Picking up the story from our last episode….
I am driving in the gathering dusk, towards a teaching gig at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, Ohio. Suddenly I realize...I am quite lost! Night has fallen and I can’t seem to find the final turn-off to my destination. At last, a light looms in the apparent wilderness – a place to ask directions?
Pulling into the car park, I see a sign: ‘Rock Springs Rehabilitation Hospital’. When I open the front door, however, the reception desk is deserted. There is a surreal ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ sort of calm. Long corridors...wafts of antiseptic…and then, unexpectedly, a gaggle of geriatrics in wheelchairs are upon me!
‘My name is Gracie’, says one elderly lady. ‘Can you get me some soap for my teeth? They come out, you know’ she added, helpfully offering me her false teeth. This situation is getting frankly weird and I’m relieved to eventually discover an employee, who directs me to an exit. I still don’t have any idea where I am, but decide it’s better to drive around aimlessly in the dark than remain here.
My luck changes shortly after, when I spot a local family out for a spin on a 4 wheel trike/paddock bike. What the hell they are doing riding around at that time of night, I have no idea – they, in turn, are fascinated to find a lost Aussie at large in Meigs County and they graciously lead me down to the Fur Peace turn-off. They take pictures of me on their cell phone; I feel both exotic and very grateful. Thanks, Jay & family!
Fur Peace Ranch at last! This place is like a cool ‘ashram’ for guitarists, with a happy, musically stimulating vibe. Great folks, great food, great music...all in a beautiful setting with lots of inviting ‘pickin’ porches for evening jams. In addition to our classes, fellow teacher Chris Smither and I also have a concert on Saturday night at the Fur Peace Station venue. The weather is very rowdy – cue dramatic thunder claps - which Chris uses to great effect during his set! Thanks to all my students, especially the youngest, 13 year old Eli Catlin, who I reckon is going to be a player to watch out for in the years to come. It was a very rewarding experience and I’m excited to already be invited back to teach in 2010 – look out for dates soon! (Check out some photos here.)
My next stop is Columbus, OH, where I am shown extraordinarily fine hospitality by my hosts Herb Sollars and his wife Sharyn. They also hosted fellow-Aussie guitarist Lloyd Spiegel many years ago! (He’s one of my Melbourne ‘homeboys’). Mike Berichon from ‘Bear in the Chair’ productions, along with the support of folks from the Columbus Blues Alliance, helped put together a wonderful show for me at the Vonn Blues Lounge. I feel I have truly made a bunch of new blues friends here and can’t wait to get back to town…
My last tour commitment takes me into Canada for the Luminato Festival, Toronto, where I am part of a Blues Guitar concert put together by New York Guitar Festival director David Spelman. I first met David in Australia where he helped curate the first two Adelaide International Guitar Festivals – incidentally that’s also where I met Jorma Kaukonen. The Toronto concert has a fantastic line-up and I get to play solo acoustic to an enthusiastic crowd, between Alvin Youngblood Hart’s ‘Muscle Theory’ and Taj Mahal’s Band.
And now the long flight home. As I settle down to read the in-flight magazine, I am amazed by the following recipe. I don’t know about my American readers – but, as an Aussie, I thought this was bizarre, so I offer it to you all here. Everyone feel free to try it and let me know how it tastes!
RECIPE: BACON INFUSED BOURBON COCKTAIL
On a low heat, melt 1 ¼ oz bacon fat in a small saucepan. Stir fat until it liquefies (3-4 min). Pour liquid fat into large container and add 750 ml Bourbon. Stir. Cover and let stand for 4 hours, then scoop solidified fat off top and strain bourbon twice thru cheesecloth or cotton shirt.
2oz bacon-infused bourbon
¼ oz maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Add to mixing glass with ice, stir and strain over ice with a twist of orange.
OK! That’s all for now – enjoy!
Next time…..July festivals, Augusta Heritage Blues Week and more….
I am driving in the gathering dusk, towards a teaching gig at Jorma Kaukonen’s Fur Peace Ranch, Ohio. Suddenly I realize...I am quite lost! Night has fallen and I can’t seem to find the final turn-off to my destination. At last, a light looms in the apparent wilderness – a place to ask directions?
Pulling into the car park, I see a sign: ‘Rock Springs Rehabilitation Hospital’. When I open the front door, however, the reception desk is deserted. There is a surreal ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ sort of calm. Long corridors...wafts of antiseptic…and then, unexpectedly, a gaggle of geriatrics in wheelchairs are upon me!
‘My name is Gracie’, says one elderly lady. ‘Can you get me some soap for my teeth? They come out, you know’ she added, helpfully offering me her false teeth. This situation is getting frankly weird and I’m relieved to eventually discover an employee, who directs me to an exit. I still don’t have any idea where I am, but decide it’s better to drive around aimlessly in the dark than remain here.
My luck changes shortly after, when I spot a local family out for a spin on a 4 wheel trike/paddock bike. What the hell they are doing riding around at that time of night, I have no idea – they, in turn, are fascinated to find a lost Aussie at large in Meigs County and they graciously lead me down to the Fur Peace turn-off. They take pictures of me on their cell phone; I feel both exotic and very grateful. Thanks, Jay & family!
Fur Peace Ranch at last! This place is like a cool ‘ashram’ for guitarists, with a happy, musically stimulating vibe. Great folks, great food, great music...all in a beautiful setting with lots of inviting ‘pickin’ porches for evening jams. In addition to our classes, fellow teacher Chris Smither and I also have a concert on Saturday night at the Fur Peace Station venue. The weather is very rowdy – cue dramatic thunder claps - which Chris uses to great effect during his set! Thanks to all my students, especially the youngest, 13 year old Eli Catlin, who I reckon is going to be a player to watch out for in the years to come. It was a very rewarding experience and I’m excited to already be invited back to teach in 2010 – look out for dates soon! (Check out some photos here.)
My next stop is Columbus, OH, where I am shown extraordinarily fine hospitality by my hosts Herb Sollars and his wife Sharyn. They also hosted fellow-Aussie guitarist Lloyd Spiegel many years ago! (He’s one of my Melbourne ‘homeboys’). Mike Berichon from ‘Bear in the Chair’ productions, along with the support of folks from the Columbus Blues Alliance, helped put together a wonderful show for me at the Vonn Blues Lounge. I feel I have truly made a bunch of new blues friends here and can’t wait to get back to town…
My last tour commitment takes me into Canada for the Luminato Festival, Toronto, where I am part of a Blues Guitar concert put together by New York Guitar Festival director David Spelman. I first met David in Australia where he helped curate the first two Adelaide International Guitar Festivals – incidentally that’s also where I met Jorma Kaukonen. The Toronto concert has a fantastic line-up and I get to play solo acoustic to an enthusiastic crowd, between Alvin Youngblood Hart’s ‘Muscle Theory’ and Taj Mahal’s Band.
And now the long flight home. As I settle down to read the in-flight magazine, I am amazed by the following recipe. I don’t know about my American readers – but, as an Aussie, I thought this was bizarre, so I offer it to you all here. Everyone feel free to try it and let me know how it tastes!
RECIPE: BACON INFUSED BOURBON COCKTAIL
On a low heat, melt 1 ¼ oz bacon fat in a small saucepan. Stir fat until it liquefies (3-4 min). Pour liquid fat into large container and add 750 ml Bourbon. Stir. Cover and let stand for 4 hours, then scoop solidified fat off top and strain bourbon twice thru cheesecloth or cotton shirt.
2oz bacon-infused bourbon
¼ oz maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Add to mixing glass with ice, stir and strain over ice with a twist of orange.
OK! That’s all for now – enjoy!
Next time…..July festivals, Augusta Heritage Blues Week and more….