I must first start by admitting a little bias to my following
statement. I attended the Bluegrass concert performed at the Grange
Hall this past Saturday evening and I say bias because I am the son
of the promoter.
Bluegrass concert was a big hit
Dear Editor,
I must first start by admitting a little bias to my following statement. I attended the Bluegrass concert performed at the Grange Hall this past Saturday evening and I say bias because I am the son of the promoter. I help set up, serve and tear down for this concert. So I guess you can say I am the “roadie” by default family affiliation.
I am not the bluegrass connoisseur like my father is. But through the years of helping, I can’t help but enjoy not only the music, but also the outstanding talent. Some would say that I am part of Generation X. I grew up with the likes of Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and so on. My musical tastes have not quite matured enough to be a full-time listener of this banjo pickin’, fiddle whining, bass thumping music. But it is incredible to watch such amazing artists.
This was the fifth year of my father’s concert and each year it gets better. Each year he brings in bigger names and bigger talent. Bluegrass has that stereotypical view of a bunch of hillbillies with moonshine jugs, washboards and missing teeth. Quite the contrary! Bluegrass has become modern. Smooth harmonies, strong lyrics and beautiful notes from outstanding instruments fill the room with open ears, attentive eyes and smiling faces. The last few years have been sell outs prior to the doors opening. I work the counters during the concert and when “my business” is slow; I’ll make my way into the concert hall and catch a few songs. I spend just as much time watching the performers as I do watching the audience. Everyone is attentive, smiling, and in good spirits. It might have something to do with the Gugliemo wine I sell during the intermission, but I’d like to think it has more to do with the appreciation of talent. There’s something to say about watching somebody do what they do best, and even more when you can hear it!
It’s great to meet and talk with people at the concert that are not from the Bluegrass community; only to hear what a great time they’re having. To see their smiling faces is worth it! Bluegrass music is not for everyone, but for that one night at the Grange, it sure seemed like it was. Although I may be from the “Metallica generation”; for one night, even I can appreciate Bluegrass music!
Ben Edes, Morgan Hill
Tired of columnist’s ranting
Dear Editor,
Is there anyone available at the Times to pay any attention to what Lisa Pampuch writes? I thought we had enough of the eyes rolling and puh-lease plus an occasional “critical thinking” column to last a lifetime. But then, there must be a religious holiday around the corner, which means it is religion-bashing time.
I remember Christmas where she was upset over the zealots wishing Merry Christmas. Now it is Easter, time for another bashing. She takes exception to the Catholic Diocese taking in the large sum of $30,000 to minister to Valley Medical Center. This does not come close to covering expenses, but then the rant over the tax exempt status and how the beleaguered Santa Clara taxpayers can ill afford to support this effort. Is Lisa aware of the good that faith-based charities do in our country and all over the world? Has she heard of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Glide Memorial Church, and St Anthony’s Kitchen?
What she supports is freedom from religion. What charities to they support. Maybe in Haiti, oops, can’t be, those are Catholic. And get the 1st Amendment correct; it is the state should not interfere with religion, not the other way around. Does “In God we trust” have any meaning to her?
Now down to Mississippi where a lesbian couple wants to dress in tuxedos and flaunt their sexuality in the face of school officials and Lisa equates this to racial bigotry. Not close. Then the idiot organization, the ACLU, decided to sue the school district. Money is tight, but there has to be something in the kitty for this joke instead of teacher’s salaries or new books. How would Lisa know the school board is bigoted and homophobic? Did she travel to Mississippi? No, she did what she usually does; assume the worst in people because they disagree with her. This all goes back to Proposition 8, she can’t get over it.
Fred Oliveri, Morgan Hill
