Exile in Dunganville

Spotlight on...The Redbone Willy's Inaugural Bluesgrass & Peddlers Festival

The following column will appear in the August 2008 edition of Gaston Alive:

You’ve got to hand it to Glenda Miller - she’s got ideas. She has more ideas than she has time to implement.

Miller is the owner and founder of Redbone Willy’s. Today, it’s an old general store nestled in the shadow of South Mountain State Park. Tomorrow, if she has her way, it will be much more.

The general store would be one of many shops offering unique items not normally found at the strip malls or shopping centers. It would be like a village and, more importantly, a way of life.

Redbone Willy’s, the store, already is quite an experience. It has a way of transporting us back to a time when things were much simpler.

And even though she is only a stone’s throw away from the Queen City, it’s far enough to provide an escape from the hustle and the bustle.

I guess that is why I am intrigued by her latest idea - her inaugural Bluegrass & Peddler Festival.

Miller is no stranger to bluegrass. In fact, when she first opened Redbone Willy’s in 1995, she had bluegrass performers playing every Saturday night. This went on for about two years until the late day showers consistently washed it out.

The bluegrass may have left Saturday nights eleven years ago, but it never left Miller’s mind. It was time to bring it back.

So on Saturday, August 30, the banjo pickers will be back in full force. Artists scheduled to perform include Josh Hudson, Mama Said (Shelby, NC), and Chatham County Line (Raleigh, NC).

In addition to music, that village that Miller has been dreaming about will be a reality for this special day. A group of artisans will set up with a variety of ‘stuff’ that can’t be found just anywhere. Wreath makers, potters, quilters, and basket weavers are just a few of the artisans on hand ‘peddlin’ their wares.

Reality has a way of slapping us in the face every now and again. But once in a while, we have to slap reality back. What better way to do this than by attending the first ever Bluegrass & Peddlers Festival at Redbone Willy’s?

After all, we could all use a dose of rhythm, roots, and Redbone Willy’s in our life.

Spotlight on...Blues Out Back

The following column will appear in the July 2008 edition of Gaston Alive:

I’d venture to say that Dallas, NC is nothing like Dallas, Tex. After all, everything is bigger in Texas. But I know one thing Dallas, Tex doesn’t have on Dallas, NC, and that’s a little thing called “Blues Out Back.”

When summer arrives in Dallas, NC, you can count on a number of things. The air conditioner will be running, the flea market will be hoppin’, and we’ll all have the blues— out back, that is, behind the Gaston County Museum.

It’s a tried and true summertime formula. If it’s the second Friday of the month, you can bet the good folks over at the Gaston County Museum are hosting some of the area’s top blues artists around.

The blues is a musical genre that often gets overlooked when you think of music native to this region. I think that’s what makes the “Blues Out Back” concert series so refreshing. There aren’t many events that pay homage to a type of blues that many say was born in the Carolinas— the Piedmont blues.

Since many of the area’s Piedmont blues greats are not getting any younger, finding pure Piedmont blues players has become increasingly difficult. Jeff Pruett, the Gaston County Museum Programs Coordinator, books the artists whose musical style is rooted in the blues.

Let’s face it, the audience that shows up each month at this concert series is not made up of die-hard blues purists. They are just regular people who love to listen to live music on a summer night.

And that’s what the concert series is all about. Take a laid-back summer night, add in some great live music and good food, and you have one of the oldest forms of entertainment.

Music was meant to be played live— in front of crowds. Some say the air conditioner killed the front porch. That doesn’t stop the folks at the Gaston County Museum. Who needs a porch when you have the entire back lawn of the museum to enjoy good talk, eats, and tunes.

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For more information on the Blues Out Back Concert Series, please visit the Gaston County Museum's website.

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Spotlight on...Robin Rogers

The following column will appear in the June 2008 edition of Gaston Alive:

Achieving success in any line of work requires a lot of hard work and dedication. And that’s especially true when it comes to the music business. An artist’s talent doesn’t develop over night, nor does their fan base.

Take Gaston County’s own Robin Rogers. She and her husband Tony have been cutting their musical teeth for a long time. They play four to five times a week, not to mention the time they spend handling all of the business duties required. Between playing out, booking gigs, and handling the public relations and marketing duties, it’s easy to see that it’s not all glitzy and glamorous.

Hard work pays off. And as my Dad always says, nice things happen to nice people. When I heard that Robin and Tony were signed by Blind Pig Records, I was thrilled for them. This label has an international reputation when it comes to the blues, working with such blues greats over its 30-year history including Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Nappy Brown, and more.

In addition to hard work, it helps to have a lot of patience. After their first label went out of business, I am sure they felt like they were back at square one once again. But now with the Blind Pig promotional machine behind them, their name will be known not only on a national level but also on an international level.

Robin and Tony realize the hard work will continue. In order to sell as many records as possible, they will have to go on tour all around the country. This national and international exposure will mean less time here at home.

And as music fans, it means we can’t take their performances for granted. But before they go, in true Robin Rogers fashion, she has decided to throw a party. Now this isn’t just any party - this is the official CD Release Party for her new record “Treat Me Right”. For only $25, you get admission to the show and your very own autographed copy of Treat Me Right.

But Robin will be the first to tell you it’s not a party for just her and the band. It’s a party for all of us - the ones who have been with her since day one.

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For more information and to hear samples of Robin Rogers' music, visit her on her website at RobinRogers.com

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Spotlight on...Arts At The Pavilion

 The following column will appear in the May 2008 edition of Gaston Alive:

Events held in any downtown from the first bloom to the last fall frost have gotten a little cliche over the years. Throw a party, invite a band - preferably a party/variety-type band, and you are good to go. People will dance, they may even drink a few beers, and they’ll have a blast.

It’s a simple equation for success. No deviation from the plan is needed.

And while the good folks at the Gastonia Downtown Development Corporation put on seven high profile events during the summer like I have just described, they should be credited for also throwing a party that isn’t exactly as predictable as all of the rest.

And if organizers Brian Borne and Missy Turney have it their way, then on Saturday, May 10, Culture and his brother Diversity will make their way back to Gastonia just in time for the annual Arts at the Pavilion event.

Now in its third year, Arts at the Pavilion has become a day that celebrates art of all shapes, sizes, and sounds. And this year proves to be no different.

Turney has put together quite an eclectic line-up of musical artists. With bands that have names like Carolina Gator Gumbo, Solazo, and Tres Chicas, you know you are in for a treat. This musical stew has all of the flavors you could ever want in an arts festival, ranging from Cajun/Creole, Latin and Americana.

But what I am most looking forward to seeing is a band that calls themselves the ‘Trailer Park Troubadours’.

The ‘folkabilly’ movement will be front and center when the Trailer Park Troubadours headline the Arts at the Pavilion this year. After receiving considerable amounts of airplay on Gaston College’s WSGE 91.7 FM last year in support of their release Trailercana, this band has become a favorite among the station’s listeners.

Their catchy, yet wacky lyrics have a way of delving into thoughts and emotions you never thought you’d feel. One song will have you thinking about all of life’s possibilities if you were Ron Howard’s brother. The next song finds you being flipped off by a silver-headed lady with a “Honk If You Love Jesus” sticker on the bumper of her car.

Simply put - they are a pile of fun. Sure they can be a little irreverent at times, but in the land of the cookie-cutter variety band downtown parties, this one will prove to be different.

It won’t just be about the party on Saturday, May 10. It will also be about this thing we call art.

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For more information on Arts at the Pavilion please visit http://www.gastoniadowntown.org.

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Spotlight on...The Charlotte Cash Bash V

The following column will appear in the March 2008 edition of Gaston Alive:

In Johnny Cash’s autobiography, Cash, he talks about the various names he goes by. On his recordings, he went by Johnny Cash. His friends and aquaintenances called him Johnny, and his childhood friends and family called him J.R. And lastly, June Carter, his wife of 35 years, simply called him John.

In a way, it’s kind of fitting that “Badger”, the founder of the annual Charlotte Cash Bash, refers to him as John R. Cash.

“It’s my little tribute to the man,” he says. On April 4-5, 2008, the 5th Annual Charlotte Cash Bash comes to town. Two nights, two venues, and a total of 13 bands will come together to pay homage to the man Badger calls “one of the most iconic songwriters of the 20th century”.

The first Charlotte Cash Bash started in 2004. Since that time, the event has grown in size and scope each year. This year, they are extending the party over the course of two nights. Badger is responsible for organizing and booking the acts each year. He has only one requirement - you must play at least two Johnny Cash songs during your set.

“You must play Cash to get paid cash at my show,” Badger says. “The Cash Bash is not a party that celebrates Johnny Cash impersonators. My goal is to book good bands. I love seeing how they interpret Cash’s songs. That’s what the Cash Bash is all about.”

It’s been nearly five years since we lost Johnny Cash. For an artist who started playing music in the 50’s, Badger feels Johnny Cash is still relevant today in 2008.

“He had that voice and he wrote good songs,” Badger said. “He managed to inspire and touch three generations throughout his 50+ year career. Two hundred years from now, people will know the name Johnny Cash.”

And if Badger has his way, music fans in the Charlotte area will keep that tradition alive for many years to come.

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More information on the Charlotte Cash Bash V is available at www.myspace.com/charlottecashbash .

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Spotlight on...Malcolm Holcombe

The following column will appear in the February 2008 edition of Gaston Alive:

Malcolm Holcombe has been living life, telling stories and singing songs for a quite a long time.  His unique guitar-playing style and gravelly vocals sets him apart from the pack.  Singer-songwriters are a dime a dozen, but a guy like Holcombe only comes around once in a lifetime.

Steve Wilmans, founder of Echo Mountain Records, knows this too.  That's why he recruited him to be a part of his brand new record label last year.  Wilmans has been in the recording business for quite while, recently converting an old church in Asheville, NC into a recording studio.

However, he decided last year to jump into the record business.  And he selected Malcolm Holcombe as his first-round draft pick.

"Malcolm is local legend," said Wilmans.  "I was hooked the first time I heard his voice and his guitar playing."

North Carolina has a long and storied history when it comes to musical legends.  Artists such as Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs and Nina Simone all come to mind when the word "legend" gets thrown around. However, one can't forget to include the name Malcolm Holcombe to this elite group.

And with Wilmans' help, Malcolm Holcombe released his sixth full-length record Gamblin' House nationwide last month.  It is vintage Holcombe in every way.

Wilmans' commitment to the project is evident in the team he assembled for the recording.  At Holcombe's request, Wilmans' brought in Grammy award-winning producer Ray Kennedy, along with top notch musicians to flesh out the project.

"This being our first release, we knew we had to come out of the gate swinging", Wilmans said.

I'd say they picked the right guy.  You know Holcombe will come out swinging.  Between his voice and his guitar, and a nice supportive push from Echo Mountain Records, he'll make an impact.

Now I'm not a gambling man, but I'd say Malcolm Holcombe is a safe bet.

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For more information and to hear samples of Malcolm Holcombe's music, visit him on his website at MalcolmHolcombe.com

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Random Weekend Thoughts: 1/18 - 1/21/08

A special three-day weekend in Dunganville.  This weekend saw the Pats and the Giants advance to the Super Bowl, McCain take South Carolina in the South Carolina Republican primary, and best of all - we got our second winter event of the season.  OK, it didn't stick - but it sure was nice seeing those fluffy snowflakes on Saturday.

And now that the three-day MLK weekend is over, we now only have to work four days the rest of the week. 

And now, my random weekend thoughts:

• Some days are harder than others.  And I think it's safe to say non-family oriented holidays are some of the hardest.  I survived Thanksgiving.  I survived Christmas and New Years.  But MLK day?  Not so easy.

• A day off from work is a beautiful thing.  I am a big fan of the three-day weekend.  However, a day off when your son is 100 miles away is not so easy.

• I missed meeting Evan's new goldfish.  They unfortunately died yesterday.  Rumor is he killed them with kindness.  He over-fed them. He turned his fish bowl into an all-you-can-eat buffet.  And they had a choice - they could eat it or swim in it.  Guess they made the wrong choice...

• We all go through bad times.  There's no way to avoid these times.  We do choose how we react to them. In the January 2008 issue of The Sun, psychotherapist and author Miriam Greenspan has an interesting take on the tough times in our lives. She prefers to call these times "dark", because she "prefers the image of a rich, fertile, dark soil from which something unexpected can bloom".

• We could all learn a lot from dogs.  They have an uncanny ability when it comes to living in the moment.  When it's below freezing outside, all I can think about is getting my dog to use the bathroom so i can get back in my warm bed.  All she cares about is sniffing the ground and licking the air.

Spotlight on...The Singer-Songwriter: Why I Record

The following column will appear in the October 2007 edition of Gaston Alive:

Songwriters are an interesting lot of people. They are no different than us.  They feel joy and pain, except with one major difference - they express themselves through music.

King's Mountain native Scoot Pittman says that writing music is more than just a hobby or a profession.

"The reason I wake up each morning is to write a better song than I did yesterday," Pittman says. "It's something I need to do."

However, what good is to write a song, and not have anyone hear it? Charlotte musician Mike Strauss feels that if you take your music serious at all, you need to do record it.

"Since the advent of the home recording studio, the costs have come down dramatically," says Strauss. "It is a way for people to hear and remember you, long after your performance is over."

And even though the costs have come down dramatically, it's not something that you'll make a ton of money off of. Sure, you can eventually make your money back, but not nearly as fast as you spent it initially.

Strauss adds, "There is no money in making records. Simply put, they are fun to make"

Career coaches always preach the importance of loving what you do in your profession.  The more passionate you are about work, the more successful you will be.

Mount Holly's own David Childers echo's Strauss' sentiments.

"There are many reasons to make an album", says Childers. "It allows you to leave a record behind that you were here on this great planet.  But most of all, they are fun to make.  There's nothing better that taking the music you have written and putting it into a lasting form."

Once a songwriter accepts the fact that they were put on this Earth to express themselves in song, then many of these reasons to record become obvious and apparent. 

"I am a writer; not a performer", declares Childers.  "I figured out a long time ago that if I wanted my songs to be heard, I was going to have to record them".

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by Ben Dungan (bdungan@charter.net)

 

Cuz's Corner: September 2007

(The following column first appeared in the Charlotte Folk Society September 2007 Newsletter)

by Dennis "Cuz" Frost

Welcome to yet another edition of Cuz's Corner.  By the time you read this, I'm hoping the thermometer is a bit more cooperative. Today it's 101 degrees outside and climbing.  I guess it's a good day to stay indoors and flash back to cooler times in the North Carolina mountains and a couple of festivals I attended that exceeded my high expectations. 

It's been three years since I last attended Floydfest and I must say I was amazed at how the community of Floyd, Virginia has improved on an already beautiful festival.  The music ranged from old-time and traditional bluegrass at the Virginia Folklife stage to traditional African music and dance at the Global Village stage.  The setting is wonderful, the food was exceptional, and the festival had energy one rarely experiences these days. 

I must also mention those new pegged-beam permanent stages that Bob the Builder and neighborhood volunteers have constructed - just amazing!  Floydfest demonstrates what a community can accomplish by working together for the greater good of both the community and the planet.  The weekend was all about music and community, so hats off to Floyd and I'll see you next July 24-27! 

Last weekend I attended my first Ola Belle Reed Festival in Lansing, North Carolina and I and a half dozen other music lovers from the Charlotte area had the time of our lives.  This is an extremely small festival that never loses sight of its purpose, which is to pay homage to the music and the family of Ola Belle Reed.  I really can't recall a festival as small as this with such a high level of musicianship. If you are tired of those big ol' festivals that sometimes tend to lose sight of what it's "all about," this festival might be for you.  The highpoints for me were area favorites The Whitetop Mountain Band, Tim O'Brien's solo set, and the exceptional Laurelyn Dossett, Kari Sickenberger, and Polecat Creek.  Laurelyn and Kari's songwriting workshop in the old turn of the century Lansing schoolhouse absolutely blew my wife, Carolyn, and me away - their songs and harmonies are just simply as good as it gets.

Speaking of Polecat Creek, this is a great time for this article to morph into my monthly gig of the month and that will no doubt be their September 14^th concert for the CFS's monthly gathering. When you combine an instrumentalist of the caliber of Riley Baugus with two amazing vocalists and songwriters, one of which (Laurelyn Dossett) has won MerleFest's Chris Austin songwriting contest in the gospel category and has a song on the upcoming Levon Helm CD; you have a no-miss concert.  Please read the write-up on this show and I hope to see you there!

Another compelling September (30th) show takes place at the Neighborhood Theatre and features Rodney Crowell, Elizabeth Cook, and Tim Carroll. Across the street the night before (29^th) The Believers bring their brand of folk/country/ punk originals to The Evening Muse and are definitely worth a listen. Craig, Cynthia and their pug, Beenieboy, take the stage at 8 PM.

There were a bunch of great CDs that came out since last time and Polecat Creek's Ordinary Seasons was one of them. If you like well constructed songs, beautiful harmonies, and back-up instrumentals that accompany perfectly, this one should be part of your collection. This one does not yet have a street date, but will be available from the website and at the September gathering  - hint, hint!

Mock Turtle Soup's Bound for Carolina is another recommendation that not only has Carolina roots, but connections to the Charlotte Folk Society (Willie Repoley and Chris Holleman).  This CD is both well played and sung throughout and covers about every aspect of acoustic folk music from Celtic to old time and bluegrass to Western and Hispanic genres and back again. It's great to see such a young group of players with such a mature take on folk music - well done!

Staying close to home, you might check out the new one from one time gathering performers Buffalo Creek Stringband. I found Weary Woman Blues to be a potent instrumental album and suitable for a long road trip.

Now let's take a trip over the mountains, past Knoxville and the Cumberland plateau, to the town of Nashville and check out a couple of hot releases I am enjoying immensely.  The self-titled Kane, Welch & Kaplin is the third great effort from this Americana super group. () I  just can't say enough about the groove, the instrumental prowess of Fats Kaplin and the fine songs from both Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch. In a month of excellent releases, this one gets Cuz's pick of the month. 

The connection between Bill Monroe, bluegrass, and Elvis Presley goes all the way back to the release of Elvis's cover of Blue Moon of Kentucky.  In celebration of the 30^th anniversary of Elvis's untimely passing, check out the new release from Shawn Camp and Billy Burnette called The Bluegrass Elvises.  Yep, you guessed it - these are bluegrass covers of your very favorite Elvis tunes with the backing of some of the best bluegrass instrumentalists in the business.  This one is just plain fun to listen to. 

I also especially love Peter Case's Let Us Praise Sleepy John for not only its songwriting execution and social commentary, but for its live feel.  No wonder, as this ex-street performer and consummate troubadour is the real deal.  Catch him live on October 12^th at The Evening Muse.

Finally, Ryan Adams has released, in my thinking, the finest and most consistent solo effort to date with his edgy Easy Tiger release.  This release has been number one on the AMA charts for weeks now and hopefully signals the fact that this most creative North Carolinian has now found a consistent voice.  I am extremely impressed with this CD!  That's all the room I have for this month, so, as always, get out and enjoy some live music in September and don't forget CFS's big 25^th anniversary coming up in October!                

The best in music,

Cuz 

 

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Dennis "Cuz" Frost began his journey into American roots music in 1972, when he was introduced to the album"Will the Circle Be Unbroken" by his college roommate.  His fascination with all branches of the "Americana tree" is truly passionate.  He is a voting member of the Americana Music Association as well as a volunteer program host at WGWG-FM 88.3.  Dennis produces and hosts Cuz's Corner, an hour‑long music/interview show featuring some of the legends in the Americana scene. To share your thoughts about your favorite music with Cuz (especially old-time), contact him either at dcmfrost@mindspring.com or 704-532-8846.

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Spotlight on...Carolina Gator Gumbo

The following column will appear in the September 2007 edition of Gaston Alive:

The difference between hot and boiling hot can be one degree.  The difference between good music and great music isn't so easy to define.  It's hard to know great music, but one thing is certain - you know it when you hear it.  It has a way of grabbing you by the collar and forcing you to stop and listen.  Carolina Gator Gumbo has pulled off this difficult feat in their new release Leona Threw a Party.

Born out of the impoverished areas of Southern Louisiana, Cajun/Creole music has evolved over time melding together a myriad of musical traditions including European and African influences.  It's the rhythmic sounds of this musical art highlighted by the button accordion and the fiddle that helps form the strong connection made with the listener.

With the release of Leona Had a Party, Carolina Gator Gumbo finds a way to pay homage to the sounds and the traditions of this rich musical heritage, all the while adding a little Carolina flavor into the mix.  All the songs on the album were recorded live, successfully capturing the spirit and energy that this music invokes. 

The new album predominantly leans towards many of the old Cajun/Creole standards.  However, they also delve into other areas taking a Cajun/Creole stab at Hank William's "Hey Good Lookin" and Fats Domino's "Hello, Josephine". 

With bands like Carolina Gator Gumbo, it's nice to know there is a slice of Southern Louisiana right here available in the Carolinas.

So, Leona had a party.  The best part is - she has invited everyone within an earshot of her Cajun/Creole celebration to come along for the ride. 

And don't forget to bring your dancing shoes!

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For more information and to hear samples of Carolina Gator Gumbo's music, visit them on their website at CarolinaGatorGumbo.com