I try not to feature two videos from the same act in a week, so I’m fudging it by having one video from Rocky and Balls and one from just Rocky or Balls (I give it about 3 weeks until they’re on Boing Boing). Along side them are plenty of old friends (including GUGUG, Jake Wildwood, the Bobby McGees and Rod Thomas doing a mashup of Same Old Lines and The Sign) and new faces (including Olivier Ruldry with some seriously smooth picking).

And I wanted to post this video because those two are superstars. But, well, I really hope she thinks she’s singing about lollipops. Read the rest of this entry »

The nominations for Ukulele Video of the Year are in and I’ve come up with a list of 11 videos as contenders.

I think it provides a pretty good overview of the ukulele scene at the moment: orchestras and solo acts; originals and covers; songs and instrumentals; pros and ams. Some surprises though. No Bosko and Honey. And I thought JuNu would make it this year.

Here are the links to the videos in reverse alphabetical order. You get one vote, so use it wisely. If you’re reading this via the feed or email click here to come over to the blog and vote. Voting closes at midnight Hawaii time next Tuesday (3rd February).

Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra – It’s a Heartache
Ukulelezo – Optional Accessory
Ukebucket – The Fourth Thursday of November
Rod Thomas – Same Old Lines
Sweetafton23 – I Believe She’s Lying
Seeso – Hotel California
Neal Paisley – Gossip
GUGUG – Surfin’ Bird
The Gentle Surprise – Gimme That Wine
The Barnkickers – Night Song
Jason Arimoto – Little Wing

[poll=3]

Man, there are a lot of ukulele videos being uploaded. It seems like the rate their being added goes up every week. Which makes the choice of Ukulele Video of the Year even harder than it was last year (when Sweetafton came out on top).

Luckily, it’s not down to me.

For the first stage, everyone gets to nominate up to 5 videos – leave them in the comments. From those nominations, I’ll cobble together a list of ten (ish) to go to the big vote.

Rules:

– The ukulele must be the primary instrument.
– Videos must have been recorded and uploaded in 2008.
– Videos must be publicly available online.
– Maximum of five nominations per person.
– Post your nominations in the comments.
– Nominations close midnight Tuesday 27th January (Hawaii time).
– Ten acts with the most nominations go into the final vote with their most nominated song going forward (this stage took a bit of fudging last year).
– No prize. Just the love and admiration of the heaving masses.

Don’t panic if your comments don’t show up right away. When a comment contains a few links it gets held back for spam checking.

My Nominations:

The Barnkickers – One Less Tear
Kelli Rae Powell – Some Bridges Are Good To Burn
Max the Ukulele Punk Rocker – Jade
Rod Thomas – Same Old Lines
GUGUG – Surfin’ Bird

Other stuff I loved:
Bosko, Honey and Ukebox – If I Didn’t Care
James Hill – Ode to a Frozen Boot
Poopy Lungstuffing – Oh Demon Alcohol
Michael Wagner – Love Song
Rio en Medio – Kill the Messenger
Timesbold – All Readymade
Ukulelezo – Optional Accessory
Maddi J* – Away

The Bushman World Ukulele Video Contest 2008 is now open for entries. First prize is $1,000 on account to spend on Bushman ukuleles.

I was idly browsing the Duke of Uke’s long list of celeb clients. Amongst the ukenoscenti was the unexpected name of John Barnes. I hope he ukes better than he raps.

Sex! Drugs! and Ukuleles! have a competition to win a Pono ukulele.

J-Hob has been doing sterling work on Uker Tabs this week with Joy Division’s She’s Lost Control and The White Stripes’ Offend In Every Way.

New song from Craig Robertson: download it on Ukulelia.

Rod Thomas’s Same Old Lines is available on iTunes.

Joanna Lumley attends a ukulele funeral.

Mad Tea Party find that people used to ask, “‘What is that little thing you’re playing?’ These days, the majority of comments are like, ‘Oh, I’ve started playing ukulele!'”

Ukulele techno sucks according to Amanda Palmer. Alison Goldfrapp ukulele sucks according to eveyone (click the left most peacock eye).

Night of 100 Ukes: Thursday 16th October at Otto’s Shrunken Head NYC. Featuring Hot Time Harv, Sweet Soubrette and the Shipwrecks and, I assume, 98 others.

Uke tabs from Singapore and Malaysia.

Uke club in glamorous Hull.

This machine mildly annoys fascists.

As if I didn’t blather on about the ukulele enough, I’ve gone and set up another ukulele site: Ukulele Online. The original idea came from all the Yahoo! Answers questions I was answering. I decided I was going to answer every single ukulele question that’s ever been asked online. Then I calmed down a little. So the blog is going to consist of Yahoo! Answers inspired questions and my rambling thoughts thereon. I put it on it’s own site because I didn’t want to clutter up Uke Hunt with it, a lot of it’s going to be obvious to Uke Hunt readers and it’s not the sort of thing you’ll want to subscribe to and read religiously – just there for people who need a particular question answered.

There’s a new Beatles for Ukulele chord book up for pre-order on Amazon (thanks to NashUkes)

The legendary Ukulele Force Star Wars cover album, is more talked about than it is listened to. It’s only available in Japan and if you can find an import, it’s massively expensive. But you can download a medley of clips here.

The new Hawaiian Edition of Ukulele Yes! is up. Thanks to Humble Uker for pointing it out (it’s worth subscribing for the excellent photos alone). It appears that, despite numerous attempts and assurances from the man himself, I’m still not on the mailing list. Epic fail, as I believe the kids say.

And speaking of cool uke photos.

Ukulele Underground find time to launch their latest competition to design a T-shirt in between days spent frolicking on the beach.

Rod Thomas’s Same Old Lines is now available for pre-order from Rough Trade. It’s going to the ukulele hit of the year. In five years time two months time it’ll be all like, “Noah and the what?” and stuff. So book now to avoid disappointment. You can also watch a fabulous but ukeless session here.

You’ve downloaded Jacob Borshard’s albums for free, now you can buy them on CD. And there’s a new album promised for November.

Pure Imagination chords on Uker Tabs.

Latest in the on going ukuleles/’picking up chicks’ debate: the Pick Up Artists are all playing the ukulele and The Be Arthurs get “a lot of [sexual] offers from 13-year-olds and 65-year-olds.” When I start my ‘pick up artist’ blog I think I’ll name it after this ukulele act.

Ukulele chord designer needed (edit: not anymore apparently).

We’re challenged to a uke off.

Someone decided it would be a good idea to hand out ukuleles on flight to Hawaii and give everyone a ukulele lesson leading to headlines like “Terror In the Sky!” and “Why the Hague Exists”. Although, with the amount of cheap publicity this got, the furore might have been the goal from the start.

Choan Galvez has a new set of original tabs for low-G uke: May the Low 4th.

Terry Thomas and Liberace duet.

Window Shopping
– Stroviols Soprano the uke with a horn.
– Two from Lichty: Mahogany Steel String Baritone and Archtop Tenor U177.
– Mya Moe resonator.

Patreon

A massive thanks to all Uke Hunt’s Patreon backers for keeping the site up and running this month. And double thanks go to these legendary patrons of the arts:

– Arthur Foley
– Colleen Petticrew
– Dan
– Dennis Boutsikaris
– Elizabeth Beardsley
– Ivo
– Jameson Gagnepain
– Jeff K
– Jon Kenniston
– Kelby Green
– Kie77
– Lisa Johnson
– Monika Kolodziejczyk
– Moses Kamai
– Nevylle Carroll
– Nick Parsons
– Olga deSanctis
– Pat Weikle
– Pauline LeBlanc
– Robert
– ROBERT WALKER
– T S
– Thorsten Neff

If you join Patreon at the Concert level or higher, you’ll get access to all previous exclusive tabs including September’s: Classical Gas by Mason Williams.

Tab Books
– Harry Thomas of Renaissance Ukulele has released an ebook of low-G ukulele arrangements of tunes by, 17th century lute master, John Dowland called Dowlandia which you can download ‘ere. The tunes are excellently arranged and it’s a joy to play. Plus, it benefits Oxfam and the Survivor Girl Ukulele Band.
– New tab ebook from Choan Galvez: 50 Miniature Studies for Ukulele designed to improve your ukulele techniques.
– UOGB’s free Nevermind The Valentine Songbook.

Window Shopping
– Cupcake ukulele with Swarovski crystals.
– Vintage electric uke.
– Wayne White’s puppet guitar
– Kala release a mxmtoon signature ukulele.
– A model of Stitch playing the ukulele is somehow worth $2,800.

On Video
– Myanmar’s ukulele protest.
– The Rock’s mum ukulele-bombs his Fallon interview.
– Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum’s ukulele duet.

Uke Hunt turned 12 this month. According to WebMD a 12 year old’s, “brain is able to handle more complex thinking now. This goes hand in hand with his expanding vocabulary. He’s better at putting what he’s feeling into words.” It’s about damn time.

Here’s a round-up of the goings-on of the last year.

May 2018

– I usually find writing tribute posts cathartic. It feels write to honour artists by playing their music and helping others do likewise. But the suicide of Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit hit me in a way that’s still sore today. Nevertheless, I put together a a ukulele version of The Woodpile. Which is a song I relate to so much it could have been written for me.
– One of the joys of the past year has been Einer Bankz’s ukulele collaborations with a vast array of hip hop artists. Back in May Mass Appeal did a short documentary on him.
– Andy Eastwood premieres his composition for ukulele and string quartet.

In tabs: John Williams’ Imperial March and David Beckingham’s take on We’ll Meet Again.
In chords: Father John Misty’s darkly comic Mr Tillman.

June 2018

– The fourth Big Chord Quiz.

In tabs: Charli XCX’s Boys and Amy Winehouse’s Rehab.
In chords: Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run and, inspired by the Last of Us 2 trailer Doc Watson’s Little Sadie

July 2018

– Paul Mansell on playing classical ukulele.
– The ukulele that travelled to the North Pole and was signed by Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, and Calvin Coolidge among many others.

In tabs: Leonard Cohen’s Winter Lady and guest tabs from Choan Galvez and Joao Tostes.
In chords: Lou Reed’s Perfect Day.

August 2018

– I’ve been trying to improve my jazz playing over the last year. I’ve still got a long way to go. But I’m particularly pleased with how my arrangement of Summertime turned out.
– Paying tribute to the legendary Aretha Franklin with A Natural Woman and I Say A Little Prayer.

In tabs: Aline Kelly’s excellent version of Leo Brouwer’s deliciously discordant Etude V and riffs from Yorkshire bands.
In chords: The welcome return of twenty one pilots with my favourites song of theirs to date Nico and the Niners

September 2018

– What’s the deal with augmented chords?

In tabs: A rare ukulele-group tab from me: Abba’s Mamma Mia and You’ll Never Walk Alone.
In chords: Frank and Nancy’s Somethin’ Stupid.

October 2018

– Halloween season with The Doors’ People are Strange and Midnight and the Stars and You from The Shining.

In tabs: The MASH theme Suicide is Painless.
In chords: Phoenix’s Lisztomania

November 2018

– Jake Shimabukuro exposed where he gets his amazing uke skills from.
– I officially ended my oft-broken no Beatles rule with Hey Jude, Honey Pie and five intros and solos from The White Album

In tabs: Lana Del Rey’s Venice Bitch on baritone and St Vincent’s New York.

December 2018

In tabs: Mariah’s All I Want for Christmas is You, Sousa’s Liberty Bell and What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
In chords: Elton John’s Your Song and The Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen in Love.

January 2019

In tabs: Imagine Dragons’ Thunder and all the riffs from Weezer’s covers album.
In chords: Escapism from Steven Universe

February 2019

– The Billie Eilish takeover of the internet started with Bury a Friend and When I Was Older.

In tabs: Joanna Newsom’s On a Good Day, Tom Waits’s Johnsburg, Illinois and Choan Galvez’s Drama-in-a-box
In chords: ,David Glen Eisley/SpongeBob – Sweet Victory and The Monkees – I’m a Believer.

March 2019

In tabs: The trend of lowercase only titles continues with Billie Eilish – when the party’s over and Ariana Grande – thank u, next.
In chords: Bob Dylan/The Pogues – When the Ship Comes In and Scott Walker – 30th Century Man.

April 2019

In tabs: Thomas the Tank Engine theme, Dream a Little Dream of Me and Herman Vandecauter’s take on Georg Philipp Telemann’s Siciliana and Allegro.
In chords: The Billie Eilish juggernaut rolls on with 8 and Bad Guy.

Window Shopping
– Martin have reproduced the Konter ukulele. The famous ukulele that travelled to the North Pole on Byrd’s 1926 expedition and was signed by Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, and Calvin Coolidge among many others.
– Summer NAMM 2018 (the music gear shindig) didn’t have much exciting uke action. Makala have eight-string ukes and guitarleles and Fender have a Grace Vanderwaal signature uke.
– Kanile’a K3 long-neck soprano.

In case you missed yesterday’s post, João Tostes’s new instrumental album is available on his website for free and has tab for every track.

Gibson are hoping ukuleles can help pull them out of bankruptcy.

Pictures
– The hands of ukulele players.
– Manu e tokerau: Tahitian ukulele ensemble (Thanks to @HermanVDC).
– Carved duo.

On the Radio

– CBC debates ukes vs recorders in school. James Hill argues for ukuleles.
– Phil Jupitus celebrates The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain for BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Ukes

– New Fender electric ukuleles.
– Lichty long neck tenor.
– Rebel custom tenor.
– Devine Muse tenor.
– Ironman ukulele.
– Antica Ukuleleria.
– Siren Songs ukulele diorama.

Learning

– Two new books from Fred Sokolow: Jazzing Up the Ukulele and The Beatles for Fingerstyle Ukulele.

New Releases

– annie bacon & her OSHEN – Stranded Songs. (Pay what you like.)
– Matthew Richards – Thinking About You.
– Cammy Enaharo – From the Garage.

Kickstarting

– Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel.

Pictures

– Olive Thomas shakes it off.
– Abandoned Martin 5K.