Buster Keaton, the Boys, and a Petterson Banjo Uke

Ever see a Harold Petterson banjo uke? Ever see one being played by Buster Keaton's son? Now you have. Link

Photo credit: Kate Gabrielle

Just What We Needed?

You've been thinking, I'd like to get a ukulele, but why should I spend $35 on a Red Mahalo when I can spend closer to $1,000 on an iPad, iPhone, and the Futulele app?

I suppose if you already have the aforementioned gadgets in your life, this might have some novelty appeal. It actually might be great for people with developmental or physical disabilities. But I think you're going to be voted off the island if you show up to kanikapila with this. Link

Tiny Library Raises Money with Tiny Uke and Awesome Video

Big Sister Boing Boing blogged this story today. Enjoy

Donate to the library here.

Update: Julie Webster on uke. Nice, Julie!

George Clooney Plays the Ukulele

This just in, via The Daily Beast:

"For the relaunch of Newsweek’s iPad App, photographer Gavin Bond filmed George Clooney, Viola Davis, Charlize Theron and other actors from our Oscar Roundtable interacting directly with your iPad screen. In this video, Clooney hums a Hawaiian ditty while playing the ukulele." 

Well, not really, but if you're a George Clooney fan, I'm sure you'll be happy. If you're Hawaiian, you may be happy that Clooney didn't win the Best Actor Oscar. The app is free to Newsweek subscribers. Now I just need an iPad.

Info at The Daily Beast.

h/t Ukulele.fr Check out the junk uke sent to members of the press for The Descendants.

Win a Uke Autographed by Seth Rogen and Friends

Seth Rogen sez:

Donate $26 or more by April Fool's Day and you'll be entered to win an actual ukulele signed by me & other performers from the Hilarity For Charity event.  

Also... if you win, I'll tweet a video of me singing a love song to you. And if you want, you can make a video with the ukulele too and I'll tweet it out to the world. It will be our own little love fest, all for a good cause.  

Check out the video...to see everyone who signed the ukulele. Paul Rudd did, Ty Burell did... Sexy Aziz Ansari did...All you need to do is give $26 and you'll be entered to win. It's 26 bucks for a one-of-a-kind instrument/momento/awesome prize.  

Please help support the cause and something really cool while you're at it.  

Thank you, 

Seth & Your Friendly Neighborhood Hilarity For Charity Team

Link

(h/t, Elaine de Man)

Lil Rev in the Bay Area

Mike DaSilva reminded me that Lil Rev will be in the San Francisco Bay Area this week for a bevy of workshops and concerts.

• February 16, 2012 - Santa Cruz Ukulele Club, 4:00 pm workshop, evening meeting and show. Bocci's Cellar.  http://www.ukuleleclub.com
• February 18, 2012 - Gryphon Strings, 1:00 - 2:30 pm workshop, evening show. http://www.gryphonstrings.com/events/workshops.php
• February 19, 2012 - DaSilva Ukulele Co., 1:00 - 2:30 pm workshop, short demo at 3:00 pm.
•     Lil' Rev will be presenting his Jug Band Styles For Ukulele workshop.
•     Learn the I, VI, II, V progression, Stop Time, Repertoire, Vaudeville tricks, Triple Patterns, Fan Stroke and Jug Band History.
•     Open to all levels. $20.00
•     This is not listed on Lil' Rev's calendar.
• February 19, 2012 - KCTurner House Concert Series. http://kcturnermusic.com/calendar.html for more info.

Bob Brozman's New Ukulele Toolbox DVDs

I just ordered and received Bob Brozman's new 2 DVD series: The Ukulele Toolbox Volumes 1 and 2. I've only had a chance to watch 30 minutes of the first disk, but thus far it's terrific. I've taken two lessons from Bob, and I've always left feeling that my uke has turned into a Sawzall--an amazingly powerful and versatile tool. So the title for the series is spot on.

"THE UKULELE TOOLBOX series is in C tuning (G-C-E-A), and is suitable for Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles. These DVDs are designed to build on easy-entry fundamentals, providing a huge toolbox of useful techniques, sounds, and concepts. For beginner and intermediate/advanced players alike, these lessons are packed with ideas which can be applied to many types of music, from vintage popular uke songs to blues, jazz, swing, Caribbean, and Hawaiian sounds. This series is a great starting place for beginners, but will also offer intermediate and advanced players powerful tools and shortcuts for improvising and arranging."

You can order the DVDs directly from Bob Brozman's site, here.

Saturday Night Live: Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel opened SNL this week with a uke number.

Jake Shimabukuro Songbook

Jake's first book of song transcriptions Peace Love Ukulele will be released on February 7th. Just in time to give your sweetie for V-Day. Songs included:

• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Boy Meets Girl
• Bring Your Adz
• Five Dollars Unleaded 2010
• Go For Broke
• Hallelujah
• Hula Girl
• 143 (Kelly's Song) 2011
• Pianoforte 2010
• Trapped 2010
• Ukulele Bros.
• Variation On A Dance 2010
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Pre-order here.

Mystery Uke from NAMM

Hey, NAMM attendees: anyone remember who made this uke? If so, please drop me a note at gpeare AT hotmail DOT com. Mahalo.

Ben from U900

They're so darn cute. Now they're playing Ben from the movie Willard. Maybe it could be someone's campaign video?

Kamaka at NAMM

Musicguymic interviews Casey Kamaka on the new ukuleles at NAMM.

Jake Plowing for Famers

Jake is now the spokes-strummer for Farmers Insurance in Hawaii. I'm sure it pays better than uking. Sadly. Link

UPDATE: Here's a TV commercial featuring Jake:

Warren Buffett Plays Ukulele, Sings 'I've Been Working On The Railroad' For China's New Year Gala

Story and (out of synch) video over on the Huffington Post about Warren Buffet appearing as part of a New Year's gala in China. Link

NAMM 2012

Tim over at Ukeeku has uploaded a full-day's worth of photos from the NAMM show. I am SO mad I didn't take a day off and go. Some really exciting stuff to be seen. I'll try and point to some highlights later. In the meantime, enjoy this feed.