Topic: Re: Uke Stuff

[Parlor Picker]

Guess the moderators will move this thread to "Other musical interests" as it's not quite country blues.  As a uke-wielding UK-Weenie, I must just put in a bit of support for this much maligned but clearly superior instrument.

Whatever else you do, please watch the video of the Ukulele Orchestra of GB doing "Shaft" at the Cambridge Folk Festival.  The NY Times article is very succinct and really gets across the true spirit of this band, who I've booked to play in my home town 3 times now.  Last time, a 400-seater hall sold out before the box office opened (work that one out).

A quick search on YouTube will also reveal Del Rey playing some great blues uke.

[Richard]

Very sad PP.

There you are extracting the bodily fluids over my banjo fetish and all the time you dreaming about licking a length of Blackpool rock and dressing up to do George Formby gigs 

[Parlor Picker]

Excellent!  I knew I could rely on you to respond Richard!

FYI, Mr. Formby played a banjo-ukulele which is like a ukulele that's gone through some bizarre and hideous mutation.  Also, Mr. Formby had the misfortune to come from the "wrong side of the mountains". 

How's the banjo going?  Have you seen the error of your ways yet?  (Actually, if I'm honest, I'm quite looking forward to hearing you play it... Maybe we can do something together at the next Euroweenie Camp in the New Forest).

[Alexei McDonald]

FYI, Mr. Formby played a banjo-ukulele which is like a ukulele that's gone through some bizarre and hideous mutation.

That's mostly true, but sometimes he played the regular ukulele instead.

[Parlor Picker]

I know - but I didn't want Richard to find out. 

[Richard]

Hehe that got 'em going again, I personally like the 30s film where dear old George gets entered for the TT races. See, not quite the philistine you thought   

And, talking of banjos  I have just ripped the neck orff the banjo and altered the set, if only it were that easy on guitars!

[Norfolk Slim]

I have a serious hankering for a concert uke.  But I played a tenor one in a shoip recently and like that too....

Cant justify any of them :-)

[dj]

Slim, the justification for a Uke is that some day you just may find yourself in Hawaii.  It's best to be prepared.   

[blueshome]

I only they were a bit bigger and had 6 strings they might be good for something.

[Parlor Picker]

I only they were a bit bigger and had 6 strings they might be good for something.

As the UOGB say, a guitar is just a genetically modified ukulele...

[blueshome]

see! some good can come from this tinkering with nature.

[Richard]

UOGB the what

[Parlor Picker]

UOGB the what

UOGB = Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

[weelie]

As an ukulele picker, I must add that UOGB are simply sublime. Seen tehm twice here in Finland, last time even got to have a few beers with band afterwards. Too bad they are so popular that they hardly play outisde the UK! Been asked to go to the US a lot of times, but why bother?

[Richard]

UOGB, right. So would that be like the Big Ben Banjo Band then 

PP I think we will have to do a uke\banjo tune at our next gathering as I've learnt three chords now, well four if you include the open