Paul Rucker in the Gallery

Last night I was honored with a visit from Paul Rucker, who was here in Edgartown on his annual August visit from Roanoke, VA, USA ("was" because he and the Mrs. were off on the 6am ferry this morning). Paul is a super 5-string banjo picker and singer and we had a lovely evening of banjo and Appalachian dulcimer, banjo and fiddle, banjo and guitar, and great conversation. Thanks, Paul, for fitting me in to your busy vacation schedule. See you next summer!

Street Troubador

I left the house yesterday afternoon - camera on shoulder, just in case. Not much happening downtown, except for running into Mike - guitar on back - who was headed down to Memorial Wharf to do a little strumming and singing. The irony of course, is that Mike lives at my house, so I didn't really need to go anywhere to photograph him playing his guitar. Oh well, it was great seeing Mike in his element. The only things missing were an audience and a little warm sun. Oh, I get it - methinks the two are directly related. Mike is now Edgartown's un-official street troubador, taking up the slack where Dave Corcoran left off.

It was a fine concert, though hampered somewhat by the cold. Mike definitely has his own inimitable style - his gravely voice being reminiscent of Tom Waits - and I loved the song he wrote about giving the rooster the day off. Word has it, Mike has quite a following in Costa Rica, his home for the past ten years, and for whose climate he is beginning to yearn.

The Photo-essay that Started it All

June 9, 2009. Last night, on my evening walk (oh, how I love living in town), I happened upon Dave Corcoran walking up Main Street. Dave has been a familiar and friendly presence in Edgartown for a number of years, works down at Thor's bike shop - Sam Norton's old place at #1 Main Street. A musician, mechanical genius, and artisan, Dave once built a beautiful, albeit unusual, stand-up bass (that retained elements of the tree - branches and all - as I remember it).

Summer nights, you'll find Dave sitting on the bench in front of the paper store, corner of Main and North Water, playing guitar. He plays and sings really well and usually draws a pretty good crowd of after-supper ice-cream seekers. David is also an extraordinary whistler.

Dave has recently returned from a x-country  bike ride and has lots of stories to tell. Seriously, this dude rode a bicycle, propelled by his own two legs, across the entire United States.

To be continued...