2 posts tagged “hotpoint stringband”

For starters, you might want to look back at a few of my recent posts to get the context for this.  Anyway, flutestory claims that the tune of the Opera Reel I posted about earlier is the same as the tune on the second half of this track here:

09 Juneteenth-Opera Reel

Hotpoint String Band

To be honest, I don't hear it.  Sure, the tunes have the same name, but that's about all of the similarity I'm willing to acknowledge.  The tunes seem so different that I don't think they have the same source at all.  Do any of you out there with a better ear for this kind of stuff want to weigh in?  (Hey, Faireraven and Acroyear70!  I'm looking squarely in your direction on this.  Feel free to reply over on LJ.)  I'm rather eager to see what other people think.

I've got two words for you:  Hotpoint Stringband.  (Yeah, I know that's technically 4 words.) 

I managed to get to half of the contra last night (after a very cool concert with the NSO at the Cathedral), and this was the band that was playing.  Oh my God, they are completely awesome.  They've got a really solid sound with fiddle, banjo, piano and bass, but what makes it incredible is the drums.  Can you imagine a contra band with a full drum kit?

Tell you what.  Don't take my word for it.  You should come to the contra on Sunday night and hear them for yourself.  It turns out that this Ohio band is in town for the entire weekend.  (They're even doing the Frederick dance tonight, but I know I won't be able to get to that.)  The dance is going to be in the Bumper Car Pavilion, so it's going to be a little crowded, but it is SO going to be worth it.

You should come.  Trust me.