TSSN - Posted - 07/25/2012:  05:27:31

quote:

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Originally posted by TSSN

As an Irish-American, I have no problem drinking alone or before noon, but c'mon folks.  How about a pickin' story...

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/07/2012:  09:22:00

Howdy All. Been away for a while. Hope all is well...

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TSSN - Posted - 08/08/2012:  04:34:39

Hey Ant.  So, what do you do when you totally destroy a tune?  This may be better suited to Playing Advice, but I'll throw it out here.

I have started playing out again, and things had gone well.  But I did a gig last Saturday, and I flubbed "Soldier's Joy" a tune I usually nail down pretty well at home and in practices.  We do it in normal parts, ABAB, and I got through ABA okay, before my last break through the B part just turned to ****.  It was like my fingers turned to lead.  The sound was awful. 

I don't think it was nerves.  It was maybe tune 7 out of a fast set of 10.

I have played "Soldier's Joy" a few dozen times since Saturday, and guess what: more or less flawless every time.  So, Should I just let it go and move on?

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/08/2012:  10:34:38

TSSN, I'd let it go an move on. It happens. I'm playing with an acoustic group (Mando, Guitar, Bass Fiddle, Guitar, Drum, Melodica) and we usually have one go South on us. Sometimes it just happens. When it does, we/I hit it a few extra times in rehearsal and just move on.

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magnuscanis - Posted - 08/09/2012:  05:52:57

Since we're no closer to reaching infinity than when the thread began, I'll chip in a few numbers.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/15/2012:  07:30:53

magnuscanis,

While you are correct in that we are no closer than when we began, at the same time we are infinately closer with each number posted. Welcome to the count...

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Jo Ann - Posted - 08/15/2012:  11:01:14

hey tssn, listened to that neko link. really liked the song

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/15/2012:  13:20:25

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Heading Home folks. Keep on Counting and Pickin'

Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/16/2012:  07:16:17

Good Morning.

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TSSN - Posted - 08/16/2012:  13:08:05

quote:

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Originally posted by Jo Ann

hey tssn, listened to that neko link. really liked the song

 

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Neko Case is woefully underappreciated.

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Edited by - TSSN on 08/16/2012 13:08:28

TSSN - Posted - 08/16/2012:  13:08:51

quote:

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Originally posted by TSSN

quote:

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Originally posted by Jo Ann

hey tssn, listened to that neko link. really liked the song

 

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I'm glad you liked.  Neko Case is woefully underappreciated.

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 08/16/2012:  13:53:57

Ahh-- under appreciated?!! She tours constantly, her music/cds sell, Leno, Letterman, Austin City Limits, Lincoln Center, Conan-- toured with Merle Haggard, performances with Elvis Costello, Martha Wainright, Billy Bragg and who knows who else. You mean like Taylor? Alison ? There's only room for one of those at a time. She's about as big time and appreciated as one can really expect to get.

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Edited by - Ben Venuti on 08/16/2012 13:54:25

TSSN - Posted - 08/19/2012:  05:47:44

quote:

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Originally posted by Ben Venuti

Ahh-- under appreciated?!! She tours constantly, her music/cds sell, Leno, Letterman, Austin City Limits, Lincoln Center, Conan-- toured with Merle Haggard, performances with Elvis Costello, Martha Wainright, Billy Bragg and who knows who else. You mean like Taylor? Alison ? There's only room for one of those at a time. She's about as big time and appreciated as one can really expect to get.

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---

Nope.  Sorry Ben.  Ask any typical person (not the music folks you've known for years, not the people you jam with, not the people in your band) about her, and you'll get a blank stare.  Talent only takes you so far...

It's a Katy Perry / Skrillex world now.

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Edited by - TSSN on 08/19/2012 05:50:09

Ben Venuti - Posted - 08/19/2012:  10:19:47

It's would seem a mathematical impossibility but we do live in a country where more than half the people have less than average intelligence. That's not going to change. Most people's taste is up the old wazoo as far as I'm concerned! Homer and Jethro made a living doing a comedy routine,John Reichman is performing at a church and when you go there's 30 people. I often go to these shows at a music store where there is always someone that should be a national icon and I've idolized for decades and --same thing --it's a packed house, but then again 30 people is a packed house! I usually pay $15 to attend --15 x 30 -they're working for gas money to get them to the next town! A musician that finds themselves in a position to actually make a pretty good living and not have to do anything other than music is about all a reasonable person should ever expect. Neko Case has done that and more. Almost all the musicians I listen to fall into that category or less and usually less. I can think of many,many more deserving musicians than Neko Case that haven't had nearly the success that she has had. Don't get me wrong, I like Neko Case. There are a few, some deserving and some clearly not that manage to hit the bingo button but most of them don't. ---or the have a successful run and then kind of fade away. I happen to live in an area where a great many musicians come to die and I'm always astounded when I realize that they are or were the lead guitarist or whatever for some really successful band and they still can't make car payments or are painting houses. I have come to realize that most house painters are actually working musicians. Most people get their idea of what music is from Clear Channel. If it doesn't show up in their car it doesn't exist. Neko Case is known to most people for the "Zombies" cover she did for "True Blood".

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Edited by - Ben Venuti on 08/19/2012 10:25:14

TSSN - Posted - 08/19/2012:  11:19:57

I think we're saying a version of the same thing.  I saw someone last week, while traveling no less, who was simply huge in the 1980s.  I saw him last week in a club with maybe 40 other folks.  I thought he was worth going out of my way (again on business trip) to see, and I was not disappointed. 

Still, my point is that I doubt most non-music types even know about the "True Blood" tune.  Or the one from "Hunger Games" for that matter.

I know a great many people who are not music freaks, and the name Neko Case just does not resonate with them.  If I reference "True Blood" or "Hunger Games" they'll go "Oooooooh, her..."  On a board such as this one, I would hope Neko is mostly  old hat, and well appreciated.  Outside these confines, I stand by my original statement.

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Edited by - TSSN on 08/19/2012 11:22:53

Ben Venuti - Posted - 08/19/2012:  14:59:29

Of course they don't, that's my point.
Here is a list of other artists that 90% of all Americans would look like a deer in the headlights if you mentioned their name.
Bill Monroe
Richard Thompson
Steve Earle
Towns Van Zant
Jorma Kaukonen
Jethro Burns
Django Reinhardt
Rodney Crowell
Lyle Lovett is only known because he was a funny looking guy that married (for about a week) Julia Roberts (I wonder if she'd marry me for a week?)
Stuart Duncan who of late seems to have the distinction of being the fiddler on every record that comes out of Nashville.
or ok you know who Alison Krause is --name the dobro player.
Let's name some others
Del Ray
Roy Bookbinder
Norman Blake
Tim Weed
Rich Del Grosso
Paul Aspell
David Bromberg
Neko Case
All of these 99.9% of people never heard of but have enough of a loyal following that they still manage to make a decent living and manage to stay full time musicians.
Name any other person in Marty Stuart's band, heck they're on TV every week! The people only know what is fed them and if an artist doesn't get the big commercial promotion then they all fall under the "under appreciated" category by your definition. My definition of "appreciated" is if you can make a decent and respectable living and for a long time playing music then you are appreciated ---

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TSSN - Posted - 08/19/2012:  18:11:17

Great list.  I have one of my own; here's a sample:

Sigean,  The Low Anthem,

Michael Reno Harrell, Andy Bey,

The O'Kanes,  Moon August,

Marshall Crenshaw, Kenny White

You probably know each one---most people don't. 

So, I still disagree.  You blame this level of appreciation on what Big Music feeds to people.  True talent often goes unrecognized---and I still contend that people should decide what to "feed" to themselves.  In the Internet era, there is no excuse for people not deciding for themselves.

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Ben Venuti - Posted - 08/19/2012:  19:19:36

Back to my first premise------over half the population is below average intelligence------if people did that (thought for themselves) how would those Heritage Foundation type people ever make a living? How could any of the jokers out there that are holding public office ever have been elected? The world needs sheep like idiots by the score to buy the useless products that they buy that they never needed in the first place but were told they had to have.
Unless you actively seek it out-music,art, or really good tools even what you get is what your fed. I wanted to watch the Olympics and what I found was an edited homogenized propaganda version(no Americans? No event!) that I was being fed. My son who is a world class internet pirate was able to set me up so that I could watch ALL or any part of it unedited via computer. It would have been very difficult for me to be able to do that. Finding quality music is kind of like that, you have to work at it and frankly a lot of people aren't all that fussed. They really don't need to know that there is an Andy Statman out there, what comes to them on Clear Channel is good enough.. I don't blame established media for the problem -the problem is that it is --they just know how to make money from it.
My point about Neko Case being appreciated is just that-- talent IS often unrecognized and profoundly so--I know of many, many truly deserving musicians that never got even a tiny taste of the success that she has had.---- And not from not trying either--it just didn't happen for them or their fan base was so small that they had to find food another way. You've never heard of them --no one has ever heard of them -- Ever hear of Buddy Craig? Best guitarist you never heard of, I knew him well -- he played music full time all his life -you could call him a professional but to be that he lived in rooming houses or station wagons and his teeth were falling out ----a while back he traded his guitar to someone for a handgun and he shot himself....he was appreciated I guess-- a bit, I mean--- no one that ever heard him play ever said anything but "Wow!"

TSSN - Posted - 08/19/2012:  21:13:12

I do not now make, nor have I ever made, my living as a musician.  When I have been in a band, I have been happy just to be paid enough for gas money, as you suggested above.  That also means I haven't had the chance to hear/see as many artists as your friend Buddy Craig, though I know that story too well...

As such, I guess my threshold for "underappreciated" is just different from yours. 

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/20/2012:  13:06:03

Hey guys. Just to add to the conversation, I personally know and have played with some musicians who are unsigned, and probably never will be signed. Many of them are exceptional musicians. A few of them are AS TALENTED or even more talented than some of those on your lists above. Alas, most people will never hear them, they will never make a record, and never be more than "local" legends that you run into at a remote campsite at midnight at a festival somewhere-tearing it up on the mandolin or banjo, or guitar.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 08/21/2012:  08:07:11

Good Morning!

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TSSN - Posted - 08/21/2012:  11:30:41

Good afternoon.  A round for the house on me.

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TSSN - Posted - 09/01/2012:  06:05:05

Happy Labor Day weekend.

I'll be laboring on "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" again.  I've lost some of my speed on that one.

Kilted One - Posted - 09/22/2012:  22:14:49

Adding to the list:
Sarah Jarosz
Rachel Harrington
Yank Rachell
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TSSN - Posted - 09/29/2012:  06:03:20

I would agree.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 10/09/2012:  09:30:10

Sorry, I haven't been around. Hope everyone is well.

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TSSN - Posted - 10/19/2012:  20:18:40

This place was getting quiet...

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/07/2012:  10:10:19

Wow! Where does the time go? Sorry I haven't been around. Fall is the busiest time for me, music wise. Had gigs every weekend since late August to now. We call it the "Camping Tour". Anyway, playing in 2 bands and filling in on Bass for 3 more has kept me hoppin'. Man I Love playing Bass! But not quite as much as my Mandolin!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/07/2012:  10:10:53

And another Milestone...

600!

Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/07/2012:  10:29:14

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/07/2012:  10:29:55

Uhg, I hate conference calls at work!

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TSSN - Posted - 11/08/2012:  03:53:13

Hey Ant.  I wish I played out as much a you.  I got a gig December 1, though.  Stoked about that...

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John Gent - Posted - 11/08/2012:  10:18:06

Wow! It happened again! I woke up on this side of the lawn. Man I feel good.

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TSSN - Posted - 11/08/2012:  14:11:18

Just tell us that your wife didn't throw your stuff all over it, and we're good.    ;^>

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/09/2012:  12:28:00

Yeah TSSN, we play out quit a bit, but it's all just for fun. We rarely get a "paying gig". But I tried that once before. I played bass in a professional band for about 10 years. We had a nice van and a trailer, a sound man with an awesome PA on contract, a contract with a big time booking agency, the whole thing. It was fun, but man all that traveling got old. We would play one week at Penn State, Princeton, Ohio State, then the next weekend we would hit Charlotte, Mississippi St, and Alabama. We put some miles on the old van for sure.

Now I just play for the shear Love of it. And it really is much more fun when your not trying to carve out a living doing it.

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Have a great weekend everyone!

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Kristibob - Posted - 11/14/2012:  19:18:45

It is officially the holiday season..my first large holiday tin of Royal Danske butter cookies followed me home from Target....I imagine I could eat a zillion of the things, but I'll just start with trying, oh..

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/21/2012:  09:25:51

Mmm, butter cookies.

I could eat 617 of 'em!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/21/2012:  09:27:22

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving everyone!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/26/2012:  09:13:19

Hope everyone enjoyed some time with Family and Friends.

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TSSN - Posted - 11/26/2012:  13:40:07

quote:

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Originally posted by Mandolin Ant

Hope everyone enjoyed some time with Family and Friends.

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I did.  Had a gig on Wednesday too.  All good.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/28/2012:  06:14:15

I did.  Had a gig on Wednesday too.  All good.

******************

Nice.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/28/2012:  06:17:07

Um, Well, I'm gonna try something to move this count along a bit. I hope this works...

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/28/2012:  06:17:48

1000!

Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/28/2012:  06:18:42

Cool. Enjoy your day everyone. And Keep on Pickin'!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 11/29/2012:  06:53:53

Good Morning. Hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far.

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TSSN - Posted - 12/02/2012:  20:21:51

A good weekend too.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 12/04/2012:  12:28:57

Well, it finally happened. I was at a party this weekend and after performing we went back to the camp site around a nice fire and did some pickin'. Wouldn't ya know, I lost my BC pic. Darn it! I've had that thing just short of 2 years without losing it and now it's gone, gone, gone. So sad....

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 12/05/2012:  07:01:36

Good Morning All!

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 12/05/2012:  11:51:44

I'm out. Enjoy the rest of your day and keep on pickin'!

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