Let's Hear It For The Banjo Player

If I am still in the kitchen at 7.00pm I usually catch the beginning of the show that comes on to Radio 2 at that time.  The hour between 7.00pm and 8.00pm is, what can best be described as, the specialist hour. Monday is jazz, Tuesday blues and Thursday Bob Harris' country.  Those of you who know me well won't be surprised that I often listen to the country show. 


Wednesday is folk with Mike Harding (yes that's Mike Harding the comedian). Some of the music he plays is OK.  He featured a couple of Seeger Sessions tracks when the album was released.  This week he played Crooked Still.  Bruce poached Greg Lizst from Crooked Still to play the banjo in The Seeger Sessions Band. Here he is doing his stuff.

It reminded me of a story, which I don't think I've told you before, about the time we went to see Crooked Still.  I think it would have been in 2007.  Now Mike and I aren't particular fans off folk but it's reasonably inoffensive stuff and we are quite open minded when it comes to trying new genres of music.  Nevertheless I don't think we would have found ourselves sitting in The National Centre For Early Music in York waiting for Crooked Still if it hadn't been for the Bruce connection. The National Centre For Early music is a lovely place which I assume was once a church but it doesn't hold many people and we aren't familiar with the folky crowd.  We applauded politely along with everyone else after each song.  It was pleasant enough but nothing too exciting.  


Anyway part way through the show the lead singer introduces the band members...and on the banjo Greg Lizst who has recently been playing with Bruce Springsteen.  Well Mike and I cheered - I think it's an instinctive sort of thing when Bruce's name is mentioned - and there was deathly silence.  I could feel eyes boring into the back of my head. It was obviously NOT the thing to do when you are sat in the middle of an audience who are obviously rather serious about their music!  


We did meet a Laker there though who approached us afterwards to say 'Hi'.  He had the good sense to keep his mouth shut during the gig.


Excitement this week as Bruce played The Stone Pony.  There's a great detailed article at NJ.com.  I had a little chuckle at the story Bruce apparently told about meeting the fans from Sweden who had travelled to see Asbury Park and him.  Surely he wasn't surprised to find that fans did this sort of thing.  You've go to think that almost every day there is somebody walking down that boardwalk because of Bruce.


We spent a day there - almost two years ago now - and I loved it.  I know it used to be a bit run down. Here's a post on a forum I've just read:-

'Asbury Park has a great infrastructure, it's a pretty town especially east of main st., but the inhabitants are what will kill any renaissance. Too many gangstas, crack heads and transvestite prostitutes make for a very ugly urban scene that only the hardiest of pioneers and boosters would tolerate'

Hmmmm well we didn't see any gangstas or crack heads and as for transvestite prostitutes? I do wonder whether, as Springsteen fans, we see Asbury Park through rose tinted spectacles.  A place where the sun constantly shines, where we can sit on the boardwalk sipping wine or walk along the beach: a place where there's always good music to listen to and a chance of hearing Bruce play or, better still, meeting him.  


I'd go back again in a heartbeat.  I'd certainly be there for the Light of Day concerts in 2012 if I could afford it but we need all the money we can muster for a Bruce tour next year.  


In the mean time if no album materialises in November how about an album of new songs next year and a Christmas album in December!  I love a good Christmas song.