Amid a winter storm that ushered in spring, banjo virtuoso and father of modern bluegrass, Tony Trischka, performed to a crowd of brave travelers in The Egg’s Swyer Theater on Saturday, March 23.
Roughly 30 fans braved the elements to see Trischka’s tribute to Earl Scruggs, the legendary three-finger banjoist, titled EarlJam. Featuring Michael Daves (vocals, guitar) Jared Engel (bass) and Brittany Haas (fiddle), the show traced the story of Scruggs from his childhood to his later years.
Celebrating this tour, Trischka said, “Earl is my North Star, a lifetime pathway. And I’m not alone. Through his music, this shy kid from Flint Hill, North Carolina went on to enrich countless thousands of lives. At the age of 13, when I first heard 16 notes of Scruggs style banjo playing, I put down my folk guitar and mercilessly pestered my parents to buy me a banjo. Once in my hands, that 5-string became my obsession and has been for close to 60 years.”
“The depth of his genius becomes ever more apparent when I transcribe his solos, which I’ve been doing my entire musical life and with renewed vigor. Discovering new twists and turns in his playing is pure joy and in fact the inspiration for this tribute show.”
Tony Trischka on Earl Scruggs
The show was full of Scruggs songs, including popular fare “Salty Dog,” “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and the seminal TV show theme, “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” as well as covers mixed in, ranging from Bob Dylan to Grateful Dead and The Band.
Trischka, a Syracuse native, is a not only a banjo innovator, but he is also an educator, influencing everyone from Béla Fleck to Steve Martin.
A treat for fans of new era bluegrass enjoyed “Brown’s Ferry Blues,” the first track off Trischka’s upcoming album, recently recorded with Billy Strings.
While it was a cold, miserable night of weather outside, Trischka and the music of Earl Scruggs kept it memorable inside for the small crowd of dedicated fans, paying them a nod during “Mama Don’t ‘Low” by changing the lyrics to “Mama don’t ‘low no snow driving ’round here.”
Tony Trischka’s EarlJam – The Egg, Swyer Theater – Saturday, March 23, 2024
Setlist: Kentucky Bullfight, Reuben, Heavy Traffic Ahead, Salty Dog, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Six White Horses, Earl’s Breakdown, Martha White Theme, Fiddle and Banjo, Ballad of Jed Clampett, Can’t Stop me from Dreaming, Mama Don’t ‘Low, Rainy Day Women #12 and 35, Brown’s Ferry Blues, Liza Jane, Casey Jones, Chinese Breakdown, Here Comes the Bride, Gentle on My Mind, You’ve Got to Die, Farewell Blues, Fox Chase
Encore: Say Goodbye, Cripple Creek
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