Michael Daves & Friends: "June Apple" Live at RockyGrass 2016

[@montanisemperliberi3153]

People who don’t listen to bluegrass rarely have an appreciation for just how difficult it is to play at this level. These folks really are amazing.

[@iloverumi]

this is awesome! is the rest of it available? thanks for posting

[@ArtistWorksInc]

Indeed, we have the whole set recorded and will release it online for Michael's students at ArtistWorks soon.

[@banjoblast]

Oh soooooo good!!

[@faalalalaaa]

What an incredible group! Hey ArtistWorks, was this recording done with that single Edwina mic? Sounds great!

[@madogblue]

Could the banjo player be any more excited?

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

beats molly tuttle and billy strings.

[@alan4sure]

Not convinced.

[@alfrede.neuman8898]

@@alan4sure IMO Zane Fairchild is the top flat picker anywhere. He is Raymond's son. His playing is not only quick but extremely clear because he let's the notes resonate with clarity. YT has several videos of him.

[@therealdiehl4671]

Banjo players get a bad rap for being out of control and speeding up until the wheels fall off. In this case its the guitar player. He shows No consideration for his band members.

[@kcalhoun32]

I think that bunch can handle the extry speed...!

[@alan4sure]

The hardest instrument to play fast is guitar.

[@mandolin8297]

a lot of notes played really fast doesn't make me feel anything. So why attend a concert if the band chiefly wants to show off their technical skill instead of produce any meaningful or memorable listening and emotional experience for the listener? When they finish "burning rubber" for five minutes, what am I left with as a listener? A blur? Not even Pikelny can keep up with the beat. Are they racing to get the thing over with? And LOL what's with the Hollywood "star" in sunglasses on stage? "Amazing" musicians are only "amazing" for people who aren't musicians.

[@yateswebb]

It’s the show opener. Pretty sure the idea is to showcase everyone and get the crowd moving. Go watch the entire set. Michael is plenty capable of many many feels and stylings. Haas and Leslie are premier players with plenty of versatility to spare. Bub is the best bassist in bluegrass. PS: people wear sunglasses when it’s sunny.

[@mf5202]

Well. I am a musician. Berklee grad, which makes me an above average guitar player. I do hear what you say and it is something that Malmsteen and Vai suffer from in rock, and something that sometimes Chris Thile does. Speed/virtuosity at the price of feel and depth. Noam would keep up if he wanted to; he's a gifted player. However, as I've focused on modern bluegrass in my older days, there is something about meaningful runs at a fast speed. I do (some of) them, and people are impressed. If you are a musician, you know those are mostly scales done fast with a few fillers. I do gravitate more towards the great Tony Rice (RIP damnit!), who could basically speed it up and slow it down with great feel and technique. I guess I do see your point, but it is still fun to play fast runs and most like to listen to it.

[@BlackheartCharlie]

I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes "music is the space between the notes". I'm an intermediate mandolin player who's moving into bluegrass from the Irish trad world. I can appreciate the technical ability of musicians like this, but it doesn't make me feel anything other than curiosity at how one plays so fast. At the last bluegrass festival I went to, I found myself skipping several bands like this and having much more fun picking some tunes with other folks, sitting in lawn chairs in the parking lot.