Jen Kwok, Uke Hunt Happenings and Other Ukulelinks

Gosh, it’s been quite a week for Uke Hunt. Probably one of my favourite blogging weeks ever. To stop this post being too self obsessed, I’ll keep it brief. This week I’ve: been mentioned in the New York Times, been asked if I want to work on a real life ukulele book by a real life publisher, been banned from ezFolk, and found out I had a world exclusive on the review of Clone Wars which had unwittingly meant the BBC was breaking the Clone Wars review embargo (a guy from the BBC emailed me telling me they’ve temporarily taken the video down and wanted to know how I found the Kermode uke post two weeks before they published it). I haven’t stopped laughing all week.

You might not have realised it from my previous references to it, but the NY Times article wasn’t entirely about me. It was mostly about Jen Kwok. Congrats, Jen. Now she’s a big star, we can say we knew her back when she was making uke playing, pipe cleaner dolls fellate Rabbi Bob L. Mensch.

I have to take umbrage at Jim Beloff’s quote in the article: “If you were a poor guitar player, you suddenly become a pretty good uke player.” If you’re a lousy musician, you’re a lousy musician on any instrument. Perhaps the ukulele will suit you more, but the idea that you automatically become better when you play the ukulele is bullshit.

Speaking of which, Gawker calls bullshit on the ukulele trend.

James Hill graphs out a new track.

Aldrine Guerrero ditches his talking cock in favour of Jake Shimabukuro.

Ian Chadwick has in depth reviews of a whole bunch of ukuleles.

Ukulele Tonya visits the Windy City Uke Fest.

Ladybugs Picnic on Uker Tabs.

Photos from the first Irish Ukahuli.

Stop Okay Go has an mp3 of Robin Gray’s These Days and an interview with the man.

Buy your own bobble headed Bob L Mensch. “Watch Him Bob at the Waist as he Davens.”

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9 Comments

  1. Ukulala August 15th, 2008 9:47 pm

    haha, I want more details about how you got banned from ezFolk. I hope there was an obscenity-laced tirade along the way, or perhaps a threat on someone’s family.

    Whatever, it’s just another guitar site anyway…..

  2. jen kwok August 16th, 2008 3:30 am

    you are a crazy renegade!!!!! and we love it :D

  3. Woodshed August 16th, 2008 7:17 pm

    Ukulala: No slanging matches or death threats… yet.

    Jen: Hey, I’m a good boy (mostly).

  4. Dylan Colley August 17th, 2008 10:25 pm

    Shit, missed that festival!:( Does anyone know if they’ll be another next year?

  5. Woodshed August 18th, 2008 9:12 pm

    Dylan: The Windy City Uke Fest? I’m pretty sure there’ll be one next year. You could always contact them via their website.

  6. Tonya August 19th, 2008 11:44 pm

    Hey, Dylan, the guys who did the Windy City Uke Fest told me they are *already* working on another one for next year.

  7. Woodshed August 20th, 2008 10:27 pm

    Thanks, Tonya.

  8. Dylan Colley August 23rd, 2008 3:08 pm

    Thanks very much, sorry, I meant the Dun Laoghaire ukahuli! Sorry for that

  9. Woodshed August 23rd, 2008 5:00 pm

    Dylan: I probably should have guessed from the name! I think the plan is for it to be a regular get together. You can find out more from Tony Boland, his email is here:

    http://ukulelehunt.com/2008/04/02/posts-for-first-timers/#comment-3376

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