Good As I Been To You

It was a dark and stormy night and about half the band couldn't make it to the weekly rehearsal, but for those who did, it was a memorable evening. While it was damp and cold outside, it was warm and bright around the table where we came for coffee and conversation and, of course, the tunes, like this great old Blind Blake number, "Good As I Been to You."

Playing Music in French

The Flood is proud of being West Virginia's most eclectic string band, one that can swing from jug band tunes to jazz standards of the 1940s to, well, this French Canadian folk song of the 1840s that we learned from an Ian & Sylvia album, oh, many decades ago. Now, we make no claims to the preciseness of our French pronunciation. No, no -- on the contrary, whenever we do this song live, we ask if anyone in the audience actually speaks French. If anyone says yes, we say, "Okay, well, for you this song is in German."

Business as Usual in the Floodisphere

We love how this track captures the go-with-the-flow nature of our weekly rehearsals. As you'll hear, Michelle is already wailing on her lovely rendition of Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" when Sam arrives. Listen closely and you'll hear him walk in and take his seat and then hear Charlie tell him the key we're working out of -- D -- and then a minute later, after Paul's sweet chorus, Sam's playing a solo.

We're Playing Downtown ... Just Because!...

One of our favorite local venues is the beautiful and historic B&O depot at Heritage Station in downtown Huntington, and we get to play there again this Saturday afternoon. It's all part of a special day of music and crafts in support of the Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitors Bureau. Now, our good friends in the Shadowshaker Band are playing there from 11 to 1 -- come early to hear them -- and then hang around for The Flood from 1 to 3. The address is the corner of 11th Street and 3rd Avenue, and the day's music is free. Here's a sample of the tunes we're working up for the afternoon, just …. well, because…

Roxanna Waltz

In the genealogy of great songs, "Roxanna Waltz" has royal bloodlines indeed. Bill Monroe wrote it. Kentucky fiddler Kenny Baker made it famous on his "Master Fiddler" album. Our Doug Chaffin learned it from his life-long friend, the late J.P. Fraley. When Doug and Paul Martin tried on the tune last night, it was a special moment, which we're happy to share with you.

Remembering Tommy Thompson

Back when The Flood was just getting started more than 40 years ago, we were amazed to find that one of the best new songs about West Virginia was recorded by a North Carolina band, the wonderful Red Clay Ramblers. Well, when we dug a little deeper, we found out why. "Twisted Laurel," the title track of The Ramblers' third album (released in 1976), was written by none other than Tommy Thompson who was born and raised just a few miles away from us in St. Albans, West Virginia, near Charleston. Well, Tommy passed away 13 years ago, but he's still lovingly remembered here in The Mountain State. In fact, he was posthumously inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2010. And his great composition, "Twisted Laurel," will always be a Flood favorite.

I Got Mine

We had a houseful last night -- old friends and some first-time listeners -- and that always turns the weekly rehearsal into a party. It's also when we reach for the old songs that make us smile, tunes that are as comfortable as an old shoe and let us sit back and enjoy each other's company, like this 1929 Frank Stokes composition that blues legend Pink Anderson made famous enough for Jim Kweskin and Ry Cooder to later record it as well. "I Got Mine." Hope you got yours.