Hey Tab - no mess here, sweetie! :D
You have to remember that when you ask a question like you did, i.e. how knowledgable do you think this group is, what do you think of them, etc., then you need to be prepared for people's opinions. You may not agree with their opinion, but you did ask for their opinion, then reiterated that you really wanted to know.
I think that Edisto River Singers are a great group of people, as well as you and your family. We have shared many a laugh together - but I am not one to tell you how knowledgable Andy or anyone else is about his drum. I think that Andy truly has a gift, and think that the members of ERS should take more advantage of his wanting to share that. That's not a slam - but a request, if you will. It's very hard to pow-wow, as you know, and have the love of it that you and Andy and Jesse and the kids do, and not have everyone understand that. It is such a committment to sit with a drum, and I know that Andy is def committed, as well as Jesse and some of the other boys - and when I saw them in Hollister, they really jammed, and sounded good. But that was the last time that I saw ERS set up - I have seen Andy singing with other groups since then - but not ERS. And that's cool all day long with everyone as long as it's cool with ERS. :D
Living with a singer can be trying at times
, but always rewarding. :D
Hey, on a personal note, saw your mom at Manassas, she said she missed her grandbabies - she danced all weekend. They honored all grandmother's (Phyllis's giveaway) and she proudly went in to get her gift. I hope that makes you smile, it did me that she was so proud. :)