Hi Postcarders,
I had the rare opportunity to see & hear Dr. Ralph Stanley & The Clinch
Mountain Boys at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Orange, California on Feb.
9th, courtesy of the South Western Bluegrass Association. I imagine the
show was similar to the one at McCabe's that Mary Katherine saw. The first
set was mild & featured quite a few solo tunes by his son Ralph Jr. & his
sidemen. It was in the second set that his pure mountain music really shone
through. Listening to the stirring spirituals in a church atmosphere gave
us all an extra soulful feeling I can't quite describe in words. I pretty
much felt that I was in the presence of greatness, the same feeling I got
seeing Ernest Tubb... & Bob Will's Texas Playboys, something special, the
last of a breed.
I don't have a complete setlist, but here are just a few tunes that I
remember from the 2 hour concert.
Soldier's Joy
Listen to my Hammer Ring - Ralph Jr.
Clinch Mountain Back-Step
Orange blossom Special
The White Dove
Rank Stranger
Glory Land
Shout Little Lulie (his first "claw hammer" tune)
The Bittersweet Hills Of Home - dedicated to brother Carter
Respectfully yers,
Tex Tow
