SPRING!

If you are like me, you love Spring.  I have been blessed not to suffer from spring allergies so far, which is another plus for me.  My favorite seasons are Fall and Spring.  Summer gets too hot, though I enjoy the longer hours of daylight.  Winter has been biting harder the last couple of years, but I still love the snow and colder weather.

Fall is the celebration of the harvest and a joy of the coming winter.  Spring is an awakening and looking forward to growth and warmer weather.  Spring is also the opening of my picking season.  Fall is prime picking time also.  While I do some programs through the winter, I have not been on a level to do a lot yet.

This year I am looking forward excitedly to a year of solo performances.  Several are already set up.  I am not quite where I want to be yet, but am continuing to work in that direction.  I have the hope and desire to write more songs as well.  I have a few that I have written and need to work those into my performances.  They will be on my upcoming CD, which also must be finished.

Today is a a beautifully warm day and I also want to get my canoe on the water, if I can get Vincent moving and agreeing to go with me.  I need to pick up new fishing licenses for us as well.  I would love to do some river paddling, but want to get Vincent trained on flat water first so he will know what to do once on the river.

My next program is next Thursday at the SEBA meeting in Ellijay and I look forward to that.  Many of you have asked me about David.  He is doing well and enjoying being retired from performing.  I certainly wish him all the best.  I look forward to seeing many of you this year as I continue to perform.  I appreciate your continuing friendship, encouragement, and support.

I have had the privilege of going to see Claire Lynch and Matt Wingate in Dahlonega, and Jim Hurst  in
Atlanta since the first of the year.  These are top notch musicians and great people to get to talk with.  If you get the chance go out and see them and support their efforts. 

I will see you down the trail.

Labels

Musically, I have never been very fond of labels.  They are handy, but sometimes feel to me like they put into a too small box of what you do.  Our first band, The Blood Mountain Boys played mostly bluegrass music and I played banjo almost exclusively in that band.  But I did not want to be known as a 'bluegrass band', though we probably were, with some progressive tendencies.   There have been times we have played a lot of gospel music and performed in different churches, but I did not want to be known as a gospel group.  David and I as Buck & Nelson, played a lot of old time and traditional music, but I did  not want to be known as an Old time musician either.  I was an am a mixture of all of these and started using the label Roots music more than anything.  A label that could be and was applied to Doc Watson, David Holt and other musicians I have tried to emulate.

Those labels can help to define a type music you play and sometimes to help you find a place to play, but I still have discouraged using them a lot.  There is one label that I would not mind earning.  That is the label of singer/songwriter.
I have written a few songs over the years, but hav not felt them good enough to sing regularly.  Like everything else, I think songwriting takes practice to get better, and I do plan to do much more songwriting.  I have lines and parts of songs that have been lying around for a while.  Some of these I will try to finish, some to incorporate in new songs, and also I have several ideas of songs I want to start and write.

When I look back it seems most of the people I admired most were songwriters and singers.  The Beatles were a band, but most were also songwriters.  Even Elvis wrote a song or two.  The one I followed most when learning to play was John Denver and how many great songs he wrote.  I still do a few of his songs.  James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot were and are two other favorites.  Of course Bob Dylan is in there and some of his songs were the first ones I learned.  I do a couple of his songs now and have another one or two I want to learn.  Willie Nelson can fit there, though he is mainly a country singer, he still wrote many great songs. 

I am working on a CD and plan to include some original songs on it.  Hopefully someone will like them enough for me to start performing them.  Maybe I will someday be able to honestly claim to be a singer/songwriter.  I'm getting a little long in the tooth to be starting something, but maybe it takes a lifetime of living for some of us to be able to write the songs we feel in our hearts. 

There are many ladies that fit this genre too, and several that I have come to admire, though I only mentioned the men above.  There are many others out there that I have not yet listed.  Men like Jerry Jeff Walker and Jimmy Buffett.  Country singer Shania Twain, Clint Black.  Didn't realize it for years, but Lester Flatt wrote many songs he and Earl did.

Other writers are doing excellent songs, but have not yet had a lot of commercial success.  These folks are the heart and soul of singer/songwriters.  Traveling the country, playing small venues, and writing the stories of their lives and those they meet.

I am not looking for, or expecting to be, some great commercial success.  I am just hoping to write some songs I would be happy and proud to sing, and a chance to share them with folks.

See you down the road.

Nelson Thomas

Listening to Music

I love to perform and I love to play and sing.  One of the great joys in my life to play music, or at least something close to music.  I also enjoy going to hear others perform and play music.  I really enjoy getting to meet musicians I admire and learn that they are real people willing to spend some time talking with you, even though you know you are nowhere near the level they are.

I had that expereience again last weekend.  Last Friday night I drove to Decatur, GA to hear the Claire Lynch Band performing at Eddie's Attic.  Claire has one of the best voices you will hear, and is easy on the eyes as well.  That is a killer combination.  The band consists of Jason Thomas, an extraordinary fiddle and mandolin player, as well as a great harmony singer.  The bassist is Mark Schatz, an awesome musician who also plays clawhammer banjo, dances, and performs a great hambone routine.  I have watched out for Mark since he was playing with the Tony Rice Unit many years ago.  He is one of the world's great upright bass players.  He replaced Missy Raines in the band a couple of years ago, another world class bassist.  On lead guitar, mandolin, and singing harmony is Matt Wingate.  He fits right in, keeping this one of the very best bands in the world of bluegrass.  The guitarist for Claire until last Spring was the phenomenal Jim Hurst.

A few years ago I was at the Wartrace Music Festival in Wartrace, TN and the Claire Lynch Band was one of the featured bands at the festival.  Buck and I were performing at the festival as an open mic guest, though we had a full slot of time and were included in the program that was handed out.  It was a great experience and we had the privilege of getting to spend some time talking with Jim Hurst.  Jim was so gracious to spend time with us and treated us as peers.

About a year after that, they were appearing at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, GA.  That is only about 15 miles from my house.  So I went to that and again had the chance to talk with Jim, meet Mark, and even speak a few words with Claire.  These are small things, but mean a lot to us.  I have always tried to remember that when I am performing and so I take time afterward to speak with all who want to come by and say hello.  I am nowhere near the level of these folks, but being on stage does put me in a category that most people do not completely identify with.

Again this past Friday, I was able to speak a few words to the band members.  Jason Thomas was very nice and I enjoyed speaking with him, as well as saying hello to Mark and Matt.  I was most happy to talk with Claire for a little while and to get a band photo signed by all of them.  I also came away with another of their CD's to listen to as I travel - the newest one, "Whatcha Gonna Do".

These folks have been gracious enough to accept me as a friend on Facebook too.  Through this medium, I have just learned that Jim Hurst will be doing a series of concerts in Georgia in the Spring, and I intend to be at one of those dates.  Jim is performing as a solo act right now and I am anxious to see him again.

Being a performer may make me go to a concert with a little different slant on things, but you do not need to be a musician to enjoy a concert.  Sometimes I think a non musician may even enjoy them even more.  Either way, I encourage you to go whenever you get the chance to support any performer that strikes your fancy.  It is good to support the arts, but sometimes it is more important to support the artists.

See you down the road.

Nelson Thomas

Getting back on the Water

Earlier this year, I posted about hoping to soon report on owning another canoe.  Today I get to do just that.  I found a canoe that was almost exactly what I have been looking for and worked out a deal with the owner.  I picked it up on Saturday.  I would like to put a photo on here, but it is just sitting in my back yard right now.  I will post some in action in the future.

Now that I have it, I am hoping I will enjoy the activity of canoing as much as, or at least partially as much as, I did when I was younger and doing a lot of canoing.  The next hurdle is finding the time and actually getting out on the water.  I want Vincent to learn about the canoe and to be able to use is well and safely, and would like to bring in Patrick and Caroline as well.  They are all so busy that it is hard to get time with them for these things, but I will keep trying.  I think they would enjoy it too.

The first canoe I owned was really made for use on lakes, but I used it on rivers, and even took it down the Nantahala once.  The second one I had was a square sterned aluminum canoe that I only took out on a few lakes.  Patrick was very small at the time, so I didn't get on many rivers (or any). 

Both previous canoes I have had were aluminum and I wanted one made of Royalex this time.  that is an ABS composite plastic material.  The Royalex is a very resilient and tough material.  It flexes and goes back to its original shape, instead of denting as aluminum does.  It also slides off rocks easier, aluminum tends to stick to rocks.

Those who have been around me much, know that I have been looking for another canoe for several years.  My dream canoe has been an Old Town Tripper.  A canoe that can be used for anything from recreation on the lake to extended trips in the wilderness and down long rivers.  It will hold over 1200 pounds of people and gear.  While that was my dream, I was looking at several different possibilities.  My desire was to have a canoe that was a minimum of 16 feet in length, and would take a Royalex, Polyethelene, or aluminum construction of that canoe.  The one material I did not want was fiberglass, as it is prone to holes when hit and not really good for river use.

My dreams of using the canoe involve day trips, overnight, weekend, and longer trips.  These may be on lakes, oceans or rivers, though most likely on lakes and rivers.  While I expect to stay mainly in the Southeast, - with the concentration on North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee, -   I hope to someday get farther away, such as the Western states, Canada, and Alaska.  Only time will tell if any of those happen.

Now for my new (used) Canoe.  It is a Blue Hole Canoe that was built in Sunbright, TN.  This was one of the premier canoes of the 1970's and early 1980's, and the first of the Royalex designs.  The one I have is 17 feet in length, has a rounded bottom, 15 inch depth, and slight rocker to help handle whitewater.  It is very close to the Old Town Tripper in capacity and versalitity of use.  While for years I wanted a green canoe (the dark green used by  Old Town), though would take a red or the silver of the aluminum canoe and be perfectly happy (I had inquired on several Gurmmans while looking).  In the past year, I decided that I really would prefer a red canoe.  Color is not the main thing though, use is.  The one I have is blue, which I have went ahead and named "Old Blue".  It has seen some use, but obviously has a lot of use left in it.  I hope to get a lot of that out.  While I am not the whitewater paddler I was in younger years, I do plan to do some whitewater paddling.

My wife has already told me I could not go alone, though that will still be discussed further.  I see no problems on going out on the lake and practicing alone, but she does.  The good news is that my nephew Matthew has said he will go with me.  Hopefully this will work out when I cannot get Vincent to go.  Matthew already has a little experience on the water.

You may have gathered that I am excited about this development in my life.  I have to clean up the canoe some.  It has been hanging in a shed and needs cleaning inside and out.  I then plan to try using Armor All on it to protect the color and exterior.  Maybe, making it look a little newer, though if it doesnt' that is okay too.

See you down the river,

Nelson

Recording

I am excited about recording a  CD to have available when I perform.  I don't know how many of you reading this have ever tried recording anything, but it isn't as easy as it seems.  Maybe it is for some people, but not for me.  David and I started over two years ago working on a CD, and never finished it.  We have some good tracks and some that still need work.  Now I am working on a solo CD and am struggling with whether to make it completely solo or to invite in some friends to play on some tracks.  I like both ideas.

My other adventure in recording was in 1994 & 1995 when David and I recorded and produced a cassette tape.  I would like to digitize that to reissue as a CD also, but first things first.  Recording is a challenge.  The first challenge is adjusting the microphones between instrument and vocals to get the right mix and sound.  I have that mostly worked out.  The biggest challenge is recording the song almost perfectly and having the right energy for the song.  The frustrating part is sitting down and playing the song perfectly, then turning on the recorder and messing up every other phrase.  Recording is very different from playing live.  Little glitches that I would never pay attention to live become a reason to discard the track.  What is on that CD is forever and you want it to be right (at least I do).

I am enthusiastic for the project and have my list of songs ready.  The other challenge is finding the quiet time to record.  Between work, things that have to be done around the house, having everyone making noise, not to mention two dogs that like to bark whenever I try to record.  Just have to keep at it.  Hoping I can capture something that sounds decent and finish this project.

Thanks for sticking with me.  You will know how it went when the CD is available.

See you down the road,

Nelson

Refinding the Joy

For most of the years I have been playing, I had a saying.  I would say that  'There are lots of people who play and sing better than I do, but no one enjoys it any more."  That remains true, though in the last year, I feel as though I have lost a bit of that joy.  Not in my core, but some in my exhibition of the joy I am feeling when I play.

It may have something to do with the stroke I had the summer of 2009, and it may not.  It has happened since that time though.  I first noticed it on some of the recordings we had made of performances. After listening to them, I told David (Buck) that something was missing to me.  It did not sound like I was having fun.  I wasn't telling many jokes, or even talking a lot.  After hearing those playbacks, I started noticing it as it was happening.  I wasn't as quick as normal, wasn't moving much or tapping my toes even.  I was still experiencing joy inside, but it wasn't bubbling to the outside.  I would find that I wasn't even smiling much of the time, and that was not the me I had been for so long.

So as I am getting started again on a solo performance road, I find myself working on songs and picking, singing, stories and jokes, and in finding the joy to share with my audience.  It is there, I just have to make sure it shows.  Music has to be fun to you or it will be too much work.  It does take a lot of time to practice, to travel, and to perform.  But it is always worth it to me.  Before I was taking Blood pressure medicine, I found that performing would lower my blood pressure.  Now that I am a Type 2 Diabetic, I have found that performing lowers my blood sugar just as much as walking does.  It has health benefits for me, as well as spiritual and soul enriching benefits.  I do love to play and perform.  And I thank those of you who come out to support me as I do.

I look forward to seeing you down the road.  If I don't have a smile, give me one of yours.

Nelson

Reflecting on Fall

Fall has brought special feelings within me all my life.  I remember even as a child having warm and somewhat nostalgic feelings every year during the fall.  Maybe it started with being raised in a rural area and realizing that fall meant the harvest and more time for families to spend together as they readied for the winter.  There was still lots of work to do, but it wasn't the same as during the long, growing days of summer.  It was something of a winding down of the year, and I loved it.  I enjoyed the cooler days that required me to have a jacket in the mornings and evenings, and even sometimes in the afternoons.

This season continues to bring warm feelings within me.  It seems to cause me to reflect more on my life, things I have done, things I have wanted to do, and some things that I miss.  And not just things, but people who have been in my life, for a short time, for a long time, and family members that are no longer with us.

Also, like spring, fall is a musical time for me.  It is a time that I always feel a strong draw to playing and performing.  Like the days were meant to be sung about and to sing in them.  It is a time for reflecting and writing.  Whether writing letters, stories, or songs, it is a time to be creative.  It is a time to remember and to hopefully figure how to use the lessons of the past to do better in the future.

The fall weather and leaf color also tends to call to me to be outside.  I want to sit on the porch, go build a campfire, go camping, go hiking, go somewhere to be in the woods, go canoing, or almost anything just to be outside.  Walking in the woods during the fall is only slightly less pleasurable than walking in the woods when it is snowing.  Both have their own sounds, feel, and smells that enhance the experience.

As I sit here at work, knowing I will be here until almost dark, I am antsy to grab my guitar and go outside to pick, and maybe work on writing a new song.  Maybe tomorrow.

Enjoy the fall and I'll see you down the road.