Joy Band, Jack Sutherland this Thursday at XYZ

June 8, 2005 | Mikel Dimmick Spiral Joy Band

Come out, come out, to an exposition of plucked, sawn, stirred and otherwise summoned sound this Thursday, June 9, at the XYZ Gallery at 223 N. Main St. in downtown Blacksburg. Featured sonic technicians are Brendan Jack Sutherland with a set of his beamed-from-beyond acoustic guitar-plus-vocal meditations, and the Mikel Dimmick Spiral Joy Band, on a mission to lift the infinite veil and glimpse a farther shore. 9 p.m. Rumor of fiddle.

Jack DJs tonight, May 23

May 23, 2005 | Jack Rose

Those in Philadelphia should consider catching Jack on the steel wheels from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. at Johnny Brenda's, corner of Girard and Frankford. Having attended what I think was the first of these sessions, I'll vouch for the excellence of the experience -- where else, I think we said about 12:30 or so, could we sample such a selection of good beers while arguing whether the next song should be "Fix It Jesus" or "God's Got It." And there's a pool table too.

Black Twigs on Friday, May 20

May 19, 2005 | Black Twig Pickers

The Black Twig Pickers, aka the Black Twigs, aka the Black Twig AstroMyth Serenaders, celebrate their new "Midnight Has Come and Gone" cd in high fashion this very Friday night at the Coffee Mill on East Main Street in Radford, Va. Come flatfoot around a little or sink deep in a couch and scratch your (metaphorical) beard at the wonder of it all. It's a three-band string extravaganza: Up first at 6 p.m. is the Radford duo Acoustic Country. Then the Twigs -- reunited with the studious Brother Isak -- start a first set shortly after 7, and uncork a second later in the evening. And between episodes, those Shawsville heroes/heroine the Thornton Family will work their two- or three-generational take on Sound Traditionale, featuring, it is hoped, the Dobrolic stylings of the Fort Vause String Shaker himself. Don't miss this rare appearance in a commercial establishment. Expect multiple fiddles, banjos, autoharps, dulcimers, at least one string bass and (so it's rumored, anyhow) a wandering mandolin, plus lots of solo, duo, trio and even full quartet yowling. Plus that 6-string guit-lute so popular in old-timey circles. To dip (spit can in hand) into the vernacular, It's a marvelous night for a moondance/don't you rock me Daddy-o. Hopefully folks'll be hopped up enough to dance some, and remember, the Coffee Mill keeps the java warm until closing time. (There's also talk of a Black Twigs session Saturday evening in Blacksburg, perhaps on Henderson Lawn.) --al;ksdjf

News from Jack

May 18, 2005 | Jack Rose

Hi Folks, ...thanks to everyone who made it out to the khyber on 5/6 for the show with Sir Richard Bishop and Bardo Pond, it was a hoot. I now finally have a website. http://www.vhfrecords.com/jackrose/ Nothing fancy, just yer basic info with a few links, show schedule, discography and some reviews. More will probably be added later. Just as a reminder I have a DJ night over at Johnny Brenda's this mon from 9:30 til last call and it's free. I'll be playing some of my faves from the past 100 or so years of recorded music. Also there will be a show at Big Jar Books on the 6/11 with Dan Tien. After that not really sure if I'll be doing many shows this summer. There are tour plans for later this fall, nothing concrete yet, but they'll be posted on the site as soon as dates start firming up. I'll have a 7" under the Dr Ragtime name out this summer on the Sacred Harp Library out of UK, most likely coming out in late june. The "Kensington Blues" wax is being mastered right now and I'll have it for sale sometime in August. Hopefully I'll have a recording ready to go for the Time Lag 78" blues series within the coming weeks. Hope everyone is well, more later. Best, Jack

New addition to VHF roster

May 17, 2005 | Miscellaneous

This just in from VHF Records. Congratulations to Vicki, Bill, Dylan, Alex and the birds. Dylan's drama company has acquired a new player. -- aldkfj Dear underground rockers and friends, Announcing Julia Grace Kellum, born 8:47 AM May 4, 2005. 6 lbs 5 oz, blond/blue. Mom and baby are well, kids and dad coping fine. Baby has fine temperament and cosmic aura (cept' for the one pic where the boys made her cry). A few pix here: http://www.vhfrecords.com/julia I'll scan and post her portrait from yesterday's visit to the Chuck E. Cheese sketch-o-matic soon as I can. love, Bill, Vicki, Alex, Dylan, and Julia