Since the Stringdusters were locked in the green room at AC&T by the shady punk string band Hazosphere on Halloween night, so much has happened that the prospect of starting a new journal entry is daunting. The new month of November has delivered us a new president-elect and regardless of whether your guy won or not, I hope you share my sense of relief that the election is finally over and that it was decisive enough not to be contested. And that both the acceptance and concession speeches combined to give me hope that we could swallow our differences long enough to approach some of the incredible hurdles we face as a nation with unity, creativity and courage. Hope springs eternal.
But back to the frighteningly good night of music served up by the Dusters and their bewigged rivals who stole the second set. I've been watching these guys since the Wheel House days, way before Critter departed for the rarified air of Tensions Mountain and I must say that while they've always been a great band, they've now evolved in
to a super group that takes its mission very seriously. And young Mr. Eldridge was even on hand for a smokin' duet with successor Andy Falco on "Cherokee Shuffle." Vocally and instrumentally, as songwriters and arrangers, their chemistry is undeniable and the result is a thrill to behold. If you're trying to convince any skeptical friends of yours that bluegrass indeed has merit, then take them to hear the Infamous Stringdusters. Converts will be made. Guaranteed.
Fast forward to last Friday when renowned autoharpist and master yarn-spinner Bryan Bowers returned to his old stomping ground fo
r a couple of lively JAMinc-arranged school performances and a mesmerizing evening in In Your Ear's Studio A. JAMinc's president Wally Thulin and I caught Bryan's second school gig at Mary Munford Elementary. While there, we heard about a talented third-grader /mandolin student by the name of Harper Price who's taking from Adam Larrabee at Key Signatures. Bryan had told me about a priceless 1904-vintage C.F. Martin Style 6 bowlback 
mandolin someone had GIVEN him and that he had out in his big blue Mercedes van. After the lively assembly show, it made the day for all of us that Harper gently took the museum piece in her hands and proceeded to pick out Bill Monroe's "Old Dangerfield." We felt like we might have witnessed a pivotal moment in a young girl's musical journey.
Bryan Bowers' performance later that evening was captivating as he set up each song with well-crafted context and told stories of love and loss, of counting blessings and giving back, all to the compelling soundtrack of his magical harps. He won lots of hearts that night and he'll steal yours too...just listen to his latest CD Bristlecone Pine or his storytelling project September in Alaska. And don't miss his April encore at the Shady Grove Coffee House in Glen Allen.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday, tickets are still available for a major musical double-header at UofR's Modlin Center as Chris Thile 
and his powerful Punch Brothers play the Camp Concert Hall. This astoundingly ambitious quintet of virtuosos take the bluegrass template into fresh, exciting and often breathtaking new places. Word is that Page Wilson will be welcoming the boys into his Chickahominy Swamp "kitchen" for conversation and and a few live tunes while they're in town. Tape will be rolling.
Thankfully Texas tornado Robert Earl Keen's road goes on forever and it leads this Saturday night to Toad's Place where we'll all be singing along to his classics like "Five Pound Bass," "Gringo Honeymoon," and maybe an early "Merry Christmas From the Family." Sandy & I are psyched.
Our next JAMinc/In Your Ear Studio A concert will be
a home game for rockin' Robbin Thompson with special guest Larry Burnett of the great country-rock group Firefall. We can only seat 80 folks for these intimate affairs so make your reservations soon here.
Get on out and support these musicians and the venues that help 'em make a living enriching our lives...TT
(Thanks to Gary Robertson for the hazy Hazosphere photo)
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