An ideal room for some practice. Metal fiddle!
Crazy Train
Don’t Stop Believing
Nothing Else Matters
27 Guitars and One Fiddle
January 16, 2026
art, concert, music fiddle, gem, germany, guitars, lorsch, markus, sidekick, violin Leave a comment
Crazy Train
Don’t Stop Believing
Nothing Else Matters
Robyn Hitchcock Gets Small
November 22, 2025
concert, humor, music bad rye, concert, cyn, dear prudence, I want to destroy you, laibach, lewis, life is life, live musi, madonna of the wasps, oceanside, pink floyd, robyn, robyn hitchcock, rye, see emilly play, so you think you're in love, the atlantis, the beatles Leave a comment
All of these people are getting smaller. Remember how small David Byrne was? Well Robyn is getting just as small.
Actually it looks like Robyn is lots bigger than David.
I guess our thesis is just wrong. Right?
Emma opened.
Then came Robyn.
Madonna of the Wasps
So You Think You’re in Love
Oceanside
The band was tight. Those Nashville people. They just don’t loosen up.
Almost Loose But Not Quite
Lewis and I got loose with the help of some very bad Rye. Why don’t these music venues sell booze that is good? Seriously. We’re 60 now and we will pay.
When we get loose we dance and sing. About which, if you don’t like our singing then come shoot your own dang videos!
I Want to Destroy You
For some reason, this made us utter, “Life is Life,” which in turn caused Lewis to think of this. We have no idea what you will think about that. We pause now for a slight Laibach break.
And we’re back with more Robyn content.
Oh no wait…this just in. This is actually Pink Floyd content. I love this song and all ancient Floyd of Yore.
See Emilly Play
Turns out Robyn can play anyone’s song!
Dear Prucence
We had a great time even if we did not get to have a 9:30 cupcake or sit in the bad view stool seats.
All 4 1 and 1 4 all.
Finally, a word from our sponsor.
RHINE turns 60
November 22, 2025
music, party april, big box of bad behavior, birthday, claggett, easton, kilt, Liberal, mixology, party, rhine, romery Leave a comment
We have sent an emissary beyond the event horizon. What is over there? Can light escape? Can you bring your own booze?
More importantly in this particular instance, what do you bring to a surprise party with a critical mass of Claggetts?
Why a big box of bad behavior of course! That did make things really fun lickety-split like. The Liberal was the most requested beverage of the night…until we ran out of bourbon.
Romey surprised the bartender with a kilt made by an Italian designer. She is a McGraw.
So much love.
We even corrupted the young people with first martini’s. Careful AJ, it is a slippery slope to 60!
And yes there was both music.
And philosophy of mind late into the wee hours. We’re pretty sure we chose to do that. But maybe not.
It is nice to be an honorary Claggett, even if it takes a little bar tending and a big box of bad behavior.
Billy Strings in Pittsburgh
November 12, 2025
concert, music, photography bear, billy strings, bluegrass, concert, jam band, live music, love like me, pittsburgh, psycho, richard petty, seney stretch, stratosphere blues, wait a minute 1 Comment
We had a great time the first time we went to a Billy Strings show, but we had an even more fun time when we went again. Our fearless leader was Betty. She knows not only the Billy Strings touring family, but also the ropes and the behind the scenes lore. We have learned by now that if you are going to go to Billy Strings, go with Betty.
We drove up Friday just in the nick of time to get stuck in rainy day Pittsburgh rush hour traffic on our way to the Monaco. Betty encouraged us to get to the show when the gates opened so we could get a good spot in the pit (which of course required having pit tickets), so we had a quick bite at the hotel and walked over to the show.
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Friday show
We’ll kick things off with pictures and videos of the Friday show (which later you can compare with the Saturday show posted below).
We were close enough to the stage to have a fantastic view of the band.
The crowd was enthusiastic and lots of fun. We only had minor issues with a gaggle of drunk hippie chicks who invaded our space. By and large the crowd controls itself really well and people have a great time together. (This is especially true of the special area at the very front of the pit where Billy stations himself.)
Billy is the best flat picker on the planet.
Lots of jam
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Did we mention the jam?
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Stratosphere Blues
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Seney Stretch
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Just before halftime we went for some tequila and changed locations.
Soundboard
Richard Petty
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The Billy community gathered for a post-concert photo (this apparently happens after every show). Betty is in here somewhere.
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Saturday show
Saturday morning, our intrepid leader got up early to secure super double plus good bands for us to get into the show with the first 100 people. Our place in the pit was even more incredible as a result. We are so grateful to just ride along. What a treat.
In the mid-afternoon after some art, we returned to the Monaco at a perfect time. We spotted Billy and his dog Bear in the lobby and went over to pat the dog. As we rode the elevetor together, Romey talked about Maybelline while loving on Bear. It was a sweet moment.
We had a really fun time being 95 and 96 and goofing around with the others. This all meant we were on the floor just after 6 securing our location and meeting our neighbors. Betty knows everybody.
Razzle dazzle is required in this section of the pit. Caturday? (Or “pigturday” if you are wearing a Pink Floyd concert tee from the Animals tour.)
There was no goofing off.
This fella has been to 333 Billy shows.
Ring bling.
This was the view. Dang.
Love Like Me
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There was some jam
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We were in charge of tequila procurement. That’s something we are mighty good at.
Bass solo
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Psycho (Jack Kittel)
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One of my favorite pictures from the show.
Billy deep in the moment.
Billy played some excellent old timey bluegrass.
Wait a Minute (Seldom Scene)
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Outstanding in all respects. We had even more fun Saturday than the other two shows we’ve attended. Betty must be on to something.
YES at the Warner Theater in 2025
October 16, 2025
concert, music, photography concert, music, Roundabout, South Side of the Sky, video, VIP, warner theater, We Have Heaven, Wondrous Stories, yes Leave a comment
Yes they were phenomenal. Yes their songs are interesting. Yes they have a very high cheese factor. Yes we still love them.
Yes, Steve Howe is 78 years old. And he’s starting to slow down.
Here’s what I said to Gina about the whole thing:
Amazing and awful. The younguns in the rhythm section (Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen) are astounding (and Jon Davison too). But Steve Howe and Geoff Downes have lost the edge and can’t find the groove. So it was both magical to see the songs we love actually performed, and also frustrating to feel the train car push and pull of a busted machine.
Lots of love on the stage though. And you have to be forgiving of a 78 year old stunt guitarist.
FWIW, the audience was definitely in worse shape than the band. A bunch of creaking hippies and OG dungeonmasters. But it was Yes, and that was a thing. The Warner Theater is almost a good place to see a show (VIP treatment is still not very V).
Regardless of all that. These songs stand the test of time. Wow.
Wondrous Stories
Roundabout
We Have Heaven
South Side of the Sky
And holy shit this bass.
.
Heart of the Sunrise
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A Beatles Cover? LOL
Starship Trooper
Who is this guy? The Church of David Byrne
October 15, 2025
concert, dance, music boston, Burning Down the House, concert, David Byrne, Everybody's Coming to My House, his Must Be the Place (Naive Melody), Life During Wartime, live music, Once in a Lifetime, Slippery People, video, Wang Theater, Who is the sky? 1 Comment
It was Boston. It was Wang. It was not Wang Chung.
Little David.
Big David.
Playing in a Church.
.
OK. OK. It wasn’t a church and it didn’t burn down. But boy was there dancing. Our whole balcony bounced…especially during the Talking Heads covers.
Maybe it was a church.
With naked people.
And very small performers way down there.
Floating up above the suburbs.
Running
Into the 1970s Rock and Roll gestalt
Anyway, hallelujah
The visuals were astounding. And the hits were hits. This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
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Things were white
And way down there
Little ants
Singing songs about Slippery People.
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No wait, it’s New York. And we’re all in David’s apartment. I wish we were invited in.
Life During Wartime involves some kind of ice skating simulation
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This is the sort of thing you only experience Once in a Lifetime.
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Wait. Once in a Lifetime twice? What’s going on here.
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I guess we were invited after all. Everybody’s Coming to My House he said.
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And then it all came to a flaming end Burning Down the House.
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Goodbye band.
Goodbye very small David.
Writing Music at the Stick: Where’s Aubrey
September 18, 2025
music gem, music, rhine, Rhine Singleton, songwriting, the stick, where's aubrey Leave a comment
Where exactly does Where’s Aubrey music come from? Why The Stick of course!
2026 is going to be a music year. And there is work to be done to prepare. Working with Rhine is always a pleasure.
We worked. We had cocktails. We ate food. We moved in. We moved back out. 22 sketches into 12 songs ready to record (once we remember our arrangements).
Sketches are here.
The Riverside Parlor Series (aka the Castleman Concerts) Kicks Off
August 22, 2025
art, music Adam Foster, Barbara O'Brien, classical music, concert, eighth blackbird, fine lines, flute, live music, Nathalie Joachim, piano, poulenc, recording, Riverside Parlor Series, Rodrigo Ojeda, sonata Leave a comment
How cool is this? Across the street in the middle of nowhere (in the main house of the 311 acre farm over there) there’s a new concert series budding. So incredible to have world class musicians perform just up the hill! Don’t tell anyone that we drove over both times since it was 94 degrees outside.
The Riverside Parlor Series is a dream of Barbara and Adam’s involving the beautifully renovated River House. The house has only had four owners since 1790.
We went to both performances, the first flute and piano and the second, two flutes.
The music was excellent.
Friday 8.15: Barbara O’Brien and Rodrigo Ojeda
Your host Adam Foster.
I particularly love the Poulenc. Here is an unretouched rough recording.
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The piano plays the Moonlight Sonata by itself.
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Sunday 8.17: Barbara O’Brien and Julie McGough
Fine Lines was composed by a then 9 year old Natalie Joachim (and honestly you can kind of discern that) who later became a member of Eighth Blackbird
We are looking forward to the next Castleman Concert.
32 Years of Felst
August 21, 2025
concert, music, party april, felst, moosehut, music, NH, oopstock, rhine, warhol, where's aubrey Leave a comment
For me, the highlight of year 32 was this cover of ziggy stardust by moosehut.
32 years. Dang. I will admit that oopstock iterations are starting to run together. Sadly, Romey couldn’t come because Leiden was due any second. In fact, two days after I returned from NH, Leiden was born.
My direct puddle hopper was delayed on the tarmac before taking off (for no real reason). But at least the instruments fit. First on, both flights with a few seconds to stow. Arrival time was 2am, but Rhine was ready with Negroni fixings.
Ah yes, and there were the uncharacteristic shorts kindly loaned from Zay. I forgot to pack shorts. Given the temperatures, that was a major mistake.
There were two warholian projects underway this year in parallel…silk screening and screen tests. Very cool. Maybe inspired by the wedding?? Or maybe just a coincidence.
There was also a stump. We disagree with the “kill the fiddler” sentiments for all the reasons. I mean, exactly how long can a little brother aggravate you?
Meanwhile the stage was set and the fascist clock’s batteries were checked.
Music ran from noon to 10pm before shuttling over to the campfire.
Some salsa for you.
Abba in shorts!
Eventually it got dark.
Hendrix.
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And then it was the next day. Another day of uncharacteristic shorts.
All hail the inner chijuana…is that how you spell it?
Lazing
And a visit to the pond before an evening of electric fun featuring lots of Floyd.
We surrender!
And now for something completely different: Allan James in the Park
August 3, 2025
art, concert, music allan james, berryville, fiddle, gary mcgraw, guitar, music in the park, original music, rose hill park, violin 1 Comment
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.
