It’s possible I overdid it. I might even have a little bit of a ukulele hangover, if such a thing exists. My hands are a little stiff, my right shoulder complaining. That because I spent the better part of Saturday afternoon sexing up the chord progressions for Aaron Neville’s “Tell it like it is.” I didn’t quit until I’d worked out the second position and/or the husband said “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, COULD YOU PLAY SOMETHING ELSE FOR A WHILE?” Well, um, no, actually, but even that was okay because it was time to take a breather and head out for, that’s right, live ukulele music and plenty of it.
Can I tell you how much I adore those wacky Canote Brothers? Can I? In ties that are nearly as wide as their smiles, you head on back in time to an era of high waisted trousers and crank start automobiles and never mind that you’re in the basement of a rather swanky and expensive music store, it’s all back porch when those boys swing. Golly gee whiz, did they bring the wholesome tunes and the big smiley times. They were followed by another remarkable player in horn-rimmed specs, the unstoppable Del Ray who makes you say this: Now, how on earth can she get that kind of sound from a ukulele? And how much longer am I going to have to play to get there myself? Longer than I’ve got on the planet, that’s fer sure, unless I quit everything else I’m doing and devote myself to my four stringed companion. As if that wasn’t enough, Del Ray and her smashing bass player were followed by Caravan Gogh, a gypsy jazz/novelty/some third thing combo out of Portland, featuring Jim DeVille on, oh yeah, the ukulele. Man, can that guy strum him some uke. It’s a wonder he doesn’t go through them like, like, like hmmm, come on, clever metaphor here, like Madonna goes through hairstyles? You get it. What I’m saying is that we heard some uke and it was good.
But did I stop there? No, no I did not. Because Sunday was SUPA Sunday. What Super Bowl? I had a room full of uke players – oh, about 40, I’d say – to join in song and strum and wise cracking a plenty. Did I sit up front? Yes I did, to help brave Angela lead on The Rainbow Connection. (Hey, play the chorus twice at the end. Play it once while singing the second time, with the la da da dee bit.)Â So the weekend wrapped up with a little Buddy Holly, a little Bye Bye Love and now, I’m not sure I’ll be able to pick up the uke again for a few days coz, well, ow. And wow. That was a lot of ukulele. Somebody get me some methadone, stat. I think I’m starting to withdraw.
Y’all ought to come with me, next time, you know who you are.
[tags]ukulele[/tags]