fiddle | Apothecary Shed

Sidekick Gets a Sidekick

January 17, 2026

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Fear of the Dark (Iron Maiden)

Every good metal band needs a fiddle to keep it real. Right?

One of the most fun things this Christmas was sitting in with Sidekick. Tuned down 1/2 step?! Whatever, man. We’ll begin with coverage of the three violin songs which were, in actuality, widely dispersed in the sets.

First there’s Ozzy’s Crazy Train…

Then there is Don’t Stop Believing by Journey. 8th grade rides again!

But honestly, the coup de grace was Nothing Else Matters by Metallica.

I mean, damn that was fun.

—

Lets get chronological.

Romey throws the horns.

Sidekick takes the stage

Oh hell yeah!

Higher by Creed

Breaking the Law

A little AC/DC perhaps?

You Shook me All Night Long

Paradise City by Guns N Roses.

One of my personal faves, Killing in the Name Of by Rage

In the End by Linkin Park

Some ceiling work…

—
The opener featured some 16 year olds kicking it.

Nirvana

One hell of a great time.

27 Guitars and One Fiddle

January 16, 2026

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An ideal room for some practice. Metal fiddle!

Crazy Train

Don’t Stop Believing

Nothing Else Matters

And now for something completely different: Allan James in the Park

August 3, 2025

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Allan James and I have played together a few times late night at a soltice party or during jam sessions at the cabin, but we had never performed together until this July 25th. On a steaming hot day, clocking in at 94 degrees in the shade, we played a couple of sets to an appreciative audience in the park at Rose Hill in Berryville.

We had a blast. Here’s how that went.

We played 20 original songs all written and performed by Allan. After just a handful of practice sessions, we were ready…

Lonely Little Bird

Low Down Dirty

The music was just as hot as the evening. You can find many of the songs we performed on Allan’s CDs.

Last Things First: Nickel Creek and Andrew Bird, Oh My

July 26, 2024

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This was the kind of show you get to see once every long time. Just wow. We were in the fourth row in the Charlottesville Pavilion. Here’s how the show went, from the end to the beginning. You know, last things first.

Anyway, what’s better than Nickel Creek OR Andrew Bird? How about some joint songs as an encore? I mean just listen to these two songs. So much joy and so much talent packed tight to a condenser circle.

Andrew Bird and Chris Thile are both at the top of their game. As a fiddle and mandolin player I can only watch slack-jawed.

Tumbleweed.

An as yet unreleased travel song written jointly.

The Nickel Creek set was excellent with Chris Thile exhibiting his particular manic genius with great enthusiasm and much fun. Such the jester. And the best mandolin player alive on the planet. Or, hell, maybe all time.

A wee snippet.

Destination Partial

This Side

Instrumental at the top of the set.

I mean Andrew Bird went first?! Holy shit he is so good. Lets review from the end.

Pulaski

Caravan (from the new record of Jazz standards)

Orpheo

Sisyphus chords

I Fall in Love too Easily (also from the new Jazz record)

So anyway, that’s why we came.

Mike Viola opened the show. He was good.

While Mike was playing both Andrew and Chris came out to take a look. Nobody noticed. Well, almost nobody.

Romey the VIP

Pavilion

Fun and Games with the Fiddle in WV

May 29, 2023

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Happy Birthday Dr Matt, you screwball.

Sure was fun playing with these fellers (and drinking bourbon too)…

Music Mode: Ritt and Wilder Release Hinge (with some fiddle)

May 19, 2022

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My music has been on a COVID hiatus for way too long — only the occasional rain in the desert with Rhine or a Bitter Liberal or two. Fortunately, along came Ritt Deitz who just released a new album and did a four show tour to promote its release. Buy a copy of Hinge here.

I played two of the shows with Ritt and his son, multi-instrumentalist and talented child Wilder. The shows were great. Here are some bits.

Wilder Deitz plays mandolin

The DC date was actually in Vienna at Diego Ruiz’s house.

The lineup (near the end anyway)

An excellent place to play a house concert. Great people.

All temporary of course. As we are not of this world.

Cocktails by Bill Shepardson. Where did that doctor’s bag come from?

Wilder Deitz plays piano

No, mandolin. Wilder plays mandolin.

The feet

Wilder plays guitar

No wait, it’s piano that Wilder plays.

Some other fiddler

I did play, honest. But nobody was there to record said playing. He said he played. He played.

Sing it.

Then it was on to Wilmington, NC for a Sunday evening performance (close enough to the Stick to merit a long drive).

Feet up between sets

The venue was a fiddle shop of the highest caliber. Ronald Sachs for the win.

Who needs people? Music is enough. Right? Yes? Music is enough?

Nope. The people add the magic. Connect.

The mosquito green room.

On the stage again. The music was even better.

These people charge the batteries. Thank you, people.

Sing it.

Then it was over. More please.

Like a puppy on the beach.

Fin.

Nancy Griffith memorial

August 24, 2021

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During the 28th annual Oopstock, we spontaneously performed this version of Nanci Griffith’s song “Love at the Five and Dime” as a memorial. Nanci died the day before we performed this song.

Thanks for the music, Nanci.

House Concert in Fort Thomas with Ritt and Wilder Deitz (cincinnati)

October 22, 2019

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Here are some pictures taken by Tessa Killen during a magical evening performance in the house concert series known as Parlor and Patio held in greater Cincinnati. The location and sound are ideal for an intimate evening—impressive attention to detail, warm and inviting hosts, and post show music (not to mention bourbon).

Ritt Deitz

More about the musicians, Ritt and Wilder Deitz and me.

Wilder Deitz on the actual wooden baby grand piano

Gary McGraw on the fiddle

In the action

Birthday Show in New Hampshire: Where’s Aubrey

February 26, 2018

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Where’s Aubrey
photo by Tom Singleton

What’s the best way to celebrate birthday 52? With a show in New Hampshire of course. Where’s Aubrey played a show in the middle of nowhere in New Hampshire for a receptive audience at the Mole Hill Theater. As always, we played a benefit performance, this time for the LEAF (nutritious lunch) program of a public charter school operating out of the same revamped machine shop where we played the show.

Alstead

A machine

We played our sets right next to a huge blue machine. Not sure what it actually used to do. Stamp out complete cars??

Where’s Aubrey and the big blue machine

The show was high energy and fun, one of the best we’ve played.

Where’s Aubrey: Gary McGraw and Rhine Singleton

Laying into the fiddle

Rhine sings

Mando and the big blue behemoth

Where’s Aubrey in Alstead, NH

no silly allowed? definitely no silly.

fiddle and the big blue behemoth

What kind of stuff does it take to play an acoustic act??

the stage

Well, to be fair, we played our two set show. Then after a break we electrified the whole thing with drums, bass, and electric guitar. The LEAF Cutters were born. Dancing happened. Much fun was had.

=====
A message from Rhine

Dear Friends and Music Lovers –

Because you and so many others turned out last Saturday night, we not only had a total blast playing music, we raised $1250 for the healthy lunches program at the LEAF school through donations at the door. The silent auction brought in another $1000, so the event truly was a smashing success!

And, you were a wonderful audience to play for. So, we’re sending our heartfelt thanks. Hope to see you at another music event before too long!

fin

Ritt Dietz Live

September 24, 2016

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Remember that Wisconsin gig? Me either.

But maybe these pictures will jog our collective memory??? Mr Ritt Dietz, it is a pleasure to play music with you. Big love.

Ritt Dietz and friends (including me on the fiddle)

If I Had a Boat covered by Ritt Dietz

Ritt’s band includes Wilder Dietz, his very talented son

Had a blast playing fiddle in Wisconsin

My bet is we’ll be doing this again!

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