Lessons with the Taterbug

I have started taking mandolin lessons with Mr. Mike Compton (aka taterbug).  I am very excited about this – I have never taken formal lessons from anyone, much less a Grammy winning mandolin icon.  I have already taken two lessons, via webcam.  The first week we looked at the Monroe solo from Blue Yodel #4, and last week we started studying “True Life Blues”.  Already I am seeing the benefit of weekly lessons.  I have to really be mindful of putting some hours of practice in, because the next lesson rolls around very quickly and I hate being unprepared.

These are not really mandolin lessons, so much as they are Monroe style lessons.  I have my technique down pretty well – the first lesson he took a look and agreed. Mike Compton is the definitive teacher of Monroe style, and that is what I want to learn.

I have been practicing pretty regularly, and I think that I have a pretty good routine down.  I start out the session by going through at least one of the FFCP exercises in “Getting Into Jazz Mandolin”.  I like to do this exercise with the Dean mandolin.  I put some flatwound strings on the the Dean and she likes them.  I go through the exercise very slow, usually 50bpm, and focus on tone.  These exercises stretch the hand, strengthen the pinky, and just get my hands nice and warmed up

Next I will go through a tune or two on the Brad Davis video.  Lately I have really been focusing on Blackberry Blossum.  I start with the slow versions and work up to the fast.  I have really made improvements on speed…I have gotten to where I can regularly keep up with the medium/fast versions.

Finally, I get into studing my Compton homework.  I wrap things up with a bit of jamming, or maybe some more Brad Davis.

This whole routine has been taking 45min or so.

Otherwise, life is moving very fast, in both the mandolin and real world.  A couple of weeks ago I traded my Dan Fobert mandolin for the Brian Dean mandolin – there are pictures on my flikr site.  MAS attacked again this week as I made payment for the Carver mandolin also shown on my flikr site.  Also this weekend I will be playing a “show” with my new bluegrass “band” Bluebell Bluegrass.

Filed under: My Journal

Blue Yodel No. 4

She’s long she’s tall, she six feet from the ground
She’s long she’s tall, she six feet from the ground
She tailor made, lord she ain’t no hand me down
Oh-di-lay-ee-ay, di-lay-dee-oh, de-lay-ee

She got eyes like diamonds, lord her teeth shine just the same
She got eyes like diamonds and her teeth shine just the same
She got sweet ruby lips, and a hair like a horse’s mane
Oh-di-lay-ee-ay, di-lay-dee-oh, de-lay-ee

Every time I see you mama, you’re always on the street
Every time I see you mama, you’re always on the street
You hang out on the corner, like a police on his beat
Oh-di-lay-ee-ay, di-lay-dee-oh, de-lay-ee

Every time I need you mama, lord I always find you’re gone
Every time I need you mama, lord I always find you’re gone
Listen hear sweet mama, I’m gonna put your air brakes on
Oh-di-lay-ee-ay, di-lay-dee-oh, de-lay-ee

Filed under: Blue Yodel No. 4, My Journal, Show Notes & Song References

Florida Recovery

Well, I have returned from Florida and am in the process of recovery.  I found out the day before the trip that Yonder Mountain had cancelled all of the Florida shows due to a family emergency and sickness in the band.  Several days later Yonder cancelled the entire February tour.

I was pretty, pretty bummed.  But as I was packing the night before, I started to get excited.  Hey, how could I not find a good time with my greatest travel partner in the world, H.L.?  Indeed we found the good times.  Jacksonville was a good way to kick things off, as we tore up the bar scene.  The next day we went to St. Augustine and had a wonderful seafood lunch and strolled through the historic district.  It was a beautiful day and and beautiful drive down to Del Ray Beach.  We blasted Phish the entire 5 hour drive.  That night we went to see the Dead cover band Crazy Fingers.  It was quite a scene at the show…dancing hippies everywhere.  On Friday we went down to Miami.  I navigated us to a great hat store where I bought a nice straw fedora.  Next, we explored the industrial district of Hileah to fulfill my work obligations.  Finally we parked at South Beach, where we had a wonderful Cuban lunch, the best Mojitos, and a stroll on the beach.  That night we went and saw Crazy Fingers play acoustic Dead.  We stayed up until sunrise talking, laughing and drinking in his backyard.  The next day we took pretty easy and that night we still partied pretty good.

It was a trip for the history books.

Filed under: My Journal, Traveling Man

Yonder Mountain String Band – Florida Mini-Tour

I love my job, and I love opportunity for travel it gives me.  I have been able to incorporate a lot of music into my travels lately;  jazz lessons in New Orleans and bluegrass jams in Atlanta and Minneapolis.  But the best is when I can catch a good concert.  Next week my  job takes me to Florida, I am so stoked that I will be able to see 3 nights of Yonder with my good buddy H.L..  The last time I saw Yonder was at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY. I was staying at the Merchant Marine Academy for Terrorism training, and caught a ride with some other fans for the show.  Amagansett is basically Martha’s Vinyard, and the venue was about the size of my living room.  It was a real special night of music and I was so blessed to be there.

This is going to be a mini road trip, of the college days variety.  H.L. and I first see Yonder in Jacksonville, at a bar which is a stone’s throw from the beach.  The next day we drive to Gainesville, the consummate college party town.  Friday we drive down to Ft. Lauderdale, and to a venue where Yonder has a reputation of absolutely tearing the roof off.  Three straight nights of Yonder, and one day+night sipping beer on the beach.  I feel sorry for those poor souls stuck in the wintery north and mid-west.  Florida (and Texas, for that matter) is a sunny 70 degrees!!  We are already getting started on spring!  And nothing goes better with the spring than bluegrass.  Fast-ass, rippin, snot-snortin’ bluegrass.

02.11	Jacksonville	Freebird Cafe
02.12	Gainesville	The Venue
02.13	Ft. Lauderdale	Revolution

Filed under: My Journal, Traveling Man