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Permalink Reply by Will James on January 31, 2010 at 8:52am

Andy Knefel: A little story here. Easter of 1973 we headed down south for the Union Grove, NC Fiddler's Convention from Baltimore, MD. I was wearing a custom made yellow letters on blue t-shirt FBB tee-shirt. A biker from California requested to trade his leather jacket for my shirt. I declined. It only shows how important that logo/symbol whatever, ... See Moreit was to both of us, if not our total groups. Union Grove, by then had grown so popular, that seeing east coast License Plates paled in comparison by how many West Coast plates were evident that weekend. It blew me away. Yes, Gram was responsible for merging total Cosmic Americana upon us all, the so-called majority hadn't realized it so early on. Long-hairs and Bluegrass folks were already meshing. We can also thank the likable Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Jerry Garcia & Vassar Clements who formed Old & In The Way.

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Permalink Reply by Will James on January 31, 2010 at 8:53am

WJ: I was also around when this community was a lot smaller but oh so passionate. A cop once pulled me over back then, I freaked, but the only reason: he saw my (Mark Holland) bumper sticker and also loved Gram. He just wanted to talk about him, and I was on my way...

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Permalink Reply by Will James on January 31, 2010 at 8:54am

AK: Yeah, every time I came upon a Gram/FBB fan back then... it was like...you remember in the early 60's....how a VW Beetle driver would honk to one another. Weren't many in the States back then... By the late 60's, however, they were everywhere. Yeah, that's how we Gram Fans would be. You've heard of Gram? Of course if you heard of him, you ... See Moreloved him and his music. What he was bringing to the table.
The difference between Gram and the beetle? Gram still isn't mainstream!
Howzat possible?
I feel lucky to be a part of the Gram community. One of the best well kept secrets.

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Permalink Reply by David Shaw on January 31, 2010 at 9:14am

I was around for Mark Holland's GPMF (even designed some issues of the CAMN but no bumper stickers) ... while working on a book in the late 70s I encountered a lady who had seen the FBB (in NYC?) and had coffee with them afterwards (she worked in production with CBC radio ... for a show I eventually was on in 1993 as part of a one hour nationwide radio GP extravanganza ... my GP CD got played on the radio BEFORE I had a CD player of my own ... it was part of a shrine that I hoped a CD player would materialize from ... it didn't, I had to pay for it like everyone else). The Memphis and Tampa GPMF chapters had a falling out in the '90s ... I went with Fredda Joiner but she passed on and her daughter wasn't interested in running it without Fredda. So it goes.

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Permalink Reply by Will James on January 31, 2010 at 9:25am

David, if I drop dead shoveling the snow today, promise me you'll continue my petition efforts (hey, you're only 90 miles away but you don't get the Lake Effect Monster). Will

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Permalink Reply by Will James on April 12, 2010 at 2:30pm

My problem is I'm in love with a dead art form called Country Music.

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Permalink Reply by Will James on June 19, 2010 at 2:53pm

I posted an innocent status line on Facebook today and started quite the discussion. Actually this happens every time the topic of Americana's definition or meaning is raised. I was just listening to an interview with Gram National 2010 band Highway Ghosts, and a question from Max Bowen (Citywide Blackout) turned into about a 20-minute unresolved discussion. So here's what was posted today; not "cleaning it up" here, to see it clean go to http://www.facebook.com/inductgramparsons

Will James OK, just like Gram I hate labels. But I can get rock, folk, blues, jazz, country (real), rockabilly. But what the f*k is "Americana"? And is the AMA the new CMA?
6 hours ago · Comment · LikeUnlike
Arick von Mittler
Arick von Mittler
Americana is just a way of separating real country artists from pop country. Also, Americana includes folk influenced rock acts from John Prine to The Band to Lucinda Williams to Neil Young (even though he's Canadian).
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
What was wrong w/ alt country then? Sorry Arick, as Townes said, You can't sell me that stuff. What good rock hasn't been "influenced" by folk? I spoke with Prine back when he woulda just gone "huh?" "Americana" includes WeverTF it wants to and which strengthens the AMA.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Arick von Mittler
Arick von Mittler
I have no opinions regarding the AMA. Alt. Country and Americana are more or less the same except that Americana includes Old-timers and classic rockers with deep country influences like Neil and the band. Alt. Country seems to be a label worn by 20 and 30 somethings of the post- No Depression era and thoose who rejuvenated it in the early 90s: Jay... See More Farrar, Ryan Adams, Ryan Bingham, The Doc Marshalls, Hayes Carll, The Bottle Rockets, Golden Smog, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Drive-by Truckers, etc.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Arick von Mittler
Arick von Mittler
...Just about anyone on Lost Highway or New West.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
The Band was my favorite band (and still is) back in 1969 when Big Pink emerged. IF the term makes sense, that's the one band that MAY fit (only 'cause of Robbie's songwriting at the time). The Band was/is the best R'N'R band of all time. We didn't need a different label (and still don't). In case you don't get the irony, I know all too well what these labels are supposed to mean, I'm just sayin'.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Arick von Mittler
Arick von Mittler
I agree with general opposition to labels as a ideal, but let's face it, labels help. If someone I meet seems like a cool guy and he asks me what kind of music I listen too I'm not going to say country even though I wish I could. He will assume I listen to Garth Brooks, Big and Rich, and Alan Jackson.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
Ah, good point. One problem, most Americana is not country. So your friend might think you're cool but he/she shouldn't get that you're into good country. Be courageous and answer "Country, just not that shit you hear on the radio."
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Dennis Persica
Dennis Persica
Hey, Canada is part of N. America, so why can't Neil be part of Americana? Robbie Robertson, too.
Anybody here old enough to remember the term "progressive country," back from around the early 70s? I've always considered it rather snobbish, but it was an early attempt to find a lable to separate the stuff that Gram, The Byrds, NRPS, Burritos etc ... See Morewere doing from what was going on in Nashville at the time (even though some of it was actually recorded in Nashville).
On that recording where Gram and Emmylou are interviewed and perform live at that radio station in N.Y., the interviewer asks them if they're doing progressive country.
Emmylou wittily replies that they do "REgressive country."
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 person ·
Will James
Will James
Yeah, I always LOVED that answer. Gotta start using that.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Dennis Persica
Dennis Persica
I made myself a Pandora radio station called "Regressive Country." However, I haven't been on that site in years, so I'm not sure if it's still there.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
And Dennis, yes, some of us are old enough (even tho my brain keeps telling me I'm 29!). Canada rules (I live 10 miles from the border). And note: back then some of that stuff coming out of Nashville in retrospect was some great country!
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
I vote for limiting the "Americana" label to The Band and Ry Cooder.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 person ·
Dennis Persica
Dennis Persica
In retrospect, yes. I find myself appreciating it a lot more today than then. I think it may have been more political than anything else. With acts sprouting from 60s music with all of its liberal values (OK, I'm generalizing here), I think they were trying to appreciate the music without buying into what they saw as a very politically conservative... See More Southern mindset (generalizing again). And of course, Johnny Cash was the exact antithesis of what is perceived to be a conservative mindset, if you look at the people who were on his TV show, from Louis Armstrong, to Bob Dylan, to Joni Mitchell etc.
And I say this as someone on the opposite side of the nation from you, about 60 miles from the oil slick.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
From the horse's mouth (sorry Gram): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awwQ6QShkqw&feature=player_embedded
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 person ·
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
It´s a kind of country flavored music, with a touch of bluegrass played by a rock´n´roll band. Post-psychedelic creation but founded on it. Wouldn´t you considerer Forever Changes an Americana album?
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
Yeah, everything is an Americana album it seems. Precisely my original point. Forever Changes, perhaps the greatest rock album of all time, incorporates all styles of American and Latin music (why stop there, World Music). "Country flavored" - I know you mean well, but, uh...
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 person ·
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
Well, country flavored is not a good expresion. I´ll search another. World music is given to ethnic music. Americana music is cozmic because many etnics musics have joint on it to rise a new kind of music. Forever Changes is one of my really favs too.
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
Gram´s ok at the interview. Labels are for critics and historians not musicians who can revisite soul songs in a country way, for example.
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
Because of social media and new methods of music distribution, many artists are forced into calling themselves Americana who wouldn't otherwise; they are given a "dropdown" list of labels for their music.
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
Cozmicfolkfan Amable
Gram comment is totally actual then.
4 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Bob Benckert
Bob Benckert
As a station owner I appreciate a "label" / focus on which to build a sound. We are one of the few 24/7 commercial "Americana" stations. We brand ourselves "country roots". With all the "labels" out there how do make ourselves different to the potential listener? The average listener needs that label to know what to expect when he/she turns on ... See Morethe radio. This is after all a business that needs marketing. Market a sound and ultimately the artist can make a better living and continue to create.
3 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
Understood. Seems Americana is supposed to be a home for "real" country. Bob, do you play any country music, anything you'd consider country. What country artists do you play daily?
3 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Bob Benckert
Bob Benckert
"Real" Merle, Willie, Johnny - then how do label: Darrell Scott, Elizabeth Cook, Tift Merritt, Cindy Bullins, Cherryholmes, Paull Thorn, Yarn, Otis Gibbs, Stone river Boys, Shelby Lynn, Patti Griffin, Jim Lauderdale, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Carrie Rodriguez, Red Molly, Jason and the Scorchers, Slaid Cleaves? ( just a sample)
2 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Will James
Will James
Ah, could you come to Buffalo? OK, so it's a business model more than a "type" of music.
2 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·
Bob Benckert
Bob Benckert
In my very humble opinion - Music is a business - we all like labels to make us comfortable - I view Americana as a model that can be sold as a concept, that allows the consumer of music some expectation. Artists, radio, promoters etc., can only make a living if the consumer accepts us
2 hours ago · LikeUnlike ·

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Permalink Reply by Will James on June 19, 2010 at 6:28pm

Hey, if I were making any money, Bob, I guess I'd be in the music business. But like a fool I spend all this time on music, and I'm not in the business. I applaud what you do, but not the guy up the dial just a tick that's playing CMA or down one playing godawful MOR.

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Permalink Reply by Will James on July 2, 2010 at 9:27am

Sorry if I haven't been here for a bit. I'm over at Facebook doing a Rock and Pop Video History of the 60s. Seems that from what I see on Letterman and SNL (god forbid) lately, some history lessons are in order (and to prove I'm not just a one man Gram Band, sorry Chris James!). Meet us there at http://www.facebook.com/inductgramparsons.

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