Misfit Jam

We had a big crowd tonight at the jam and for the first time the flattops outnumbered the “minner dippers.” Mark, Bob Mc, and Susan were the plunkers, while Ellen, Bill, Bob Mc’s daughter Jennifer, and I were the strummers. The ever-trusty (if smart-mouthed) Bob Van was on bass and lead vocals.

We started out playing “Banjo in the Hollow” and “Cripple Creek” in unison. Mark and Susan have both learned the “long” two-part ending lick which ends with “shave and a hair cut,” so I said let’s try that instead of the short ending lick which first shows up in Boil Them Cabbage. Well. Easier said than done. After a couple of “ending lick malfunctions,” I pointed out that you have to leave the last pinch off in order to add this ending lick which begins with a pinch. That smoothed things out considerably.

Then Bob Mc showed up with Jennifer, so I had to go get another chair. A nice problem to have! And before we could start on our third warm-up song, “Cumberland Gap”, Bob had to show Mark his newly repaired banjo peghead, so Mark could ooh and ah over it. Which he did.

Digression: Back in early May, Bob’s Gibson had taken a tumble off a banjo stand and the peghead had basically snapped at the neck. It remained attached only by the veneer, which was also cracked. He was heartsick. But it was a fairly clean break so Casey and I both thought it could be repaired and suggested he ship the banjo to Robin Smith, the fine luthier in Nashville. (Who made Casey’s Wonder Woman banjo neck for her Stealth.) So Bob did. He got the banjo back in a matter of weeks, and you can’t even tell it’s been broken. Which is what Mark was oohing and ahhing about. So, here’s a shout out to Robin. Good work!

I now return you to the jam, still in progress. We finished up our warm-up with the aforementioned “Cumberland Gap” and then it was on to:

“Blue Ridge Cabin Home”

“Foggy Mountain Breakdown” (in which Mark once again demonstrated his proficiency with the E minor “rake” he learned from the Fabulous Ruth Steelman)

“Old Joe Clark” (which we did first in unison to get everyone warmed up. We still had a few meltdowns, but, hey, it’s a hard song!)

“I Saw the Light”

Then we did a new song, “Banjo Picking Girl”, which was Susan’s suggestion for a tune she could improvise a break to. Which she did. And at her lesson right before the jam I realized that BPG sounds the same as Roll on Buddy. So at the jam, after we’d gone around on BPG (to which Mark improvised a nice break right on the spot), I yelled “Switching songs!” and swung into ROB and everyone took the same break again to this different (sorta) song. (Well, the words are different!)

We closed out with “John Hardy”, played in unison because basically we were out of time. Which sure flies when you’re having fun!

P.S. Happy Anniversary to my folks, Dr. L.G. and Wynk Hicks—still known and Daddy and Mama–who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary today. I love you both so much!