Watermelon Mountain Jug Band - Radio Station WMJB

The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band has been recognized as "one of New Mexico's treasured natural resources"..."a truly unique mixture of music, mirth and pure entertainment"..."totally irresistible." We play pure, unadorned bluegrass, country, folk, and what we like to call Jug Grass -- honest upbeat American roots music played on traditional instruments: Ben Perea, 5-time New Mexico state banjo champion (until he was told he had to start being a judge!), earned a degree from UNM in guitar and is a picker's dream. Whether he's playing banjo or guitar, Ben never misses a beat (and rarely a note!). He started playing banjo at 16 and joined the band before he was old enough to get in establishments requiring IDs at the front entrance. Luckily, the band came in from the back door! He gets to showcase his prowess and range on this 20-song CD (10 instrumentals) with influences from Earl Scruggs and other banjo masters to guitar pieces by Doyle Dykes and Tommy Emmanuel. As a special treat, Ben duets on two tracks (13, 19) with his daughter Jaimee, a Santa Fe Bluegrass Festival banjo champion herself, passing on the family tradition. Barbara "Loose Hands" Piper does do laundry, but not on this washboard! With those thimbles on her fingers, she scratches up the 'clatter that matters' on the washboard, called a "poor man's drum set" in the original jug bands of the 1920s (Check out track 2 by the one and only Memphis Jug Band and track 12, an American classic that also features Jug Band alum Mark Zimmer on musical saw!). On this CD, Barb also lays down rhythm on high-hat cymbals, woodblock, shakers, and 'conducts' the train whistle on 2 songs, including the reworked Delmore Brothers classic 'Pan American Boogie,' now with lyrics about New Meixico's rapid ride, the 'Rail Runner Boogie.' Gary "Gut Bucket" Oleson plays the washtub bass (or gutbucket) with reckless abandon. Wanna know how he finds a washtub with the right tone? Well, he mosies on over to the local Chase Hardware store and turns each tub over and thumps on the bottom with his hand. A strange sight? Yup, but they know him there and it's the only way to get a good one! When he hears one with just the right deep, resonant 'thump that makes you jump,' he takes it home, drills a hole in the center, runs a catgut string through it, knots it up to the top of his broom handle 'neck' and twangs away like a real pole cat--deeply satisfying! Pat Houlihan sings lead vocals, plays rhythm guitar, harmonica, and more of those 'rural instruments' the band is known for: the jaw harp, the kazoo, and the JUG! Surprisingly, Pat still has all of his own teeth! He has been playing music ever since his oldest brother came home on leave from Viet Nam with a guitar and taught him the chords for 'Blowin' In The Wind.' A published poet, Pat writes the band's original songs, including the title song of the band's previous recording, 'Old Dog New Tricks,' which recently sold out and is temporarily out of print. He composed 2 original songs on Radio Station WMJB, enhanced by two marvelous guest pickers, Mike Dowling on dobro and Sharon Gilchrist on mandolin. If you enjoy the simple beauty of banjos and acoustic guitars blended with unadulterated traditional mountain instruments played tastefully with lots of energy and enthusiasm, tune in to Radio Station WMJB for an hour and set a spell--y'all come back now, y'hear!