Doc Watson

abbacus · Post by **abbacus** » March 28, 2004 7:40 pm

As I am only 25 years old and not much into the mountain music, I have never heard of this guy. One day last week I heard of a concert of folklore and storytelling from the dirt roads of americana. As I was having a bad/horrible day I decided to go and thought maybe this would cheer me up.
Not being familiar with him at all I only knew about what little the bio said about him in the program. I was quite surprised when he walked out on to the stage to notice how many years this man had on him. He is 81 and blind or nearly blind and can play the guitar like no other.
How about we get him and Jimmy and then throw in Capt Tony for good measure. This would be the ultimate concert in my book, what do you think?

jbfinscj · Post by **jbfinscj** » March 28, 2004 10:48 pm

Doc Watson is great, but I don't know a concert with him and Jimmy would work. I have been a Doc Watso fan for years, I am only 23. I suggest you purchase an album called "The Three Pickers." It is a live concert performed by Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Ricky Skaggs. The picking and singing is mind blowing.

abbacus · Post by **abbacus** » March 28, 2004 11:02 pm

Yeah you are probably right. I was just referring to the story telling and laid back atmosphere that could be created. I was completely blown away by the skill that he has. I went to the venue an hour before and got a row 8 seat, by luck and it was awesome. To see him smile, laugh, pick, and tap his foot all at the same time, then on top of that he is 81 years old. My friend is trying to get me to go to bonarroo but the tix are 180. Doc is playing with Bob Dylan there. Have you ever been to the Merlefest???

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » March 29, 2004 12:48 pm

abbacus wrote:Yeah you are probably right. I was just referring to the story telling and laid back atmosphere that could be created. I was completely blown away by the skill that he has. I went to the venue an hour before and got a row 8 seat, by luck and it was awesome. To see him smile, laugh, pick, and tap his foot all at the same time, then on top of that he is 81 years old. My friend is trying to get me to go to bonarroo but the tix are 180. Doc is playing with Bob Dylan there. Have you ever been to the Merlefest???

I have been to MerleFest a few times. I've rarely seen so much talent all in one place: Doc, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Goose Creek Symphony, Donna the Buffalo, Leftover Salmon, Emmylou Harris, Sam Bush, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Peter Rowan, Junior Brown, John Prine, and the list goes on.

abbacus · Post by **abbacus** » March 29, 2004 3:24 pm

So it is obvious the talent is there but how is the concerts/festival? I would love to go to it sometime but was kind of unsure of it. The tickets were very expensive. It would cost me much much more than that because of the travel stuff. Another thing I was unsure of was the atmosphere. The concert I was at had a median age of about 60. I felt very out of place.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » March 29, 2004 4:24 pm

abbacus wrote:So it is obvious the talent is there but how is the concerts/festival? I would love to go to it sometime but was kind of unsure of it. The tickets were very expensive. It would cost me much much more than that because of the travel stuff. Another thing I was unsure of was the atmosphere. The concert I was at had a median age of about 60. I felt very out of place.

To me, it was worth every penny. The price of admission is worth it just to hear Doc Watson alone. The atmosphere is also very friendly. The audience consists of everyone from toddlers to older folks. If you have kids, they have a Little Pickers tent and lots of activities planned for them throughout the day. A downside for some folks is that it's an alcohol free event. I like to drink myself but the music is way more important to me than copping a buzz. Unfortunately some people don't see it that way. Keeping it alcohol free is a major contributing factor to the festival atmosphere and makes it an even better environment if you want to bring your kids. There are several different stages and the bands usually perform more than once during the festival so you have several opportunities to see them. There is also a lot of impromptu jams in the camping areas which is can sometimes be more fun than the festival itself. If you do go this year, I highly recommend checking out The Gourds from Austin, Texas. They may be best known for their bluegrass cover of Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Gin n' Juice" (which has been falsely attributed to Phish thanks to Napster), but there is SO much more to them than that. They mix country, folk, bluegrass, rock, r & b and zydeco and tons of other influences into a very potent stew that you aren't likely to hear anywhere else. They're definitely one of my favorite bands out there today. I'm just baffled why it took so long for the MerleFest organizers to book 'em. Bring your dancin' shoes, you'll need 'em.

naughty Cal Wheeler · Post by **naughty Cal Wheeler** » March 29, 2004 8:22 pm

Doc is awsome ! I started listening to him about the same time I first got into Buffett. 1970something ? He has an album (dating myself) that is hard to find but if you like Doc, will "nail your boots to the kitchen floor, lace em' up and bar the door" ! It is called Doc & The Boys. It shows Doc sitting at the head of a long table with the band on either side. Sitting before them is a frosty pitcher of beer. He does a great rendition of Tennessee Stud.