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 | WHAT I DID ON VACATION
By Mike McCarty Howdy! Hope you had a great summer vacation and managed to get out and pick some songs or listen to some rollickin’ bluegrass. Well, I got in some good porch pickin’ on vacation up north in Arcadia in July. Karen and my mother-in-law were good sports, and I don’t even think they had ear plugs. One night, I brought my guitar over to the local ice cream parlor and jammed with the owner. If my banjo was disappointed, it didn’t show – made big strides on “How Great Thou Art” and other songs, and polished “Lonesome Road Blues” and other faves. Have a great fall!
-Mike |
WHERE THEY'RE PICKIN.... Looking for some good bluegrass in September? Head up to the Grand Rapids area and don’t miss: FALLFEST 2008 Sept. 18-21, 2008
Kent County Fairgrounds,
225 S. Hudson, Lowell, MI | 
Fallfest Headliners The Thunder Floor Cloggers
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Lots of good shows on the big stage at Fallfest, including: The Thunder Floor Cloggers, Cedar Ridge, Missy Kay and a Mess ‘A Bluegrass, Rogue River Grass, Blarney Stone, Cats and the Fiddler, Under Construction, The Max & Ruth Bloomquist Band and Uphill Climb. Stage shows begin at 6 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. Also: Bake sale, Saturday morning workshops, 50/50 drawings, camping and, of course, lots of jammin’. Advance tickets: $20 (covering all three days); at the gate: $25 (covering all three days); DAY PASSES: $10 Friday; $15 Saturday; $5 Sunday. http://wmbma.org/pdf/fallfest08flyer.pdf |
| ASK THE BANJO MASTER |  Howdy Mike, Say you’re playing a banjo, guitar or mandolin, and somebody throws something at you. What should you do? -Forgot to Duck, Escanaba, Mich.
Hi Duck, Well, it depends what’s thrown. If people throw good, fresh, non-smushable produce, such as a nice head of lettuce or a freshly picked stalk of celery, keep pickin’ but make immediate eye-contact with the thrower as you smile and mouth the words “Thank you.” Makes a nice side dish after the show to balance out the road kill you picked up on the way up to the jam. On the other hand, if somebody throws a rotten tomato or old blueberries, try to duck or run for cover behind the upright bass – unless it was the bass player who threw the stuff. -Mike
Hey Mike, I’ve heard rumors in my neck of the woods that there may be a Brad Savage & The Cockroaches reunion. If so, will you be among the band members? Will you play bluegrass banjo or rock guitar? And will you be known, once again, as Eddie Stein? And how close to the gig should I put “Goin’ Swimmin’ in the Secretarial Pool” on eBay? -Curious Cockroach Fan, Detroit
Howdy Curious, Sorry, on the advice of Cuzzin Tony (my counsel), my banjo and I can’t comment at this time. -Mike
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