Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Jammin' at the DQ........


Our local Dairy Queen is the place to be on Tuesday nights. Old country and traditional Appalachian music can be heard floating out the windows and door as you walk up.
Whoever says that America doesn't have any culture just needs to find a small town in Appalachia. On any given night of the week, you are guaranteed to find a group of old-time musicians sitting around picking and singing..... carrying on the traditions and old songs that their mountain ancestors sang hundreds of years ago.

Our town has two gatherings..... One at the Dairy Queen and one on the sidewalk of Main Street every Monday and Friday night. Some musicians play at both, but some refuse to play at the DQ because they play those drinkin' and cheatin' songs....and the good Baptists they are, they just can't participate in that type of debauchery! :)





Dave, the fiddle player, is a little more open-minded. He plays at both. He doesn't talk much and is pretty serious about his fiddle playing. I like to tease him when I play with the group on Main Street, and occasionally I can get him to crack a smile......


Hazel, pictured dancing here, is 89 years old and comes every Tuesday and dances when they play the fast songs. She's been coming to the jams ever since they started. She has lived in this county her entire life and her daughter brings her so she can enjoy her favorite music. Maybe Hazel knows the key to a long, healthy life...... you reckon? Old-time music and dancing?




23 comments:

Ash said...

Interesting images!

Tracy said...

I L.O.V.E. this post! What a fun time for all involved. Yes'm, Hazel reminds me of the Steve Miller song Dance , Dance, Dance!

Anonymous said...

We have one at our DQ Thursday mornings.-Rocky Mount, VA :)

bluemountainmama said...

cool shanna! must be something about DQ's....i guess being able to have a peanut butter cup blizzard while you listen is appealing... :)

Andrea said...

That is so neat!
I love that Hazel!

kirsten said...

What a great post! I haven't been to the DQ around here in awhile, but I seriously doubt they're a venue for local ol' time musicians to jam!! I love the photos too, adds something to the spirit of it all!

Anna said...

My grandmothers name was Hazel and I have always loved it. Now I am wanting a Blizzard! :)

Cosette said...

Looks like a very fun evening! So, what do you play, when you join them? Guitar? And I don't think I could participate in something like that---- I'd eat waaaaaaay too much ice cream! :)

bluemountainmama said...

jaime- i usually play dulcimer.... yeah, and the ice cream can be a bad thing...for my hips anyway! :)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! I really love this story and the pictures. You have done a terrific job of showing us this truly neat gathering. I can't believe they gather at a DQ. Unfortunately doesn't happen around here.

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...

:) wow!!! wonder if DQ here does this too...doubt it though.......and Hazel's quite a remarkable person, eh!!! :)

and lol @ jinxing part....u spoke a tad too early..haha..it was a hot day here too...very dry. I get rashes if i step out i sun for more than half an hour..so i take beach in small measures...or at sunset times...:(
when i first arrived in Florida...i was a li'l queasy abt the extreme heat but now i 'm getting used to it ....i keep myself indoors till late evenings.....:)...am a student here, Bluemountainmama...still struggling my way thro' books :)

photowannabe said...

Wish we had a Dairy Qeen near by. what a wonderful tradition. i would love to hear you perform too.

Anonymous said...

That is so cool! You really should make it to the Friday Night Jamboree in Floyd some time. It started like the DQ Jam...a bunch of old time musicains practicing in the feed store, spilled into the streets and beyond. The tradition is still going on in Ireland as well.

I'll have a blizzard!

Tom Atkins said...

Local color AND Dairy Queen soft ice cream? I'd be in heaven.

Tom

bluemountainmama said...

colleen- we actually did go to the jamboree when we were staying at claytor lake for the weekend. it was so great! but sir laughsalot ended up having a fever and we had to leave early..... bummer! i didn't get a chance to dance.....

JAM said...

That's a piece of the American life that has completely died in many areas. Your post and pictures blessed me. I'd sure love to see both gatherings.

Anonymous said...

I bet none of the folks in the photos have high blood pressure, either! Enjoyed this post.

Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

Could this postpossibly be drenched more in that small town traditional country life we all crave? :)
I love it!
I need a Blizzard.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

looks a happy place reminds me of bruce springsteen and his seeger sessions - the images work very well shot in black and white

L.L. Barkat said...

I never really thought about it before. When I visit my father in the South, there's always a band at the little establishments, especially at the ice cream place!

Not so here. I wonder why the difference?

christianne said...

This is great. I don't think I've EVER seen a DQ cover as a hangout for old-time musicians. I love that your town does this!

Buffy said...

I ADORE this post!

The Dairy Queen's where all things happen in my Pa's small WV town as well.

fob said...

I loved Hazel and the serious looking fiddler!