The Tao of Walking Ridge

Liam Nelson to Bob Dylan in the early ’60s in Greenwich Village:

Remember, Bob, no fear, no envy, no meanness.

Dave Van Ronk sang this traditional song during Dylan’s early years in Greenwich Village. Dylan recorded it before Van Ronk did, including it on his first album. It became so well known that Van Ronk had to stop playing it, as everyone assumed he’d copied Dylan. Later, when the Animals covered the tune, Dylan had to stop playing it as so many believed that he had copied the Animals. It is a great song that can be interpreted in many ways.

The House of the Rising Sun at the Raven Coffeehouse, Port Huron Michigan, Nov 2008.

The piano at the Raven Coffeehouse in Port Huron is left to fill the house acoustically.  It creates a nice acoustic feel, and blends well with the amplified vocals.

Brian Kelly at the Raven Coffeehouse, Nov 2008

This week I played my original “Smoke in the Mirror” on acoustic.  I liked the sound, and played around a bit on the dark side (Windows MovieMaker) to try and give a bit of a 60s black and white film feel.

In the Apr/May 1996 issue of Blues Revue magazine was an ad for a harp holder sold by Blues Tools.  It used a gear lock system and looked to be very stiff, allowing for expressive blues players to be able to play the harmonica more aggressively than the standard wire harmonica braces.  Apparently the $60.00 price tag was a bit high for the limited audience, and in 1996 I couldn’t spare the coin.  Ah, but now I can and I have not been able to find one for sale!  If anyone has one for sale, please contact me.

The Raven Coffeehouse in Port Huron Michigan is one of the coolest gathering places I’ve ever seen.  Great coffee drinks and a menu of great foods.  I love their “Ragged Mountain” salad with an organic herbal mate.  I had the opportunity to play a short set there Sunday evening and captured some video and still images with my Canon G9.

Gray Sky Gold Leaves Video

The stage is set up in a 2nd floor corner (upper right).

The stage gives the performer a spectacular view.  It also provides a private space for the musician, while at the same time it feels intimate.

When I saw the moon over the Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron I knew it was a unique opportunity to try and capture the moon, a twilight sky, and the lights on the bridge.