the hum / By Bob Doran

Grapevine

Absynth Q and friends, Crooked Still at the Mateel, and folks home for the holidays

(Dec. 18, 2008)  I heard it through the grapevine, second-, maybe third-hand: Absynth Quintet was allegedly breaking up — again. A distraught Lila Nelson heard the story and offered mediation services. When I put the breakup question to AQ guitarist Ryan Roberts, he replied with a paraphrase from Mark Twain: “The rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated,” adding, “Don’t know how that got started but we are all fine and dandy.” And I’ll testify that everything seemed fine and dandy when I saw the band play gypsy-ish jazz at the Jambalaya during last Friday’s Arts! Arcata.

Ryan also notes that AQ has a gig Friday, Dec. 19, at the Red Fox Tavern with some very special guests. Former AQ fiddler Zebulon Bowles is back in town with his friend Rushad Eggleston, master of the electric cello. “Rushad is bringing up his own band, Tornado Ride, but will also play with us and Zeb,” says Ryan.

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For those unfamiliar with the work of Mr. Eggleston, he’s a Berklee College of Music grad who pioneered the use of electric cello in bands like Fiddlers 4 and Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings. In 2004 he founded the band Crooked Still with several other like-minded alt. bluegrass types in the Boston area. About a year ago he left that band to go his own way and form Tornado Rider, where he promises “a one-of-a-kind mystical experience driven by the mammoth power of an electric cello” and “powerful anthems about falcons, whirlwinds and pretty girls, which will haunt your brain for weeks.”

By chance Rushad’s former band Crooked Still is playing locally this weekend as part of a Year End Mateel Party and Chili Cook-off taking place Saturday at the Mateel (of course). Headlining that show are SoHum faves Peter Rowan and The Free Mexican Air Force, led by songwriter/Dead associate Rowan, the guy who wrote “Panama Red” for New Riders, among many other great tunes.

I’m pretty sure this is the first Humboldt appearance for Crooked Still. It’s also a homecoming of sorts for one of the band members. After Eggleston left the band in 2007, two new players were signed up: cellist Tristan Clarridge and fiddler Brittany Haas, both of them coming from Anger’s Republic of Strings. Local fiddle fans will recognize Tristan as one of the Clarridge Family Fiddlers (with his sister Tashina). Tristan is a champ: In fact he was the youngest winner of the Grand National Fiddle Championships in Weiser, Idaho, and he’s managed to adapt those skills to play innovative bluegrass and Celtic music on cello.

Re: the Chili Cook-Off, the Mateel folks are “seeking anyone with a great chili recipe to put their skills to the test and enter this competition.” Bring a big pot o’ vegetarian or meat chili and serving equipment and you get one free ticket to the event plus a shot at a prize package including a 2009 MCC membership, a Mateel hat and T-shirt, “and more.”

Thursdays at the Red Fox typically have reggae DJ Jimmy Jonz on turntables; this Thursday, Dec 18, he’ll have some guests in for a “massive all star show!” Ace Deuce features guitarist Ray White (formerly of the Mothers of Invention, KVHW, etc.), bassist Bobby Vega (formerly of Sly and the Family Stone, Zero, KVHW, etc.) with locals B. Swiz (keys), Chris Noonan (saxes), Nate Krystaff (guitar) and Tofu Mike Schwartz on drums.

You’ll also find Tofu at the Red Fox Saturday, Dec. 20, when Play Dead gathers for another tribute to the Grateful Dead etc. Rumor has it (via the grapevine) that former local keyboard wiz Mike Emerson will be in town for the pre-holiday bash. After Xmas, hard-workin’ Mike has a couple of dates with bluesman Tommy Castro, then hits the road with Carlene Carter (June’s daughter).

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