Playing Outside the Lines

Grant D'Aubin Joins OTL for a guest performance

2009-12-31T12:06:00.003-06:00

December 12, 2009. GoodFolk Productions
Grant D'Aubin, bass. Stan D'Aubin, mandolin Ed Nicholson, guitar

Will Nicholson joins OTL for a guest appearance

2009-12-31T12:04:00.001-06:00

Dec. 14. GoodFolk Productions, Fayetteville, AR

Guest Appearances from the '09 GoodFolk Holiday Show

2009-12-31T09:00:00.002-06:00

On Dec. 12, we did our annual "holiday" performance at GoodFolk. While we sorely missed Jenee, who spent some well-deserved time at home in Nashville after a rigorous touring schedule, we were joined by both Nicholson kids and the D'Aubin kids for cameo appearances.

The song above features Claire D'Aubin and Julia and Thomas Nicholson. We had fun.

Another from 8-14-08

2008-10-25T13:37:00.002-05:00

Welcome Back Home

2008-09-01T09:10:00.001-05:00

Here's a tune written by Jenee Fleenor; played and sung by her and Outside the Lines at GoodFolk Productions at a performance on August 14, 2008. Stan D'Aubin, mandolin; Ed Nicholson, guitar; Emily Kaitz, bass.

Another Bluegrass Tune

2008-08-21T19:48:00.002-05:00

"On and On." Sung by Jenee Fleenor. Stan D'Aubin, Mandolin; Ed Nicholson, guitar; Emily Kaitz, bass.
Look below for non-bluegrass songs.

Baby You Ain't Baby Any More

2008-08-20T20:02:00.002-05:00

Jenee Fleenor wrote and sings this song. Recorded with Outside the Lines at GoodFolk Productions 8-14-08. Stan D'Aubin, mandolin; Ed Nicholson, guitar; Emily Kaitz, bass. The wind was blowing, and we were looking up because it looked like it would rain at any moment. It didn't.

Susie Rosen's Nose

2008-08-19T06:05:00.004-05:00

Written and performed by Emily Kaitz

Mama what happened to Susie Rosen's nose,
It used to look like half a bagel, but now it barely shows
Here today and gone tomorrow, is that the way it goes
Mama what happened to Susie Rosen's nose

I went down to the deli with my mama for some blintzes
She said there's that Susie Rose, she thinks she's such a princess
Her family may have money, but culture they ain't got
Then Susie turned, I saw her face, I thought that I would plotz

Mama what happened to Susie Rosen's nose
It used to look like a big matzoh ball
But now it barely shows
Here today and gone tomorrow is that the way it goes
Mama what happened to Susie Rosen's nose

Little Susie studies Hebrew with the help of cousin Roz
Roz says she could be a cutie, but that girl's got such a schnoz
The joke will be on Rosalyn at Susie's Baht Mitzvah
That little button on her face
She looks just like a shiksa

Mama what happened to Susie Rosen's nose
It used to look like a gefilte fish
But now it barely shows
Here today and gone tomorrow is that the way it goes
Mama what happened to Susie Rosen's nose

Banjo Players in Heaven

2008-08-18T05:06:00.005-05:00

by Emily Kaitz
When my time on Earth is over, if I should fly
To that sweet home of the angels up above
To all my earthly pleasures I will bid goodbye
But how I'll miss that gospel bluegrass that I love

So gather 'round and raise your blessed voices
And enjoy that gospel bluegrass while you live
It's hard to find a banjo player up in heaven
There's some things even Jesus won't forgive.

There's glorious swells of harps and bells a waitin'
In heaven I'll hear Gabriel's trumpet blow
But somehow I'm reassured to know that Satan
Has lots of work for banjo players down below

Oh it's cruel the way the pearly gates stand open
To a lawyer or an oil executive
But you won't find a banjo player up in heaven
There's some things even Jesus won't forgive

Great evening at GoodFolk

2008-08-16T09:38:00.008-05:00

It was a really fun evening under the stars, er, clouds (but no rain, thankyaLord) at GoodFolk. I took along a Flip video camera and set it up on a tripod. Sound's not very good, but you can get a feel for the performance. I'll try to post two or three songs here in the next few days.

Tornado Season in Tulsa

Don't Miss GoodFolk Thurs. Aug 14

2008-08-12T20:33:00.007-05:00

Aren't ya just kinda tired of watchin' little ol' girls swing around on uneven bars, and Michael Phelps break swimmin' records? Sometimes the tension is just too much to bear.

Take a break. They'll replay the stuff you want to see.

This Thursday, August 14, OTL will be at our favorite venue, GoodFolk Productions in Fayetteville, with our good friend, Jeneé Fleenor. Check out Jenee's MySpace page, and you can hear some of the tunes she's written, played and sung in the past couple of years.

Emily and Jeneé have a few new songs. Stan and I have a few new grey hairs. We'll all have a bunch of fun, I guarantee.

This time, weather permitting, we'll be in Mike's back yard. (Don't tell anyone, but) he probably won't kick you out if you want to sneak in a bottle of wine.

For reservations, call 479-521-1812.

OTL to play at GoodFolk with Jenee

2008-07-31T19:44:00.002-05:00

We're excited to announce that Jenee Keener-Fleenor will be back in town and joining us for one performance at GoodFolk Productions on August 14.
This one will be outside, unless it rains.
If you're reading this blog, you've probably seen Jenee play before.
If you just stumbled upon this piece of the world wide internet, you like acoustic music, and you might happen to be in Northwest Arkansas on the 14th, you oughta make your way to Block Street on Fayetteville.
Jenee Keener-Fleenor is a smoking "fiddlist," who spends (the rest of) her life on the road with Teri Clark. Every once in a while she comes into town and plays with Outside the Lines.
It's always fun.
For reservations (and you'll need them), call Mike Shirkey at 479-521-1812.

Annual Christmas Good Folk Shows

2007-12-14T13:35:00.000-06:00

December 21 and 22, OTL will be hosting our annual performance with Jenee Keener/Fleenor at Good Folk Productions in Fayetteville. Tickets are almost sold out, so call Mike Shirkey at 521-1812 if you're interested in attending.

The 2007 OTL Christmas Show with Jenee

2007-11-19T21:22:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay. So there hasn't been much activity here in a while.
But maybe you're getting an RSS feed on this one.
If that's the case, here's a "save the date" heads up.
Jenee Keener/Fleenor is making her annual holiday trip back to NW Ar, and OTL will be doing our annual show at GoodFolk productions on Friday and Saturday, December 21 and 22. Shows start at 8:00 and Mr. Shirkey is doing advance tickets. If you want to make certain you get your seat, call Mike Shirkey at 521-1812 and he'll get you reserved.
We did sell out two shows last year.
It's an incredibly fun show. The audience seems to kind of enjoy it, too.

We're going to Go Out and Play

2007-04-21T08:31:00.000-05:00

It’s been a while since we’ve posted here, but we’re excited about getting out of the house a bit next Sunday (April 29) to pick a little bit at the Devil’s Den Outdoor Festival, sponsored by Lewis & Clark (Darrell knows that we'll eagerly trade music for Merrells and mountain bike accessories).
The trio will be performing a few sets beginning at 1:00 pm.
So come on out, hear a little music; maybe try out a new kayak or get on the trail.

Links to OTL Songs

2007-03-14T06:43:00.000-05:00

The following songs were recorded in a live-to-tape session done in 2002 at Crisp Recording in Fayetteville.

Emily Kaitz--Bass
Jenee Keener--Violin
Stan D'Aubin--Mandolin
Ed Nicholson--Guitar

Zorro Comes to Bentonville
Small Medium At Large
Stan's Mando Espresso
I'm Satisfied with You
Lullaby of Birdland
Wheel Hoss
Mama, What Happened to Susie Rosen's Nose?
Nuages
Tongue Tied
Sheepherder's Nightmare
Sugar
Funny How Time Slips Away
Pico de Gallo
Funky Mickey

OTL at GoodFolk--Thursday Dec. 15

2005-12-11T15:36:00.000-06:00

OTL will be playing what has become a holiday tradition with our friend Jeneé Keener, violinist/fiddler extraordinaire. OTL began as a quartet with Jeneé, when she was prodigy high school student at Springdale.
She moved on to Nashville in 2003, and in the past two years has been playing with country artist, Terri Clark.
Playing with Jeneé is always special. That "anything can happen" dynamic just kicks in exponentially. For the past two years, these shows have been SRO, mainly from people who either know Jeneé or saw the group before she left town.
If you're interested in attending, call Mike Shirkey at 479-521-1812.

Musical liberation

2005-07-30T14:00:00.000-05:00

I play in two different groups here in NWAR. Big'uns is a six-piece R&B/ classic rock band. Superb players, great guys. There's really nothing like the energy of a crowd with you in a party environment. Plus it's very marketable, and pays some bills. But with six people, playing this kind of music, you just don't stretch out too far, or you're going to get in each others' way and lose the groove.
That's where OTL comes in. There's not a performance where it doesn't get taken to the edge of what we're capable of doing. Most times over.
Time signatures, grooves, and keys on any given song can vary from show to show.
We don't get particularly upset when there's a train wreck because we've run outside the range of our technical abilities. Half the fun is getting the train back on track again. It's also one of the benefits of not having your career depend upon your performance. Guess we'll probably never play too many bluegrass festivals.
We're very grateful to our audiences for seeming to accept what can occasionally lack perfection and precision. We hope that, like us, they just accept that as a consequence of moving into territory where the magic can happen for us.
The venues are limited. The audiences have to be open-minded. But musically, it's incredibly liberating. And just a whole lot of fun.

OTL at Scarpino

2005-07-30T10:06:00.000-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98114187@N00/29603949/
Originally uploaded by Ederdn.

A great time was had by all.
Teatro Scarpino is a good room: Friendly people, receptive audience, nice atmosphere.
We were able to play our widely eclectic mix, but Drew Pierce added some bluegrass authenticity when he joined us on banjo for three songs in the second set.
We'll be back here.

Outside the Lines at Teatro Scarpino

2005-07-30T09:32:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the official Outside the Lines blog.
This one starts this evening, in which OTL will be performing at Teatro Scarpino in Fayetteville.
In case you have haven't heard the group, OTL is:
Emily Kaitz, bass and vocals--Emily has received Best Songwriter awards in both the North Arkansas Music Awards and the Ozark Music Awards. Her original material is extremely entertaining. And she's a damned good upright bass player.
Stan D'Aubin, mandolin--Stan is unequivocally the best mandolin player in the region. As renowned banjo player Tony Trischka said when we played with him last week at Little Rock's Acoustic Sounds Cafe, "Dang!"
And me. On a good day, I can make the subjects and verbs agree. I done it yesterday .

We'll play a couple of sets between 8 and 11:00.