Bart Merrick
Bass, Guitar, Sub-Vocalization
I was sitting enjoying a delicious pint of Guinness and listening to Irish music in a bar that squatted in the shadows of the old grain silos in Baltimore Harbor. I had been there a bunch in the past, this time it was to say goodbye to a friend who was moving away and leaving all of this behind. If only she knew what she was about to leave behind.
One of the foggy conversations that I had that night was with Gary. We spoke of the fact that we both played music and he had a band that needed a bass player. When it came out that I was left handed Gary grew rather excited. We exchanged numbers, as I have done countless times in the past, and promised to get together and play some time. To my surprise he called a week or so later and invited me up to play in the shade of a hilltop tree overlooking the disappearing farms of Northern Baltimore County. We were playing this bluegrassy music that the old guy kept on referring to as “Old Time.” I was like whatever dude, it was fun to play, and I enjoyed listening to banjo and fiddle so I thought what the heck, I’m in.
Two or so years later we sat in the studio recording 25 songs in 5 days, a feat in anybody’s opinion, and I think I have finally got it. The “old guy”, Ron, is trying to preserve a tradition in its authentic form. I am not an old time musician but I am very proud to play one on this CD. I have nothing but respect for Ron, Kevin and Gary and their Herculean efforts to preserve this musical tradition and I thank them very much for inviting me to be a part of it.