Switchin' It Up: Charlie Hustle & the Pickers!

'Switchin' speeds like Bruce Lee, right on the Fuji in a movie...'

Did I just quote Redman's "Can't Wait" to describe our recent bluegrass side project? 

Yes. Yes, I did.

In an effort to quench our endless thirst for playing live music, we decided to put together a bluegrass trio, Charlie Hustle & the Pickers. After a few rehearsals, we booked at March 18 gig at a local beerhouse, Bierport PGH, where they host a weekly "Bluegrass Friday."

Early set:

Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms (Trad.)

White Freightliner (T. Van Zandt)

Bedbug Blues (B. Smith)

Make Me a Pallet On Your Floor (J. Hurt)

The Race Is On (D. Rollins)

On and On (B. Monroe)

Nashville Blues (D. Watson)

Little Maggie (R. Stanley)

Cumberland Blues (Dead)

Blue Ridge Mountain Blues (D. Watson)

Me and My Uncle (J. Philips) >

Eat My Dust (D. Grisman)

John Hardy (Trad.)

Hold Me Back

Cocaine Blues (L. Jordan)

Gravel Road (M. Slim)

Nine Pound Hammer (M. Travis)

Fox on the Run (T. Hazzard)

I Know You Rider (Trad., Dead arr.) >
Whiskey Before Breakfast (Trad.)

Late set:

You Better Get Right (R. Stanley)

Mystery Train (J. Parker)

In the Pines (Leadbelly)

Honey Babe (E. Bishop)

Deep Elem Blues (Trad.)

Peggy-O (Trad.)

Friend of the Devil (Dead) >

Blackberry Blossom (A. Smith) >

Have Someone Play Dixie For Me (P. Roy)

Midnight Moonlight (P. Rowan)

It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (Dylan)

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Dylan)

Salt Creek (Trad.) >

Mighty High (D. Crawford)

Due to some regrettable mic placement, the recording of that show is less "Charlie Hustle & the Pickers" and more "Random Bar Conversation With A Bluegrass Band Somewhere in the Background," so no recording.

A few weeks later though, we got our first bluegrass opening gig, April 14 supporting Nashville phenoms The Barefoot Movement at Thunderbird Café, and we got a fine recording just for yinz. 

Click here to download/stream the set courtesy of Archive.org!

One set:

Friend of the Devil (Dead) >

I Know You Rider (Trad.) >

Whiskey Before Breakfast (Trad.)

You Better Get Right (R. Stanley)

Hold Me Back

New Mexican Shuffle

In the Pines (Leadbelly)

Have Someone Play Dixie For Me (P. Roy) >

Eat My Dust (D. Grisman)

John Hardy (Trad.) >

Laid (James)

Peggy-O (Trad., Dead arr.)

Salt Creek (Trad.) >
Fox on the Run (T. Hazzard)

Workingman's Blues (M. Haggard)

Friday's (Acoustic) Setlist: 3/20/15, Hambone's, Pittsburgh, Pa.

'Bend down low, let me tell you what I know...'

In spite of some chest congestion, great time dropping an acoustic set with Dave on congas, in the intimate surroundings of Hambone's in Lawrenceville. Not to mention the disgustingly-awesome burger that came with pulled pork (whaaat?), a fried egg, a gigantic onion ring and some delicious barbecue sauce.

Click here to stream/download the set, courtesy of Archive.org:

Early set:

Cumberland Blues (Dead)

Mother's Meth Head Blues*

New Mexican Shuffle*

Gentleman of Leisure (J. Winchester)

Ophelia (The Band)

Slow Train (T. Bruno)

Deep Elem Blues (Cofer Bros.)

Blackjack Molly*#

Let Him Go/Bend Down Low (Marley/Tosh/Livingston)

Lookin' Out My Back Door (CCR)

Late set:

Dauphine*

Evil Mind*

I Like It*

Floating Bridge (J. Estes) >

Equinox (Coltrane) > Floating Bridge >

Big River (J. Cash)

Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning (D. Van Ronk) >

Stone Soup* >

Friend of the Devil (Dead) >

Whiskey River (W. Nelson)

Love Please Come Home (B. Monroe)

E: Pig in a Pen (Trad.)

*Original

#First time played

Last Night's Setlist: 2/1/14, Snow Ball, Lawrenceville, Pgh., Pa.

"...and a lotta love will be burnin' bright..."

It was short but sweet during the Snow Ball, at Cattivo in Lawrenceville. We debuted a new cover, an overlooked Rolling Stones gem, "Winter," from the equally-overlooked Goat's Head Soup album. We only had about a half-hour, but we made that sucker count, Jack!

Click here to stream/download the set courtesy of Archive.org.

One set:

Winter (Stones)

Mother's Meth Head Blues*

Evil Mind*

New Mexican Shuffle*

Viola Lee Blues (Trad., Dead arr.) >

China Cat Sunflower (Dead) >

Viola Lee Blues

*Original

Tonight's Setlist: 9/21/12, Thunderbird Café, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Had a blast opening for the Old E Allstars at their record-release show. It's always a good time hanging out with Pittsburgh's premier funk band.

Click here to download/stream the set, courtesy of Archive.org:

Third Street Woman (J. Willie Reynolds)

Dauphine*

Strange Moon*

Rain Song No. 3*

Mystery Train (J. Parker) >

Statesboro Blues (Blind Willie McTell) >

Mystery Train

Don't Look No Further (B.B. King)

I Like It*

*Original