This post is a contribution from Grace Van’t Hof, one of our 2010 IBMA correspondents. She will report about her experiences at IBMA as she tries to promote her group, Della Mae.
Let me preface this post by saying that I am a huge fan of Robert’s Western World (on Broadway) in any circumstance. I love dancing to the Brazilbillies there, I even went to church on Sunday morning there last year! This being said, last night was a serious piece of that ol’ IBMA magic. We watched Nora Jane Struthers, Audie Blaylock and Redline, the Dan Tyminski Band, Tim O’Brien and musical entourage, and the Del McCoury band Robert’s went from great to positively sublime in the span of 3 or so hours.
My momma, Ellen Van’t Hof, drove down from her job as a dance professor in Michigan to see Della Mae play and ended up getting a lot more entertainment than she bargained for! Not only did she get to attend the CF Martin showcase, but the folks at Colorado Case Company were kind enough to provide her and my aunt Laurie with two tickets to their Ernest Tubb showcase! Kid tested, Mother approved!
We loved our showcase at the Vitamin Water suite with Town Mountain! I know these guys from Asheville, NC, and they are some of the very best. Hot picking, unique and priceless singing, and surprising original tunes set these boys apart from the rest. Their new album, produced by Sam Wharton, is definitely one to put on “repeat all” in iTunes.
We joined our neighbors, the New England Bluegrass Coalition, at 1:30am, and even though it was late the crowd was rowdy and fun! Thanks so much to the Podunk Bluegrass Festival promoters and the folks from the Boston Bluegrass Union for having us! See y’all back in Boston!
As the night wound up and then down again the strong were separated from the weak and some fell along the wayside. Here Dominick Leslie (from Missy Raines and the New Hip) and Dennis Ludiker (from Milk Drive) illustrate a prime example of two very different options for healthy young men at 4am during IBMA week.
The remaining members of Della Mae are headed to a meeting with BMI and then to the DJ Taping Sessions so I have to run, but I will have you know that I interviewed some very fantastic and accomplished people at the Martin Showcase last night so be sure to stay tuned for those!
