Duelling Non-Banjos

Do you ever find yourself thrust into the spotlight and wonder, how on earth did I get here?

25 years ago I became the most unlikely junior football manager of my son Tim’s team. There was nobody else available; my only credential was my willingness to help. I didn’t know one side of a football from the other. So for the next 5 years…

Now it would appear I am a member of an occasional rock band that sings Americana and Blue Grass numbers. This is despite my knowing very few such songs, being a classically trained musician and being a fan of very few things American.

It all began last year during a conversation in my local pub with a young man called Dave. We were talking about music, and when I ventured that I play the violin (and viola), his eyes lit up. Could I put a part to a song called Wagon Wheel? If so, would I like to play in a gig?

He sounded so enthusiastic that I said ‘yes’, a bit surprised he wasn’t going to try me out beforehand. As every parent of budding young fiddle players will tell you, it becomes the ‘vile din’ if not played well…He did send me some other songs to look at beforehand.

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And so, I arrived at the Cock o’the North Beer Festival in Hipperholme at the appointed time, violin in hand. A circular gazebo was all set up, with Dave and three mates busily connecting up cables and erecting their kit, which included a microphone for me. The first chord was struck, and they began to play. It was obvious Dave and his friends were very accomplished at their art. Rhythm and bass guitars…keyboard…mouth organ…banjo…drums. I was encouraged to grab a pint of rather delicious strong ale which helped my efforts to accompany them. Fortunately I’ve had some practice at creating counter-melodies and harmonies around songs I’ve only just heard, and – well, it flowed!

I couldn’t believe it when I realised I was being paid.

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And this year Dave again invited me to play with the Rainey Street Band. Their repertoire includes a song that describes this place in Austin, Texas, in which the villas host jam sessions for musicians. This time we had a rehearsal. Dave sent me a list including recordings which gave me a further chance to explore the songs and work out accompaniments. There were American songs such as ‘This train is bound for glory’; songs about whiskey and cocaine (a warning to steer clear!), and protest songs such as ‘I see them all’, about the plight of America’s poor. But my favourite was an antiwar song from Irish band The Steeldrivers, ‘the Sticks that made Thunder’, with a beautiful, haunting fiddle melody.

During our practice we’d discussed playing ‘Duelling Banjos’, which opens with two banjos echoing simple stanzas of about 5 notes for about a minute. Then the piece takes off, with first one, then the other banjo striking their notes at breakneck speed. Tom, a skilful player of a number of instruments, wasn’t keen, but we played it through. I had a rather pitiful attempt to imitate a banjo. “John, if you’re going to do this you’ll just have to let go of all your classical stuff. Forget your vibrato and go crazy,” he said. After the rehearsal I spent several hours trying to become a banjo but the cap didn’t seem to fit. 

To make his point, Tom did not bring his banjo to the gig, which I was secretly glad to hear. But towards the end of our performance, after we’d played for 75 minutes, Dave asked,

“We’ve time for 3 more songs; what next? Let’s do Duelling Banjos!” I didn’t realise his sense of mischief, that if you say no, that spurs him on! He struck up the first stanza on his guitar and I made the mistake of replying. After that, there was nothing else for it.

My fiddle playing was akin to that of a cat who’s being chased up a tree by a dog, with any success owed more to Cock o’the North’s brew than my skill. Our efforts are immortalised on the band’s Facebook page if you’re on the platform. When we finally finished, Dave grinned broadly. “Wasn’t that fun!!” And I have to admit, he has amazing talent at creating infectious enjoyment. Roll on the next time! 

Note: This Facebook post by Chris Dyson also has a video of us playing Wagon Wheel.