The Flood Celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Its Namesake

Seventy-five years ago this week, most of the streets of downtown Huntington -- and many other cities along the Ohio River -- were under water, devastated by the great 1937 flood. So, if you're a band named about that natural disaster and you have a jam session on its poignant anniversary, what do you play? Why, one of the fine flood songs of Bob Dylan, of course. Take it away, boys.

It was a Night for Newcomers!

It was a night for newcomers at the Family Flood's jam session last night. At the recommendation of Joe Dobbs, bluesman Chris Sutton and his buddy Mike Lyzenga dropped in to share a few tunes. And from Princeton, W.Va., singer/songwriter Albert Perrone came his friend and jam session regular Doug Imbrogno. Finally, in the spirit of all things new, The Flood introduced its new band mate. Bassist/guitarist/singer Randy Hamilton of Willow Wood, Ohio, has become our newest member. Randy's been sitting in with us since late last summer, and we figured it was high time we made an honest Floodster out of him. You'll hear him on both of these tracks from last night's do. First up is Chris with a bluesy original called "Elevator." Then come Doug and Albert with a wild and woolly rendition of that 1940s standard, "Enjoy Yourself." Doug calls our jam sessions the region's only weekly Irish caili. Well, thank to you guys, we certainly DID enjoy yourselves!

Come to Our Party This Friday Night, Dec. 30!

If you're in the Huntington area, we sure hope you'll drop by to party with us at 7 o'clock this Friday night, Dec. 30, at the Ballroom of the Renaissance Center at 900 8th Street. We'll be playing tunes from "Wade in the Water," our first new CD in nearly eight years. The whole band will be on stage and the new CD will be available for purchase. Oh, and if you can't attend our New Year's Eve Eve do, remember you can also buy the CD online. Go to our web site -- 1937flood.com -- and click on the banner at the top. And to get you in the mood, here's another sample track from the new disc -- fiddlin' Joe Dobbs and "Whisky Before Breakfast" -- bad idea, but a great tune.

Come to Our Party This Friday Night, Dec. 30!

If you're in the Huntington area, we sure hope you'll drop by to party with us at 7 o'clock this Friday night, Dec. 30, at the Ballroom of the Renaissance Center at 900 8th Street. We'll be playing tunes from "Wade in the Water," our first new CD in nearly eight years. The whole band will be on stage and the new CD will be available for purchase. Oh, and if you can't attend our New Year's Eve Eve do, remember you can also buy the CD online. Go to our web site -- 1937flood.com -- and click on the banner at the top. And to get you in the mood, here's another sample track from the new disc -- fiddlin' Joe Dobbs and "Whisky Before Breakfast" -- bad idea, but a great tune.

Pretty Polly

There must be a million versions of the song "Pretty Polly." You can trace it all the way back to the British Isles and ballads like "The Gosport Tragedy" and "The Cruel Ship's Carpenter." We've always played a little fast and loose with the traditional Appalachian melody and lyrics, particularly late at night, as with last night's version when it was the final tune of the jam session.

Dan Cowan Sings "Rock Salt & Nails"

Our weekly jam sessions are often blessed with extraordinary instrumentalists -- guitarists, fiddlers, banjo pickers and more -- but occasionally we're also joined by an excellent song stylist. Such a singer is Dan Cowan, who hails from the little town of Pinch, W.Va., in Kanawha County. Dan's work schedule doesn't allow him to drop by very often, but when he does it's always a special moment. In this track, it's late in the evening. Doug Chaffin brings out his fiddle and he and Dan duet on a great old Utah Phillips standard.

House of the Rising Sun ... uh ... Waltz

The jam session seldom starts with the same tune week after week, but often ends with one. After several hours of music, after the voices are spent and fingers are sore, someone's calling for the old folk music chestnut, "The House of the Rising Sun" usually signals that the collective is finished for another week. But that doesn't mean the assembly will play the song the same way each time. Sometimes it's fast and furious, other times it's slow and bluesy. Sometimes it's a serious ballad, other times, naw, just for laughs. Last night? Well, it wasn't a first -- but it has been a while since we've done it in waltz time…