[mplpost] o brother, o sister, o mother, o father!!

[colonel tom]

Hello Folks,
O Brother, here we go again!!!!!  Just so everyone knows, there is no such 
thing as an O Brother tribute band here in Toronto.  There are acts who 
happen to know the material that appears on the soundtrack (not a big 
stretch if you're at all into bluegrass or old-time music) and who've been 
performing this music all along (ie since before the movie was even a 
glimmer in the Coen Brothers' eyes). We're one of those bands.  We've been 
accused more than once (in print no less), of being an O Brother bandwagon 
act. When these journalists have been challenged for not doing their 
homework they've quickly recanted and (as quick as you can say "overnight 
success of O Brother") , became big supporters of our band (in print).
I'm surprised by Richard's knee-jerkism on this point. I expect rock critics 
to consider us a "cover" band, that is the sort of language used in their 
circles. In the bluegrass and old-time camp we generally talk about 
"traditional" tunes (occasionally we speak of "chestnuts" too) and 
"traditional country bands.
Is The White Family a "cover" band when they sing a Carter Family song?  How 
about the late John Hartford, when he fiddled "Indian War Whoop" on the 
soundtrack? Or the other folks who sing and perform traditional tunes in O 
Brother. I guess you can see what I'm getting at here...
This criticism of"bandwagonism" is an interesting one, in that I've only 
ever heard it come up in the Canadian media. Down south many people in the 
bluegrass and old-time communities are more than happy that the film has 
brought the music to the frontlines of pop culture again. Just like 
Deliverance and Bonnie and Clyde did when I was a little guy. I take it as a 
happy coincidence that our first record came out at the same time as the 
movie. It's helped us quite a bit. Yeah, I get tired of people who say 
things like "you guys are just like the Soggy Bottom Boys". But at least 
these days we don't have to feel like we're playing in a complete vacuum 
(like old-time bands experienced in the 80's). People now have a means to 
talk about the music (instead of yelling yee-haw). And people also have a 
starting point to explore similar music and to COME OUT AND SPEND THEIR 
HARD-EARNED MONEY LISTENING TO IT.
What you will hear if you come to the show Lillian is putting on is a number 
of old-time and bluegrass groups (Toronto-based) who will, yes, each perform 
two songs that appear on the soundtrack. The remainder of the show will be 
good old-fashioned stringband and country music. The stuff that sounds 
similar to the sort of stuff you hear in the movie. Oh yeah, but it'll be 
sung with those nasally Canadian accents though...
If you want to hear the acts who helped fire up the furnace of old-time 
music again, come on out and let's spend our hard-earned money in February 
when the O Brother roadshow comes through town. I for one, will not be 
missing that "REAL" show!!

Unreally yours,
Col. Tom Parker
the backstabbers country stringband
Toronto, ON

runmountain@hotmail.com
http://www.thebackstabbers.org
ph: 416 703 5949



----Original Message Follows----
From: Richard Flohil <rflohil@sympatico.ca>
Reply-To: maplepost@icomm.ca
To: maplepost@icomm.ca
Subject: [mplpost] O Brother: The REAL thing
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2001 14:41:56 -0500

I'm a bit mixed about the news that an "O Brother Where Art Thou"
tribute band is apparently doing the rounds in Toronto - with lots of
familiar and VERY good players.
	Having said that, I feel a bit like a grinch when I say that
the real thing just can't be duplicated.  The pop and country live
music fields in Canada are littered with "tribute" bands covering
everything from The Eagles  to Rod Stewart. We have a singer who
calls herself Shania Twin, and Dottie Cormier was once asked to
audition for a group called The Dixie Chicklets.  There's a Garth
Brooks cover band, and another one that covers The Tragically Hip.
Not to mention sundry musicians who cover Rush, Britney Spears,
Christine Aguillera, Madonna, and anyone else who's successful.
	This works, to some extent when the real thing ain't
available - and I have to confess that I've done publicity for two
Ontario tours with Bjorn Again, and you can guess who they cover.
	Be advised, though, that I'll be announcing a Toronto event
tomorrow, featuring the REAL thing when it comes to the folk who made
Oh Brother Where Art Thou such a roaring success.  Enough at this
time to say that the cast includes Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley and
many, many others.
	Keep watching:  We'll call it Down from the Mountain!

Cheers,

Richard
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