I don't think I can add much more to the already interesting posts above. I played guitar since about 1979 in rock bands (mostly Grateful Deadish type stuff). I've been gigging regulary since then; never for real money but the pocket money is always appreciated.
Around 1998 or so I was away at a friend's ski house and he had an old Kentucky mando. I was bitten by the power AND the portability. We often go away for the weekend and I always seem to "need" an instrument in my hands at certain moments and the mando fits the ticket. Now I'm hooked. Still play acoustic guitar a bit and once in a while I'll get sucked into the flatpicking world a bit. But I mostly stick to trying to get good on one fingerboard due to time constraints. Still do about 25-30 gigs a year (almost all acoustic) and though I enjoy playing in front of audience the most fun I usually have with music is in a casual front porch/kitchen type setting with some friends; often the same folks that are in the band. That to me is what old-time music is all about; sitting around with some friends and doing a little casual jamming. You can not achieve the same intimacy with a rock band IMHO. To those that aren't familiar with an ameteur musician's obsession I always tell 'em "You know how you go out bowling or play softball or golf on Sundays?" "Well we go out and play music". Just a different hobby but alot cooler ;) I've always appreciated the fact; as do many of my friends, that we don't rely on music to make our monthly nut which allows us to really not stress about it. I have total respect for musicians or any artist that persues their muse for both enjoyment and a living. We always try and charge a legit price so as not to undercut musicians who depend on gigs for a living. I'm a CPA with my own little practice by trade and I have several musician clients so I know what a struggle it can be. The town I live in has a large Irish population so there are little sessions here and there. Between David Bromberg's early fiddle tune melodies on his albums and then later the local Irish influence I really got into fiddle tunes. The fact that I can't sing a note I'm sure contributes to my love of instrumental music :) I've always have been in to the blues. Got to see Bobby Bland, Muddy Waters and BB King all on the same ticket once back in 1980 and will never forget it. Mando has now led me to the jug band blues. I knew about bluegrass through Old and in the Way and liked it but once you take up the mando you can't help but get drawn more towards that world. I have bought almost every mando instruction book/DVD out there. Monroe has always been a favorite. I also was drawn into the newgrass sound but never the real "slick" bluegrass bands. More and more I appreciate grease on everything. I've been into jazz music for years (way before my mando habit) so naturally I have been interested in jazz mando too. Ocassionally I'll get into a jazz mood and try and come up with chord- melody arrnagements to tunes. It's a satisfying pursuit. I really like the style that Tater has come up with. It make the mando sound "bigger" then it is to my ears. Lots of grease and hold the filler please.. I recently found out that Steve Jame's mother's maiden name was the same as mine (though I got the short end of that talent stick) so maybe MC is onto something about this distant relative thing. My father was born in Italy and my mother was born in Norway so you out there cuz(s)? Perry --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
