CMT Blog: The Greencards

Many people who regularly attend the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in upstate New York plan their entire year around getting onsite early and pitching their tents - it's easy to see why. Having just got back from two days there, The Greencards are still buzzing from a contact high. A good festival experience feels like riding a big wave of cosmic goodness, and when you combine fantastic singing from Tim O'Brien, bluegrass royalty like Del McCoury, outrageous energy from Sam Bush, as well as gorgeous scenery in the Adirondacks, then the result can literally turn your whole outlook on life around.

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Hello, loyal CMT blog readers. While last weekend half the world was at Bonnaroo, we were at the Georgia Mountain Roots Music Festival in Hiawassee, Ga. We were part of a great line-up including the Greencards, Sam Bush, The Lovell Sisters and our favorite, Tim O'Brien. Tim played a solo set earlier in the day, but the highlight for us was the full set we did with Tim. We rambled through much of his catalog, including "Tombstone Blues" from his Grammy-winning album, Red on Blonde. Sam Bush was also in great form in spite of losing his father Charlie earlier in the week. Our condolences go out to Sam, whose father "introduced him to baseball and the fiddle." I guess we all owe Charlie a debt of gratitude.

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Last year a good friend of mine took a trip on a cruise ship, and he still claims it was the greatest vacation he's ever taken. I was tempted to join him at the time, but a run of gigs was booked and that put an end to that fantasy. Well, now that dream will become reality in February/March 2009, because The Greencards have been booked on the Cayamo Cruise, ‘A Journey Through Song' -- a cruise liner packed with incredible artists like Lyle Lovett, Patty Griffin, Joe Ely and others... and I'll be there in my shorts getting some sun on these English-white legs!

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I love festivals! There's no other way to put it. When we drive into a campground and see thousands of people with their tents and little village communes, it just makes me smile. I love the energy created by people who quite often plan their summer vacations, if not their whole year around the festival circuit. In a few short hours we will fly up to Hartford, Conn., collect our rental car, and drive the short distance to the Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival. Yay!

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Now I know why Florida oranges taste so good -- as the sun warms my face and a fresh breeze washes over me, I'm a pretty happy musician. We (The Greencards) have just finished two days at a great festival in Live Oak called Spirit of the Suwannee, but known unofficially as Springfest. Aside from doing our show, we got to make jam -- not the kind you put in a jar, but rather the kind of jam you get when musicians sit down and play tunes as the sun goes down. The first summer jam of the year!

Special mention should go to Peter Rowan who has reunited with his "Free Mexican Airforce" from his early days. They were fantastic because they revealed a new/old side to Peter Rowan that many of his younger fans were unaware of, myself included. Gone is the bluegrass presentation, and instead Peter plays an electric Gibson alongside a Telecaster, bass and drums. By the end of the night the crowd were howlin' at the moon and demanding an encore - a very special performance.

During the last act of the evening (Donna The Buffalo), I took my fiddle backstage and found a small group of three mandolin players quietly playing tunes. I took out the old fiddle and we started jamming, playing tunes we all knew and having a great time although I only knew one of the guys in the circle. Such is the nature of the jam - it's as much about making friends as making music. It breaks down barriers quickly and before I knew it we were all hugging as we said our goodbyes -- so I went and found another jam.

This time The Infamous Stringdusters were the culprits, and guitarist Andy Falco led the charge through an encyclopaedia of old bluegrass tunes. The jam was eventually halted by a "jam-buster" -- a relatively unknown tune, often jazz or specifically be-bop related, that causes the musicians such distress they will put down their instruments afterwards and thus ending the jam. This time it was a bizarre version of "No Place Like Home," for which Andy Falco must bear full responsibility. In accordance with the definition, we scuttled away with our tails between our legs. Still, it was good jam while it lasted!

Ignore those people that say jet lag is just a state of mind. I'm here to categorically state that it's real, and it's doing my sleep patterns a lot of damage. After being in Australia for two weeks, I was barely back in the States long enough to adjust before I flew to Scotland for 10 days, and now I'm back in Nashville. My body doesn't know whether it's night or day -- but it's not all bad. Waking up at 6 a.m. wide awake when you are a musician is quite a novelty, and this maybe the first time I've realized there are two 6 o'clocks in the same day.

Glasgow is an incredible city -- vibrant and modern in the best European style. I was there to perform with the Greencards as part of the Celtic Connections Festival, a stunning display of Celtic music from all over the world, as well as American folk musicians such as Jerry Douglas, Tim O'Brien and Joan Osborne. We played a show with Alison Brown that ended up in a super-jam at the end, skippered by Tim O'Brien singing "Blue Night." Tim was in rare form the whole week, and at one point he actually stopped the band and gave the audience a solo! He may have become my favourite person in the world ...

I saw all the acts I wanted to, and often the music would rage till 7 or 8 a.m. I can barely remember leaving the residents' bar as folk were coming down for breakfast! Such a life would be reckless if it weren't all in the name of music. ... And so from one extreme to the other, I'm now preparing to fly out on Saturday to L.A. for the Grammys. I've got my suit ready and a quick ironing of my shirt this evening should see me ready to clink glasses of chardonnay with fellow pop star prima donnas. Simply gaining a nomination is a big deal for the band, so even if we lose, we've still won a great deal. I'm keeping my fingers crossed however, so check this space for more info after Sunday night.

Fare thee well to the shores of Amerikay; bid me fair travels as I embark for Glasgow on the morrow. (The language of the Auld World is coming back to me....) The Greencards are playing Celtic Connections on Feb 2, and I couldn't pass up the idea of going early and having a wee bit of a holiday for myself. I'd be a fool not to when my airfare is already paid for. This is an amazing festival that showcases the cream of Celtic talent from all over the world, as well as some of the finest American acts - folks like Mindy Smith, Tim O'Brien, The Duhks and Suzy Bogguss, for example. Now this sounds like my idea of a good time.

For those of you who have wandering musical tastes (like myself), a wealth of talent is waiting to be discovered at this festival. I only found out about a lot of these musicians because a friend of mine bought me some of their music for Christmas. So, in order to further the cause, let me recommend three brilliant artists that I sincerely think are absolutely fantastic. There's no accounting for taste, they say, but all I can do is give you my recommendations... So, here they are:

Vasen - Three-piece acoustic outfit from Sweden that write some of the greatest instrumentals I've ever heard - honest! Consisting of guitar, fiddle and Nyckelharpa (go on, Google it - I dare you), these guys sound like an army. I can't stop listening to their album, Trio. I can't wait to see them.

Catriona McKay and Chris Stout - First-class harp and fiddle, respectively, from two Scottish musicians. Although they are playing separately in Glasgow, they made a fantastic record together called Laebrack. Beautiful music from two beautiful musicians.

Andy Irvine and Paul Brady - Two legendary Irish musicians who made their name with bands like Planxty and Patrick Street, as well as on their own backs. Andy is a sublime bouzouki player who plays the part of three men at once. The idea of him performing with Paul Brady, one of the finest singers ever to come from Ireland, is enough to bring goose-pimples.

Of course, there's no reason why you should check out any of this music, but if you don't take a chance now and again, how are you ever going to find new music?

On Monday night in Nashville, I took a friend of mine from Wichita, Kansas, to the Station Inn to see the fantastic Time Jumpers -- or perhaps I should say the Grammy-nominated Time Jumpers! They are up for best country vocal performance, as well as best country instrumental performance, and it’s the latter that is of more interest to me. Not just because I’m a sucker for instrumentals (and the Time Jumpers are amazing), but also because my band, The Greencards, are also nominated in this category. So, sitting there at the show I was tempted to throw insults and spit bombs at them, but with unusual maturity I held back my rage!

Fronted by Kenny Sears, a great Texan fiddler and singer, the Time Jumpers are an 11-piece band including three fiddlers, accordion and until recently, the late great John Hughey. It’s always a night of great fiddling, and that’s why I brought my classical violin-playing friend to the gig. The funny part came just after they performed their Grammy-nominated track, “Fidoodlin’.” The accordion player, Jeff Taylor, pointed me out in the audience and remarked he was honored to be in the same category as The Greencards! Blushing a remarkable pinkish hue, I gave a quick wave and sighed relief as they went to their next song.

To my classical musician friend, this genuine comradeship was something that blew her mind -- she couldn’t believe how convivial and warm the atmosphere was between two supposed competitors. It really is amazing how country and folk musicians are very willing to share their knowledge and open the circle to those who have the desire. We’re all in this together. As I said hello to the other band members at halftime, it brought home to me that while we might be called rivals for this award, there is no sense of competition between us. May the best song win!

What a week! I have been in Nashville for about 12 days. We have the CMA parties tonight, and then I'm on the plane and back in Texas by 3 tomorrow. Mexican food, here I come. Hehehe!!

Seriously, though, I have had such a great time. I played the Ryman Auditorium TWICE in a 48-hour period. That was a breathtaking experience. We played at the Americana Music Honors on Thursday night and at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday! The AMA show had so many people on the bill that I had "back"-stage fright. As I was getting ready to go on, Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and Rodney Crowell were standing right beside me. I got to hang with some of my old friends that I haven't seen in a while and I got the ultimate chance to gherm too. The girls from Uncle Earl and my Memphis friend, Amy Lavere, were all there.... Gurf Morlix, Bruce Hornsby, Old Crow Medicine Show, Todd Snider, Patty Griffin, Jim Lauderdale, The Greencards, Darrell Scott, Elizabeth Cook, Tim Carroll, Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, Verlon Thompson and Guy Clark, and the list goes on…. Buddy Miller, one of the best songwriters, singers, and guitar players in the world played guitar and sang harmonies with me. I KNOW!! It was totally awesome! Here are some photos from the ceremony.

There were showcases all over town, and some of the shows I've seen a million times, but with others, I was completely blown away! There's a guy that plays bass with Shooter Jennings named Ted Russell Kamp. He's ROCK AND ROLL, baby!! Anyone that knows me knows that I pretty much only listen to country, but I got every CD he has made, and was sitting there with my jaw on the floor during his entire set. He was unbelievable!

This has been a long, long week, but it's been a great time!! Saturday night, on the Opry (yes, as in the Grand Ole), I was singing an old country song, and I look over and Vince Gill is in the wings on stage left, looking at me, and Ralph Stanley was in the wings on stage right. Talk about nervous. I was about to DIE! They turned the whole performance into a Porter Wagoner tribute, so at the end of the show, everyone (Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Patty Loveless) went out on stage and sang "Go Rest High on that Mountain" for Porter. It was a beautiful sight and sound. I had chill bumps pretty much the entire night!

I’m sending out good wishes to my labelmate, Taylor Swift for tonight's CMA awards show! She's nominated for the Horizon Award, and I'm betting zero to nothing that she's taking home the grand prize. GO GIRL!

Guacamole and queso are calling my name!!

On a hot summer night in 1993, Mark Knopfler took the stage in France in front of 40,000 screaming fans. I was 14 years old and yearned for a life beyond the boredom of English Secondary Schools. As I watched the live concert from my home in South London, a sea of people bobbing and weaving to song after glorious song simply blew me away. With Dire Straits, Knopfler sang the band’s hit chorus, declaring that being a musician meant getting your “money for nothin’ and your chicks for free.” Based on the evidence of 40,000 fans it was hard to disagree. Sounded like a pretty good deal to me… My teenage imagination exploded and my fate was sealed – “It’s the musician’s life for me, Mum!” I declared, and promptly decided there was now no reason to study for that French test.

Fast-forward to 2007, and I have spent 10 years living in and touring this country. After countless miles and endless concerts, I can’t help but feel a little let down by Mark Knopfler –I might be tempted to use the word “betrayed.” Despite my endless searches (and oh, how I have searched high and low), these hot, rock-goddess chicks are nowhere to be seen and my bank account sometimes feels like it has as much growing potential as Milli Vanilli’s list of musical accomplishments. Did I miss the last verse of the song that talks about long hours in a cramped van, terrible highway food, painful sound checks and rehearsals that descend into arguments over who gets to play the next solo? Now that I think about it, I think I missed the irony in the lyrics.

But what I do have in my reality is a way to make a living from playing my fiddle – a pretty revolutionary idea! An old wooden box tied with cat gut strings is putting a roof over my head. Occasionally I get to play with one of my heroes, as we (The Greencards) did last weekend with Sam Bush in California, and it was amazing! That’s a big reward.

Now every time I hear Mark Knopfler, on the radio, I can’t help but conjure up that image of him on stage in front of a packed football stadium, eighties head-band on him like some old tennis player, singing and playing his heart out to everyone’s amazement. Life really would be dull without a little inspiration now and again.