12 June 2018
article by Rattlebrained
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Evening thunderstorms have been so common in the last weeks that it was pretty awesome that the Blues Rules festival happened “between the drops”, as they say in French. In fact it was sunny and surprisingly warm, the gods must have turned an approving eye!
There are enough photographers covering the scene theses days and my bag being heavy enough as it is, I left the camera at home and hoped to make a few sketches instead. And for better or worse that’s what I did…
20 May 2018
article by Rattlebrained
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Regular readers may remember “Messin’ Round”, the band that got me into washboard playing some 12 years ago; which after a few changes became the “Crawfish Blues Band”. Well I’m thrilled to be able to write that we, Dave – Bill and myself, are at it again!
This new trio has been named “Organic Jug”.
The name inspired me to write a little poem of sorts:
21 January 2018
article by Rattlebrained
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Recently I was asked how to attach a cymbal upright rather than flat/parallel to the board, like on one of the pictures I have on the Pictures of all my washboards page.
The pictures date from a few years ago and my washboard is no longer set up like that since it ended up being too heavy to be comfortable. But if you want to give it a try it’s not that hard I use a the Gibraltar SC-CSA Cymbal Stacker. This device is made to attach to a 8mm cymbal stand top so a metric 8mm threaded rod sticking out of your washboard is what you will need to attach it.
The Cymbal Stacker is made to hold two cymbals..
11 December 2017
article by Rattlebrained
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It’s snow
It’s snow
It’s snow
It’s no!
16 November 2017
article by Rattlebrained
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Sunflowers drop on a coffin of oak
A mound of dirt, a colorful cloak
Are you there somewhere?
Sing to you, talk to myself
Rearranging the flowers, late afternoon sun
Wish it would bring some warmth
Not the words left unsaid
But the discussions no longer
No benches nearby, no place to sit and draw
Swiss bureaucracy at work?
16 June 2017
article by Rattlebrained
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Some more footage from Floyd Beaumont and the Arcadelphians with yours truly on the washboard.
Part of this was filmed between sets without really considering what I was going to do with it. Always a mistake, but that’s the way it goes…
29 May 2017
article by Rattlebrained
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This year I missed Friday which I regret since Steff, my good friend and blues harp player with Floyd Beaumont, was performing with his other group The Blues Spirit Band. Not to mention Mark Muleman Massey, who I would have loved to hear.
Saturday, however, it all worked out well. The sun was shining and the weather perfect for an evening of Blues.