Musicians On The Mississippi For Travel Inspiration
ST. PAUL - Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing learn a lesson of the Mississippi River before it dipped a paddle: expect the unexpected.
The two childhood friends and musicians from Minneapolis was scheduled to leave St. Paul on Wednesday in a canoe trip one month in the Mississippi in St. Louis. Iban a package of guitar and banjo and harnessing the power of inspiration while working on a new album of songs for children on the River.
The duo made a name in the music scene of the family as Okee Doke Brothers, also plans to bring a photographer and shoot their adventures in music video for children.
But the mighty Mississippi is more powerful than normal at this time. Thank you of recent rains, flows are high, prompting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take the unusual step of closing three Twin Cities locks for recreational boat traffic.
"It's a little weird for June," said Greg Lais, executive director of Wildlife Research, who canceled several of his canoe trips on the Mississippi River and sponsors and travel Mailander Lansing.
After months of preparation, evolution and Mailänder Lansing plans at the last moment and will depart from the source of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca.
"We know there is a sign that says:" The birth of the Mississippi River, and I think that's probably where we will, "Lansing said Tuesday before wrapping the boats." An adventure is not always what you expect. You have to roll with the punches. "
Or roll a river.
Lansing Mailander and adventure can be traced back to his childhood in Colorado, where they built rafts bob up in a small stream area. Their love for the outdoors with them had forged his musical career. After playing bluegrass band for six years, have begun to Okee Doke Brothers in 2008 and released the CD "take him out."
"Getting out is a natural instinct to have more children and at some point we lose our unity," said Mailander 25 years. "Our music is for children, but it's almost more a reminder to adults who can go on these adventures in and out and is found in nature and do not challenge things .."
They run a long tradition. Of work songs riverboat to "Proud Mary" and "Old Man River" from New Orleans jazz, the river has captured the imagination of musicians.
"You can stick your ear near the water and hear all this music and the river," said Charlie Maguire, a Minneapolis singer-songwriter who released an album of original songs of the river, "Great Mississippi" In 2002, a committee of Mississippi River National Recreation Area. "I'm excited to see what comes with. Is not the story of the dream of every child?"
Lansing and traditional music research Mailander rivers in the archives of the Smithsonian Institution and are a bit more on his album. They also write about the same river.
"Not just a river plain," said Mailander. "It's a national symbol. America is divided in two, and yet it is."
