From The Side of the Road… email shorthand for grassers
We’ve all been seeing the ways in which AI technology is already being used to improve our lives, that is before it destroys civilization as we know it about two years from now. As an example of its practical application, I’ve already used it in a December column to write Christmas songs about moonshine, Grandpa, […]
From The Side of the Road… Bill v. Earl, revisited
For some reason, pandemic nostalgia perhaps, there has been a whole new round of comments about an editorial written by David Morris in Bluegrass Today back in late 2020 about who the real “Father of Bluegrass” is, Bill Monroe or Earl Scruggs. Are we that starved for debate fodder at the moment that we have […]
From The Side of the Road… more bluegrass translations
Last week I was preoccupied with another side business I have, which is the raising of prize miniature llamas (one of the llamas had gone off her feed and would eat nothing but stir-fried alfalfa pellets, and the whole thing got very labor intensive). I want to thank the editorial staff for reposting an earlier […]
From The Side of the Road… bluegrass, euphemistically speaking
People that are new to bluegrass music sometimes need some help in translating our jargon. Hearing that someone is “tearing it up on the five” may sound like ordinary and recognizable information to us, but to the uninitiated, it’s not immediately apparent that this means “playing the banjo really well.” To an outsider, this could […]
From The Side of the Road… impress your friends – talk bluegrass!
I’ll admit that, perhaps because of my radio day job, I listen more intently than I should to radio advertising. I’m especially drawn to those featuring contrived conversations: “You mean you really get cash back on every gas purchase?!” “Yes I do.” “Wow! That settles it. I’m downloading the app today! What was that web […]
Chris Jones’ From The Side of the Road coming in book form
With the advent of the publication of Chris Jones‘ 500th column here at Bluegrass Today comes word that a selection of his previous contributions are set to be published in a book. Chris is working now on selecting which ones will be included, and writing introductions for various sections. Chris noted the milestone of 500 […]
From The Side of the Road… 500th column reflections
This is my 500th column for Bluegrass Today. This has taken me a little by surprise; I thought I had run out of ideas by column 50, and perhaps I had. But somehow, even if running on fumes and a lean mixture, here we are. To be honest, I don’t really know what to do […]
From The Side of the Road… Catch the Bluegrass Wave
The IBMA is in the midst of a membership drive which has been christened, “Catch the Bluegrass Wave.” Before going any further I want to encourage you to become a member of this organization that continues to do great work advancing the cause of bluegrass music worldwide. I’m a former board member myself, and a […]
The Price of Falling from Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
Mountain Home Music has a new single for Chris Jones & The Night Drivers, continuing in their signature style of thoughtful, understated songs that exemplify what’s best in contemporary bluegrass. The Price of Falling is another that Jones has written, about the universal emotions of falling in love, and what it does to everyone who […]
From The Side of the Road… B-o-o-o-r-i-n-g
We have an annual(ish) tradition here, which is to compile some of bluegrass music’s most uninteresting stories of the past year, after which I try to narrow them down to five that really stand out as yawn-inducers. Why do we do this, you might justifiably ask? Well, just speaking personally, I take comfort in these […]
