Mardi Gras Mandolin Gig - Online!

**journeybear** · Feb-21-2012, 12:26pm

Southernmost Magnolia, the seasonal Cajun/country/bluegrass band I play in, is doing its annual Mardi Gras gig at the world-famous bar (it really is - it is proud of its being included on a list of best bars compiled by Playboy Magazine), The Green Parrot, this evening 5:30 - 9:30. This is noteworthy because:

1) There is a mandolin involved, rare in Cajun music;
2) The mandolin is being played by a member of the Mandolin Café;
3) This will be available worldwide via webcam;
4) All of the above;
5) None of the above.

Personally, I think the correct answer is #4, but I am biased. Good thing I am not in charge of test results. But this is weighted toward #3, without which I would not have even mentioned this. People anywhere can tune in. We will be in full force, with authentic Cajun instrumentation added - fiddle, accordion, and triangle - plus our unique twists - mandolin and pedal steel. It will be more varied than typical Cajun fare. Plus, from a mandolin standpoint, this will show some atypical ways of playing, including some cross-picking (by my definition) on "Cajun Moon." I do what I can to fit in with these guys, and also the special guests are much more up on this music and push me to be my best.

Hope some of y'all tune in. Should be a lot of fun. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

**Ed Goist** · Feb-21-2012, 12:48pm

Break a leg!
I look forward to tuning in.

**Yooper-Al** · Feb-21-2012, 5:13pm

Hey Bear, got you online right now, you cats sound GOOD!

**Markus** · Feb-21-2012, 5:29pm

Awesome, I tuned in right in time for a mandolin solo.

A great way to get in the mood for my own gig tonight and cook up some jambalaya.

Thanks for the link!

**Pipeous** · Feb-21-2012, 5:39pm

Just tuned in now. looks like some fun.

**Ed Goist** · Feb-21-2012, 5:46pm

JB on lead vocals!..."You lowdown dirty dog!"
And your mandolin solo was top shelf.
Soundin' great buddy!

P.S.: JB, you definitely need flashing lights on your hat like the fiddle player.

**journeybear** · Feb-21-2012, 10:16pm

Hey! Thanks for tuning in, guys! Wow - this stuff really works! :_)

Seemed to go pretty well, considering a few things. I had never played with the fiddler before, but he was good and communicated well, so we didn't get our signals crossed much. The pedal steel player is kind of old school, and likes to play a little lead-in to his solos, which means extra beats that don't exist, leading to us not being on the same page. That made for probably the worst screw-ups, apart from the feedback. The sound guy has this weird habit of getting everyone set up, adjusting a few things for a song or two, then leaving. And I do mean gone, relocated, off the premises, to parts unknown. So when we started having screeching feedback problems because the monitors were too hot, there was no way to find the source and fix it. Oh well, c'est la vie.

But yeah, had a good time, might have got another gig from it, and as luck would have it, got to make friends with the owner, without knowing who he was, Turns out he plays mandolin

and has three - Flatiron pancake, Alvarez F model, and Strad-O-Lin. Go figure! Used to have a Gibson A like mine, that his then-girlfriend made him sell to make rent - then she left him two days later.

I told him that was awful - no girlfriend, and no way to play the blues.

Have to go back and see about getting my regular band booked in there.

That song is a traditional Cajun tune, "Lacassine," that Jay Ungar wrote those doggerel lyrics too. I kind of hate it, but Maggie makes me sing it so she can give her voice a rest. I cannot seem to memorize it somehow, I think because it is lacking in logical flow. It's just complaint after complaint with a rhyme scheme. I have a feeling audiences like it more than I do, so what the hey. And It was a treat having a serious monitor, so I could give it a good go. This was one time I actually enjoyed doing it. And on some of these songs, with such solid back-up chugging and pulsing, I let fly. Felt good, got my ya-yas out some.

Usually the place gets rocking with dancers, but they seemed rather sedate this time. And I only got halfway through my pile of beads. But the place was packed, and people seemed to be having a good time, so it's all right. All in all, this is a fun gig, and even if it's the only time we play there all year, I look forward to it each time.

**journeybear** · Feb-22-2012, 10:25am

Gaaahhh! I am NOT taking the blame for this. This is all Ed's fault, because he liked it so much. Careful what you wish for.

Too bad the big finish got cut off, where I shout, "You lowdown dirty dog!" Whomp!

Left to right: Richie Moniz (triangle), moi, Chuck Sherman (pedal steel), Rex Blazer fiddle), Maggie Moniz (guitar), Cindy Jefferson (bass), John Kreinces (second fiddle), Jimmy Joseph (accordion). Maggie, Cindy, and I are the band, Chuck (who is aces) and John (not so much) sit in, Jimmy Jo spends a week or so down from Maine almost every year around Mardi Gras, and we work him as much as we can, Rex was this year's out-of-town ringer on fiddle. This is the only song I sang lead on all night, and this is what they put up. Sheesh! There was much better stuff. But the camera guy plays mandolin, so there ya go.

Wish we had done "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." I can sing that one real purty. Oh well. Next year ...

**Yooper-Al** · Feb-22-2012, 12:38pm

Thanks for the names of your band-mates, I was going to ask about the lady singing and playing guitar. Oh, and thanks for the webcam link, worked great. I usually have problems with computers and stuff; I still have problems sticking my 8-track tapes in the right direction- the rubber wheel goes in first, but on which side?