IBMA Awards
Last night we all got gussied up (except Falco who wore jeans, Chuck Taylors and an I Love New York T-Shirt under a sport coat) and headed to the Ryman for the IBMA Awards. We were up for Instrumental Band of the Year and Andy Hall was up for Dobro Player of the Year. We didn’t win either but Micheal Cleveland and his band won a bunch of stuff and they deserve it, they are incredible and original and honest and real. Love them. Marshall Wilborn won Bass Player, Micheal won Fiddle and Jesse Brock won Mandolin. The whole band won Instrumental Band for the second year in a row. Awesome. The largest applause went to Daley and Vincent who’s reign as the Bluegrass Royalty will likely last for as long as they, or their fans, are alive. They’re the best at what they do, no question. Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas stole the show with some off the cuff humor and Jerry totally trashed SPiGMA which everyone, I mean EVERYONE thought was hilarious. Those guys are the epitome of what’s great about our music; absolutely original musicians with no fear, no borders and no limits. Love those two.
I thought it interesting the number of references to “keeping the music alive.” I’m not sure if this is an acknowlegment that “Bluegrass” may be dying, that the fanbase is getting older, or if there’s resistance to the reality that the music is continually evolving, but in any case it stuck out and I found it interesting. Melvin Goins gave an incredible speach as exceptance for his Hall of Fame induction and Bobby Osborne talked about always looking forward, which I thought was a nice contrast to all the talk about “preservation” and what not. I should clarify (in case the BG Blog poaches this); I’m all about the history of bluegrass and propping up those who came before. They laid the foundation, they broke new ground and the music wouldn’t be what it is without the original sound. BUT there is this strange dynamic in bluegrass where the music is judged by what has come before and bands are chastised, even cast out of the fold for “straying too far from the tradition.” “Bluegrass” music was invented by Bill Monroe and he hated that everyone copped his gig. For 2010 I’m suggesting a musical revolution; why don’t we all vow to judge music on it’s own terms, hear it for what it is, not what we think it should be, take religion and politics and, most of all, the competitiveness out of the equation and just play some original music? If the words “that’s not bluegrass” are never uttered again we’ll all be the better for it.
t
Disclaimer: The Infamous Stringdusters do not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed on this page, this is a blog with several contributers and this is merely an editorial written by one member. Thank you.
