My Head is Spinning.

2 April 2014:

     Everybody's sick and my head is spinning. Nah, I'm not sick. I'm perfectly well as a matter of fact; but it seems like everyone else is sick. My head is spinning from so much good entertainment in the past couple of weeks. I'm on a streak which began March 22nd with another Blue Train appearance up in Felton, Pennsylvania, at the Union Volunteer Fire Company. You can never be disappointed at a Blue Train event - and I wasn't disappointed with the program that's going on in Felton at the Fire House. Young Corey Robertson is the major domo spear-heading an effort to bring regularly programmed bluegrass to Felton, Pa. He started out in January with Fastest Grass Alive, then in February with Foggy Hollow, and Blue Train's appearance in March rounded up the series. I'm in agreement with a whole lot of others: keep it up. keep it going. Felton is a tiny backwater sort of  town south of  York, Pa. and northeast of  Shrewsbury, off  Rt. 83. There didn't appear to be much going on there except along Main Street six or seven stately old Victorian houses were still festooned with Christmas lights and it looked neat to see them. The crowd at the Firehouse was small by standards, and sedate, but Blue Train livened up the place by the time they got into the second set. A particular group of Blue Train camp-followers humorously known as the "Blue Train Singers and Dancers" showed the Felton audience that you can listen to some serious bluegrass and have fun at the same time. The third set topped them all. More of  the audience joined the dance floor and I had fun talking to such favorite local musicians as Dave Robertson, Tim Pritchard, Harold Tipton, Carroll Swam, and Dean Phillips. There was also a following from Goofy's Eatery and Spirits in Spring Grove, Pa. Sara Shock, Donny and Cathy, plus a few others. It was good to see everyone, especially Donny, who's looking better everyday since his stroke this winter.
     It's a good start on a venture worth pursuing as long as an audience supports it and makes it worthwhile for the musicians. I have to hand it to the volunteers that night, too. They made everyone feel welcomed and kept the kitchen hopping. With all the musical talent available to Corey and his team in the York area, this effort to bring quality bluegrass to Felton could go on for a long time. It's up to the folks in Felton to - 'next time, invite and bring along a friend!'  For more information click on feltonfireco.org. or find them on Facebook at "Felton Fire Company."

Corey Robertson (at microphone) gets ready to introduce Blue Train to the Felton Fire Hall audience.

29 March 2014: Herndon, Virginia 

     We had a chance tonight to see the Seldom Scene for free in Fairfax City. I opted instead to entice Connie out to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church Bluegrass Series and pay  $24 to see the "Blue Moon Cowgirls." What, you ask? Why would I want to do that? Number one, I'm not too thrilled with girl groups, and Number 2, I'm not too thrilled with anything that sounds like I'm going to have to listen to cowboy songs all night. I thought it a good idea to experience a change of pace, and besides Lynn Healey is part of the group and so is Karen Collins. I've always appreciated Lynn's singing. It's quite a line-up of talent and experience; experience that goes way beyond the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metro areas. The group is Ira Gitlin on guitar and Karen Collins, Ann Porcella, and Lynn Healey. Although they all play instruments at various times throughout the evening, the strength is in the vocal harmonies. The second set was a presentation of each singer's abilities through show-case solos. The play-list was rich with bluegrass, gospel, mountain ballads, a touch of Les Paul and Mary Ford, and yes, some Roy Rogers and Dale Evans "Happy Trails" as a finale.
     It was the right change of pace - no doubt. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and so did everyone else. I've been to Bob Thompson's bluegrass series a lot and have always enjoyed his offerings. On this night I was surprised to see a nearly-full house, and a house that responded so enthusiastically to the Blue Moon Cowgirls.

The Blue Moon Cowgirls at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Herndon, Virginia

30 March 2014:  Port Deposit, Md.

     Northern Connection is playing again at Jumbo Jimmy's Crab Shack today. A beautiful warm Sunday, and lo and behold I look out the door and it's snowing, raining, sleeting. Within seconds it's as if God turned out all the lights. We're doomed. Another unpredicted late winter (or is it spring yet?) storm. You figure it can't last, but it does, and leaves all the major highways covered in slush. Cars are sliding around Tysons' Corner as I try to get on the Beltway towards Maryland. Then rain. Buckets and buckets of rain slowing down traffic to a crawl and stops and starts. Oddly, it all ends near the exit for Columbia, Maryland and I'm home free until I reach Port Deposit and the snow starts again. I'm thinking nobody is going to show up today to see Frankie Short and Northern Connection. The house had a lot of people when I entered and the band started. That was a surprise; and then more showed up as the late afternoon progressed into evening. In reality, this was only the third official gig for Frankie's new band and I had to be reminded of that by Frankie himself.  The first set was fabulous. Tight, old-school bluegrass and I like that style. Leading most of the vocals is Mark Seitz, who along with playing amazing mandolin, anchors all the group's vocals. A real sleeper in the group is bass-player Brian Eldreth, who is also an excellent vocalist. Combined, the group is a like a box of  fresh dynamite;  under Frankie's watchful eye and keen ear, it's tightly controlled combustion. But that was only part of the fun.

      Beginning in the second set and into the third, Fiddler/singer Warren Blair joined in, along with Keri Seitz, Darlene Harris, and AcrossTheTrack Bluegrass's lead vocalist, Darin Wassum. There was a lot of yelling going on. "Get up here, Darin!" "Come on quick-time." Frankie would yell. Frankie would have made an excellent Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant. I get a great pleasure watching how people handle roles of  leadership. I like Frankie's method of  brass-tacks, get it done, the music's starting, do it now. No chaos. No mess. The program flowed as well as it should have and in accordance with the energy being produced on Jumbo Jimmy's old worn dance floor. The dance floor was never hotter than when T.J. Lundy and Warren Blair combined for driving fiddle duets. Part Barn Dance, part old-time crooning, part fiddling contest, Northern Connection connected. Frankie Short needs to take this extravaganza energy package out on to a broader highway and a bigger audience. They'll be back at Jumbo Jimmy's on April 13th at 4:00.

  Frankie Short and Northern Connection at Port Deposit, Md. 30 March 2014