Charmers – make sure you’re at the front, and that there’s plenty of room. Yeah, yeah, I know you dont want to dance, but that’s irrelevant because you won’t be able to help it!
The rest of the article is on EXNE  http://www.exne.co.uk/diary-of-a-superfan/diary-of-a-superfan-july/