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FolkNews from the Humboldt Folklife Society

Humboldt County's New Old Time

by Jen Rice

If you had told me five years ago that there would be fifty young people standing in The Metro on a Friday night in late 2004 listening intently to a string band of five (even younger) people play 'Oh Susannah,' I'd have chuckled at such a thought. If you had told me then that a KHUM would host a weekly show focused on old time and bluegrass, or that every nook and cranny in Old Town during Arts Alive! would be filled with aspiring and seasoned pickers, you'd have been on the receiving end of a doubtful look.

Contrary to what any of us might have thought five years ago, if you make it out to a smattering of the many opportunities for social recreation in the greater Humboldt Bay region of late, you've noticed a plethora of string bands and pickers who are honing (or dusting off) their skills, working on their repertoire of pre-radio era (a.k.a. 'old-time') Americana songs and tunes, building their fan base, even producing CDs.

Probably the best-known example of this local string band harvest working hard to find their niche in the local mix of old country, old time, bluegrass, gospel and delta blues is Huckleberry Flint - a band of five long-time friends who, for the most part, grew up playing a diversity of Americana music together, including old-time fiddle tunes and gospels. They are officially releasing their first cd, A Brief and True Report, on Monday, December 13th at Curley's Grill in Ferndale.

For Jason Romero, banjo player for the Compost Mountain Boys, instigator of the hot new old-time duo Devil’s Dream, and banjo builder extraordinaire, "old-time is all about rhythm and a feel that is contagious for players, dancers and listeners alike. The tradition of it is very appealing - knowing that people were dancing to the same tunes 150 years ago is something else." (As a side note, after he bought one this September, Foghorn String Band banjo player P.T. Grover, Jr. noted that he hasn't seen anyone in the country producing banjos on par with Jason’s exceptional quality and affordable price... that's our homeboy.)

Randle Lundberg has been playing old-time, Irish and Cajun tunes for decades. He weathers the waves of what's hip or not from one decade to the next. He is glad so many folks are now interested in carrying on the Southern Appalachian music tradition, but also figures the fad will blow over in a few years and that less public demand will reduce the now numerous local bands out there. Then he and other diehards will just go back to their livingroom sessions. "Just like the broken watch that tells the right time twice a day, those of us stuck in a musical rut get to be hip every thirty years."

After one of the more popular touring old time-influenced bands stopped by for an HFS show this September, daytime KHUM radio host Mike Dronkers exclaimed "I got my first request for the Reeltime Travelers... this is big!" It’s no wonder though, since the commercial station is (perhaps uniquely) cultivating listeners in that genre.

KHUM's new 'Chicken Scratch' old time and bluegrass show (Mondays 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.) is receiving an outpouring of support from both dedicated and newly converted listeners and underwriters. "Chicken Scratch has definitely brought new listeners to KHUM," says Patrick Cleary, general manager. "All of my bluegrass and old-timey friends started asking me what the frequency is for that station where I work." (It is 104.7 FM in south county, 104.3 in the north county.) "Matt does an amazing job of linking the authentic old sounds like the Carter Family and Roscoe Holcomb with today's performers such as Foghorn and Bruce Molsky. He does what I think of as great radio - introduce people to new music while teaching them about the tradition, all while having fun."

Matt Brunner, show host and member of both Lazybones and Wrangletown, saw the bluegrass and old-time interest start happening in Humboldt County before the O'Brother craze hit. "This place is just breeding pickers and grinners... maybe good things and good vibes can't be lost, just revisited and revived."

I liken old-time music to a Darwinist theory of evolution - since it has survived for so long, it must be good stuff. Though it is likely some sort of phase on the continuum of what we deem 'hip' at any given time, it is inspiring that so many are discovering the relevancy, infectiousness and richness of traditional music. I hope you'll keep supporting local pickers and come out to see the touring 'new old-time' talent HFS hosts every month this winter and spring.