Happy Halloween Everyone!
Courtesy of the Colorado Coalition of Artists
Archive for the ‘Banjo’ Category
Five (5)
Thursday, October 31st, 2013Knoxville to Oskaloosa
Thursday, July 25th, 2013Lots a banjar picking this day:
At the Smoky Row Coffeehouse in Oskaloosa
It was a fun place and I had just meet some guys who were following the route to help set up the musical acts when some people with still and video cameras circled around and asked questions but never identified themselves. We all kinda got weirded out and left.
And at the Musco Technology Center
Another C.U.B.S. banquet! I had just rode in on the path to William Penn University in Oskaloosa when I bumped into the club president. What luck! And then there was a nice evening by the campfire with our overnight hosts.
Perry to Des Moines
Tuesday, July 23rd, 2013Old farm building along the way…
But somehow missed the midget wrestling in Dallas Center on the way to Des Moines.
Iowa State Historical Museum
This is an old stunt plane used in Iowa during the early days of flight. Another item recorded in the museum is #2013.023 Hand Made Banjo. Somewhere in Des Moines I met up with Tom Herrington of the Roadside Boys and we were interviewed by the Register. There may still be a video HERE. So far that’s 3 for 3 !
Banjo 2013 Ragbrai limited edition
Friday, July 19th, 2013There is a “limited edition” of the Ragbrai banjo:
For display purposes only
This is yet another home-made banjo fabricated with recycled furniture and cooking pot technology. The old Remo head was initiated on the 2005 Ragbrai and used until the end of the 2009 ride.
Here Leo is taking care of the historical artifact and getting it ready for all to see.
Now on display at the Iowa State Historical Society!
Note: The banjo on display is just ONE of the official Ragbrai banjos. The parts of this particular banjo have been on the ride at least one time, but not all in one piece as shown here. For instance, the banjo head and tail piece survived the ride across Iowa five (5) times. The pot from an aluminum pressure cooker had been on the ride twice and the neck only once. The brackets and tuning pegs have been on the ride four times and have been on various banjos for as long as I can remember. The pegs came from an old right-handed instrument that was over 100 years old.
Red Rocks
Friday, November 9th, 2012Visiting Red Rocks:
As you can’t see, I’m playing a banjo on stage to an adoring crowd of maybe 10 or 12 people.
Oh, and here’s a panorama of the place.
OPAA! Time Again at the Taverna
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012It could be spelled Oooopa! or Opaa!, or just plain Opa! Wiki Answers says it means to party, or get down and dance. It’s an expression of joy that we scream out when the waiter ignites a pan of Saganaki in front of us, or in front of other people– whatever. It is a tradition that dates back to, what, maybe 1968 at the Parthenon restaurant in Chicago. Not the same as this Parthenon: they didn’t have flaming cheese there. Lucky for us we have a little place in Fort Collins that follows that same tradition and it’s close enough that we can bike there and back.
Conga drums and banjo on the cart with the Black Sheep
We had an invite for drummers and dancers at the Taverna so I thought it might be possible to attach a set of conga drums to the cart and just for fun I added the “Bouzouki Banjo” on the back of the cart. The pair of conga drums were a bit top-heavy for the modified dog cart and they shifted a bit while in transit but they made the trip unharmed. I was glad I brought the bouzouki banjo; it added to the evening’s music.
Black Sheep parked at the Taverna
The Taverna Greek Grill opened less than a year ago on College Avenue near the Target store. We liked it immediately because the owners like to serve flaming cheese (Parthenon style) and they especially like to break dinner plates (on purpose). On the first month of opening the Taverna, the owners also performed a number of fire breathing tricks inside the restaurant. They no longer do this and I would assume that its because the fire marshal put a stop to it. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
Satori Dancers
I’m not sure how this was supposed to work. Were we a private party or something the restaurant owners were using to attract more business? I’ll say private party for now because it looked like the restaurant was full. They (somebody) wants to do it again next month.
Bohemian Caravan
The Caravan has been around since 2006. They call themselves a “motley crew” of dancers who like to improvise their dance routines at the spur of the moment anytime, anywhere. And any drum beat.
Crank ‘N’ Jam
Friday, March 2nd, 2012At CrankNStein’s Bar and Bike Shop:
The was Beer here
And Bikes here
The Black Sheep came for the evening
Here you could park your bike INSIDE the bar next to your table and not have to worry about having your custom made bicycle ripped-off.
And a Banjo or two
Apparently just having a bar isn’t enough in this town. They combine a bike shop and a bar/coffee house and then have an open bluegrass jam on Tuesday nights. The last straw was to invite square dancers. (It was too hard to move bikes in and out while people were dancing so they don’t do it anymore)
Iowa Blackie Found Dead at 62 !
Friday, February 25th, 2011Another crazy friend takes his last train ride…
Mr. Rick Gage
This is a picture of the hobo “Iowa Blackie” that I found on the internet (Google Image ‘Iowa Blackie’) . I think at the time he was on his way to the hobo convention in Britt, Iowa. His banjo case has been Photoshopped with the label “2003 IOWA Blackie” . Having his name in big letters just wasn’t his style.
Here I am with Iowa Blackie in Le Claire, Iowa during RAGBRAI
Here’s the Register’s comment on his death. I would always seem to catch him someplace on the Ragbrai ride. If I didn’t see him first, he would see me and then there would be an exchange of banjo jokes like you wouldn’t believe. He was a “hobo” of sorts and was voted ‘King of the Hoboes’ at one time. But how many hoboes have their own website? Check the site out before it’s gone: He’s got a refrigerator magnet on sale for $2!
The dude was a poet, too! Here’s a sample of his work “The Diarrhea Poem”
You ever had a day like that
When nothing seemed to come out right
Except when on the potty sat
So comfy with relief in sight
This time however you must run
For there is such an urgency
Of nature merely having fun
Disrupting your complacency
You make it in the nick of time
So thankful you were able to
And with a feeling most sublime
You let go with a mighty poo
Here’s to you, Mr. Gage. You will be missed.
beach banjo
Thursday, July 29th, 2010Jan at the beach:
Playing banjo at Storm Lake, Iowa
dogs, banjos and bicycles
Monday, July 19th, 2010That’s what Northern Colorado is all about!
In Old Town, Fort Collins
A little pre-Ragbrai ride with Duncan Madog, the RAGBRAI Banjo and the bike with the dog/banjo carrier attached! Only five days before the great feast of the RAGBRAI ! NO! Duncan Madog is not going on the ride this year!