Kentucky Jim

Well, a few weeks ago my wife and son took me to FireFlies’ Coffee house on Mt. Vernon Ave in Alexandria for Sunday brunch. The food was great, but what blew my mind was the pure acoustic bluegrass band playing in the front window. They were really amazing.

So last week we went back. As we were waiting to be seated, Elizabeth (singer) noticed my son’s “Mooosician” t-shirt. My wife started explaining that I was a bass player. Oddly enough, the band was missing a bass player this Sunday. So after their set, they all came over and we traded some stories, and they asked if I’d show up with my bass next week. So I bought the CD. Now Saturday comes along and I hear that my son is telling people that I’m playing Sunday at FireFlies. I had forgotten all about it. So Saturday, I learned all the songs on the CD and thought I’d show up and do one set to see how it goes.

Well, Sunday the 29th comes along and I show up just before 11:00. They tell me “no amplifiers are allowed.” So I get out my bass, big orange sparkle with flames, so I don’t fit in very well. I tune up and with in 10 min Bob starts calling out songs that I haven’t heard since I was 10 and have never played before. Once in a while they remember to tell me what key, sometimes I get a quick rundown, most of the time I’m reading people’s hands and playing by ear. It was really so exciting. We played only one song from the CD that I learned and my one set turned out to be 3 sets. Everyone was very kind to me, but I don’t know if i’ve got enough of a traditional background for these guys. Either way, it was a thrill for me to play with guys like this.

Big thanks to Big Hillbilly! Elizabeth, Tad, Jim and Bob.