Chip Fossa
From:
Monson, MA, USA (deceased)
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Posted 15 Dec 2001 5:58 pm |
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As I threatened to do, I went with some buddies to see Ricky Skaggs and his 8pc
group at the Calvin Theatre in NHampton, MA,
Friday nite, 8PM.
Words are just futile to try and describe how
great these guys are. They played blistering
bluegrass; as well as gospel, swing, and ballads.
I didn't remember everyones' names, but the
b@njo player, "Smilin' Jim", stuck in my mind.
He was to the left on stage [my right] and right in front of me. He played a beautiful vintage
Gibson Mastertone 5-string shortneck and doubled on dobro. There were 2 guitars [Martins, of course]. One fella played flatpicking lead right up there with the likes of Norman Blake and Tony Rice. He's only 20.
The other guitar player played rhythm and sang really well. Twin fiddles, one of the players being one of the original fiddlers
with Bill Monroe. Stand-up bass. Ricky played
only mandolin, for the night, and just was making smoke come off those strings.
Although it wasn't a full house, me and my cohorts dedcided early-on, if it doesn't look like a full house, we'll certainly make it sound like one. But the crowd was super appreciative and Ricky saw and acknowledged it.
Many folks started to make it into a real bluegrass hoot by calling out songs they wished to hear.
Well, not to be outdone, I jumped in and yelled out, with my big mouth, of course - "You Got A Lover". After a few more songs, Ricky mentioned to the audience that someone earlier, had requested one of HIS favorite songs,
"You Got A Lover"; he let it be known that full-fledged band material that he played in the past was not, at-the-time, "worked-up", but that a future CD project will be to do some old "band" material, bluegrass style.
Show was over about 10:30, but we all wound
up down the road-a-ways at the Verdi Club and proceeded to close up the joint. When you're on a roll, and really having a great time, you just don't want the evening to end.
I hope this post comes out all right, cuz
my brain is still semi-squashed from havin' too much fun.
If Ricky Skaggs & Company ever come around your neck-of-the-woods, by all means, go to the show;
don't miss it!
ChipsAhoy[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 16 December 2001 at 04:31 AM.] |
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