New banjo picker for Grascals, Rhonda Vincent

[Tom Mullen]

I heard from Chris Jones on XM Satelitte Radio that Kristin Scott Benson is now playing banjo with the Grascals.
Also Big Kenny has left Rhonda's band and has been replaced. I could not pick up the name of his replacement.
Any other info on these items?

[GVD]

Yup Kenny Ingram is leaving the Rage at the end of the year along with guitar player Darrell Webb. I was told that the Grascals banjo player Aaron McDaris was going to be Kenny's replacement. I was also told that Kristen was leaving Larry but hadn't heard where she was going. The Grascals would be a logical choice since they have an opening.

It should be interesting to see how it all turns out. Big Kenny is leaving some awfully big shoes to fill and for that matter so is Kristen. Larry's band has sounded much better since she came back. She has impeccable timing and her harmonies blended with Larry so well. Of course adding a fiddle player for the first time also made helped Larry to sound a lot fresher.

Anybody heard who's replacing Darrell in the Rage?

GVD

[mandopete]

As The World Turns...bluegrass style.

FWIW, Kristen's new recording, Second Season, is outstanding and on my Top Ten for 2008.

Wonder if David Talbot will now go back with Cord (inquiring minds want to know!).

[Tom Mullen]

Didnt Boo (? I forget his real name) replace Talbot in the Grascals? What happened to him? Too much road? I imagine it burns them out.

[GVD]

Wonder if David Talbot will now go back with Cord (inquiring minds want to know!).

Well I guess that would add a certain symmetry to the situation since he left the Grascals 2 years ago and Larry Cordle before that.

Didnt Boo (? I forget his real name) replace Talbot in the Grascals? What happened to him?

Boo is Aaron McDaris's nickname.

GVD

[Steve Perry]

David Talbot left the Grascals to go with Dolly Parton... as did Jimmy Mattingly last year.

[f5loar]

You can't blame them for going to Dolly. She's a whole lot easier on the eyes when on stage then Danny and Terry. Kristen has got what it takes to drive any band she goes to.

[mandopete]

...the saga continues.

Just heard that Darrell Webb will be joining Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

Now wonder where Jesse Brock is going?

[Rroyd]

Maybe Darrell will be playing guitar with Flamekeeper, if that is where he is going. Jimmy Mattingly is also playing gigs with his former boss, the now-unretired Garth Brooks. Is Kenny retiring? When I saw him a couple of months ago, he looked like the busy schedule of the Rage was starting to wear him down. There were a couple of times when or the other of them young whippersnappers had really tapped off an instrumental, and it was obvious that he was struggling to stay with them.
Perhaps Pete could publish a magazine that we could pick up at the grocery checkout stand that could keep us filled in on all the latest happenings. How about the "Bluegrass Enquirer?"

[mandopete]

Perhaps Pete could publish a magazine that we could pick up at the grocery checkout stand that could keep us filled in on all the latest happenings. How about the "Bluegrass Enquirer?"

Duane - I guess you and I might be the only ones who'd buy it!

[Steve Perry]

...the saga continues.

Just heard that Darrell Webb will be joining Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper.

Now wonder where Jesse Brock is going?

Jesse Brock is staying. Darrell will be taking over guitar and vocals from Todd Rakestraw.

[Steve Perry]

You can't blame them for going to Dolly. She's a whole lot easier on the eyes when on stage then Danny and Terry.

Oh, I agree!!!


...and I imagine the pay and benefits are a lot better with Dolly too.

[Tom Mullen]

I would think that playing in Dolly's band, the schedule would be easier and as there would not be much traveling. BUT....I dont know what type of venues she plays. I have never seen her perform live.

[mandopete]

Jesse Brock is staying. Darrell will be taking over guitar and vocals from Todd Rakestraw.

Nothing against Darrell's singing, but that's huge hit for Cleveland's band. IMHO Todd Rakestraw is the next Dan Tyminski!

[f5loar]

Dolly has always since leaving Porter played the really BIG venues. I've never seen her with a small one.

[earthsave]

Bluegrass is a small community. Went on a Bluegrass cruise in '04 or so with The Rage, Wildfire, Larry Stephenson, Dale Ann Bradley, The Chapmans and several other bands.

All the young players, Josh Williams, Chapman boys, Larry's band (Aaron McDaris i forget the others names), Ashby Frank, etal... hung out together most of the time jamming on the deck, swimming etc.. Michael Cleveland was there too and I recall watching him jamming Old Daingerfield on his mandolin in a small group off in a corner.

Band members move around quite a bit.