Thursday, January 28, 2010

Chicagoans, mark your calendars: The Banjo, From Africa to the Suburbs

My banjo instructor David Bragman is presenting and performing a lecture, "The Banjo, From Africa to the Suburbs," this Saturday at the Evanston Public Library.

I've seen some of his props for the event: a number of different banjos including the old gourd-style banjo.

Mark your calendar — it should be fun!

Cross-posted at J.R.'s Banjo Hangout blog

Monday, January 18, 2010

See you tonight at Chicago's new jug band jam

The Mullets (Jug Band) by Mike Maihack

Reminder to Chicagoans: Tonight is the Barehand Jugband's first monthly jug band jam.

The jam will be held at 9:00pm on the third Monday of each month at the Grafton Pub (next to the Old Town School of Folk Music Lincoln branch).

Cross-posted at J.R.'s Banjo Hangout blog

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Virtual age

According to the virtual age calculator I'm younger than I am.

Banjo versus TV week 97: Stinkin' up the jam

A check-in on the Banjo versus TV project — J.R.'s ongoing plan to spend more time on his banjo than on TV. This post covers 1/3/2010 through 1/9/2010.
Banjo 595 hrs, TV 563 hours

Bad news and good news from Costello's Bluegrass Jam.

Bad: I stunk. I mean, I was really awful. It's like my slacking off of the banjo this last month has caused my skill to regress by a year.

Good: Only three more times until I get my free sandwich.

BTW, I've been ordering their toasted PB&J, which is yummy.


Also in the last week:

Cross-posted at J.R.'s Banjo Hangout blog

Monday, January 4, 2010

Banjo versus TV week 96: The December rut

A check-in on the Banjo versus TV project — J.R.'s ongoing plan to spend more time on his banjo than on TV. This post covers 12/27/2009 through 01/02/2010.
Banjo 592 hrs, TV 556 hours

Man, have I been slacking on the banjo these last few weeks. I was doing well until December hit (starting in week 92), but look how much TV I've watched in December compared to my paltry few banjo hours.

This is a seasonal thing that seems to happen every year before Christmas. It's time to shake it off.


Also in the last week:

Cross-posted at J.R.'s Banjo Hangout blog

Chewbacca hates shovelling

Thanks, Bully, for the link.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Chicago's new jug band jam

I just got a note from Jonas Friddle of the Barehand Jugband telling me that the band is sponsoring a monthly Chicago jug band jam.

So bring your favorite jug band instrument to the Grafton Pub (next to the Old Town School of Folk Music) at 9pm on the third Monday of the month and join the fun. Or just come to enjoy the show.

Cross-posted at J.R.'s Banjo Hangout blog

Saturday, January 2, 2010

A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant

From A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant

The redhead and I just got back from Next Theatre Company's production of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant. It was really wonderful. If you're in the Chicago area you should go right now and get tickets for tomorrow night's show since it's the last performance of the Next Theatre's run.

A Red Orchid Theatre is also putting on Pageant and they've extended their run until January 17th. The redhead and I have tickets to see that production next week. I look forward to the chance to compare the two.

Banjo versus TV week 95: Christmas

A check-in on the Banjo versus TV project — J.R.'s ongoing plan to spend more time on his banjo than on TV. This post covers 12/20/2009 through 12/26/2009.
Banjo 590 hrs, TV 534 hours

Banjo-related stuff that I was given for Christmas:

Christmas Time with Ralph Stanley Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys - Man of Constant Sorrow The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys - The Complete Mercury Recordings Ralph Stanley - Old Time Pickin': A Clawhammer Banjo Collection Ralph Stanley - A Distant Land to Roam: Songs of the Carter Family The Christmas Jug Band - Mistletoe Jam

Thanks to all gift-givers. Hope you get as much enjoyment out of what I got you.


Also in the last week:

  • I got a copy of the Country Cooking CD because it's got some good examples of endings.

    Country Cooking
  • Way more TV time (7h 9m) than banjo time (1h 46m) as we watched Christmas stuff.
  • One activity that counted as both banjo and TV (per the rules): the annual watching of the Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas DVD.

Cross-posted at J.R.'s Banjo Hangout blog

Friday, January 1, 2010

Don't Tread On Me

Because sometimes you wake up in a new year and want to Photoshop a Dalek onto a Gadsden flag.