Mandolins On TV - Advance Notice

[Mike Bunting]

So Willie on Craig Ferguson had a band comprised of Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Ronnie McCoury on the mando and Chris Sharp on guitar. Didn't see who the bassist was. At long last, something worth watching.

[journeybear]

In case anyone tuned in to the ACM Awards, and waited through all the commercially oriented music so many of us here love - I mean hate - all the way to the end, even after the big final award for Entertainer Of The Year (Carrie Underwood, completing the total snubbing of Taylor Swift), you would have been treated to a performance by Darius Rucker (?!) and the distinctive mandolin stylings of .... Sam Bush! There was some other good stuff, too - the opening number by Miranda Lambert (Female Vocalist Of The Year, Album Of The Year) and Carrie Underwood, a rocking version of CCR's "Travelling Band" on which they were joined by John Fogerty and Brad Paisley; Brad's featured song which ended with him falling into a swimming pool and then having to go up on stage dripping wet to accept his award for Male Vocalist Of The Year; Cher presenting an award; Lady Antebellum becoming speechless after winning so many awards; Kix Brooks getting all verklempt during his speech - but Sam getting featured, and him being introduced as "Mr. Sam Bush" - sweet!

[f#54]

I thought that was him, I only caught a glimpse. Looked online for a video of it , no luck. Thanks for clearing that up for me J.B. I would like to see it tho...

[Ed Goist]

Re-posting from the Sam Bush Facebook page:
"today on my way to LA, tuesday is blues(grass) day on Leno guesting with Dierks Bentley."

[journeybear]

Yup, sho’ ’nuff. Was I ever surprised to see Sam Bush as the main instrumentalist, playing a black steel resonator with a slide. HOWEVER, as y’all have surely noticed, NBC does not like its content being put up on youtube. You can see it (and other NBC offerings) at hulu, and specifically this one here - just FFWD to 37:30. I meant to mention this sooner, but with my computer problems I haven’t been able to before now.

That same 24-hour span (last Monday/Tuesday) also included a couple of appearances by Shakira, first on Ellen and then Dancing With The Stars, doing her song "Gypsy," which features mandolin (even if it’s an Ovation, it’s still nice to see and hear it). This was a heady time indeed!

[Ed Goist]

Hi All:
Not at all advance notice, but I just caught this past weekend's DVR'd episode of 'Austin City Limits'.
It was a repeat from 2009 of episode #3412 (featuring The Drive-By Truckers & Ryan Bingham). If you like good, basic rock music & alternative country you should really enjoy this episode.
Anyhow, Corby Schaub of the Dead Horses (Ryan Bingham's band) played some nice mandolin accompaniment on a few of the songs in Bingham's set. He was playing an F5 style mandolin with a cool snake-like 'S' on the peghead. (Here's a photo of the mandolin).
Thanks;
Ed

[journeybear]

Thanks for the heads-up. And it's always worth mentioning that PBS programming varies widely so your notice may still be of an advance nature, depending on local stations' schedules. Indeed, that show and a different show were broadcast last weekend in Miami - go figure - but I'd seen them both. Should revisit that one though, for the reason you mentioned and also to see Ryan Bingham before he became famous.

What, you mean he isn't?

[journeybear]

Well, this is very short notice, and they are probably not everyone's cup of tea, but the British folk/pop band Fanfarlo are going to be on Carson Daly's show tonight, and mandolin is a sure thing. Willie Nelson is on Letterman as well, and there's a very good chance he'll have mandolin in the band. He did last time. Lastly, The New Pornographers are on Fallon, and even if there's no mandolin, there's still Neko Case ...

[Mike Bunting]

Just saw Willie on Letterman, no mando.

[journeybear]

You are mistaken, kind sir. Ronnie McCoury was in the back row, didn't have much to do other than a little fill in the second verse. Mickey Raphael got more leads than everyone else combined. Still, nice to see.

[Mike Bunting]

Guess I wasn't looking hard enough, didn't see him at all. Would have been a good tune for a McCoury solo, Raphael is a ###### harp player.

[journeybear]

He gets a free pass from me - good enough for Willie, good enough for me. Willie will be on The View this morning, poor guy. The way those gals fawn over guys is embarrassing, even a grizzled old cowpoke like Willie, not as easy on the eyes as, say, Harry Connick Jr., or even Rod Stewart. Just sayin' ...

[Rob Fowler]

Just saw Willie with Ronnie McCoury, Stuart Duncan, etc. on The View. Looks like Ronnie was playing his Gil on this one. The girls on did goggle over Willie a bunch and asked 2-3 questions about his frickin' hair? Gee...isn't there more important stuff to talk about with WILLIE NELSON!!

[Ed Goist]

...snip... Gee...isn't there more important stuff to talk about with WILLIE NELSON!!

Hi Rob:

If you haven't already seen it, be sure to check-out Willie's appearance on Larry King Live from back in April...Probably the best interview I have seen on TV, maybe ever.

-Ed

[journeybear]

Last night Wilco was on Ferguson, and someone was playing one if those half-neck 12-string guitars. Not a mandolin, but close.

Don't see many prospects for mandolins soon, but some interesting stuff. Jimmy Fallon is devoting the musical segments to the 40th anniversary of The Rolling Stones' "Exile On Main Street," being re-released with eight more tracks and also a documentary called "Stones In Exile" about the making of that classic album, with a wide variety of performers covering songs from it. Last night featured Green Day AND Taj Mahal, and the lineup for the rest of the week is:

5/11: Keith Urban, Mike McCready
5/12: Sheryl Crow, Chuck Leavell
5/13: Phish, Dr. John
5/14: screening parts of the film, "Stones in Exile"

No idea if the rest of the week is going to be as strange and wonderful as last night's show, with Green Day OPENING the show, and Taj Mahal playing in the customary closing slot (great rendition of "Shine A Light"), but if this kind of music floats your boat, I encourage you to stay up for it. Nap earlier if you must.

5/11
Dancing With The Stars: The Gipsy Kings (there may be something in there for some of us)
5/12
Ellen: Court Yard Hounds (I keep hoping Marti will play mandolin instead of fiddle)
5/17
Letterman: Zac Brown Band (could be)
5/18
Fallon: Ray Wylie Hubbard (a rare TV appearance by this great songwriter)
5/19
Fallon: Mumford & Sons (think so)
5/20
Leno: Sarah McLachlan
5/21
Ferguson: Sarah McLachlan

Lilith Tour is starting up again this summer, after 11 years, and these are the start of Sarah's promotional appearances. Plus she has a new album coming out. No MC, but still that marvelous voice ...

[journeybear]

5/12
Ellen: Court Yard Hounds (I keep hoping Marti will play mandolin instead of fiddle)

Yeah, well, like I said ... So it finally happened. Gotta keep checking. No great shakes - all strumming until near the end, when she repeated a simple motif a few times - on a Flatiron, I believe - A shape with f-holes. And Emily played banjo. My understanding is this project is an opportunity for Emily to step out from big sister Marti's shadow - and Natalie's - and take the lead spot with some of her self-penned songs, rather than her customary second backup role (that's how they made it sound when interviewed on The View). Anyway, this was a nice enough song.

[journeybear]

5/17
Wendy Williams (syndicated): Dolly Parton
Letterman: Zac Brown Band
5/18
DeGeneres: James Taylor & Carole King (no MC)
Dancing With The Stars: Sarah McLachlan; Miley Cyrus
Ferguson: Jakob Dylan (he had Neko Case and Kelly Hogan singing backup last week)
Fallon: Ray Wylie Hubbard (very rare TV appearance)
5/19
Fallon: Mumford & Sons
5/20
Leno: Sarah McLachlan (OK, so I like her)
5/21
View: "Million Dollar Quartet" cast (rockabilly from Broadway)
Ferguson: Court Yard Hounds (Marti and Emily from Dixie Chicks, so possible MC)

[journeybear]

Nothin' much ... More mandolin on TV in commercials than live this week

5/25
The View: Joe Nichols
Kimmel: Peter Frampton (this is just for you 70s fans)
5/26
Letterman: John Prine with Yim Yames (from My Morning Jacket)
5/27
Bonnie Hunt: Miranda Lambert, repeat from 10/7/09 (can't remember about MC)
DeGeneres: Tim McGraw
Leno: Allison Moorer (Mrs. Steve Earle also being interviewed on Tavis Smiley, PBS)
5/28
Good Morning America: Sugarland

[journeybear]

Anyone know who was playing mandolin with Alison Moorer on Leno tonight (Thursday)? Not only was she pretty and a redhead (down, boy!), she could be heard, and was doing something interesting - seemed like she was just hitting the top two courses as she strummed. Nice effect.

OK, found it - Eleanor Whitmore.

Speaking of redheads - Willie Nelson cut his hair!

[Bob1300]

Back to Dish Satellite Network - the week's schedule for RFD-TV mando is here:
http://www.rfdtv.com/schedule.asp

Mandolins and other acoustic bluegrass instruments are guaranteed on Reno's Old Time Music Festival - 6 days a week. Ronnie Reno plays mando, but one of his brothers is 10 times better. They bring in one of the top past or current bluegrass acts each show. They start with an interview, then the performer puts on a live set in front of an imaginary audience. There's usually a "superpicker" session in there too - one was Carl Jackson leading the Reno clan in a 100 mph version of Banjo Signal.

Then there is the Cumberland Highlanders show broadcast from Monroe's home place in Rosine. Mandolin is fairly certain. All the groups and pickers are earnest and try to be professional, but you'll notice instruments out of tune, off-key harmonies here and there, but not enough to make you cringe too badly.

Finally you have the Marty Stuart show with mostly country guests, but sometimes there's bluegrass groups like Del McCoury. Marty himself can tear up a mando once in a while too. And if you can catch the shows he's had with the Quebe sisters, you'll be amazed - beautiful young women who play triple country fiddle with identical synchronized bow movement, and close 3 part harmony too.

[journeybear]

Finally some stuff this week, even if they're repeats ...

6/1
Ferguson: Willie Nelson (repeat from 4/16, with Ronnie McCoury in the band)
6/2
Today: cast of "Million Dollar Quartet" (rockabilly via Broadway - not great but not too bad)
Leno: Dierks Bentley (Sam Bush dominates!)

BTW, if anyone has any questions about the ending of Dierks' song, please scoot over to this thread, already in progress ...

Just saw Willie with Ronnie McCoury, Stuart Duncan, etc. on The View. Looks like Ronnie was playing his Gil on this one. The girls on did goggle over Willie a bunch and asked 2-3 questions about his frickin' hair? Gee...isn't there more important stuff to talk about with WILLIE NELSON!!

Hmmm ... Wonder if that's why he cut it off?

[f#54]

Watch speed tv tonite for the nascar "Fast track to fame" at 8:00 et. The band is Midway Blue from Florence S.C.
They won the whole Enchilada, Thats the message I got from a proud dad this morning. Local boys doing good.
I started a thread so I can keep us posted on their progress, I hope this is okay. Im proud of them, cool

[journeybear]

This is absolutely OK, and what this thread is for. Thanks for letting us know.

I scan for national network and syndicated broadcasts, and would never have seen this. Once upon a time there was a website called rockontv.com, which was actually pretty genre-blind and real user-friendly - searchable by several parameters, including performer, genre, and channel, and went well into the future. Then it got swallowed up by VH-1, and was still fine for a while, until it got turned into an in-house search engine. Which would be useful if VH-1 ever had music - not! - in other words, it's toast. My point is, that it's become harder to glean this information, and the more eyes scanning wherever they can the better. These guys don't sound half-bad, by the way, Southern rock with a twist or two, and interesting to hear a mandolin go up against a wah-wah guitar (Country Boys & Girls (Get Down) ).

[f#54]

Great..The band had to play picked music, no originals. I was surprised to see them win with such a well known song (for southerners) Learning experience for sure.

[f#54]

Sorry guy's The broadcast of Fast track to Fame is at 9:00 et. It looks like the Finals will be aired on June 14 at 9:00 et. The cats out of the bag though. Hope I didnt ruin it for anyone...