East Meets West - Mini Gathering

[lbpesq]

Hey everyone, I'm in North Carolina visiting family.  Tomorrow I'm driving out to meet up with our esteemed moderator himself!  
 
Bill, tgo

[sonicus]

HI Bill .  
 I hope all is well with you and your family. Please say hi to all that need saying hi to for me .
       
     Wolf .

[keith_h]

Bill,
What area are you in? Asheville would be too far for me on such short notice but if you are closer maybe we could meet up for a drink.  
 
Keith

[David Houck]

Welcome to North Carolina!
 
I was born just west of Hickory in Valdese, and have spent a good part of my life within an hour or so of Hickory.

[David Houck]

Keith; he's in Hickory.

[keith_h]

Hickory is bit too far.  
 
Bill,
Hope you have a nice visit and maybe next time you come through there will be more time to plan a larger get together.  
 
Keith

[lbpesq]

I'll be back out this way in a couple of months or so for more dental work.  My older brother is a dentist and I get free dental work as a payback for all the times he beat me up as kids! lol  Crowns are so expensive in California that it's worth it to fly cross country!
 
Bill, tgo

[keith_h]

Bill,
I've never thought of North Carolina as a destination for medical tourism (unless your from the Mideast and visiting Duke). Maybe you'll start a trend. ;-)  
 
Let us know the next time you are planning a trip and maybe we can pull a few more folks together.  
 
Keith
 
(Message edited by keith_h on March 20, 2010)

[artswork99]

Fortunately the opportunity presented itself for me to be at this gathering.  Nice meeting you Bill and getting a chance to play some music with you and Dave!  Appreciate the setup of cabs and power Dave. Safe travels Bill.  Best, Art
 
(Message edited by artswork99 on March 21, 2010)

[David Houck]

As Art mentioned, he and Bill and I got together yesterday for talking out on the front porch on a beautiful first day of spring, and for playing some in my living room (ok, music room).  Bill had his Veillette Gryphon 12 string (very cool), and Art had his MK; and the resulting music was very enjoyable!  We plugged the Gryphon into Art's ART Preamp, a Carver power amp, and an Acme B2; and I pulled a Hartke rig up from the basement that Art quickly dialed into for a very nice tone.  I didn't have a PA setup, so Bill was having to sing over the amplified instruments.  He has a wonderful voice and is a pleasure to listen to.  And Bill's playing is very smooth and flowing and natural; I felt that what I was doing blended well with his playing as he lead us through some great tunes.  And though I don't sing, I felt compelled by the moment to add some harmonies on a couple of old favorites.  Just an all around wonderful experience.

[811952]

Sounds like a very nice visit.

[lbpesq]

Thanks to Dave and Art for offering up some good ol' southern hospitality.  The jam was a blast - a little unusual instrumentation, but that just served to make it even more fun.  My Gryphon is a 12 string tenor guitar (18.5 scale) tuned in hi D (equivalent of 10th fret on standard guitar.) Think mandolin on steroids.  Art held down the bass, and Dave played Jerry-on-a-six-string-bass.  A little Dead, a little Dylan, a little Band, all the good stuff.  Both are obviously accomplished musicians and a pleasure to jam with.  If you ever have to chance to stop by our esteemed moderator's digs, take his warning about the driveway seriously!  I can't imagine getting up or down his steep twisty driveway in snow in anything short of an ATV!  One caveat though, I think there may be something wrong with Dave's ears - he thinks I have a wonderful voice!!!!  lol
 
Bill, tgo