Saturday was the second day of Das Awkscht Fescht in Macungie, this time with two kids’ show in the sonic shadow of music from the main stage. I had a 3:30 show and a 6:00 show. The first one was well attended, and went well. Giants, with Thunder Tubes is good theater. All in all, it was a good, interactive show. I handed out foam noses to the dads at the beginning, and it continues to be a useful tool to soften up the arriving audience.
The second set was especially sparse so I plowed ahead with tunes, encouraging a few girls to toot their toy horns (gack) to some songs. I had fun with Jelly in the Dish, as always. I’m never sure if this tune sinks in, but I have faith that the groove is strong enough to entertain.
I was paid well, as this organization always does, and I really appreciate the opportunity to play this festival, either on the main stage or in the kids’ area.
Today, I decided to bring my 1921 Gibson mandolin and try to find an auto from that year, and take a picture with it. No 21’s but a couple of 22’s in the Dodge Bros. area. I got some nice pix with my mando on the running boards (doesn’t that date my axe?) of a couple of cars. The technology gap was remarkable. Simple engines, little design flourishes (just check out the 30’s sweeping forms), and basic colors.
The remarkable lesson of all this was how Gibson had perfected the mandolin technology in the 20’s to sound so good and to be built to last this long. Well built and able to last all these miles. How many folks have played this instrument and enjoyed it’s spectacular sound? I’ll never know but our history has been a glorious drive together in this world.
It was a nice nexus of folk music and technology.