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
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sinking in
I have the mixed blessing of having my computer at home not working. This means that I cannot update my website and other things as I would like to. It also means that I won't get 'lost' surfing the net when I should be picking more. On top of that, it means that if I want to update my blog, such as now, I have to find some quiet time at work and do it then (now).
It is sinking in that I am about to be a solo act again. As I have said before, there are things that I look forward to about that, and other things, not so much. I do know that I have a lot of work to do to be where I want to be for performing solo.
This weekend I was working on recording some for a CD. I listened to a song I had written that David and I had recorded last year while working toward a duo CD and realized that there was nothing I could do alone that would sound as good as what we did together. It made me realize how much I would miss his picking and singing beside me. There are things I can do to sound good ( I almost said good enough, but remembered that good enough seldom is), just not as good as it is with two. Kind of like Doc Watson. I have gone to see him many times in the last 35 years. I have heard him with Jack Lawrence, his Grandson Richard, with David Holt and others. He always sounds great, but has never sounded quite at great as he did with Merle and T. Michael Coleman. I will just have to work those songs out to where they sound right when I play them alone, and maybe I can have some other picking friends to join me sometimes too.
When I played solo before, it took me a while to get to the point that I felt as good about my show alone as I did as a duo. I first tried to replicate our duo show by myself. It did not work. I finally figured out what worked best for me to do alone, and then worked on new songs to add and improve my show. I am hoping, and believe, it will not take as long to get back to that point as it did the first time. I do have set lists from before to work from, and have put together a list of more songs I want to add. Now to work out the arrangements and instrumentation that best works for me and the audience.
October 16th at Unicoi will be the final Buck and Nelson Performance. David has taken time off periodically since he first started picking. I have a feeling that he may really be retiring this time. I will miss him, and I will enjoy continuing to perform. We have been friends since high school and will continue to be friends. I wish him all the best in whatever he does, and hope he finds a way he enjoys to share the talent he has on musical instruments. And I hope I may occasionally have the welcome surprise I had at several programs I played solo before and look out in the audience to see him sitting there.
I want to get back to writing more songs again. I have put that in the back and stopped doing it as much. I have several ideas for songs and need to get them on paper and add music.
I also need to get back to marketing, promoting, and booking shows. I have 3 programs to play solo between now and the end of November. I have been thinking back and remember that I set up more shows solo that I did as a duo. Part of that was because I liked to be performing regularly to keep myself sharp, and partly because I enjoy traveling more than David does. I need to pull out my list of venues, start making calls and writing letters or e-mails, then add to the list of venues I already have. I also want to start targeting places I would like to go and perform. I am thinking of taking a week or so this winter and doing a small tour through Florida. I have joined the Friends of Florida Folk and have a list of many places that have music throughout the year. So we will see.
Of course, I really need to finish my CD and have it available to sell at shows, and especially if I am to take a tour of anything out of my usual area. I do have a list of songs I plan to include and may add or take away as I see how they sound when played back to me.
I appreciate those of you who have followed me enough to find this blog. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and for coming out to my performances. If you know of a place I could perform near you, please let me know and I will check it out.
See you down the road,
Nelson
It is sinking in that I am about to be a solo act again. As I have said before, there are things that I look forward to about that, and other things, not so much. I do know that I have a lot of work to do to be where I want to be for performing solo.
This weekend I was working on recording some for a CD. I listened to a song I had written that David and I had recorded last year while working toward a duo CD and realized that there was nothing I could do alone that would sound as good as what we did together. It made me realize how much I would miss his picking and singing beside me. There are things I can do to sound good ( I almost said good enough, but remembered that good enough seldom is), just not as good as it is with two. Kind of like Doc Watson. I have gone to see him many times in the last 35 years. I have heard him with Jack Lawrence, his Grandson Richard, with David Holt and others. He always sounds great, but has never sounded quite at great as he did with Merle and T. Michael Coleman. I will just have to work those songs out to where they sound right when I play them alone, and maybe I can have some other picking friends to join me sometimes too.
When I played solo before, it took me a while to get to the point that I felt as good about my show alone as I did as a duo. I first tried to replicate our duo show by myself. It did not work. I finally figured out what worked best for me to do alone, and then worked on new songs to add and improve my show. I am hoping, and believe, it will not take as long to get back to that point as it did the first time. I do have set lists from before to work from, and have put together a list of more songs I want to add. Now to work out the arrangements and instrumentation that best works for me and the audience.
October 16th at Unicoi will be the final Buck and Nelson Performance. David has taken time off periodically since he first started picking. I have a feeling that he may really be retiring this time. I will miss him, and I will enjoy continuing to perform. We have been friends since high school and will continue to be friends. I wish him all the best in whatever he does, and hope he finds a way he enjoys to share the talent he has on musical instruments. And I hope I may occasionally have the welcome surprise I had at several programs I played solo before and look out in the audience to see him sitting there.
I want to get back to writing more songs again. I have put that in the back and stopped doing it as much. I have several ideas for songs and need to get them on paper and add music.
I also need to get back to marketing, promoting, and booking shows. I have 3 programs to play solo between now and the end of November. I have been thinking back and remember that I set up more shows solo that I did as a duo. Part of that was because I liked to be performing regularly to keep myself sharp, and partly because I enjoy traveling more than David does. I need to pull out my list of venues, start making calls and writing letters or e-mails, then add to the list of venues I already have. I also want to start targeting places I would like to go and perform. I am thinking of taking a week or so this winter and doing a small tour through Florida. I have joined the Friends of Florida Folk and have a list of many places that have music throughout the year. So we will see.
Of course, I really need to finish my CD and have it available to sell at shows, and especially if I am to take a tour of anything out of my usual area. I do have a list of songs I plan to include and may add or take away as I see how they sound when played back to me.
I appreciate those of you who have followed me enough to find this blog. Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and for coming out to my performances. If you know of a place I could perform near you, please let me know and I will check it out.
See you down the road,
Nelson
Friday, September 10, 2010
Moving on Down the Road
So now what? Playing solo again. Did not ask for this, but am fine with it also. As I said in the previous post, I will miss having David at the performances. Though I also look forward to some aspects of performing solo.
I think that maybe I was needing a change too, though I did not realize it. My mind has been much more active in the last few days as I start preparing for the solo road. Working on songs, thinking of where to play, and even recording some for a CD. Getting a little excited about it.
Financially, it can be good. I can make less from the venues and still make more personally. There will be places that I cannot play, either because they only book bands, or the type of music does not fit. So what type music will I fit into? Not bluegrass, not new grass, or even crabgrass as David and I often joked about. I would say I am more Folk than anything as I like a wide variety of music, even some more modern songs. As I thought about bluegrass and bluegrass festivals, I got to thinking that maybe I was playing grass seed music. That is more of the music that Bluegrass was developed from. I know Bluegrass festivals have welcomed Doc Watson and Jim Hurst, but I am certainly not the picker either of those guys are. So I guess I will look more at Folk festivals when searching for festivals to play at. They are more welcoming to solo acts than a Bluegrass festival is.
Coffeehouses, parks, folk societies, restaurants, house concerts and other musical venues will be hearing from me for next year. If you have suggestions, please let me know. First I need to update my promo materials, get new solo photos, finish a CD to have available, set up my solo website, and update MySpace, also will add a Reverbnation site as a solo. Of to do all that, I need to be working hard on the music, so when I do get booked, I will be ready.
nelsonthomas.com is not available. Set up as www.nelsontmusic.com and also set up a musician facebook page as nelson T Music. And it begins.
Life is good. See you down the road.
Nelson
I think that maybe I was needing a change too, though I did not realize it. My mind has been much more active in the last few days as I start preparing for the solo road. Working on songs, thinking of where to play, and even recording some for a CD. Getting a little excited about it.
Financially, it can be good. I can make less from the venues and still make more personally. There will be places that I cannot play, either because they only book bands, or the type of music does not fit. So what type music will I fit into? Not bluegrass, not new grass, or even crabgrass as David and I often joked about. I would say I am more Folk than anything as I like a wide variety of music, even some more modern songs. As I thought about bluegrass and bluegrass festivals, I got to thinking that maybe I was playing grass seed music. That is more of the music that Bluegrass was developed from. I know Bluegrass festivals have welcomed Doc Watson and Jim Hurst, but I am certainly not the picker either of those guys are. So I guess I will look more at Folk festivals when searching for festivals to play at. They are more welcoming to solo acts than a Bluegrass festival is.
Coffeehouses, parks, folk societies, restaurants, house concerts and other musical venues will be hearing from me for next year. If you have suggestions, please let me know. First I need to update my promo materials, get new solo photos, finish a CD to have available, set up my solo website, and update MySpace, also will add a Reverbnation site as a solo. Of to do all that, I need to be working hard on the music, so when I do get booked, I will be ready.
nelsonthomas.com is not available. Set up as www.nelsontmusic.com and also set up a musician facebook page as nelson T Music. And it begins.
Life is good. See you down the road.
Nelson
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Deja Vu all over again
I love that saying by Yogi Berra. It is both amusing and accurate, as it repeats the meaning of the first part. It is a little appropriate for me right now because of my performing situation. Around 1996 David decided to stop performing, and did not perform with me for about 2 years. This year he has made the decision to retire from performing and has been telling me of the plan all year. As it stands we have a few more performances together, concluding with the Oct. 16th show at Unicoi State Park.
I will miss him standing on stage beside me. I will miss his help in creating a good performance. I will miss his excellent musicianship and instrumental ability. I will miss having him to share a rundown of how the show went. I do thank him for all years and time we have spent to get as far as we have. Thank him for his drive to be as good as possible before putting anything in the show. Thank him for pulling me above what I might have first thought possible. I have enjoyed the friendship, the comraderie, and all the music. Thank you David for 38 years along this musical road.
We started on this musical journey together in 1972. Practicing in my parents basement for a couple of years. Then getting with some other friends and beginning to perform as the Blood Mountain Boys in 1974. Later we were in a trio with Jimmy Waters called the Morningstar String Ensemble. Then around 1983 we began performing as a duo, which we continued until now, except for a couple of years in the late 1990's as I said before.
I have a job in front of me to get my shows back to a suitable level as a solo act. That requires choosing material, working on instruments and arrangements, learning new songs, writing new songs, and being ready to entertain an audience and keep them involved. I look forward to this in many ways and there are things I enjoy about performing solo. It is easy to get together to practice. If presented with an offer to play, I need only check my family's calendar for availability. I can do whatever music I feel lead to play. There are definitely more limitations to performing alone, but there are also some opportunities that go along with that. One opportunity I may work on is to travel more widely to perform. I enjoy traveling and seeing other parts of the country and world a little more than David does. So, I may work toward having some small tours at times, at least try to have enough programs to pay for some gas and maybe a camping spot.
That said, I will always welcome the opportunity to perform with David (Buck) at anytime in the future. I do not know what tomorrow will hold. I was certainly surprised last year when I had a stroke. I was blessed that it did not affect me more than it did. I do know that it has affected me though. I see that more now than I did at the time it happened. Often before when I was playing solo, I would look up in the middle of a show and see David sitting in the audience. I hope he will surprise me that way again. I appreciated his support, and the chance to do some picking together after a show as well. While we were not performing together, he was continuing to practice, and even to play at his church on occasion.
You can never have too many friends. And a good friend is not easy to come by. I have always considered David a good friend, above everything else. And that is a very good thing.
So as I begin down this road again, I hope you will watch for me and come out to encourage me, and if needed, to make some constructive comments for improvements to make. The last time I was playing solo, I started a newsletter which I named Nelson's Notes (yes that is the name of this blog now). I may see if I can make an electronic newsletter to send out now. The newsletter was a way for me to communicate things I found interesting, as well as sharing thoughts of what was on my mind, as well as interesting stories, jokes, and other things that caught my fancy.
Already, I have 2 programs for this fall as a solo act. One in September and one in November. Starting to work on next year also. I have a MySpace account already set up, though I need to add some more content, esp. music. Next I need to set up a solo website. I am searching that out now and hope to have it underway very soon. Until then you can keep an eye on our http://www.buckandnelson.com/ site for updates. I will do my best to continue to send out some e-mail blasts as well. Now, as I so often say in these posts, I will see you down the road. Be sure to stop by and say hello.
Nelson
I will miss him standing on stage beside me. I will miss his help in creating a good performance. I will miss his excellent musicianship and instrumental ability. I will miss having him to share a rundown of how the show went. I do thank him for all years and time we have spent to get as far as we have. Thank him for his drive to be as good as possible before putting anything in the show. Thank him for pulling me above what I might have first thought possible. I have enjoyed the friendship, the comraderie, and all the music. Thank you David for 38 years along this musical road.
We started on this musical journey together in 1972. Practicing in my parents basement for a couple of years. Then getting with some other friends and beginning to perform as the Blood Mountain Boys in 1974. Later we were in a trio with Jimmy Waters called the Morningstar String Ensemble. Then around 1983 we began performing as a duo, which we continued until now, except for a couple of years in the late 1990's as I said before.
I have a job in front of me to get my shows back to a suitable level as a solo act. That requires choosing material, working on instruments and arrangements, learning new songs, writing new songs, and being ready to entertain an audience and keep them involved. I look forward to this in many ways and there are things I enjoy about performing solo. It is easy to get together to practice. If presented with an offer to play, I need only check my family's calendar for availability. I can do whatever music I feel lead to play. There are definitely more limitations to performing alone, but there are also some opportunities that go along with that. One opportunity I may work on is to travel more widely to perform. I enjoy traveling and seeing other parts of the country and world a little more than David does. So, I may work toward having some small tours at times, at least try to have enough programs to pay for some gas and maybe a camping spot.
That said, I will always welcome the opportunity to perform with David (Buck) at anytime in the future. I do not know what tomorrow will hold. I was certainly surprised last year when I had a stroke. I was blessed that it did not affect me more than it did. I do know that it has affected me though. I see that more now than I did at the time it happened. Often before when I was playing solo, I would look up in the middle of a show and see David sitting in the audience. I hope he will surprise me that way again. I appreciated his support, and the chance to do some picking together after a show as well. While we were not performing together, he was continuing to practice, and even to play at his church on occasion.
You can never have too many friends. And a good friend is not easy to come by. I have always considered David a good friend, above everything else. And that is a very good thing.
So as I begin down this road again, I hope you will watch for me and come out to encourage me, and if needed, to make some constructive comments for improvements to make. The last time I was playing solo, I started a newsletter which I named Nelson's Notes (yes that is the name of this blog now). I may see if I can make an electronic newsletter to send out now. The newsletter was a way for me to communicate things I found interesting, as well as sharing thoughts of what was on my mind, as well as interesting stories, jokes, and other things that caught my fancy.
Already, I have 2 programs for this fall as a solo act. One in September and one in November. Starting to work on next year also. I have a MySpace account already set up, though I need to add some more content, esp. music. Next I need to set up a solo website. I am searching that out now and hope to have it underway very soon. Until then you can keep an eye on our http://www.buckandnelson.com/ site for updates. I will do my best to continue to send out some e-mail blasts as well. Now, as I so often say in these posts, I will see you down the road. Be sure to stop by and say hello.
Nelson
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Canoe
Well, it seems my mind has gotten away from backpacking and back to canoeing again. I have hope that I will have another canoe very soon. I have talked to a couple of people about good canoes at a reasonable price. I can hardly wait. I want to get back on the water - lakes and rivers. I want to take Vincent with me and teach him the joys of canoeing and I hope that Patrick will find time to join us as well.
It has been several years since I last had a canoe, but I haven't forgotten the joy I had while paddling. I hope that I can still find that joy and not feel too out of shape and weak. As I told Vincent though, at least we would have the river flow to help and he would not be having to stop and wait on me to catch up so often.
When I owned my first canoe, I did mostly day or afternoon trips. Sometimes on the lake and often on a local river. I always wanted to do some canoe tripping though. A time to go down some longer rivers and eventually even get on some of the western and northern rivers, historical and otherwise. That desire remains and it is my hope to be able to share that with my family.
I came along when the canoe was king and in my heart it still is. It is the most versatile in my mind and the best for all around use. In recent years though, the Kayak has taken over the rivers. It is the most maneuverable and can go places that even a canoe cannot, thanks to design that has it covered so it doesn't swamp. I do appreciate the kayak and what it is capable of. It is a beautiful boat and I have often though I would enjoy sea kayaking, especially up in Alaska. Maybe someday. But as I said, the canoe is my boat of choice. Speaking of Alaska, I used to dream of canoeing down the Yukon River, about a 2,000 mile trip. Similar to hiking the entire AT, another dream I once had.
Tomorrow we play for Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Toccoa. I know this has nothing to do with canoe trips, but it is about my lifetime love of picking and performing. We do need to finish our CD also. I have recently been working toward that and have hopes that it will soon be done. Stay tuned and I will let you know.
I love hiking, backpacking, canoeing, snow skiing, and many other outdoor activities. The outdoors are restorative for my insides. I think if more people would spend time in the wild places, they would be more inclined to want to protect our environment.
I do hope that I am able to report soon on a new canoe in my possession. Then I need to have some pictures of my trips to put up to share.
See you down the road, or maybe down the river. Just not up the creek!
Nelson
It has been several years since I last had a canoe, but I haven't forgotten the joy I had while paddling. I hope that I can still find that joy and not feel too out of shape and weak. As I told Vincent though, at least we would have the river flow to help and he would not be having to stop and wait on me to catch up so often.
When I owned my first canoe, I did mostly day or afternoon trips. Sometimes on the lake and often on a local river. I always wanted to do some canoe tripping though. A time to go down some longer rivers and eventually even get on some of the western and northern rivers, historical and otherwise. That desire remains and it is my hope to be able to share that with my family.
I came along when the canoe was king and in my heart it still is. It is the most versatile in my mind and the best for all around use. In recent years though, the Kayak has taken over the rivers. It is the most maneuverable and can go places that even a canoe cannot, thanks to design that has it covered so it doesn't swamp. I do appreciate the kayak and what it is capable of. It is a beautiful boat and I have often though I would enjoy sea kayaking, especially up in Alaska. Maybe someday. But as I said, the canoe is my boat of choice. Speaking of Alaska, I used to dream of canoeing down the Yukon River, about a 2,000 mile trip. Similar to hiking the entire AT, another dream I once had.
Tomorrow we play for Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Toccoa. I know this has nothing to do with canoe trips, but it is about my lifetime love of picking and performing. We do need to finish our CD also. I have recently been working toward that and have hopes that it will soon be done. Stay tuned and I will let you know.
I love hiking, backpacking, canoeing, snow skiing, and many other outdoor activities. The outdoors are restorative for my insides. I think if more people would spend time in the wild places, they would be more inclined to want to protect our environment.
I do hope that I am able to report soon on a new canoe in my possession. Then I need to have some pictures of my trips to put up to share.
See you down the road, or maybe down the river. Just not up the creek!
Nelson
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Picking Time
I love it when it comes back to picking time. There are times of the year when you just feel like you need to be picking, probably because it is the time you have historically done a lot of picking, or maybe the time you were first learning. Both those are usually the same times for me. Spring through Fall is the normal times. Spring and Fall are my favorites as the temperatures are more moderate, and the cool evenings just feel good for sitting around a picking.
Lately, I have been doing a lot more banjo picking. When I first started in 1972, I started on guitar. Then about a year later, I got my first banjo. I worked a lot on banjo and became the banjo player for our first group, The Blood Mountain Boys. For a few years, I played mostly banjo, though still did some rhythm guitar practice. Then in the early 1980's as we got down to three in our group, and especially when we went to the duo we still are, I played more guitar than Banjo. Now I have gotten the banjo bug again, and am working on some new and some different banjo tunes and songs. Even got a couple of new DVD's to help, including John Hartford - makes me miss his musical presense and spirit even more.
Just like my guitar picking, I have a long way to go to where I want to be, but I am enjoying the journey and will try to share some of that as we perform. I don't have quite as many programs set up this year as I have the last couple of years, but may add more as time goes on.
The end of April, first of May, we played for the BMW Motorcycle Owners of Georgia's Mountain Rally in Hiawassee. Then we Played Unicoi on June 5th and had a great time. This Friday, June 25th we are at the Old Union County Courthouse at 7:00 pm. We always look forward to our concert at the old courthouse. The rest of our schedule is on our website, www.buckandnelson.com , though I may need to update it a little bit.
As always, we hope to see some of you at our shows. We have a good time and hope you will also. But at least if we have a good time, then we know 2 people will.
See you down the trail.
Nelson
Lately, I have been doing a lot more banjo picking. When I first started in 1972, I started on guitar. Then about a year later, I got my first banjo. I worked a lot on banjo and became the banjo player for our first group, The Blood Mountain Boys. For a few years, I played mostly banjo, though still did some rhythm guitar practice. Then in the early 1980's as we got down to three in our group, and especially when we went to the duo we still are, I played more guitar than Banjo. Now I have gotten the banjo bug again, and am working on some new and some different banjo tunes and songs. Even got a couple of new DVD's to help, including John Hartford - makes me miss his musical presense and spirit even more.
Just like my guitar picking, I have a long way to go to where I want to be, but I am enjoying the journey and will try to share some of that as we perform. I don't have quite as many programs set up this year as I have the last couple of years, but may add more as time goes on.
The end of April, first of May, we played for the BMW Motorcycle Owners of Georgia's Mountain Rally in Hiawassee. Then we Played Unicoi on June 5th and had a great time. This Friday, June 25th we are at the Old Union County Courthouse at 7:00 pm. We always look forward to our concert at the old courthouse. The rest of our schedule is on our website, www.buckandnelson.com , though I may need to update it a little bit.
As always, we hope to see some of you at our shows. We have a good time and hope you will also. But at least if we have a good time, then we know 2 people will.
See you down the trail.
Nelson
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