Clifton Hicks - Big Eyed Rabbit (Rock in a Weary Land)

This video critically examines the current state of 'old-time' music, arguing that it has become a homogenized, commercialized, and festival-focused art form, significantly detached from its traditional American roots and cultural origins. The creator, Clifton Hicks, promotes his Banjo Heritage platform for online courses, forums, merchandise, and music streaming, alongside various donation options.

This video showcases three distinct versions of the banjo tune "Little Grey Mule" (also known as "The Wild Boar"). The content features performances on a 1910 Weymann "Keystone State" banjo and two handmade mountain banjos (one 4-string and one 5-string), all played by Clifton Hicks. The description highlights the historical origins of the tune, referencing Roscoe Halcomb's 1950s recording and the tune's older community name. It also provides numerous links for supporting the artist through Patreon, SubscribeStar, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes, and donations, as well as merchandise and educational resources via Banjo Heritage.

This YouTube video features Matthew Govig performing the song "Barbara Allen" on a fretless gourd banjo. The description indicates that Govig likely learned this particular arrangement of the song from Noah Payne during a visit to Kentucky. The instrument itself is a traditional gourd banjo, handcrafted by Clifton Hicks. The video also promotes "Banjo Heritage," encouraging viewers to support it through Patreon, online courses, and merchandise.

This video showcases a performance of the song "Trouble on My Mind" played on a fretless gourd banjo handmade by the creator. The artist learned the tune from David Hurt and Rufus Crisp, and the instrument features a 4-string setup. The video description provides multiple links to the artist's Patreon, website, merchandise, and music platforms, encouraging viewer support and engagement. The tuning used is BBE♭F♯ at 432 Hz.

This YouTube video features Clifton Hicks performing "The Devil Song," also known as "The Farmer's Curst Wife," on a mysterious six-string banjo tuned to eAEAB. He mentions learning the song from guitarist Bobby McMillon. The description highlights his Patreon for exclusive content, including tablature, and promotes his Banjo Heritage online course, apparel, Bandcamp, Spotify, iTunes, PayPal donations, and YouTube membership. The video's focus is on traditional folk music and banjo performance, with no mention or relevance to firearms.

This video features Clifton Hicks performing his original song "Crying Shame" from 2005. The description provides extensive links to the artist's online presence, including Patreon for exclusive tablature and content, Banjo Heritage for courses and merchandise, Bandcamp and Spotify for streaming music, and PayPal for donations. The title suggests a personal reflection or a theme of longevity, but the content itself is music-focused, specifically a banjo performance.

This video is a banjo performance of a song titled 'Ballad of Kyle Rittenhouse' by Clifton Hicks. The description provides links to the artist's Patreon, merch store, PayPal, Venmo, Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, SubscribeStar, and YouTube channel memberships. It also includes a list of hashtags related to various music genres and the subject matter of the song. The song's title and hashtags directly reference Kyle Rittenhouse and related themes.

This video features Clifton Hicks performing 'Cold Blows the Wind' on a 5-string banjo using the clawhammer technique. The performance is set against a stark, black-and-white woodland backdrop, with the artist adopting a historical frontier persona. The song's narrative unfolds through somber vocals, detailing a lover's mourning at a grave and a spectral warning from the deceased.

This video features Clifton Hicks performing 'Ballad of Bloody Bill Anderson' on a banjo, detailing the historical figure's violent exploits. The performance highlights advanced clawhammer banjo techniques and deep knowledge of American folk music and Civil War lore. The song's narrative covers Anderson's arrival, a fierce battle, his death, and the grim aftermath, including the display of his head and pistols marked with his kills.

Clifton Hicks performs the traditional folk song 'Moonshiner' on a 5-string banjo using a clawhammer technique. The song details a life dedicated to moonshining, sustained by whiskey and beer over twenty-one years. The performance features an instrumental introduction before the vocal verses begin.