Homegrown Music...and Musical Instruments!

Image Gallery MarcBristol and other Washington State grassroots musicians wail away on agutbucket, washboard, and jug (the axe is a gag). For Marc's original homegrownmusic column--which featured gutbucket, washboard, jug, kazoo, musical saw,and spoons ""makin' and playin' ""instructions-see MOTHER NO. 50. Inset showsgutbucket ""notch and bevel""details.

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Evenhomesteaders need to relax and enjoy themselves from time to time, right?And almost everybody these days wants to cut his or her cost of living.So how about a little do-it-yourself entertainment?

Andthat's what this column is all about. Down-home music that you can make. . . and the instruments (which, in some cases, you can also make!) toplay that music on.

Wemay also publish some songs, discuss music as a potential home business,run discographies, bibliographies, and/or include whatever other do-it-yourselfmusic topics you'd like to see.

Theimportant thing is that this is your column. If you like it, write to meand let me know. If you have some ideas for this feature, let me know that.I'm open to any suggestions or information you care to contribute. I'lleven try to answer your questions about down-home music . . . but--bothfor the benefit of all MOTHER's readers and to ease my correspondence load--I'lldeal with those questions, whenever possible, here in this column . . .rather than in personal letters.

Addressyour correspondence-- for this column and this column only--toMarc Bristol, 31722 N.E. 180th Place, Duvall, Wash. 98019.

Share Some Down-HomeMusic

Asyou know, music is one of those activities that are a lot more fun whenthey're shared with good friends . . . but it's often difficult (especially for anyone who lives in a remote, rural area) to find people to gettogether and jam with. In fact, I receive quite a few letters from folkswho want to know how to locate other homegrown musicians.

Maybeyou've been faced with this same problem . . . or maybe you're just yearningto meet someone who can teach you a few new tunes to work on. In eithercase, here are a few suggestions on how to deal with a musical "dry spell". . . and bring a little culture to your community at the same time.

PUBLIC JAMS

Firstof all, pick up your guitar (or mandolin, or fiddle, or whatever instrumentyou play) and head on down to a local club or tavern that sponsors jamsessions. Also called "open mike" nights, such get-togethers usually featurea mixture of professional and amateur talent . . . so everyone thatdrops by can have a chance to join in the action. In most cases the band--orthe solo performer--who's hired by the club will sing a set of songs (toput everyone in the right mood) . . . and then the management will turnthe stage over to anyone else who might want to play. Each player is normallyallotted a fixed time slot . . . which should be at least 30 minuteslong, since a picker needs time to get warmed up to his instrument andto the crowd.

Ina looser variation of the standard arrangement, the band--following its own set--invites musicians in the audience to join in as it continuesto play. This kind of jam may become a little confusing (and noisy!),but it's also a lot of fun for the entire house. The open mike events I'veparticipated in were most often a combination of the two types: Some peopleplayed with the band, while others took the stage alone.

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