Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

Report from Jug Band trip to Memphis

Will Shade StoneA moving ceremony with song; and a soaring hawk, circling overhead, that many felt was the spirit of Will Shade absorbing the goodwill – these characterized the Hump Night Thumper’s visit to Memphis. They went to dedicate Will Shade’s gravestone, for which the School held a benefit concert in January. One band member wrote to those who didn’t make the May 3rd trip:

Memphis was as good as I thought it would be.

We practiced/jammed on Friday night in the hotel common area, but someone complained, so we had to stop after 6-7 songs. Nice people joined us from Dodge, Kansas–long-time jugband folks. Saturday bus ride was a 45 minute jam session to the cemetery, a moving ceremony with song; and a soaring hawk, circling overhead, that many felt was the spirit of Will Shade absorbing the goodwill. We had a down home delicious lunch and rousing jam at the Center of Southern Folklore with the Jake Leg Stompers, and with a nice couple that traveled from Rhode Island to be part of this!

We then wandered into the street and did our rebel jam out there. [Note: Memphis requires permits for street performers, threatening a $150 fine for performing without one. When the Thumpers applied, they were told that none were being issued for this weekend; the band decided to risk it]. I put my hat out, and we actually collected $9 in an hour. People stopped to listen. The trolley drove by with folks waving at us. We had our picture taken with a box camera–tin type.

It was a true Memphis jug band tribute. You guys were there in spirit.

Sue Kazoo

More photos at the Will Shade Tribute site.

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere by Skip | May 11, 2008 | Comments (0)


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