A week with Tim O'Brien

[adgefan]

Yesterday I came home from a week at the Sorefingers bluegrass camp in England. I spent a week being taught by Tim O'Brien and as you can probably imagine it was quite an experience. I also got to have a brief chat with John Moore who was teaching guitar. I asked him about how he made Chris Thile so good but he was very humble about it. He seemed a thoroughly nice chap. Hopefully he'll be back one year to teach mandolin.

I have posted some of the photos etc. from the week here :

http://www.bristolbluegrass.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sf2005.html

Hello to any of my fellow classmates if you're reading this!

Katherine

[Jonathan James]

Sounds and looks like a completely fantastic week! Thanks for sharing the pics.

[kyblue]

I am totally jealous! I would love to visit the Cotswolds, and 5 days with Tim O'Brien there? Sounds like heaven...

Any chance of an American getting on next year's list?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Sounds great! I would personally want to spend my time with someone else though. I do not think much of Tim. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[adgefan]

Sounds great! I would personally want to spend my time with someone else though. I do not think much of Tim. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif
Is this sarcasm? I never can tell on the web http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Seemed like a lovely bloke to me, always ready to answer any questions, tab out any requested songs and even gave a new mandolin I had my eye on the once over before recommending I buy it.

Before last week, Chris Thile was my favourite mandolinist by a mile. Now I'm not so sure, because as the week progressed I found myself more and more in awe of Tim's playing.

[giverin]

PGAfan, you obviously havent met tim. He is an absolute complete musician, his voice is pitch perfect and his mando playing is spot on. I was in the same class and he is a great bloke. On friday me and a few other kids had a fantastic jam session with him in the bar, unbelievable singer (and fiddle player too).
KYblue- there were two american students in our class(both had english wives) so, yes, you could come next year.

[adgefan]

Michael, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself last week. I stood in on that jam with Tim but I really couldn't keep up at all. You did very well though! It was nice meeting you, and finding out just how good a mando player you are. Will you be at any festivals this year? Maybe I'll see you there.

Katherine

[giverin]

Ill be at all the ones in the north west and thas about it. All the acclaim festivals etc. Have you got the tab for criss cross. sorry if thats a bit cheeky?

[adgefan]

Not cheeky at all, I'll send it to you as soon as possible. Best of luck for Winfield!

[giverin]

Thankyou very much.
People in bluegrass are so nice to each other, have you ever noticed that?

[fatt-dad]

Tim O'Brian was an early inspiration for me. I would love to learn from him and think it's great that there was this opportunity. Now, when might it happen in Virginia?

f-d

[adgefan]

I chatted to him about teaching and he seemed very keen to do it more often. So you may see him teaching in Virginia sometime soon. He said he wants to give something back as music has treated him so well. As Mike says above, isn't it great how people in the bluegrass community are so nice? I spent years thinking the arrogance and rudeness of rock stars was "cool", now I know different.

[neal]

Not think much of Tim? Please elaborate. Not a flame BTW. I think he's great. Did he divorce your sister?

[Chris "Bucket" Thomas]

I would personally want to spend my time with someone else though. I do not think much of Tim.[U]

Well, la-di-da!

My mama told me that if I don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all

[kyblue]

I sort of shook my head at that remark about Tim, too. #To each his own, but how can you listen to just the old Hot Rize stuff and not think much of everyone in that band??? #I was just enjoying 'So Long of a Journey' earlier today. # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Rob Wallace]

Well just color me green. What a terrific week Katherine. I'm sittin' here listening to Tim right now and am always struck by his playing and the emotion he conveys. I'll be seeing Tim with Chris Smither in a couple of weeks and can't wait.

Be well,

Rob

[levin4now]

John Moore was easily my favorite mandolin instructor (and biggest surprise) at Kaufman Kamp last year. And to think he's a expert on horsemanship too - I think he's more involved with horses than music!

[LouisianaGrey]

Thanks for those pictures, Katherine, it was indeed a fantastic week. On top of the great tuition there's also the wonderful tutor concert - wasn't their version of "Banjo Clark" amazing? - and the chance to hang out in the bar and get completely off your face with your heroes afterwards.

I was on the dobro course (I last did mandolin at Sore Fingers when Butch Baldassari took the course). I'm the one in the blue belly-dancer's outfit, by the way.

[adgefan]

Banjo Clark was incredible. I knew Darrell Scott was good but I didn't realise quite how good! Apologies for all the superlatives, but the week is truly deserving of them. Got hardly any work done today because I can't stop thinking about how I'd much rather be somewhere else.

Nice dress by the way, you looked very fetching.

[Onesound]

Which Tim O'Brien album(s) would you recommed that showcase his mandolin playing?

Thanks,
Brian

[luckylarue]

Brian,

I'd recommend the live Hot Rize cd that was released a few years ago(the name escapes me). Tim's break on "High on the Moutain", to me, shows his talent and breadth of the instrument.

[mpeknox]

I'd recommend the live Hot Rize cd that was released a few years ago(the name escapes me). #Tim's break on "High on the Moutain", to me, shows his talent and breadth of the instrument.
That live album is called "So Long of a Journey" if I'm not mistaken. Tim is a smokin' mandolin player and I have a DVD (i think one of the Bill Monroe tribute things) with him singing Working on a Building and playing the fiddle. No other instruments involved. It makes what little hair I have on the back of my neck stand up!

[luckylarue]

Cool,

Didn't know there was a dvd. John Moore is a real-life horse-whisperer. Some friends who have horses have worked w/ him before. The consumate teacher, imo. What gives PGA? One should at least back up his/her negative/contrary opinions, imo. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[LouisianaGrey]

Steve Hall said "a DVD ..... with him singing Working on a Building and playing the fiddle...It makes what little hair I have on the back of my neck stand up!"

At the tutor concert he did the same with "Wayfaring Stranger" and provoked the same reaction in me.

[adgefan]

Steve Hall said "a DVD ..... with him singing Working on a Building and playing the fiddle...It makes what little hair I have on the back of my neck stand up!"

At the tutor concert he did the same with "Wayfaring Stranger" and provoked the same reaction in me.
And in me too! I was lucky enough to get a front row seat for the concert (actually, luck had nothing to do with it, it was organised like a military operation) and got this great snap :

Tim playing Wayfaring Stranger (http://www.bristolbluegrass.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/sf2005/Cimg1167.jpg)

I bought that DVD but haven't watched it yet. I shall look forward to it.

[cgwilsonjr]

Katherine: Tell us about Tim's Nuggett/Collings mandolin. It must be awesome to see and hear him (and his mando) up close.

[Fretbear]

Everything Hot Rize ever did (or does) is top shelf. One of my favourites is "Traditional Ties", which has Tim (simultaneously) singing and fiddling the spooky "Workin' on a Building"...

[adgefan]

Tell us about Tim's Nuggett/Collings mandolin. It must be awesome to see and hear him (and his mando) up close.
Sacrilege, I know, but I don't like black topped mandos! It also appears to be missing the all important "strap holder" scroll. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Sounds great, but that goes without saying.

PS. Did we ever establish the meaning of the bizarre comment from PGAFan? We're all waiting for an explanation http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[mpeknox]

PS. Did we ever establish the meaning of the bizarre comment from PGAFan? We're all waiting for an explanation #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
I agree that it was a bizarre comment but I think it's probably just a case of someone posting something to be posting something.

[adgefan]

I agree that it was a bizarre comment but I think it's probably just a case of someone posting something to be posting something.

Yeah, just teasing http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif I don't want to start yet another mando cafe flame war (I've learnt my lesson from the last time I mentioned how good Chris Thile is!).

[pickinNgrinnin]

Could be that he disagrees with Tim's political views. He had shared some of these views on his website before the election.

I'd guess Tim is not in the Red State camp. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Chris "Bucket" Thomas]

Drinking & posting should be prohibited!

Before you submit a post, ask yourself:
1. Am I filled with emotion (ie mad, annoyed, gotta let someone know how right I am etc)?

AND

2. Am I consuming any adult pressurized (or malted) beverage?

If yes, press the send button in the morning.

[Fred G]

I am headed to london for a week on the 14th. Are there any bluegrass happenings anywhere around?

[giverin]

On the "whats his mandolin like" topic. While we were waiting for something (I can remember what for) he let me play his nugget. wow! its beautiful. Nice action, easy to play and i dont know what strings he uses but they are nice too. He says he changes them almost every day! Its got a great sound-as you would expect- and he uses several plectrums -light, heavy etc for different styles.
He has one hell of a nice mando and cant have play it!
mike
p.s if you havent already guessed, i was at the camp too

[mandolooter]

I ben drinklin...hickup...burp...Tim's great! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif LOL

[danb]

I've been to this one on a monday night:

Caledonian Road
Weekly Session 9:00 p.m., Mondays.
Hemingford Arms, Offord Road near Caledonian Road tube
Casper Cronk, 020-8340-4683

Good Irish jam happens at the same time over in Twickenham though, and I tend to go there instead! You'd certainly get away with some Old Timey sets.. I can usually get them to join in on ragtime annie, scotland, jerusalem ridge, red haired boy, june apple, etc...

[adgefan]

Mike, he uses EXP74s I believe. Just got a set myself and think they're great (especially the brass A and E strings), but I shall give them a bit longer to see if they really do outlast normal J74s.

[Onesound]

Well, I picked-up a copy of "Two Journeys" the other day, and now I am a confirmed Tim O'Brien fan. What a great album - terrific vocaly and mando playing!

Cheers,
Brian