Last year I drove by the Albert Music Hall of Piney Fame in Waretown, New Jersey. Even that was enough to get me excited but I recently had the chance to actually attend a concert. I like all kinds of music for different reasons. So it did not quite matter what I was going to hear. So there was at least one great fiddle player but no spoon players or washtub instruments. People watching is just as important as the music itself for me. I think I like to watch people singing to see the emotion that they bring to the song, or seeing what they choose to wear and sometimes what they choose not to wear like the guy last night in a gray t-shirt who used his shirt to wipe his face at least once. Some wore the traditional cowboy outfit and stood next to others who chose not to. Styles for beards, moustaches and hair are a part of it, too.
Some of the music reminded me of my father's favorites. Other music selections seemed like early rock-and-roll. We saw performances by Monkey-Woods, Southern Specific and Ong's Hat Band. Here is what the group Southern Specific has to say about their music:
"We play a wide range of traditional country, early rock and roll, rock-a-billy, and some more modern country that has the traditional sound and feel."
Some of the musicians seemed to have a problem with performing copyrighted selections. They often solve that issue by writing their own music. Most of the instruments consisted of acoustic fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, bass fiddles and dulcimers. There were a few electronic instruments including one man playing the slide guitar. At times I felt funny about taking photos but I think they would all be on board with promoting this type of music. I did capture one lady holding a handbag up that blocked the view. Maybe the sun was in her eyes?
For more information:
http://www.alberthall.org/history.html
Bring a pillow to reserve your seat at intermissions:
There are informal jam sessions held on the porch and the "Pickin' Shed:
More informal "pickin" in the garage next to the concert hall:
I think this is a photo of the grounds long ago. Since this photo was featured on the walls of the hall I am assuming there is a certain fondness of the long ago era where town ordinances were non-existent. I know I would not want to live next to this site but I am a bit sad that this type of life is being squeezed out of New Jersey. I think I will always have a bit of Piney in me as my father was born in the heart of the Pines in a historic area in Atsion, NJ. My uncle who is now in a nursing home lived in his old leaky homestead that he was reluctant to give up. I am sure that the old homestead would never be close to meeting today's building codes:
The concert fee was $5.00. Frankly, it is hard to believe but even that money does not go to the musicians. Here is the statement about the admission fee:
The Pinelands Cultural & Historical Preservation Society (PCS) operates Albert Music Hall. PCS is an all-volunteer, non-profit historical preservation society dedicated to the preservation of the Pinelands Cultural Heritage. No payment is taken by either the managers, operators, staff, or musicians at Albert Music Hall. All proceeds benefit the Pinelands Cultural Society and the Albert Music Hall Scholarship Fund.
