An amazing record. I miss AKUS so much these days.

I recently read Bill Amatneek's new biography / oral history of Tony Rice and really enjoyed it overall. It's largely based on conversations and interviews with friends, bandmates, and family members who knew Tony (or, as the theme of the book explores, didn't really know Tony) and those conversations were very candid and illuminating to read. There are a lot of fond reminiscences, along with some less-than-fond memories of their time with Tony, but they're all honest and help paint a nuanced picture of a complex person.

The interviewees include Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Mark Schatz, Ronnie Rice, Peter Rowan, and others. It's always enjoyable for me to read or listen in on the conversations of players at this level, especially these guys who have in many cases known each other and played together for thirty or forty years. Hell, in Sam's case it's no exaggeration to say he and Tony grew up together - they were just kids when they met at 18-19 years old. There's always something genuine and heartfelt in reading these thoughtful conversations between longtime friends, and you find yourself learning interesting things from their perspectives. Like at one point Bela talks briefly about guitarists that he's worked with since Tony, and he has high praise for folks like Bryan Sutton and Critter Eldridge, and alludes to Billy Strings as "Doc Watson on psychedelics." They're the kind of off-the-cuff observations that feel like you're getting an glimpse into an intimate conversation between old friends.

All that said... this is a complex book about a complex person. It's sad -- not just because it's a memorial to a giant in this music who passed too soon, but because Tony's situation was sad, especially in the last decade or so. I have some conflicted feelings about learning the things I learned in this book; I came away with a much more grounded, realistic understanding of one of my musical heroes, but I also now have a bit of mental baggage that I associate with him because his story is a difficult one with some real struggles.

To Bill's credit, before the last chapter (which deals with Tony's death and the situation surrounding it) he does offer a warning that we may not want to read further and could just put the book down right now. And in some ways, I wish I had, but I also now have a clear-eyed view of the legendary man behind the that legendary guitar. If you want to idolize Tony in an uncomplicated way, I wouldn't go there; if you want to better understand the challenges he faced (some of them self-inflicted, it must be said), this book will provide some unflinching insights.

Most of all, I came away from this book feeling even more regret over Tony's death -- in large part because like so many of his troubles, it was avoidable. Look at Sam Bush: there's only a year's difference between the two and Sam's still touring and playing his ass off with one of the hardest-working bands in bluegrass to this day. That could have been Tony too.

Come North, my American Bluegrass Friends. We have a wonderful festival each August Long Weekend, and this year the lineup is (again) incredible- from straight-ahead 'grass to country, folk, and Rootsicana, we are the place to be. Hope you will check us out at BlueberryBluegrass.com

https://preview.redd.it/pmkigs3163uc1.png?width=1000&format=png&auto=webp&s=e5ca04d0b9a851f15d93a0719d96805ed86a38ca

I am from Denver, so there are a lot of truly amazing bands and pickers in my area. Some of them that I love are the Fretliners, last years winners of the Telluride and Rockygrass band competitions, Lonesome Days, and the Blue Canyon Boys, winners of the 2008 Telluride band contest.

I am originally from Wisconsin, and 357 String Band is my first bluegrass band that I really loved. Joseph Huber from 357 is my all time favorite singer songwriter, and I really love Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, and Chicken Wire Empire.

My family band has a gig in Branson over Memorial weekend at silver dollar city and we’re hoping to add a paying show or two while in Branson. Any suggestions of locations we should contact?

I know theres other posts like this, and thats okay. I want to consult this whenever im looking for a new album to listen to. I feel a little overwhelmed because there is SO MUCH Bluegrass that ill never reach the end of it. Im just going to keep trudging through though. The last album I listened to was Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall. Anything, old or new is fine. Thanks 😊

This is embarrassing but I never realized there were no drums in the bg music I'm listening to. Until someone in here mentioned true bg not having drums. Then I thought "holy shit, there's no drums"! I just sat here and listened in ignorant bliss.

I like punk rock music and I always thought it was bc of the drumming. It just does it for me. But bg does it for me the same way.

I'm not sure anyone can actuality answer this. I'm not sure if matters much. But I it just occurred to me.

Wednesday, April 03 - Tuesday, April 09, 2024

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My guest this week on the podcast is Matt Glaser, Artistic Director of Berklee College of Music’s Center for American Roots Music.

Matt joins me to celebrate 15 years of the program, but also to delve into some of the themes of his superb 2023 Keynote Speech at IBMA. In the speech, Matt sets out the idea that American music can be seen as one thing, rather than simply a series of genres, and goes on to give countless examples of early musical connections between styles. There’s so much in here about how early country, bluegrass, blues and jazz cross over. It’s fascinating stuff.

We chat about his approach, how music education differs in the UK and US and why being curious is more important than being right.

I really enjoyed this one.

https://bluegrassjamalong.com/matt-glaser-celebrating-15-years-of-berklees-american-roots-music-program/

(and do go and watch Matt’s IBMA Keynote on YouTube - you’ll find info in the show notes)

It was about like newer sequels to older songs like Dooley -> Dooleys farm

I still can't believe I made it this year. Clay Street Unit and Broken Compass were the standouts. Andy Frasco was fun. I was disappointed with Winter Wonderwomen, I was really looking forward to seeing them, but bleh.

I was listening to a random bluegrass playlist on Spotify and this instrumental tune by Bela Fleck was on the playlist. I like Bela Fleck so I decided to give it a listen. Well, let me tell you guys, it is the best bluegrass instrumental ever! It’s called Deviation and Bela performed it with Newgrass Revival. So I definitely recommend that y’all check it out! 🙂

Is that Grisman singing those high parts?