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I usually read US Weekly.

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Perhaps the increased usage of "al" at the end of words where it doesn't belong is a strategical move to torture the elitists among us who majored in useless stuff like English instead of practical subjects like computer programming or physics or whatever those people with the thick glasses studied.

If I think of any more recs I will pass them along. I listen to a lot of classic country, which doesn't really sound like what you're looking for. As far as mainstream goes, I assume you've already been fully exposed to Dixie Chicks -- their music has deep roots in blue grass too.

Bluegrass
 

I've been told that Jim and Jennie and the Pinetops are great. http://www.jimandjennie.com/index.html

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Bela Fleck is pretty much the gold standard of bluegrass right now. You'll also definitely want to check out Dave Grisman-- he does the little ditty that the "Car Talk" guys on NPR use as their theme music.

Others you might not have heard of:
Hackensaw Boys

Leftover Salmon

Del McCoury Band

Shanti Groove is a band out of Denver that does some interesting stuff.

If you're really into bluegrass, you'll want to check out the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado, June 16-19, 2005. Great music, great setting, great people. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

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Fleck's new album with Edger Meyer (Music for Two) is amazing, although not really bluegrass. Their previous collaboration (Appalachain Journey) is more bluegrassy, and was recently in constant rotation at the balt summer compound where it seemed to be enjoyed by people 2 to 82.

I think Dolly Parton's album The Grass is Blue is one of the finest recordings ever. By anybody. In any musical genre. YMMV. But she does look creepy on the cover.

D.C. NPR station WAMU has had a Sunday bluegrass schedule for years, and consequently their website has lots of information on great bluegrass, old and new. http://www.wamu.org/bulletin.html

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I don't really think of Fleck as bluegrass. It's jazz on banjo. Doesn't do much for me.

If you're talking real, pure bluegrass, look to the old stuff: e.g., Stanley Brothers, Flatt and Scrugs, Bill Monroe. More current, Ricky Skaggs is very good, and cool for passing on the bigger paycheck of commercial country to do what he wants. The more recent Dolly Parton stuff is also very good traditional bluegrass.

Steve Earle has a very good bluegrass outfit; I've seen them play (very well), but I'm not sure which albums go the bluegrass route, rather than the rawk/alt country style.

If you're interested in more bluegrass/mountain music influenced, I like Freakwater.

A copy of the magazine No Depression will direct you to lots of stuff you won't hear about elsewhere: bluegrass, folk, singer-songwriter stuff, etc.

Recs
 

You are all excellent with your recommendations. Thanks very much.

Ollie (or anyone) - have you seen that Ramones movie? Any good?

Another bluegrass rec
 

Newcomers Home

www.newcomershome.com

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You can't tell me you don't miss me girl. No, I think I might know you too well.

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Bluegrass, huh? Has anyone here ever listened to or heard of "3 Finger Spread"? It was a bluegrass side project of the members Schlong, who was in on the whole Gilman St. scene with Op. Ivy, Green Day and them, but never got much press other than fanzines. Mostly idiot punk, but fun and interesting idiot punk. They also did a complete punk cover of the soundtrack of Westside Story, named, Punkside Story. I think you can still find it on Amazon.

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A little soon, don't you think?

Recs
 

Don't forget Hayseed Dixie and their first album...

A hillbilly tribute to AC/DC...

Recs
 

Atticus will be happy to know that they sell Poop in a Jar.

Etiquette Question
 

So I went out last night with some friends I knew from back when I was cool. We went to a place in Montrose, the sort of place where the patrons were amply tattooed and pierced, but reasonably well-dressed, though their taste tended a little too much to black for me. Sort of like goths without the gloominess. It was a pleasant evening and I spent most of my night on the upstairs patio with a magnificent view of downtown.

Feeling rather anonymous, I allowed myself to relax a little. I chatted with the promoter about the evolution of electronic dance music and club scenes in general and let the tequila shots my friend was buying with crisp hundies he'd won recently in a pool tournament in Las Vegas do their trick.

As we were leaving, however, I was recognized. It wasn't by a coworker, thank goodness, but by a woman who tends bar at a restaurant attached to my building. She expressed amazement to see someone who works in my building at that particular club. She asked me to start coming in for drinks on Wednesday nights and then we could go to the club together.

I was kinda drunk, but I remember her as being fairly attractive. Should I fuck her?

Etiquette Question
 

I'm very sad that we've gotten to the point where this question even has to be asked.