Who is the young girl that plays mandolin?

[FrDNicholas]

We might need to start a new section for this kind of senior moment. This is driving me crazy: who is the young girl that sings like Alison Krauss, plays incredible mandolin and guitar? There was a post here awhile back with her and Sam Bush. SHe has at least one CD out, but I can't remember her name. Is that enough detail for someone to jog my failing memory?

[UncleNorm]

Sierra Hull...

[man dough nollij]

It's just not natural.

[FrDNicholas]

Thanks. Now I just need some kind of nemonic to remember.

[JEStanek]

She's a Hull of a player?

[viv]

[Bob Andress]

Jamie, I "See-yer-a Hull" of a player too!

[Ivan Kelsall]

I bought Sierra's CD some months back,not for the AK style singing,but just for her playing.
Fluidity doesn't begin to Describe it & the tone she pulls from her Mandolin is as sweet as could be.
A Hull of a player indeed - i'm a fan,
Saska

[JEStanek]

My playing may be more like Inferno's soundtrack. Sierra's is more like heaven... I'm a Hull of a punner...

Jamie

[Timbofood]

"See-er's a Hull of a mannalinplayer" My "english teacher" parents would just have a fit with that!

[Bob Stolkin]

If you want to be truly depressed, check out this clip of Sierra playing guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNpVvDXktQY

[allenhopkins]

Originally Posted by Bob Stolkin

If you want to be truly depressed, check out this clip of Sierra playing guitar...

She's a great instrumentalist, and Mr. Berggren's no slouch either. But why would I find this depressing?

There are thousands and thousands of pickers who are faster, cleaner and more imaginative than I. Some of them are 50 years younger than I am. Doesn't depress me in the slightest; I'm appreciative, admiring, and glad that there are great young musicians to carry on the tradition.

There was another thread (too lazy to look it up) about a YouTube clip of someone's wonderful version of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (excuse the non-bluegrass content). The thread was titled, "Bad News." I don't understand why someone else's virtuosity is "bad news" or "depressing." More power to Sierra Hull and all the great musicians out there. As for the rest of us, in the words of the old cliche Army recruitment slogan, "Be all that you can be." You'll never be the best or the worst picker, and I resigned myself to that decades ago.

[Bob Stolkin]

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

She's a great instrumentalist, and Mr. Berggren's no slouch either. But why would I find this depressing?

The thread was titled, "Bad News." I don't understand why someone else's virtuosity is "bad news" or "depressing." .

I was kidding.

[Ken Berner]

There's a Hull lot of pickin' goin' on! Jerry (The Killer) didn't say that.

[mandozilla]

I agree with Allen. When I see/hear a youngster like Sierra picking it just puts a smile on my face and I wonder how she's going to sound when she's 25 or 30 years old. Besides, talent like hers gives me something to shoot for.

[Bob Stolkin]

Originally Posted by mandozilla

I agree with Allen. When I see/hear a youngster like Sierra picking it just puts a smile on my face and I wonder how she's going to sound when she's 25 or 30 years old. Besides, talent like hers gives me something to shoot for.

Listen, I don't mean to start an argument here, but nobody is a bigger fan of Sierra Hull's than I am, and believe me, her music gives me nothing but joy. As stated, the "depressing" comment was an expression in jest, but I guess we have some pretty literal folks here, and I wonder if I detect a hint of self-righteousness as well.

[man dough nollij]

When I hear someone play well, I ask myself how much I will have to practice to attain that level. She was 100 times better at ten years old than I will ever be in my life. That's a little depressing.

[allenhopkins]

Originally Posted by Bob Stolkin

...I wonder if I detect a hint of self-righteousness as well.

Bob, you may be right. But after the other thread, when someone's good playing was called "bad news," I wondered why any musician would find another's virtuosity to be something negative (unless they were competing for that gig at the club downtown, which I gather isn't the case for either of us).

I know for myself, that Ms. Hull is ten times the player in her teens, that I will ever be. But I'm not competing with her on any level. Her good playing doesn't make my less-good playing any worse. In fact, I love to see her sitting there in her jeans, fingers flying over the frets.

That's why I took exception to the term "depressing." I found it exhilarating. Hell, if some kid can learn to play like that, we can have confidence that someone may well be picking Roanoke a century from now. That'd be a good thing, right?

[Bob Stolkin]

Originally Posted by allenhopkins

That's why I took exception to the term "depressing." I found it exhilarating. Hell, if some kid can learn to play like that, we can have confidence that someone may well be picking Roanoke a century from now. That'd be a good thing, right?

Can't argue with you on that. But, even though I did claim to be kidding in the use of the word "depressing", as I think about it, I guess there is a kernel of truth to that sentiment. I take pure joy from listening to great players, and for the most part, playing music is also a source of great pleasure for me. Playing is somewhat more psychologically complicated though, and sometimes my pleasure can be mixed with some part of frustration. I find that the better I get, the more fun it becomes because I can participate in playing better music. Given this, I sometimes wonder what it must feel like to play on that level. While "depressing" might be far too strong of a word, I admit there is some envy, and some small sense of resignation that it is something I'll never get to experience.

But, your point may be that that there's nothing good that comes from this frustration, and that's certainly true. But it is a fact of life (for me, at least) that needs to be managed. I think that this is something that even world-class players can experience. I've heard more than one top guitar player express some resignation over the fact that they didn't play like Tony Rice.

When I see someone of substantial years that plays that well, I can attribute much of it to decades of hard work and sacrifice that I didn't put in. But when I see someone of Sierra's age that is that good, I have to accept that she has this crazy talent that I don't, and I must admit some regret on my part.

To me, music is not entirely unlike a great romance. While it is mostly joyful, it can be complicated, partly because it is so important.

[DryBones]

OK guys and gals, it's 2009 and they gave us this really nice embed feature for Youtube videos so no more links!

[journeybear]

Outstanding! I didn't even know she played guitar. Pretty snazzy. And I like the bent note on Salt Creek - shows she's thinking on the fly. Guess it's time to do a little more research ... and a LOT more practice!

I've encountered more young and talented players in the last half a year or so of my involvement in the Café than I have in my whole life leading up to this. It's been truly revelatory. Knowing there is that much interest in the instrument and its capabilities among young people bodes well for the future of the instrument, its devotees, and the evolution of humankind and the universe in general. I'm a little predisposed toward that particular variety of cause-and-effect, of course ...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DryBones

OK guys and gals, it's 2009 and they gave us this really nice embed feature for Youtube videos so no more links!

OTOH, with links, you get to see all the related vids on the Youtube page and discover more stuff! Youtube is like the new web...you can get lost surfing for hours.

[Blue Moon]

I had the privilege to see Sierra in a Mando workshop at the IBMA's in Nashville. There was Darrell Webb, Jesse Cobb, Roland White, and a few others - she blew them all off the stage - amazing style and technique - tons of power when needed and lot's of finesse!!!

[mandopete]

I never seem to get tired of that video of Sierra playing the guitar!

[man dough nollij]

She's a lot of fun to watch. Here's this cute little teenage girl, giggling and tapping her toes while she's shreddin' like probably only a couple of other people on earth could do.