This week's freebie from The 1937 Flood

This week's freebie features Joe Dobbs and Doug Chaffin, leading us on a tune based on the Irish classic, "Star of the County Down," a tribute to our late friend, Shirley Broh Davis.

As we've said before, Norman and Shirley Davis have brightened our lives in so many ways, coming out to be with us almost every Wednesday night for nearly four years now.

Well, we lost Shirley earlier this week -- her 96 years ended peacefully at the hospice house here in Huntington, and last night Norman and all of Shirley's children, traveling here from all over the Eastern United States, came together for a magical evening to remember Shirley just as she'd want us to -- with laughter and smiles, and just a few tears.

From all of us: Thank you, Shirley. Click here to hear the tribute.

Finally, remember that the tunes from the jam sessions make up our weekly Flood podcasts. You can subscribe for free and get the music automatically delivered to your computer each Thursday. For details on that, click here.

This Week's Freebie from The 1937 Flood

This week's freebie features the 2012 version of the Jean Ritchie classic, "My Dear Companion."

Whenever The Flood has been doing a tune for several decades, we're a little reluctant to go back and listen to the original from which we learned it. That's because we prefer to let a beloved song evolve in our care, with the lyrics and the tune changing subtly -- and sometimes not so subtly -- with the ever-altering currents of our moods and latest band membership.

Here's a case in point -- "My Dear Companion," which has been a Flood standard since the 1980s, has been reborn recently, largely because of the tasteful vocal harmonies of our new Floodster, bassist Randy Hamilton. Click here to hear the tune!

 Finally, remember that the tunes from the jam sessions make up our weekly Flood podcasts. You can subscribe for free and get the music automatically delivered to your computer each Thursday. For details on that, click here.

This Week's Freebie from The 1937 Flood

This week's freebie features a special tune for a special friend. We were just beginning the rehearsal this week when got the news that the health of our dear friend Shirley Davis has taken a bad turn and she's now in hospice care here in Huntington.

Shirley and her husband, Norman, have been regulars at the Flood's weekly rehearsals for almost four years now. It was in early 2009 when our mutual friend, Rose Riter, brought Norman and Shirley to their first Flood practice, and they've been coming back almost every week. A Wednesday night isn't complete with their smiling faces in the corner. In fact, The Flood dedicated its latest CD to the Davises and Rose Riter to commemorate how much a part of our lives they've become.

Usually, when there's a lull in the action and we ask Shirley what she'd like to hear, she calls on Joe Dobbs for a lively fiddle tune. Here's what we sent out to her this week. This one's for you, Shirley -- feel better, sweetheart. Click here to hear the tune!

Incidentally, Shirley, Norman and Rose were featured in a 2009 feature on WSAZ-TV, when newsman Tim Irr visited a Flood practice. That just happened to be that first night the Davises attended a Flood do. Click here to see the video.

 Finally, remember that the tunes from the jam sessions make up our weekly Flood podcasts. You can subscribe for free and get the music automatically delivered to your computer each Thursday. For details on that, click here.

Happy Thanksgiving from The 1937 Flood!

This week's freebie features a Thanksgiving greeting from your friends at The Flood!

The Family Flood has much to be thankful for, especially decades of friendship. Last night, rehearsing on Thanksgiving Eve, we were full of stories, nostalgia and old songs, some of which we've not played in years.

One such piece was that great old West Virginia fiddle tune, "West Folk Girls," which also provided one of the best laughs of the evening, when… well, check it out for yourself: It comes about midway through the track. Click here to hear the fun!

And have a happy, safe Thanksgiving, everyone!

Finally, remember that the tunes from the jam sessions make up our weekly Flood podcasts. You can subscribe for free and get the music automatically delivered to your computer each Thursday. For details on that, click here.

This Week's Freebie from The 1937 Flood

This week's freebie features another of those impromptu moments that make our Wednesday nights so special.

Sometimes -- okay, most times -- the highlight of an evening's rehearsal comes from the totally unexpected. Here's a case in point: We had wrapped up for the evening. In fact, at the beginning of this track, you hear Dave Peyton and others saying their good nights.

But Joe Dobbs and Doug Chaffin felt like doing at least one more tune. They picked the beautiful Irish aire "South Wind." Now, they both knew the tune, but had never played it together, and this was the result. Click here to hear the tune!

By the way, if you haven't checked out our Facebook page, we hope you will. And we've made it easy for you. Just click here! And be sure to click the "Like" button at the top of the Facebook so you'll be kept up to date on all the Flood doin's.

 Finally, remember that the tunes from the jam sessions make up our weekly Flood podcasts. You can subscribe for free and get the music automatically delivered to your computer each Thursday. For details on that, click here.

Catch The Flood in Ashland, Ky., This Sunday Afternoon!

This week's freebie features our first take on another American classic, this one rather appropriate for the season!

The Flood's fixin' to roll into Ashland, Ky., this Sunday afternoon to play at "The Picnic on Judd Plaza" downtown. We'll also be helping out with a fundraiser for the community's remarkable "Clean Start" program, which has come to the rescue of so many down and out folks in these tough times.

And listen, if the weather doesn't cooperate, c'mon down anyway -- the picnic will just move indoors, so don't let a little rain keep you away. The band will be on hand from 2 to 5 p.m., playing old Flood standards, but also some new things in our repertoire, maybe like this one from the American songbook, "Autumn Leaves," featuring our star vocalist, Miss Michelle Walker. Click here to hear the tune!

 By the way, if you haven't checked out our Facebook page, we hope you will. And we've made it easy for you. Just click here! And be sure to click the "Like" button at the top of the Facebook so you'll be kept up to date on all the Flood doin's.

 Finally, remember that the tunes from the jam sessions make up our weekly Flood podcasts. You can subscribe for free and get the music automatically delivered to your computer each week. For details on that, click here.

This Week's Freebie from The 1937 Flood

This week's freebie features a revisit with a great old jug band standard.

A few years back, we started messing around with "4th Street Mess-Around," a 1930s classic by our heroes, The Memphis Jug Band. But somewhere along the way, the tune got dropped from the practice list.

Well, at the rehearsal earlier this week, we dusted it off again for another try. And, as you'll hear, you can tell it's a work in progress, because as the track begins, we're still schooling each other on the chords. Click here to hear the tune!

By the way, if you haven't checked out our Facebook page, we hope you will. And we've made it easy for you. Just click here! And be sure to click the "Like" button at the top of the Facebook so you'll be kept up to date on all the Flood doin's.

Finally, remember that the tunes from the jam sessions make up our weekly Flood podcasts. You can subscribe for free and get the music automatically delivered to your computer each Thursday. For details on that, click here.