Hmmm - is it the instrument or the muso ?

[grevillea]

OK, I guess its both, but there is an old joke that goes something like this:

Why is the business end of a banjo round ? It makes it easier to break it over the head of anyone who tries to play one.

Until yesterday I would have included the ukelele as another instrument in the same category as the banjo - kitsch and completely lacking in any sort of credibility beyond the tourist industry and Tiny Tim tragics (they know who they are).

The doco on the uke started out predictably enough, and while I found the stuff on Hawaii entertaining, it wasnt until they dragged out a couple of guys with classical backgrounds and set them loose that I began to realise how good 4 strings could sound on an instrument which, to my eyes, looks tailormade for the 'throwaway souvenir' tourist market. The Japanese virtuoso was getting sounds out the thing that were reminiscent of the samisen, completely 'non-uke' notes, while the American's fretwork was in a completely different league to the Hawaiians they showed earlier - a lot closer to classical guitar than the traditional 'just strum it and hum' approach. Both were big fans of the instrument, but it was obvious that they were prodigys - no substitute for god-given talent.

Still not sure that we will be seeing a ukelele on a Joe Satriani/John Petrucci/Steve Vai album anytime soon, but it was an eye (ear ?) opener. I'm afraid the jury is still out on the banjo, though, particularly the duelling variety. Deliverance has a lot to answer for.

http://www.mightyukemovie.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukelele

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samisen

[Marcus]

[ihasmario]

[dingostolemyipod]

The following clip expresses my response to the above posts

[grevillea]

Wicked indeed - tks for the vids !

[spud]

If you're interested in hearing what can be done with a banjo do a search for Béla Fleck on youtube. He leads a jazz fusion band called Béla Fleck and the Flecktones that are pretty amazing (and really, Victor Wooten is a jaw dropping bass player - check out his solos for Amazing Grace and The Sinister Minister). Thing is, as remarkable as he is, and as far away from duelling banjos as a banjo player can be, the banjo still sounds like a bloody banjo :-\

EDIT: ok, decided to be a guy who's not lazy

[brucecam]

[dc]

where's the video of Marcus playing the mandolin?

[Marcus]

Can't
Right wrist is still not able to move the right ways/far enough to strum/pick properly. Playing left handed is even worse.

[ihasmario]

A bunch of my friends played victor wootens bass at that con that was here recently. One of my friends was a special guest with him as well.

More bass guitar

[Blobby]

Can't go past this one if you're discussing if it's the muso or the instrument. Great voice, great song, great mandolin playing although I'm sure some purists would disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz3Zn4Bv ... re=related

[ihasmario]

Hey, even the (distorted) electric guitar can sound good

Time for me to run

But seriously, Stern kicks the crap out of those changes.

Edit: Better video

[brucecam]

Several days of total isolation and 15 days without the so called "necessities" of life (everything bar cold water and a gas stove plus whatever food happened to be on hand at the time) has lead me to a change of life's priorities. I've grown weary of participating in endless mind games amongst overgrown schoolchildren regarding who has the best toys whilst trying to lead an interesting life on my sub 20K income.

To Marcus I mean no disrespect. In the world of Australian headphone retailers he is unquestionably the man. Hopefully he'll deal with the little jerk who "borrowed" that funky image i posted for use as his avatar without so much as a "May I?" some time between right now and when the universe contracts.

Marcus, in time you'll come to realize that your horrific injuries were merely a scratch, because your were fortunate enough to sustain them in a very wealthy country. At age 20, having spent 120ish days on the most pristine beach I'd yet encountered, accessible only to those with the driving skills of a mountain goat on roller skates, i banged my shin in the mad dash from Kombi to Estafette in order to make coffee for gorgeous Gail prior to carving another slice from the hash-brick, chillumming up and bopping each other to the point of exhaustion. As we swam each day in salt water I though nothing of the wound until the swelling developed.

Paramedics etc aside, who among you would drop to your knees immediately and suck two litres of pus from a persons body then immediately cauterize the the two 5c sized exit wounds with the red end of the nearest spliff or cigarette? My Moroccan buddy H did. Luckily we were only a 15 hour drive from the nearest doctor, who confirmed that I was within hours of losing the leg. Uncomfortably, I was the driver.

Special mention to Beefy who came through with solid advice at the ideal moment.

Bit busy rebuilding half my life from scratch at the moment, so.....


Bye.


P.S. It's the muso.

[ihasmario]

Check out that guy play the box

All incredible musicians.



Here's another with a white pot (an Udu, apparently).

Had to buy their cd

[grevillea]

Marcus, in time you'll come to realize that your horrific injuries were merely a scratch, because your were fortunate enough to sustain them in a very wealthy country. At age 20, having spent 120ish days on the most pristine beach I'd yet encountered, accessible only to those with the driving skills of a mountain goat on roller skates, i banged my shin in the mad dash from Kombi to Estafette in order to make coffee for gorgeous Gail prior to carving another slice from the hash-brick, chillumming up and bopping each other to the point of exhaustion. As we swam each day in salt water I though nothing of the wound until the swelling developed.

Paramedics etc aside, who among you would drop to your knees immediately and suck two litres of pus from a persons body then immediately cauterize the the two 5c sized exit wounds with the red end of the nearest spliff or cigarette? My Moroccan buddy H did. Luckily we were only a 15 hour drive from the nearest doctor, who confirmed that I was within hours of losing the leg. Uncomfortably, I was the driver.

Hey, I knew some areas were hit hard by the floods (I lived in West End for many years), but you seem to have suffered more than most. Either that or its time to put down that pipe. Nice kit for someone who lives in a Kombie, btw.