Livestream – May 13, 2020, presented by The Bluegrass Situation
Whiskey Sour Happy Hour was a weekly “livestream” series of four episodes, presented by The Bluegrass Situation and hosted by that organization’s co-founder, Ed Helms. In Helms’ words “I co-founded this thing called thebluegrasssituation.com, which is basically an online hub for roots, Americana music and culture, and a platform for a lot of musicians“.
The series – an Americana online variety show – was a fundraiser for two organizations: Music Cares (which assists people in the music community in times of need, like now) and Direct Relief, which supports the needy in the larger community. Donations were requested, but the online event was free. And here’s a toast to all concerned!
The musicians videoed themselves in their homes. “Musicians sharing their craft in their homes in this intimate way – it’s a really unique and special way to connect with people,” Helms said. Hopefully something good will come out of this pandemic mess, after all.
I caught the last of the four episodes on Youtube. Accompanying himself on guitar, Helms opened with one of his own songs, Mr. Fortune:
Mr. Fortune, won’t you smile on me?
Been walkin’ on the dark side of the street –
Keep stumblin’ over my own damn feet –
Thinkin’ about times when life was sweet.
Mr. Fortune, won’t you smile on me?
Got a good feelin’ you’re just around the bend.”
Terrific song, terrific, performer.
The line-up following him was totally impressive, largely first-magnitude, each act singing one or two songs: Valerie June; Langhorn Slim; comedian Matt Diffee; Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith; Buffy Sainte-Marie; Molly Tuttle; Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn; Roseanne Cash and John Leventhal; The Indigo Girls; Brian Sutton; Chris Eldridge, Gabe Witcher and Chris Thile of The Punch Brothers; Kenny G, and, an odd choice but welcome, Stephen Colbert. To point out just my favorites:
Valerie June: Be thankful you’re livin’ – Drink up and go home, she sang. Her nasal placement and her phrasing are the essence of bluegrass, the most traditional voice in this line-up. Her voice has the beauty of a petroglyph – it’s beautiful because it doesn’t care if it’s beautiful. Pure Americana, free of European affectation.
Buffy Sainte-Marie: How many of my readers remember when Buffy Sainte-Marie challenged audiences with a new sound? She was part of the folk revival of the 1960’s. In her own way, she was as bold as Janis Joplin. She could sing sweetly when she wanted to, but her contribution to folk was an aggressive sound similar to a full-throated ululating. Surprisingly, that voice is not entirely gone. She’s always been political, stressing native American issues, sometimes stridently. In her song My Country ‘Tis of thy People You’re Dying, she sang of “the nation of leeches that conquered this land”.
She seems to have mellowed, and on Wednesday she sang “a native American version of America the Beautiful“, adding her own lyrics: America, she’s like a mother to me. It was great to hear her sing God shed his grace on thee… ‘Til selfish gain no longer stained the banner of the free. She sang with a recorded accompaniment, which was rather cheesy. Her guitar skills, after all, used to be excellent, and she could sing playing a mouth harp.
Chris Thile: The frontman for the Punch Brothers band has a classic bluegrass voice – with falsetto when called for – and makes a mandolin sound like authentic Americana. His second number was the Gigue from Bach’sD minor Partita. Okay, this one didn’t sound Americana. But Bravo!
Roseanne Cash and John Leventhal: They sang Dylan’s Farewell, Angelina – and what eminent work! Each played guitar and she sang in her subtle, mellow country voice, sounding sad and resigned. Afterwards, she admitted missing some words – and this was one of the nicest moment of the evening.
Kenny G: This incomparable artist joined Helms (banjo), Brian Sutton (guitar) and Gabe Witcher (fiddle) – who were already cooking without him – on Billy and the Low Ground, with his soprano sax. A bluegrass fan couldn’t ask for more. Like all musical forms, bluegrass changes – and it remains bluegrass. Then he took a solo on Loving You, in 3/4. Who cares if wasn’t Americana? It was Kenny G.
What’s “livestream”? Helms was apparently live, as were some of his guests, while other guests were clearly pre-videoed, and some were both live and pre-videoed. Video forms are changing in The Crisis. At any rate – we want more of this!
Author: Steve Capra
