GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 203

Curtis Jones Interview

Curtis Jones is a supremely diverse musician and a world-class acoustic guitarist. Down to earth, humble and amazingly gifted. I know you will enjoy meeting my friend Curtis Jones. If you want your mind blown, go see him play live.

His interview is another in my series to try to convince the listeners that Georgia has produced an amazing number of fine bluegrass musicians. Sometimes many people tend to think that great bluegrass simply must come from Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia or Tennessee. Curtis is one more great example in favor of Georgia born musicians.

The segue music you hear at the start of the interview is from Curtis' CD "Blue As I" (1998) and is a bit of his original instrumental "Pistol Pete". The outro music is his song "Better Days" from the same recording.

Both tunes feature Curtis on guitar, Alison Brown on banjo, Dan Tyminski on mandolin and Missy Raines on bass. "Better Days" features Curtis singing lead with Shawn Lane singing tenor.

Enjoy the show.

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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you all!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 202

Jim "Duck" Adkins Interview

Duck is many things: musician, banjo player, singer, band leader, teacher. He has been playing and entertaining crowds for fifty years and is a well-known figure in the Atlanta and N. Georgia area. Sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation with this one-of-a-kind bluegrass personality.

The segue music you hear at the start of the interview is Jim Adkins and Cedar Hill kicking off "Runaway" on their 1984 album "Mama Don't Allow". The outro music is the "Duck" singing "Your Cheating Heart" from Cedar Hill's 1982 recording "Ruff N Ready".

Note: We could have talked for 100 hours. This interview barely scratches the surface of what this guy has been up to for half a century. Get to know him. You will be better for it.

Enjoy the show.

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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you all!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 201

Harps Jackson Interview

Everything you ever wanted to know about the harmonica brought to you by a guy who truly can play the thing. He has played in blues, gospel, country, rock and bluegrass settings and he is always tasteful and skilled. You can't say that for a lot of folks who get up on stage and blow through some pathetic, sorry attempt. Harps is the kind of player, with the kind of dedication, who cares about music. I feel lucky to have met him, to have played with him in two bands, and call him my friend. I hope you enjoy this discussion and glean some of his wisdom which can be applied to all forms of music.

Both of the sample musical cuts are from The Incorrigible String Band's CD titled "It's Raining Words". Harps is on harmonica, Cory Chambers on guitar and vocals, Tim Ussery on mandolin and Bradley Laird on bass.

Enjoy the show.

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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you all!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 200

Merry Christmas

I just came in the from the yard throwing the baseball back and forth with Jackson and my wife is in the house making Christmas cookies. When I finish this episode I plan to sit down and watch "The Christmas Story" with the family. 

In this episode I talk about creating a digitized version of my Flatiron mandolin and I offer up a couple of examples created by my son. I talk a bit about Doyle Lawson's retirement, jamming with the radio on Christmas songs, and that's about it.

Merry Christmas, folks!

IT IS NOT TOO LATE!!!  All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bells!

Enjoy the show.

-------------------------------------

If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you all!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 199

Uncle Rico's Time Machine

Put the handle between your legs. Set the date on the dial. Don't forget to put the crystal in the clamp. Tell Kip to throw the switch. You will be instantly transported to another time and place. In this case, Motorhead's Bar and Grill on a Thursday night in McDonough, Georgia.

Take notes. This has everything: How to cope with 15 free shots for the band, the buzzing of countless neon lights, screaming adoring fans, smashing beer bottle sounds, the snapping of a "smoke eater" machine, a late fiddle player, a fill in bass player thereby causing us to "wing" all of the harmonies since we are missing our tenor singer. 

Pay attention to Buddy's guitar playing. Those little mid-range licks put right into the gaps! It is a perfect representation of good bluegrass guitar. David's banjo playing is top notch and different from what you are used to. Mike's fiddle, despite no time to warm up, is truly amazing. Tony's bass playing, even though he is winging it on every tune, proves what a great musician (with "great ears") he truly was. And the tone from my 1985 Carlson Flatiron is better than I have ever heard it. Golden times before everyone lost their minds. Back then, only WE had lost out minds.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of my good friend and mentor Tony Terrell who taught me so much about piano tuning, rebuilding and introduced me to so much great music. 

It has a drunk bar owner (the guy with the $300 at the end of the night) hassling us to play Free Bird, our answer, including an "alright, wise guy, I'll show you", cynically wicked slide mandolin solo using a Craftsman deep well socket, multiple "guest slots" from folks in the audience, a tear-jerking version of Dixie, Sally Goodin the old time way... It has it all. And despite all of the very obvious flaws, it is a great gig! And they kept us on for 3 more years! 

By the way, when I told Harry that we'd play Free Bird in the fourth set, that was a joke. We were only booked for three sets.

Happy Thanksgiving, folks!

And don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming! All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bells!

Enjoy the show.

-------------------------------------

If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you all!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 198

A Major Award & The Ed Davis Method

In this episode I discuss an award my son received for his music composition "Run Away" and how we can learn from that. You can download his award winning composition for free right here in my online store. (In the episode I mistakenly said that his song was on his EP "Beacon". Wrong. It is on "Hands Up". But, it doesn't matter. You can download both EPs for free.

I also talk about a recent gig and something you should check for if your microphones are getting long in the tooth. Then I get to the meat of the episode and explain to you the Ed Davis method of taking music lessons and how it might be something wise for you to try.

I also made quick mention of one of my personally favorite creations for banjo players--The Flint Hill Scrolls eBook. You can get a copy for yourself right here. http://www.bradleylaird.com/dojo/buy-FHS.html

And don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming! All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bells!

Enjoy the show.

-------------------------------------

If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you all!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 197

Chatty Light Interview

Recently I was asked to be a guest on the Chatty Light Podcast. I thought you might enjoy hearing it.  Thank you, Colton, Alex and crew! It was fun.

And for my son Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bells!

Enjoy the show.

-------------------------------------

If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you all!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 196

Mushrooms and Metronomes

This nice cool evening I simply held the recorder in my hand and talked about how you can focus and get good at one thing and it will carry over into lots of other things you have not even tried. I also talk a bit about my mushroom project and other oddities. Enjoy the show! 

And for my boy Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bells!

Enjoy the show.

-------------------------------------

If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.  I love you guys and gals!

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 195

An Early Morning Rant

One of the things in life that I cherish is to rise early, to get up before the chickens, watch the stars and think about life.

This morning I got up, jotted down a few notes on a brown paper sack, and hit record. My intended subject was "Ten Ways To Play Better Bluegrass" but, as usual, I wandered a bit.

I have included actual live cricket sounds and a bug zapper in the background just to help you imagine the scene. I also did an unpaid endorsement of The Bug-A-Salt 3.0. Enjoy the show.

-------------------------------------

If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 194

David Mathis of Gallagher Guitar

Gallagher guitars, made in Tennessee, were first brought to the attention of guitar players when the legendary Doc Watson chose a D-50 Gallagher in the late 1960's.

David has taken of the reins to keep the Gallagher legacy alive and you too can still get your hands on one! Here is a link to the Gallagher website. Enjoy the show.

-------------------------------------

If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 193

They Said It Couldn't Be Done

Bill Monroe only made one minor mistake in the creation of Blue Grass music. That is the trying, and later elimination, of the accordion in his ensemble. Well, if you listen all the way to end of this podcast, you will hear some of the greatest music ever put on wax. Had Bill met Dominic Frontiere there is a good chance we would all have accordions in our bluegrass groups today! I challenge the whippersnapper upstart Chris Thile to play THAT! 

Aside from that monstrous revelation, I also talk about whether one should joke with government employees, growing mushroooms, divine intervention, "breakthrough" miracles, patience, the sub-conscious mind, and all those other good things which turn average "pickers" into self-surprising musicians.

If you want proof of my three bullseyes go to the show notes for this episode right here. With Jackson as my witness, miracles do happen!

No! Not the chair!

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If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!

You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.