10.27.2004

TAMBURALAND SCOOP

Clive to succeed Leno.

The Curious Tamburas has learned that the impish Tamburas #180, Clive, has signed a contract to succeed JoeLeno. Velcro Delmar, the Tamburaland President, is expected to release the surprise announcement in conjunction with Leno's 1000 th post.

"It is a great accomplishment and testament to both Joe and Clive that we were able to all work together on a long-term plan for this important institution," said Tamburland President Velcro Delmar in an exclusive interview with TCT. “We look forward to more laughs from Joe and are thrilled to have Clive's future be as part of the Tamburaland family.”

It is hoped that the announcement will solve a sticky problem for Velcro who's realized that Clive has been getting antsy in his “Tamburas #180” member slot and wanted to keep him from jumping to another website. It was widely held that Clive was considered likely to jump - absent a promise of advancement.

“When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor and there is no one more qualified than Clive.” Leno said when reached at his Chicago Croatians website. Shortly after he signed his latest contract extension, T-land executives approached him, saying they didn't want to lose Clive. He endorsed the move and set his own exit date.

Clive has already begun taking over some of Leno's “duties” for the T-land network. I understand that it was Clive, not Leno, who was seen snapping photos of the bands at the Harrisburg Extranaganza and Clive is 4 th only to Leno himself, T-land Member #237, and some poster boy who claims to be from Vancouver, BC in the number of posts he's got on the T-land message board, and he'd built up the numbers just in time for the all important fall sweeps period each year following the Extravaganza – a clear indication that Clive's posts are being viewed by many more readers than that of Leno's competitor, Jokirinaround.

Leno had beat out Kirinaround for the higher slot on the Column list, sparking a feud that still lives on today. Leno recalled the animosity, saying “a lot of good friendships were permanently damaged. Quite frankly, I don't want to see anybody go through that again,” he said.

Being that Clive jumps in and posts on almost every topic and considering that he seems to make a point of trying to have the final post in any thread, Delmar said that the website is considering changing the column name to “The Last Word” when Clive takes over.

No decision has been made on whether Clive, who is Canadian-based, will move to the States for “The Last Word” but that's considered likely because of the considerable boarder crossing troubles that Clive's had in the past.

Dominik, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said that Leno, considered by many to be a TamburalandAholic, is undaunted by T-land's succession plans. “Leno's a man of many talents with a great personality - in fact he's got enough personalities for several people.”

10.13.2004

The Curious Tamburas had the pleasure of attending “Ganza” in Harrisburg recently and I must say had an Extravagant time. TCT was seen in the company of tambura greats and wowing the ladies. Even if none of those were aware of my celebrity, it was good for TCT's ego. It was great talking to some auld acquaintances and making some new ones; however, on the way home, although I was still somewhat intoxicated by the sweet sounds that were ringing in my ears, the precious tambura cup that I had lasciviously drunk from, I found myself feeling somewhat empty. I had been cheated – I had been somehow cut out of the inner circle, which by my estimate had been pretty all-inclusive. I had not been introduced to Tom.

I had heard Tom's name being mentioned everywhere “Tom's here” and “Tom's there”. “Let's go to see Tom in Otrov's break out room. Hey, where's Tom now? Down where Becari's playing.” Tom was everywhere – but where I was.

At the concerts and I heard his name being mentioned all the time. I thought he might be the MC. He attended the banquet - I heard his name being mentioned several times. I was seated at the rear of the hall and, as much as I tried, I couldn't spot him. He must have been seated at the front of the hall in the VIP section or maybe even at the head table.

Yes, Tom B. was quite a popular guy. I found out that Tom had even partied all night in room 411.

I even overheard some of the lovely ladies saying things like, “I just love Tom B” and “I could just listen to Tom B all night” and “I can't get enough of Tom B”.

I thought – this guy has it all – he's popular, he's considered very sexy by all the girls and yet he's well respected. What an interesting fellow.

I just had to meet him. I started asking around. I went to where Junaci was playing and inquired as to his whereabouts, but someone said, “There's no Tom B. here?” My quest continued and I thought I had tracked him down when someone told me to try the Penn Harris break out room – but alas, it was the wrong Tom. It was Tom Yeseta, not the Tom I was looking for – you know, Tom Bureetsa (not sure on the spelling).

Not only was he attending functions, but he was being honored. Damn - not only does he have his own Hall of Fame, but the whole event was named after him – the Tom Bureetsa Extravaganza.

And apparently he does speaking engagements, because I remember people talking about where they go to “hear Tom Bureetsa”.

I would really like to meet someone who is so talented, well known and loved by all who know him. So, in keeping with my usual curious nature, and due to the fact that the Extravaganza is now over for another year, I've got to end this column with the question.

Does anybody know where I can go to hear Tom Bureetsa?

3.28.2003

Still Curious After All These Years

Well, it’s been some time since I last “contributed” to T-land in the for(u)m of a column. After numerous requests from my millionths and millionths of fans and even an impassioned plea from the Webmajstor himself, the honorable, and now honored, King Delmar, I just couldn’t continue with my self-imposed sabbatical from this celebrated and now decorated web site. Besides I’m kinda getting sick of reading Leno’s drivel, with his almost 500 messages, talking to his other personalities, however many there are. And some of you thought TCT was sick. Hey, I’ve got nothing on Leno – I’m not even sure that Sybil (she had 16 separate personalities) had anything on Leno. At least I’ve acknowledged the fact that I sometimes talk to myself.

Well, enough foreplay, I’ve got a column to write. There have been a few things that have happened and a number of “burning” issues that have been discussed during my hiatus. Of course, I feel the need to comment on them.

TCT’s Mysterious Disappearance – apparently many of you have wondered aloud about The Curious Tamburas’s conspicuous absence.

am quotation: “Speaking of the great CT...... Where is he???? No articles, no snide comments.... We miss you!! (By The Way am, you forgot to capitalize the The in my name.)

Hrvoje quotation: “Hey, where is TCT? His last article in the column was on 10.22.2002... Not that I miss him and his "witty" comments, but I'm er... curious ...”

Dominik quotation: “nemam pojma gdje je on! vidio sam ga u new orleansu prije 4 mj. ja mislim da je tamo ostao i sada svira sam (one man band) na Burban streetu i pije Hurricanes (to ti je opasan drink u NO). imam neke veze tamo pa cu ih zamolit da ga najdu.”

Some of you, no doubt, have surmised that some misfortune may have befallen me – “or maybe you just wished that.” Well, much to the chagrin of some, I am alive and well, although, Hrvoje, a little less curious. (Perhaps as a result of the accumulation of wisdom that comes with age.) Or to put it another way, “The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated”. Mark Twain

Let it be sufficient to say that I’ve been sitting back taking it all in. All Kirin Aside, between Leno and his multiple personalities and Aussie Tamburas, Zivila Hrvatska, Clive, and dp, who could get a post in edgewise, anyways?

King Delmar’s Coronation – Obviously, I would be remiss if I did not express my much belated “Cestitams”. I think Tamburaivo expressed it best when he said, “A star is in our mist!” Well, at least there are no gorillas. Vjeko, maybe Dian Fossey’s daughter could come and study you.

T-land’s “Band Width” Problem – I feel that I must “weigh in” on this “broad” subject. I have a suggestion for the Webmajstor. I propose that you limit the size (width) of the bands that are included on the web site. I’ve seen some of these bands and they’re not only wide but they’re heavy. Perhaps you could require each band to send in a copy of their members’ vital measurements. Height is certainly a consideration, but I think measuring overall girth would be the best way to go. You could charge extra for carrying them on the site, much like the airlines do for oversize baggage.

Rap “Music” – Quite honestly, I think that some messengers on the site are giving this widely popular entertainment genre a “bad rap”. Actually, my theory is that Rap grew out of folk music and, in particular, perhaps the folk Tambura genre itself. If not, how do you explain “poskocice” (potcikivanje) ? (BTW - I’m curious, “Which came first?”, poskocice or rap? – perhaps I could write a Column on this some time.)

Tambura Tuning – To me, the G stim or E stim debate seems to be a moot point. What’s the difference whether you press the third fret of the E string or no fret on the G string?

I, myself, “Kontra-ry” to popular opinion, am a proponent of the “well tempered” stim in the 2-tone Farkas system. (Hey, if you don’t believe me, just look at my “Avatar” image on the home page.) I wonder what the proprietor of Finally Tuned Productions would have to say about this!!

Hey, it’s all in the bracing (less is more) - the less bracing, the freer the soundboard is to resonate – and the less tension there is on the strings. Most American tambura makers have crafted their tamburas based on the need to provide a sturdy, durable instrument that will be (ab)used by children in junior tamburitza groups, who regularly use their picks to carve lines along the grain on the instrument face, put them in chipboard cases that are thrown in the trunk of a car for a cold or blistering hot ride, usually with a latch or two unlatched, which causes the tambura to fall out on the floor or the ground, and who store them under their bed that they sometimes use as a trampoline.

The question has sparked some very spirited (and, might I add, some mean spirited) repartee. JKA has even advocated burning G stim tamburas at the next Extravaganza. (He’s got to be Jokirin Around.) Well, from my experience, they both burn equally well - although, the European instruments seem to burn faster, due to the type of wood used. Hey Hrvoje, Kontras burn especially well, however, on the other hand, snare drums have a much higher ignition point.

I will conclude my argument with a quote from Clive: “I don’t consider (that) the tune of an instrument (makes it) a totally different instrument. It's like saying a guitar is not (a) Spanish (instrument) if u tune it to drop key. To je bullshit.” (I hope you don’t mind my editorialization of your quote, Clive) By the way, Clive did you mean to say that the guitar is an instrument of Spanish origin or did you mean that it is not also a Spanish instrument if you change the tuning?

Check out this web site - http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/010625/18.shtml - or this one - http://www.fe.up.pt/~fado/eng/guitarra2.html

Avatar Images – I have to compliment several tamburasi (no longer mali tamburasi) on their images. It’s nice to put a face with a name (or at least an eye, Vjeko).

SRVT (Isn’t he sweet?), Pero Pavlovich (Always the Clown), Djuroslav (Is that a picture of a Penis with a moustache?)

Since Duqati, Vankuver and Seljancice Queen are obviously tambura converts, I need to aks you, Do you wear any clothes from the “FUBU” line? You know “For Us By Us”. That’s a pretty catchy acronym. I’m considering putting out a line of clothing myself. I was wondering what your thoughts were on the name “For Us Croatian Kids”?

Tamburaland Festival vol.1 Saturday, June 7, 2003 – Notice that I, The Curious Tamburas myself, will be there with my band – Kontraband. In my May 7, 2002 column, I inadvertently gave away my identity to Arbi when he questioned me as to what band I played in, and I quote: Ooh, oooooohhh, Arbi, THAT’S IT, my tambura group’s name is “KontraBand”.

Boduli Reformation – "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." Marcel (Brajon/Fanto) Proust (Note: No disrespect to the band’s former or current members, I just think that each change presents new opportunities for the band to grow.)

The somewhat less Curious Tamburas

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