One of my favorite things about attending music conferences and festivals are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from this year’s AmericanaFest.
Lifetime achievement award? I’m not done yet. Mike Campbell, accepting a lifetime achievement award
Always blame the bass player, they almost never have a mic. Cut Throat Finches Sean Russell after a band technical difficulty; bassist Brandon Callies didn’t have a mic
Never laugh at someone else’s out of tune string. Tre Burt dealing with his own out of tune string after making fun of Reilly Downes’ tuning challenges
The folks at Dualtone weren’t about finding hits or filling arenas, which you could tell if you were paying attention to my career. I’m kidding. Langhorne Slim honoring his record label
This song is about quitting your day job. I wrote it when I had a day job and now I have this weird night job. Theo Lawrence, on being a musician
This is why we can’t make any money as musicians, we spend it all on harmonicas. Fruition’s Jay Cobb Anderson to bandmate Kellen Asebroek’s recent purchase
Kellen, your harmonica blows. Shouted audience response to Cobb and Asebroek
For a few of these shows I’m gonna bring a band with me. It’s something new and financially impossible. One-man band The Suitcase Junket
As a musician I like to exceed expectations by doing the bare minimum. Ben de la Cour
This is not standard musician time. Fruition’s Jay Cobb Anderson at the group’s noon set
This is our folk set. John Hollier – his band’s raucous set was anything but…
Pretty much all the songs on the new album are about death, so get ready for that. The Suitcase Junket
I wrote this song about about my father and the hilltop in Kentucky where we buried him. I hope y’all are ready for a good time. Coralee
This is a song called “Baltimore”. It has nothing to do with Baltimore. Joelton Mayfield
I’m gonna play this love song that I wrote. For all the bartenders of the world. It’s called “I Love You Bartender”. Theo Lawrence
I think this is the funniest song that I’ve written. My wife thinks it’s the saddest song I’ve written, and you’ll see why. Nathan Evans Fox introducing a new song called “Y’all”
It’s very rare when a band says that this is their favorite song of theirs. Bryce Menchaca of Marfa
Prove it. Shout from the audience
I know exactly who said that. Menchaca’s response
That wasn’t on your bingo card. Steve Poltz after playing a Phish cover
I love the song but I didn’t like that it was out-performing our “Absolutely Sweet Marie” at the time. Jason Ringenberg before performing Los Lobos’ “Don’t Worry Baby”
Is this thing too loud? No. OK, I’ll take your word for it. Buddy Miller asking the audience about his guitar volume
She’s trying to decide if she knows this one. Ruthie Foster about whether her guitar “Josephine” knew the next song that she wanted to play
I have this list of original songs written on a little piece of toilet paper. Theo Lawrence about his set list
Good industry to get into. Every time I ask, no one raises their hands. Coltt Winter Lepley asking if there were any plumbers in the audience
She left because she’s scared of us. Sista Strings, as Brandi Carlile left the stage, revealing that Carlile had started a prank war with them
I’m road testing that joke. Connecticut hates it, you all seem like it’s a mixed decision. The Suitcase Junket, after a wise-crack
Ain’t no difference between sweating and crying. Nathan Evans Fox
You hire a clown, you get the whole damn circus. Jesse Welles
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.