Jim Arkus

new videos by Christian Roebling

2011-11-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

I met Christian a few months ago at the Tyler Park Center for the Arts. He was kind enough to film me that night and put up a great video of me doing Robert Johnson's "Kind Hearted Woman Blues".

He also filmed me at last month's Crafts In The Meadow show, doing an original song called "Got Drunk on Thursday".

Besides me, he did a great video of my friend, Peter James, doing his song "Come to Me".

Thanks, Christian!

Ukulele Blues!

2011-08-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm backing up my friend Graham at the World Cafe Live on September 11th.

We were practicing tonight, and during a break I picked up Graham's ukulele. With a debt to Fred McDowell's "Write Me A Few of Your Lines," here's "Jim's Ukulele Blues."

new YouTube videos

2011-06-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of new ones for you:

"You Don't Love Me / I'll Do Anything You Say"

Johnny Paycheck's "I Can't Quit Drinking."

Black Sabbath, and some Waylon...

2011-01-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

Black Sabbath's "Sweet Leaf" played on my mountain dulcimer:

"Sweet Leaf"

And here's one of my favorite songs, Waylon Jennings' "The Door Is Always Open," from his "Dreaming My Dreams" album. I'm a HUGE Waylon Jennings fan, so I'm kind of amazed it's taken me this long to do a video of one of his songs:

"The Door Is Always Open"

two new YouTube songs

2011-01-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

This first one I uploaded on Christmas Eve, a cover of "Peace In The Valley" played on my mountain dulcimer. I think I first heard this song by Johnny Cash on his "Live At San Quentin" album, but my favorite version is from Elvis' Christmas Album:

"Peace In The Valley"

And tonight, an old Amish spiritual called "I Owe The Lord A Morning Song" that I picked up from a book called "A Quiet and Peaceable Life" by John Ruth, played on my new Ibanez electric guitar:

"I Owe The Lord A Morning Song"

new live videos

2010-11-21T07:22:00.000-08:00

"Forty Four Blues"

"Honey Won't You Allow Me One More Chance"

"Statesboro Blues"

Playing live at the New Hope Arts Center for their Works in Wood opening last night. All on acoustic guitar - I haven't posted any of that in awhile!

two new banjo videos - Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and Ozzy Osborne's "Crazy Train."

2010-10-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

Two new banjo recordings for you here - both a little unusual.

"Jeremy" - one of my favorite songs growing up. I was playing it on guitar this week and realized it would work pretty well on the banjo as well.

"Crazy Train" - I used to play this song CONSTANTLY when I first started playing guitar. My dad hated it. He also doesn't like the banjo, so this one is extra special for him.

"That's Alright Mama," live at the Earth Center for the Arts

2010-08-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Played this one last week at Newtown's Earth Center for the Arts. I played there back in May, but when Jim Rowland invited me back there this month I KNEW I had to bring the banjo! So here I am doing Arthur Crudup's "That's Alright Mama." This was also Elvis Presley's breakout hit in 1954.

"That's Alright Mama"

Speaking of Jim Rowland, he's a great local musician who you should definitely check out as well:

Jim Rowland Music

some gospel blues and then some regular blues...

2010-08-08T12:21:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day here in New Jersey, a perfect time for some more back porch banjo.

First up is Blind Willie Johnson's "Soul of a Man":

And then some Howlin' Wolf. "Spoonful."

Also, please notice my new mailing list to the left of this post. Sign up for updates when I post new music, any upcoming gigs, etc...

Live on 103.3 WPRB - Complete Recording!

2010-07-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

So when I played on WPRB this weekend I asked about recording it and was told they weren't able to.

Fortunately my dad took his video camera and stuck it in front of his stereo and recorded almost the entire thing. Thanks!

I've cobbled it together under 3 parts on YouTube. Check it out:

"Shake 'Em On Down" / "Black Witch"

"Catfish Blues" / Interview / "The Bottle Let You Down"

"You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" / "Empire State Express"

103.3 WPRB - Live on 7/24/2010

2010-07-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

I played last night live in the studio on the Scratchy Vinyl Show and Kate took some pictures and a short video. Thanks to everyone who tuned in! Check it out:

Set List:

"Shake 'Em On Down" - traditional, arranged by Jim Arkus
"Black Witch" - written by Jim Arkus, copyright 2004
"Catfish Blues" - traditional, arranged by Jim Arkus
"The Bottle Let You Down" - written by Jim Arkus, copyright 2010
"You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)" - traditional, arranged by Jim Arkus
"Empire State Express" - traditional, arranged by Jim Arkus

Flattering...

2010-07-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

"Went to the Jim Arkus concert last night - a performer with the true spark. All the power, exhaustion, evil, and even black magic of the blues, like no one has ever seen. I may as well have gone to Led Zeppelin's first rehearsal. As real as it gets."

-Jim Rowland