Evan J. Marshall and Billy and the Hillbillies Gave Their ALL 12/29/09

Well, you can't avoid the fact that The Coffee Gallery Backstage brings you bang-up entertainment of all kinds.  Last Tuesday's lineup was a case in point, and some of them are even brothers and they ain't shot each other lately.

First up was Evan J. Marshall.  He has played frequently at The Coffee Gallery Backstage and has worn many hats (literally - sometimes with a cowboy hat as a member of The Riders Of The Purple Sage, or his farmer's hat with the Billies - and sometimes with a naked head for all to see, like when he hooks up with Scott Gates and friends).  This guy just wows you with his innovative technique that enables him to play a mandolin duo by himself.  He calls this "Solo Mandolin Performance in Dual Style".  He even lets everyone know the secret of this style.  The main reason why other players are not around doing this is that you REALLY have to be a virtuoso to make it not sound like chop suey.

So, here are some clips of Evan's performance.  And he is funny too, in a kind of laid back, not too serious way.




Evan has a number of website presence locations - so I am just including them all - http://www.solomandolin.com/
http://www.myspace.com/solomandolin
http://www.mandolinconservatory.com/

Boy, he looks so serious on these sites, but we know better, he is silly as all get-out.  Just don't let anyone know that you know.

And then came Billy And The Hillbillies

What a hoot! Billy & the Hillbillies used to perform as the 'Green Team' version of Disneyland's Billy Hill & the Hillbillies Show, and they delight in cracking up the audience as well as each other. Watch while they play tricks on each other, sometimes planned, sometimes hmmm.....twisted minds reside in this group. Good thing it is mostly family and they are consummate musicians all, or it could get NASTY!  John Marshall is featured with his WILD "Slap" Bass playing, and of course Evan J. Marshall plays his brother Evan as well as the mandolin and fiddle. 

Just look at these silly gents:



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