Funny stuff. When The Wronglers were looking for a name, the San Francisco based bluegrassy outfit did a twisted take on the Wrangler Jeans brand, another San Francisco based company. They have put forth that theirs is 'simple music made by complicated people.' After they performed on the Music Fog stage at Threadgill's, I jumped up to thank them, and Warren Hellman turned to me in a 'stage aside' and asked me how much he could pay me for us not to post the video. He was kidding. I almost expected him to play the show with his back to the audience.

I herald The Wronglers for following their hearts to play the music they love, which grew out of several of them taking lessons from the same teacher, who recommended that it would be beneficial if they learned to play together. I heard at some point during SXSW 2010 that someone introduced Warren as the banjo player from The Wronglers. (No banjo jokes, please!) He beamed. By the way, this past March was actually the first time they have been in Austin to play SXSW. They followed with an appearance at Old Settler's a month ago. They, however, are no strangers to events, playing home base at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park since 2006. Yes, it is funded by Warren Hellman, and the free concert is his gift to the citizens of San Francisco. I have been drooling over the lineup for years. Maybe this year I will make it there. The lineup has not yet been announced, but we will let you know when it is. The lineup for The Wronglers? That's easy! Warren Hellman (banjo, vocals), Nate Levine (guitar, vocals), Heidi Clare (fiddle), Krista Martin (fiddle), Bill Martin (mando), and Colleen Browne (bass, vocals). Sweet stuff indeed!

- Jessie Scott