Critter...

So December's just arrived and we've already had a little teaser snowfall and even some havoc-wreaking black ice around central Virginia...very exciting for one who loves all that winter can bring. Reading the e-posts this week revealed a Grammy nomination for the durable and delightful Seldom Scene and their latest CD Scenechronicity. Congrats to all. I passed along high-fives to founding father Ben Eldridge and asked him what his prodigious progeny had been up to lately. He replied..."I can't keep up with that boy these days. He just got back two weeks ago from traveling around Europe with Uncle Earl for three weeks. He's going back to England on the 8th to go to a Zeppelin reunion concert. He's gotten to be pals with John Paul Jones, so he and Kristan will have backstage passes and all that kind of good stuff. This week he, along with Andy Falco and Josh Williams, are going around doing guitar concerts. They call them Guitarmageddon. He's heading to LA after he gets back from England to rehearse with the Punch Brothers for a few days and then back to the Burg for a week at home over Christmas - then on to Chicago for a new year's eve gig with the Punch boys.Whew! Oh to be young again."

So if you haven't heard, the Punch Brothers are the latest moniker for Chris Thile's string band and they'll be ringing in the new year in the Windy City. Both of the Chris boys seem to have the world by the tail these days. What a ride!

Here at home, it's a chance to hear both Steve Earle's sister Stacey (with Mark Stuart) at Ashland Coffee and Tea on Saturday night and Steve's son Justin Townes Earle at Barksdale's "Stretchin" concert series on Sunday. Both are more than worthy of your musical dollars.

And might I heartily recommend a new seasonal CD from the amazing singer-songwriter Mindy Smith. Some heart-rending new originals and some creative takes on old favorites. We can't get enough of Mindy.

Enjoy the last month of the year...TT