Washboard Buskers 'Travelin' Broke'

A couple of musicians perform on steel washboard and banjo. Two total strangers, one traveling east, the other heading west meet up by chance in TO and start playing. Picking the banjo is Brody Pellerin and hitting the washboard is Marcus Lennie.
Recorded in front of the old Taylor Shoes store on Dundas Street West in Toronto on Aug. 22, 2014.
Thanks for the coffee foks: Paypal [e-mail]
video: Stephen Smith
/ mycompasstv
www.mycompass.ca
mycompasstv ~ travel - arts - lifestyle

[@benjamingooch8723]

Nobody's going to comment on the spent shotgun shells on the washboard guy's fingers???? Improvised instruments are the heart of folk music.

[@mycompasstv]

Hey good catch Benjamin and thanks for commenting.

[@FUSIONJAZZMAN420]

@@mycompasstv Although improvised instruments are not the heart of folk music.

[@marcussalo250]

Honestly I used the shotgun shells cause they hit the bells sooo much easier (for my fingers 😅)

[@Richard234]

I’ll be honest. I didn’t see them.

[@cromandum217]

the poser?

[@user-tg2yr2ht5i]

It fills me with joy every time he dings the bell

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for the comment J!

[@ThomYorke1488]

makes you just wanna yell yeehaw real loud

[@Liljohnnyprod]

Those dogs sure are heavy sleepers

[@nobodyhome3753]

+Wolfganistain Pack They're dead. Dudes are going to eat them later.

[@Liljohnnyprod]

+PR Norman no their. Saw one dog blink and i saw both of the movements

[@nobodyhome3753]

+Wolfganistain Pack No that's cadaveric spasm. Which coincidentally is the name of my gutter thrash doom core band.

[@nobodyhome3753]

+Wolfganistain Pack As I am well acquainted with the practice: I know that corpses can be moved rather easily.

[@choppytde6030]

+PR Norman hahaha, that's hilarious, great music

[@Melo7849]

Love the annoyed look of the people passing by in the window.

[@mycompasstv]

Yup, you could hear these boys playing from 2 blocks away. :-)

[@claraclown8036]

Great banjo and washboard playing! Could watch this all dayyyyy

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting clara!

[@mycompasstv]

Just happened upon these two guys playing in the neighbourhood.

[@noooooooooooooodle]

I had a dream about the dude with the washboard

[@salosmith1239]

was it a good dream haha

[@dukenukem8598]

What were you two doing? :p

[@satansbunni6333]

I'm damn drunk and I just laughed til I vomited

[@samuelponder]

Dude, washboard players are next level!! I'm so glad I came across this video :)

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting Patroclus the Lightweaver! 😎

[@moonshadow2724]

I come back now and then to listen to this masterpiece so I can dance around fast in my living room haha

[@mycompasstv]

😀

[@starlamorgan9776]

I could sit there pet dogs and listen to you guys all day. I truly enjoyed this.. Thank you. 💙

[@dirtysanchez2091]

Just love the dog peacefully sleeping in the background.

[@diggerdawgsadventures4234]

love the street billy folk punk. beats whats on the radio. new fav song hokum high rollers chicken you can roost behind the moon. 👌

[@Kruegernator123]

It doesn't look like folk punk since these two don't look like they're addicted to heroin, and they've probably had a shower in the past week.

[@Crackrockcandie]

@@Kruegernator123 lmfaoooo since when is being a dope addict a necessity - I was a heroin addict does that mean I should’ve made a folk punk band 🤔

[@AA-pw5ni]

I love that well-worn banjo

[@mycompasstv]

Hey, thanks for watching and commenting Alex.

[@brycematthews2784]

The coolest part of this video is that buddy never dropped his cigarette

[@mycompasstv]

Dropping a cigarette butt would get you arrested in old Hog Town. 😎

[@Beersforyears]

Lot of angels getting their wings during this jam. Brilliant stuff 👏

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for the nice comment Philly's. 😃😎

[@kone.linngus3651]

Washboarder is hella badass!!!

[@ThatCarEnthuZiastBrittany]

The dog’s like “don’t mind me!” 😂

[@mycompasstv]

😂

[@malmapunkrock]

Marcus and Brody!!!

[@sammyl2071]

When the camera is on the banjo player, you can see the washboard player in the door mirror :D

[@mycompasstv]

😀

[@morganwertz9478]

Awesome 👍

[@mycompasstv]

😀

[@redsky106]

The washboard guy is cool as fuck ,.,

[@harvdog5669]

What the heck was that bangin noise ?? LOL 😆😆 I didn't get anything outta that. I will listen a few more times and hear what I might have missed. With all do respect..

[@mycompasstv]

You gotta listen a lot more carefully Harv Dog, for nirvana lies just beyond. It will soon come to you. Peace out Dude. 😎

[@supertrinigamer]

First time I haven't been able to sit still after listening to a song more than 5 times!!

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting!

[@sameatyourthrash7742]

The banjo player is Brody.

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks.

[@declanburke2645]

This is beautiful

[@mycompasstv]

Hey, thanks for commenting Declan.

[@matthewsciambra4385]

love this!

[@matthewsciambra4385]

I know right!!!!!

[@mycompasstv]

😍

[@AmbitousStylez]

Lol my bro is the king of the guitar downtown we stayed at the shelter finally he said you guys gotta help me busk. He says to me Frankie youre on the spoons you you're on the wash board Helen you're on the tamborine. And our name will be the notorious j walkers we j walk on any Street. Lol we would busk hard I had the beat box. But we made food. This just reminds me good job brothers you hand was better than ours😂

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting.

[@lkarlton5613]

Amazing

[@mycompasstv]

😃Thanks!

[@josht100]

God damn it’s the soggy bottom boys naw but ay fr this is so awesome got me giggin slapping the knees and all bless These men

[@mycompasstv]

It's amazing that thess two guys only just met that day, then parted ways. Thanks Josht100 for commenting.

[@waste218]

I can learn a lot from this band

[@mycompasstv]

They are inspiring. 😎 Thanks for commenting.

[@helenlizzystewart4908]

the dogs is obviously very used to this

[@TheUnplugged1]

That double time tho

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting.

[@Eoj24]

I dig the fuck out of this! I'm a west coast guy and lately I've been into stuff I never really listened to before. Bluegrass. Ska. And edm. You guys jam! Good stuff

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for watching a commenting Cali.

[@Sunshine-rd1si]

❤the music is awesome & The ole coondog in the bkround🎉😊

[@mycompasstv]

😃😎

[@thelatenightgrind4511]

Awesome

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting Sean.

[@thelatenightgrind4511]

You're welcome

[@krismutou4368]

Fingers stepdancing!

[@jeremybailey4533]

that's awesome man, love this kind of stuff

[@captmidnite8142]

Brilliant

[@daganbartholomew6851]

happens everyday when you hit the road

[@mycompasstv]

Right on.

[@romaholcomb7768]

Y es

[@TheMoMcT]

Thank you. The kids and I were playing a game and we had to name an instrument that begins with the letter W. I came across your video. So talented!

[@mycompasstv]

Cool. 😎

[@Sabazius2101]

Awesome! More!

[@mycompasstv]

+Joseph Garcia Here's another clip. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p56qnGCCaLKXfdk

[@moonshadow2724]

This is amazing

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting.

[@erihgioqe3798]

I wish the junebugs flying around outside wouldn't try to play an out-of-tune rendition of this on the windscreen at 1:30 AM when I'm trying to sleep

[@mycompasstv]

😀

[@erihgioqe3798]

@@mycompasstv oh wow, sup. I really enjoyed the music, by the way. I wish we had stuff like this in my town.

[@mycompasstv]

@@erihgioqe3798 Be careful what you wish for. You could hear these fellas playing a block and a half away. They did not delight most of the neighbors. 😀

[@michaelpreston233]

I see they're in the better part of town.

[@thedanielleventure5061]

I want to spend the rest of my life with both of them. xoxo

[@andrewphillips3514]

any one know if they have more. I love these 2

[@mycompasstv]

It was a chance encounter filming these two guys who had just met the day before. They were traveling that summer across the vast Great White North aka Canada.

[@Urnzyhorny4u]

Bands Name should be Burning Strings Washing Socks Good job on future gig guys Good stuff. Rock on 👍👍

[@mycompasstv]

LOL. Thanks for watching and commenting. 😀

[@kamillok3273]

Fantastic:)

[@mycompasstv]

😃

[@juliuscider5372]

That is a well loved banjo

[@mycompasstv]

😄

[@sterlingstreamliner]

Terrific video! What a treat to watch. Nice guys. I bet Steve Martin would appreciate these musicians. This music can travel anywhere. Universal. Over 135,000 views. Impressive!

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks Streamliner.

[@lucaswillis2809]

not a chance

[@user-lc8rd9rm5y]

Need that washboard back dawg

[@user-lc8rd9rm5y]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6DFf5amntyjicU ....0:37 ....

[@mycompasstv]

You're not getting er back. 😎

[@charlie5thumbs351]

Didn't know Adam Driver could play the washboard.

[@mycompasstv]

Wicked, lol.

[@animalmother9970]

All this needs is a washtub bass and then its perfect

[@mycompasstv]

😍😎

[@fish-champ]

Goes hard

[@mycompasstv]

😎

[@sistazaraya4917]

bravo

[@mycompasstv]

😎😀

[@carolynmartinezjohnson6719]

Bad ass!!!!

[@MB-vf9cf]

I should get Turk a washboard..

[@biancamueller3373]

Nice spot

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks 👍

[@user-lr8qv7hz7b]

ПРОСТО БЛЕСК!!!!!!!!

[@lexsiejordan9071]

hell Yea

[@bobuiux]

So disappointed this didn’t include a squeezy horn

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting Bob.

[@worksucksletsdrink6011]

uh FUCK YEAH!

[@coolied2865]

You guys are terrific!! You WROTE THAT???? where are you guys playing????? I am a drummer/percussion player in two bands, but want to learn washboard and I have a banjo. I am hoping to teach myself to first learn the washboard THEN banjo. Thanks for sharing this video!! Nicely done Brody & Marcus

[@cincinnatiwashboards]

Hey Coolie! We make handcrafted washboards and also give online lessons, but you can also check out our tutorials in our channel. For lessons, visit www.cincinnati.com.ar

[@muhazreen]

So this where yall hidin, Grandma, here are those thief they vibin with your washboard already

[@mycompasstv]

;-)

[@gvallot5549]

Amazing ! What are the stuff on the fingers to rub the baord ?

[@aidenking3676]

Bits of metal, could be cut up can or bottle caps. It's what gives the washboard that sound 👍🏻

[@bushratbeachbum]

People use all sorts of things, hes using shotgun cartridges, folks used to use thimbles a lot but they wear out

[@lucard5252]

I found a tenor recently and I would love to play this! Will it translate over well? Does anyone know the chords?

[@organ.2729]

I also have a tenor but never really had any luck with clawhammer on it

[@lucaswillis2809]

nah

[@lucaswillis2809]

All about that treble

[@mycompasstv]

😎

[@ThePassionOfTheMarc]

During the late 1980s early 1990s in San Francisco we would call these kinds of guys Gutter Pun. Except they'd just come from Seattle to get away from the new Grunge scene and would play guitars with only 3 strings. I'd much rather have listened to something like this, at least it's different. Do they still have Gutter Punks? Were they only a San Francisco thing?

[@mksybr]

They still exist.

[@terrencemajor199]

gutter punx,street kids, riff raff, street rats, ect

[@josephryan3707]

They're dirty kids now

[@satansbunni6333]

@@josephryan3707 dirty kids (aka oogles) generally ride trains. Gutter punks (or crusties) are more likely to be homebums

[@hotelbastard7853]

Nice, washboard looks like my $5 Truck, I called him Aardvark - The Jalapeño work truck.

[@mycompasstv]

😀Cool.

[@hotelbastard7853]

@@mycompasstv is it the same on Twitter?

[@mycompasstv]

@@hotelbastard7853 It's not on my twitter. But pass it around. Cheers!

[@hotelbastard7853]

@@mycompasstv you-tube hasn’t allowed photos, but maybe my channel would, I’ll try (if I can remember the user name & passcode).

[@hotelbastard7853]

@@mycompasstv I posted on my twitter @HotelBastard

[@Dungawya]

How does the dog sleep through all of this

[@mycompasstv]

Only they know. ;-) Thanks for watching.

[@solbright994]

i would give them all my money

[@mycompasstv]

Ashley, thanks for commenting.

[@marscrash2588]

radical

[@jamescarter8421]

👍✌️

[@mycompasstv]

😀

[@Flux799]

CrustFolk forever!

[@mycompasstv]

Hey Sublime, thanks for commenting.

[@TheSlowdow]

come to my town

[@MegaTelemon]

Punk on the street!!

[@highrollerdiscs805]

This is a mafa sidewalk hootenany

[@mycompasstv]

😎

[@IowaHiker]

Is that outside the palace apartments in Missoula Montana?

[@mycompasstv]

Nope. The location in the videos description.

[@anarchism]

is that on queen street? where there used to be a bong shop?

[@mycompasstv]

+anarchism Location is in the description.

[@manfromnantucket9544]

Peak hipster unlocked

[@tysonrinker5958]

@TheMoreSubsYouHaveTheGayerYouAre if you think crust punks aren't hipsters than you gotta get out of that little stupid bubble.

[@alfiemoran6684]

This is keith Richards if he played the washboard

[@mycompasstv]

Funny, thanks for commenting Alfie.

[@Neilbubbareno]

#helpingmusicmates

[@Zeronifromtroy]

Hey! What kind of washboard is that, I'm curious

[@mycompasstv]

Behrens 24.5 in. H x 12.5 in. W Galvanized Washboard. Available in Canada at Home Depot for $17.95. Made in ....... take a guess? It's good for washing too.

[@teamplayer184]

where is sean and john ☺

[@TCB405]

YYYYYYYEEEEEHHHHHAAAAWWWWW GET HER DONE BOYS!

[@AndrewBaynar]

Is that the artful dodger?

[@mycompasstv]

Yes! 🥸

[@AndrewBaynar]

@@mycompasstv I'm from Philly. We used to go to a book fair in Staunton, and some times we stopped by here.

[@mycompasstv]

@@AndrewBaynar Oh I thought you were referring to the person as the Artful Dodger, as a nickname. This is in Toronto the location is in the video description. Thanks for commenting thou. 😎

[@cacheteinflado1]

WHISKEY Buskers

[@mycompasstv]

LOL!

[@catlenn]

Brody!

[@mycompasstv]

Cat Brownstone Do you know his last name?

[@catlenn]

Pellerin

[@mycompasstv]

Cat Brownstone Excellent thanks!

[@tusk3861]

Anyone know what happened to these guys?

[@mycompasstv]

No idea... thou it'd be nice to know. Thanks for commenting.

[@coltcormier8198]

Day hat do

[@kristiandawe85]

Only in toronto, or in the deep south

[@WolfMountford]

FUCK YEAH! This music is my shit! :D

[@mycompasstv]

Thanks for commenting Wolf.

[@jjuan4382]

Is he slapping the banjo?

[@cheeseburger8486]

It's clawhammer.

[@EvelineVianen]

Hillbilly time... Yeeeeehawww!!

[@WhoisVinnie]

Was he slapping the Banjo?

[@tonybumgarner5971]

He is playing a style called clawhammer which doesn't use the 3 picks you often seen when people play which is called scruggs style

[@WhoisVinnie]

@@tonybumgarner5971 Looks like slap

[@whatever7338]

Damn look at those hobos going at it.

[@mycompasstv]

Whatever... thanks for commenting.

[@andrejshamin1452]

Ну, ребят, если собака спит, кого вы надеетесь расшевелить?

[@turdferguson8928]

Hipster level: Incalculable

[@satansbunni6333]

Nah. Those patches say they're punks. Not hipsters.

[@flootblunt]

You think hes a fan of pat the bunny?

[@mycompasstv]

They are contemporaries, so maybe Pat the Bunny is a fan of them? 😎