Hot Buttered Rum String Band
5-30-04
"impromptu" Sunday church service performance
Big Wu Family Reunion
Geneva, MN
Taped by:  Matthew McCulloch   mmmatt@zensearch.com
Transferred by:  Matthew McCulloch

Source: (single) AKG 391 > oade mod ua-5 (left chan) > jb3 @48/16 
Transfer:  jb3 > pc via usb > adobe audition > cdwav > flac > wav > wavelab (corrected samplerate conversion error) > flac

Disk1

1)  test, test/running >
2)  Immaculate Rain
3)  Pastor Tim speaks (communion)
4)  instrumental (unsure of title)
5)  Pastor Tim speaks
6)  Goin' up
7)  Will the circle be unbroken
8)  Three Point Two
9)  post-service chitchat

     In addition to being a Lutheran Minister, Pastor Tim is also the archivist for The Big Wu (and Yonder Mountain).  He allowed me to work with him all weekend to archive the entire Big Wu Family Reunion.  It is in this archival spirit that I left this recording intact. If you are interested in the whole story of this recording, please read on!
     Nobody knew, except possibly Pastor Tim, that hbrsb was going to play at the Sunday morning church service.  This service was special to many people however, because a young couple had prearranged to have their baby baptized that day.  As it turned out there was an additional, "impromptu" baptism as well. Here is the story from my perspective...
     I came down to the main stage sound-tent early to start setting up my mics, anxious to start recording the day's bands.  Soon I stuck my head out of the sound tent and noticed a group of people standing together.  Sure enough, a couple hundred yards away, under a clump of old, arcing, oak trees was Pastor Tim's church service.  Now... I did know of the service, and I had planned on attending, but never really inquired about the time, and had forgotten about it until that very moment.  So I walked over and joined the crowd of people to hear Pastor Tim's words.  
     Suddenly it struck me that hbrsb were sitting there with their instruments! So, as they started the baptisms, I snuck away and ran back to the sound tent to grab my portable recording rig.  I rushed into the tent, and I realized all my mic cables were in use except one. I grabbed one mic, my one unused mic cable, plugged it in (test, test), and ran back across the mud-covered field back to the service.  I get there part way through the second song. I settled back down, and began to enjoy the service and the music.  
     The music was actually very soft, as it was unplugged, and throughout the recording you will hear birds singing, and the occasional coo-ing of a newly baptized baby. The recording itself is mostly untouched except I copied the left channel to the right to get 2 chan mono, and made some simple amplitude adjustments to reduce the level of crowd reaction.  You will hear me move around a few times (mostly between songs) to stay out of the way of the service proceedings.  
     HBRSB had the whole crowd moving, and they beamed every time the crowd erupted in applause. After the service I was approached by the father of the baby who was baptized (Hey Grout!), and I left that intact as well.  This was a wonderful moment that I will likely remember my entire life, but a huge memory for the families involved in the baptisms.   Please enjoy and "spread" this recording!!  

Peace,
Matthew McCulloch

***Thank you to Pastor Tim, and hbrsb for allowing this recording. Please support these and other taper friendly artists by buying their retail cd's and attending their concerts.  For best sound quality, please copy the flac files, and decode to wav prior to burning***
     

