Saw Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys last night at McCabe's in Santa
Monica, CA. The chance to see him in a small (110-seat) club was too good to
miss. His voice is as stunning as ever, and he still parts your hair with the
high notes. They did a ferocious second show, near the end of which Ralph
apologized for cutting it short by saying that he had just gotten a call that
his wife's brother had died and he was flying home the next morning. I don't
know whether any shows on the current tour will be cancelled; hope not! If
they play anywhere near you, this is so much the real thing i don't even have
to explain it (I hope). Btw the mercantile division is still going strong
despite Curly Ray's loss; they had RS and Stanley Bros. CDs and cassettes as
well as the same for just about each band member, two videos, four different
t-shirts, two bumperstickers, and a Ryman Aud. seat pad!
Mary Katherine <------ears still ringing with the true, undiluted sound of
bluegrass
