I'm back from a really good week of playing guitar and harp at the Centrum Country Blues Workshop week in Port Townsend, Washington, USA
It was really wonderful--a full week of learning new stuff, hearing great blues musicians jam and perform. I took a week long seminar on slide guitar from Rich DelGrosso, a workshop on harmonica from Phil Wiggins, and another harp workshop from Hook Herrera.
Last Thursday evening there was a 4-hour student concert. One of the acts was my whole slide class performing Son House's "Low Down Dirty Dog Blues"--16 guitars--half of them metal resos--all playing in unison--it was a huge amount of noise, but really a lot of fun.
Some of the student talent was really incredible.
You can check out this yearly even at http://www.centrum.org/blues/
If you can get there, it's an amazingly affordable package that includes room and board. It's easy for me to get there because it's only a 90 minute drive from my house, and 30 minutes of that is just sitting in the car on a ferry boat.
Here's a video of one of the porch jams--features Phil Wiggins, Rich DelGrosso (Mandolin), and other pros and students that I can't name--I was there too, but I don't think the camera got me.
Glad to tear from you Ow. was beginning to wonder about you. Glad you had a good time. Haven't heard from Tryharp or Zhin lately. Anybody heard from them.
The tuition this year was $495 for the entire week. Room and board at the Facility was $200 to $500, depending on how many meals and how many persons. It was just under $1000 for me for the entire week, including full room and board.
There is going to be a Piedmont Workshop at the same facility in October--it is mostly a guitar thing, but harp players are specifically invited--it will be a four-day weekend for just $500 for tuition and room and board. It will be limited to 30 students--I don't know if it is booked up or not.
Check it out at: http://centrumblues.ning.com/events/piedmont-blues-intensive
It's at Fort Worden--an old military facility--so the rooms and food are nothing fancy--but it was comfortable and I didn't care about that anyway because it was just great to be there--I would have been willing to sleep on the ground for an opportunity like this!
Hey OW, What a fun trip you're life is turning into since you hooked up with Adam and MBH. I just watched that back porch jam with goose bumps i mean that's totally what it's all about to me, A bunch of people of all colours and backgrounds sitting out on a warm night making music, Bloddy fantastic! you lucky old bugger.
Well, Snakes--I think the jam will have to wait until after SPAH--I've got a gig going at a farmers market on Saturday--it's actually near you--on Getchell and Highway 92 (or whatever the name of that hwy to Granite Falls is). I'll be playing from about 10 a.m. to around 2, I think. Stop by if your around and about--maybe we can do a jam on something.
I think I did meet Doug--but I met so many people, it's hard to remember.
Yeah, Geordie--it has been a hell of a Summer--and I've still got SPAH this month and a Piedmont guitar Workshop in October. It'll take me another year or two to digest all the great instruction I've gotten--wait till you hear the licks Phil Wiggins taught me!--when I get them down, they'll burn through the cover of a Marine Band in one time through!!
3cav; In some circles, Rich DelGrosso is considered to be the world class master of blues mandolin--but he's also a master of Son House slide guitar--what he calls "War Music." It was a great pleasure to study with him. . .
Hey OW, While you were away i posted one of my poems for a laugh but you missed it and i think it might tickle your funny bones cos you seem to have a very british sense of humour for a bloody yank!, So check it out it's a bit of a wild west eppic with murder betrayl and buggery so there's something tere to offend just about everyone!, I recon you could use some of your newly honed slide geetar skills and turn it into a country and western monologue so please enjoy........ THE TERRIBLE TALE OF RATTLESNAKE JONES AND THAT BLACK HEARTED PETE.... This is the story of Rattlesnake Jones his blood was pure whisky Lead shot filled his bones The lies that he told were the worst ever heard And his rancid breath stank like a prairie dogs turd
His best friends were Jim Beam and good ol’ Jack D When the good times were rollin you knew that those three Were singing and cussin and rollin the dice And getting the better of every damn vice
In bar rooms and back rooms those two called the shots Dropped Rattlesnake Jones into endless tight spots Caught cheating at poker or stealing his liquor If dumb needed doing, drunk Jones did it quicker
And Rattlesnake Jones had a partner named Pete A dirtier scumbag a man couldn’t meet He’d steel from a blind man, and lie to a nun Told ten thousand tales of the dark deeds he’d done
His teeth were as black as the heart in his chest He’d take your last penny then search for the rest But Rattlesnake Jones thought that Pete was his mate And that’s the mistake that would soon seal their fate
Now Rattlesnake Jones had a secret desire For a showgirl whose looks set his trousers on fire Though she wasn’t the slimmest of girls he could love Jones thought that this lard arse was sent from above
She danced every night in ‘The Gunslinger’s Arms’ In a tight skimpy outfit that showed off her charms And each night he stood there and watched those high kickers And preyed for the failure of Lilly’s tit-knickers!
He longed to be near her and gaze in her eyes And stroke his rough hands up her titanic thighs But he hadn’t the courage to make her his wife And the pain pricked his heart like the tip of a knife
But Black Hearted Pete wasn’t shy in that way Said he had a new girlfriend most every day And even though he wasn’t fond of the fatties Big Lil’s massive mammaries fair boiled his tatties
So Black Hearted Pete hatched a terrible plan To steal Jones’ true love and bury the man His guns and his holster, his boots and his hat His horse and his saddle – he’d have all of that.
“It won’t take too much to put Jones in the frame I can leave the odd clue and then blacken his name The Sheriff will cop-it and Jonesy will swing And I’ll give Big Lilly a gold wedding ring”
A gambler at heart he thought, “double or quits I can bump off the Sheriff in a manner that fits A tale I’ll start spreading ‘bout Rattlesnake Jones How he hates the poor Sheriff right down to his bones”
So all around town Pete went spreading the lie That Jonesy had told him the Sheriff must die And being Black Hearted he weaseled and lied And took them for cash with a bet on the side
“I’ll wager the Sheriff will cop it tomorrow” Said Black Hearted Pete with his head bowed in sorrow “And Rattlesnake told me it’s gonna be cruel He’ll sure show the Sheriff that he ain’t no fool”
So early next morning Pete sneaked round the back Of the Sheriff’s log cabin and planned his attack And decided to strike while his quarry was sittin With his pants round his boots in the outside bog – shittin!
He sneaked up behind him his hand to his nose Something smelled really strong, and it sure weren’t a rose And he sent him to heaven both startled and bitter Coz the last breath he drew in life stank of the shitter!!
As the Sheriff lay dying Pete knew what to do To drop poor old Rattlesnake right in the poo So he placed on the cold ground a book bound in black With Rattlesnake’s name written clear cross the back
“Good riddance to rubbish” he said with a sneer Secure in the knowledge that no one would hear But there in the pasture with sweat on his brow A sad lonely farmer was shaggin his cow!!
By mid-day the news of the killin had spread The folks were appalled that the Sheriff was dead With a knife in his back they had found him right there With his face in the dirt and his arse in the air!
They swore in a posse, a lynch mob got millin As poor frightened Rattlesnake’s trousers were fillin Holed up in the stable accused of the killin Convinced that his life’s blood was soon to be spillin
Right into the stable the angry mob bust And beat up poor Rattlesnake there in the dust Then dragged him outside through the horse shit and straw To cuss him and kick him and punch him some more
The next thing he knew there was rope at his throat His bodily fluids were forming a moat! His horse it was jumpy, the noose it was itchin And Rattlesnake’s bum-hole was sweatin and twitchin
Then into the town square came “Muck Spreader Mick” With his strange country ways and cow dung on his dick With his favourite cow Daisy right there by his side In her stepping out bonnet and make-up applied
“Now hold up there people” the cow shagger cried “I can say for a fact that the scumbag Pete lied T’weren’t Rattlesnake Jones’ hand that wielded the knife It was Pete; and I saw him whilst shaggin the wife”
The crowd fell to silence, aghast at the news Some coughed out their ciggies or dropped pints of booze Then all of a sudden they let out a cry “Get Black Hearted Pete and we’ll string him up high”
They dragged the swine out of ‘The Gunslinger’s Arms’ Where Pete was perusing Big Lil’s ample charms And locked him up good in the jail for the night To chew on his cracked nails and ponder his plight
Old Rattlesnake Jones meanwhile sat feelin mad He’d pay back the swine and it had to be bad Then he had an idea and searched through the mob Till he spotted the Marshall and asked for a job
That night in his jail cell Pete lay on his bed He was tied up face down and he hadn’t been fed But what had him sweatin and shaking with fear Was the new Sheriff asking if he was a queer
His cell door creaked open he cursed his mistake Cos the sheriff was holding his big trouser snake And the fear he was feelin ran right to his bones Coz the man stood behind him was Rattlesnake Jones!
So Pete got well-shafted and Jones got a job He married Big Lilly and made a few bob By telling the story to the man on the street Of Rattlesnake Jones and that Black Hearted Pete. LACK HEARTED PETE .................
Last Edited by on Aug 05, 2009 11:46 AM
