Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Something/Someone Old
My Something Old today is Jim Kweskin and the Jug Band.
Jim Kweskin started the Jim Kweskin Jug Band in Boston in the early 60s. The original lineup included Fritz Richmond, Geoff Muldaur, Bob Siggins and Bruno Wolfe. Geoff Muldaur's wife Maria, later famous for her hit "Midnight at the Oasis," joined in 1963.
The cheery, informal, lowbrow nature of the music hid a great deal of musical expertise and hard work, including research into very old records; Kweskin and his partners were trying to bring the sounds of the 1920s forward and integrate them into current musical styles. What resulted was not a revival so much as a new combination of forms.
Kweskin is also well-known for integrating the guitar-picking styles of folk blues, particularly ragtime blues, with jazz and rock-and-roll chords.
I had their Greatest Hits album in the late 90s and early oughts. Like most of my music, it has disappeared into the ether, but I remember these songs fondly:
Something New
I'm a big fan of the author Seanan McGuire, also known under her horror pseudonym Mira Grant. It took a lot of convincing to get me to read her zombie apocalypse book Feed, but when I did I was astounded by the sophisticated understanding of politics and, especially, the media in the book. The other two books in the trilogy, Deadline and Blackout held to the standard of the first book, and even made its story more complex without destroying its point. Holy shit. Do you know how rare that is?
I started reading her non-horror works, and highly recommend the book Indexing, which posits a world in which fairy-tale narratives are vital forces which can literally absorb people's personalities and lives. Each person has a particular character that corresponds to them; there are Cinderellas, Pinocchios, Rapunzels, and all the rest. Each has particular issues and tendencies that go along with the character. If you are not careful, you will lose your own particular identity to the fairy tale and become a simple recapitulation. Our heroes are essentially a hit squad that rein in fairy tale narratives that are getting out .
My Something New today is the sequel to Indexing, which was published in January 2016.
I'm looking forward to reading it.
Something Borrowed
Apparently the word "chowder" was first used by 18th-century Canadian Bretons in Newfoundland. It was later borrowed by English speakers to describe the incredibly tasty thick fish stew made with milk or cream that was eaten throughout New England.
It was also used to describe a tomato-based concoction from farther south which, some say, also features seafood.
The roots of the word "chowder" are, most immediately, the 12th-century French word chaudiere, meaning "a stew-pot;" trace it back further and you find the Latin word caldaria
, meaning "cooking pot." Caldaria, in its turn, derives from the Latin caladarium, meaning "a hot bath."
It only takes a few centuries to get from the place you soak yourself in hot water to the place where you soak clams in hot milk.
Something Blue
My Something Blue today is "Rhapsody in Blue." I find George Gershwin good for the soul.
How are you all today?
Comments
Thanks for the chowda
Went well with the Gershwin. Couple issues found this AM. Seems the communication workers union bosses are pulling another sham in WV, same playbook as with the striking teachers. Declaring victory, back to work proclamations, no voting on contracts, etc. Workers demands unmet. But this time the rank and file are more cognizant of the tricks.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/03/27/fron-m27.html
Also, EPA is in the comment phase of pesticide regulation, including Round-up, until 30 April. Please consider sending the folks a note.
https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361-0066
@QMS Wow, that's terrible. CWA
Wow, that's terrible. CWA and the nurses have been the last bastion of what looked like actual union activity in the official union movement.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Love Jim Kweskin, and jug band music, in general
It's kind of hard for me to find people to play it with around here. There is a local band, but they are much younger, and already have a banjo-uke player...I would be just duplicating that function. When we lived in the Santa Cruz mountains, it was much easier, and I even got to see Jim Kweskin at a jug band festival in Felton. Played in groups a few times with Judy Muldaur, too (not sure about her relation, if any, to Geoff).
Thanks for the music. "Lowbrow"...yeah
Are you familiar with the Holy Modal Rounders? They kicked it down a notch.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
@Bisbonian When we lived in the
When we lived in the Santa Cruz mountains, it was much easier, and I even got to see Jim Kweskin at a jug band festival in Felton.
Holy shit, that's so cool! I envy you.
I love most folk music; jug band, bluegrass, straight-up traditional folk of various flavors (all Western European-derived), and people like the Byrds, Dylan, the Weavers, Woody and Arlo Guthrie.
I wish you well in your search for a band, or at least people willing to engage in some informal sessions.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I grew up with Arlo,
, including the song "Ukulele Lady". He was my biggest musical influence, for a long time. Dylan took over for a while, and Pete Seeger, but now I would probably peg the Holy Modal Rounders.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
@Bisbonian I used him to fall
I used him to fall asleep to when I was a teenager. The album was Washington County. I loved him to pieces.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Bisbonian Lowbrow is another way of
Lowbrow is another way of saying music that comes from the ground, where the people are. At least until such music starts making too much money, at which point it often becomes something else. Jug band and bluegrass have managed to avoid this, mostly.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Bisbonian I've heard of them:
I've heard of them:
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
If you wanna be a bird...
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vmvmxpDp-Q]
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
@Bisbonian Great, though
Great, though depressing, movie. And I love the crazy song.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Mole in the Ground
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hREyL5zAuo]
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
More mole
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vp0zaQC0lQ]
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Your jug band reminds me...
of the Holy Modal Rounders (2min Hesitation Blues)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzZ2q0NUEZQ]
Here's a double album's worth if anyone has an interest...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ax5R-R124Y
NE is famous for it's chowder...but it is the clam chowder from Cedar Key Fl that's winning awards! https://www.tonyschowder.com/
Cedar Key is still old FL. They've gone from railport and pencil production to sponges to oysters and now to clams. Near Cedar Key is the Gulf's largest shell mound ...
https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_4/NWRS/Zone_2/Lower_Suwannee_Co...
So people fished and lived there for a long time.
Thanks for the OT (and Gershwin - one of my faves) It will soon be summertime (3 min) - and the livin' is easy....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixdJLXDT_QM
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Oops...I just added them into the comment above...great minds.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Hey!
Great minds warped by old time music. Nothing better heh?
Hope you're still finding a session or two to jump into. It is nice to have a few tunes and songs and become unencumbered from the thought process.
Hope you're doing well!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Too busy,
but well. I am taking off a couple weeks next month, and a local fiddle player and I are going on a road trip to Fiddle Camp! In the mountains in eastern San Diego County, where I grew up (and first heard the banjo). I am really looking forward to it.
And I'm glad to find an Old Time lover here. Do you play, as well?
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Have a great time at music camp...
I retired from a string band (Red Mt White Trash) after 30 fun years, but still play local sessions. Norman Blake and James Bryan live nearby. Lookout and Sand Mts are music rich with more folks playing than not.
Next festival for me - my annual trip to the Florida Folk Festival on the banks of the Suwannee.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
@Lookout A great scene I
A great scene I have not yet experienced.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Bisbonian Have a kickass time
Have a kickass time. Wouldn't I love to be a fly on the wall.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
We're going to have some fun,
. The fiddle player going with me is the band leader of the "Arthritis Brothers". We've played for a few years on the streets of Tombstone, as well as various places in neighboring towns. We've lost our singer/guitar player (to Nashville...as a chef!) but we will still get up for the open mic at the fiddle camp.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
chowda hounds
The many and varied iterations: southern New England's version is a clear chowda with quahogs or little necks, north of here is usually cream based, south of here they have a tomato based Manhattan style. In the Carolina low country, clear with salt pork. Around So. FLA Bahamian conch chowda is popular, with a dash of sherry. Around the bend in the bayous a similar concoction called Oyster Stew can be found, milk based with cayenne. Love 'em all!
@QMS Manhattan is my least
Manhattan is my least favorite. Haven't tried the clear New England version, but would be absolutely into doing so: I hear quahogs are exceptionally sweet. Is that right?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Sweet yes
tho not as tasty as little necks or razors. Tend to be very large and chewy. Have to chop 'em up tiny, so a few 'hogs go a long way. Otherwise, if you got mussels...
@Lookout An awesomely accurate
An awesomely accurate comment on Cedar Key from someone not from the Sunshine State!
I always appreciate when people from elsewhere take the time to get it right.
There's a lot of the opposite, assumptions, stereotypes, and what have you, about my state, unfortunately encouraged by our tourist board. People are often shocked when they come here and discover the things about Florida that were left out.
As for clam chowder, I have never appreciated FL clams--they have always seemed tough and chewy as hell, like fish-flavored chewing gum. I assumed it was the warmer water.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Good morning, all!
Sorry for being so late; I had dog duty while the partners did measurements in our north yard for a ritual circle.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Which round ritual?
Witch circle?
@QMS Well, yes, but also a
Well, yes, but also a fire dancing circle with a fire pit we intend to build in the middle. Hopefully with the fire dancing might also come drumming, but we are in a suburb, so I'm not sure that would go over well with the neighbors.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
sounds like fun
drumming and dancing around the fire. Good times, generating high spirits. May have to post some gibberish to appease the neighbors. "Practice session for local patriotic parade" or some such.
I just made a clam chowder last night.
I don't think there's an Arizona-style chowder but if there were it would have to use canned clams like I do. I finished mine with half & half and a dash of cognac. Damn good.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
@Azazello You're making me hungry.
You're making me hungry. Damn your eyes.
I could drive to Cedar Key and try the award-winning chowder.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Good morning. Really enjoyed Queskin (and the Holy Modal
Rounders) back in the day and currently. I also have some bona-fide jug band music from that era, some of which headlined the washboard player and such. Those, however, are scattered tracks in album/CD sets like "The Complete Brownie McGee" (RCA, I think). A different take on it all is "mother mccree's uptown jug champions".
Rhapsody in Blue, thanks tons. If I had an alarm clock, that would be a great tune to wake up to. I've liked it as long as I can remember, a true classic.
Chowder, meh, not my thing. A properly done sea scallop, or linguine with clams is good.
Sorry about the dancers
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
@enhydra lutris Damn, that's fine music!
Damn, that's fine music!
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
That's Jerry on Banjo, Pig Pen on Harp and Weir on Guitar.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
@enhydra lutris Bob Weir?
Bob Weir?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Yep, early predecessor of Grateful Dead.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
That flag backdrop reminded me of this,
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HCxLk-w8LU]
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
thx. for the Ukulele Lady - and Gershwin
liked the sound, remembered Gershwin and have no clue about anything regarding music. But it's good enough for me as long as I like the sound and tune.
Fish soup... tomato garlic hot pepper (real hot pepper a lot - so that it burns your mouth and you can't taste anything else but hot, hot, hot) and piece of braised fish soaked into it. That's what I ate Central Africa and I took the taste with me. I ate a lot of fish later on for my whole life in the US, buying it at the DC Harbor fish market.
Sigh. Times gone by a long time ago.
Have a beautiful, somewhat fishy day.
@mimi That sounds absolutely
That sounds absolutely amazing. Have been searching for a truly spicy fish stew for a while. You don't happen to have the recipe?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@CSTMS - I never cook by a recipe, but
throw things together, like this:
Cut the fish in two to three inch long pieces, dust them with a little flour, sauté in peanut oil (the peanut oil is best to fry things at hot temperatures) til fish has a firm crust, but might not be cooked fully in the inside.
Take the fried fish out of the oil, cut meaty italian tomatoes
(the big round ones on the left hand upper corner in the image), together with onion and smashed fresh garlic in some little pieces. Sautéz, s'il vous plait!
Add some African hot pepper:
or some West Afrcian Red Pepper powder:
(Harder to find in the usual food chain stores, but available at Amazon, these devils. Do not use the McGormick brand, but the African Red Pepper brand).
Add some Knorr Vegetable Broth Cubes:
Let simmer til most of the water contained in the tomatoes is evaporated and the tomato pieces changed into a little thickly sauce, then put back the fish pieces into the sauce and let them slowly simmer for a while. Salt to your taste. Ready.
This goes very well with plantain:
They have a green thick peel and are larger than normal bananas. If they turn yellowish with some black spots, they are very ripe and have a sweeter taste. Never eat raw, they need to be peeled, then cooked or braised. Cut into 1/4 inch thick slices and sautéd in peanut oil at the right temperature (too much heat, they burn and have black coal outside, not enough heat, they soak up too much oil).
Done right, that looks like this:
or like this:
The sweetness of the plantain goes well with the very hot pepper sauce and the fish crust is a little softened, but still prevents the fish to fall apart in the sauce.
Ooops, if you don't like it and it's too hot for you, don't blame me.
It's the ... *mamba's*... fault. (JtC's sneaky secrets)
Red Hot Chili Peppers (Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities [OFFICIAL VIDEO])
[video:https://youtu.be/fWioV5tO1lk]
goody good dark, but not dark, dark...
Mamba mia
good lookin' cookin' there dear.
thx, simple pleasures of mia poor mambas ;-) /nt
@mimi Thank you so much! I
Thank you so much! I will definitely try this.
I know all about plantains, having grown up in the Tampa/St.Pete area with a Latina grandma...plantains were a staple of my childhood, though we always ate them ripe. Tough to keep them from burning that way...lots of sugar. Mmmm.
You know, mimi, you could create a kickass Open Thread with recipes like this. Yum.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Snowden gets it