If You're Going Through Fiddle Hell

            Last night I had the opportunity to take in a unique bit of culture.  I made the nearly two-hour drive from Cape Cod up to Concord, Massachusetts to check out something called ‘Fiddle Hell.’  It was a collection of some of the most skilled string musicians on one stage.  I will be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about fiddling, fiddle players, songs, etc.  That said I was able to appreciate the talent and time it takes for one to become viewed as one of the best at what you do in any field.

            Upon arrival in Concord it was easy to get a good vibe. Even in the mid-autumn evening there were musicians carrying cases all over the place.  The historic buildings of one of the oldest towns in America were lit up preparing for the Christmas season already.  The cool crisp air completed the scene.  It felt like a very friendly and safe environment perfect for families.

Fiddle Hell actually goes for an entire weekend with workshops, meet and greets, concerts, jam sessions, and even contra dancing.  Fiddle Hell has been held since 2005 and is the lovechild of Dave Reiner and the Reiner family.  They did a tremendous job hosting the event.  The central location for musicians and visitors alike this year was The Colonial Inn.  It was built in 1716 but not used as a hotel until 1889.  Located next to Monument Square, Concord’s town common,

Outside the Colonial Inn

the Inn was within sight of the first battle of the American Revolution in 1775.

 There was a concert held at the Concord Scout House on Walden Street at 7pm on Saturday. The Scout House is an 18^th century barn which was turned into a community meeting center in 1930. Inside it has a dilapidated charm which added to the ambiance of a fiddle concert.  The wooden seats were a bit uncomfortable but again it all seemed appropriate.  Host Dave Reiner began the concert and his sons were an integral part as well one emceeing and the other playing piano.

I will reiterate that I know nothing about fiddling so I will not try to pretend that I could appreciate the references to famous fiddle players of the past.  All I can do is report what I saw and heard and that I truly enjoyed it.  My personal favorites were the father-son duo of Ed and Neil Pearlman who played Scottish music of fiddle and piano. I also liked Neil’s black fedora which made me feel better about wearing my own to the concert.  I made a point to seek him out and shake his hand for his music and hat.  I enjoyed Berklee Artistic Director Matt Glaser and his ‘Red Wagon’ song which brought the crowd into play to help sing.  He, along with many of the performers, has a charming eccentricity that makes you feel you already know them and could sit and chat with them even if you have no musical talent or knowledge like myself.

I may not play an instrument but being a writer and photographer who works nonstop bettering my craft I can relate to how much time and effort goes into making an upper echelon fiddle player.  It was a really fun evening and something new in my life.  I could not name each and every player from the concert but have included links to some pages so their work can be heard and appreciated.  Even if you are not a fan of fiddling take a moment to listen because it doesn’t take a fan to appreciate hard work and dedication. Those are qualities that lead to success and that everyone should have.   

Great job Fiddle Hell!

     My first book, In My Footsteps: A Cape Cod Travel Guide, is now available at SchifferBooks.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Amazon.com, and stores everywhere!  Follow me on Twitter and YouTube for more on In My Footsteps!

 

References: Reiner Family Band - Fiddle Hell Massacre

            Matt Glaser - Berklee Profile Page

            Ed Pearlman.net

            Neil Pearlman.com

            Concords Colonial Inn.com

Julie Metcalf - Myspace.com

19 - In My Footsteps Trip - September 21-22, 2010

Initial Impressions

Christopher Setterlund

In My Footsteps Trip:  September 21-22, 2010

1.      1. My first overnight trip.  Stayed at a nice little motel in New London, NH called The Lamplighter Inn.

2.      2.  The traffic heading north out of Boston was nothing short of hell, we need flying cars ASAP.

3.      3.  Once you pass through Concord the drive on I-89 is out of this world.  I am surprised I wasn’t killed staring off at the green mountains.

4.      4.  My stay at the Lamplighter was the first time I have ever received a ‘perk’ for being a travel writer, half off my room.  Glad my writing is good or else maybe I’d have been charged double.

5.      5.   I was also told that if I return to the area that the motel owner knows some folks in Sunapee who might give me a similar deal.  Oh yeah, life gets sweeter every day.

6.      6.  I loved New London, a small town postcard for sure, lots of bull statues painted various colors, did not seem out of place at all.

7.      7.  Passed through Sunapee to get to Newport, again it was like something out of a brochure or magazine.  I can’t stress enough how great this trip was.

8.      8.  Found 1 of the 2 covered bridges I was looking for in Newport.  First, it had a damn porta-potty next to the entrance, nice photos.  Then I ended up so far in the middle of nowhere looking for the other one that my GPS literally was just a blank screen with my car in the middle.

9.      9.  A walk down the Main Street of Newport was like being lost in time, I think I took photos of every building.  There is an amazing mural of old Newport on the side of a building which I wish I could have stolen, I mean bought legally.

10.  10.  Nothing is cooler than a McDonalds with mountains all around it, well unless it’s a Dunkin’ Donuts that is literally someone’s house.

11.  11.  The highways had no cops and loads of hills, this made for NASCAR speeds by me.

12.  12.  Driving along the Merrimack River made me realize how small Bass River is.  Like a Great Dane next to a Chihuahua.

13.  13.  The State House in Concord was incredible.  Even the little boy banging a bell with his hands from underneath it was cool.  You know what’s not cool though?  Parking meters.  They suck.

14.  14.  Although, these meters had a credit card slot, and you could choose your time.  So they were a cool sort of suck I guess.

15.  15.  There were a lot of apple trees, I didn’t dare eat one, or taken any home, I need my preservatives.

16  16.  Visited the grave and home of the 14^th President Franklin Pierce.  It was neat to see a former president’s grave, but I don’t think he is famous for anything really, is he?

17.  17.  Saw the coolest baseball field at White Park in Concord.  It is the home of the Sunset Baseball league organized in 1909, brick dugouts, too cool.

18.  18.  Even cooler was the mother letting her son lay in a mud puddle while she smoked.  White shirt, ruined, she didn’t care though, stay classy white trashy.

19.  19.  There is a science center named for astronaut Christa McAuliffe who died in the Challenger explosion.  It was a nice place and great that she is remembered like that.

20.  20.  2 towers in Manchester.  1 I had to walk to because the road was closed, and then it was surrounded by an iron fence.  The other one I got to see but they forgot to mention it was on the grounds of a veteran’s hospital.  Yeah, I got more than a few awkward stares from those folks.

2    21.   Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, it f’n rules.  There are labels on the counter where famous people sat.  I sat at Sarah Silverman’s seat.  Adam Sandler had his own burger.  Bison burger for me, and some world famous chili.

22.  22.  It was a true diner experience, everyone who sat down talked to me.  It was like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, especially with the autographed Guy Fieri photo on the wall.

23.  23.  Manchester even has horse cops, no, on horseback, the cops are not horses, although that would be cool.

24.  24.  In total the damage was 450 miles, $40 in gas, 3 hours 15 minutes to New London, don’t know how long to get home since I did a lot of stopping. 

25.  25.  Have chugged 2 liters of Gatorade and am ready to pass out.

26.  26.  Huge week long trip to Maine starts next Friday, I love doing this, obviously.

Quote of the Day:  “We have your number and we’re going to call the cops.”  Waitress at the Red Arrow Diner to a customer that called in a ‘to go’ order and failed to pick it up for 2 ½ hours.  He then bitched them out because they wouldn’t make him new food.  The idiot sent his daughter in to pick it up once ‘cops’ were mentioned.

Song of the Day:  Life Is A Highway – Rascal Flatts

Photo Of the Day:

New London, NH

The Train Mural in Newport, NH

The State Capitol in Concord

Merrimack River from Notre Dame Bridge in Manchester