Bluegrass and Barbeque - The Traveling Gourmand

Saturday was the first official day of Spring, 2010. I spent it cutting, hacking, and sawing bamboo (it's a Vietnam-Thing you'll never understand!). It was one of those days after a long, snowy winter that makes you realize there truly is a God. The birds were singing - flowers suddenly exploded out of nowhere - and it's bluegrass music season once more. By the time Saturday was done with the temperature had reached the mid-70's and I had to think about all the wool clothing taking up my closet space. Nothing goes together better than Barbeque and bluegrass. So on Sunday (another spectacular day) we headed over toward Davidsonville, Maryland to see some friends, take in a simple lunch, and enjoy the sounds of the Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition who were performing at the Davidsonville United Methodist Church. It was the perfect setting - the perfect food - the perfect music -for a most perfect of Spring days. Before I get to some words about the music I have to mention "Tongues of Fire" they're the people who serve up the food at the United Methodist Church. By the looks of the future dinner schedule they were passing around, this is a very active group of people. I loved their motto: "Spreading the Gospel one bite at a time!" On Sunday they were cooking up beef brisket, potatoes, salad, and lots of marvelous home-made desserts. I love to chow down - this is my kind of chow.

Dinner started an hour before show-time and the huge social hall was filled with dinner guests and bluegrass fans. The Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition have been playing this particular venue for several years annually. They opened with five new and old gospel numbers which took me by surprise, because this is not their usual line-up. I love the hard-core songs about hangins' killins' and She-done-me-wrong. But no matter. The Coalition is always entertaining, even when the group thinks they're experiencing glitches. Where they really show forth is in their role as Bluegrass ambassadors. Roger Green (guitar and lead vocals) is always 'audience considerate' and takes time to explain a song, explain the origin of the music, or talk about an obscure group or composer. The musical expertise that he brings to his weekly bluegrass broadcast on WRYR FM (Sherwood, Md.) he also carries along with him at the group's public appearances. Many thanks to the people at the Davidsonville United Methodist Church for a most wonderful afternoon of good food and good music. The Annapolis Bluegrass Coalition is: Roger Green, guitar -Dan Kimball, mandolin - Sue Tice, fiddle - Bob Tice, banjo - Jim Duvall, bass.