A mandolin from 1921 that belonged to a druggist in Waldo, Kan, and was brought to Mason from the owner's grandson's wife to be adjusted.
and tap dances to the rhythmic beat. The crowd cheers him and his "Lord of the Dance" tap dance moves on. The room is filled with a diversity of people, but few who are of college age. Rachel Costello, Lawrence sophomore, is here with her dad. Costello says her dad comes every year but tonight is her first time being a part of this tax day tradition. Costello says she grew up listening to bluegrass music.
"It has a nostalgic feel to me because I listened to it as a little kid," she says.
At 11:55, the crowd lines up by the mail drop slot in preparation for the final flippers to dash in before the clock strikes midnight. With balloons in hand, the crowd forms a tunnel walkway from the doors to the drop slot — a formation know for years as “the gauntlet.” The band rushes over to the front of the crowd to play its last number of the night, the William Tell Overture. The band strikes up its feverish-paced version and for the five next
minutes the crowd cheers on the last of the tax day filers as they rush in.
Old School Approach, New School Players
As with the tax day show, the bluegrass scene in Lawrence is as much about the audience as it is about the musicians. Often times, audience members become part of the band during what is known as a "bluegrass jam session." In a bluegrass jam session, Steve Mcauley says that there's an open environment of musicianship where bluegrass musicians jam with other bluegrass musicians in a social setting fixed around a circle.
Mason says that everyone is encouraged to play with everyone else in these settings but the center of the circle is reserved for only those that can keep pace with the song being played.
"If you sound like you're good enough to be in the center, they kind of open up and let you in," he says. "If you suck, they keep you out."
Not everyone plays at once. The musicians participating in these jams take breaks one at a time, Mason says, while everyone else plays chords to continue the rhythmic beat of the song.
Sean McCue, Overland Park senior, says he got involved with the local bluegrass scene through playing in various jam sessions and networking with musicians that he met. The 23-year-old bassist says he played bass throughout high school in jazz bands but had never really
thought about playing bluegrass music until he came to Lawrence and found opportunities to play with other people around town through community jam sessions.
McCue now plays in Devil Eat the Groundhog, which he describes as an old-time stringband — composed of musicians on bass, guitar, fiddle and mandolin.
Steve Mason says that an encouraging environment where musicians can play music with other musicians is something that's important in bluegrass music and the preservation of the Lawrence bluegrass scene.
"A huge thing is that music is a social sport and it's very difficult to stand in a living room and practice," Mason says. "So it's much more fun to play with other people."
cbrown@kansan.com
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Photos by Chris Brown
Steve Mason (at right) adjusts the bridge on a violin for self-described "closet-picker" 'Bob Anderson of Topeka at Mason's home and workplace.
Bluegrass Happens.
Here is a list of some bluegrass happenings about town
Live Performances:
What: Community Jam Session
Where: Americana Music Academy,
1419 Massachusetts St.
When: Saturdays 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: none
What: Midday Rambler(s) The Wilders
Where: Replay Lounge
When: May 22, 5 p.m.
Cost: $2
Radio:
**What:** "Trail Mix," a roots music show on Kansas Public Radio
*Where:* FM 915.5 KANU
When: Sundays 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; 4:30
p.m. to 5 p.m. old-time music plays
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. bluegrass music plays
Source: Bob McWilliams, KANU jazz and folk director
What: Lawnchair Rave
Where: FM 90.7 JKH
When: Saturday 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
Source: www.kjhk.org