The CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree a monthly open classic country jam session dedicated to the music of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash & more...
	BEST OF NYC BEST HOOTENANNY SERIES		CRITIC'S PICK

the last Thursday of every month
@ Buttermilk in Brooklyn, NY

 

The CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree is a semi-acoustic classic country hootenanny & jam session for beginners and pros alike operated by Alex Battles. We stick to the four chord rule so that it's easy for anyone to join in on the fun. All good singers, players and listeners are welcome. Read the guidelines and FAQ below (scroll down) for maximum enjoyment.

Directions to Buttermilk click here.

What to bring:

• an instrument that you don't plug in (although we will have a microphone) 
• Your voice counts as an instrument. 
• knowledge of three chords, sometimes four
• Learn some words (this isn't karaoke) and sing a song. 
• a good-spirited heart
• beer money

What we play:

• popular country songs written before 1970, hopefully ones that people can sing and play along to
• containing 4 chords or fewer
• preferably written or performed by Hank Williams or Johnny Cash or Loretta Lynn or Mother Maybelle or Lefty Frizzell or Hank Snow or Dolly Parton or Willie Nelson or Roy Acuff or . . .
• any other country luminary A-OK too as long as the first two rules apply

What to expect:

• Did you ever go to a honky tonk and at 1am or so someone starts punching in all the songs you like to sing along with on the jukebox? It's kinda like that, except if you were inside the jukebox.
• It's loud, good time. 
• No acclaimed pickers who look the wrong way at beginners who have a hard time playing an F chord. 

What not to expect:

• Dylan songs (see other songwriters below in the FAQ)
• bluegrass musicians (except Doug Hatt)
• "Walkin' After Midnight", "Crazy" and all those other impossible Willie Nelson jazz tunes (see Jambusters below in the FAQ)

CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree FAQ

What's the point?

To get as many folks as possible in a room singing and playing and listening to classic country music.

Why Hank Williams and Johnny Cash?

Both Johnny Cash and Hank Williams wrote a lot of songs. For the most part, their songs are popular, country and easy to learn. Most have no more than 4 chords. The CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree is designed so that even beginning players can join in the circle and strum and/or sing along. Over the years, I've found that you can teach almost anyone a Cash or Hank song within a few minutes. Most of them are not "jambusters".

What's a jambuster?

Something much less exciting than a dambuster, for one thing. A "jambuster" is a song so complex (chordwise or structually) that its hard for folks to follow along with it, especially in loud-ass, feedback-laden Buttermilk. Hank and Johnny mostly recorded non-jambusters with the following notable exceptions: Johnny: Sunday Morning Coming Down, There You Go, Ballad of a Teenage Queen. Hank: Lovesick Blues. Please don't sing ask to sing these songs. If I tell you a song is a jambuster, it doesn't mean I don't like it or you, it just means it makes the CasHank fall apart, and we all have a limited time on earth and even less at the CasHank. Please understand.

So beginners are welcome at the CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree?

Absolutely! The CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree is designed to nurture players who are just starting out as well as showcasing more established talents.

What instruments are welcome at the CasHank Hootenanny Jamboree?

Guitars of all stripes, banjos, mandolins, upright basses, fiddles, washboards, snares w/ brushes. Questions about other instruments you can always email me.

What does semi-acoustic mean?

You will see electric and plugged-in instruments at the CasHank, but don't bring one unless Alex asks you to. We started out as an all acoustic jam. Once the crowds started showing up and hanging out and having a good time, it became tough for anyone to hear anything. So in December, 2005, Vincent "Luther" Sbano began playing electric rhythm guitar at the CasHank. All acoustic instruments are still welcome. There's a delicate balance that keeps the rollicking train that is the CasHank just barely on the tracks.

How do I sing a song at the CasHank?

Introduce yourself to Alex. He will be the goofball in the cowboy hat (see pic) who looks like he's running the damn thing. Tell him what song you want to sing. If it meets the guidelines, he'll say OK. Let everyone know what key you sing the song in. Most importantly, be sure you know the words. If you have a question about a song please email me, preferably with a recording of the song you're thinking about doing. (alex@whiskyrebellion.com subject RE: CasHank)

What about other songwriters?

OK, but only if they adhere to the following the following maxims.

    1. It's a country song people know
    2. Written before 1970
    3. With four chords or fewer in it

So "Act Naturally" by Voni Morrison and Johnny Russell, which has 4 chords in it, is OK. Whereas, "Crazy" by Willie Nelson, which has 13 chords in it (26 if you do the key change) is not. We are also welcome to songs by Loretta Lynn, Harlan Howard, George Jones, Dolly Parton, etc. as long as they also popular, country and easy to learn.

(And yes, I know Dylan, Pete Seeger and the Beatles were hella cool [well maybe not Pete Seeger], and yeah I love them too, but don't try to sing Dylan while a bunch of people are getting wasted. It just reminds them of college or war or open mic nights which is what we showed up at the CasHank to escape from in the first place.)

When should I get there?

If you wanna play, get there early. The beginning is usually lots of fun because we can still hear each other really well and try out new songs. We really do start at 9pm and we really do end around midnight. If you want a place on the stage, get there by 830 or 9pm.  But remember, you don't have to be onstage to play! If the guys onstage look too intimidating (they shouldn't, they were once like you) feel free to wield your instrument from your seat.  

Do you use microphones?

Yes for vocals and fiddles because those tend to need a little help staying in balance with the guitars and banjos and tambourines and harmonicas and so forth.

Can I make requests?

Sure yell 'em out. Usually we're all just sitting there wondering what we're gonna play next anyway. I'm not guaranteeing we're gonna know the song, but it's worth a shot. If you've come to listen before and really want us to learn a song, by all means, email me. OK?