I went to the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience show at the Odgen Theater last Friday. They played a strong (and long) set of a wide variety of bluegrass tunes, and David gave us a great (but long) history of the origins of bluegrass. The crowd was boisterous, and at times it was a little tough hearing the music through the more traditional microphone setup. I’ve said it a million times, but David Grisman is one of the great living musicians (not to mention a Jew! Yay us!). I brought my camera, wandered around, and got some really great photos. This was really fun show to be at, and a really fun show to shoot. I haven’t been to too many shows recently, and even less frequently have I brought my camera along. Perhaps I’ll start doing this more.

Here’s a link to the whole photoset, but the highlights are below.

Last week, I was lucky enough to shoot video of Spring Creek in the recording studio. If you don’t know who they are, Spring Creek is a Lyons, Colorado-based bluegrass band who won the 2007 band competitions at both the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and RockyGrass. They are currently recording their 3rd album, and this new material is being released by Rebel Records, the same record label that bluegrass superstar Ralph Stanley is on.

My buddy Kevin and I recorded them practicing and recording, and also shot interviews. We’ll be going up to the Fox Theatre on Friday night to shoot more video, and we’ll be putting out a ten minute video in a few weeks. Take a look at the 2-minute version below.

Or…

Want to watch the below video in HD? I think you should. Check it out on the youtube page, and click the “watch in HD” link just under the video (on the right side). If it doesn’t show up, refresh the page.

I’ve been in Telluride about 18 hours now, and I absolutely love it here. We drove all afternoon and evening last night, but the 8 hour trip is well worth it. I got to the condo I was staying in and cruised down to the Darrel Scott and John Cowan show at Las Montañas. Banjoist extraordinaire Noam Pikelny played for the last hour. No dinner, a lot of beer and some tequila gave me a nice hangover this morning. A few Advil and some caffiene helped. I cruised into town to check my email and to get some work done before heading out to the Band competition first round. I saw the last 4 or 5 bands, and was very impressed by a bunch of them. Two favorites emerged, Deja Bluegrass and the Green Mountain Boys. I think they both made the finals.

I headed over to baked In Telluride for lunch. They have free wifi, but that also translates to pretty shitty wifi. It was crowded but they were pretty nice. The internet was basically unusable, so I decided to get some work done out in the sun. It was really hot and having a laptop on my lap that generates tons of heat didn’t help. But I got a bunch of work done and listened to Darrel Scott once again – here’s a video:

Darrel was amazing, and I stayed in Elks Park to see Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn (members of the Sparrow Quartet – google it). 2 fantastic banjo players of very contrasting styles. See some more bad iPhone video below:

Afterwards I cruised down to the guitar store in town to play Collings guitars that are unattainable. The sales staff were a bunch of pricks, and gave me shit for playing some guitars for a while. Hey, if you have guitars in a store, they’re meant to be played. So I did. I think that the employees are just getting tired of the festival folk there, and there are still 2 days of festival left! So that sucked.

Then it was back to Baked In Telluride for more work, which is where I am now. The workers here were also pretty crappy, a definite departure from the last time I was in here. They’re also getting worn down. I’m worried about shopping on Sunday, everyone will be a bunch of assholes, I fear. I know the pay is shitty and the rent is high, but come on. Maybe I’m the one who’s the asshole? Looking back, I don’t think it was me.

Things I forgot:
1. Pillow – Luckily there was one for me at the condo.
2. Sunblock – Had to get ripped off on some at the Village Market, but I will probably use the same bottle for like 2 years, so $8 was ok to pay.
3. Friends – This is the first year I’ve been basically by myself at a festival. I’ve seen a few friends here, but they also have festival passes (another thing I don’t have) – so I’m pretty much on my own.

It’s a different experience when you’re basically flying solo. Which is probably why I’m writing this long blog entry before finishing up my work for the day. I’m used to being by myself, but before next year I’m pretty much looking for a female partner in crime (as opposed to a Lady En Confidante). If you have any ideas on someone who would tolerate my idiocy, let me know.
Ok, work to be done before checking out “Boss Flatpickers” at Elks Park, which should be a pretty amazing hour of music. Yonder Mountain String Band at the Sheridan tonight, I’ll be trying to upload photos, video and twitters as it’s happening tonight.

I’m just about to leave for Telluride, the Bluegrass Festival is underway now. We’re leaving here in a few minutes, and I’m tapped to see Darrel Scott and John Cowan tonight at La Montaña.

I may or may not be updating my blog as we go, but I’ll definitely be updating my Twitter stream and will be sending photos and videos to my Flickr stream.

Link to a Bit Torrent of Yonder Mountain String Band, live at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, March 18-20. You want to download this shit. Let me know if you have technical questions and I’ll try my best to help. Don’t be afraid: it’s legal and it’s fucking awesome.

Wow. A few photos here.

NPR interviewed banjo masters Tony Trischka, Béla Fleck, and (yes, the jerk) Steve Martin. This is in anticipation of Trischka’s new album (the Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular), featuring artists like Fleck, Martin, Noam Pikelny, Scott Vestal, Earl Scruggs, and Allison Brown. Comes out tomorrow.

Okay, just to write an article that I suggested. And for free. The Wayword Sons are passing through Vail tomorrow. Go see them if you live remotely close.

Wayword Ho!

I’m officially Amsterdam-bound this Spring – 9 days of bliss. Oh, did I mention that Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams, Galactic and Dark Star Orchestra are playing there as part of Jam in the Dam? Because they are, and I just got my ticket.

To quote Neil Armstrong, Holy living fuck (trust me, that last link is TOTALLY worth it).

Bela Fleck in China with Abigail Washburn (Uncle Earl), Casey Driessen. (via Yonder Yahoo! Group)