The Wukulele Festival now only 9 days away.
My newly formed ensemble, me (Uke & Vocals), St. Anley (English Concertina) & The Girl On A Wire (Vocals & Bowed Psaltery), will be opening the fringe gig at the Wheatsheaf pub then I'll be M.C.ing the rest of the gig.
I've had to part with my beloved baritone uke for a couple of days while it has a pickup fitted.
When it comes back I've promised myself I'm going to hook it up to my P.A. and knock out a couple of Ramones hits (which won't be in our set list for the festival) to entertain the neighbours
Due to some petty bureaucratic nonsense, which means only two musicians can play at the same time, we've had to compromise a little.
So, St. Anley will accompany me as I sing and play then I'll accompany The Girl On A Wire as she sings.
The whole festival looks like being a winner and I can't wait.
So, my advice is be there because there's nothing else on this tiny island worth doing instead.
Meanwhile here's a pictorial representation of our band:
14 comments:
My Misanthropy keeps be from being a Ukulele rock star (along with how I play). It is a real asset as a critic however. I wish I could attend.
I look forward to a report.
Alright!
You absolutely must get this one off pat ready for Halloween then: Ramones - Pet Sematary (sic) and there's also I Wanna Be Sedated.
But what the world really needs is a full-on Outa Spaceman Halloween Album...
I'd love to hear you cover Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London.
Orlando.
Just in case I forget to say this later... break a leg!
Although I think of Rasputina as a cellist she is almost as multitalented as an OSM, managing the dulcimer and this whatever it is... presumably some sort of rather antique looking banjo.
While this is the best audio quality example of the song available at YouTube and affording the best view of the instrument, it is far from being Mel's best performance of a realtively demanding composition. Thought you might be interested to see it though...
Rasputina - Kinderhook Hoopskirt Works
Orlando.
Rasputina always welcome here Mr. Orlando!
She's playing a tenor banjo and a very old one by the looks of it.
I could get really trainspotterish about her banjo, but I won't.
(I'm not sure that last sentence doesn't contain some kind of euphemism.)
Don't forget Beat on the Brat!
And upload recordings!
The trio obviously lacks a concise, punchy name. How about:
"Jane and the Outabody Experience"?
"Jane and the Spacedogs"?
"Jadaco" (inspired by OSM in another place)?
"Ukoncasing"?
"Yukon and a Lass" (needs work, that one)?
"Cavaquinho" (if that isn't already taken: it's the proper name - pronounced kavakeenyo -for the ukelele, taken from Portugal to Hawaii and given to the natives, who haven't seen the joke yet)?
No? I'll give it some more thought...
All fine suggestions PSM but you'll understand why I'm reluctant to have our ensemble seen as a band.
(You'll remember what happened last time I went down that path.)
Having said that, I rather like the name 'Beheld'.
Mainly because we could be introduced thus:
"Behold! Beheld!"
oh i like 'beheld'
love jane
"The Ephemeral Trio"?
I seem to be coming across banjos and ukuleles everywhere I turn at the moment.
You may be familiar with the song The King of Carrot Flowers by Neutral Milk Hotel. Well here's a guy who has covered several of their songs on the uke, appropriately calling his act Neutral Uke Hotel. From what I've read, it appears he is generally not well received by the seemingly humourless and rather precious fans of Neutral Milk Hotel but truly, this is entertainment of the highest order.
Neutral Uke Hotel - The King of Carrot Flowers Pt. One
The original by Neutral Milk Hotel
Orlando.
I came across NMH via Hooting Yard.
I don't know anything about them other than I liked the album.
(Am I right in thinking it was a bit of a one-man-show that's over now?)
I mix them up with a bit of Fanfare Ciocarlia and a bit of Gulag Orkestra.
Hmmm, nice.
Jeff Magnum of NMH is a deeply troubled fellow who became reclusive after In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. He has since performed only very occasionally at small gigs but always unbilled beforehand. I first heard of NMH a couple of years ago but there is little more to add to the story as told in this Slate article from 2008: The J.D Salinger of Indie Rock.
Never heard of Fanfare Ciocărlia!
This Gulag Orkestar?.
Orolando.
Oh, my ignorance! I have never heard of Gulag Orkestar, nor Gulag Orkestra, nor Fanfare Ciocărlia (with or without the accent), nor even Neutral Milk Hotel. I have been to Orlando, though. Wasn't that interesting, eh?
Have you heard of a band called 'Pottingar's Neutron Lampshade'? 'Cos if you haven't, I think I'd like to start one. Anyone? Suit yourselves, then...
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