I’ve had the honor of playing shows with Blue Grass Boys, Bob Black, Tom Ewing and Mark Hembree, in a band called (not shockingly) Blue Grass Boys Reunion. Here’s some clips of these boys doin’ there thing…

You can watch the rest on “The Tube”…

Mike Compton was kind enough to have me up for a few songs during his recent show at the Cafe Carpe.

Blue Grass Boys Reunion performed this past weekend in WI, MN and IA. Here’s a cut from Friday night’s show at Leo & Leona’s in Bangor, WI. The lineup included Blue Grass Boys Tom Ewing, Bob Black and Mark Hembree; with myself and Paul Kienitz on mandolin and fiddle.

This was my first time singing tenor with Tom and we had some fun on this one…

I have the honor to be playing with two Bluegrass Boys on these upcoming tribute shows. We’ll be playing the entire Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe record start to finish. Shows are Friday, Nov 6th at Mother Fools Coffee Shop, Madison, WI, 8pm, and Saturday, the 7th at the Richland Center City Auditorium in Richland Center, WI. Now excuse me, I have to practice…

Mike and David are coming to Madison this Saturday at the Wil-Mar Center on the near-east side. These boys are the real deal and as good as it gets. If you’re anywhere near MadTown, do yourself a favor and check them out.

You may have seen a post or two here about my adventures with Mike in Australia. Or perhaps you caught him on tour with Elvis Costello and the Sugar Canes? John Hartford? Maybe you heard his mandolin playing while watching the movie O Brother Where Art Thou. Either way, here’s a chance to see him with David Grier–another monster player and three time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year–in an intimate setting. Oh, and you’ll get a chance to taste the greatest brownie on the planet.

Mike Compton & David Grier
Saturday, October 3rd @ 7pm
The Wil-Mar Center
953 Jenifer St, Madison, WI
Tickets $14.99 in advance, $20 at the door

The nausea I feel after being berated by the presidential party conventions has been soothed a bit by my discovery of the following movie on YouTube. John Duffy is one of my musical heroes and if he were alive today, I’d like to have seen him run for president. This country could use a chain smoking, shop teacher with bad pants and a butch cut in charge. In a post-911 world, now more than ever, we need Duffy around. He’s the kind of guy you could (and I did) have a beer with (or 12).

Mr. Duffy… you are sorely missed.

Attendees at this year’s Sugar Maple Festival were treated to a Bluegrass Boy Reunion show featuring Mike Compton on mandolin. Bluegrass Boys Bob Black, Tom Ewing, Mark Hembree were joined by Mike Compton on mandolin, Paul Kienitz on fiddle and Seth Forester on guitar/vocals. Their show was the highlight of the festival and was a fantastic performance by the boys. The tent was rockin’!

Okay, I have been slacking… but only in regards to updating my blog (and buying a dresser for the lump of cloths on by bedroom floor). I’ve actually been quite busy with my new band (This is the) Squirrel Hunters.

For some time I have known that in order to get my playing to the next level, I need more reps and to be forced into sweating every detail. In other words, I need a band. As luck would have it, I have some good friends who’s playing I enjoy and who all have similar interest in improvement. Thus was born (This is the) Squirrel Hunters.

We recently had our debut… our maiden voyage… our, if you will, debutant ball (oh, and I will)…. The event took place at one of my favorite bars, the Roxbury Tavern. Tom, the owner/proprietor of the Roxbury, showed his TITSH colors by cooking up a fantastic squirrel stew in honor of the occasion!

It was a fine time to be sure. There’s work ‘o plenty still to do but it was a fine beginning. You’re welcome to see for yourself. There are a few videos up on YouTube, as well as a photo sideshow on the band site. Our next show is this weekend at the Brooklyn Bluegrass Festival in Brooklyn, WI.

After 31+ hours of air travel (and just barely making it out of St. Louis), I was able to sleep in my own bed last night. I’d like to thank Mike, the Duffs, and the rest of the boys for putting up with me for the last two weeks and for showing me a fine time!

I may post a bit more media in the near future… or not… either way, here’s some audio of Mike and I playing Squirrel Hunters in lovely Fremantle, Australia.

My favorite mandolin player on this planet is Mr. Mike Compton. In an odd turn of events, I also consider him a friend. That he can suffer through with my playing and not throw up (not noticeably at least) is the finest musical honor I’ve achieved. This is a clip of he and I playing in Margaret River, Australia. You can find more videos and sundries over on that there YouTube…