The Grateful Dudes at Vincenzo's 9-18-10

It was another great evening of music at Vincenzo's (Newhall on Lyons) last night. The Grateful Dudes performing as they have for almost twenty years on a regular basis. Rodger Phillips, the leader on banjo and vocal, the legendary Herb Pedersen on guitar and vocal,  Dennis Fetchet on fiddle, mandolin and vocal, and Dean Knight on bass and vocal( filling in for Bill Bryson). It was an interesting night, I got to hear Herb play banjo before they started, between sets Dennis, Herb and Dean singing and playing "God Only Knows". Dennis playing the main melody on mandolin was exceptional.. I could listen to Herb and Dennis play with that tune forever. Altogether three sets of great music, a wide variety of bluegrass, country and oldtime material. I hadn't heard "Moonshiner" in awhile. Herb featured on "Cora is gone", "The Old Home Place" "Back up and push" and his own "Old Train".  Always great to hear Dennis on "Jerusalem Ridge" and Rodger on "Flint Hill Special" and "Polka on the banjo". ("Rollin' in my sweet baby's arms" and many more) Dennis, a great fiddler, was on fire on mandolin tonight. He showed me a new back guard on his mandolin, which gives it better volume, less muting.  And for a finale Dennis and Dean did a novelty tune "Beep beep"(I believe) with Dennis on guitar.  Didn't get to hear "Wait a minute" tonight, but Ben and I still remember the night Herb told us the story behind that tune, but that's another chapter... keep pickin'. and keep comin' back... on Saturday nights...