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Expect The Unexpected ...


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Well I was looking out of the shop window where I work yesterday and I saw this guy with a hexagonal gig bag cross the road and settle on a bench opposite. I dithered for a bit, then I abandoned my post and went to speak to him - yes, he plays concertina, "push-pull type" and is going to the local session that night, so I said I'd be there.

I turn up, and as well as Michael that I'd met that afternoon, Arran's only other Anglo player (Joe) is there too, in fact concertinas are the most numerous instruments at the session! I'm put on the spot and play a little something, and then it's Michael's turn and he pulls a 20 button Hohner out of the case. He stands up and with great style plays and sings the first of three self-penned songs on a dark, passion-and-murder-in-the-circus theme, all in minor modes and you'd definitely not think he was playing an instrument which "can only play in two major keys" - very inventive, very lyrical, very impressive. He's from Texas, has only met three other concertina players (including me and Joe), found the instrument in a shop and kept going back to doodle with it until he realised he had to have it ... It was a great evening and I'm so glad I went (all too often I miss the local sessions). I've pointed him in the direction of concertina.net so hopefully he'll turn up here at some point.

Moral: ALWAYS accost any concertina player you see in the wild! (and I should go to the sessions more often, too).

Samantha

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Moral: ALWAYS accost any concertina player you see in the wild! (and I should go to the sessions more often, too).

Samantha

 

Good advice, Samantha!

 

Sorry I haven't been around much lately, friends. May...was a pretty rough month.

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He's from Texas, has only met three other concertina players (including me and Joe), found the instrument in a shop and kept going back to doodle with it until he realised he had to have it ...

Samantha,

 

Interesting, that is the same way I got hooked on the anglo!

 

Once (if?) this Texan gets his fill of haggis, and wants to return to pinto beans with Tabasco sauce, tell him here are some sessions etc in Texas:

1. Austin, Irish sessions at P J ONeill's, Sundays. One anglo player in Austin is c.net member Roy Janek.

2. Houston, English sessions on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Black Labrador Pub. I'm usually there, and there are one or two other angloers around. There is also an Irish session every Weds at the Mucky Duck pub, but no anglo players there.

3. Dallas: not sure where the session is, but there are a couple of anglo players up there too. chainyanker on c.net is one of them.

4. Concertina workshop each year in Palestine (east Texas, not the Middle East), late April; check c.net.

 

Cheers,

Dan

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Hopefully he'll see this thread as I let him in on the secret of c.net :ph34r: !

Samantha

 

Hey Samantha. Thanx for clueing me into this wonderful forum. The session was wonderful the other night -- I've always wanted to play with other concertinists. I look forward to corresponding and collaborating with you and the other members of c.net.

 

Cheers.

Michael

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Hey Samantha. Thanx for clueing me into this wonderful forum. The session was wonderful the other night -- I've always wanted to play with other concertinists. I look forward to corresponding and collaborating with you and the other members of c.net.

 

Cheers.

Michael

 

Good to see you here, Michael! Welcome to concertina.net!

Samantha

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