The Only Good Banjo Is A Dead Banjo

[journeybear]

Hear hear!

Mick - At least he does mention "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," albeit not the writer/musician responsible. That would have required doing a bit of research. And the subject at hand is not worthy of him devoting his time and effort to that, apparently.

Ivan - This is commentary, not journalism. Big difference - and different rules, so it seems!

[greg_tsam]

Don't tell anyone but I've always loved the banjo, tenor, clawhammer, skruggs, dixieland. All of it. But when it's played poorly it's excruciatingly bad. But I also love ripping banjo jokes and watching the banjo player squirm around trying to think of a comeback.

[Santiago]

In reply the banjo player he said he didn't like the barbs coming from non-musicians: There will always be ignorant, tone-deaf music critics. Why should it be any better for banjo players? People looking for true musical insights don't look for them in the Wall Street Journal.

[catmandu2]

But when it's played poorly it's excruciatingly bad.

.
Banjo is a good instrument to play if you want to be heard, so it helps to be exacting--especially with respect to rhythm. So, it seems reasonable that banjo played poorly is not a good thing...a bad banjo player is akin to a bad drummer...like a chef who doesn't cook well, etc..

[journeybear]

People looking for true musical insights don't look for them in the Wall Street Journal.

But as a result of this, banjo stock prices have been soaring. Apparently the writer's scheme backfired: the resultant notoriety has inspired greater interest in investors, fuelling a run on them. People are trading them like crazy, and word on the street is they may soon be listed on the commodities exchange.

[Charlieshafer]

But as a result of this, banjo stock prices have been soaring. Apparently the writer's scheme backfired: the resultant notoriety has inspired greater interest in investors, fuelling a run on them. People are trading them like crazy, and word on the street is they may soon be listed on the commodities exchange.

Great; now the hedge funds will get involved, do a leveraged buyout of all existing banjos, find out the profit margin stinks, and then dump them all in a river somewhere.

Actually, Queenan's only mistake here is that he wasn't funny. From a guy who trashed Brooke Shields movies and Red Lobster restaurants all in one column, this just didn't cut it.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Chip - That's a beauty !. I met with Charles Oggsbury at the IBMA festival in 1992 & sampled a few of his 'wares',very beautiful instruments.

Ivan

[blueron]

Proof you can find any point of view on the web, even the most inane, from someone that likely has a good education and (we assume) some intelligence.

Queenan is a highly-respected journalist and author, but one whose opinion of his own worth to society has always been elevated to the extreme. This particular literary non-event is a piece of faux-controversial self-aggrandizing crap.

ron

[Steve L]

Joe Queenan is a cynic who earns his living picking society's scabs. Who cares what he thinks?

[Dale Ludewig]

Chip, that is beautiful. And now I don't have to do it.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From Dale - "...And now I don't have to do it." - Who said !!!!!,
Ivan

[journeybear]

OK ... Chip 'n' Dale ... Where has this thread gotten to? What's next - chipmunks or dancers?

[jmalmsteen]

I love the WSJ but that article was overboard. I also play banjo and love the instrument. It's actually the hardest instrument I have tried to learn to play to date and I have nothing but respect for accomplished banjo players. Living in NY, the banjo is not considered to be an instrument of choice anyway and having an article like this does not help the bluegrass cause in general in this area. I wish they would either write nothing about banjos or other bluegrass instruments or support traditional music in this area.

[Dobe]

Any of you clawhammer folks seen these guys ?



Nice !

Just found this; Lynn Morris , back in action. Thank God !:

[Ivan Kelsall]

Dobe - Yes,i've seen them on YouTube,but some lucky folk over here in the UK are getting to see them live soon.That GSOM is glorious,i wish he'd get all 8 strings on it though. Many thanks for the heads up on Lynn Morris as well.I've had the pleasure of meeting her 3 times,twice in the UK & once in the US in Owensboro in '92, & she's a delightful person. Marshall Welborn was gracious enough to hold the door open for me at the Executive Inn in Owensboro,as i struggled with a large suitcase & a banjo,he's also a great person to talk to,
Ivan

[allenhopkins]

Wonderful to see Lynn M back onstage after her long struggles with illness. Personality that can light up the auditorium. I miss that "national champion" caliber banjo picking, but even what she has now is worth hearing.

[catmandu2]

Any of you clawhammer folks seen these guys ?

Yes, a nice piece that exhibits a quality that I really like about this "OT" folk music form--especially as pertains to banjo: you can capo up, play delicately, and render a nice, kinetic feel. IMO, this is the banjo's specialty--much like a diatonic accordian is designed to easily render dance tunes--a CH banjo easily renders soft, pleasant tones and danceable rhythms. For folks who haven't tried it--it's worth grabbing hold of a cheap banjo and learning the bum-ditty...I think it generally takes about 2 hours to start rendering music, and about 2 weeks to become proficient with the right hand. Great fun.

I gotta say--banjo and mandolin saved me. I was a classical guitar snob for decades. Didn't find folk music until I picked up the CH banjo about 10 years ago (I learned basic Scruggs-style as kid), and soon after mandolin and fiddle. This liberated my mind--set me free--from the angst of the classical tradition.

A little frailing abnjo is a simple thing, but it means a lot to ,many people. I'm among those..

[Chip Booth]

Any of you clawhammer folks seen these guys ?

Cahalen and Eli played in my town a couple of months ago and I took a clawhammer lesson from Cahalen afterwards. Listening to their record has hugely influenced me, including re-igniting an interest in clawhammer, and convincing me that I needed to finally bite the bullet and order one of Fletcher's OMs. I have to admit, clawhammer is about all I play in my spare time these days, though I do tend to obsess about instruments and styles until I feel I have really learned them.

[catmandu2]

BTW, if anyone is needing anathema to the provocative piece referenced in the OP, seek out the article featuring Dirk Powell in the issue of "No Depression" (unfortunatley, now defunct)--can't recall which issue, but it's the one with red cover with Loretta Lynn (during her Jack White run) on the cover. In the article, Dirk conveys a lot about what this simple music means (and includes photos of his bakelite Harmony)--pastoral living, children, simple pleasures...all things you can do with a cheap plastic banjo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc2CY...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU4IE...eature=related

[catmandu2]

I have to admit, clawhammer is about all I play in my spare time these days, though I do tend to obsess about instruments and styles until I feel I have really learned them.

When I took to CH, that's about all I did for about two years. It's pretty addicting...especially if you have folks around you who like to dance..

I immerse myself in newly found styles too...before getting obsessed with another new style. There's so much music. I'm currently trying to resist acquiring a dilruba..

(BTW, Chip -- have you gone fretless yet? if not, it's only a matter of time..)

Here's Riley doing Rueben's Train -- I learned it off of Dirk's album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEF1l...eature=related