Who will be next?

**AlanN** · Jun-21-2012, 1:20pm

Originally Posted by mandolirius

I think the idea that someone is going to do something so incredibly innovative and unique that it will change the general public's perception of the instrument is far-fetched.

But what about using it as a frying pan?

(oh wait, Roland White already did that - see the back cover of I Wasn't Born To Rock and Roll, But I Love To Cook)....

**mandolirius** · Jun-21-2012, 1:22pm

Originally Posted by AlanN

But what about using it as a frying pan?

(oh wait, Roland White already did that - see the back cover of I Wasn't Born To Rock and Roll, But I Love To Cook)....

Frying pan, canoe paddle, bug swatter, tennis raquet....has everything that can be done with a mandolin already been done?

**Justus True Waldron** · Jun-21-2012, 2:17pm

there is nothing new under the sun (:

**mandopete** · Jun-21-2012, 2:53pm

Originally Posted by mandolirius

.... I think the idea that someone is going to do something so incredibly innovative and unique that it will change the general public's perception of the instrument is far-fetched.

Yeah, that's what people said to Sam Bush, David Grisman and Chris Thile and lord knows they never got anywhere with a mandolin.

**mandolirius** · Jun-21-2012, 3:31pm

Originally Posted by mandopete

Yeah, that's what people said to Sam Bush, David Grisman and Chris Thile and lord knows they never got anywhere with a mandolin.

Sarcasm aside, I think it depends on what is meant by "changing the public's perception". Have Bush/Grisman/Thile done that? It's tempting to think so from our specialized corner of the world (mandofreaks) but really, what's changed? Most of the public don't know what a mandolin is, still, and it remains a niche instrument. Of course those guys "got somewhere with a mandolin". But has anything really changed?

**mandopete** · Jun-21-2012, 3:52pm

Originally Posted by mandolirius

Sarcasm aside, I think it depends on what is meant by "changing the public's perception". Have Bush/Grisman/Thile done that?

Really?

Seriously?

**Ed Goist** · Jun-21-2012, 5:06pm

Mandolirius is spot on.
Our corner of the World really is very specialized.
The vast majority of Americans, even those who are musically knowledgable, can not name three mandolin players (past or present).

**dang** · Jun-21-2012, 5:38pm

Originally Posted by Ed Goist

Mandolirius is spot on.
Our corner of the World really is very specialized.
The vast majority of Americans, even those who are musically knowledgable, can not name three mandolin players (past or present).

Heck, everyone knows what a violin is and they still probably can't name 3 violin players. Your criteria are off. The majority of Americans probably wouldn't be able to name 3 past presidents....

**dang** · Jun-21-2012, 5:40pm

Originally Posted by mandolirius

Sarcasm aside, I think it depends on what is meant by "changing the public's perception". Have Bush/Grisman/Thile done that? It's tempting to think so from our specialized corner of the world (mandofreaks) but really, what's changed? Most of the public don't know what a mandolin is, still, and it remains a niche instrument. Of course those guys "got somewhere with a mandolin". But has anything really changed?

Can you really change public perception of an instrument? How? By having taylor swift playing a Banjitar?
What do you expect from these people, to have them create the music that will unite the whole universe (dated reference to Bill and Ted's excellent adventure)?

**mandopete** · Jun-21-2012, 5:54pm

So where did this notion of changing anyone's perception of the mandolin creep into this thread? All I wanted to know was who the up and comming mandolin players are. I could care less about what "the world" thinks. I want to know what you think.

Here's the new names (to me anyway) that I've seen so far

Turner Hutchens
Gordon Neidinger
Matt Witler
Zeb Snyder
Mike Giverin
Chris Henry

Keep 'em comming!

**mandolirius** · Jun-21-2012, 6:22pm

Originally Posted by mandopete

So where did this notion of changing anyone's perception of the mandolin creep into this thread? All I wanted to know was who the up and comming mandolin players are. I could care less about what "the world" thinks. I want to know what you think.

Here's the new names (to me anyway) that I've seen so far

Turner Hutchens
Gordon Neidinger
Matt Witler
Zeb Snyder
Mike Giverin
Chris Henry

Keep 'em comming!

It came from here:

"How much my success will benefit the mandolin world in general is anyone's guess, but if the general public learns that there is more that can be done with the mandolin than bluegrass and country, it's bound to be some kind of improvement. And even if it isn't me, I think the next step in mandolin evolution is going to come from someone working outside traditional expectations of the instrument, pushing the envelope, so that it won't be perceived - or pigeonholed - as a niche instrument. Just sayin' ..."

**mandopete** · Jun-21-2012, 6:44pm

Huh?

**journeybear** · Jun-21-2012, 7:01pm

Originally Posted by mandolirius

I think the idea that someone is going to do something so incredibly innovative and unique that it will change the general public's perception of the instrument is far-fetched.

Well, sure, but isn't that the question that was asked? How else would you define "next big thing?" Elvis, The Beatles, Hendrix, and let's not forget Bill Monroe - they took what was already out there and made it different enough that people took notice. Someone doesn't have to do something as innovative as what they did to make a big splash, but it has to be more than business as usual, however well done. For instance, Taylor Swift sure made a big splash, but has she really pushed the envelope? To some extent, yes, but ultimately her music is still business as usual, however good it may be.

But it's easy to mix up innovative and enormously successful, either of which can be the next big thing. Grisman is clearly innovative, but he is best known for what is probably his most straightforward work, two numbers he did with Grateful Dead, forty years ago. And how many people know his name when they are making a request for "Friend Of The Devil?" People who don't know much about mandolins (that's one way to define "general public") see one and think of one of just a few songs - "Friend Of The Devil," "Maggie May," "Mandolin Wind" (though they're probably really thinking of "Maggie May"), "Mandolin Rain," or "Losing My Religion." I think there is room for a lot of improvement in the general public's knowledge. But I'm pretty sure it will come from someone making a big splash in pop or rock. As anyone working in another genre who has had a crossover hit can tell you, those are much bigger markets.

But I will agree that the possibility of such an occurrence is far-fetched, if for no reason other than that it hasn't happened yet. One would think that if it were to happen it would have happened during the late 60s - early 70s, when all kinds of odd instruments were being used in rock and pop for the first time. Why no one made a name for himself with mandolin at the time the way Ian Anderson did with flute or Ravi Shankar did with sitar or Jean-Luc Ponty and Jerry Goodman did with violin (OK, lasting fame eluded them) or Tiny Tim did with ukulele, or later on, Weird Al Yankovic did with accordion, is beyond me. I can't help thinking that could have been me, if at the time I had just been a little older or bolder or further along in my musical development, and I do apologize to the mandolin community for letting them down. I am trying to make up for lost time now, before it's too late - but no one takes me seriously, nor have they ever, regardless of how much my music really could be the next big thing. For all I know it might indeed be far fetched - well, of course it is - but it is not out of the realm of possibilities. If anyone wants to see something happen of this sort, and is willing to sink some money into recording, production, marketing, promotion, and touring, I'll do my part. And lest you think it's all about me, it's not. All mandolinists would find their fortunes increased. A rising tide floats all boats. Think it over and PM me.

PS: Sorry, Pete, it's true - your original question was, "Who do you think will be the next big name in the mandolin world?" - which may well be a different consideration than who will be the next mandolinist to become a big name in the world. Things often go a bit awry here, you know ... oh well.

**banjoboy** · Jun-21-2012, 10:02pm

Originally Posted by mandopete

So where did this notion of changing anyone's perception of the mandolin creep into this thread? All I wanted to know was who the up and comming mandolin players are. I could care less about what "the world" thinks. I want to know what you think.

Here's the new names (to me anyway) that I've seen so far

Turner Hutchens
Gordon Neidinger
Matt Witler
Zeb Snyder
Mike Giverin
Chris Henry

Keep 'em comming!

Well, I'd like to think that in about 20 years of practicing 12 hours a day, going to tons of workshops, I might be the next thing....Who am I kidding...maybe the next, next, next thing.

**mandopete** · Jun-22-2012, 9:27am

Kent - you already are the next big thing. The "big" thing is a bass!

**JimRichter** · Jun-24-2012, 1:29pm

Originally Posted by grassrootphilosopher

After all... the next best man... needs to cut his chops in business affairs. The mandolin proficiency is just a part of it. All of the above qualify for the former.

By the way what is that Jim Richter mandolin. I thought he was a Kimble A-man? Does anybody know?

That video dates to January of 2008. That's a Kimble F5 Will lent me for a recording project while he was finishing up my A5 (completed Feb. 2008).

**greg_tsam** · Jun-24-2012, 11:27pm

I heard Tommy Emmanuel is giving up the guitar in favor of the mandolin. I vote for TE.

**mandopete** · Jun-25-2012, 9:09am

Originally Posted by greg_tsam

I heard Tommy Emmanuel is giving up the guitar in favor of the mandolin. I vote for TE.

...yeah, that same guy told me that Chris Thile is taking up the clarinet - watch out Benny Goodman!

**journeybear** · Jun-25-2012, 10:07am

I don't think Benny's too worried.

**Justus True Waldron** · Jun-25-2012, 11:05am

Stop giving me false hope for such an occurrence! If CT ever decided to take up clarinet I'd have to make friends with him and start a mandolin/clarinet trio with him and andy statman... and the world would be a better place!

**Martin Stevens** · Jul-03-2012, 10:42pm

Originally Posted by mandopete

Who do you think will be the next big name in the mandolin world?

Up here in the Pacific Northwest we have been blessed with some really phenomenal young talent in the likes of players like Chris Luquette (now playing guitar with Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen), Nick Dumas (Northern Departure) and Martin Stevens (The Bluegrass Reguators). I think in the next couple of years these names may get more familiar to folks outside of my part of the world.

So who are the players that we should be on the lookout for?

Thanks for the shout out, Pete!

**JeffD** · Jul-03-2012, 10:59pm

Originally Posted by mandopete

Really?

Seriously?

Yea, ask the average music consumer. They have never by and large heard of Sam Bush or Chris Thile. Maybe Grisman because of his connection to Garcia. And if they heard of Thile its probably some public radio thing.

The greatest mandolin player in the world hasn't a tenth of the influence of one Eddie Vedder, Jack White, or Steve Earl or Paul McCartney.

**SternART** · Jul-03-2012, 11:51pm

Solly Burton from Sullivan, Indiana, two-time Winfield mandolin champion was just at the Mandolin Symposium.......this young fella has some serious chops.

**JimRichter** · Jul-03-2012, 11:54pm

Solly's a good guy. I competed against him a couple of years in the Indiana contest. I feel honored to get third to his second the year before he won Winfield. His growth is exponential. Heckuva of a picker.

**greg_tsam** · Jul-04-2012, 1:54am

Originally Posted by JeffD

Yea, ask the average music consumer. They have never by and large heard of Sam Bush or Chris Thile. Maybe Grisman because of his connection to Garcia. And if they heard of Thile its probably some public radio thing.

The greatest mandolin player in the world hasn't a tenth of the influence of one Eddie Vedder, Jack White, or Steve Earl or Paul McCartney.

This is so true.