Cabin Fever Reliever

Hubby and I were invited to a "Cabin Fever Reliever"... a party with a band at a friend's house.  Not just any band though... Billy Strings and Don Julin!  If you're from the NW Michigan area... they need no introduction.

If you haven't heard of them... well... here's the lowdown:
(information below is from their website:  donjulin.com/billystrings)

"Billy Strings is a 20 yr old, tattoo covered guitar picker/singer that you surely will be hearing about for years to come. “Blessed with the voice of an old soul from the mountains, a gentlemanly air, and the ability to sling hundreds of notes with razor-crisp precision at the speed of a machine gun, Strings’ flat-picking talent seems almost beyond comprehension to veterans of the local bluegrass scene, especially given his youth.” Northern Express Publications. 

Don Julin For over 30 years, he has built a reputation as being one of the most eclectic and versatile mandolin players today. From jazz to bluegrass, from Vivaldi to Led Zeppelin, old-time fiddle tunes to ambient buddah-bar loops. His original mandolin compositions have been licensed by HBO, VH1, MTV, NBC, Showtime, Bravo, National Geographic Explorer, Fox Sports, and others. Julin is the author of  the best-selling “Mandolin For Dummies” (Wiley & Sons 2012) and is an in-demand mandolin teacher giving mandolin workshops and master classes around the world.

They play traditional American string band music with energy levels usually associated with extreme sports. A typical set includes haunting Appalachian songs, righteous gospel standards, and blazing bluegrass instrumentals. Honoring the musical traditions of Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Jimmy Martin, these boys will take you back to that high lonesome sound of yesterday’s bluegrass. No super-slick Nash-pop here. This is your grandaddy’s bluegrass delivered with a pedal to the metal intensity of a moonshine runner."

Hubby and I have seen these guys a couple of times and are completely entertained every time!  When we got invited to the "Cabin Fever Reliever" and found out they were gonna be playing... well, we weren't gonna miss that!  Best. party. ever!  I had no idea I'd be so into Bluegrass, but I am!  (must be those Kentucky family roots coming through!  lol)

Some memories from the night...

Hubby and Billy Strings - February 1, 2014