We leave for the airport in just a couple of hours ... I don’t even know how to use chopsticks!
Jane
China and bluegrass? Sure -- this music gets people moving anywhere. Join the Ironweed Bluegrass Band as we go halfway around the world to play the Qingdao Beer Festival in Columbia’s Sister City, Laoshan District, China. And join the fun -- post your own comments about our travels.
9 comments:
Don't worry about chopsticks! You just slurp or stick your fingers in the bowl, and lick.
Hope your flights were not too exhausting and you're down to having fun now.
Cheers!
LOLL
Jane, Hope you and the guys are having a great time!! How great for the people of China to experience the sound of Ironweed first hand. Enjoy! Mary
What wonderful skewered delights have you sampled so far? Have you played anywhere yet? Hope you are having a great time, and can't wait to hear about it!! Hasta, y'all, Jenny and John (Loshbaugh n Jones)
GOT YOUR EMAIL ALAN, GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I'M DYING TO HEAR HOW IT GOES WHEN YOU START PLAYING, WHERE, WHEN, HOW'D IT GO?
BEST TO YOU ALL!!!
LOLL
Hope you're having a great time! They'll love you, and I'm looking forward to reading the details! Maggie
Dierik emailed to say they arrived safely. Wish we could hear more but they are so busy rehearsing for the opening ceremony, which will be in the morning on the 11th [Qingdao time]. Have fun guys!!! We are proud of you!!
Hey I-weeds;
Don't forget to perform "Pig In A Pen" for our Chinese friends. I bet it translates pretty well, too; especially the line ". . . all I need is a pretty little girl to feed 'em when I'm gone" although I expect, like myself, that the Chinese folks will wonder why the girl has to be pretty to feed a pig. I've never known a pig to turn down food from a plain lookin' person, no matter their gender, so I reckon the preference of a pretty little girl is from the pig farmer goin' on vacation.
Who knew a simple song about a pig could be filled with so many layers of meaning and cultural significance? But, hey, that's art for ya.
I recommend the pork fried rice as your pre-performance lunch to give you the strength to deliver the song to it's full effect.
---- Your buddy; Uncle Jake Stringbender
Uncle Jake, I like your analysis of "Pig in the Pen". The band recently learned they should not sing "pig in a pen" for a different reason. According to Hsiao-Mei Wiedmeyer, President of the Columbia Friends of China, the intellectuals imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution were referred to as pigs put in the pen. Interesting. I suggested to Dierik that they change the word pig to dog. Somehow the lyrics aren't as powerful.
Barb
Barb
I enjoyed Uncle Jake's and Barb's analyses of Pig In A Pen. Guess that eliminates the Brian Bowers classic "Four Wet Pigs," and Uncle Jake's favorite, "What's Time To A Hog."
I heard/read recently that some US schools with large Muslim populations had to reconfigure The Three Little Pigs nursery rhyme as The Three Little Dogs.
I miss Uncle Jake's wisdom on a regular basis. Would he consider emailing an old pickin' pal in the Michigan Northwoods at info@hiawathamusic.org?
Speaking of old pals: some of my music buds here are at the Augusta Heritage Center back east this week, and one of them is taking a song workshop from former KOPN board-shifter Papa Joe Newberry. Small world, eh?
Maggie
Post a Comment