Wednesday, November 4, 2020

NPR, Son House, and Brünnhilde

NPR, a few minutes ago:

President Trump falsely claimed that he won the 2020 election. That is wrong.

Millions of votes are still being counted, and races in six key states remain too close to call.
Elaine went to sleep at nine-something last night, after one glass of wine. As she said, it wasn’t a drinker-y night. I followed at ten — I thought it was midnight — after two ounces of Scotch. When I woke up and checked my phone for more news, I guessed it was close to morning. It was midnight.

I know what Son House meant when he sang that the minutes seem like hours, hours seem like days.

So that’s one singer. But with Griffy and Zippy, I am waiting for Brünnhilde.

[I did some arithmetic before reading anyone else’s: 227 + 6 + 11 + 10 + 16 = 270. Nevada + Arizona + Wisconsin + Michigan = Biden.]

comments: 13

ksh said...

Is that Yank Rachell on mandolin?

Daughter Number Three said...

I stayed up until 2:45 central... go me. Got to see Mulligan's "speech" live. It was almost worse that there was a room full of people who cheered for what he said.

Michael Leddy said...

It’s Fiddlin’ Joe Martin on mandolin and vocal commentary, and Leroy Williams on harmonica. I highly recommend these Library of Congress recordings, complete with the sound of the occasional train going by. Rough and rowdy, and so different from studio recordings.

Michael Leddy said...

DN3, I missed your comment while replying to ksh. If I had seen that “speech,” I’m not sure I’d ever have been able to get to sleep. Which of course is part of his point — to threaten and intimidate.

ksh said...

Of course! I should have known that. More coffee is needed.

Michael Leddy said...

Yes, he would have been elsewhere. By the way, you can see some nice footage of him in the film Louie Bluie.

ksh said...

Yes. I've seen "Louie Bluie". Mandolinist John Reynolds is an old friend. He plays along with Ralphe Armstrong at the Louie Bluie Festival.
Thanks for the clarification.

Michael Leddy said...

When I saw the name Ralphe Armstrong, I thought, “The bassist from the Mahavishnu Orchestra?” (Second version of the group.) I had no idea that he was Howard Armstrong’s son. Musical worlds joining up!

Michael Leddy said...

Oh, Willie Brown is the second guitar on “Walking Blues.” And he might be providing the commentary. Not exactly clear from the liner notes.

ksh said...

Yep.

ksh said...

https://youtu.be/fguWDGH9eHU
A video of the Armstrong Legacy Trio at the Louie Bluie Festival.

Michael Leddy said...

I’ll have to watch this tomorrow. Thanks, ksh.

Michael Leddy said...

Oh, wait — Kevin, that’s you. Hello!