http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/ The Ponkiesblog: Bluegrass, old-time and traditional country music in Brooklyn. en Copyright 2008 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:39:23 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss check the calendar.]]> http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/11/five_years_of_the_opry_and_muc.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/11/five_years_of_the_opry_and_muc.html Newsletter Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:39:23 -0500
Shotgun Party Shotgun Party, an Austin band that includes former Brooklynite Katy Rose Cox on fiddle and my neighbor Jared Engel on bass, came through Brooklyn on tour this weekend. I caught them earlier in the week when they made a stop in West Virginia while I was there, and both shows were outstanding. 68 Jay was mobbed and everyone was really into the show, which featured Jared's debut on tuba. They're playing the brunch at Superfine this morning as I write, and the tour continues with a stop in Cleveland next. Lots more photos on the blog.
]]> http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/11/shotgun_party.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/11/shotgun_party.html Photos Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:11:52 -0500 Well, I'm back from old-time music in West Virginia and electioneering in Pennsylvania and celebrating in Washington DC. Happy to be back. And just plain happy. And ready to see some music. Let's start with tonight, when Jonah Bruno and Dennis Lichtman play the Delta Grill in Hell's Kitchen, oh pardon me, Clinton. The Havens are at Sidewalk, and a band called Viva! is at Sunny's. Tone says, "Anybody that likes to see girls rock out, this is the show for you!" Tomorrow, you can have some great French Toast at Nolita House while listening to Andrew and Nancy Hunt, along with guest Jonah Bruno. There's a lot more than that on the menu though, so go back on Sunday to catch Fresh Baked. Saturday night, Katy Rose Cox comes back to Brooklyn for a gig with Shotgun Party at 68 Jay Street. They happened to be playing West Virginia when I was out there and I caught the show -- they rocked a room full of strangers in a little mountain town. They'll also be playing the brunch at Superfine on Sunday. Saturday night, John Pinamonti will be playing Freddy's, followed by Gary Keennan's American String Conspiracy. Charlie Shaw will be barefootin' on drums the whole night so you know it will be a rocking time. Afterwards, head on down to Sunny's. We'll be jamming at Kili on Sunday, as well as at Paddy Reilly's, plus that night there are some Exceedingly Good Songs at Banjo Jim's. The slow jam will be at Paddy Reilly's on Monday, and then on Tuesday there's a very special Veteran's Day show at the All Souls Unitarian Church in Manhattan: "The Young, the Tender and the Brave: Music of Courage and Loss in Wartime." Classic songs from the Civil War onwards, performed by a bunch of great performers. http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/11/a_great_week.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/11/a_great_week.html Newsletter Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:17:13 -0500 The calendar is also updated, as always.]]> http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/10/correction_and_some_addenda.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/10/correction_and_some_addenda.html Newsletter Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:03:34 -0500 Check out the full calendar!]]> http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/10/octoberfest_and_more.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/10/octoberfest_and_more.html Newsletter Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:47:26 -0500 Check the calendar for updates and details!]]> http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/10/october_surprise.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/10/october_surprise.html Newsletter Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:00:53 -0500
Ann Rabson Ann Rabson and Bob Guida tore up Jalopy with some great solo blues last night. Ann played a lot of her originals, even some of her "pro-woman" songs despite the Sarah Palin candidacy, including her famous "Don't Treat Your Man Like a Dog" (the dog is the hero of that song), on both guitar and piano. Bob Guida opened, playing an old Gretsch built in Brooklyn, filing the place as usual with his powerful voice.

And both of them made a point of thanking Geoff and Lynnette and talking about how wonderful Jalopy is. We're really lucky to have such a great music venue, run by people who love the music and the community, so much.
]]> http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/red_hook_blues.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/red_hook_blues.html Photos Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:36:32 -0500 It's actually fall, which means you probably want to be inside with some good hot music. And as usual you have plenty of opportunities. Note that there is no Whiskey Wednesday tonight, because 68 Jay Street is being renovated, but when it returns it will be a much larger venue, so that's good news. Instead, Will Scott will be at Two Boots on Friday and the Dumbo Arts Festival (in front of 68 Jay) on Saturday. Other than that the usual jams are happening tonight, plus Smokey Hormel is a tSunny's and the Havens are at Trash Bar in Williamsburg. Tomorrow night the Jones Street Boys play Union Hall, and the CashHank will be on at Buttermilk, while Rob Hecht plays a midnight show at Rockwood. Also on Thursday, Jalopy has a HELL of a blues doubleheader, with the mighty-voiced Bob Guida opening for Ann Rabson, of Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women. She's pretty amazing on both piano and guitar; that will be a hell of a show. Saturday night Jamie Lyn brings a flight of Honky Tonk Angels to Banjo Jim's, plus there will be a jam at Sunny's. Also, on October 5, I will be doing the BikeMS charity ride, in support of the NY chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. You can donate to them through my ride page at: http://msnyc.kintera.org/bikems/kenficara http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/fall_into_pickin.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/fall_into_pickin.html Newsletter Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:23:19 -0500
Brooklyn Country Music Festival I wasn't able to see as much of it as I would have liked, but hats off to Alex for a rollicking time at Southpaw this past weekend. This is the fifth year of the festival, and just stop and think about that for a second -- five years of being able to fill several nights (one year, I think it was a full week) with fantastic local country bands -- lots of original tunes, great playing, and enthusiastic crowds. We got it good here!
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The Plunk Brothers Bob Jones and Boo Reiners, and everyone else who braved Tropical Storm Hanna, had a great time at Barbes on Saturday night. The two guitarists, and their microphone, did a long set of old favorites and some new songs including a version of "It's All Your Fault" by Wade Ray that included some indelicate lyrics in Yiddish that I don't think were in the original version. Whether it's the crack musicianship, the spirit of their performances, or Bob's talents as a comedian (and Boo's as a straight man), their shows are always worth venturing out in a storm for.
]]> http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/the_plunk_brothers.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/the_plunk_brothers.html Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:53:55 -0500 Sorry to be late with the newsletter this week, but my summer ended with a bang (a good one), so I'm just getting to it now. There's a lot going on so listen carefully, I'm only going to read this list once. http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/summers_over.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/09/summers_over.html Newsletter Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:41:32 -0500 The holiday weekend is coming up but except as noted below, most of the usual events are happening, for those who know that the city is a GREAT place to be on a holiday weekend. **SPECIAL NOTE**: The country blues jam at Jalopy is cancelled this Monday, because of the Labor Day holiday, but it will be back next week. http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/08/the_holiday_weekend_is_coming.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/08/the_holiday_weekend_is_coming.html Newsletter Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:39:48 -0500 There's a bit of a fall nip in the air tonight, so come in out of the night chill and see some music. There's plenty of it! Read on for details of all the shows this weekend. http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/08/labor_day_is_coming.html http://ponkiesburg.com/blog/2008/08/labor_day_is_coming.html Newsletter Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:17:21 -0500
Got Brooklyn! Southern Week at Ashokan has definitely got Brooklyn, thanks in no small part to Kari. We're all having a great time this week, and some of us (well, me, but also Trip and Emily, Joe Bass, and Michelle, who aren't at Ashokan) were at Old-TIme Week at the Augusta Heritage Festival in West Virginia last week, so it's been a good month so far.
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Kings County Strings Brad Einhorn's Kings County Strings (the band, not the store) did a nice show at Jalopy last night, mixing up traditional tunes and medleys with some solid bluegrass and some nice covers including their version of "Help!" Orrin Starr opened with some really nice work on banjo, mandolin and guitar, along with Bill Christopherson on fiddle and Russell Scholl on guitar.

More photos on the site.
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