Ham on Rye - Slight Return

Wow following my post with lyrics based on Charles Bukowski's 'Ham on Rye' I've had two versions set to music. There's only one way to decide...FIGHT!




Isn't the internet great for creative collaboration!

Banjo Heroes: Pete Seeger

I've always preferred the music and playing of Pete Seeger's half brother, Mike, but Pete Seeger's list of interests makes him pretty special; musician, teacher, activist, environmentalist and most of all banjo player. His Wikipedia entry gives an idea of the extent of his personal achievements  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Seeger Even if you don't go for 'Little Boxes' you got to admire a man who is prepared to stick to his principals in the face of overwhelming opposition, as he did in the McCarthy era. In a century that has seen the social contract between the individual and society eroded to the point that people only matter as digits on a balance sheet, Pete Seeger stuck to his left-wing principles and championed causes that often only brought him scorn. In a time of increasing inequality and austerity we could do with a few more Pete Seegers. 'How to Play the 5-String Banjo' is pretty special too!

Dulcie

We've finally turned a guitarist! This is my bro Carl on his mountain dulcimer and Rutherford banjo

Don't Delay

Rehearsal, rehearsal

We've been working on a load of tunes for an upcoming gig on St Patrick's night (no pressure then) and after a fitful start we seem to have started to get into out stride. We might also have an accordion player and a drummer sitting in at the next rehearsal so we thought we'd show em our non-existent chops by playing
Alice Charmer, Dirty Old Town, Rosedale Run, Whiskey in the Jar, Wild Rover and Streams of Whiskey.

Ham on Rye

Ham on Rye 

Henry Chinaski lays on his death bed  

His body is wrecked and his face it is red 

He beckons me over, his last words to hear 

And old whiskey fumes he breathes in my ear 

Lost teeth and tomorrow, I have no regrets 

I've bedded some beauties and bedded some gets 

I lost all me money on three legged nags 

And all my old shit fits in three plastic bags. 

Now, listen me lad, and listen you well 

For now is the hour, the toll of the bell, 

For when I am gone, and when I am dead. 

These are the words that the old barfly said. 

Ham on rye, ham on rye  

Life is shit and then you die 

You gotta laugh or else you'd cry 

Life is ham on rye 

Henry Chinaski laid on his death bed 

His body was wrecked and his face it was red 

He lost all his money on three legged nags 

And all his old shit fits in three plastic bags. 

The Alice Charmers Live on t'wireless

BBC Tees Introducing: New sensations, buried treasure and studio sessions.

BROADCAST: 01 Feb 2014

SAT1FEB

• • 20:00BBC Tees

Banjo Heroes: Barney McKenna

Live and Loud at O'Connells

• THE ALICE CHARMERS https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Alice-Charmers WILLYGOGS TANGENT https://www.facebook.com/tangentsound?fref=ts JASON CARR Singer Songwriter Jason will be playing a selection of his own material - long awaited return for Jason don't miss it! STARTS 8.30 - FREE ENTRY

O'Connells

29-41 Bedford Street, TS1 2LL Middlesbrough

View map · Get directions

Dirty Old Town 5 String and Tenor banjo

We are working on a set for a St Patrick's night gig in March an we are going back over some old tunes and looking at some Irish songs that we've not done before. I expect we'll be playing this one along with Streams of Whiskey, Wild Rover, Whiskey in the Jar and a load of other stuff that we'll be borrowing form the Dubliners. Anyway I had a go a multi-tracking the 5-string and tenor banjos on Dirty Old Town.