"He Scratches Himself Until He Dies"

May 14, 2024

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Granda Mesa Arts last Saturday night was just wonderful

Before I head into the last week of this tour, I was able to stop of and see my family in Ohio. The last two weeks of touring have been really grand. From the David Lindley Tribute/Papa Mali Birthday bash in New Orleans, the pedal steel/Plank steel/Oahu recording session in Austin, and all the other gigs in Louisiana and Colorado, well, I’m tickled to death.

I got on one of my tangents (like I do sometimes — wink, wink) about my Spanish and French versions of my song “Alone At Sea” at the Grand Junction gig in Colorado. I was pontificating about the joy of knowing bits and pieces of other languages and how fun it is to re-imagine your own lyrics through a tongue not native to your own. For instance, in the Spanish version of the song, when I say at the end of the first verse, “can I hitch a ride and see my story begin,” Alex Ruiz (of the band Del Castillo, and a long-time great friend who was invaluable in writing the translation with me) and I eventually came up with, “Puedo irme de viaje para ver mi vida comenzar.” Loosely translated that might be, “can I go on a journey to see my life begin.”

Pretty cool, eh?

But it reminded me of a great story about the late and brilliant songwriter, fiddle and banjo innovator, soft-shoe dancer, and riverboat captain (seriously) John Harford. So I told it to the crowd…

In his later years, John used to frequently say “tickled to death” during his performances. Very frequently. It became a thing you might anticipate if you saw and heard him on multiple occasions. “We are tickled to death to have Mike Compton on the mandolin,” he might say. Or, “we’re tickled to death to play this next song for you.”

Then, one night at one his shows I was attending, he told a story of how a Japanese bluegrass music publication had reviewed his new album and a performance, and had remarked on how John would often say, “tickled to death” as often as he did. That article was translated in Japanese, and somehow it made it’s way back to the states, re-translated once again, this time back into English.

As it turns out in this particular instance, “tickled to death” translated into Japanese and then re-translated into English had become, “he scratches himself until he dies.”

Ah, language; how I love it.

The last week of the Mad Minstrel May Tour is afoot! Some stellar shows coming up in Asheville, Dayton, Ferndale, Louisville, and it all ends up in Charleston, WV for Mountain Stage!

For Mountain Stage you can hear Ticket are now on sale to the public for our May 19th show with Southern Avenue, Jeff Plankenhorn, Melissa Ferrick, and more!

If you can’t be there…check out the livestream!!!

Episode #1035

Southern Avenue, Driftwood, Elvie Shane, Melissa Ferrick, and Jeff Plankenhorn.

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*** TOUR DATES & INFO *** TOUR DATES & INFO *** TOUR DATES & INFO ***

Ben Balmer & Jeff Plankenhorn @ Asheville Guitar Bar

Wed, May 15 @ 7:00PM

Asheville Guitar Bar, Asheville, NC

Getting together with my old pal Ben for a show in Asheville!

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The Brightside Music & Event Venue

Thu, May 16 @ 7:30PM

The Brightside Music & Event Venue, Dayton, OH

Been wanting to play here at this Dayton venue for a while!

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Music in the Gazebo

Fri, May 17 @ 6:30PM

Music in the Gazebo, Ferndale, MI

Jeff Plankenhorn (solo) performs at this nice House Concert Series. Tickets/suggested donation is $20. Doors open at 6pm, showtime is 6:30pm. Tickets at the door

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