Very shortly before seven last evening Sheila told me about the concert to be held at Monica Sheppard's new little venue on the Cotton Block: The Screen Door Room. [Maximum seating: 50] Sheila wanted to go so, of course, I brushed my teeth, donned a clean shirt, and we hopped in the Camry and managed to walk in the door at 7 sharp.
What a delight! Larry & Joe. Their show was a joyful, varied, and fascinating mixture -- and even fusion -- of Venezuelan and bluegrass music.
The songs are mostly the creations of one or both of the musicians. Larry played mainly the cuatro and the Venezuelan harp and Joe the banjo and fiddle. Both are masters of their instruments. They both sang.
Larry spoke often and in espanol; then Joe would translate and add his own words. They sometimes invited audience participation.
Larry & Joe mixed enough storytelling into their song transitions to almost qualify for the storytelling circuit in my book. I wish we could have had our daughters and sons-in-law with us; they'd have loved it. Next I hear of them performing anywhere in north Georgia I'm gonna try to hear them. Larry and Joe are headquartered in NC. Eddie's Attic? Red Clay Theatre? Or even Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival? StoneSoup Storytelling? Hagood Mill?, John C. Campbell Folk School?, etc. Are you listening?
Also, The Screen Door Room would be a great venue for small scale storytelling. If someone on the national or regional storytelling circuit has a hole in their schedule while on a southern tour and are up for a relaxing intimate evening at a small venue they orta contact Monica at The Screen Door Room on Facebook.
