Cherryholmes - Do they ever smile?

**greg_tsam** · Oct-20-2008, 6:44pm

Even their website doesn't show any pictures were these people smile and it jinda gives me the heebee jeebees.

They do have a family pic on harleys trying to look biker tough. I saw them on video and they're talented but I get depressed looking at them. Who wants to be bummed out while listening to music?

Am I the only one that this bothers? Just curious.

**northfolk** · Oct-20-2008, 7:29pm

I have seen Cherryholmes on two different occasions; they smiled throughout the performance as well as after during the autograph session. I found them to be very friendly and personable folks.

**Mark Walker** · Oct-20-2008, 7:37pm

You know, that's an interesting observation. I saw them for the first time in 2004 at the Tri-State Bluegrass festival in Kendallville, IN, and again earlier this year at Miller Auditorium in Kalamazoo, MI. They put on phenomenal shows both times, but I believe the ONLY member of the family who smiled at ALL was the mother - Sandy Lee.

It may be 'part of the act' - that they simply stand up there with little interaction (Jere - the father - seems to be the primary 'spokesman' and MC), don't smile, but play kick-butt music. Or perhaps the kids feel enslaved to the wishes of the parents? Lord knows any of them could individually stand on their own with any top-tier bluegrass band!

But it is a curiosity, to be sure.

**Mike Bromley** · Oct-20-2008, 7:46pm

Oh brother. This issue grabs me by the throat by times. I have a naturally laconic expression, plus a bad case of mando face, which stirs up the impulse in many audience members to come forward and tell me that I need to smile more.

The dangdest thing is, I'm enjoying myself immensely. I can't change the face that genetics bestowed upon me. I feel like the 'possum who didn't, which is the story of a possum who, although very happy, was deemed unhappy because he hung upside down and therefore his smile looked like a pout....and all of society lived vicariously through him until he became sad for real.

I kind of envy those who can smile effortlessly while screaming through a complex musical passage, but I'm not one of them, I guess. My advice is to listen rather than look....

....and never having seen Cherryholmes, I couldn't comment, but from what I hear, they kick butt. And if they can do that while looking like they're having a bad day, good on 'em. MusicFace is a unique expression...I always loved Mon's crooked grimace when he soloed, nobody walked up to him and suggested he should do otherwise.

Sorry, I had to jump in.

**Mark Walker** · Oct-20-2008, 8:02pm

Mandoflash - interesting comments as well. I'm in a Gospel Bluegrass band, and we try to smile as often as possible while performing. I quite often will look at the other members (well, to be fair, I'm the only GUY in the band - the lone male guitarist with three women who play bass, mandolin, and fiddle, and whose vocals are stellar) and I'll often grin at them when playing or doing an instrumental solo or whatever.

But your observation that 'anyone who can kick butt and do it while looking like they're having a bad day...' - that's rich!

And you're right of course!

No apologies for chiming in necessary!

**Mike Bunting** · Oct-20-2008, 8:13pm

Never noticed.

**walt33** · Oct-20-2008, 8:25pm

Originally Posted by Mark Walker

I'm the only GUY in the band - the lone male guitarist with three women who play bass, mandolin, and fiddle . . .

Sounds like a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it. Poor you!

Walt

**Mike Snyder** · Oct-20-2008, 8:34pm

I have not seen them for six years, or so, but I can assure you that they were very friendly and down-to-earth at that time. Pa and the boys jammed in the campground with some less than stellar pickers, and were very gracious about it. At that time, the younger girl seemed a little stage shy. Cherryholmes has become MUCH more popular since then, and the music has changed some.
Seems to be less straight bluegrass, more (searching for the right word) not bluegrass, I guess. Perhaps the new non-smiley stage persona is all part of the same. Seems a shame, they were an
extremely talented, personable, good looking family band with somewhat of an edge. I always thought that their vocal blend would put them over the top. They were smiling the last I saw of them.

**Patrick Sylvest** · Oct-20-2008, 8:41pm

Remember the Dillards on Andy Griffith?....now there was one excited bunch of pickers!

**Mike Bromley** · Oct-20-2008, 8:52pm

Originally Posted by Cayenne

Remember the Dillards on Andy Griffith?....now there was one excited bunch of pickers!

Those guys were wacky! However, check out Doug D.....he's giving Andy the Evil Eye! There's Clarence and Roland as well.

This concoction eventually became the the Kentucky Colonels, and look out!

I would have loved to see them.

**Bruce Evans** · Oct-20-2008, 9:05pm

I think the only thing worse than a performer who never smiles is one who looks to be in pain by trying to force a smile because s/he has been told to.

**Mike Bromley** · Oct-20-2008, 9:13pm

Originally Posted by Bruce Evans

I think the only thing worse than a performer who never smiles is one who looks to be in pain by trying to force a smile because s/he has been told to.

You get a medal.

**Stephen Lind** · Oct-20-2008, 10:41pm

[QUOTE=greg_tsam;590570

I get depressed looking at them.[/QUOTE]

so don't

btw
don't worry, they're fine

**f5loar** · Oct-20-2008, 11:43pm

Never saw Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys smile on stage. Serious pickers that take their pickin' serious. No room for smiles. The Cherries are serious pickers therefore no need to smile. One thing for sure is they are laughing all the way to the bank.

**Bertram Henze** · Oct-21-2008, 1:50am

Originally Posted by Mandoflash

Oh brother. This issue grabs me by the throat by times. I have a naturally laconic expression, plus a bad case of mando face, which stirs up the impulse in many audience members to come forward and tell me that I need to smile more.

Same for me. I am always told not to scowl at people, while all I do is concentrate.

But it's not so bad. The only people who smile constantly live in Florida, occasionally are caught in other people's swimming pools and are called alligators. I don't need that.

Bertram

**Ivan Kelsall** · Oct-21-2008, 2:43am

Whether they smile or not,i think that they are a great band,especially Cia Leigh,she's got to be one of the best young Banjo players around & they rest of the family are great as well.
I posted a link on another threadto a YouTube clip of Bill Monroe playing Goldrush,with Byron Berline's band,California. He comes on stage after being introduced all smiles. One 'Cafe member posted a note :- Quote " Heck !, i didn't even know the guy had teeth" - that totally cracked me up,
Saska

**man dough nollij** · Oct-21-2008, 2:51am

Smilin' ain't no part of nothin'. Nope.

**jim_n_virginia** · Oct-21-2008, 7:40am

I've seen them and it never occured to me that they don't smile however I have had a LOT of people tell me I ought to smile more when I am on stage!

**Chris Travers** · Oct-21-2008, 8:20am

Originally Posted by northfolk

I have seen Cherryholmes on two different occasions; they smiled throughout the performance as well as after during the autograph session. I found them to be very friendly and personable folks.

Definitely!

**Ken Froman** · Oct-21-2008, 11:10am

I did a few TV shows couple of years ago First thing I noticed when I seen the tape was my lack of smiles. Now I try harder. !

**woodwizard** · Oct-21-2008, 11:43am

Originally Posted by crazylotrfan

Definitely!

I'll 3rd that! Very friendly bunch.

**Mike Bromley** · Oct-21-2008, 11:54am

Originally Posted by Bertram Henze

Same for me. I am always told not to scowl at people, while all I do is concentrate.

But it's not so bad. The only people who smile constantly live in Florida, occasionally are caught in other people's swimming pools and are called alligators. I don't need that.

Bertram

One time, during a break, I was walking towards the bar, when this woman came up to me and hollered: "why are you staring at me like that?" I mean, she was billigerent. I asked her, first of all, to let go of me, then told her that I wasn't staring at her. She refused to believe me, and pressed on with her accusation. So, I hauled her up on the stage to where I was standing and told her to face the audience. There was a 1000-watt stage spot with a red gel full-on in her face, and I said: "tell me what you see". She shut up.

While trying to remain gracious with audience members, I really think that people with rescue-complexes should not go to live shows...

**45ACP-GDLF5** · Oct-21-2008, 12:21pm

Originally Posted by Mandoflash

Those guys were wacky! However, check out Doug D.....he's giving Andy the Evil Eye! There's Clarence and Roland as well.

This concoction eventually became the the Kentucky Colonels, and look out!

I would have loved to see them.

I think you're mixing up two seperate bands. The Dillards played "The Darlings" which was Doug and Rodney Dillard, Dean Webb, and Mitch Jayne.

The Country Boys/Kentucky Colonels were Roland and Clarence White, Eric White Jr. Leroy Mack, and Billy Ray Lathum. Both bands were on TAGS, but the Kentucky Colonels were in just 1 episode, while the Dillards were in 6 as "The Darlings"

**45ACP-GDLF5** · Oct-21-2008, 12:31pm

Cherryholmes smile on stage every now and then. Jere doesn't smile that much, but when he's off stage, he's pretty friendly. I just seen them last month and they put on a heck of a show, as usual. They write their own music, which takes a LOT of talent. Most bands rarely write their own music.

I pre-ordered their new CD "Don't Believe" (autographed) and the music is incredible! They keep getting better every year!

**Weagle** · Oct-21-2008, 12:46pm

The times I have seen the family on stage majority of the time they are looking serious and play seriously. When they stop and talk about about each other all smiles. Very nice folks to talk to when not on stage.

I have the same problem Mandoflash was talking about. Having that non-smiling look when I am playing mandolin. My wife gets on me all the time. I can smile while playing the guitar. Go figure.

Weagle