Skip's Harp Site: My Music News

My thanks to all of you who have taken my classes or come out to hear Strictkly Jut Nuts!

It's been a great year, expanding my teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music: my full harmonica curriculum is offered both evenings and days! Add to that my Wednesday noon jams (folk music), Thursday Americana Ensemble (songs from the 1940s and earlier!) and First Firday Back Porch James (blues) and that adds up to 12 wonderful months.

This has also been the first big year for Strictly Jug Nuts, the jug band that I more-or-less front. Key appearances of Strictly Jug Nuts in 2009 included playing at the University of Chicago Folk Festival workshop series (drawing the biggest Saturday crowd), a performance at the Wild Raspberry Orchard Apple Harvest Festival, and being the headline act at the Old Town School of Folk Music First Friday concert series in December 2009. Best of all, of course, was Strictly Jug Nuts winning the Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands in November 2009 over tough competition.

Hope to see you folks again in 2010. Please keep in touch! (Again, do so via skiplandt (at) sbcglobal.net rather than this site!)

Skip

Strictly Jug Nuts Wins Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands!

It's all over but the cheering! Armed with jugs, washboards, kazoos, and other musical weaponry, six jug bands of all sizes and descriptions clashed at the SECOND ANNUAL CHICAGO BATTLE OF THE JUG BANDS on Saturday, November 14th. Most important, the battlle trophy, a handle-operated sausage packing machine, better known as The Stuffy, has returned to Chicago from Denver, home of the previous year’s band leader.

Once again, the Morseland Restaurant and Tap had a sell-out crowd, with a line at the door. Competing were several other Chicago bands, including the Shticklers, the Bare-handed Jug Band, and the Hump Night Thumpers, along with the Deep Fried Pickle Project (from Michigan), and the Brass Band Jug Band (with participants from different cities, including Portland, Oregon, and Dodge City, Kansas.

Again this year, the crowd was so large that by mid-evening newcomers were admitted only when someone else left. Strictly Jug Nuts will have their name engraved on The Stuffy, which is on display in the Cafe at the Old Town School of Folk Music, mounted on a handsome wooden plaque. The names of other bands at the competition also had their names emblazoned, but only on the air of the Morseland at the time of their performances. Hence the Shticklers, the Barehanded Jug Band, the Hump Night Thumpers, Brass Band Jug Band, and the Deep Fried Pickle Project are left with nothing but hope, looking forward to future years, future battles, and to memories of their participation in this memorable occasion in Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands history.

Whenever you're free, there's probably a classtime for you.

My full harmonica curriculum is now available during the day as well as the evening.

Daytime: Harmonica 1 and Rep (Mondays at noon, Fridays at 12:30), Harmonica 2 and Rep (Mondays at 10 am), and Harmonica Forever (Fridays at 10 am). As always, the emphasis in the classes is hands-on: the more we play, the more fun we have.

Evening: Harmonica 1 and Rep (Tuesdays at 6:30), Harmonica 2 and Rep (Wednesdays at 6:30) and Harmonica Forever (Tuesdays at 8 pm).

Questions? Email me via skiplandt (at) sbcglobal.net!

We sometimes get these calls: "I really want to take a class, but between work and family, I don't have the time."

Well, what about a class that meets two hours a month, at 1 pm the first Saturday or Sunday of each month? I've offered this monthly class every two or three years, and it's been very popular. Between class meetings we can keep in touch through email and telephone.

I guarantee you'll have a good time -- and a class performance at an outside venue after the final class!

This class is now in the process of being scheduled for January-April 2010. Check it out at oldtownschool.org.

Currently pending scheduling is my blues harmonica workshop.

This two-part workshop is intended as an introduction to blues harp. The two part structure gives you time to be shown the basic skills, practice them, and return for review, answering questions, and taking the next step in your playing.

These workshops always adapt to those signing up;
even if you've played for a while, you'll probably learn something of interest and of value to your playing. For info, check the listings at oldtownschool.org.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, artisan homemade pies and pastries, specialty items -- that's what you'll find at the Lincoln Square Farmer's Market, held Tuesdays between early June and late fall.

Adding to the fun will be a variety of musical groups provided through the good offices of Alderman Schulter:
Two for the Road (guitar and harmonica), the Basket Cases (a jug band), Otisco (old-time string band harmony),
The Barehanded Jug Band, and and Skip with his Dancing Chicken (me and wooden chicken) are among the attractions.

The Lincoln Square Farmers Market operates Tuesdays from 7 am until 2 pm in the parking lot next to the Western CTA stop where Lincoln curves to cross Western Avenue.

There we were on Saturday afternoon, at the bottom of the lower level stairs in Ida Noyes Hall.

The original setting was not ideal. We'd initially been scheduled for the Dance Room, but one band member felt an asthematic reaction coming on, so -- with the aid of the folk festival staff -- we moved into the open area by the pop machines.

That worked out very well indeed. In spite of publicity that listed us only under family programs, we are told that we drew the largest workshop/concert crowd for the entire day, and one of the largest for the weekend.

It's a wonderful festival, and we're hoping to be asked back again next year -- for their 50th anniversary year program.

What are we all about? In a few words, we do the kind of music you might have heard on Maxwell Street in the 1920s-30': Jug band music.

What's that? It features not only traditional insttruments like guitar, mandolin, and banjo, but also kazoo, slide whistle, jug, washboard, and washtub bass. It's a fun informal kind of music.

Our shows are fun, animated, and welcome audience participation by all members of the family. We'll even show you how to play the washboard, washtub, and even the jug!

Here's what I'll be teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music in January, including two new classes:

Harmonica 1 and Rep - Jump in! Learn the basic harmonica skills used in folk, blues, gospel, country, Irish, and jug band traditions, including playing in different keys, 12-bar blues, and note-bending. Emphasis on in-class playing. “Rep” means that content changes each term for students wishing to expand their repertoire with new songs.
Monday mornings at 10 am, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm, Friday afternoons at 12:30 pm

Harmonica Forever - Develop note-bending, tone production, and soloing while playing songs in blues, country, gospel, and other traditions with band backup. Content varies each session, ranging from classics to Flying Burrito Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show etc. Prerequisite: ability to play clear single notes. Ear players, chromatic harps welcome.
Tuesday nights at 8 pm, Friday mornings at 10 am.

New! The Americana Ensemble- This class emphasizes American popular music before 1950. We sing it, we play it, and arrange it for performances. The class has guitar accompaniment and includes harmonica players, singers, and players of spoons and other instruments. Ear players, chromatic players, and kazooists welcome.
Thursday mornings at 10 am

In January, 2008, I'll also be starting a monthly harp class, meeting on one Saturday or Sunday a month.
It's a great option for people with tight schedules.

Yep, jug fever has Chicago in its grasp.

The first Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands took place Saturday, November 8th. at Morseland in Rodgers Park.
By shortly after 9 pm the place was so full that no one else was admitted until someone left. They had to send an employee out to buy a case of glasses from another bar.

Morseland staff tell us it was the largest crowd they have ever had.

Bands included Strictly Jug Nuts (my band(, The Bare Hand Jug Band (Chicago), Escape the Floodwaters Jug Band (Iowa City), The Fat Chance Jug Band (Minneapolis), the Geezers (Minneapolis), the Blue Ribbon Jug Band (Chicago), and the Hump Night Thumpers Chicago, with which Fran and I also played).

The winner was determined by ballot of those attending; a ballot based on the Chicago Board of Elections model. People entering and paying their $5 received a ballot. In true Chicago style, the winning band had hired a trolley which was routed to pick up and bring all their friends to the election.

Their reward:
one year custody of the Chicago Battle trophy, a large, genuine, inoperable sausage grinder, mounted on an attractive wooden shelf.

As Chicagoans, we appreciated the traditional touch of votes being exchanged for money.

Check out the recording I made with Patent Medicine for the Old Town School Songbook project. It's on the music section of this site and is available through i-tunes.

Enjoy the blues? This two part harmonica workshop for beginners will get you started in learning the basics -- both of playing the harp and playing the blues.
We'll meet on two successive Sundays, September 7 and 14, at 3 pm.

The first meeting will cover harmonica basics: single notes, the chug, straight harp, cross harp, the beat, harmonica tone using blues and blues-related songs. (You'll leave playing one or two songs, along with practice tips).

That following week is your time to practice, come up with questions, suggestions, requests. (I welcome email).

In the second meeting, I'll check out how you're doing, address any problems you're having, and give you additional songs. We move into learning and developing your ability to play the blues notes (note bending). By the end of the workshop you have my best suggestions on how tyou can continue developing your skills. You also have my contact information should you develop questions later on.

I've taught at the Old Town School now for 20+ years: each year I learn and teach new songs and techniques, including note bending. new ways of teaching these techniques. It's a special pleasure for me when someone who has been stumped by note-bending takes one of my classes and workshops -- and finally "gets" it.

This summer the School added added another Harmonica I class for me -- Monday mornings at 10 am. This is in addition to my Harmonica 1 on Friday mornings at 10 am ,and Harmonica Forever Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 1:50. These classes are for folks who have other commitments during the evening but have some daytimes free. These are great classes, small and enthusiastic. As usual, we've done a variety of music, from gospel to folk, and leading into country and blues. They're s scheduled again for the fall;
the term begins September 2nd.

Again this year, whenever possible each class will have a final performance at a venue outside the School.

Current plans for Harmonica Americana involve performances during the term as well; meetings will include both practices and outside gigs.
This class has recently added other instruments:
a uke and spoons player, and we love vocals. Additional instrumentalists and singers are welcome.

On Sunday, February 10th, the Hump Night Thumpers returned to Minneapolis as reigning champions to play in the 26th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands.

We couldn't win (we'd selected the judges, and this event was not in Chicago), but one of our members was recognized for having the most unusual instrument (a tension-controled, no neck coffee-can banjo).

Following is an edited version of the release that appears on the Battle of the Jug Bands website:

Hump Night Thumpers Sweep 2007 Battle of the Jug Bands!

Chicagoians walked away with with the Waffle Iron at Silver Anniversary of the Battle, held Feb. 11, 2007 at the Cabooze Bar & Lounge in Minneapolis.
Twenty bands competed in the battle for the coveted Hollywood waffle iron, which passed from Grandma's Saggy Jug Band, the 2006 winner.

As always, a capacity crowd packed the Cabooze to schmooze, listen to jug band music, and chow down on potluck. Receiving awards for leaping on stage with more bands than anyone else were Tim "Dr Dog"B radach and Ann Coreg (Tapdancer Extraordinaire) chosen respectively (if not respectfully) as this year's Male and Female Jug Band Sluts. The judges also gave special mention for the bass in Old Deluder Satan as Best Instrument, and to themselves for "Best Showmanship".

Thanks to all of the volunteers and Cabooze staff people who made last year's event possible.
Thanks also to all of the people who attended the battle, brought potluck, and donated at the door. After production and promotion expenses, the Battle of the Jug Bands was able to contribute $1100 each to the Bedlam Theatre Company and KFAI Fresh Air Radio from your donations
=========================
Don't miss the 27th Annual Battle in February, 2009. The battles are always held at the at the Cabooze
917 Cedar Avenue, on the West Bank, Minneapolis, MN.

I've always hoped that one of my students would make it big. Yes, it's true that Rick Sherry of Devil in
a Woodpile started as one of my students, and that two other Old Town School teachers did too.
And Lamont Harris, a wonderful student who also took Joe Filisko's classes, is a fine harp player who performs in clubs.

But I mean really big.

Well, it finally happened. Roger Myerson, who took Harmonica Forever for a few sessions, this week received the Nobel Prize.

Yep, that's big! Unfortunately, they don't offer a Nobel Prize in harmonica. As a result, Roger had to do extensive, really hard work in the field of economics -- for which I am very grateful, as (along with his other friends and teachers), I am basking now in his glory.

The last I heard, Swedish television was planning to interview Roger AND ask him to play. My only request to him was that, if possible, he flash his harmonica while receiving the award.

The news this week is that the Patent Medicine version of Frankie and Johnnie is a bonus track on Volume 4 of the Old Town School CD set (when purchased on I-Tunes). You'll hear me on harp.

We're in good company: also on the album are both other teachers and well known performers like Michael Smith, Tom Paxton, and Bonnie Koloc.

I've had day-time classes on Thursdays and Fridays for the past couple years --both for beginning players and those who have played a while. Starting the week of June 25th, I'll have a new series classes.

Thursdays, 10 a.m. -
Harmonica Americana. This is an on-going class for players of varying skill levels -- from long-time players to beginners (who are welcome!) We focus on the traditional American songs that everyone has known in their head and their heart since childhood. Beginners do simple melodies, more established players (including Jim Regan, one of the school's best traditional harp students) playing harmonies or bass parts. We do this heading for a performance at a local coffee house at the end of the session. During this term, we've been accompanied by Bill and Dan, two skilled guitarists/singers who perform with Jim at a variety of Chicagoland venues.

Fridays, 10 a.m. -
Harmonica Forever. This ongoing class is comprised of intermediate/ advanced players who enjoy building their skills on blues, gospel, country, and other styles of music. This class has also been accompanied this term by Bill and Dan, adding greatly to the fun. Bonus: on Fridays, interested class members join students in the school's guitar classes for a half-hour jam.

Friday, 12:30 - Harp I.
This is an introductory class -- the basic skills you need to play harmonica.
We do a variety of music with the objective of making you a harp player in eight weeks. (OK, I'd love to have you continue in one of the other classes, but you'll have all the skills you need to keep playing and learning on your own).

If evening works better for you, I also have the Tuesday classes: 6:30 p.m. for Harp I and 8 p.m. for Harmonica Forever.

Wondering which class is right for you? Email me at
skiplandt at sbcglobal.net; if you include a phone number, I'll give you a call.

I hope to see you the last week in June !

Skip

If you missed us at Bill's Blues, think of catching Patent Medicine at one of Chicago's great neighborhood hangouts -- the Heartland Cafe. This is a chance to combine their legendary great food with our soon-to-be legendary great music.

We'll be there on Thursday evening, May 3rd, from 9 to 11 p.m. with songs from our next album.

There's no cover!

Here's the remaining lineup for spring 2007:

- Sunday, April 29th -- Pickacup Coffee House, 4-6 p.m.

- Thursday, May 3rd -- Heartland Cafe, 9-11 p.m.

- Sunday, June 24th -- Pickacup Cofee House, 4-6 p.m.

Hope to see you at one of our gigs!

Yep, the Hump Night Thumpers won the 25th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands in Minneapolis on February 11th! Twenty bands competed, but we brought home the travelling trophy: the 1938 waffle iron engraved with the names of each year's champ.

Update: At the Old Town School's First Friday in March we had a victory waffling, making waffles for all comers. The evening ended with the installation of the 1938 Waffle Iron in a display case in the lobby.

To the best of our knowledge, our victory marks the first return home of the 1938 Holliwood (sic) since it was manufactured here in Chicago 69 years ago.