Lori and I went to the Big River last night with a few of our friends (Ha.. 9 of us ultimately from Holmen)... and I didn't get the connection that Larry was the writer of a The Vasectomy Rag. It was a song I knew along time ago from Clay, and when he added it to his recent house concert, it brought such a smile.
This worse Country song by Larry was done last night, and I wonder if it isn't absolutely intentional that the sound doesn't match the video below. You get a chance, stop and see Larry sometime.
Showing posts with label Clay Riness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clay Riness. Show all posts
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Clay Riness Covered Up
Clay Riness is a wonderful folk musician and songwriter; and I will have the pleasure to host his house concert where he'll perform the songs that have influenced him the most. Gee Whiz... then I can't ask him to sing the cutting wood song... maybe he'll cover a Greg Brown story song. Some of you might recognize the name, Clay is also Weary Wolf and a contributor to this blog. 
Here is Clay's description: blog that Clay posted explaining how this concert booking happened:
So, I just booked this gig. The whole thing happened so fast … proving to me that it was meant to be. No time to over think.
A few weekends ago, as I have mentioned, I spent some time with a few old friends playing and singing some of the most wonderful old songs. Songs which brought memories gushing through the floodgates; songs that were there for me when I was coming up as a young musician; songs that shaped me as a songwriter … that’s what they were and that’s what was so lovely. Talk about a musical version of comfort food.
I returned from the weekend energized and couldn’t seem to put a guitar down. I located and dusted off my old loose leaf gigging notebook and some folders of handwritten fake sheets, some of them over thirty years old, and poured over them, uncovering treasures not thought of since I quit playing out all those years ago. And, I had a reunion with a whole bunch of old friends. So many of those songs were simply brilliant.
I mentioned on the blog how the whole thing made me feel. Then, I got a little email from my friend Dave who organizes and hosts Bluff View Concerts, a little concert series up the road an hour or so.
“I guess we’ll have to talk about a house concert sometime,” he wrote.
A house concert? I haven’t done a house concert in … uh … decades. Probably 1987. What a wonderful thought! I emailed Dave back and told him that I had an idea for a show. I explained that in November of 2010 I had a concert booked at the Regional Arts Center (in conjunction with a one man art show of my father’s oil paintings). That concert would certainly be my normal show of original music, and I made it clear I had some contractual and moral obligations not to jeopardize the potential attendance of that event by being redundant.
You can see what’s coming here, no doubt. Yup. I proposed a show called “The Covered Up Concert” at which I would feature only covers of some of my all time favorite songs. He thought it was a fantastic idea. Further, I think the show will help to promote my November concert nicely, too.
Upon discovering that Dave’s house could seat about thirty-five people, I suggested that if he and his wife Lori were game, I would certainly offer a second show. After some discussion of marketing the event, we agreed to forge ahead with it and scheduled shows for Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th. I guess this note begins the marketing strategy. Surely we can convince seventy people to come and enjoy some of the best songs ever written, hmm? Well, OK, that’s my opinion there, regarding the songs.
I’m completely jazzed about how much fun this will be. Here’s a link to the flier / poster announcing the event (PDF format). If you’re local enough, please do print it and hang it up somewhere. Make reservations. Join us. It’s going to be a wonderful good time.
Here is Clay's description: blog that Clay posted explaining how this concert booking happened:
So, I just booked this gig. The whole thing happened so fast … proving to me that it was meant to be. No time to over think.
A few weekends ago, as I have mentioned, I spent some time with a few old friends playing and singing some of the most wonderful old songs. Songs which brought memories gushing through the floodgates; songs that were there for me when I was coming up as a young musician; songs that shaped me as a songwriter … that’s what they were and that’s what was so lovely. Talk about a musical version of comfort food.
I returned from the weekend energized and couldn’t seem to put a guitar down. I located and dusted off my old loose leaf gigging notebook and some folders of handwritten fake sheets, some of them over thirty years old, and poured over them, uncovering treasures not thought of since I quit playing out all those years ago. And, I had a reunion with a whole bunch of old friends. So many of those songs were simply brilliant.
I mentioned on the blog how the whole thing made me feel. Then, I got a little email from my friend Dave who organizes and hosts Bluff View Concerts, a little concert series up the road an hour or so.
“I guess we’ll have to talk about a house concert sometime,” he wrote.
A house concert? I haven’t done a house concert in … uh … decades. Probably 1987. What a wonderful thought! I emailed Dave back and told him that I had an idea for a show. I explained that in November of 2010 I had a concert booked at the Regional Arts Center (in conjunction with a one man art show of my father’s oil paintings). That concert would certainly be my normal show of original music, and I made it clear I had some contractual and moral obligations not to jeopardize the potential attendance of that event by being redundant.
You can see what’s coming here, no doubt. Yup. I proposed a show called “The Covered Up Concert” at which I would feature only covers of some of my all time favorite songs. He thought it was a fantastic idea. Further, I think the show will help to promote my November concert nicely, too.
Upon discovering that Dave’s house could seat about thirty-five people, I suggested that if he and his wife Lori were game, I would certainly offer a second show. After some discussion of marketing the event, we agreed to forge ahead with it and scheduled shows for Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th. I guess this note begins the marketing strategy. Surely we can convince seventy people to come and enjoy some of the best songs ever written, hmm? Well, OK, that’s my opinion there, regarding the songs.
I’m completely jazzed about how much fun this will be. Here’s a link to the flier / poster announcing the event (PDF format). If you’re local enough, please do print it and hang it up somewhere. Make reservations. Join us. It’s going to be a wonderful good time.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
"Invierno Aqui" by Clay Riness
A little tune I composed for an HD video of winter scenes being produced by The AVS Group. Thought you might like it, Dave.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
A little bouncy guitar work
I'll have to ask Clay if there is a trick to this one, my first guess is to hear it in your head. If you can't hear it before you play it... it's hard to remember it.
Dave
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Wolf Den: Spring Valley Rose
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
Somewhere around 2001 my old friend Paul Kogut informed the world he was getting married and a date had been set for a big, outdoor wedding, right on the trout stream, at his place in Spring Coulee. He asked me if I would sing something during the ceremony. I don't make a practice of playing weddings, so I did what I always do when a friend asks me to bring my voice to a wedding. I told him I would do it if he trusted me to choose the music...non-negotiable.
He agreed, smiling. Of course, I was going to write a song for their wedding, and that would be my gift. It was something they would never expect.
Paul is a passionate lover of military history, an active Civil War re-enactor, and most everyone who knows him knows that about him. My take on a love song for him and his bride was to frame it in the setting of a civil war soldier returning home to his beautiful, waiting wife. That's how Spring Valley Rose was penned.
The wedding experience was awesome. Before I sang the song I told the congregation that anyone who really knew Paul knew that he loved two things: the woman he was standing with...and Civil War Re-enactment. Cracked them all up. The song was a huge success. Everyone told me I hit the nail square on the head with my unique and unusual little gift.
The next year, I came out of retirement and began performing concerts again, and I performed Spring Valley Rose for a full house at an intimate concert for the Rustic Valley Concert Series. Paul and Kim were in house and actually danced to their wedding song. I stumbled across the recording of that concert a few days ago, footage never before released. I hadn't even heard it since it was recorded in 2002. It was good to hear.
Listen to Spring Valley Rose:
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
Somewhere around 2001 my old friend Paul Kogut informed the world he was getting married and a date had been set for a big, outdoor wedding, right on the trout stream, at his place in Spring Coulee. He asked me if I would sing something during the ceremony. I don't make a practice of playing weddings, so I did what I always do when a friend asks me to bring my voice to a wedding. I told him I would do it if he trusted me to choose the music...non-negotiable.
He agreed, smiling. Of course, I was going to write a song for their wedding, and that would be my gift. It was something they would never expect.
Paul is a passionate lover of military history, an active Civil War re-enactor, and most everyone who knows him knows that about him. My take on a love song for him and his bride was to frame it in the setting of a civil war soldier returning home to his beautiful, waiting wife. That's how Spring Valley Rose was penned.
The wedding experience was awesome. Before I sang the song I told the congregation that anyone who really knew Paul knew that he loved two things: the woman he was standing with...and Civil War Re-enactment. Cracked them all up. The song was a huge success. Everyone told me I hit the nail square on the head with my unique and unusual little gift.
The next year, I came out of retirement and began performing concerts again, and I performed Spring Valley Rose for a full house at an intimate concert for the Rustic Valley Concert Series. Paul and Kim were in house and actually danced to their wedding song. I stumbled across the recording of that concert a few days ago, footage never before released. I hadn't even heard it since it was recorded in 2002. It was good to hear.
Listen to Spring Valley Rose:
Spring Valley Rose
by
Clay Riness
In a valley so green she is waiting,
In her calico dress by the stream.
For her true love to come promenading
Up the trail to his Spring Valley dream.
She loves a soldier. He loves no other.
She waits for him every bright and shining day.
He's just a soldier, a northbound stranger,
With so many miles to go, bound for home, but he knows
With his Spring Valley Rose he will stay.
She's the fresh blooming rose of the valley.
She's the warm evening sun that sets in May.
She's the soft gentle rain that feeds the garden.
She's the new bride of spring every day.
She loves a soldier. He loves no other.
She waits for him every bright and shining day.
He's just a soldier, a northbound stranger,
With so many miles to go, bound for home, but he knows
With his Spring Valley Rose he will stay.
Oh they say she was the pride of old Chicago,
The fairest girl in that cold and windy town.
But she traveled to the hills of old Wisconsin
And she settled with the new love that she found.
She loves a soldier. He loves no other.
She waits for him every bright and shining day.
He's just a soldier, a northbound stranger,
With so many miles to go, bound for home, but he knows
With his Spring Valley Rose he will stay.
Clay Riness
In a valley so green she is waiting,
In her calico dress by the stream.
For her true love to come promenading
Up the trail to his Spring Valley dream.
She loves a soldier. He loves no other.
She waits for him every bright and shining day.
He's just a soldier, a northbound stranger,
With so many miles to go, bound for home, but he knows
With his Spring Valley Rose he will stay.
She's the fresh blooming rose of the valley.
She's the warm evening sun that sets in May.
She's the soft gentle rain that feeds the garden.
She's the new bride of spring every day.
She loves a soldier. He loves no other.
She waits for him every bright and shining day.
He's just a soldier, a northbound stranger,
With so many miles to go, bound for home, but he knows
With his Spring Valley Rose he will stay.
Oh they say she was the pride of old Chicago,
The fairest girl in that cold and windy town.
But she traveled to the hills of old Wisconsin
And she settled with the new love that she found.
She loves a soldier. He loves no other.
She waits for him every bright and shining day.
He's just a soldier, a northbound stranger,
With so many miles to go, bound for home, but he knows
With his Spring Valley Rose he will stay.
Print Lyrics And Chords For
Spring Valley Rose
Spring Valley Rose
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Wolf Den: Potentially Abscessed Man
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
In honor of my dental appointment this morning, I hearken you back to 2003 when I developed my first abscessed molar, and after too many years of avoiding the dentist, got the news that I was dreading. I am happy to say that, although my choppers are not getting better, they are also not getting worse, as I have been true and faithful to them ever since...after having gotten the hell scared out of me.
This performance is from a concert at Folklore Village in Dodgeville, Wisconsin and appears on my 2004 album, Little Windows. This song was written less than 48 hours before the performance.
Listen to Potentially Abscessed Man:
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
In honor of my dental appointment this morning, I hearken you back to 2003 when I developed my first abscessed molar, and after too many years of avoiding the dentist, got the news that I was dreading. I am happy to say that, although my choppers are not getting better, they are also not getting worse, as I have been true and faithful to them ever since...after having gotten the hell scared out of me.
This performance is from a concert at Folklore Village in Dodgeville, Wisconsin and appears on my 2004 album, Little Windows. This song was written less than 48 hours before the performance.
Listen to Potentially Abscessed Man:
Potentially Abscessed Man
By
Clay Riness
You don’t see it coming. It happens one day.
You suddenly feel you’re not feeling okay.
A low throbbing lingers down deep in your head.
It’s a festering molar, and a day full of dread.
Two or three days and you feel even worse.
Who could cast such a spell and bring on such a curse?
Every breath is a brand new adventure in pain,
But you’re still in denial though dread still remains.
I’m long in the tooth, many years from my youth.
So heed this advice if you can.
I will sing from the heart to offer my part,
A potentially abscessed man.
Finally you’re sure it’s the doctor you need.
The pain is so crippling you can’t even eat.
And then in dental crisis you pray for the chair.
You’d pay twice the fee if he’d just put you there.
“The x-rays are gloomy” he says as he squints,
“but it’s got to come out.” You say “good” as you wince.
Two pricks of the needle, your face is gone numb
And extraction comes quickly and soon it is done.
I’m long in the tooth, many years from my youth.
So heed this advice if you can.
I will sing from the heart to offer my part,
A potentially abscessed man.
When it’s over he comes to you bearing bad news.
Periodontally speaking, your teeth are all loose.
There are pockets and plaque and the bone loss is stout,
And your gums have receded. Your teeth may fall out.
So stock up on your toothbrushes and your toothpaste.
And whenever you eat then go flossing post haste.
And at pain’s slightest sign you should do what you can.
‘Cause you might be a potentially abscessed man.
I’m long in the tooth, many years from my youth.
So heed this advice if you can..
Take good care of your gums or one day you’ll become
A potentially abscessed man.
© Copyright 2004 Clay M. Riness
By
Clay Riness
You don’t see it coming. It happens one day.
You suddenly feel you’re not feeling okay.
A low throbbing lingers down deep in your head.
It’s a festering molar, and a day full of dread.
Two or three days and you feel even worse.
Who could cast such a spell and bring on such a curse?
Every breath is a brand new adventure in pain,
But you’re still in denial though dread still remains.
I’m long in the tooth, many years from my youth.
So heed this advice if you can.
I will sing from the heart to offer my part,
A potentially abscessed man.
Finally you’re sure it’s the doctor you need.
The pain is so crippling you can’t even eat.
And then in dental crisis you pray for the chair.
You’d pay twice the fee if he’d just put you there.
“The x-rays are gloomy” he says as he squints,
“but it’s got to come out.” You say “good” as you wince.
Two pricks of the needle, your face is gone numb
And extraction comes quickly and soon it is done.
I’m long in the tooth, many years from my youth.
So heed this advice if you can.
I will sing from the heart to offer my part,
A potentially abscessed man.
When it’s over he comes to you bearing bad news.
Periodontally speaking, your teeth are all loose.
There are pockets and plaque and the bone loss is stout,
And your gums have receded. Your teeth may fall out.
So stock up on your toothbrushes and your toothpaste.
And whenever you eat then go flossing post haste.
And at pain’s slightest sign you should do what you can.
‘Cause you might be a potentially abscessed man.
I’m long in the tooth, many years from my youth.
So heed this advice if you can..
Take good care of your gums or one day you’ll become
A potentially abscessed man.
© Copyright 2004 Clay M. Riness
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Wolf Den: My New Love Interest
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
One of my guitar students asked me to help her learn this song. I was not familiar with Ingrid Michaelson, who apparently got her start on little old Myspace. Once I saw this video, I decided I was in serious love. Oh, stop. I know full well that she's too young for me. She's almost too young for my college boy son. No matter. She gets about three lines into this song and what happens to me is something like a spring thaw.
This clip comes from morning network television and starts with an interview. Trust me, the singing is worth hanging around for.
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
One of my guitar students asked me to help her learn this song. I was not familiar with Ingrid Michaelson, who apparently got her start on little old Myspace. Once I saw this video, I decided I was in serious love. Oh, stop. I know full well that she's too young for me. She's almost too young for my college boy son. No matter. She gets about three lines into this song and what happens to me is something like a spring thaw.
This clip comes from morning network television and starts with an interview. Trust me, the singing is worth hanging around for.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Wolf Den: Friends And Old Memories
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
For those of you who missed it, here's Murph's performance on the Letterman Show in May of '07. He's a resident of the Coulee Region now, and has been for some time...and I'm happy that he's my neighbor. Letterman holds up his CD Heartland Cowboy in the introduction, which I am proud to have been part of. Murph and I share a co-write on that collection.
This song was a powerful influence on me as a kid, as was the entire album. Go figure. What goes around comes around. Or, as I like to pontificate...The Wheel Comes Around.
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
For those of you who missed it, here's Murph's performance on the Letterman Show in May of '07. He's a resident of the Coulee Region now, and has been for some time...and I'm happy that he's my neighbor. Letterman holds up his CD Heartland Cowboy in the introduction, which I am proud to have been part of. Murph and I share a co-write on that collection.
This song was a powerful influence on me as a kid, as was the entire album. Go figure. What goes around comes around. Or, as I like to pontificate...The Wheel Comes Around.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Wolf Den: LBD Preview - "Way Of The World"
From Contributing Editor Clay RinessEditor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
Here's a second installment of our Little Black Dress preview. My description? Greg Brown meets old-time music. Don't ask.
Listen to Way Of The World:
The Way Of The World
By
Clay Riness, Brett Huus, Terry Nirva
(Note: Drop D tuning: DADGBE)
There’s a place in the world for a woman and a man
and you can’t wait around for a miracle to happen.
A man’s got a fire that will burn him up inside
and a woman’s got a fire that can take him for a ride.
So a man tips his hat and he gives a little smile
and a woman smiles back and they visit for awhile.
Then the woman sends a message that she maybe wants more
and the man takes the cue and he shows her to the door.
A little bit of sugar couldn’t do him any harm
so he turns to the woman and he wraps her in his arms
And the woman plays along ‘cause the game is what it is
and they both melt away in a passionate kiss.
Tell me what can you say when it happens all the time?
It’s the way of the world when two people are inclined.
When a man and a woman play a dangerous game
it can open up a door to a lifetime of blame.
© Copyright 2009 Clay M. Riness, Brett Huus, Terry Nirva
Print Lyrics And Chords For
Way Of The World
By
Clay Riness, Brett Huus, Terry Nirva
(Note: Drop D tuning: DADGBE)
There’s a place in the world for a woman and a man
and you can’t wait around for a miracle to happen.
A man’s got a fire that will burn him up inside
and a woman’s got a fire that can take him for a ride.
So a man tips his hat and he gives a little smile
and a woman smiles back and they visit for awhile.
Then the woman sends a message that she maybe wants more
and the man takes the cue and he shows her to the door.
A little bit of sugar couldn’t do him any harm
so he turns to the woman and he wraps her in his arms
And the woman plays along ‘cause the game is what it is
and they both melt away in a passionate kiss.
Tell me what can you say when it happens all the time?
It’s the way of the world when two people are inclined.
When a man and a woman play a dangerous game
it can open up a door to a lifetime of blame.
© Copyright 2009 Clay M. Riness, Brett Huus, Terry Nirva
Print Lyrics And Chords For
Way Of The World
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Wolf Den: LBD Preview
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
This was largely a test...to see if I could embed an MP3 player into a blog posting. It worked beautifully! For starters, here's a first taste of our new, long awaited project, Little Black Dress, an album of original music I've been working on with friends Terry Nirva and Brett Huus. This is the opening track...so put on your headphones or run the output to your best speakers. And, welcome to our world!
At the end of this post, you can even download and print the lyrics with chords! I love technology!
Listen to "Something That I'm Not"
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
This was largely a test...to see if I could embed an MP3 player into a blog posting. It worked beautifully! For starters, here's a first taste of our new, long awaited project, Little Black Dress, an album of original music I've been working on with friends Terry Nirva and Brett Huus. This is the opening track...so put on your headphones or run the output to your best speakers. And, welcome to our world!
At the end of this post, you can even download and print the lyrics with chords! I love technology!
Listen to "Something That I'm Not"
Something That I’m Not
By
Clay Riness and Terry Nirva
I have watched her rise. I have watched her fall.
I have seen her try...giving it her all.
And I know she cries, and I’ve seen that too.
See it in her eyes. Try and help her through.
I am her friend. I am her confidant.
I won’t pretend to be something that I’m not.
What’s a friend to do when his friend’s in need?
Stand and hold a hand. Let her poor heart bleed.
Wipe away the tear. Recognize the loss.
In the coming years she will feel the cost.
I am her friend. I am her confidant.
I won’t pretend to be something that I’m not.
What would Jesus do? Lay a hand and heal?
What if it were you? What would that reveal?
That was another time, and another place.
Things are different now from the good old days.
I am her friend. I am her confidant.
I won’t pretend to be something that I’m not.
Something That I'm Not
By
Clay Riness and Terry Nirva
I have watched her rise. I have watched her fall.
I have seen her try...giving it her all.
And I know she cries, and I’ve seen that too.
See it in her eyes. Try and help her through.
I am her friend. I am her confidant.
I won’t pretend to be something that I’m not.
What’s a friend to do when his friend’s in need?
Stand and hold a hand. Let her poor heart bleed.
Wipe away the tear. Recognize the loss.
In the coming years she will feel the cost.
I am her friend. I am her confidant.
I won’t pretend to be something that I’m not.
What would Jesus do? Lay a hand and heal?
What if it were you? What would that reveal?
That was another time, and another place.
Things are different now from the good old days.
I am her friend. I am her confidant.
I won’t pretend to be something that I’m not.
© Copyright 2004 Clay M. Riness, Terry Nirva, Brett Huus
Something That I'm Not
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Wolf Den: Must See DVD...Neil
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
It's been out there for a few years now, but I can't tell you how much this concert moves me, or how much Neil Young has influenced me in my musical life.
For those who haven't seen it, Heart Of Gold is a performance at the historical Ryman Theatre in Nashville, and consists of two sets. The first set is a performance of his wonderful CD Prairie Wind (excluding one song), and the second set includes just about every acoustic hit or semi-hit he ever recorded.
Heart Of Gold is soulful and polished, and Neil shows through as the country/folk icon he truly is, and as a genius in the songwriting department. This performance, to me, is like comfort food.
Plus...when you've got Emmylou Harris as one of your background singers...well, I guess you must be pretty good.
Plug in, sit back, shake head in wonder.
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
It's been out there for a few years now, but I can't tell you how much this concert moves me, or how much Neil Young has influenced me in my musical life.For those who haven't seen it, Heart Of Gold is a performance at the historical Ryman Theatre in Nashville, and consists of two sets. The first set is a performance of his wonderful CD Prairie Wind (excluding one song), and the second set includes just about every acoustic hit or semi-hit he ever recorded.
Heart Of Gold is soulful and polished, and Neil shows through as the country/folk icon he truly is, and as a genius in the songwriting department. This performance, to me, is like comfort food.Plus...when you've got Emmylou Harris as one of your background singers...well, I guess you must be pretty good.
Plug in, sit back, shake head in wonder.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Wolf Den: Creative and Clever
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
A friend emailed me this and I thought you should see it. It shows great forethought in planning. The man is a smooth player to be sure, but apparently he's a pretty clever film maker as well.
Editor In Chief, The Weary Wolf Journal
A friend emailed me this and I thought you should see it. It shows great forethought in planning. The man is a smooth player to be sure, but apparently he's a pretty clever film maker as well.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The Wolf Den: Cartoon Jazz And Then Some
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
When I was young I thought the accordion was the Anti-Christ. All I could imagine was some fat kid in Coke bottle thick glasses trying to murder Lady Of Spain. As I grew older, and subsequently, smarter, I found that there are all kinds of different instruments in the accordion family, from little English concertinas, to diatonic button boxes (great big harmonicas with bellows!), and yes, piano accordions, to mention a few. At one point, I suddenly realized that squeeze boxes were in all kinds of ethnic and cultural music dance music, and in country, jazz, whatever. Who knew it could be so hip?
I came to love a ton of music that featured accordions...and I am privileged to have known and played with some killer players. One of my favorites is Dan Newton, commonly referred to as "Daddy Squeeze". Daddy is in about nine or ten bands at any one time, but I know him best for his leadership and virtuosity in the Cafe Accordion Orchestra, based in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
They play beautiful French musettes and Tin Pan Alley cartoon jazz music, the kind of thing you might know from a Betty Boop cartoon. Don't fool yourself, it's fantastic stuff, and they are smooth as soy milk. Also in this video, on the fiddle and singing the French verse, is one of my oldest friends and music buddies, Eric Mohring. If you think he's smoking good on the fiddle, well, you ought to see the man play the mandolin.
Enjoy.
When I was young I thought the accordion was the Anti-Christ. All I could imagine was some fat kid in Coke bottle thick glasses trying to murder Lady Of Spain. As I grew older, and subsequently, smarter, I found that there are all kinds of different instruments in the accordion family, from little English concertinas, to diatonic button boxes (great big harmonicas with bellows!), and yes, piano accordions, to mention a few. At one point, I suddenly realized that squeeze boxes were in all kinds of ethnic and cultural music dance music, and in country, jazz, whatever. Who knew it could be so hip?
I came to love a ton of music that featured accordions...and I am privileged to have known and played with some killer players. One of my favorites is Dan Newton, commonly referred to as "Daddy Squeeze". Daddy is in about nine or ten bands at any one time, but I know him best for his leadership and virtuosity in the Cafe Accordion Orchestra, based in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
They play beautiful French musettes and Tin Pan Alley cartoon jazz music, the kind of thing you might know from a Betty Boop cartoon. Don't fool yourself, it's fantastic stuff, and they are smooth as soy milk. Also in this video, on the fiddle and singing the French verse, is one of my oldest friends and music buddies, Eric Mohring. If you think he's smoking good on the fiddle, well, you ought to see the man play the mandolin.
Enjoy.
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Wolf Den: A Personal Hero
From Contributing Editor Clay Riness
As we all have a good many personal heroes, it is only fair for me to share with you that this is one of mine...Aimee Mann. She beat the system. She had a terrible legal battle with her record company, eventually bringing suit against them to get her own studio master tapes back, so she could release the music. She won, and went indie. She and her husband defied the norm, and somehow cut a distribution deal. She writes great music, and she doesn't need the corporate contract. And, I love her for it.
As we all have a good many personal heroes, it is only fair for me to share with you that this is one of mine...Aimee Mann. She beat the system. She had a terrible legal battle with her record company, eventually bringing suit against them to get her own studio master tapes back, so she could release the music. She won, and went indie. She and her husband defied the norm, and somehow cut a distribution deal. She writes great music, and she doesn't need the corporate contract. And, I love her for it.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Wolf Den: Old-time Dance 101
From contributing editor Clay Riness
I had this idea during the night. I was thinking about all the great many fiddle tunes I have learned in my life and remembering so many wonderful dances I was privileged to play for with bands like the Dry Bone Road Gang, The Coon Busters, The Original Chinquapin Hunters, and as a guest with The Mastadons, to name a few.
I am an old-time fiddler, not a bluegrass fiddler. The difference, you ask? Bluegrass is a younger genre, and much more improvisational by nature, and more a performance music. Old-time is older, comes from all manner of ethnic cultures, but is often most acquainted with the eastern mountain regions of the US and has it's roots in the Scotch Irish tradition.
Old-time tunes are more structured and repetitive, like the dances they accompany. A "square tune" is one considered 32 bars long, and many of the dances are divisible by 32 bars, so that when the you've finally danced with the last of the opposite sex on the dance floor and have returned to your original partner, you go through all the steps once more and the dance ends right along with the tune.
A "square" consists of four couples, facing each other like the corners of a square. It is not clogging, which is a step dance rather than a set (sets of couples) dance, and is also the grandfather of tap. Contra dance is a form of old-time set dance, sometimes utilizing line dances, reels like the Virgina Reel and circle dances.
Old-time dances area always fed by a live caller and fueled by live music. There is something of an atrocity called international style square dance, in which older people, like those who live in The Villages, dress in costumes and dance, or rather walk, to a caller who calls out random steps, sometimes singing them. These so-called square dances, although certainly a social event, but then, so is BINGO, are never danced to live music. They use...gulp...records. It's kind of like putting peanut butter on salmon. It's edible, but many think it's just wrong.
My guitar partner and I offered to play free of charge for the local square dance club some years ago. They had us in and we played tunes for them as they walked around, but in the end, they said thanks, but they liked their records.
Here's a good example of an old-time dance:
Here's its geriatric counter part:
Not exactly music in the Scotch Irish roots tradition.
Now, please don't think I am trying to be disrespectful toward Twirlers, Whirlers and international clubs around the world. I am simply an old-time fiddler who is used to the Holy Trinity...dancers, caller, live music. I know that international dancers are having good, clean fun...just like old-time dancers. It's just different. Way different.
Finally, here's an example of some of the best old-time dance fiddling you will hear...Bruce Molskey playing a tune called Old Sledge:
That ain't no bluegrass. That ain't no country and western. Baby, that's music from the mountains. Don't it make you want to dance?
For more of what's on my mind, please visit my blog the wearywolfjournal.blogspot.com
I had this idea during the night. I was thinking about all the great many fiddle tunes I have learned in my life and remembering so many wonderful dances I was privileged to play for with bands like the Dry Bone Road Gang, The Coon Busters, The Original Chinquapin Hunters, and as a guest with The Mastadons, to name a few.
I am an old-time fiddler, not a bluegrass fiddler. The difference, you ask? Bluegrass is a younger genre, and much more improvisational by nature, and more a performance music. Old-time is older, comes from all manner of ethnic cultures, but is often most acquainted with the eastern mountain regions of the US and has it's roots in the Scotch Irish tradition.
Old-time tunes are more structured and repetitive, like the dances they accompany. A "square tune" is one considered 32 bars long, and many of the dances are divisible by 32 bars, so that when the you've finally danced with the last of the opposite sex on the dance floor and have returned to your original partner, you go through all the steps once more and the dance ends right along with the tune.
A "square" consists of four couples, facing each other like the corners of a square. It is not clogging, which is a step dance rather than a set (sets of couples) dance, and is also the grandfather of tap. Contra dance is a form of old-time set dance, sometimes utilizing line dances, reels like the Virgina Reel and circle dances.
Old-time dances area always fed by a live caller and fueled by live music. There is something of an atrocity called international style square dance, in which older people, like those who live in The Villages, dress in costumes and dance, or rather walk, to a caller who calls out random steps, sometimes singing them. These so-called square dances, although certainly a social event, but then, so is BINGO, are never danced to live music. They use...gulp...records. It's kind of like putting peanut butter on salmon. It's edible, but many think it's just wrong.
My guitar partner and I offered to play free of charge for the local square dance club some years ago. They had us in and we played tunes for them as they walked around, but in the end, they said thanks, but they liked their records.
Here's a good example of an old-time dance:
Here's its geriatric counter part:
Not exactly music in the Scotch Irish roots tradition.
Now, please don't think I am trying to be disrespectful toward Twirlers, Whirlers and international clubs around the world. I am simply an old-time fiddler who is used to the Holy Trinity...dancers, caller, live music. I know that international dancers are having good, clean fun...just like old-time dancers. It's just different. Way different.
Finally, here's an example of some of the best old-time dance fiddling you will hear...Bruce Molskey playing a tune called Old Sledge:
That ain't no bluegrass. That ain't no country and western. Baby, that's music from the mountains. Don't it make you want to dance?
For more of what's on my mind, please visit my blog the wearywolfjournal.blogspot.com
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Wolf Den: Greetings From Wolf Land
From contributing editor, Clay Riness
When Zeman asked me to be a contributing writer to The Zemmy Show, I had to stop and think about it...for about three seconds. I am, therefore I blog...that is what I have come to believe.
There are all manner of things that can wow me. Some are food, some are music, some are comedy and parody, some are writing. Whatever. I am often wowed, but I am not always easily wowed.
As my first installment here, I would like to show you someone that wowed me, Pete Huttlinger. He's a national fingerpicking champion on the guitar, or something like that. By now, this arrangement has reached tens of thousands on the net with its wow factor, but maybe you haven't yet seen it. I hope, if you haven't, that you will remember me fondly for having introduced you to him.
Meanwhile, I would love for you to drop by my own blog, The Weary Wolf Journal, hence increasing traffic and potentially making me world famous. You can see what's on my mind there at: www.wearywolfjournal.blogspot.com
Drop by for a visit, won't you?
Clay
When Zeman asked me to be a contributing writer to The Zemmy Show, I had to stop and think about it...for about three seconds. I am, therefore I blog...that is what I have come to believe.
There are all manner of things that can wow me. Some are food, some are music, some are comedy and parody, some are writing. Whatever. I am often wowed, but I am not always easily wowed.
As my first installment here, I would like to show you someone that wowed me, Pete Huttlinger. He's a national fingerpicking champion on the guitar, or something like that. By now, this arrangement has reached tens of thousands on the net with its wow factor, but maybe you haven't yet seen it. I hope, if you haven't, that you will remember me fondly for having introduced you to him.
Meanwhile, I would love for you to drop by my own blog, The Weary Wolf Journal, hence increasing traffic and potentially making me world famous. You can see what's on my mind there at: www.wearywolfjournal.blogspot.com
Drop by for a visit, won't you?
Clay
The Weary Wolf Journal
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)