Mark Evans

SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS! A question, perhaps an answer. Who is that devil playing an anglo so nicely on my... I mean my daughters favorite cartoon? Arrgh Me Harties, ah gots' ta know!

You've made me nervous just now. Sunday afternoon me chums came over for a rehearsal. Dominique, who has no intrest in Bluegrass and only a mild tolerance for celtic and old time sat down in her chair, pulled out her knitting and off she went grinning occationally giving words of encouragement. Hmm... Perhaps I'd best sleep with one eye open and keep the bulldog between us. Honestly, she says everyone together is enjoyable... or was that tolerable. It's my practicing by myself that she says drives her 'round the bend .

Yes Henrik, I agree with your wife (Jehoshaphat, I love this)! As a young fellow at conservatory my chums and I would guess what instruments or voice type the new students were at the beginning of a semester. Such fun that was. We were rarely wrong.

How can it help but be so! It's a very emotional experience to listen to other squeezers. I'll go one further...I delight in listening to our C.Net members on the recorded links page because of the suprises I find in compairing the recorded evidence with the persona on these pages. Our true selves only fully speak through music. Bye the bye, I loved Limey Pete. Where can I get some Rost Bif recordings?

Allison, I think the knitting in concert could work. Unfortunately you would be the only one doing something else (unless you want to start conducting with your eyebrows ), but the effect on the audience... I would like to know when your next concert will be. Keene ain't the other part of the universe for me and the sound of the overtones a womans chorus produces is one of my things.

Here it is. I hope it works. This computer needs a good beating....or holy water or both!

Wendy, she did win! Then out of the blue this other bidder who had beaten her time after time emailed her...(that was creepy). Offered two other lots of wool (yarn?) he had bested her on. The tenor of the communication was not that friendly. Addition: As our new heavyweight boxer rightly mentions this thread might needs be migrated to another forum, I tie it in with professionalizm: At my last gig at the Plough and Stars there were a group of women right down front who settled in for the evening...they pulled out their knitting! That was very cool. Now how do you count yer rows (or whatever) listenin' to a slip jig while takin' care of several pints?

Doesn't look good. The word Gentrification (is that a word?) was used a lot. On Mass. Ave. in that part of Cambridge? Huh! Drunks will still prowl the avenue in the wee hours pukin' in yer bushes. It will mean one less place to play in the end.

I was a bit late out of the gate with my post (what can you expect from a squeezer who plays bluegrass...and a banjo). The meeting with the Cambridge License board was held...Friday. Result: Three complaintants and a room full of musicians and community folks in support of the Plough. A compromise was reached. 1) The Plough with take measures to improve sound proofing. 2) Music will stop by 11:00 p.m. On weekends that will give the second musical group short shrift and cost the pub a bit a scratch I'd say. Something tells me the 3 across the way will be very watchful and unpleasant, but the Plough will not close its door.

Well Jim...she's not shy Coming dear!

When I get back to the job site I'll post the image (it lives on that stubborn, demonic excuse for a computer I have lurking in my office). Jim you are kind. Thank you.

Bravo Al! A weighty realm you have entered. Stephen....I don't fancy the number a' posts yer at just now. Make one more before mid-day and relieve those of us who harbor superstitious beliefs...Aiyee

Yes Wendy, the chick can sho' nuff' sing. I've married much above my station...and she knows it! Dominique just gave me a look. I'm to be thrown off the computer now. She's following an auction for a bunch of wool on ebay (down to the last 20 minutes). Everything in her world is now knitting...yes dear...

Thank you Wendy. As I told Henk off-Net, this was a very emotional experience. That tape sat in a box for more than 20 years. I broke down to hear that young man singing and playing, still innocent. I was moved to get in touch with two of the original members of Shady Grove (they are still doing about 40 shows a year). We all had a good cry. Turns out my forgotten tape is the only one surviving from that period. They were planning a 25th anniversary concert and wanted to contact me, but.... Redemption, reunion! I will go home again this fall and for the first time in 22 years a concertina (and ole roly-poly me) will take stage with Shady Grove. Thank you C. Netters and the recorded links page for inspiring me.

I will post the contact information by tomorrow afternoon. I'm having a rehearsal with my bluegrass chums and the guitarist is our contact with the Plough. He's frothing at the mouth in an alarming fashion and Jim's words (which I shared with him...hope that's okay) has spurned him take positive action and calm down. I've run into many local musicians who have a history with the Plough and the pictures on the wall tell their story. The first time I walked in there to play I could feel the presence of this heritage in the walls (honest, I hadn't downed a single pint). The loss of music there would finish the place and set a precident that could endanger another establishment not ten blocks away... The Cantab (one of the holy sites of acoustic music local and otherwise in Cambridge). Don't know how long the couple have lived across the way. Thanks!

Jim, I knew you would. John, I'm very jealous. Your father played...and passed the torch. What a gift. I'm now mad to hear Little Tweet and the Canary Caruso. Weny, I'm courious. Do you play your Albion with that darling "snood" on it?

Yes Allison, My father left an outdated will along with several letters of intent (conflicting). The result was an end to family relationships that in some cases will never be mended. I'm sorry you went through that.

Oh Henk, what a delight! Brought a tear to my eye. Very nice recording. I'm no longer Crabby but now have this odd urge to idulge in some seafood!

Hope I have placed this alert in the correct forum... The Plough and Stars Pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts is endanger of loosing its live music tradition started in 1966. A couple in an apartment across the avenue from "the Plough" are pushing a motion before the Cambridge City Council to end this long standing tradition. Something to do with property values, which is a real knee slapper considering that area of Mass. Ave (The Plough gives it a bit o class). It came to my attention through the New England Bluegrass Network. I pass this along to area squeezers who may not be aware. The Plough has live music seven nights a week with a variety of genre that is a pure delight. Their mid-week seisuin is wonderful and long standing. This venue has been an outlet for many area groups who would have otherwise not had a chance to "get their chops together" or a less than mainstream musical vision heard and enjoyed. Cantabridgian Squeezers, the motion goes before the City Council on Wednesday! Make a little noise!

Good morning Henk, I was piqued by Danny's "grr" and tried to enable Howard's Quenland Bay link, but it would not work. The Morris tune did nicely. Maybe something's amiss with the URL address provided to you. By the way, Howards playing on the Morris tune is graceful and classy...Bravo! I wanted to hear his Quenland Bay and am now a bit Crabby .

Very thoughtful. My kids may want my instruments, but none show any inclination to banjo or concertina...hum. My uncle who was an over the top Bonsai grower and collector gave most of his trees away to friends in his Bonsai Club in Montreal because he knew the relatives would let them die. I was given charge of his prized blue spruce and will always be grateful. A foundation for concertinas....where there is a need.... If that idea took hold, what would ebay addicts do?

Oh Goodie, we have turned to money matters (this will ruin my morning). At least in the States you claim all your expenses (good tax advisor). For Dominique, her costs for travel et al are very high. It works out well. Health care cost. When we both were chasing singing careers our family had to buy coverage on the open market. The last rate we were paying for a minimum coverage was...hold on ta yer knickers...$1000 a month! Our union here, AGMA offered a less appealing coverage for even more. Most of my wife's colleagues live without it. edit: Wendy, I just noticed your new avatar...beautiful!

Helen, maybe Sweetbeast was howling. Sometimes I would have to send him away because of the volume. He would slink up into the apple orchard above the cottage and continue....ah..ooooh! I miss him. Jim, define professional for us. Some of the members are most certainly doing paid gigs (regardless rate), teaching lessons, producing CDs ( Chris and his wife a wonderful example) involved in concerts series...etc.