traditional folk music | Louisiana Dreamer ~ Embodiment of Courageous Wild Creative Freedom

Pure vocals and honest stories brought the audience to tears and cheers on Saturday night at Russ and Julie’s intimate house concert in Oak Park, California. The double feature brought us Susie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band, and the Nashville duet, Jeni and Billy. Wowza – what a beautiful night!

Susie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band

Susie Glaze tunes in as the concert begins.

Susie shows her dulcimer

On stage at the intimate Russ & Julie’s House Concerts: Susie and the Hilonesome Band – Rob Carlson, Steve Rankin, Fred Sanders, Mark Indictor (not shown here – in video he’s on fiddle).

Susie’s angelic face lights up the room. Sitting quietly as she tunes into the first strands of music from her talented band, I waited with anticipation for her voice to reach out to sweeten the night. Lilting and luscious, her tinkly and robust vocals surprise and delight. Accompanied by her own guitar and dulcimer, Susie carries us through poetic and humorous images of pain, pathos and out right drama. Rounded out by her band of virtuoso fiddle, bass, guitar, mandolin, Bouzouki and other traditional instruments, her ‘boys’ know how to play a tune and then some. New grass fusion with Appalachain folk gives part of the picture of this versatile band of bards.

Staunch supporter of the live acoustic music scene, FolkScene’s Roz Larman (KPFK 90.7 fm) says, “Susie Glaze has one of the most beautiful voices in blue grass and folk music today. She performs a song from her heart and soul.”

Don’t miss FolkScene Sunday nights 6-8 p.m. Roz provides a calendar of local events and some of the best guest performances on each show.

A snippet from the house concert of “Mill Worker.” Go to their website for upcoming performances, and check out Hilonesome’s latest video, Harlan County Boys.

Jeni meets audience members after the house concer

Jeni and Billy

The homespun Jeni and Billy duet from Nashville brought forward a tradition of ballads both timeless and new. Whether the sweet faced Jeni was singing her own songs, or reviving tunes from the deep archives of the coal mining Applalachian Mountains, her personality and charm were a fresh breeze. Especially in over processed Los Angeles, home of commercialized BIG sounds of The Voice, X Factor and the like. Accompanied by her ‘true love’ Billy on guitar, bango and harmonica, they paint pictures of a world so different than the ‘modern life’ we are inundated with. I was truly moved by their homespun performance. Of course, Jeni is a 4th generation quilter, and a preserver of women’s stories of simple everyday heroism. She shared a new song of Olive Oatman born in 1837 who wore a blue face tattoo as a sign of her kinship with the Mohave, the Native American tribe that took her from her captors, the Yavapai. A clip is featured below.

Jeni Hankins sings her new song about Olive Oatman

Demonstrating her comedic side, she gave us ‘the BIG EYE” to get us to sing along with “Chicken Ridge.” Meeting Jeni and Billy, who travel by Airstream trailer across country to share their love of music, storytelling and live, gave me hope for humanity. When you step back in time, in the present, and find this realm of pure heart, from the heart of America to the heart of us all, you find Jeni and Billy, playin their hearts out, and flat foot dancin’ all the way to heaven.

LIVE LINK to Russ & Julie’s Home Page

Modal Tease warming up. The acoustics were excellent in the old building. With no sound equipment, you could hear what the band would have sounded like in the olden days.

Spending a sunny Sunday listening to traditional folk music at Leonis Adobe in Calabasas was a sweet pleasure. The historic land was a great setting for the musicians among the oaks, the authentic costumed characters, and the farm animals. The event was a benefit for the Jennifer Diamond Foundation to fight cancer.

A working ranch on a small scale, Leonis Adobe is home to long horned cattle who dwell next door to two large handsome Percherons, a white turkey, and assortment of sheep, goats and chickens. Set in Calabasas, the ranch preserves a bit of Los Angeles history – just a smidgeon in this urban density.

The stage music was a nice mix of vocals, banjos, flutes, guitars, and of course fiddles. Wandering around you could hear jam sessions, blow bubbles, get your face painted, and tour the buildings. It was enlightening to learn the story of the matriarch Espiritu Chujilla who originally owned the land and was taken advantage of by Leonis, treated like a housekeeper, and had to fight even after his death to gain her rightful property. For more of her story, go to http://www.leonisadobemuseum.org. Of note is the distinction that Leonis Adobe is also known as one of the most haunted sites in Los Angeles County, and it was profiled in the British paranormal television series “Most Haunted” in 2005.

Enjoy these images and YouTube video for the flavor of the day.

Catching me in the bedroom, supposedly haunted … who is behind me in the mirror?

: Sunday Morning Rose

: The Pratie Boys derive their music from traditional Irish songs and dance tunes, along with their own songs of American heritage. They perform on guitars, mandolins, banjos and whistles.

: Local color gave authenticity to the ranch.

: “Music from Appalachia and Beyond” is the motto of the Modal Tease String Band. They play foot-tapping tunes using banjo, fiddle and guitar.

: Modal Tease warming up. The acoustics were excellent in the old building. With no sound equipment, you could hear what the band would have sounded like in the olden days.