This is my 200th post on the new blog. My Mum gave me a ride out to Petone to see this; good gig, enjoyed myself .. the feel was solid. - I enjoy my editorial independence: I'm missing being able to paint over the footage (and stabilise/crop etc.), but the raw stuff is interesting. This would have been cool to paint over. Cheers to Andrew for the email .. Neil Billington was the harmonica player I heard at the Lindale Village barn. 😀
Here's the review:
The band looks big for the space. I'm sitting at the back, but it's a small room.
I think this is the biggest band I've ever seen at the Bluegrass Society: trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, harmonica plus a 4-piece rhythm section and singer.
10 pieces. Yes, it's the biggest ever.
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It sounds good. But it doesn't change my mind: the space is slightly small for the band.
The bass sounds amplified. The guitar is quite soft.
The groove is v. loose, some clunky sections.
The vocal mic isn't on - the balance is off for the tune (honky tonk town).
A hot band, despite the hiccups. V. nice trombone solo as I type this.. lovely tone.
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The washboard solo was great. Glad I filmed that.
The vocal mics are quiet. A lot of the lyrics aren't audible.
Real swing on 2 and 4 .. that's fresh for Bluegrass, which is usually 1 and 3, or waltz.
This is a dixie band, though.
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Great vibe as always at WBS: ran into Clyde Clemmett from classical guitar society.
I'm planning to get hammered tomorrow, plus I'm nocturnal, so I'll come to another classical guitar society meeting.
Mike Hogan's worth watching, though, for guitar fans - one of the better-known composers for classical guitar: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2023/mike-hogan-wellington-classical-guitar-society/wellington
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A note from my street theatre days: I think acapella/guitar was a good choice for that. Dak Headroom was obnoxious, yes, but I thought it was genius: I only was part of two of the stunts, but they made a whole month worth of clips. 🐍 ...
My street gigs were able to run for ages, as it was quiet and the music helped move the flyers. Courtenay Place was a solid gig - lunchtime on a sunny day, while Lambton Quay was rainy and depressing.
It was challenging to do it all solo, though. The events with Jacob, Sarah and Jeffery were the best of those, as I could strum while they handed the flyers out.
My improv skills are what I refined over the Daktory saga, so it was mostly improv .. several vamps from 2021 and 2022 were originally invented on the streets + things from the first album of show tunes.
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2nd half
The vocal mic balance is better.
The banjo adds a funky colour to the tunes, though it was traditional at the time - the banjo is an unsung hero of early jazz.
The gospel number (Just A Closer Walk With Thee) was fun.
Neil Billington is back on - a Bessie Smith tune.
Georgia on my Mind .. love that song.
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Missed the final song because my Mum had to drive the car back to my cousin's place. Great to see that Wellington Bluegrass is going strong: I saw an email from Andrew Bicknell last year which said the Petone Council was thinking of tearing the building down. I filled in that form; said I was for preserving the space. 👍🏻
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