The Greg Denton Probable Cause Acoustic Trio

Gregory Clifford Denton, Harri Palm, and Jen Rafter will rise out of the mire on Sat Sept 5th in front of Guelph Music on Carden Street. 7-10pm. Some dusky busking I guess!

I've been working on some old-time two-finger technique, plucking on my Goldtone open-back 5-string, going hypen-crazy and enjoying the warmer plunkier banjo-tones for sittin' by my lonesome and croonin'. Last night I tuned in to Bobby C Dove singing classic-country songs. Bobby Dove has been hosting "Wheel-Club Mondays" on facebook live and I recommend you check-in and check it out. The Wheel-Club, for those of you who don't know, is a classic-country music club in Montreal ...and hosts an open mic night where the rule is no songs post-1965 (I believe). Last night, I requested that Bobby play Don Gibson's 1958 hit "Give Myself A Party". Next time, maybe. But it got me to thinkin' about all the "isolation-birthdays" goin' on these days, and figurin' that plenty of folks are likely sufferin' some hard missin' of the letter "g" at the end of their gerunds. I also thought that it would be a good song to give a try on the ol' banjo with its "g-tuning". I think it works pretty good. So, I'm going to go on facebook live myself at 1:30pm today and perform a little Tuesday afternoon two-finger for you. Wanna listen to how I'm gettin' along without you?

I owe John Prine another debt. About 17 years ago, a painter and songwriter, instrument maker, and home recording hobbyist fan of John Prine's, by the name of Dan Reeder, sent John Prine some of his recordings. John Prine listened to those recordings in his truck, and he liked them. John Prine liked them so much, he had the wherewithal, the smarts, the perspicacity, and the chutzpah to release them, as is, on his Oh Boy! label. Perhaps remembering the leg up that Steve Goodma...n and Kris Kristofferson gave to his own career, John also took Dan Reeder on tour with him as an opening act. A few albums and a couple of EPs later, Dan Reeder (American born but married and moved to Germany in the 80s) still considers himself primarily a painter. Both his paintings and his songs are unique, humorous, edgy, surprising, gracefully crude, and decidedly off-centre. At 1:30 pm today, I'll go on facebook live with a cover of a Dan Reeder song that, perhaps, addresses the issue of isolation and a particular coping strategy that, as he sees it, was likely used by the lonesome cowboys of the old west on their long lonely nights out on the mesas and down in the canyons. See you at 1:30pm! And if you can't make it, don't worry. I'll leave the video posted until they force me to take it down.

This was Wed April 8th, but I figure it should be up on the Probable Cause page too: When Mark Rodford first asked me to co-host the Cornerstone Campfire Sessions 14 years ago, I said I'd do it, in one of my curmudgeonly moments, "IF" we could outlaw three songs: The Weight (which everbody sings differently, even when they try to sing it together, at every jam session since the song was written), Hallelujah (which even Leonard Cohen said he didn't need to hear anybody sing, o...r try to sing, again), and John Prine's Angel From Montgomery. To be clear, I adore all of these songs and though Mark and I made an agreement with a wink and a nod, this was a rule that was never enforced. During the first 10 or so years of the Campfire Sesssions, it wouldn't be uncommon for someone to show up early and sing Angel From Montgomery in the key of G, and then another person would show up later the same evening and sing it in the key of C (the best versions were always by Aimée Charbonneau and Claire Taylor). John Prine songs were so omnipresent at every jam session, open mic, or gig that I ever attended, so accessible, so easy to learn, and so poignant, so fun to play, and welcoming to anyone who cared to sing along that they were a deep and irrevocable part my musical culture. Anybody who can place the stupidest smirk you've ever worn in the middle of your face and then break your heart by the end of the phrase earns my sincere admiration. John Prine's big virtue (unlike Bob Dylan who I think was too byzantine and menacing of a threat to conservative America) was that he made subversiveness feel comfortable. But my intimacy with his songs became so largely built by their prevalence in other people's hands and voices, that I began to notice that I wasn't listening to my John Prine records enough at home anymore. My complaints about that, largely focused on Angel From Montgomery (I've texted Claire Taylor every single time someone has played that song for years now, so much so that my phone can do it by auto-prompt), have earned me a reputation, erroneously, as someone who doesn't like that song. Some people even, pleasantly, play it to torture to me, while others turn to jibe and witness me writhing in the presence of any version of it. So, today, let's say at 1pm Eastern Daylight Time, I'm going to go live on facebook and perform my version of Angel From Montogomery. Tune in if you're so inclined, and if you can't, then it will stay up on my timeline for you to check into at your leisure.

Well, The Greg Denton Probable Cause Acoustic Trio, like everyone else, is on an indeterminate hiatus. The spring just ain't gonna fling like it used to do. And while I sure do miss sippin' and tootin' with Jen Rafter, Ben Alles, Cameron Werner, Jamey Rosen, and Harri Palm, I'm sure we'll get back to it down the highway. Until then, you might get an occasional online bark outta me! Here's a ruff take right here!

Once the gags are over, there's nothing left to do but gig! THURS APRIL 2nd @ 9PM The Greg Denton PROBABLE CAUSE Acoustic Trio make their debut performance at... Brothers Brewing Company & Alehouse The "Trio" for this gig: Greg Denton - vocals, guitar Jen Rafter - vocals, yodels, gargles Ben Alles - banjo, hollers Jamey Rosen - piano Harri Palm - lap steel & acoustic slide Cam Werner - upright bass www.probablecause.ca

This should be a special afternoon. The 4th anniversary of Mo' Kauffey's last gig. Please come raise a glass to Mo' Kauffey with Probable Cause at the Wooly this afternoon 2-5pm. Special solo set by Jen Rafter! And a special guest set by Dave Pike and Esther Wheaton of Onion Honey (who are also performing tonight at the Cornerstone)! Happy birthday to Kyle Mackie!... Probable Cause are: Gregory Clifford Denton (guitar, vocals); Jen Rafter (vocals); Ben Alles (banjo); Jamey Rosen (keys); Harri Palm (lap steel & acoustic slide); Cameron Werner (upright bass).

Hope you can come join Probable Cause at the Wooly this Sunday afternoon. Pssst! Jen Rafter will be doing a brief solo set too! Gregory Clifford Denton (vocals, guitar); Jen Rafter (vocals); Ben Alles (banjo); Jamey Rosen (keys); Harri Palm (lap steel & slide); Cameron Werner (upright bass). www.probablecause.ca

PROBABLE CAUSE (www.probablecause.ca) will perform at Mo' Kauffey's ONCE ON a BLUES SUNDAY (OOBS) Sunday March 1, 2020. 2pm to 5pm... When Mo' Kauffey was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he was determined that he would continue to do what he loved the most: play music with his friends and perform. And he would do that until he couldn't do it anymore. Once On a Blues Sunday was his regular monthly gig at the Wooly, and on March 6, 2016 he took to the microphone and made a valiant attempt. He made it through 3 or so songs before he had to stand down. He left us less than a week later on March 12, 2016. Four years hence, Mo' Kauffey's Once On a Blues Sunday (OOBS) continues in his honor with a rotating coterie of Mo's musician friends and fans. Please join The Greg Denton Probable Cause Acoustic Trio on Sunday March 1st as we raise a glass and a ruckus to the memory of Mo' Kauffey! The Probable Cause line-up for this show will include: Greg Denton - guitar, vocals Jen Rafter - vocals Ben Alles - banjo Jamey Rosen - piano Harri Palm - lap steel and acoustic slide Cam Werner - upright bass

A few pictures of The Greg Denton Probable Cause Acoustic Trio (www.probablecause.ca) performing at The Cornerstone. Feb 21, 2020. photos by Dean Palmer.

Looking forward to performing some robust musical delectations with Probable Cause (www.probablecause.ca) tonight at the Cornerstone! (Gregory Clifford Denton - guitar, vocals; Jen Rafter - vocals; Harri Palm - lapsteel and acoustic slide; Jamey Rosen - piano; Cameron Werner - upright bass) Opening set by the shaggy romp and stomp of The Oldest Man I Know (https://theoldestmaniknow.com) - this will be a fun night! Hope to see you there! 9PM start.

Probable Cause w/ The Oldest Man I Know @ The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St N, Guelph Friday Feb 21st, 9 PM PWYC (suggested $10) The Greg Denton Probable Cause Acoustic Trio and The Oldest Man I Know are leveraging themselves between Valentine's Day and the turn of the calendar page to help put Cupid behind you and to prepare you for the oncoming lions and lambs. On Friday February 21st, these "folks" will fight the frigid on your behalf with fiddles, frets, fingers, and fortitud...e. Never mind the dormouse, you heard what the Ground Hog said. The Oldest Man I Know is an all acoustic band from Kitchener Ontario. "We play traditional instruments untraditionally, with a strong emphasis on harmonies, melody, and improvisation. Our music is high energy, punk inspired folk music." https://theoldestmaniknow.com/ The Greg Denton Probable Cause Acoustic Trio is an improbable assortment of genre bouncing musicians homesteading in Guelph, Ontario. Though the instrumentation is vaguely traditional stringband, the repertoire roams from folk, bluegrass, and classic country to r’n’b, punk rock, soul, hokum jazz, and back again. Pure plunk rock! https://probablecause.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/events/185631086155062/

Are Probable Cause playing anywhere in Feb? Yes! https://probablecause.ca/upcoming-shows/