How Country is Maine? (cost of, eat, car)

[Maine Writer]

His name isn't Axl so if you'd met him at the family picnic it wouldn't have sounded familiar.

[fxtrader]

Country has always been pretty popular from Bangor north. There used to be a good country bar in Brewer that had line dancing. Most of the people I know from these areas only listen to country. While others I know in other parts of the state listen to country and classic rock.

[gussie]

I just talked to my cousin Ted Rose in Orem , Utah, his brother is William Rose, Axl Rose's father. His real name is William Bruce Rose Jr. If you would like I can provide you with Ted's number, so you can verify it. Just let me know.....

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by lasarahann

Please tell me you're kidding! Guns N Roses is/was a major band of the rock world. You know.... Sweet Child of Mine... Welcome To The Jungle... really??

I can see that. I have worked with men, who would likewise have no idea of who Guns N Roses is, or what songs they might sing.

[forest beekeeper]

In Alton there is a barn that advertises country dances. I rarely drive by it, but I know that it exists. It seems that whenever I do drive over there the sign gets updated regularly. So I would have to assume that they host dances on a regular basis.

One of the features of Maine culture that I am catching on to. Is they do something for years, and assume that it will never change.

Finding the livestock Auction yard in Corinth was hard for me to find. When I did find the location and I went there, they had no sign saying when their auctions were held. Folks were born in the area knew about it and they there every week, and they had been going there for decades. The auction had no newspaper presence, no web presence. A new comer would never know the auction existed. Just as I got into the routine of going there, buying and selling livestock, they closed.

So it is with the dance hall in Alton, and likely other dance halls. If we were born here, you would know all about the dances; where they are held and when. And who it is that has the mason jars of shine in his car trunk.

But if your new here, and you search the newspaper, or google for it; you will never find what your looking for.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

So it is with the dance hall in Alton, and likely other dance halls. If we were born here, you would know all about the dances; where they are held and when. And who it is that has the mason jars of shine in his car trunk.

But if your new here, and you search the newspaper, or google for it; you will never find what your looking for.

Exactly! The places in Portland and the surrounding area that host this type of thing rarely advertise it nor do I see it posted anywhere. I've mostly just stumbled upon it or heard about it from someone who's lived here for long enough to know about it.

[Maine Writer]

There's a contra dance in or near Lee on the 21st.

[lasarahann]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

In Alton there is a barn that advertises country dances. I rarely drive by it, but I know that it exists. It seems that whenever I do drive over there the sign gets updated regularly. So I would have to assume that they host dances on a regular basis.

You're talking about Happy Acres! My Grandparents used to go there when I was a little girl. I have fond memories of that place. I wasn't aware that they had kept it open after one of the owners passed away. One popular area band that played there was Midnight Rose. I'm not sure if they still play there or not.

[Casper1212]

We just like to go dance. After living in Cajun country for a while, you can't help yourself. And down here, there are few events that don't include a dance. Country or Cajun will do for dancing, but for listening we like classic rock and some of the more unique artists, like Mark Broussard and Sonny Landreth.

[megkrichards]

Depends on where you are in Maine, because Maine is so different from one part to the next.
But as a native Texan (Austin) transplant, I can say I never listened to country music in Austin, never went to a "boot scoot" or otherwise knew how to line dance, but if I ever want to try it, I can do all that and more in Maine. But at least if I want to do it here, I don't have to put up with 100 degrees for the fourth week in a row. Usually.
Maine is too Country for my blood sometimes, but again, I never claimed to be the Texas stereotype.
Then again, I got my first taste of roadkill deer from a former coworker who hit one, and was aghast at the notion of eating a deer you hit... til I realized that the deer is dead, the damage to the car is done, and the dollar value of the carcass just about breaks even with the cost of the damage done to the car, so it seemed foolish to pass up hundreds of dollars of free meat for the freezer when you're going to be out hundreds of dollars to repair the car anyway. And venison is good eating.

So call it Country Economics, but it works.