Louisville's longest, continuously, most likely oldest, and
currently only professional left-handed washboard and Jug
performer, Roscoe Goose has tired toilessly with
stalwart dedication, demonstrating the focus and vitality
afforded those who clear their minds, disassociate from the
daily news cycle, leading Jug Band Music
Devotees to the dynamic serenity imbued by the Way of the Jug.
May your tax returns never be flagged for audit by the IRS for
claiming your hardware store receipts as deductions for
musical instruments!
Roscoe Goose, (no direct lineage shared with the famous jockey)
first found himself following the Way of the Wing-ed jug in 1965.
For some reason, he was listening to an old Victrola cranking out
early recordings of jug bands andinexplicably decided the jug life
was for him.
Also proficient on washboard, trumpet, various harps, snare
with brushes and nose flute, and able to stand up while
performing as lead crooner of the Juggernaut Jug
band, Roscoe is revered internationally among Jug Band Music
Devotees the world over, inspired by the ethereal emanations
from his melodious crockery!
Like The Amazing Mr. Fish’s tub in the exhibit at the
Frazier History Museum, Hooey Bee’s tub sat in a corner
of the Jug Band Research Institute gathering dust.
One day we had taken it out back to hose it off and left it to dry
when we heard the heart thumping beat of a walking baseline
sounding like a virtuoso jazz solo on a stand up doghouse!
We ran out to find a shaggy haired fellow goin’ at the tub like a
caveman who’d just discovered a new way to make fire!
He glared at us wild eyed but didn’t stop thumpin!
We offered him a beer and backed away.
His scowl turned to a grin as he picked up the
tempo. Roscoe said, “Let’s get our instruments and see if
he’ll play a little ditty!”
Eventually, we lured him inside with more beer and the smell of
D Man’s BBQ. He’s not a talker and we still don’t know his name
or where he’s from. Curiously, after showing him how to get beer,
he seems to regard the refrigerator as some kind of magic portal
and snatches a beer out as though he might get sucked in.
The subject seems to be a natural on the 4 string bass as well.
He has taken a liking to scotch on the rocks
and answers to the name of Lil’ Ditty.
Abducted by aliens in 1979, Easy Mark was believed to have been
in suspended animation for nearly 40 years following a six year
tour with the Juggernauts.Though it only seemed like a long
weekend to Easy Mark, and you'd think traveling at the
speed of light would mean Easy would return after 40 years
looking like he'd only aged a few days due to relative time
dilation, turns out Jug Band Time is synchronous through-out the
quantum spectrum and it all caught up with him upon his return.
'It was a hell of a ride', recalls Easy, 'and I know some folks think
I should have matured more in the last 40 years, but no, mostly it
just turned my hair white'.
When asked what happened and where he'd been the whole time
Easy recounted, 'Well, don't try to pick up a load of alien nose
flutes late on a Friday afternoon, I can tell you that!'
Known for his unique chunkin' guitar style, best described by
somebody who said, 'I bet he could shred a head of cabbage on his
guitar in no time', Easy Mark's return to the group is essential to
maintaining the Juggernauts' tradition of having four members.
And, as lead kazooist, he is sometimes able to fill in when Roscoe
forgets to play a trumpet solo or can't find the right harmonica.
D Man has actually been living the Jug Life since he was D Baby!
His Dad, Dr. Don 'Top Hat' Oswald, was a founding member of the
Juggernaut Jug Band and taught D Man how to bend those strings
around the blues and hammer down a riff with more
moves than an alley hound chasin' a squirrel on a linoleum floor,
yes, sir!
Raised as an Amish child although his family was not actually
Amish, D Man recalls fond memories form his pseudo-Amish
upbringing when, dressed in their flat-brim hats and pocketless
pants he and his Dad would be stopped at the state fair by people
asking where the quilts and peanut brittle booths were. However,
once old enough to dress himself, he broke from tradition upon
discovering his preference for vintage shirts and two-tone
wing-tips. And, while D Man could probably make a cigar
box banjo sound pretty good, once he learned you could power a
guitar with electricity, there was no turning back!
With Dr. Don's passing, D Man has finally stepped into his Dad's
role with the Juggernaut Jug Band, filling his Dad's shoes quite
nicely and is now somewhat known for his own signature footwear.
What is a juggernaut?