Oh let's see. I grew up in east Kentucky and that would make most think that I was surrounded by string music/bluegrass from my early youth. Actually I wasn't and didn't have any interest in that type of music for most of my life. But that's getting ahead of myself. I was, however, surrounded by music of some form and it was usually country or gospel music that my parents enjoyed and sang. As I approached high school I started playing *gasp* the drums and was a drummer (still am I guess...it's like riding a bicycle) until I got out of college. I have always been a huge fan of music and always listen to something and for most of my life that has been rock, specifically progressive rock by the likes of Zeppelin, King Crimson, Frank Zappa and my favorite all time band Rush (that's right, I love screeching Geddy Lee and am a devout follower of Professor Peart) . A few years back a buddy of mine keeps trying to get me to play mandolin while he plays the guitar, he figures I can at least keep a beat with a chop. I'd never played a melodic instrument in my life.
Low and behold I fall in love with his little Oscar Schmidt F style and it's months before he gets it back. Sadly for him I still wasn't a big fan of bluegrass and was immediately swept up by Thile's whacked out chops. I guess being a fan for so long of complicated prog rock I was drawn to Chris' technical ability at first...does he ever fly on the fretboard. The Dawg was next and Mike Marshall. I never really understood Monroe however...until, well, I don't really know when it happened but I was listening to Bill &n Doc playing "Paddy On The Turnpike" and the damn thing went right through me and I got it. Just like that. Since then for the past year or so I've been trying to absorb Bill's mojo and interiorize the style. I used to consider it just plain ol' sloppy picking but now it's like I can see golden sparks coming off of Bill's mandolin when listening to his music. And this leads on to blues and more to study and learn. And I can't leave Tater off this list either. Your Stomp album (yes I still call them albums) was a revelation and your tone and sound just plain moves me and I love to hear your playing. Why do I play? I guess because I have to. I love music from Hank Sr. to Stravinsky to Dawg to The White Stripes. So I guess it's all in there somehow and the mandolin is as beautiful a little tool to bring it out as any I suppose. I'm glad by buddy wore me out until I tried it. I will say that it's been extremely difficult to rewire the brain to think melodically after being primarily concerned with rythym and drums for so long and now to end up studying the Compton/Monroe style mandolin...it's been quite a trip. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
