Wednesday, May 16, 2007

The Legend Continues: Quebec City

(Elton John-Boy's account, loosely based on actual events): We had a sweet setup in Quebec in 2006, playing in an actual club room, and added some real international flair with Chris “Hugh’s Kid” Maynard on blistering electric guitar, a few cameos from the CaslerJammer Kids, and an astounding discovery in Bruce Schultz, who brandished a fiddle and harp with the best of ’em. And a thoroughly amazing federal-level walk-on by USDA chanteuse Janet Allen, whose pipes could compete with Aretha, or Koko, or Whitney, or even the self-proclaimed “greatest singer who ever lived,” Celine Dion.

It all becomes a blur after that. All I can say is, “Man, what a ride.” I was lucky to be a part of it. Who knows what these dudes will come up with next?

(Hint: You can see for yourself what happens next! Just hit the Hospitality Suite at ACE/NETC Albuquerque after about 9:00 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2007. )

Friday, May 11, 2007

San Antonio: The Saga Continues . . .

(further hazy recollections of Elton John-Boy): By the time the next ACE/NETC meeting rolled around in San Antonio (2005), lots of changes had taken place. Larry Jackson from Kansas State was rounding up instruments ahead of time. People brought stuff. They even had a room set aside for playing at night. And we knew how to work the hotels by this time, so we grabbed their white baby grand piano and wheeled it into the room with us, hoping they wouldn’t bill us for using it. They didn’t care. And it was cool. Lots of people coming in and out of the group, playing different instruments, all kinds of stuff. That’s when they let me start hangin’ around with ’em.

What a line-up – Owen “Big Money” Roberts, the Guelphian Troubadour; the Mandolin Twins (“Ammond Brother Jim” Coats and “Reno Robert” Moore); Kyla Kruse, fresh out of the coffee club circuit in Central Illinois; Robert “Steady” Casler on tubs; Ron “Wildside” Thomas on a borrowed fretless bass; Larry “Action” Jackson on electric guitar; Chris “Fingers” Dicus on electric keyboard; Tom “Walk the Line” Knecht doin’ some side man vocals; and Jeff “the Lap” Hino throwin’ down some brilliant National steel guitar stuff.



From there it just mushroomed. There was the “X-tension Chords Unplugged” at the Don Strange Ranch (Coats, Moore, Kruse, Hino, Dickison, Sams) and a whole bevy of musicians accompanying the Development Fund auction and playing after hours.

To be continued (will this madness never end?) . . .