It’s the band that I’ve been meaning for years to do with Nat.
Before we met, he hired me sight unseen (sound unheard?) for the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. I filled in for the piano player who had to tend to his marriage. We had a great time. A few months later, my landlord tore out the bathroom and I needed a place to live. He offered his place. I was only going to stay for 2 weeks.
Rumblestrip started out a year ago with Nat, Sam and myself, but Sam lives in Bloomington and that’s a long drive. Sam’s the greatest, I think that’s indisputable. He and Abby have a 5 year old and are also expecting a tangle of twins any day now. So, we’ve been playing dances with Glen Loper, a young hot mandolinist (he also plays the 4 string banjo and drums) from the other state we love.
I think we have a great sound. Nat’s got that energy, the reckless drive that makes him so much fun to dance to. Glen has a passion in his playing that is infectious, and both of them can be funny and daring with the music, which is everything. Dancers are lifted, dropped, twisted into the beat with insistent and well placed guitar rhythms and foot tapping for the northern tunes. A scattering of vocals in with the dance tunes, and then we end the night with a lovely singing waltz.
Glen played me some music from his collection on the long drive home from MD last weekend.
We were listening to some great tunes by Dervish. Dense, self-absorbed stuff. Here’s what I thought. Tunes for listening and tunes for dancing are different. Dance tunes have space in them; a place for the dancers to stomp, to somehow leave their mark. We are always watching the dancers. Nat is always reminding me to phrase my guitar to the dance. Some tunes fit, some need some nudges, some bomb (mostly only we notice). We change things on the fly, at 112 bpm. It’s exhilarating. To play the tunes we love, to respond to and be inspired by the dance, to the dancers, hear them whoop with joy, and move in a way that means they feel it, they get it too….
The other state is Maine of course.
5 responses so far ↓
Glen // Dec 9, 2006 at 9:53 am
Hi Liza. New site looks great. Need more pictures and roundtable discussion of folk music hairstyles…you know, the obvious blog stuff.
If Maine is “the other state we love”, which other states rate affection? If you were a state, which state would you be and why (sorry, can’t pick Puerot Rico or the Virgin Islands. I’ll allow for Guam)
Inquiring minds looking for a pretext for commenting on your blog need to know.
lizaconstable // Dec 11, 2006 at 8:14 am
Glen,
I hadn’t thought of folk music hairstyles. I’m thinking of Adam, jaige, nat, you, … perhaps I should just post some hair shots. Thanks for the idea. Any more?
What websites are you frequenting, if you don’t mind saying…?
Thanks for the nice words about the site. Check out the random headers. Way more than way cool?
States affectionately rated:
1. Washington
2. Alaska
3. Maine
4. Mexico
What state I would be: Hawaii. Because it’s full of fruit, constantly spewing hot lava. People like it anyway. I have not been to Hawaii, but I think someone should send me there for Christmas. Just as soon as I get well.
anna rain // Jan 16, 2007 at 6:13 am
hey liza–
love (utterly and absolutely love) soiree chez nous. adore the close, tight vocals; french makes me swoon; irresistible tunes. thanks for the great gig in philly last wk; thanks for the great cd added to my collection.
Stan from Glen Echo // Mar 14, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Hi I am in Brattleboro, today , do you live near here?
Doug Day // Feb 22, 2008 at 11:59 am
Hi Liza, Dillon Bustin was ravin about you having just attended a contradance. This is an initial inquiry re: Would You Like To Attend the Sweet Chariot Music Festival July 29-31, 2008 on Swan’s Island in Maine (apparently by boat). Our audience is half off schooners and we start on shipboard and play the Oddfellows’ hall three nights. The pay is minimal, all accommodations and food provided. This is a watery affair. All best, Doug Day, director (our website is apparently down, but check out YouTube: kramer35, esp. the one called Cloging and you’ll see young Sam Amidon playing with Andy Woolf on my porch at 3 AM and that’s the feel.
Leave a Comment