Anyone see Frank Wakefield recently?

[Alex Orr]

Frank's playing near DC this Saturday night, and I'm likely going to be there no matter what, if for no other reason than to see a living legend. However, I was wondering if anyone's seen him play recently. Should I expect to see someone who's clearly lost a few steps or is he still pickin' strong these days?

[cbarry]

He gave a class at Gryphon in Palo Alto in October. I wasn't able to make it. Maybe another Bay Area member did?

[Scotti Adams]

Frank is still frank and I say that with all due respect. The man still cuts it and in my opinion has the best right hand in the biz.

[Bill James]

Yes I have, thank me!

[Steve Davis]

I'm curious to know what tune Frank is playing backwards in "Backin Playwards."

[Alex Orr]

Yes I have, thank me!

A quite helpful and substantive response

[barney 59]

Seems about once a decade I run into Frank. Last time about 3 weeks ago. It was Frank that told me that I better buy a mandolin in the first place. He is still pickin' strong. I had to miss his show but got to sit down and pick with him a day or two later. He has slowed down a bit but not his playing.

[MikeEdgerton]

A quite helpful and substantive response

I'm going to guess you've never seen Frank in person, otherwise you would have understood that comment.

Take a listen to the video in this thread. I say listen because you need to listen to the way Frank Wakefield talks. He turns things around in a strange but entertaining way. His introduction of this song as Stexican Momp (the name is actually Mexican Stomp) is an example of a Wakefieldism as was Bill's response. You really need to understand that before you go to see him or you'll probably spend the evening scratching your head, and yes, he's probably still as good now as he was in this video.

[Bill James]

Sorry, I assumed that you knew Wake-speak. Have fun at the show, Frank is a real hoot and one of a kind for sure!

[Alex Orr]

Sorry, I assumed that you knew Wake-speak. Have fun at the show, Frank is a real hoot and one of a kind for sure!

My bad...I'm embarrassed I don't know Wake-speak

[carolinamark]

But do you know Spake Weak......if you do you won't have any trouble following #### Frankfield.

[Mike Bunting]

I first met Wake in the mid sixties in Montreal with the Greebriar Boys and then again forty
some years later in Owensboro. I mentioned our first meeting. His response, verbatim, "I thought I looked familiar"

[John Hill]

My bad...I'm embarrassed I don't know Wake-speak

Make sure you tell Wake "goodbye" when you see him and a friendly "hello" after the show.

[eadg145]

I was at the workshop at Gryphon, and at the concert that night. The whole thing was something of a spiritual experience for me, as I hadn't been prepared in advance for the experience that is Frank Wakefield. Frank's playing was not super-clean during the workshop, where he was just relaxing and having fun. However, he was dead on during the performance, and played quite a long time. The promoter seemed a bit nervous about tying up the venue that late.
I think you will be well-entertained and will enjoy the show!