UPDATE August 13, 2009...The Good for Nuthin String Band played last night at the Tom Ridge Center - Presque Isle State Park (Erie, PA) before and after a big-screen showing of "The Valley that Changed the World" oil history documentary. The documentary's release coincides with the 150th anniversary of the first successful commercial oil well strike by Colonel Drake in Titusville, Pennsylvania (Aug 27, 1859). Music from the band's CDs was used throughout the documentary, which has been showing regionally throughout Pennsylvania on PBS affiliate TV stations. It was also announced at last night's show that the documentary has now been picked up for Nationwide distribution on PBS affiliate stations. Watch your local PBS TV schedule for a showing of the hour-long documentary "The Valley that Changed the World" in your area. Congrats to Mike Vickey and the Good for Nuthin Band!!! Good for Nuthin String Band News - April, 2009 The Good for Nuthin String Band member Michael Vickey is the 2009 Florida State Hammered Dulcimer Champion. Michael recently won First Place at the 2009 Florida State Old Time Music Championships for Hammered Dulcimer. He also took a 3rd place win for Appalachian dulcimer at the same event. The Good for Nuthin String Band's music is featured in an upcoming TV documentary about the Pennsylvania Oil Region, and the 150th Anniversary of the Drake Well, Birthplace of the Modern Petroleum Industry. Edwin Drake drilled the oil well in 1859 and the Good for Nuthin String Band plays music from that era. "The Valley That Changed the World" was produced by WQED (Pittsburgh) and funded by Oil150. First TV broadcast of the documentary was on April 16, 2009 on WQED. It is anticipated that other PBS affiliates will air the program throughout 2009 "An economic boom that began in western Pennsylvania in 1859 set the stage for an industry that transformed the world. One hundred fifty years ago, Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the first commercial oil well for the Seneca Oil Company outside Titusville, Pennsylvania that led to the birth of the petroleum industry." WQED Press release link for the program: http://www.wqed.org/pressroom/releases/the-valley-that-changed-the-world/ Good for Nuthin String Band Traditional American Roots Music Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York's own String Band www.goodfornuthin.com This CD features some great songs and would be, in my opinion, appropriate for listening while enjoying a railroad slide show or just plain gathering of your train buddies. I have played this CD quite a few times and enjoy it very much. After long anticipation and many months of hard work, the Good for Nuthin String Band CD # 2 is now available. All selections are Traditional American Roots Music - style instrumental tunes and include 5 of our originals. 4 of the tunes have been composed by band member Michael Vickey, including the hard-driving, haunting Appalachian dulcimer tune "White Springs" which was written by Michael while sitting on the banks of the Suwannee River in White Springs, Florida late one night in February last year. A great selection of traditional-style instrumental tunes: 1. March to Dingley’s Acre* Written by band member Michael Vickey to commemorate the 1860’s rush to extract black gold from the Allegheny slopes of Warren County, Pennsylvania. Dingley’s Acre had the largest concentration of wells per acre than any other drill site in history. 2. White Springs* This hard driving, haunting Appalachian dulcimer tune was composed by Michael while sitting on the banks of the Suwannee River at White Springs, Florida late one night in February, 2007. White Springs is the home of the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, where Michael has played hammered dulcimer and Appalachian dulcimer on the stage at the Saturday Coffeehouse several times. 3. Rock the Cradle Joe How can you rock that baby to sleep with music played so fast? 4. Fare Thee Well My Darling* Instrumental version of an obscure World War I tune with the 2nd part added and arranged by Michael. 5. Old John Tate The band’s good friend Karen Croot brought this unusual old-time tune from southern California and plays her fiddle for this special guest appearance. 6. Mississippi Sawyer Our version of a circa 1830’s tune, well known in the USA and Canada. Some historic sources say that a “Mississippi Sawyer” is thought to be a river “snag” - a sunken tree that is a hazard to navigation. Others say the tune is from a fiddling sawmill owner who’s mill was at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. We like the dangerous sunken tree theory. 7. Spring in the Valley Nothing is as soothing and healing as the singing birds and greening trees after a long northern winter. Can you smell the flowers? 8. Colonel Drake’s Reel* Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the first commercially viable oil well on the banks of Oil Creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1858. How would life be different today if it had not been for this single event in America’s history? This is Michael’s hammered dulcimer dance tune written especially for the band’s concert during the Colonel’s 187th birthday celebration. 9. Spotted Pony An old-time West Virginia / Southern breakdown favorite. 10. Step Around Johnny Everyone loves it when Michael brings back tunes collected during his winter travels in the South. This one was learned from some friendly north Georgia musicians. Listen for Roger’s thumps on the side of Leon the bass. 11. Over the Waterfall During her college years in West Virginia, Sue watched as those whitewater raft folks tumbled down the mountain rivers, but not at this spot. One of our favorites. 12. Good Idea Bad Location* We are all in favor of alternative energy - but not if the proposed wind generators will wreak havoc on our migrating feathered friends as they travel over the Allegheny foothills. We came up with this tune around the time when local folks who were questioning the location of these windmills were posting signs on their properties stating “good idea - bad location”. 13. Zimfir’s Accordian Tune* Mark plays his jumble-aye-a tune on the Cajun accordian with Sue on triangle, Michael on the Clix Stix, and Roger on Leon the bass. 14. Zims Knocks Over Mike’s Dulcimer At a party at Roger’s Idora Road Men’s Club in Sherman, NY - everyone saw it falling, but nobody was close enough to do anything about it. *Music Credits: 1, 2, 8: Michael J Vickey; 4 (arrangement): Michael J Vickey; 12: Good for Nuthin String Band; 13: Mark Zimmer Visit the band's CD #2 web page to secure your copy today: http://www.velocity.net/~vickrail/gfnsb_cd2.html or from the band's home page: http://www.goodfornuthin.com/ |