Horn Cupping

“In traditional African medicine, a form of cupping therapy was practiced long before modern glass or silicone cups were introduced. Instead of using cups, healers used hollowed-out buffalo horns. These horns were heated and then placed on the skin to create suction, drawing out what was believed to be toxins or bad energy from the body. This method not only reflects the deep medicinal knowledge of ancient African cultures but also highlights how natural materials were skillfully adapted for healing purposes.”

[Uncolorized image with story found here.]

Saturday Matinee – Poderosa AAINJALA, Rising Appalachia; Kitty, Daisy & Lewis; Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

Poderosa AAINJALA – 150 Tambores

Roughly translated from the indigenous Wuayuunaiki language of Bogotá, Colombia, AAINJAA means “to do, to elaborate, to manufacture, and to build.” More about this popular massive ensemble here.

Rising Appalachia plays roots-based music righteously. Leah Smith (aka Leah Song) plays banjo, bodhran; Chloe Smith plays guitar, fiddle, and banjo. Name of the song is Greasy Coat.

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis Durham perform Polly Put The Kettle On live at the 2012 Pickathon Pumphouse Sessions in Portland, Oregon. Kind of a quirky family group with an unknown surname from London, but they’ve got an aura of cool retro going – more about them here. This song’s a cover (written by A. Miller) but dang if I can find the original artist.

[Update: Sonny Boy Williamson recorded it as Polly Put Your Kettle On in 1947, and is credited as the writer on RCA Victor 29-2521-B.]

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats are awesome, even if some of their song patterns are a bit familiar. Wasting Time fits my mood these days.

See you tomorrow, rain or shine, and maybe we’ll do something.

Father Michael, Row The Boat Ashore

Michael Row The Boat Ashore Live

[Found here, and yes, we discussed it at length yesterday when you weren’t paying attention.]

Saturday Matinee – The Yoshida Brothers, Mean Mary James & Sarah jaroz

The Yoshida Brothers rock. Here’s their Wiki entry if you’re curious. [via]

Mean Mary James rips traditional song “Cripple Creek” on banjo live at WPRK. You want a faster version? You won’t find it.

Sarah Jarosz on mandolin, with Alex Hargreaves on fiddle and Nathaniel Smith on cello, recorded April 2010, is a nice version of Tom Wait‘s song from “Mule Variations” (1999). Personally, I like Waits’ version better because gravel and petunias work for me on happy songs.

There are some great tunes hidden in the back of Tom Waits’ attic under the Swanson TV Dinner trays, matchbox covers, PEZ dispensers and Bazooka Joe coupons for free 6-inch long telescopes.

Have a great weekend, folks. We’re gonna post something else that’s completely inane tomorrow.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Nice version of Nell Flaherty’s Drake. Here’s Tommy Makem & the Clancy Brothers’ version.

[Related post with words here.]