Mr. Muddle's Befuddled Universe

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TNR#1: The Rumdummies

Tim Null Revue #1: * The Rumdummies *

Welcome. Let's have some fun!

I like roots music—particularly when it's the kind that gets my toes a'tappin' 'n' my knees a'slappin'. That's one reason I am a fan of the numerous musical styles that have grown out of the Louisiana swamp.

Awhile back I listed some of my musical interests. One of the items on my list was swamp music.

Most folks probably think of the Mississippi Delta as being made up of the Southern states that border the Mississippi River; that is, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Technically speaking, we'd all be wrong. Officially, the Mississippi Delta is the flood plain between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. And, to add insult to injury, that isn't even a delta, it's an alluvial plain. But I believe that when it comes to music, the Southern waters of the Mississippi nurture a large a fertile area.

Numerous great musical traditions have sprung forth from the region that includes the four states mentioned above. Of course, blues and jazz come quickly to mind.

One of my special interests is the roots music of Louisiana; for example, cajun, creole, zydeco, and swamp pop. ( In 1968 John Fogarty introduced Swamp Rock Boogie to the nation, when he took over his brother Tom's band, and Credence Clearwater Revival's version of Dale Hawkins'  ``Suzie-Q" swept the country. In 1987 Dennis Quaid's credible performance at the end of The Big Easy helped popularize Zydeco and Cajun music.)

I have also been facinated in how this music has migranted across the country, and, as a result, been changed in the process. Last February we met a group that performs a combination of cajun and bluegrass called ``swampgrass''. (See my write-up of Slim Bawb & Gator Bait.)

Today we're going to hear a couple songs by a group that is also influenced by the swamp traditions, the  Rumdummies. The Rumdummies called their brand of music, ``swamp jangle''.

Click on the player below to hear the Rumdummies perform one of my favorite songs, ``My Biscuit's Got a Hole''.

In the photo below (L-R Top), Steven Clyde, bass, keys, vocals; Pat Conover, lead vocals, harmonica, percussion; Todd Nelson, lead guitar, vocals; (center front) Al Kash, drums.

I liked that bisquit song so well, I think I'll ask the Rumdummies to do another tune, but before I do, let's get the band members over here, and ask them a few questions.

First off, how did the band get started?

Todd and Pat decided it was time to put together a band after concentrating on some other things for a while.  Clyde and Al joined soon after.  It wasn’t necessarily meant to be for original music, but just as a vehicle to play music we liked.  It evolved into an original band when we started working on ``Boil That Turpentine'' and found our sound.

I'm glad you mentioned ``Boil That Turpentine'', because that's the song we're going to end with. It's another one of my favorites. You all have played with some pretty famous singers and bands, right?

Tim:

That's right.

Rummies:

Todd Nelson (guitar, vocals) began playing in bands at age 10.  Thanks to a church basement coffeehouse, he was influenced by players in the Providence, Rhode Island blues scene who would eventually become Roomful of Blues (Duke Robillard) and The Fabulous Thunderbirds (Preston Hubbard, Fran Cristina).  Todd performed on Aimee Mann’s ``Whatever'' release and has recorded demos with songwriters Jules Sheer and Marshall Crenshaw.  He backed up singer-songwriter Pal Shazar, and was a member of Tornado Bait (featuring production by Terry Adams of NRBQ), as well as Boston's Wheelers and Dealers.  As a founding member of Fear of Strangers, formerly The Units, he helped put Albany's early 80's New Wave music scene on the national map.

Steven Clyde (bass, keyboards, vocals) hooked up with Richie Havens and Buzzy Linhart in New York City.  Upstate, Steven Clyde (a.k.a. “Clyde Davies”) swung with the Rockin’ Dakotas, Tex Rubinowitz and the Bad Boys, and later, ventured out with his own band.  He has since toured with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, The Neanderthals (featuring Eddie Angel of Los Straightjackets), the Lustre Kings, (in which he is also a featured songwriter), Blotto, and Johnny Rabb and the Jailhouse Rockers.

Al Kash (drums) began his professional career in Perth, West Australia.  His first recording was with Blackfeather.  Their LP of 1971, "At the Mountains of Madness", is still bought and sold on eBay.  Al sailed back to the USA in 1976 where he played drums in Florida for Tiger Tiger, a Miccosukee Indian band.  He overshot New York City and continued north to form Fear of Strangers.  Al finally made it to NYC in 1982 when he joined Fly to France, which later morphed into Canada's Blue Rodeo.  Since then Al has toured with his Australian friend, slide guitarist Dave Hole, and with 60's blues rockers Savoy Brown; he has recorded with Billy C. Farlow ( formerly with Commander Cody), The Lustre Kings, and many more artists in Australia and the US.

Tim:

So, Pat Conover (lead vocals, harmonica, percussion), how did you get into music?

Pat Conover:

I never ``decided'' to be a professional musician, just never stopped once I started. I happened to be with a friend when he was auditioning to be a singer in a band during high school.  He didn’t know one of the songs, so I sang it.  We both ended up in the group.

My parents both worked (dust bowl deportees from Oklahoma), so I was around my sisters a lot.  Got a bunch of music exposure from them.  Both sang in school choirs and played the organ at home.  My parents sang too, mostly church hymns and old stuff from the 20's and 30's.

Living in Los Angeles in the fifties was great.  I had friends from many different ethnic backgrounds and got exposure to varied cultural music.  My sisters were always playing what they liked on their record player. Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte, the hit of the week, etc.  Radio was always on.  Great stuff.  Early rock and vocal groups, The Tokens, Elvis, The Four Seasons, Beach Boys and the nameless hits too numerous to remember.

My first record was Hound Dog, sung by Elvis.  I played that record until I literally wore it out, and my parents had to buy me another one.

My parents split up and I moved to Arkansas when I turned 13 to live with my Dad, Uncles and Aunt.  I was wild as hell as a teenager and did everything you imagine a wild teenager would do. [I listened to the] Bleeker Street radio show (on at midnight) out of a Little Rock Station (Hendrix, Joplin, Doors, Zepplin, Airplane).  They played all the stuff you never heard on commercial radio at the time.

Tim:

Thanks, Pat.

Now we'll listen to another Rumdummie song, ``Boil Than Turpentine''. To hear the song, click on the player below.

We'll take a break now. Stay tuned. Don't touch that dial!

(If you don't see a MP3 player above, click here.)

>> MORE >>>

Hyperlinks updated 15 JAN 2008.

Technorati Tags: music, people

TNR#1: Poor Billy

Tim Null Revue #1: Poor Billy

Welcome. Let's have some fun!

I received an email message from Karsten Olesen back in early December 2005. (Why does that seem like years ago?)

Karsten Olesen said, ``We are a band called Poor Billy from Denmark''.

I did a web search, and I discovered Poor Billy on GarageBand.com. I listened to their songs. The songs reminded me of material that Eric Andersen might have sung in his early years. I was intrigued by a Danish band performing ``hillbilly'' music. It was facinating that music crosses the ocean, gets all gumbled up, then crosses back across the ocean. (See also, Bering Strait, a Russian group, and an Australian group, The Greencards.)

Now I realize no one is going to agree about when and where bluegrass was invented. Personally I say it was invented in the hills of Western Pennsylvania in the 1830s at religious revival meetings. Why do I claim this? Because there were Nulls at those revivals. They were hoopin' and hollerin', and goin' crazy. They were full of the holy spirit. They thought they were witnessin' the comin' of Elvis, and rock 'n' roll!

But, alas, when Elvis didn't come to Pennsylvania, my Nulls packed up their wagons, and moved to Ohio. When Elvis wasn't in Ohio, they moved on to Indiana, then Illinois, and then finally Iowa and Oklahoma.

What my kin didn't know was it would take more than 100 years of hoopin' and hollerin' to bring on Elvis and Rock 'n' Roll. Good stuff doesn't come easy.

If you don't believe this is all true, check it out at your local library. It's in the book. But get the right book. If your book says bluegrass started in the 1920s with the Monroe Brothers, use it as a doorstop.

(If you don't see a video player above, click here.)

Tim:

Let's take this opportunity to ask, Karsten Olesen, the leader of Poor Billy, some questions.

First, what was your early childhood like Karsten?

Karsten:

I was one of five children, we were poor, my daddy always working you Know didn`t like the longhaired hippies not working. My mum was at home keeping the place, coocking food, washing clothes and Taking care of us children, and drinking coffee with the neihbourwiwes and Gossiping about what`s going on. I was born 1960. I had a very close friend, early sexual experiences with girls from My street. The first music making impression on me from LPs was : Jimi Hendrix: Band of gypsies and Rolling Stones : Get your yea yeas out, My big brother played in his room, I had this mighty feeling of some Strange sounds from another world, you know, I was only 9 years in 1969.

What were you like as a teenager?

I was very sensitive, sometimes very shy especially to girls, sometimes I was very childish and sometimes very brave on the dancefloor. As teenager my music favourites were: The Sweet, Rubettes, CCR, Bachman Turner Overdrive. I loved to sing in the school and had my first experiences With drinking alchohol, which sometimes , as usual with teenagers, could End up in a chaotic mess.

The girls loved me,but I was shy and couldn`t take any advantages on that.

When and how did you start to get into music?

Unconsciouss I think very early at nine. But first guitar I had at age of 20. I learned it from a friend, first he Played guitar and was doing the singing and I played congas. We usually Jammed high on grass in the nights. He was 8 years older than me and sang Songs of : Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Doors, CSNY etc.

Later I began my own composing and when I was 26 I started playing in the Street. I made a single, which I financed myself. It was good fun making, But never succeeded in becoming more than that , because I had no band and Was on my own.

But I was digging the point. It was important to form a band, so I made Different constellations and bands , but then I met Jesper, playing bass And we made Poor Billy and now we are here.

When did you decide you wanted to become a professional musician?

When I made my single record on a label called: Bums Record. It was played In the biggest Radio-station in DK. Then I decided that it was my way to Compose and make a band.

Name some major influences on your music?

The Doors, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Country Joe and the Fish, Rolling Stones, CCR.

What, or who, has been the major influence on your life?

Dostojewskij, magic mushrooms, hashish, hippieculture, some of my best Friends, Experiences from walking in forests and nature, My daughter and My wife.

What advice would you give someone else who wanted to become a professional musician?

Just do it. Don`t try to do what other want you to, but do what you dream to do. But be open to the people you trust. Write as much as possible and keep on Following the trace that makes you love music.

Listen to good music and avoid the bad stuff, so you find inspiration and keep To the quality and leave the trash.

Remember to laugh and love and live life, it`s not only to make music, but also To have as many experiences as possible, good as bad. Remember it`s the life, you live, that creates the stories you can tell in your songs

Thank you, Karsten.
That was Karsten Olesen of Poor Billy.

We'll take a break now. Stay tuned. Don't touch that dial!

Technorati Tags: music, people

TNR#1: Jamie Coon

Tim Null Revue #1: ** Jamie Coon **

Welcome. Let's have some fun!

I have unconditional affection for Jamie Coon. So if you were expecting an unbiased viewpoint, you are going to be disappointed. Jamie Coon can do no wrong. Everyone worth knowing agrees. It's just that simple.

Jamie recently updated her website. Check it out.

One connection I feel with Jamie is Oklahoma. Jamie was born in Oklahoma, and as a kid my family took road trips to Oklahoma to visit kin. In fact, my Okie kin introduced ``dragging main'' and popular music to my older brother and sister. My Aunt Z introduced me to noontime dinner and evening supper. My universe has been off-kilter ever since. (I'm hoping I'll have the opportunity to see Aunt Z again. Her cold melon was the best ever.)

If you haven't been to Oklahoma, go. It's just that simple.

If you don't own a copy of Jamie Coon's CD, buy it. It's just that simple.

Life ain't all that complicated for Okies. I love `em, even when they drive me crazy.

So I love Jamie Coon, and you will, too. That's just the way it is. Don't fight it. ``Breathe'' and wait patiently for the cool, juicy melon that Aunt Z is gonna serve us all someday.

While you wait for your melon, click on the viewer below, and watch the DIY video I made for Jamie Coon's song ``Silent Words''.

We'll take a break now. Stay tuned. Don't touch that dial!

(If you don't see a video player above, click here.)

Technorati Tags: music, people

TNR#1: Jon James [Headliner]

Tim Null Revue #1: *** Jon James ***

Welcome. Let's have some fun!

You're looking well. I'm feeling a tad pinkish,
but, with your help, I'll get by.

I am delighted that the first headliner for the new Tim Null Revue series is Jon James.

I enjoy and admire Jon's work. (If you're a long time reader of this befuddled universe, you may recall my story about Jon and his song, ``Turn It On/High On A Flashback'', lyrics, which I gave a ``Great Song'' rating.)

I also consider Jon James a trustworthy friend. Way back when I realized this befuddled universe was spinning out of control, I sought out Jon's advice.

Jon carefully and thoughtfully laid out my options: I could eat snail, or escargot.

That sound advise eventually lead to the new format of revues, features, and podcasts combined with frequent rest breaks. It's my little effort to eat ``escargot'' rather than snail.

So, if you don't like this new format, buy Jon's new CD, when it comes out. Because, if Jon's life is totally disrupted by fame and fortune, and all his ambitions become fulfilled, he will certainly learn a valuable lesson!

The Jon James' song being presented today is ``New King of Japan'' (lyrics). It's a hymn to the Rock 'n' Roll dream. So click the player below, and let's all make a joyful noise! (If you don't see a player below, click on the photo of Jon James below.)

We'll take a break now. Stay tuned. Don't touch that dial!

Technorati Tags: music, people

Tim Null Revue #1: Featuring Jon James

TNR#1: June 13–15, 2006

Welcome to the very first Tim Null Revue (TNR).

You might be asking yourself, ``What exactly is a Tim Null Revue?''

Well, in each TNR, I'll present three to five songs over a four or five day period. Usually the songs will be unrelated, but sometimes I will have theme based revues. Also, generally the songs will be by different artists, but sometimes they might all be by the same artist. For example, one revue will have a theme, ``The Many Moods of Kim Manning'' and it will showcase five Kim Manning songs.

I will alternate revue weeks with podcast weeks and weeks where I have other features, such as interviews and ``Breaking Record'' reviews. I will also have frequent ``off-weeks'' so the ground can lie fallow, and restore its fertility.

As with all things associated with this befuddled universe, you can expect the revues to evolve over time.

The featured musician in this revue is Jon James. Other singers and groups include Jamie Coon, the Rumdummies, and Poorbilly.

We'll take a break now. Stay tuned. Don't touch that dial!

Technorati Tags: music, people

Live with Tempest

I'm at an impressionable age. Little things blow me away. For example, after a Tracy Grammer show, I asked her to sign what was then her new EP. She must have sensed I was depressed, because, as I walked away, she laid the palm of her hand gently on my shoulder. With that simple and brief gesture, Tracy Grammer won herself a lifetime fan.

A similar thing happened, when Ariane Cap sent me some photos.

—————————————

One look, and I knew
I had to meet Ariane Cap.

See photo on the right.
(Click to enlarge.)
Photo credit: Gareth Glynn Ash.

—————————————

One particular photo grabbed my attention. It was a photo of Ariane Cap looking directly into the camera. Personality radiated from her face. One look at that photo, and I knew I just had to meet Ariane Cap.

Now, I don't believe in fate, but, some might say, ``as fate would have it'' Ariane invited me to come to a Tempest show as her guest.

The Tempest press kit states,
``Tempest is the quintessential Celtic-folk-rock group, taking Celtic
and Scandinavian traditional music
and fusing it with rock 'n' roll.''

Tempest band members are (top L-R) Ronan Carroll, guitars, harmony vocals; Adolfo Lazo, drums; Michael Mullen, fiddle , viola, harmony vocals (bottom L-R) Ariane Cap, bass, harmony vocals; and Lief Sorbye, lead vocals, double necked acoustic and electric mandolin, mandolins, octave mandolas, harmonica, flute, bodhran, tambourine.

The Tempest show was to be held at a popular venue called Don Quixote's, which is located in a nearby town, Felton, CA.  Felton is said to be about halfway between San Jose and Santa Cruz, near the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains. (Clearly, Santa Cruz folks measure distance with a very short stick!)

The Tempest show was to be a benefit for the local Loch Lomond Celtic Society. Many members come to shows wearing kilts.
 

As a joke, I emailed Ariane, and asked her what was the fashionable length for hemlines this season. (A less than subtle reference to Scottish kilts.) Ariane mistook my sarcasm for enthusiasm, and wrote back a jovial note encouraging me to wear a kilt. (I wondered, how could I possibly enjoy my dark heart around such a cheerful spirit?)

In the ensuing conversation, I explained that the Nulls weren't Scottish (our branch is probably Swiss); although, my little twig of the family tree does take great pride in our ``Scottish'' grandmother. Our poor sweet grandmother had been done wrong.

I told Ariane my sad, little tale of woe.

My Scotch ancestors were named Cory.

My Great Great Grandfather Uzal Cory was filty rich (it's said).

But, unfortunately for me, Uzal disowned my Great Grandfather David Dodge Cory, because my Great Grandfather refused to go along with an arranged marriage (or so the legend goes).

Then when Uzal died, all my Grandmother Clara got was $1,000, and a lousy t-shirt (so I'm told).

Ariane told me I must be destined to come to this show, because Tempest performs a song about a Scottest woman who refuses an arranged marriage. (There's that fate business again. ``Pox on your Vox,'' I say. If you look for a lucky penny long enough, you'll eventually find one. No cynic here. But I do love to stomp around, and annoy folks.)

The Tempest song about a Scottish woman that refuses an arranged marriage is titled ``Eppy Moray''.  The lyrics are traditional, but the arrangement is pure Tempest—and that's a delight to the ears (and eyes, if you are fortunate enough to see them perform live).

You can listen to ``Eppy Moray'' by clicking on the player that should appear below. If you're using a newsreader that doesn't support Flash, then you can click on the ``Click & Play'' image at the end of the article, and a player will open in your web browser.

Like a New Yorker who's never been to the Empire State Building, I had never been to  Don Quixote's. Now that could have been a problem, because I get lost driving around the block, and I can't find the four corners of a paper bag, even when my life depends on it.

Fortunately, Mrs. Muddle was home that particular weekend, and she agreed to take me to  Don Quixote's to see the Tempest show; otherwise, I might still be lost in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

As fate would have it, and the gods allowed, Mrs. Muddle and I arrived safely at Don Quixote's.

Shortly after we arrived we were greeted by Ariane and Lief Sorbye. Lief is the leader of Tempest. He's also the lead vocalist and flutist. Lief has a huge physical and charismatic presence, but he's totally unassuming about both; that was my impression anyway.

————————————


Lief Sorbye, lead vocalist for Tempest, is pictured to the right.

See photo on the right.
(Click to enlarge.)
Photo credit: TSNull.

Michael Mullen is pictured below. (Photo Credit: TSNull.)

————————————

The Tempest show was lively!

—————————————
Tempest shows are
highly recommended.
—————————————

I must have lost 20 pounds just sitting and watching Michael Mullen and Ariane Cap dancing and prancing about on stage. They sure gave me quite a cardio-workout. (I bet if I could see a Tempest show every week, my blood pressure would go down 10 points or more!)

Mrs. Muddle and I sure had a splendid time at the Tempest show. There were too many highlights to try to mention them all here, but I will mention a few. For example, Lief Sorbye's flute was, of course, delightful. And getting to listen to``Vision Quest'' live was highly anticipated, and pleasing. (``Vision Quest'' was written by Ariane Cap and her husband, Wolf Wein.)

If you should ever have the opportunity to go to a Tempest show, I highly recommend that you do so. You should find their live act highly entertaining regardless of the type of music you usually listen to for casual entertainment.

You can listen to the Tempest song ``Vision Quest'' by clicking on the player that should appear below. If you're using a newsreader that doesn't support Flash, then you can click on the ``Click & Play'' image at the end of the article, and a player will open in your web browser. ``Vision Quest'' was written by Ariane Cap and her husband Wolf Wein.

In 2006 Tempest released a CD called Double Cross. (You can find out more about it here.) The Double Cross CD is certainly a must buy for all Tempest fans. The CD will also appeal to fans of Celtic music, seafaring music, folk, folk-rock, and main-stream rock. Basically, if you can appreciate and enjoy great musicians having a great time playing good material, then this CD will most likely provide you with many pleasurable hours of musical enjoyment. The Double Cross CD, and other Tempest CDs, can be purchased here.

Double Cross was released by Magna Carta. It gets a rating of 5 out of 5.

Technorati Tags: music, people