On the Big Rock Candy Mountain

Foot stomping, string twanging, head shaking, throat gurgling Baby Gramps was in town and boy what a show it was. Opened up by Asheville’s own Blind Boy Chocolate and The Milk Sheiks, a jug/hillbilly/blues band with a slight inclination for the politically incorrect, the show was nothing if not fun, lively and an all-around good time.

Taking place in the Grey Eagle, the seated show kicked off at eight in an intimate venue where a few lucky guests even got to relax right up near the bands on a couch. The Milk Sheiks did a great job of warming up the audience with their songs of deviant dreamers and some good old fashioned pickin’ and saw playing. Their set, which lasted about an hour, displayed the broad instrumental range of the band while showcasing the vocal abilities of the members. With a band like this, versatility is the keyword and the different instruments that made the rounds with each member are a testament to that.

After the Sheiks finished and some rearranging of the stage, it was the turn for Baby Gramps and his National Steel Guitar. If a long white beard ever was a symbol of old age, Baby Gramps with his electric performance dispelled any such myths. Accompanied on fiddle by Jason Krekel and working his way through a repertoire that spans more decades than some people’s lifespans, spectators got to hear some of the old and some of the new: Big Rock Candy Mountain; the irreverent Scrotum song that ended with a “standing ovulation”; and the iconic Palindromes.

Baby Gramps rounded off the show after a third return to stage with an extended band for his song Ghost Train of Freak Mountain. The song started off with a small dedication to Robin Williams and many good friends that have passed. It was a magical moment to watch. The audience was held captive by everything from Gramps’ tireless fingers flying up and down the guitar, the explosions of guttural sounds and head bobs, fiddle sound effects, singing saws, train whistles and trumpet solos.

And so came the end of the night’s performance, with the hope Baby Gramps will be back to visit our town amid these Big Rock Candy Mountains- sooner rather than later.

As part of my growth as a local photographer, I have been getting myself invited to do second shoots for other photographers. This time, I was able to work on the preparation for a bride’s special day. We met at the very beautiful location of Lake Junaluska and shot into the golden hour.

Another first for yours truly! Not fireworks, mind you. I don’t think there is a single place in the world where at one point or another you wouldn’t encounter some display of pyrotechnics to celebrate. But the act of taking a photo of said fireworks. It took me some reading up on the subject and understanding the mechanics of it all, but I do believe I was able to capture a nice display.