Creekdippin'

Last Thursday I went to the Barbican to see the reformed Jayhawks in concert (with the added bonus of a solo Chuck Prophet in support). I thought it took them a few numbers to get up to speed, but when they did they were excellent. It was a well chosen set with a good mixture of old favourites and what are now new favourites like "She Walks In So Many Ways".

The encore was a particular highlight, starting with drummer Tim O'Reagan's "Tampa to Tulsa" and finishing with "Waiting For The Sun". Sandwiched in between was a surprising funky version of this track from Mark Olson & the Creekdippers' "December's Child".

"How Can I Send Tonight There To Tell You" - Mark Olson & The Creekdippers

I had the great pleasure of seeing Mark Olson and Victoria Williams playing as the Creekdippers in the early 2000s. It was ramshackle but utterly captivating, and it remains the only time  have heard a banjo played with a wah wah pedal. On record I never thought they quite delivered on the enormous talent in the line-up, apart from on the excellent "My Own Jo Ellen". Here are a couple of tracks from that album.

"Letter From Africa" - Mark Olson & The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers

"Linda Lee" - Mark Olson & The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers

Here they are doing "She Walks In So Many Ways" on Letterman a few months ago, and sounding uncannily like the Byrds on the verses.