Yes indeed! Just when I though that nothing would surprise this old man here in Brno, I was once again… surprised by something I stumbled upon this afternoon. I was walking for a bit on my way back from our Friday Bible Study on Cejl Street and as I approached the main station area where I get on a tram to go home, I heard music playing in the distance. I could tell it was in English and it sounded like “roots music.” In case you do not know what roots music is, it is basically old Americana folk music… and when I say folk, I don’t mean the Mammas and the Pappas! I mean the stuff you used to hear on the front porches of southern country homes when my dad was a kid. Acoustic guitars, banjos, harmonicas, etc… no loud speakers.
Ok, now that you get the picture, let me try to describe what I heard and saw. There were two young men, probably in their early 20’s in a little corner on the street near a McDonalds and in front of a drug store. I mean, these guys were young to be doing the things musically that they were doing. They were obviously southern Americans and were belting out OLD folk songs… some I have never even heard of. Some were more old country and some were a bit like bar room songs. The guy playing the guitar was singing and playing very well and the guy with the skid lid on was playing a washtub bass! I was amazed… he was in perfect pitch and tune with his colleague. I have heard of this and seen it in many pictures from the “old days” but he was doing it… and very well, I might add. Once, the guy singing asked him to start a song and then he stopped him and said that the key was too high. So, he kicked off the song again and I could hear the distinction in the notes… perfectly moving to a lower key… on this makeshift washtub bass. Amazing.
I really wanted to walk over and talk to them to get their “story” but they were busy making money for their performance so, I declined. If I see them again, I may try to buy them a coffee or something and go further… we shall see. Well, for those of you who enjoy the old music, click on the media player below to hear a bit of roots music… Nine Pound Hammer.
