Matt Heckler, "Swannanoa Tunnel," // GemsOnVHS™

We're back with another field recording from fan favorite, Mr. Matt Heckler. This time, he is back on his ole fiddle, playing an ole folk tune by the name of "Swannanoa Tunnel". A tragic song some folks may know as played on the banjo by Bascom Lamar Lunsford ( • Bascom Lamar Lunsford ... ). Matt says this is actually his favorite recording of any tune we've done with him... i'll let you be the judge, but damn doesn't he light that fiddle on fire? You can almost see the sparks fly.
We were staying at the North Carolina home of Matt Heckler for this trip, in the fall in Asheville, where we caught Matt on one of his short breaks from his seemingly never ending tours of this wide world. Behind his own house lives in landlord, from whoms porch one can get a spectacular view of the surrounding mountain rangers. So we trekked up the hill, and played one in the living room, taking in that fresh mountain air.
We've come a long way since that first recording with Matt ( • Matt Heckler, "Blue Ey... ). Recently, we started uploading all the field recordings of his on streaming sites like Spotify, Apple music, etc (open.spotify.com/artist/7t78C.... Check them out if you haven't, save them and share 'em. Helps us get the word out there about great tunes.
Find more of Matt here;
/ mattheckler
www.mattheckler.com/copy-of-m...
Our undying love and gratitude go to our executive producers for making this project possible: Brad Sirois, Mitchell Davis, Keith McQuillan, David Jameson, Lisa Galvan, Irvin Maddox, Josh Collins, Brady Jones, Julie Nestoroff, VJ Arizpe, and Rusty Shackleford.
Consider becoming a Patreon contributor to help sustain this project. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you let us continue finding and filming amazing artists.
/ gemsonvhs
GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.
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www.gemsonvhs.com

[@taterthepenguin]

Obviously Matt Heckler is a god-danged musical genius, but i also want to highlight how GemsOnVHS consistently nails musical production in unusual settings. Y'all are doing fantastic work.

[@GemsOnVHS]

thanks buddy. this was a tough one lol. that room didnt have the best acoustics.

[@charliem5575]

@@GemsOnVHSYou’ve been a big part of my last over the last few years. We’ve even argued politics lol. Just thanks for what you do my man.

[@slash667]

@@GemsOnVHS well, it turned out great. thanks for your work!

[@uchiha_shisui682]

I agree WHOLE heartedly. Vhsgems got it right when no one else can. Take that to the bank boys.

[@HermetteMelville]

​​@@GemsOnVHScan you recommend a good audio editing program to use for an amateur?

[@Cexlbr]

In my opinion, this Gems recording most closely portrays his energy while performing live: He attacks his playing and vocals like a man possessed, and then jumps right into mellow conversation with the crowd. Extremely thankful for the talent and genius that Heckler owns and shares with the world🙌

[@GemsOnVHS]

all we do is point the camera mate. real life captured. love it!

[@jameschalk-kc4qq]

😊

[@jameschalk-kc4qq]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊lplllll Lllllpl

[@eugene8910]

Matt is a treasure. I missed him the last time he visited Ireland but if he ever comes back I would give my right arm to meet him and buy him a pint. Legendry storyteller and such a talent.

[@marcosv3131]

He set that fiddle on fire!! Crushing it as always Gems on VHS & Heckler

[@August140]

That was beautiful! Hope you all have a nice day!

[@tranquiltunes5892]

Swannanoa born and raised this is an incredible song rip to everyone who built those tracks still heavily used today

[@stevenfowler8753]

Spent a good chunk of my life in swannanoa gap. Miss it always. Lot of history in that mountain fold

[@lucasanderson6063]

I love how the fiddle looks like its playing Heckler

[@thelee7791]

Freaking flawless every damn time! Matt is a godsend fiddle player and makes my ears jump every time I hear him play. Thank y’all for making this one!!

[@russellscarbury6029]

Always the highlight of my year to see a notification of Matt sharing his talents with us!

[@terryk52]

Kind of nice to hear a song about my hometown. And a darn good one at that.

[@mikelinniii1186]

Every song Matt sings plays and or writes is gold!He puts so much emotion into it you can hear it you can feel it!

[@Jistarii]

The way he plays makes it look so easy. His mastery of that fiddle is insane

[@GemsOnVHS]

it is easy.... when you sell ur soul to the devil at the crossroads >:]

[@shable1436]

​@@GemsOnVHSreal funny bro

[@lewisdegrote5019]

I’ll forever be baffled by Matt’s fiddle playing

[@charlenesutton5797]

That fiddle, that voice ❤

[@tabbiefreespirit4837]

Can't wait to see you live one day ❤❤

[@ghostinthemachine5821]

Thank you for this tribute. God bless 🙏

[@MattStrom]

Woooo boy thats got the feels. Love it my man. Love them Heckler Heps.

[@Koolarrow1987]

All my gold,TEXAS NOTES, STUFFED ANIMALS AND ALL dull dozed done while I was gone at the Coast!

[@brendanswartz643]

I hear some blue eyes dancing in that fiddle in parts Matt’s a legend

[@slimeyhead8113]

Thanks Matt heckler your amazing I always love watching you play and sing

[@appalachian_artifacts1931]

Man you all always produce top tier stuff love everything Matt does

[@BobbyFireRadio]

That was so good !!! , I’m surprised the fiddle didn’t ignite

[@GemsOnVHS]

fire extinguisher on deck

[@sethmountain]

I agree with Matt! Brilliant performance, brilliant video. Thank you, Matt and thank you, Gems!

[@yssabelgernandt5925]

Wowie thank you Matt

[@ryanquiriconi]

Whew ! Killer... Like always.

[@tadhgmulligan]

That’s the stuff!! Some playing and singing! Great filming GemsOnVHS

[@savannahjasper9431]

Soooo talented!!❤

[@1R0QU012]

How did you get to see this 5 days ago?

[@August140]

@@1R0QU012 i had the same question

[@whiskeycitydiggers]

Patreon

[@August140]

@@whiskeycitydiggers ty!

[@MotlyUele]

Saw Matt in DC, one of the funnest evenings of my life.

[@robynlatham6451]

Love it 🤩 bravo!

[@billybobjoe444]

I never had heard this song or heard the story. Wonderful retelling by Matt

[@knoxrideswnc6501]

I can remember old guys playing this at the depot in Marshall when I was a kid.

[@GemsOnVHS]

Interesting article on the story of this song; bittersoutherner.com/2020/somebody-died-babe-a-musical-coverup-of-racism-violence-and-greed if ya liked this field recording, you can find him on Spotify at open.spotify.com/artist/7MQnLNR8rK2hzQbFRPhlkE?si=hLtMjkF6QeSV2tG6R2Bdlw and you can follow him on Instagram at @mattheckler. We're getting our field recordings on Spotify for y'all! Check 'em out at open.spotify.com/artist/7t78CwAbQIA6DKAKUKBYgl?si=V6VTcLxtQWupz0QpvbZYSA.

[@baconman2.052]

Great song, horribly anti white article that's trying to dehumanize and villainize our ancestors

[@GemsOnVHS]

wrong @@baconman2.052

[@christopherrobinson767]

Mesmerizing ...... amazing

[@maireadheffernan9943]

Fantastic fiddle playing, great song.

[@user-sw4jk1px7y]

Goosebumps. Best version I’ve heard since Buell Kazee

[@jeremydickenson8059]

Matt is an amazing person love this guy.

[@jennyl.3742]

Beautiful hag stone window decoration. ❤

[@MichaelMansouri-th9iu]

Sheesh man you’re on fire

[@Lightspeedloser_]

Matt has such a unique beautiful style

[@ctaber1386]

Matt Heckler is a damn national treasure

[@brianstearskingnothing]

Love gems an matt great shit as usual its a banger

[@benjefferis3901]

This bloke can sure play the hell out of that fiddle.

[@jasonedens3778]

Heckler is bad ass

[@Koolarrow1987]

Yep Harriet Tubman's old redwood tongue and grooved 1500ish under ground railroad palace!!!

[@grizzlyrick2437]

Matt killing it again

[@bonzon9529]

I'm inclined to agree with Matt here! I'm shocked at the acoustics you managed to pull off in that room.

[@GemsOnVHS]

it wasnt an easy one to mix lol

[@AxeMoose]

Good goddess that was great.

[@jennfarrell3454]

👏🏻

[@SirCoughsalot]

I've never heard anyone else use the fiddle for accompaniment in the way Matt does.

[@tobypines1817]

😮

[@herpderp728]

that Heckler yell is back yall

[@slash667]

man, i love how matt takes this song and just fucking makes it his own. There's really no comparison to the Bascom Lunsford's version, which barely even sounds like music compared to Matt's epic achievement here.

[@achimhodde4256]

Just great, Sir. Beautiful fiddle, never heard that song in a better version. What tune is the fiddle in. And by the way I love your banjo playing, too.

[@cedarriver]

Matt is a special guy for sure - hope I'll be able to see him live one day. Chords and lyrics below if you wanna play along! Capo on 2, Standard Tuning Intro C Am / C G C Verses C Am / C G C (x2) Interlude C Am / C G C [Intro] [Verse 1] I’m going back to that Swannanoa Tunnel That’s my home, honey, that’s my home Asheville junction, Swannanoa Tunnel It all caved in, baby, it all caved in [Interlude] [Verse 2] I remember late December The wind blowed cold, honey, well the wind blowed cold When you hear my hounddog howling Someone died, baby, someone died [Interlude] [Verse 3] Take this hammer and take it to the captain Tell him I'm gone, honey, won't you tell him I'm gone Take this hammer and throw it in the river It rings like gold, baby, well it rings like gold [Interlude] [Verse 1] I’m going back to that Swannanoa Tunnel That’s my home, honey, that’s my home Asheville junction, Swannanoa Tunnel It all caved in, baby, it all caved in [Outro]

[@HenkeFirewood]

You guys should connect with Joseph Huber out of Milwaukee Wisconsin. I think you’d be a great asset to your channel and for all of your viewers would greatly appreciate it. I know everybody else want to please like get this to the top !!

[@Winaska]

what aman, what a fiddler.

[@Really_Its_Me]

Idk what's hotter..those strings or Matt ..all the above

[@GemsOnVHS]

o la la

[@joehnichol]

Are there any skilled musicians here who have deciphered the technique, tuning, and scale he's using? The precision of his bow hand is remarkable. Does anyone recognize this technique or know if it has a specific name? My guess is he's in ADAD tuning, but I'm open to corrections.

[@joshthxtheContitutionalConserv]

That's really tragic, but i guess it proved that they didn't actually finish it. 0:30

[@aftermath66699]

Our woody Guthrie

[@stevenfowler8753]

If you dont know bascome lunsford, that is who you owe this song to, and others you may not have known attributed to him. Spent a good chunk of my life in swannanoa gap

[@GemsOnVHS]

yes, he is listed in the description as someone who popularized the song. not written by him, of course.

[@karal902]

not so much into the vocals on this one but the fiddle is next level!

[@joshcasto9386]

You should get in touch with Clifton hicks....y'all would kill it together!!

[@koryw8395]

Clifton Hicks is my favorite version of this song.

[@ericwoody7005]

Y’all channels the best may be egotistical to say but I don’t want to listen to what everyone else is lol won’t do it keep dragging these folks out fighting the good fight I promise us tow boaters lovem 🫡

[@ericwoody7005]

Looks and sounds much like my old buddy Erik Stewart

[@GemsOnVHS]

glad to have the tow boater union on board. cheers