Kim and I spent six weeks in Nashville this fall. Among the many amazing performances we saw by country and bluegrass groups was a performance by the Infamous Stringdusters at the Station Inn on Halloween night. They are truly an explosive group with everything going for them, impeccable musicianship, respect for tradition coupled with creative new ideas, great vocal and instrumental compositions, cool stage presence, and a bass player with attitude. At this performance most of them were dressed as their heroes from the "Drive" album by Bela Fleck (except with the bass player with an attitude :) They put on a hell of a show on Halloween 2006!
"Sam Bush (Jesse Cobb)," "Kenny Rogers (Travis Book)," "Tony Rice (Chris Eldridge)," "Stuart Duncan (Jeremy Garrett)," "Jerry Douglas (Andy Hall)," and "Bela Fleck" (Chris Pandolfi)
In 1988 Bela Fleck did an album called Drive that was one of the most influential instrumental albums of the time. It apparently had a strong influence on the members of the Infamous Stringdusters because they played several tunes from this album as the kick off for the night's performance. It was an amazing thing to hear. These guys are HOT!
"Tony Rice" (Chris Eldridge)
"Sam Bush" (Jesse Cobb)
"Kenny Rogers" (Travis Book), "Tony Rice" (Chris Eldridge) and "Stuart Duncan" (Jeremy Garrett)
"Sam Bush" (Jesse Cobb) and "Kenny Rogers" (Travis Book)
"Jerry Douglas" (Andy Hall)
"Bela Fleck" (Chris Pandolfi)
Shad Cobb sits in with The Infamous Stringdusters
Shad Cobb
"Kenny Rogers" serenades the audience
He's really going after the women here...
After the show many of us went to a party
"Tom Selleck" (David Long) and "Tony Rice" (Chris Eldridge)
Chris Henry
Mike Tatar and Chris Henry
Mandolin player: Darren Shoemaker
Tony Watt
Daren Shoemaker on mandolin, Greg Martin on bass
Daren Shoemaker
Donica Christensen
Donica Christensen
Ashby Frank
Justin Carbone
Tony Watt
Left photo: Mike Tatar
Right photo: Matt Coombs (music professor at Vanderbilt University and great fiddler with Butch Baldassari)
Matt Coombs and Kim Davis
Diana Runyon
Diana Runyon (right)
Ashby Frank (center)
Who is this fiddler?
And just for fun...
Chris Pandolfi
Travis Book
Chris Eldridge
Andy Hall
Jeremy Garrett
Jesse Cobb