Old-time ... Hell Amonst the Yearlings and

[woodwizard]

Well we didn't have the claw hammer or upright with us this day at the old time session and also were short one other fiddle player. Just a guitar, mandolin and fiddle. But here's a ruff version of Hell Amongst the Yearlings and Yellow Barber for you oldtime lovers. If I can figure out how to post them. These are both pretty new tunes for me so please forgive my mistakes. Love that OT music.

[Mike Romkey]

Sounds good to me! Sweet tone on the mandolin. What are you playing and what's the mic setup? Inquiring minds want to know.

[woodwizard]

Thanks...
Well Mike I'll have to get back with you on the name of the recorder. It was a rectangular looking thing fairly small of the guitar players. We were sitting sort of in a close circle and the thing was actually about 3 feet behind me and the guitar players backs about chest high facing the fiddle player who was the greatest distance from it. The mics were built into it. "Lu" the guitar player said it was expensive and that he's had it for a pretty long time. I'll find out and get back to you. That was the first time we used it to record us. When he set it back behind us I was afraid it wouldn't pick up very well but I guess it worked ok. Lu was playing his HD28 (one of the older ones). Bill was playing a really nice old fiddle (he has a bunch of them and many vintage instruments). When you're a doctor I guess you can afford it and I was playing my Goldrush with 3 month old TI strings on it. I've sense change the strings out. Sure wish the clawhammer banjo and bass player would have been there. That clawhammer banjo really holds everything together and really sounds oldtimy to me. Not to mention David is really a good OT picker. Thanks again for your kind remarks.

[woodwizard]

What the heck ... Here's a couple more "Rock the Cradle Joe" and "Magpie" from the same jam. I just love Bill's fiddlen'. I learn something new everytime I'm around him.
They don't all sound the same to me.
Who's going to Clifftop this year? I know Bill is. He goes every year.

[David M.]

Good stuff. Good version of Rock the Cradle, Joe. That's a good dance tune.

[hank]

Sounds good Mike, Makes me imagine a barn dance with some lively dancers. Was this before you got your A-4? Your Goldrush sound really good. Keep em coming as you do more.

[woodwizard]

Thanks alot David and Hank.
It's just an informal, nothing planned out, ruff oldtime pickin' session but boy I sure have fun playing that oldtime music with those guys. We had a pickin' session last night and a friend played his cello as a bass for us. I thought it sounded pretty cool and we actually recorded for the 2nd time too. I played my A4 about half way through the session. It takes Lu several days to get around to burning a CD of the recording for us so I haven't heard what it sounds like yet. We occassionally play at coffee houses and senior citizen centers. I did find out for Mike Romkey and those inquiring minds what recorder we are useing. It's a very pricey Sony PCM-D1. I think they sell for right at 2K or close to it. Can't wait to hear how "Indian Ate a Woodchuck", "Ebeneezer" and "Santa Anna's Retreat" turned out. Here is one more oldtime one for ya'll. "Julie Ann Johnson"

[Tripp Johnson]

Great tunes, sounds like fun being had!

[woodwizard]

Sure was! Can't wait for this Sat. We are playing at a wedding reception and we'll most likely have 2 fiddles, an upright, guitar, mandolin and the clawhammer. Should be a blast!

[Tripp Johnson]

we'll most likely have 2 fiddles, an upright, guitar, mandolin and the clawhammer.

One of the OT groups I play with is exactly that configuration, lots of energy. Big fun. Enjoy the reception.

[woodwizard]

Just wanted to say ...that wedding reception my oldtime band played at this past Sat. was even better than I thought it was going to be. It was like an oldtime wedding reception. Large good listening type of crowd ...the kind you want. A beautiful day for it too at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Smoked brisket, pull pork and "meat falling off the bone " ribs with all the fixen's and free beer! wine! etc...We had a blast and even got paid for it.

[hank]

Sounds like a sweet gig mike. Which mandolin did you take?

[woodwizard]

Took em both Hank. Actually both of my bands played. The OT band kicked it off and we played accousticly for about an hour then my Fayetteville band the Ozone Players did a set thru the PA and then the OT band again. Back & forth. Kept me pretty busy. But I can't get enough of that kind of stuff.

[woodwizard]

Here's a tune called "Fort Smith" that we are playing. Learned it from our fiddle players but this recording was before I had learned it so I'm just chopping away. Probabaly was the first time I played it. But what a cool tune. I think it might date back as far as 1843.

[JeffD]

Great stuff.

[hank]

Mike I can close my eyes and imagine a ballroom dance in an era 200 years before us perhaps a bit of Gone With The Wind imagery. Horse drawn carriages lined up outside with gentlemen escorting their ladies inside to dance. Your Old Time Band is like a time machine. Fort Smith really is an old city with a lot of interesting players in it's history. You would be the perfect band to play for the Marshall's Museum grande opening. I understand that they are still in the fund raising stage now but that project would sure be welcome in these difficult times. Does your band ever wear 1800's costumes for your gigs?

[woodwizard]

Mike I can close my eyes and imagine a ballroom dance in an era 200 years before us perhaps a bit of Gone With The Wind imagery. Horse drawn carriages lined up outside with gentlemen escorting their ladies inside to dance. Your Old Time Band is like a time machine. Fort Smith really is an old city with a lot of interesting players in it's history. You would be the perfect band to play for the Marshall's Museum grande opening. I understand that they are still in the fund raising stage now but that project would sure be welcome in these difficult times. Does your band ever wear 1800's costumes for your gigs?

Thanks Henry. We haven't dressed up as yet but I'm sure we could. Bill use to do the Civil War re-enactment thing at one time and I know he has a rebel hat etc. and I've got a bolen hat like John Hartford use to wear. That would be fun to do a time machine thing. Do you have any contact information and dates of the grand opening?

[Fstpicker]

That's some great Old Time music there. I love doing this kind of thing. My friend and I did a home recording of (2) CD's worth of Old Time music last year...him on the fiddle, me on the guitar...just the two of us. Lots of fun!

Jeff

[woodwizard]

Love that Old-time. I tabbed out "Fort Smith" incase anyone is interested in learning this great tune. Have fun.

[hank]

Thanks for the song and tab Mike. The Marshall Museum is still in the fund raising phase but your band would be perfect to set the mood of that opening event.

[woodwizard]

You're welcome Henry. Faxed them some info about our band but I'm really not sure it went to the right people. Guess I'll find out.