Thursday, November 22, 2012

FORGOTTEN MUSIC: JUG BANDS!

Does anything say Thanksgiving more than jug bands?   Okay, you can have your traditions and I'll keep mine.

From 1929, Here's Cannons Jug Stompers with a familiar tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BEhtwEHSnM

The Memphis Jug Band recorded this one in 1934:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4mp09FGb0g

Not be confused with the above, here's Jack Kelly  and his South Memphis Jug Band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49uePhhJ7rU

And "Pig Meat Blues" from the Old Southern Jug Blowers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0c7OVSEdHE&feature=related

Like Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition, you never know when jug bands will strike.  Case in point -- The Perch Creek Family Jug Band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqxGJ_8E36o&NR=1&feature=endscreen

And the great Ma Rainey, back by the Tub Jug Washboard Band, singing "Deep Moaning Blues:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-mRHNAeJXE

Tampa Red's Hokum Jug Band was preaching the gospel of "Good Gordon Gin" in 1928:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9LaDfUf4wo

Not that many jug bands add a piano, but let's "Get the 'L' Down the Road" with Bill Johnson's Louisiana Jug Band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKeuK6UF0ds

5 Cent Coffee came up with it's own blend of jug band, skiffle, and blues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLT7NgNrzIU

The Even Dozen Jug Band included David Grisman, Maria D'Amato (later Muldaur), Stefan Grossman, Joshua Rifkin, Steve Katz, and the occasional John Sebastian:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQwkapHckDI

Maria D'Amato moved on the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, marrying member Geoff Muldaur.  Others in the band were Bill Keith, Fritz Richmond (who had figured out a way to play quonset hut while in the army), Richard Greene, and the certifiable Mel Lyman.  Kitty and I used to catch them at the late, lamented Club 47 in Cambridge; we often got seats right next to the stage, about two or three feet from Maria Muldaur and the shortest skirts in existence.  Wowza.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMF13ZPxxFA

I can't do a jug band post without closing with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijSlzKr30b4

I hope everyone has a toe-tapping wonderful Thanksgiving.




2 comments:

  1. Cool. November Underappreciated Music will be gathered on Thurs the 30th, and, barring the flood, this'll be on it. (Woke up in time to find an interesting KOJAK on MeTV, a Toshiko Akiyoshi documentary on NHK World, and a slightly tipsy Sara Shahi and Tenacious D performing their attempt at jazz on a LATE LATE SHOW repeat. Where, pray tell, is this level of entertainment and enlightenment in the "primetime" hours?

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  2. Maybe You'll Appreciate What We Do...;)

    http://youtu.be/m4ULT8eniLs

    We're the Bloody Jug Band from Orlando, FL.

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