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Put a Jug Band In Your Pocket 11 February 2009 I've been curious about building iPhone apps and was looking for an excuse to try building one, when a group of friends at dinner a couple months ago suggested I build a jug band app. After checking out existing apps for kazoo and washtub bass, I decided to try making my app play just like the real instruments -- by responding to voice, touch and movement rather than arbitrary inputs like button presses. The result was approved by Apple and published on the App Store this week: Jug Band App! This app includes a washboard, spooons, kazoo and jug. You can practice on your own with headphones, plug into speakers to play with a band, or play along with the music on your iPod. I've posted a demo video to show how it all works.
Jugs Around the World 27 September 2009 After completing the Will Shade tribute project, I was contacted by Rod Wenz, founder and president of the National Jug Band Jubilee, about organizing a similar project for Louisville jug legend Earl McDonald. McDonald led several jug bands in the mid-1920's, and his recordings inspired Will Shade to start the Memphis Jug Band. I offered to help, and traveled to last year's Jubilee to help kick off the fundraiser. Over the next few months, Rod raised enough money not only for a gravestone for Earl McDonald, but also for a historical marker from the Kentucky Historical Society. Unfortunately, he passed away unexpectedly and wasn't able to see these markers dedicated last weekend … or to see the Old Southern Jug Blowers, who traveled from Kansai, Japan to perform tributes to their favorite American musician. I ended up playing the role of m.c. for both events.
Go South, Young Man 5 August 2009 Being interested in the blues means I have an unreasonable degree of nostalgia for the American South, and I was able to indulge myself in that last weekend. The impetus for my latest trip was an opportunity to dedicate a brass note for Will Shade and the Memphis Jug Band on the Beale Street "walk of fame" in Memphis. This was the final chapter of the memorial project I started two and a half years ago:
But I spent the next day exploring Western Tennessee with a fellow jug band musician and his wife. We started by playing a couple tunes on the front porch of Sleepy John Estes's shack in Brownsville, then visited the Casey Jones museum in Jackson. After lunch we did a little trespassing (and messing with poison ivy) and found the last remains of the Menglewood box factory, immortalized in Noah Lewis's "Minglewood Blues" series of songs. Then we drove back to Memphis via Ripley and Henning, Lewis's stomping grounds. It was an inspirational trip that leaves me feeling even more closely attached to this haunting music.
Another Trip to Memphis 30 June 2009 After I purchased a gravestone for jug band pioneer Will Shade in Memphis last year, a secondary goal was to see him honored on Beale Street, where he lived and played for most of his life. This goal will finally be achieved next month, when a "brass note" for Shade and his Memphis Jug Band will be installed in a highly appropriate spot right in front of Handy Park. Although money is tight after my big move to Portland this spring, I'm taking the opportunity to visit the Home of the Blues and help celebrate Will Shade once again. I'll lead a brief ceremony and then a long busking party on the afternoon of August 1. If you are reading this and you like jug band music, you should come join me! Here's a photo of W.C. Handy's brass note, which I snapped during a previous visit:
Gravehunting in Chicago 28 Feb 2009 I've made a few trips to Louisville, Memphis, and the Mississippi Delta to find gravesites of pre-war blues musicians, but most of the later musicians were buried right here in the Chicago area. Today I finally took some time to visit two cemeteries in the South suburbs: Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, and Washington Memorial Gardens in Homewood. Along with Muddy Waters and other famous post-war musicians, Restvale is the final resting place of "Papa Charlie" and "Kansas Joe" McCoy, and Johnny Watson, a.k.a. Daddy Stovepipe. Washington Memorial Gardens is the final resting place of Robert Brown, a.k.a. Washboard Sam. The offices at each cemetery were able to confirm the presence of these musicians, but unfortunately, none of them have gravestones, and the numbering system at the two cemeteries were perplexing and vague, respectively. But we did our best. The photo below shows the approximate burial location of the McCoy brothers, who died a few months apart from each other and were buried a few rows apart:
The Mother of All Battles 11 Feb 2009 The Hump Night Thumpers didn't have quorum to travel to the Minneapolis Battle of the Jug Bands this year, so I asked two former members who now live in Minneapolis to play with me. After an intensive rehearsal the night before, Holstein Slim (myself), Uncle Harry Assface (Mark Wagner) and Rag Mama (Jerri Wagner) performed as Slim Harry Mama. We ended up with an energetic but daring set and wondered how it would be received by the audience. As one person told us afterwards, "When you started playing 'Love Shack,' I was prepared to hate it. But it was great!" One of the organizers described our performance as "another tour de force." And the judges responded by awarding us an Honorable Mention for "Best Single Entendre" -- although we're not sure which of our sexy songs that referred to. In any case, you can click the following links to hear recordings from our rehearsal:
You can see more photos at Jerri's blog. And by the way, that's Mark and Jerri's baby, Zoe, singing in the background!
Chicago's first Battle of the Jug Bands 12 Oct 2008 I've taken the Hump Night Thumpers to compete in the Minneapolis Battle of the Jug Bands for the last three years. It's been so much fun that we decided, why not start our own event and get to do it twice as often? So I'm happy to announce Chicago's first Battle of the Jug Bands, at the Morseland on November 8. The winner will be selected by an audience vote and will take home a trophy made from an antique sausage press (below). Devil In a Woodpile kicks off the evening with a free set at 7:00, and the battle participants will lead a public jam session after the Battle ends, around midnight.
The cover charge is $5, and that gets you seven bands and a ballot. Come join the fun! Mission accomplished! 14 May 2008 The Will Shade gravestone project lasted a year, but it ended last week with the installation and dedication of Shade's gravestone in Memphis. Members of the Hump Night Thumpers and other jug band music fans from around the country met at the cemetery for a few songs, a few speeches, and a toast. You can click the small photo below for a good view of the gravestone. I've also posted clips from the tribute concert on a new YouTube channel.
Thanks to everyone who contributed money, participated in the events, or supported me while I carried this out … you know who you are! Will Shade Tribute follow-up 15 February 2008 The Will Shade concert last month was a big success, with happy musicians, a delighted audience, and a very healthy fund for marking Will Shade's grave in Memphis. I was to busy to watch most of the show, but I got to spend the next afternoon with Charlie Musselwhite and that was a real treat. The event was covered in the Chicago Daily Herald the day before, and a story ran on the ABC News in Memphis yesterday, so it's great to see Will Shade getting the recognition he deserves! A return to battle 8 February 2008 The Hump Night Thumpers are packing up the jug band van and heading to Minneapolis this weekend for the 26th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands. As last year's winners, we are all but prohibited from winning again, so we're looking forward to relaxing and enjoying an entire day of jug band music. One of the judges interviewed me about jug band music for his blog, and you can read the result here. Will Shade Tribute tickets 28 November 2007 Tickets are now on sale for the benefit concert I'm organizing to purchase a gravestone for Will Shade. We've confirmed Charlie Musselwhite and the Carolina Chocolate Drops as our headliners, and it's going to be a great show! Please visit the Old Town School of Folk Music website to purchase tickets, or visit willshadetribute.com for more info. Will Shade Tribute 1 August 2007 A couple years ago I mentioned my blues pilgrimage to Memphis on this page. The most haunting moment of that trip was when I realized that Will Shade, a jug band musician for whom I've developed a special affinity, is buried in an unmarked grave in a pauper's cemetery. Now, with help from my colleagues at the Old Town School, I'm planning a tribute concert and fundraiser to purchase a gravestone for Will Shade. You can learn more and make a contribution at willshadetribute.com.
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