Telluride is such a great time, it takes me a good 3 weeks to get over the longing in my gut when I return. Yeah, well…I sorta dropped the ball on the whole Telluride blog thing. Joey was back in Asheville tending to brother John’s recovery from a pretty horrific biking accident, so he and Beth were sorely missed. It seemed pointless to post since our man JB wasn’t there, so technically there was no DejaBlue Grass Band in Telluride. There were no pictures or video to be taken, of us making music, at least. Not that there weren’t some magical musical moments, though.
Mark and I (and the entire Atlanta crew) got invited to this killer after-hours party on Saturday night where many of the Telluride Troubadour contestants were song swapping in the round. Jonesy and I joined on the fun, but the real magic happened when some members of Sam Bush’s band came by for a little jam session…and we joined in! Quite an experience to say the least. Guitarist Stephen Mougin and banjo picker (and one of Mark’s personal heroes) Scott Vestal came sans instruments so we quickly gave up our lot and put our equipment in the hands of some real pickers. They did not disappoint! Phenomenal to say the least. I gave up my mando to Sam’s sound engineer (wish I remembered his name…super nice guy and one HELL of a mandolin picker!) and he shredded it with ease. They quickly busted into “Little Georgia Rose” and then took off for solo after breathtaking solo. After a few more tunes, Mark, Kyle Caldwell, and I chimed in with a DjBGB original tune, “Gold Paper Sides”…quite a thrill! Unfortunately the lighting was so dark, and flashes were not allowed, so we don’t have any pictures of the event, but it was one of the better musical memories I’ll ever keep with me.
We’re cranking up for some musical memories ourselves and hope you’ll join us, July 16th at the RedLight Cafe in Atlanta. We’ll start right about 8pm. We could use a big crowd, so drag a friend or 3 when you come!
Our suitcases are swollen with the anticipation of another Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I can smell the white-bark aspen trees already. We leave Tuesday morning. What a difference a year makes. It’ll be quite a different vibe this year.
Last year at this time, having just released our first CD, we were feverishly prepping for the pressures of the band competition (all while Dr. Jones was shackled to his study guide, cramming for the patent bar exam. One morning, Kyle Caldwell and I were in line with Jonesy for the famous tarp run duty. It was 5 in the morning, and about 40 degrees, and he’s huddled up in a toboggan with his books and a flashlight under the only streetlamp available near us, looking a lot like the unibomber plotting his next move).
At a pre-party, about a week before we left, we staged 8 or 9 songs and let the collective 20+ Atlanta crew decide what 6 songs sounded best. Everybody was “bought in”. Upon arrival in Telluride, we rolled into Blue Pointe for a raucous pre-celebration dinner party with toasts and good cheer abound. Kyle stood for the possibility that we could win it, while the “Angry Toastmaster” admonished us with cranky goodwill. Kitty Ray was filming away on our soon-to-be-but-quite-possibly-never-released rockumentary about the whole experience. Man, we and we were wound up tighter than a snare. But, mission accomplished. We played the mainstage at Telluride!
This year, we’ll have a much smaller crew and it’ll be a more relaxed vacation. We will definitely miss the first family of the TBF, The Bowers, but we’ll have to carry on the tradition and hold their place until next year. We’ll enjoy our friends and, while there are only two of the band members there, we’ll find time to take on some other musicians and busk in the streets. We’ll update this blog a lot while we’re out there, and post whatever kind of trouble we get in and give you a look-see.
The DejaBlue Grass Band’s hearts and minds are with John Bowers, Joey’s brother, and his family. John was badly injured in a bicycle accident several days ago. We are sending our prayers and good vibes John’s way, and hope you’ll do the same. Send your positive energy John’s way by visiting “Rock on John Bowers” on Facebook.
“Hierba que se usa como forraje”. (that’s spanish for “Bluegrass”…or at least that’s what the spanish-english website told me. Technically, it means “Herb that can be used as fodder”. Befitting, in so many ways. Much more interesting than “pasto azul”, which was what I was thinking, but what do I know). Been kickin’ around Spanish words and phrases since recently CD Baby informed me that we sold a CD to a person in Biscay, Spain. And not your regular boring touristy catch phrases like “¿Dónde está el baño?“, I wanted to know phrases that I might use if we were to pack up and do a gig over there…like “Reckon they’ll let us pick over yonder?” (“¿Te supongo que vamos a arrancar por allá?”), “Where can a fella get a cold’beer?” (”¿donde un hombre puede conseguir una cerveza fría?”) and “Damn, son! That is one fine lookin’ fiddle you got there” (”Maldita sea, hijo! Esta es una multa buscando violín que tiene allí.”)
I clicked around picture of this place, and I am now standing for the possibility that The DejaBlue Grass Band will book a gig there. Looks like a pretty cool place! Couldn’t you see us out there pickin’ and grinnin’ (“punteo y sonreír”) right there on that veranda?
By the way, Banjoboy pointed out to me that it was exactly one year ago that we released our CD “Cubo lleno de lluvia”
Astronaut Scott Kelly thinks the DejaBlue Grass Band is outta site!
You never know who’s “out there” listening. The DjBGB was honored to have NASA’s own Scott Kelly in the audience at Chop’s on Derby Day May 2nd. (His business card actually says “Scott Kelly, Astronaut” on it. How cool is that?!?) We stand for the possibility that Scott will take his “Bucket Full of Rain” into outerspace, and we will have the distinction of being the first bluegrass band ever played in outerspace.
If you play in a bluegrass band, you’re gonna eat A LOT of barbecue. Just google “Bluegrass & Barbecue” and you’ll find over 110,000 entries. A southern thing for sure, (though the damn yankees have caught on…) but I was curious to know where the marriage began. A journalist, Jonathan Daniels, one wrote back in the 50’s that “Barbecue is the dish which binds together the taste of both the people of the big house and the poorest occupants of the back end of the broken-down barn”. It’s all that’s good about the south. For all our region’s checkered past, Barbecue has emerged as the universally celebrated enduring icon of the south that transcends race, culture, creed, social status. As far as the tie with bluegrass,..probably something of an Appalacia-based reason why we get served more “Carolina” style ‘cue than “Alabama” style ‘cue at the Bluegrass gigs.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s a reason that the Lord put us in a bluegrass band. You could say that we dig the pig, in any style. Just in the past two weeks we’ve played some swanky Buckhead parties, including the Derby Day throwdown at chops, and all three served barbecue.
Speaking of Barbecue and Bluegrass, we just accepted a position in a talented line-up of groups at the Decatur Blues & Bluegrass festival on August 19th. Check it out at www.decaturbbqfestival.com
Here\’s a little Derby Day Dish for ya: Mint. Bourbon. Sugar. Water. Stir in 20 horses, and 5-parts bluegrass. Chill at a swanky Buckhead steak joint. Serve on May 2, 2009. That is a recipe for a gooooooood time, m\’friend!
Join the DejaBlue Grass Band on May 2nd for Kentucky Derby Day at Chops in Buckhead! We\’ll get started about 2pm and play till 6pm. Race starts shortly there after. We need a big crowd, and you can bet on damn good time. Saddle up and c\’mon!
As the DejaBlue Grass Band was playing to a rowdy raucous Serenbe wedding crowd full of fun, drinkin’ and dancin’ folks on Saturday night, it occurred to me why I love snow-skiing so much… Yes, there’s a connection, stay with me. When you are at such a beautiful place like Telluride (or any ski resort), everyone is in a good mood. Stop off the slopes, slip off the skis for a sarsaparilla, and I defy you to find a frown. Won’t happen. And when you’re surrounded by smiles, it’s absolutely impossible to have a bad time.
Case-in-point: Frazzling into our Friday gig I was fit to be tied when I arrived. I jettisoned my 6-cylinder sarcophagus, numb from nearly two hours of Atlanta traffic, and bugged my way to the stage. First thing I did was set my stuff down (10 minutes before we were “on”). Second thing I did was beg the bartender for a double scotch on the rocks. I mean I was frrrrried. My ill temper found my fingers, too. I couldn’t pick a lick. All thumbs. I pulled my hat down low and tried not to poison anyone. But as the night progressed, the girls in the back began buck dancing, the guys followed suit, and the party soon sashayed toward band, front and center. This gaggling group was having a big time. Circling up, clapping, do-se-doin’, Honky-tonkin’ like they didn’t have a care in the world. Some of the girls and guys joined us behind the mic for some sing-alongs (one lovely young lady named Stuart could really sing, too. She was fabulous.) I couldn’t help it. The band was having a blast, and I was right there with’em, smiling ear-to-ear. Like I said, it’s absolutely impossible to be in an ill mood when you are in a beautful place (and Serenbe is spectacular) and there are that many people having a good time. …besides, people who’d hire a bluegrass band for a wedding are our kinda tribe anyway!
Enjoy DjBGB live at Moonshadow in Tucker GA…our last gig.
Sorry for the long hiatus, but the band hasn’t been very active in the last few months. Hell, blame it on the economy, or Bush or sump’m, (I got that idea from every other person on earth) BUT that all has slowly begun to change as we turn our attention to new original material for what we hope will be a new CD project. Banjo Boy learned so much from the last CD project that he’s gonna (at least, initially) try and produce this one himself. He’s got some killer new mobile recording equipment, and we’re gonna try and capture more of a live feel to the next record (can you call’em “records” anymore? Can’t really call’em “CD’s” since it’s all digital downloads now…I dunno, I digress) . We’ve been busy the last two or three weeks laying down scratch tracks of original material so that we’ll have something to listen to individually and “burn it in” so that when we get together to practice, there’s a template in our minds. Kinda have to go that route when everyone has kids and day jobs, and we rehearse as little as we do. We message the vibe remotely, through Facebook, email, cellphone, etc. (Although actually TC, MJ, and RW got together for The Travelin’ McCourys” the other night at Smith’s…they were phenomenal). I’ve been calling the new project “DejaBlue Two” for my iTunes library sake anyway.
We’re also looking at some festivals and other gigs as we look to fill the 2009 schedule. We need to get a gig at Red Light or Eddie’s too,.. if we can. We’re also looking at teaming up with some of our favorite local groups to try and stir it up with some twin bills. We had a good time hitching up with Smokey’s Farmland Band last year. (speaking of…check out SFB and the Dappled Grays on 1/30 at the Five Spot if you’re looking for a fantastic show! two of our favorite bands)
We’ll (read: me) be more active in this space now that there’s activity afront. Also if you haven’t joined our Facebook fan page, please do!
The times of whiskey-soaked Ned from Accounts Receivable holding an elf hat over his zipper at the office Christmas party and slurring “Hhhhey! Lookhh!! Santa’s lil hhhhelper!! … Prob’ly gone for good. YouTube and insurance policies put a final fork in the good ol’ days. Alas, Generation Y may never know the devilish delight of sniggering at Ned’s Monday morning walk of shame…
Now, (if you even still have an office party) it’s a cocktail or two, gravitate to the “cool section” for some “this is lame” talk, exchange some stories, make the obligatory kiss-the-ring fly-by to the boss, and you’re outta there. Well, fear not! The dirty days ain’t done! The DejaBlue Grass Band wants YOU for a Down and Dirty Holiday Throw Down!!
Saturday December 20th, The DjBGB teams up with the saucy sounds of Heidi Pollyea for a Down and Dirty night of RawGrass and Rock-n-Roll, at the Moon Shadow Tavern in Tucker. Show starts at 9PM. This ain’t no coat and tie joint! We’ve written a few new tunes and distorted some holiday, um, favorites and we promisea raucous good time. It’s your last chance to blow it out before having to go back to being a good little boy or girl.
Our suitcases are swollen with the anticipation of another Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I can smell the white-bark aspen trees already. We leave Tuesday morning. What a difference a year makes. It’ll be quite a different vibe this year.
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