This is fun – a band called Sam Bush playing ‘Mahavishnu Mountain Boys’ recently. It’s not a Mahavishnu tune or set of changes/motifs *as such* but its strikingly familiar in the way the Rutles are to the Beatles. Good you, boys!
Mahavishnu: the bluegrass legacy
If ever a clip was made for posting on the Afterword! Best track name of the week! By a long chalk.
They’ve done lots of albums. I intend to give them a good listen.
Sam is the guy on fiddle. He is primarily a mandolin player these days, and in bluegrass is one of the best there is. I’ve seen him a lot at Merlefest where he is an ever present. He genuinely seems to be a top bloke and I’ve never hear anyone say anything uncomplimentary about him. He is always up for a jam with the other acts and is generous with his stage time. A few years ago he brought on Niall B’s favourites Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi who were due to headline the following evening. Sam Strapped on a Gibson Firebird and sang and played the Eric part on Bell Bottom Blues, with Derek as Duane Allman. Just as I was thinking “That’s the price of admission right there” he then said “Here’s a song by a band who have definitely never played at Merlefest, although they could do” and they played Gimme Shelter. They finished with a mash-up of Up on Cripple Creek and a faster’n’faster run through the banjo tune Cripple Creek with Bela Fleck leading the charge. Derek did his darndest to keep up
I’m not aware that he’s ever played in the UK. I’m sure he’s busy enough at home where he’ll never go short of work
I stand corrected Vince – I somehow assumed it was a band name. Curious.
There’s a Tedeshi & the Truckers clip jamming with McLaughlin that I could tangentially post here but JM’s guitar was barely plugged in…