I hope it’s been a wonderful holiday season for you so far. The date of this column’s publication being January 2nd, let me be the first to wish you a very happy Ninth Day of Christmas. Yes, in spite of
Opinion / Humor
-
-
Bluegrass horoscopes for fun and profit with Chris Jones
This Chris Jones column is a repost from July 25, 2012. I’ve become very disillusioned with the zodiac, I have to admit. First there were the overly general daily horoscopes: “Make sound financial decisions today. Expect news from a friend, family
-
Blue Yodel #58 – Holiday Poem 2012
Dear friends upon the Internet, And Facebook pals I’ve never met, Let us pause in late December To gather ‘round and remember, The year that was two-thousand-twelve, (Old arguments for now let’s shelve). I’d have to say, if I were pressed, Twas not the worst, but not
-
Sure signs of the Mayan Apocalypse
As of the date of this column’s publication I calculate (with the clever use of the fingers of both of my hands) that there are only six more shopping days until Christmas. As if that weren’t enough pressure, if you believe
-
Blue Yodel #57 – A Single Candle
Death has crept near and far this week in unspeakable horror, to those we know and to those we hear about. Words are usually my comfort, but this past week has reminded me of the inadequacy of words to express
-
Must Apply In Person
Day jobs. For many musicians, these are the things that keep food (pizza) on the table and enable us to play a style of music that isn’t widely consumed by the mass market. Not everyone in the bluegrass music field
-
Blue Yodel #56 – Mr. Blue Grass Smarty Pants
Our guest smarty pants this week has been called the Father of Bluegrass History—okay, I just called him that, but it’s apt. Neil Rosenberg is Professor Emeritus of Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland, a chair formerly held by Gandalf. Neil
-
Christmas songs for bluegrass bands
‘Tis the season: a time when many bluegrass bands shut down or heavily curtail their touring and think more of family and home (for the bluegrass musicians who have homes). Still there’s some musical activity out there this time of the
-
Blue Yodel #55 – The Last Yellow Rose
This has been a week that I know a lot of you have faced already: having to put a loved one into hospice care and then watch as—in my case, my mother—slowly, quickly passed away from us. Alpha Mell Stanley Stuart
-
Bluegrass budgeting and goat’s milk
If this week’s column seems at all disjointed, it’s only because The Night Drivers and I are in the studio all this week, and I’m writing this in between takes of our new medley of Next Sunday Darling is My