MERICANA GAZETT E A February / March 2012 Feature Story: Chelsea Crowell Carell Casey Doug Sies Joe Blanton Mad Toast - Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines Billy Dean Farmer Jason New CD Supe Granda (Ozark Mountain Daredevils) Miktek Microphones Dolly Parton's New Book Lefty - Chelsea Crowell's Pet Jason and the Scorchers Concert in Bloomington Remembrance of Dobie Gray Buck Owens Book (Biography) CD Review's + Other Short Stories
AMERICANA GAZETTE Greetings! Well, it looks as if we all survived the holidays. I managed to stay on my diet even though it was deep into “fudge season”. Christmas and New Year’s were great. We were able to spend time with our friends and families. The week after Christmas I experienced one of Wisconsin’s most popular sports – bouncing deer off your vehicle! It was 6:40 A.M., pitch dark and I was on my way back to work after the long holiday weekend. I was halfway to New Glarus and all of a sudden out jumped a deer, coming from the other side of the road. I got a real close up of it as it passed by my windshield. I bumped it with my front right end of my car. As the car stopped and the metal and deer fur met, the deer gave me that look like “what the hell, you just hit me.” After getting out of the car, checking for damage on the vehicle and watching the deer run off,I called Andy from my cell. Now this is where the story gets even better. When Andy answered, I said “I just hit a deer.” Now you would think he might ask if I was OK, but oh no, this is how the conversation went. Andy:“Buck or Doe?” Joyce: “Doe”. Andy:“Is the deer dead or alive?” Joyce:“Alive.”
PUBLISHER Joyce Ziehli • jziehli@advisorymgt.com
Rob Kosmeder
SENIOR EDITOR Andy Ziehli • aziehli@advisorymgt.com
Anne Sullivan
CREATIVE DIRECTOR STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOS
Ric Genthe • rgenthe@charter.net
Celia Carr
Travis Cooper
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Robert Hoffman Andy: “How much damage to the car?” Joyce: “Not much”. I think you see what I’m talking about. I finally said,“And by the way, I’m Ok if you are interested.” He did stop by my work later to look over the vehicle and help me pull deer fur out of the grill. (And he might have mentioned he was glad I didn’t get hurt – 4 hours after the fact!) Just another day in the life and times of Joyce Ziehli……stay tuned for more exciting adventures!
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Welcome to
Americana Gazette TABLE OF CONTENTS
New Music to be checking out in 2012: • Lincoln Durham - The Shovel Vs.The Howling Bones - Produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard • Ed Littlefield, Jr. - My Western Home - Eight classic Western songs from Ed, a favorite steel player of legendary Cowboy Jack Clement and The Dead's Bob Weir and Mickey Hart Lincoln Durham
WHERE TO LOOK
• In The Life of Jeremy Fink - The soundtrack for the Independent Film, Jeremy Fink & The Meaning Of Life (starring Mira Sorvino, Joey Pantoliano and Michael Urie) is getting tremendous response!
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Music 2012
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Litt DuBay’s Slant
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Women In The Round Carell Casey
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Dobie Gray
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Jason & the Scorchers
• Michael Martin Murphey - Tall Grass & Cool Water - Michael just completed his 19th Cowboy Christmas Tour, with 18 of 20 sellout dates.
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Love, Live, Music
Information supplied by: LCMedia – Lance Cowan
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Joe Blanton
10 CD Reviews
Ed Littlefield, Jr.
• Chris Cook - Remembering Chris is one of the hardest working guys in showbiz, and a heck of a musician. "Chris is good," noted acclaimed bassist for Mother's Finest,Wyzard. "I like the style. His voice reminds me of Rickie Medlocke.The writing is very good, the songs all take me somewhere. Remembering is well produced and well played.A keeper!"
• Julie Ingram - Thank God - Julie is a lifetime member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame and recently accepted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Jeremy Fink
12 A Pet Note -
Information provide by: Music City News Media & Marketing Nashville • TN
13 Billy Dean
• Laurie Lewis - SKIPPIN’AND FLYIN’ -A personal tribute to the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, on the 100th anniver-sary of his birth, and mixes songs from the bluegrass repertoire and contemporary writers and Lewis’ originals. In turns lively, exciting, deep and heartfelt, the songs feature Lewis’ expressive vocals and instrumentation by GRAMMY Award-winning bassist Todd Phillips, the legendary Craig Smith on banjo, and mandolinist/vocalist Tom Rozum.
13 Bob’s Guitar Corner - Golden Slippers 13 Miktek 14 Mad Toast Live Chris Cook
16 Chelsea Crowell
• Carolann Ames - Austin,TX — Texas-born, California-based singer-songwriter Carolann Ames, about whose sound one writer enthused,“pretty doesn’t do this music justice,” will release on Tuesday, January 17, her latest album, LAUREL CANYON ROAD, which features her strong but tender vocals and her country roots as the artist expands the wide range of Americana.
18 Wisconsin to Florida 19 Women and Crime 19 Celia's Column
Information by: McGuckin Entertainment PR, Austin, Texas
20 Lady GaGa 21 Billy Dean
Michael Martin Murphey
22 Buck Owens - The Biography, Eileen Sisk 23 Robert’s Ramblings 24 Farmer Jason 24 Farmer Jason - Active & Delight
Julie Ingram
26 Supe Granda
• Willie Niles - The ranks of Willie Nile’s fans include Bruce Springsteen, who has invited him to perform with the E Street Band on multiple occasions, including a pair of historic shows at New York’s Shea Stadium and Giant Stadium, and Pete Townshend, who personally requested him as the opening act on The Who’s 1980 U.S. tour. ” • Ruthie Foster - A regular nominee at Austin Music Awards, winning Best Folk Artist in 2004-05 and Best Female Vocalist in 2007-08. Broadening her sound by blending blues and soul aspects into her folk roots, Ruthie added a Grammy nomination to her list of achievements (Best Contemporary Blues Album for her last studio release, 2009’s The Truth According to Ruthie Foster ).And, in a nod to her astounding range, she then won seemingly contradictory Blues Music Association awards for both Best Traditional and Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist in back-to-back years. Information by: Cary Baker – Conqueroo
The Americana Gazette is printed by: The Print Center • Brodhead, Wi. 53520
Carolann Ames
AMERICANA GAZETTE % Andy & Joyce Ziehli P.O. BOX 208 • Belleville, WI. 53508 OFFICE: 608-424-6300 Andy Cell: 608-558-8131 Joyce Cell: 608-558-8132
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• Samantha Crain - A Simple Jungle - The record features two brand new tracks produced by John Vanderslice: "It's Simple" and "Cadwell Jungle." Information by: Ramseur Records
Ruthie Foster
• A "LIGHT" for Lorraine & the "Road" - A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW,AGAIN penned by Ms. Dixie & Tom T. Hall is lighting the way up national and international charts for Carolina Road and Lorraine Jordan. "Light" was inspired by Governor Paul E. Patton's speech at the dedication of Bill Monroe's homeplace at Rosine, KY. Information provided by: Good Home Grown Music | P.O. Box 680126 | Franklin, TN 37068
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Litt DuBay’s
Rant! by Litt DuBay
Snow! Bigfoot! Fat CAt! O’le Litt Dubay here enjoying the very little snow we are having in Wisconsin this year so far. I’ve seen more snow in a Miami Vice rerun than I’ve seen this year around here! I love that talking dog video. You know the bacon eating one. That dog’s funnier than watching Ziehli try to justify giving an orphan guitar a new home in his collection to Joyce. I love to watch shows about weird stuff like UFO’s and Bigfoots. My newest obsession is “Finding Bigfoot.” These goofy half-witted investigators search all over the US for Bigfoots. There’s a guy named BoBo who looks like a Bigfoot. I can’t help but yell at the TV“he’s standing right there”every time BoBo comes on. The other night they were in Rhode Island searching for Bigfoots. Hell Rhode Island ain’t big enough for a real Bigfoot to turn around in let alone live! Bigfoots live in wide open spaces with lots of trees and mountains and such. Not in Condo’s and city parks. The investigators are always howling and grunting like Bigfoot to get Bigfoots attention. First how in the hell do they know what a Bigfoot sounds like when nobody’s ever caught one? They listen and always say“there’s a squash in theses woods”! There might be squash in them there woods, but they’ve never filmed a Bigfoot yet! They should film a reality show at the Fat Cat in New Glarus. The only trouble is there is no one there who is real. They are all figments of Miller’s imagination except Ziehli who is more of a permanent blight on the place! The Mensa club is not really up to par because if you added all their IQ’s together with their credit scores you would not get a 100 between all of them! Ziehli went to a party the other night at his friends,Bill and Joan’s. Bill asked Ziehli “when was the last time you were out here”. Ziehli replied“you mean when you were home?” Bill did not think that was funny at all! Bill had read a story that said the larger your head circumference was the smarter you were. He then stated that he had a really big head. He got out the tape measure and measured Ziehli’s head and his to see whose was bigger. Ziehli won which really made Bill mad. He then proceeded to measure all the guy’s heads who were there. He came in dead last, thus proving nothing except that he needs to get some better party games for future get togethers! Have you been watching the Republican primary stuff on TV? It’s better than midget wrestling! Them boys are meaner to each other than Miller is to his regulars! Poor old Newt Gingrich (who would name their kid after a lizard); them other Republicans are really mean to him. They told him he was not conservative enough to be a Republican. Nitt (or Mitt) Romney the kinda one term Governor of one of those eastern not really a state states is the front runner. With a front runner like that the democrats could easily start planning for four more years, I mean that boy Nitt is so conservative that right winged Republicans have to go left just to meet him in the middle! Ron Paul I think he’s dead. I mean he never blinks. Rick Berry has half timers. He can’t remember half the stuff half the time he’s supposed to say, and Rick Sanitarium who is this guy. I never heard of him before two weeks ago. He’s the pretty boy candidate from the Republicans and they need one. Have you taken a look at the others? Between Nitt, Newt, Berry, and Paul you couldn’t construct one whole Mr. Potato head. I ain’t saying that them fellows is ugly, but Medusa got more dates than them boys combined! Now o’le Litt’s not a real church going fellow, but I saw a story in the Wisconsin State journal that made me question my religious beliefs. It seems that Bishop M. on the hill in Madison banned a song that Catholics (and I’m one so don’t think I’m dissing Catholics) have been singing in church for years. The song is “All are Welcome”. His royal highness continued on page 29
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of my life winds up in the songs eventually. Everything I read, every conversation I have, relationships, dreams, daydreams, other songs everything. Joyce: Is music your only career or do you have another job?
Carell Casey
New Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Adult Contemporary It was a beautiful sunny day and Andy and I walked into the High Noon Saloon in Madison,Wisconsin, where we were attending a fundraiser for the Girls Rock Camp. First thing I heard was this amazing singer and I looked up on the stage to see a beautiful young lady singing! I quickly asked some people around me who this very talented person with this beautiful voice was. “It’s Carell Casey, isn’t she great?” is what they responded. I waited for Carell to finish her set, then I approached her and asked if she would be interested in doing a story. Carell and I met one night at Barnes and Noble so that I could get the scoop on her to share with all you readers. Carell and I had a fun night and even more fun running around the store posing for these pictures! You can see Carell holding a “Heart” CD – she loves “Heart”. Then I made her (asked her) to climb up on a stool to pose with Joan Baez. (I think people in the store thought we worked there as we were approached a couple of times with questions.We didn’t get kicked out though.) About Carell Casey: Carell Casey is a Madison,Wisconsin-based independent singer and songwriter. Her debut CD "A New Day" was released in 2007. "Carell Casey has a talent that speaks for itself in this collection of emotive and thought provoking songs. She shows the listener through her words – love, passion, clarity, and life. Small glimpses into the world through the eyes of a poet.This album is beauty at its very best." - Sara Hunter Joyce: Hi Carell. Great to see you. Let’s start out by you telling our readers a little bit about your background. Carell:Hello Joyce. It’s nice to see you again. I was born in Racine,WI. and grew up in Waukesha. After college I got married and moved to the East coast. I lived in Boston and NewYork City. My ex-husband is a recording engineer. He was starting up a small studio with his friends back then and I got to hang out and watch the musicians work, and even though I had very low self confidence, I thought - if they could do it, I could do it too! It gave me the courage to pick up a guitar, a chord book and start playing. Joyce: When did you start singing? Carell: Some of my earliest memories are of me singing to my kitten Butterscotch when I was about 4 years old. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
And about the same age, at Christmas time making my Mom sing Silent Night with me over and over and over till she would send me to bed. I always wanted to sing. My family wasn’t really musical; they were music fans and I found out a few years back that my Mom had played accordion.
Carell: If this was my only career, I’d be starving. (we laugh) I would love this to be my only career. But for now I do other things that I love as well. I used to work in the corporate world and made a lot of money, but I was miserable so I walked away from that. I have built up a little pet sitting business for myself and I do Holistic Health Counseling. I studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
Joyce:Are you in a band currently? Carell: Yeah, it’s called “Fire and Love”. It’s brand new. We’ve only been together about one and a half months but we've already written 8 songs. We hope to start playing out in another month or so. The band members are: Anne Strauss on drums, Evan Sodak on lead guitar, Scott Colson on bass and me, Carell Casey on rhythm guitar and vocals. I also have a project where I play drums which is called “dear john doe,” with Becca Pozorski on bass, and Dennis Glanville singing and playing guitar. Joyce: Do you do cover songs or originals? Carell: We are doing all originals. Evan writes the music in “Fire and Love” and I write the lyrics and vocal melodies. In “dear john doe”Dennis is writing the songs and Becca and I just write our parts. Joyce: Do you plan on putting out a CD with these bands? Carell: I hope so! We want to start playing shows first though. Actually I just started recording another solo CD yesterday. I have one solo CD already and I have made others, but those projects broke up and the CD’s were never released. You can purchase it at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/carellcasey (Check out our CD review of Carell’s CD – “A New Day” in this issue.) Joyce: Carell do you play any other instruments besides the guitar? Carell: I love the piano. I go tinker on it when I'm around one, and can play some of my songs. I never studied it so I am not really a piano player. I recently picked up playing the drums. My roommate is a drummer so I have a perfect opportunity to practice with a kit in the house. That is one thing I love about Ladies Rock Camp. You get the chance to try new instruments in a supportive and encouraging environment, and it is so much fun! I have been to 2 Ladies Rock Camps already!
Joyce: Wow, you are really busy. Here’s a question for you. If you had the opportunity to play with anyone on stage, who would it be? Carell: I have had a life long celebrity crush on Neil Finn, the singer for Crowded House. I would love to work with him. Joyce: Any hobbies? Carell: My jobs are actually my hobbies. I am very passionate about natural health, animals and music. I also love to read, and do lots of outdoors things, like biking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Joyce: Future goals? Carell: I really love Madison and even if I ever make it big in the music business, I would love to keep Madison as my home base. I'm excited to get the bands going and start playing shows. Maybe even mini tours to Minneapolis and Chicago. I’m continuing to work on this new solo CD and hope to have it out in the next six months. It's going to be called “Fool for Love.” Joyce: If people want to come out and hear you, where are you playing next? Carell: I will be doing a solo acoustic show on March continued on page 291
Upcoming Jobs: Sunday March 11th, Noon to 3:30 pm • Oxfam America International Women's Day Music Show • High Noon Saloon.
Joyce: How do you get your writing inspirations? Carell:Actually our band name “Fire and Love” is a joke on me because all the songs that I’ve written for them so far either talk about fire or love, or both - either directly or indirectly. I kind of came to music via poetry, so lyrics are very important to me.And it seems that every aspect
Sunday April 22nd, Noon to 3:30 pm • Alliance for Animals Benefit Show • High Noon Saloon. 5
‘Gimme the Beat, Boys’ – Remembering
Dobie Gray
The first time I ever saw Dobie Gray he almost drowned.This would have been 1965 and I was a student at Vanderbilt, a freshman working for the campus newspaper. In what I regarded as a very fine assignment, I had gone to a motel on the outskirts of Nashville to interview a group of rock ‘n’ rollers who were to perform that night on a package show.The headliner was the great Gene Pitney, a future member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and as he and I were chatting by the motel pool – an easy conversation on a warm spring day – Dobie Gray emerged from the building, wearing swim trunks with a towel draped casually over his shoulder. When he saw Gene Pitney by the edge of the pool a smile spread across his brown, handsome face, and he did a cannonball, leaving Pitney and me both drenched.This might have been funny except for one thing. Gray had landed in the deep end of the pool and he couldn’t swim. So there we were, Pitney and me both laughing as Gray thrashed and flailed in water that was clearly over his head. I suppose it took us ten or fifteen seconds before we realized that he wasn’t kidding, that Dobie Gray – this young singer from Texas, whose song,“The In-Crowd,” was soaring toward the top of the charts – was drowning right before our eyes.“Damn!” said Pitney, and he reached out quickly and pulled Gray in. It was an odd little episode that ended well enough,with another round of laughter and a suggestion from Pitney that Gray lacked a future in competitive swimming. I probably didn’t think about it again until that day in 1973 when I heard “Drift Away” on the radio.It had that unmistakable Nashville sound (it was recorded at Quadrafonic Studios and featured Reggie Young’s iconic guitar opening), and it was the song that helped establish Gray, in the words Nashville guitarist Mike Severs, as “Americana before it had a name.”This was even more true of his follow-up single, the Tom Jans ballad,“Loving Arms,”released in 1974.This stunning love song had a greater impact on the evolution of music than it did on the charts, where Gray’s version only reached number 61. But for those who listened closely, here was a country singer with an Afro who understood the music deep in his soul.There would be other recordings of“Loving Arms”– by Elvis Presley, by the Dixie Chicks – but nobody did it with greater purity or beauty or heart. This, I thought, was Nashville at its best. Dobie Gray died last December 11, leaving a trail of mourning among the people who knew him. Severs, who backed him often on his records and his shows, summed it up simply:“Dobie was just a really good guy.” He was also a fine musician. A sharecropper’s son from rural Texas, Gray never thought of music as something you could carve up into categories. He loved it all. He was raised on a mixture of gospel, country,TexMex, and rhythm and blues, and in the course of his long and low-key career he was clearly at ease with all of those influences and more. He began in southern California,
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where he had moved in the early 1960s hoping to pursue an acting career. He did enjoy modest success on the stage, performing in the LA version of “Hair,” and was soon discovered by Sonny Bono who told him he needed to be making records. In California, his first chart single was “Look at Me,” later recorded by the Righteous Brothers, and then came “The ‘In’ Crowd” and Gray’s first taste of musical stardom. It appeared to be fleeting until the early 1970s, when he finally found his identity in Nashville. I saw him there in 1974 in one of the most historic country music shows of the decade. On March 15, 1974 the Grand Ole Opry held its last performance at the Ryman Auditorium before moving to brand new quarters at Opryland. Johnny Cash was the host that night and with his sense of musical history, he wanted a black performer on the show. He knew that the first song ever performed on the Opry – literally the first number on that night in 1926 when the show got its name – was “Pan American Blues” by DeFord Bailey. Bailey was a black harmonica player who performed on the Opry for sixteen years, until he was summarily, inexplicably dropped from the cast. Dobie Gray’s appearance couldn’t right that wrong, but it was a powerful affirmation – by Johnny Cash and by Gray himself – that music is a language that knows no color, and the things that people have in common most often go deeper than the things that divide them. One thing for sure, it was a beautiful night, for there was Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, looking like a Civil War-vintage U.S. Senator and singing like what he was, a man who had seen both the bottom and the top and was probably right at home in both places. He introduced his special guests, first Larry Gatlin and then Gray, who delivered a rollicking, foot-stomping performance that had the Opry faithful shouting for more. I found myself thinking of other black performers who had crossed or blurred that line between country music and other forms.There was, of course, the great Ray Charles who began his career in a country band called The Florida Playboys,and in the early 1960s began to put his own stamp on great country songs –“Busted,”written by Harlan Howard;“Your Cheatin’Heart,”by Hank Williams; and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” by Don Gibson.“I never missed the Grand Ole Opry when I was young,” Ray Charles told me in a later interview.“Hillbilly music is totally honest.They don’t sing,‘I sat there and dreamed of you.’They say,‘I missed you and I went out and got drunk.’ There have been other black artists – Arthur Alexander,Solomon Burke – who did some of their finest recordings in Nashville. But about the time of his Opry performance, Dobie Gray took it one step further. Not only was he recording country songs – or songs that were rooted in the country tradition – he also moved to Nashville and took his place in its musical community. He found what he called “tranquility” there, a collegiality with its musicians and songwriters and for the rest of his career he poured continued on page 7
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much of his energy into songwriting.A remarkable array of artists recorded his material: Ray Charles, George Jones,Tammy Wynette, Charley Pride, John Denver, John Conlee, Brook Benton, Etta James, Conway Twitty, Don Williams,Three Dog Night, Nina Simone. It was a long and impressive list. And through it all Gray kept on recording, hitting the country charts twice in the 1980s, but missing, it seemed, as often as he hit, even when he was sure that the music was good.After a long dry spell in the 1990s, he went into the studio again in 2001 and released an album called“Soul Days.”It consisted mostly of covers, including “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “If Loving You Is Wrong,” R&B classics delivered in Gray’s unmistakable style. But the highlight of the record, at least for me, was the title cut, a song that was equal parts country and soul written by South Carolinian Jonnie Barnette.With Mike Severs on lead guitar, the song reminded me a lot of “Drift Away,” mellow, up tempo, with lyrics affirming the power of music. I woke up feeling the sunshine drift across my face It took me back to emotions, another time and place Those yesterdays, cruising in my Chevrolet I held my baby in my arms But my first love was always a song Talkin’‘bout soul days
Inexplicably, the song was never a hit and it looked as if the dry spell would continue. But then out of nowhere in 2003 the rap artist, Uncle Kracker, decided to record“Drift Away.” Uncle Kracker himself was an interesting story, a Mississippi-born, Michiganbred white rapper whose career had evolved through rock ‘n’ roll to a country tour with Kenny Chesnee. He wanted to do a version of “Drift Away,” he said, as a tribute to one of his favorite songs, and he wanted to do it as a duet with Dobie.The combination was magic, the song soared again to number one, and Gray became one of those rare performers with a song on the charts in four different decades.“He was really excited about that,” remembers Mike Severs,“and I was really happy for him. I can remember the exact minute when I heard the original version of ‘Drift Away.’And then around 1983 I first had the chance to back Dobie in a band. He was a larger than life rock star to me, but he was also this great, friendly guy who seemed to be as respectful of us as we were of him. I loved his singing and his view of music. I don’t think he drew any lines. In his mind, there was just music. And I think he felt the same way about people.”There are worse epitaphs for an artist. Written by: Frye Gallaird
Jason & the Scorchers 30th Anniversary Tour at the Castle Theater Bloomington IL. I can remember it like it was yesterday. The first time I saw Jason and the Scorchers on TV way, way back in the 80’s. They were doing Absolutely Sweet Marie by Bob Dylan, only this wasn’t your Momma’s Dylan. This was raw, loud, and had an edge so sharp it would put a Japanese Ginza knife to shame! These four guys from Nashville were playing music with a Punk edge and a rock & roll attitude. I immediately went out and bought the album,not a CD,they were not around yet; the 33 1/3 record album and played until it was wore out! I stared at the cover and these young bucks with their crazy dress and attitude. My band learned Absolutely Sweet Marie and we then learned White Lies off another Scorchers album. We were the only band “up north” playing Scorchers music. Little did I know back then that I would be attending their 30th anniversary show! Jason & the Scorchers was a “Cowpunk” band that pushed the boundaries of acceptable country music back in the early 80’s. Jason Ringenberg, Warner Hodges, Perry Baggs, and Jeff Johnson were four young guys who had their own idea how Country Music should be played. They were true Rock Stars and played all over the world. They were honored in 2009 with the Life Time Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. Today Ringenberg and Hodges are the only two original players left, but that does not mean that the intensity or showmanship is gone,quite to the contrary. Joining Ringenberg and Hodges are Al Collins on Bass and vocals and Pontus Snibb on drums, two superb musicians who bring new energy to the band. Playing at the beautiful Castle Theater in Bloomington IL.,The Scorchers took the stage at 8:05 p.m.and played for the next three hours! The show was wild and spontaneous! Playing old favorites and new songs the Scorchers showed the enthusiastic crowd in Bloomington that the“boys”have not lost one ounce of energy, talent, or showmanship after thirty years. These guys put most“young”bands to shame. The crowd was on their feet the whole show! Ringenberg’s voice sounds more mature and fuller as he sang and played guitar throughout the night. The harmony voices were incredible, something the original Scorchers lacked. Hodges, Snibb, and Collins are great vocalists in their own rights and provided stunning harmonies throughout the night. Collins on bass set the groove and held the band together as they rocked through the night. Snibb’s drumming is much tighter and fuller than Baggs ever was. He is an incredible drummer and at times you would have thought that the ghost of John Bonham was on stage playing. Hodges by far is the best guitar player in Rock & Roll today. It’s a shame he does not get his due outside of Nashville. He spins and twirls his Telecaster never missing a note. His playing is off the charts in speed and tone. All four of them together make a formable team and one hell of a band. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
A special surprise was when Stacie Collins joined the band on stage for a couple of tunes. My God can she sing, and play the harmonica!!! She blew me away with her stage presence and voice. Somebody get her a record deal!!! She’s 50 times the singer Gretchen Wilson ever thought she could be, and has all the stage presence of Mick Jagger! The lady can rock! After two extended encores it was time to call it a night. The Scorchers signed autographs and took pictures with fans for over two hours after the show. It was great to see musicians connecting with and building the long term relationships that keep artists in the public eye. The Castle Theater is one of the premier venues in the Midwest. These folks got it right in the layout and acoustics for the place. It’s a shame we don’t have a venue in Southern Wisconsin that measures up to the Castle in every aspect. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, it was the cleanest club/theater I have ever been in, more than enough seating, no fights, two security guys were great, the friendliest bartenders, and a great stage and sound. Chuck Fudge ran the sound for the house. Let me tell you this, it was the best sound I have heard in years at a rock club/theater. This guy knows what he is doing! With minimal PA speakers (hint for all you sound guys out there you don’t need a wall of speakers to sound good) Fudge had the Scorchers sounding as pristine as a CD. The volume was perfect! No ears ringing, you could understand all the vocals, the drums were mixed perfectly, guitars never sounded better, and the bass did not thump your heart out. The castle and fudge are to be commended for the excellent sound and light show they provide. It may have been 30 years since the Scorchers first took the stage,but the intensity and music have not suffered at all, in fact it has all aged well. Off for a couple of months and then to Europe for a month the Scorchers will rock their European fans. The show Saturday night was one I’ll never forget! Now if I could just fit into my size 30 waist pants again like I did in 1981 all would be perfect with the world! Story by:Andy Ziehli Photo supplied
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For Love of Life and Music To say that a person lives and breathes music seems like a cliché.We are predisposed to think that it’s a musician’s genre or the instrument they play that defines them—or the very drive to perform. Not so with Doug Sies, arguably south-central Wisconsin’s most prolific and enduring native musical son. Sies is defined by music. His immersion is evident in his powers of observation—a discerning ear, impeccable timing--and the calm confidence he exudes when experimenting with a riff, which he nurtures from melody to opus in swift, sure strokes. A consummate listener with the acuity to quickly pick up on others’ patterns of thought, strengths and vulnerabilities, this modest musician is gifted with the ability to work well with a wide range of partners. I met Doug in early 2000 when we collaborated as part of a Belleville-based singer-songwriting group, and was pleased when he agreed to an interview. Sies’ local legacy is palpable to a large swathe of southern Wisconsin, from Madison to Monroe,Baraboo to Blanchardville. He has played many roles in the span of his 45-plus years as a musician. He anchored Madison’s award-winning Clear Blue Betty as their bass guitarist; he energized audiences for the long-standing country-rock band Summer Haze on rhythm guitar and as lead vocalist from the 1970s through 90s. More recently, accompanying vocalists like Beth Kille and Briana Hardyman on acoustic guitar, Sies easily establishes the critical intimacy between audience and performer. While music has always been part of his life, Doug didn’t come from a particularly musical family. Sies started his musical career at the tender age of 8, when he serenaded the family babysitter from the kitchen (she was sitting in the living room) with a song he learned especially for her. Doug credits his neighbors—as well as his self-confessed desire for the admiration of pretty girls—for helping to nurture his musical career; the neighbors gave him a guitar they found in their attic when he was 11. During this time, Doug developed a bond through music with his brother Duane; they shared the treasured guitar so they could both learn how to play, emulating the sounds of the newly emerging rock and roll. Doug and Duane’s passion for music blossomed with their high school rock band and they shared stage for most of their musical careers. To this day, Sies says the synergy he feels performing with his brother Duane is his greatest musical pleasure. Joined by grade school friend Dale Freidig on the bass and Rick Raught on drums,Doug played rhythm and Duane lead guitar. Mastering the fresh rock-and-roll sound of the
‘60s and ‘70s, the Red Barons delivered Beatles, Monkees, Ventures and Grassroots hits, later adding standards from Merle Haggard and Charley Pride.By the age of 16, the boys had recruited two new talented musicians for their team, replacing Rick on the drums with Evansville’s Scott Allen and Randy Schneeberger on the horn—and renamed their band Summer Haze. Within a year,Summer Haze became the known as southern Wisconsin’s premier prom and homecoming band,expanding their repertoire to include the emerging rockabilly music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and later ZZ Top and Lynrd Skynrd. By the late 70’s,the band had garnered a loyal following and enjoyed widespread name recognition that remains strong to this day. Mention of the band delivers instant smiles over what many call the Midwest’s best beer tent band. Over time, however, the demands of producing Summer Haze’s energetic rock took a toll on Sies’ voice and by 1999, he had to give up singing. In 2002, Sies became the bass player for the Madison-based Clear Blue Betty, a Midwestern rock band led by Madison singer-songwriter Beth Kille,Over the six years Sies performed with Clear Blue Betty, the band came to dominate Wisconsin’s rock-and-roll scene. As always, Sies’ hard work paid off; his partnership with Kille and the other band members (Rob Koth,Tony Kille, Jim Smith and John Masino) produced 3 awardwinning albums, including a Wisconsin Area Music Industry award in 2008 for Best Band of the Southeast Quadrant and 7 Madison Area Music Awards, including Rock Band and Album of the Year- two years in a row. Of all the successes he’s enjoyed as a musician, Sies says his time with Clear Blue Betty was among the most inspirational. “What I liked most about playing with CBB was getting the chance to write original rock.”Sies co-wrote 70-plus songs with Kille and CCB over those six years and had the privilege of playing with Madison’s legendary ax man John Masino. When Clear Blue Betty disbanded in 2008, Sies saw an opportunity to expand his rapidly growing recording studio, as well as explore new musical partnerships. For the past two years, Sies has spent time recording the music of a variety of artists, including co-writing songs and touring the U.K.with an aspiring country singer,Briana Hardycontinued on page 31
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Joe Blanton One Busy Guy! got into the early Punk Rock thing. I was an artist, drawing and painting and such. I fashioned a band poster about a fictitious gig and postdated it for the previous week and put them up around town and where kids hung out. It got such a tremendous response from my friends and the other kids (about wishing they had seen us play) I did it again, and it got an even bigger response. We looked at each other and I said “guys we gotta start a band”. So we bought instruments, I took one guitar lesson, and we were off and running! I have not progressed much since then! AG: Oh I would not say that.You’re a pretty good guitar player! Blanton: Well I stood in front of Warner and borrowed a couple of licks and things from him over the years. AG: Warner’s a freak of nature on the guitar. There are not many guys that can play like him! Blanton: No there aren’t! He’s always been that way. He’s even a great drummer. In fact when our drummer got hurt and could not play he joined my band the RATZ and played drums for us back in ’80 for a few months. That’s how we became friends and we’ve been friends for 32 years.
Joe Blanton may not be a household name to our Northern readers, but to the folks in the South, they know it well. Besides being a world class engineer Blanton is a producer, videographer,recorded songwriter,and one hell of a vocalist. In fact Blanton had a wonderful career as lead singer of The Royal Court of China, a top notch Rock Band in the late 80’s early 90’s and now is the lead vocalist for The Bluefield’s an up and coming Rock Band from Nashville. Blanton currently spends his time between Nashville and Florida where he works as a Media producer/director for the State of Florida. He owns and operates his own recording studio“The UndergroundTreehouse,” in Nashville where The Bluefield’s are currently working. He had four major label cuts from songs he wrote in 2011. To say the least Joe Blanton is one busy guy! To see Blanton on stage and to hear his voice is quite an experience. The Bluefield’s debut show at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville was awe-inspiring! These guys know how to Rock!!! Blanton’s cool stage presence and his crystal clear vocals were a highlight of the show. His harmony singing is superb. Playing his T-52 Nash Tele strapped low Blanton was all the Rock Star anyone would dream to be. His command of the stage and his sheer presence ignited the stage with his band mates Dan Baird and Warner Hodges. A spring tour for the Bluefield’s takes them through the South and then off to Europe. I talked to Blanton in length about his long career and his many projects. He is the kind of guy you want to hang out with (check out the Bluefield videos on You Tube). His studio is home to his many friends and band mates. To say Joe Blanton is the real deal is an understatement! He’s cool, hardworking, and a joy to interview! AG: Joe how are things in Nashville? Blanton: Things are fine. Just cleaning up some loose ends here this morning. My dog left me a post-Christmas present! AG: That proves he loves you! Blanton: I guess! We had two dogs for the longest time. One morning a few months ago I went out to get them from the pen and someone had put another dog in there so now I have three. AG: Let’s talk about Joe Blanton. When did the music bug hit you? Blanton: The music bug hit me during my senior year of High School. Some friends of mine and me were big into Alice Cooper,The Sex Pistols, and the Ramones. We really
AG: Have you always just played Rock & Roll? Blanton: I started out with Rock but being from Nashville, you’re bound to get a little country on ya from time to time.When the Ramones came out and I learned the E bar chord, it was all about being fast and loud. My right hand was just a blur in all of the photos I’ve seen of me from that era. I played the E bar chord for about three months until someone taught me the A bar chord and that opened up a few more possibilities and I got to throw away the Finger-eze. For some reason I thought I wasn’t half bad. I guess it never occurred to me at the time that I lived in Guitar Town. When Jason and the Scorchers came along I got into Country Music a little because they found a way to make it cool for a punk rocker to dig. Being from Nashville I guess it was in my DNA or in the water,but the Scorchers really opened up a new way to play it.Ya know, three chords and a cloud of dust! My mom was a big Elvis fan and Johnny Cash loomed large here in town on the AM radio. Hearing the Scorchers play classic country standards at blitzkrieg speed made me think,“wow Hank Williams was a Punk Rocker”! When they got a record deal, the first of the Nashville bands to do so, it put everything in a different light. I had gone off to college when they got signed and came back to Nashville and went “man, it can be more than just playing down the street at the local clubs”! When I got out of college I decided I was going to try the music path. I could always go back to painting and drawing at any age. So I put together a band that would eventually become The Royal Court of China and two years later I had a record deal. I don’t know if it was the right decision, but I went for it anyway. AG: It was the right decision for the time in your life. Blanton: Yea it was. I’ve met some great people over the years that I would have never met without being in a band. I have a great time playing. I’m reconnecting with a lot of those folks today and it’s great. I have also been fortunate enough to work with great people like Dan Baird. I was one of the lucky people at the first Georgia Satellites Show here in Nashville and they blew me away! I could not believe that a band could be that good! My jaw dropped to the floor! Everyone in the club was that way. You don’t know how many Scorchers and Satellite’s songs I have written over the years trying to get my band to play them. That music was infectious. AG: Tell me about the Royal Court of China. Blanton: Just four guys from the suburbs of North Nashville. We were just at the right place at the right time I guess. We were a cross between Led Zeppelin, REM, and the Byrds. I was always a Punk Rocker and wanted to bring an edge to it. We had great musicians who were into Jimmy Page and T. Rex.With all those influences we had a really cool sound. We attracted the attention of A&M Records out of L.A. and they came out to see us play. It was a small little club. We were so green we had no idea how to put on a showcase. We even made the Vice President of A&M records pay to get in! He came up to us afterwards and offered us a deal. He said he knew he wanted to sign us continued on page 31
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CD Review Carell Casey ♪♪♪♪♪ A New Day Folk Rock/Americana Independent Release Carell Casey is a local singer songwriter in Madison WI. I first became aware of her talent at the Girls Rock Camp fundraiser at the High Noon Saloon in late 2011. Beth Kille asked Carell to perform and if Beth Kille has you open for her you have instant street cred with me! (She is also the featured Woman in the Round in this issue – check her out.)
Farewell Drifters ♪♪♪♪♪ Echo Boom Heart Squeeze Records Blue Grass/New Grass I love the Farewell Drifters! They are my favorite Bluegrass group. I’ve seen them in concert many times and they have never disappointed!!! Echo Boom is their second CD and it does not disappoint either!!! This CD is the Farewell Drifters Pet Sounds. If Brian Wilson played Bluegrass this is what he would sound like. The CD starts off with Punchline a rolling up-tempo tune that reaches out and grabs you and holds your attention throughout the whole song. Tip of the Iceberg is a bit more of a traditional sounding tune. It glides along and you can’t help but tap your foot to it. The third song on the CD is my favorite We Go Together. It has a 60’s pop vibe to it. It was even recorded with that early 60’s vocal effect. The video is very cool (check it out on You Tube). This tune is so cool you can almost hear a band like the Mama’s and Papa’s,Byrds,or The Vogues cutting this tune in their day. Roses is another favorite on this CD. The 12 string beginning is very Byrd’s style and the tempo is got a great groove to it. You Were There really has the Brian Wilson feel to it with the vocal layering and orchestration. All the songs on Echo Boom were written by the Farewell Drifters. They played all the instrumentation on this CD except the percussion that was played by Evan Hutchings. These guys are phenomenal musicians and vocalists. They are the best of the best of the new Bluegrass Musicians making headlines today. We can only hope that they get up “North” here to play in 2012. I give Echo Boom a top pick!!! It’s one of the best CD’s recorded in 2011. Review by:Andy Ziehli
The CD is a mix of wonderfully written songs that hold the listener’s attention. Casey is a great writer who has great command of words and lyrical rhythm. Favorite tunes on this CD are Sweet Love, Dancing,Too Tireless to Tame, and So Are You for Me. All these songs really showcase Casey’s talent and spirit. They are well written songs with attitude and sensibility running through them. Casey’s vocal style is laid back. Her phrasing and punch comes from the heart in these songs. You can tell she has lived and learned from the experiences that brought these songs to life.
Chris Head & the Honchoes ♪♪♪♪♪ Hard Truths Americana/Pop Independent Release Chris Head, Rizal Iskandarsjach, and Tim Ungrodt make up Chris Head & the Honchoes. They are based out of Milwaukee. Combining elements of rock, traditional country, folk, and power pop into a superb mix of sounds.
This is a great CD to play when you want to kick back and relax. A time for retrospect and reflection. A New Day was recorded at Timber Rock Studio in La Valle,WI. Lucas Etten engineered it and he did an excellent job capturing Casey at her best. A New Day is well worth adding to your collection. It showcases a fine local Singer/Songwriter in her true element. Carell Casey may not be a household name around here yet, but I bet she will very, very soon! Review by:Andy Ziehli
Picnic Area ♪♪♪ You know you want it Americana/Alt-Country Picnic Area is an Alt-Country/Americana band out of Manchester England. They have been playing together since 2006,at this time they were a duo consisting of Andy Callen and Wayne McDonald. Recently they added Simon Parkin, Matt Crawford, and Paul Mania. There sound can be best described as stripped down rootsy Country reminiscent of Bobby Bare Jr., Uncle Tupelo, and the Le Roi Brothers. Their sound is very much their own. The songs have a haunting style to them, very No Depression in makeup and feeling. The seven song EP is well recorded and showsThe Picnic Area’s songwriting ability. Silver Train, Chain Gang, and I’m not going to heaven if Hank Williams ain’t there are the top songs on the EP.
This CD rocks with well written well played Americana songs. There’s enough twang here for the purest country lover and enough footstompin Rock & Roll for the rocker in you. Head wrote all of the songs and sings lead on all of them. He is a consummate musician and writer. He reminds me of Radney Foster in his vocal style and writing. That is not to say that he is a clone of Foster, because he is well past that! Head is a storyteller that touches the listener both lyrically and musically. Some of the great tracks on the CD include Tina Smile, It won’t happen to you, Family Plot (my favorite),and Be that man. The cool guitar parts and the excellent rhythm section of this CD really bring these songs to life. The musicianship matches the writing and makes for a very, very enjoyable listening experience. I recommend this CD to everyone, especially if you like that dreamy 60’s vibe of the Byrds, Beatles, and early Foster & Lloyd. The Pop feeling of Heads songs rings true to his roots. He’s not a plagiarist of the past. He’s a student and he has learned his lessons well! Hats off to Chris Head & the Honchoes on Hard Truths! One of my favorite CD’s I have listened to in the past 6 months. Review by:Andy Ziehli
I would like to hear more up-tempo songs from the Picnic Area on their next outing. This CD is a good showcase of their talent, but it would be nicer to see them stretch a little more on their next outing. The Picnic Area is a very good band and worth giving a listen. Check them out. Review by:Andy Ziehli
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Rick Harris ♪♪♪♪♪ Up All Night Blues/Swing/Americana Independent Release Rick Harris is a fantastic musician who has played around Wisconsin and the Midwest for many years. He now calls Mineral Point his home. His style is a cross between Gatemouth Brown and Leon Russell and that cool Tulsa sound. This CD is filled with well written foot tapping songs that jump out of the speakers right into your head. Harris is a fantastic writer that knows his way around a song both lyrically and hook wise. He has surrounded himself on Up All Night with fantastic musicians who bring his compositions to life. Favorite songs on the CD are Up all night, Baby doesn’t love me (my favorite on the CD), Que Pasa Con Tigo (my second favorite song), and Old Records. The backing musicians are fantastic and play with heart throughout the CD. This is a great CD and I order you to get a copy and add it to your collection! Harris is a true treasure to listen to. He knows his way around a song and his voice is bold and bright as he sings this fantastic collection of songs. You can tell a true artist because they don’t have to have gimmicks to create great songs. Harris is one of the great ones. His songs reflect life and love and are told in a way that everyone can connect to them. No gimmicks here, just great songs sung with a great voice!
ing for a Train,” which may be my all-time favorite among Clark’s songs. I still remember the first I heard it. It was back around 1975, and I wandered into the Exit In in Nashville for what turned out to be an utterly forgettable performance by David Allen Coe. Fortunately, Coe had an opening act, who turned out to be Clark, and as he ran through the songs on his soon-to-be-released first album,“Old Number One,”I realized I was hearing something special. “LA Freeway,”“That Old Time Feeling,”“Let Him Roll,”“Texas 1947” – any one of these could have been the showpiece of very fine songwriter’s set. But the songs kept coming, one after another, continuing to build in emotional intensity until at last he came to “Desperados Waiting for a Train.” It was a song about his grandmother’s boyfriend, a hard-living, kind-hearted, oil-drilling drifter by the name of Jack Prigg with whom Clark had established a lifelong friendship. I remember even now that when the song was over, there was a pause – almost awkward in its length, I thought – before anybody began to applaud. Finally, some guy said,“Damn, what a song!” and the room erupted. I remember thinking then what Lyle Lovett later put into words:“Guy Clark’s songs are literature.” If you don’t believe it,listen to this tribute CD.Lovett is on it,and so are Steve Earle and Ray Wylie Hubbard and Jerry Jeff Walker and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.There were a handful of cuts that took me by surprise – Suzy Bogguss doing “Instant Coffee Blues,” a raw and haunting morning-after song about sex; or Vince Gill doing“Randall Knife,”a recitation song about the death of a father (on which, as it turns out, Gill had played guitar for Clark’s original recording.) But most of this album is exactly what I thought it would be – some of the greatest Americana artists singing some of the greatest Americana songs. “Let’s give her a good go and make ol’ Guy proud of us,”said Rodney Crowell, as he entered the studio. I’m pretty sure that’s what they did.
Review by:Andy Ziehli
Sammy Llanas ♪♪♪♪♪ 4 A.M. Inner Knot Records Americana
Review by: Frye Gaillard
Grateful Dead ♪♪♪♪♪ Dick’s Picks Vol. 35 Jam Rock
Sammy Llanas came out of the starting blocks after leaving the Bo Deans wondering what the future held for him. He needn’t have to worry. Llanas has hit a home run right out of the batter’s box with 4 A.M. This is not your daddy’s Llanas rocking up a storm. This is a mature performer doing what he does best, writing great songs! The CD is Llanas except for the Cindy Lauper song All Through The Night which is a wonderful cover. The CD radiates with heartfelt acoustic songs that let Llanas show a side we never got to see in the Bo Deans. The arrangements on this CD are well thought out and the accordion really f ills the songs with a very cool vibe. My favorite song on the CD is Fare Thee Well a Tex Mex flavored ballad that takes you to a small café on the coast of Mexico in the early evening when you shut your eyes and listen to it. My next favorite is Nobody Luvs Me which is a down home love song anyone in love can relate too. All the songs on this CD are wonderfully written and played. Llanas deserves a lot of credit for not coming out with a Bo Deans record. 4 A.M. shows maturity and respect for his fans. I’m sure Sammy has some rockers left in him, but this is a great start to a new career! Go out and buy 4 A.M.!!!! It’s a superb CD to put in for a long drive on a cool Wisconsin winter night. The rhythms will keep you going and the melodies will sooth your soul! Wisconsin can be proud of Sammy Llanas and Llanas can be proud of this CD! Winners all around!!!! Review by:Andy Ziehl
Various Artists ♪♪♪♪♪ This One’s for Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark Style: Americana Icehouse Music This is a double CD soaring toward the top of the Americana charts for a very good reason. It contains 30 of the best songs you’ll ever hear – or at the risk of being redundant, 30 of Guy Clark’s best songs. Producers Tamara Saviano and Shawn Camp,in celebration of Clark’s 70th birthday,gathered 33 of his musical friends at studios in Austin and Nashville to sing their favorites among his songs.The results are stunning. Here are Emmylou Harris and John Prine singing “Magnolia Wind,” and Patty Griffin performing “The Cape,” and Willie Nelson rising to the challenge of “Desperados Waitw w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
Imagine for a moment that you are an archeologist in some far away land digging and brushing away soil and years at your dig site. Suddenly your pick strikes something hard and unnatural. You brush hysterically unearthing this new ancient wonder. You pull out the artifact and hold in to the light carefully. This is the first time in whoknows how long that this object has seen the sky and world. That is how this newest re-release of Dick’s Picks make me feel. Let me explain. The original 1971 late summer recordings on this release were giving to the Dead’s newest piano player, Keith Godchaux to use to practice with and become more accustomed to the band’s new and old material. The recently captured recordings were then left on his parent’s houseboat in California and forgotten. Thirty-five years later, they were found and in surprisingly good condition. So, as I listened, and I kept thinking about how long these recordings had been missing “sonically” from the universe. Soon though I began to thinking of all the other musical treasures that lay missing, just waiting for someone to unearth them. Maybe it’s an early bluegrass recording that got lost in the mountains, maybe it’s a Mesopotamian hymn writing on stone covered in sand, or maybe it’s just the song of a bird that no longer exists. That’s what this release brings to the table for me. On this four disc set, there is one full San Diego show, and part of a Chicago show with over an hour of the Hollywood Palladium. The set lists are solid early Dead. They offer the new at the time favorites, and create a very solid base of songs for people just getting into the Dead. The first disc offers quite a few of the “hits of the day”, including Casey Jones and Truckin’. The second disc starts to get a little more on the improvisational end of things, which is more than ok by me. Another thing I began to notice is that a good amount of the song selection was brand new to the band at that time. There are missing harmonies where a listener is used to hearing them, unsure lyrics, and that exciting “anything can happen” feeling. That’s the thing about the Grateful Dead’s songs they aren’t quick radio friendly hits, they are journeys. The audience is never quite sure where the song will go, and I have a feeling that the performers weren’t too sure either. That’s what makes this music so exciting. Everyone is in it together. The third disc has great jams, holds a few surprises, and closes with Broke down Palace one of the GD’s most beautiful songs… in my opinion. Oh and all I have to say about the fourth disc is 25-minute Turn on Your Love light, with Pigpen at the helm. Is it the Grateful Dead’s tightest performances? No, but there is magic behind these performances and songs. There were good vibes in the air these few late summer nights, and even though the tapes were kept in terrible conditions, the vibes survived. The good vibes will survive. Review by: Rob Kosmeder
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A PET NOTE
Is This LEFTY or PONCHO?
Why it’s LEFTY of course and it is the celebrity dog of Chelsea Crowell the beautiful young lady featured on our front cover.
When I was listening to Chelsea Crowell’s new CD,“Crystal City”, I couldn’t help but notice the attractive looking dog on the cover of her CD. I pulled out her first CD, selftitled “Chelsea Crowell” and noticed that this dog was on that cover as well. I figured he must really be special and I need to do a Pet Note story on him. So when I went to interview Chelsea, I snuck in a bunch of questions about her dog.This is what I found out. Chelsea rescued Lefty about 7 years ago. He is a very non-needy pet and really just likes to hang out. He’s part hound dog and likes to wail at most anything. I think it is his way of singing along when Chelsea is recording a song. Now Lefty is really named after the song, Lefty and Poncho. The Townes Van Zandt song,which happens to be one of Chelsea’s favorite songs. Why Lefty and not Poncho? Chelsea said “he looks like a Lefty”. Lefty doesn’t travel on tour with Chelsea at this time. Maybe when he gets older and grows up a little more he may be invited along. As Chelsea and I were speaking, Lefty jumped up on the bed and was getting in a little bit of trouble. I heard “naughty dog” a couple of times. One cute story that Chelsea shared with me was about the time Lefty left the yard and went out on an adventure. Chelsea said he likes to break out of the yard frequently. There happens to be a restaurant behind Chelsea’s house,named the Nashville Dog. It’s a hot dog joint. Lefty likes to frequent this joint and enjoys sitting on the front porch, watching people come and go. I think he would make a great mascot for this Hot “DOG” place. Anyway, the owners had to call Chelsea 2 or 3 times in one day alone to have her come and get Lefty. He was sitting very politely on the porch, looking quite dapper and hound dog/German Shepardish like, a real handsome fellow. The owners didn’t share these same feelings and threatened to call Animal Control if he came back again. Poor Lefty, all he wanted was a hot dog. He wouldn’t have even ordered it with the works, plain would have been just fine! Chelsea stated that she really admired Lefty for his research and development in staking out the joint. If, I mean when,you purchase Chelsea’s CD’s, you will see Lefty on the cover of her latest CD, Crystal City, her first CD,“Chelsea Crowell” and also on the back of her band CD. Who knows where he will pop up next, maybe he will make his own CD – and could call it – Lefty Live with the Nashville Dogs!!!
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Oh and before I end this story, Lefty chimed in and wanted me to tell you readers “thanks for reading the story about me, but Chelsea will feel bad if you don’t read the feature story about her. I don’t want to hurt her feelings!!” Story by: Joyce Ziehli Photos supplied by Chelsea Crowell.
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Bob’s Guitar Corner # 2
Rhythm Playing In the first lesson we talked about alternate picking e.g. down-up picking. So let’s apply that same technique for our rhythm playing.What most players are doing when they play rhythm is they are alternating strumming or brushing the strings with the pick starting from the lowest string (thickest) to the highest string (thinnest) and then, highest to lowest. I would generally recommend that you start with a down stroke (strum). It’s easier and you have gravity on your side. Imagine if you will that we are in 4/4 time.That means we have 4 beats to the measure, or four ¼ notes and the quarter note gets the beat.We are going to divide that into sixteenth notes.That means in a single measure of 4/4 we will be strumming the strings 16 times.This can be done at any tempo, I recommend slowly at first. So let’s get back to the strumming.Again, since we are in 4/4 and there are 4 beats in our measure each beat is going to get 4 strums. 1 beat = 4 strums, 4 beats = 16 strums. One way you can count this is to say “one-e-and-a “. Each syllable is representing a sixteenth note. One sixteenth note is a strum. So physically that would equate to”down-up-down-up,”which would be 4 strums. If you do this pattern 4 times you get 16 strums.Whew! 16 strums and you get a measure of 4/4. Now, as I said before this is what most players are doing when they play rhythm guitar.The trick now is the“accent”or“emphasis”.That means you are going to be hitting the accented strum a little harder.Let’s start by putting the accent on the first strum of each of the 4 groups of 4 strums. Just like when we counted the 4 sixteenth notes of “one-e-and-a” the accent would be on the one of“one-e-and-a”. Here is what an accent mark looks like. (>) > > One is louder.“ONE-e-and-a.”The strumming would be DOWN-up-down-up.
MIKTEK
Once you can do this easily try moving the accent to the” and “, or the third strum which is an up strum. > It would look like this.” one-e-AND-a”. Now try playing the > accent on the “e” of one-E-and-a.This is a bit more difficult because you are now accenting on the up stroke.Darn gravity.Remember,it’s the accent that makes the rhythm unique and distinctive. It never hurts to watch how other players are doing this. Practice this and you will be playing hot rhythm guitar in no time. Good Luck! Repeat till arm falls off. Bob Westfall is a Multi-Instrumentalist, Songwriter, Performer, Recording Artist, Producer, and has been teaching guitar and mandolin for 30 years. For lessons or contact email to bobbywestfall@hotmail.com By: Bobby Westfall
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You may have heard this one as the old Golden Grahams cereal commercial. This is an easy one to improvise on so try doing some variations, and have fun with it! Bob has written 3 Mandolin books for Hal Leonard Music Publishing and teaches Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele, Tenor Banjo,and Fiddle. in Madison, WI. Bob performs with "Big Bang String Thing" at The Merchant 121 N. Pinckney on Feb. 2nd & 16th in Madison 9 p.m. For lessons contact Bob at 608.335.5153 or email to bobbywestfall@hotmail.com
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Miktek is a fairly new company here in Nashville creating a huge amount of buzz with their studio and stage microphones. Reviews in the trade magazines and from engineers and producers in the field have been wowed to see these new microphones go up against some of the industry standard’s best. I had the chance to talk with Mike Ketchell, president of Miktek and he was kind enough to share what’s been going on with this great new company. AG-Hey Mike, it’s great to meet with you.Tell us a little about your colorful musical background. Mike-I was interested in music early on as all kids were in the 60's and 70's; school music programs and bands. And I was into gear early on buying guitars at flea markets and selling them to friends for a little profit. AG- Where in NY were you from? Mike- Long Island. AG-And I understand your tastes in music ranged from classical to punk? Mike- Absolutely. On Long Island, we figured everyone was from the city or the country. Going through a bridge out of Manhattan on to Long Island meant you lived in the country.Then when I moved to the Midwest and found out what the country meant. (Laughs) It’s why I love Nashville so much. It feels like both a small town and a big city. AG- So how did you get your start with audio gear? Mike-I always used to modify gear. I was always hanging out in the music stores; from like age 15 to 21 when they finally hired me (Laughs). I left a real good full time job to work part time in a music store.I just wanted to be around it.Luckily I did that because it led to a lot of great experiences in this industry. So, I worked in many different aspects of this industry from retail.Then to my own startup company. I was sales manager for Mackie Designs.Various manufactures...marketing, R&D. It’s been a lot of fun being involved on so many levels. AG- From all that,what brought on the decision to finally set up shop here in Nashville? continued on page 28
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Mad Toast Live! the interview More great good fortune came my way this weekend when I caught up with Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines, hosts of WORT's Mad Toast Live!- over some French toast at the El Dorado Grille. Dizzyingly talented, milelong-repetoired, but mostly generous, consummate professionals! AM: How did Mad Toast Live! get its name? MG:Way back when I first got my computer, I was trying to draw with the mouse, and what I drew looked like a piece of toast, with a face, and it looked mad. CW: It did, it had this puff of smoke coming out of it. MG: So we thought, toast of Madison, mad toast, that would be a cool name for...something we do, and we kind of stored it up until the time and thing were right. AM: So has Mad Toast Live! always been hosted at The Brink? CW: It has, the show started in 2008, and after about 8 months,Andrew LaValley, Bear Sound teamed up with us and is now our head engineer and technical producer. He did a lot of research on shows that developed podcasts,like Austin City Limits, andThis American Life- he spends hours mixing each podcast. AM: How was this show born? MG:Well we used to host a jam at Club De Wash.We inherited the acoustic jam at the Club de Wash from Willy Porter, but it was “Papa Hambone” who had a WPR broadcast from the Club de Wash that was kind of a variety show which featured interviews with poets, musicians and other interesting folks (and also featured the same house band as the“Waddyaknow Show”that we drew our original inspiration from – that and also the late “Hotel Milwaukee” show that was also on WPR. AM: Everyone who has worked with you two refers to you as "consummate professionals". You do everything from playing out,to recording,to hosting the show, you do commercial work, do you teach violin to fourth graders? CW: Oh yeah! MG:We do, give private lessons. AM: So there seems to be this characteristic growing in the Madison music scene that's like this celebration and honoring of the wealth of talent here. When I interviewed Elizabeth Engen-Brink it showed through, it's reflected when people talk about you two, Joyce and Andy Ziehli contribute to it, there doesn't seem to be this cut-throat competition, what's up with that? MG: It's really a combination of things: first, you get more work when you help each other, and just a more pleasant way to live, helping each other. CW: It seems like more here in Madison there's this cross-genre, everybody knows everybody, and it's less of a scene and more of a community. AM:You two literally do every aspect of professional musicianship, if you could narrow the focus, and just pick one thing, would you? What would it be? MG:We have friends,who we've played with and respect a lot who have branded themselves, their name, which is smart. CW: Maybe that's what we should have done, but we stayed diversified- have done so many things, we're still involved in so many things. AM:Talk about how the Madison music community changed after the Club De Wash burned down. CW: Oh those were the days. You'd unload, go through the Barber's closet, get catcalled at, and The Barber's Closet was the best- they had a great jukebox, we loved the jazz. It was just such a good place to be, so many greats hung out there. AM: So this would have been in the mid eighties? MG: Early to mid, yeah. AM:And after the fire? What do you do? CW: Everyone was bummed, we really only had the jam then, at Club de Wash and we were traveling and touring a lot back then, with the Common Faces. But Okayz Coral
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was a scene in itself, you know. And there were other venues. MG: We played this bar in Milwaukee where I left a bass, once. And Willy (Porter) brought it back to me, but first he played it in a gig, and then when he brought it back, I was in awe, with this bass, all covered in Willie's mojo! AM: Do I have the chronology right, that your time with Common Faces followed your time with Harmonious Wail? MG: And there was Mammals of Swing, that came before Harmonious Wail, we may have a few of those fans around. AM:Who were your heroes then? MG: Richard Davis, Roger Brotherhood, jazz musicians. CW: Paul Cebar,Willy Porter, Randy Sabien. AM: So you guys worked in a time where you might bump into someone at the Club De Wash, and maybe you had their phone number, but if they were cool, they weren't home to answer it anyway, and you might have left a note on their door, if you knew where they lived, but you were probably more likely to just happen into them while you were out, when you could literally pull your phone out of your pocket and post on face book that you are playing a gig at El Dorado for brunch today, and within 30 minutes, you could pack this dining room. Which is better? CW: Both are good, it's just a question of using the tools available to you at the time. AM: Back to the show, Mad Toast Live! How does it work, is it work? CW: Because of who we are, we are really suited to it. I have an extremely high threshold of objectivity, so I can appreciate a lot of different styles of music, even if they aren't my preference.Our goal is really to support the local music scene,and sometimes we get to have touring regional artists on their way between Chicago and wherever, and that's great! AM: Do you try to theme the show? CW:We have series within the show, or seasons that we might theme, like this season we'll have more bluegrass, so the bluegrass fans can saddle up, but I also like to pair up opposites,I think that makes for an interesting show.Music promotion is like a full-time job though, and connection can be kind of seasonal, it's a lot like farming, you've got to make hay when the sun shines! MG: Chris usually does the talking points for the interviews, and then I try to keep the show conversational- being a teacher really helps, we are pretty open-minded people. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
We've always been supporting musicians, you know, it's been our job to make people sound good.
CW: Now we're going to be on the record with that.
AM: Have you been able to identify favorite guests? MG: Oh, they've been so diverse, but when we had opera recently, it was so cool, I really liked learning about it, and once when we had this really avant garde poet, I felt unsure of what to really listen for at first, and sometimes it’s really just a mood thing, what you are in the mood for. CW: We've had so much fun, the diversity is the thing: like we had a band, Delhi to Dublin, where this Indian guy in a kilt played a sitar; Don Peachy Band, Ry Cooder, we had Mountain Heart, Grammy award winners from Nashville; Mike Marshall; Claudia Schmidt... MG: I really enjoy the more unusual singer-songwriters, the ones who are stylistically different. I really like to root for the underdog. CW: It's not that we don't like the big artists, it's just...
AM:What's the secret to surpassing generations of music in a local music scene the size of Madison's? MG:The Madison music scene is like an organic business, there's so many people talking to so many people, and of different ages.The key has really been for us to bounce everything off of each other. We've had different roles in music, and different roles in life, and we've always been a duo, supporting each other, or side musicians supporting the whole sound.That has strongly influenced who we are,it's about listening,because it's always been our job to make other people sound good.That has made us be able to really support each other. I think it's really important for people to exercise a creative outlet to express themselves using their own minds. Also, I don't answer the phone just because it rings. What's going on in my mind is more important than the phone. And that might be my advice as a teacher, too, 'do you want to learn something? or do you want to talk on the phone?' You know, you can't learn to play the guitar while you are on the phone, and there's nothing like the one on one experience of teaching.
AM:They don't need as much help? CW:Yeah, kind of. And we stay true to the goal, which is to support the local talent scene. Like Mickey's has kind of become our after bar hangout. MG:After-show hangout. CW: Right, after show hangout. It's really like a continuation of the show's conversation, and the community has so many people of different ages, like once we had a polka band, the Don Peachy band, the only quests to show up in a silver eagle bus, Don is like 80 years old. MG:And his son is like 60, so there's Don, playing this accordion, and his son was playing the trumpet with one hand, and a keyboard with the other, because they didn't have a bass player. AM: So the diversification of the guests is by design. CW:Absolutely, but it's not really too much work to achieve that. Like we are hosting a jazz series, and they have grants, which can bring national artists, too. AM: Do you have an awareness about fans of the show vs. fans of the guests? Can you tell when people show up to see you guys and when the guests draw the crowd? CW: Not really, because sometimes we'll sit in and play along with the guests. MG:Sometimes our show is really a ticketed performance by the guests,and we are just presenters. AM: Have you ever felt like you needed to step in and save someone from drowning? CW: (a chuckle) Not on the show, really, but playing live, for sure. AM:What about session artistry, you record with so many bands, how much influence to you yield? CW: Our motto is 'serve the song'. We are really collaborators. AM: Is the song ever just not good? Do you find yourselves needing to influence? CW: If I had advice it's that younger artists sometimes need to learn when to speak and when to listen. The producer's role is to guide the sound, and we're really there to help flush out the sound. MG: People can get attached to their own ideas, and that's when ego can get involved,so we might try to relieve people of pre-conceived notions, and have an open mind.
AM: Now for the speed round: Other than music, what are you fanatics of? CW: Old time airplanes. MG: Color. AM:What's the best place in the world? CW: Home MG:Yeah, home. AM:What's the best gig you've ever played? MG: Oh, we played recently on top of Rib Mountain, near Wausau, and it was like, well, playing on top of a mountain! CW:And,headlining the International folk festival,in Hallein,Austria,in a beer tent with 2000 sweaty and drunk Austrians! AM: Do you listen to music on Ipods? Both MG and CW: No. MG:We don't like how it sounds. AM: CD player then? CW:Turntable. Rye Cooter jazz, I think is on it now. AM:Who or what is the greatest loss to music that you can think of? MG: Sarah Vaughn AM:Who or what is the greatest contribution to music? MG: Radio CW:The new digital recording technology. It's opened so many doors, now everyone can afford to produce music, which is both good and bad, there's so much more to wade through now, what's good and what's bad, but if you think about it, we'll never really know another Elvis, because everyone can produce anything. AM:What's the worst kind of clichĂŠ? MG: Oh, probably the one that's so tired: 'It's only 3 chords, how hard can it be?' CW: One that's really used up is probably that musicians are drug-using, irresponsible, non-stop party-ers....just ain't so!
AM: Can you teach that? Do people actually grow into openmindedness? MG: Oh yes, in sessions, it's about bringing a bunch of sketches,and often it's either the first take,or the fiftieth take. CW:Yeah, a lot of times the first take is the one you build on. For us, though, it's about learning to stay out of the way. MG: Sometimes you have to spend some takes warming up to the gel,and we've always been the supporting sides,me on the base and Chris with strings- now we work as a duo, and we've always been that, supporting each other, so we can bring a variety of perspectives. It's about the flow. AM: If you could spend all your professional time on just one aspect of the music, what would it be? Teaching, recording, hosting, gigging? MG: Definitely gigging.We also love teaching! AM:When you play a gig, or record in the studio, who plays what? MG: I play two instruments, and Chris plays, what six? AM: So does the set list tell you what gear to pack? MG:We don't really use a set list. CW: We tried that sort of, especially with the Moon Gypsies, and if we play a bigger show or festival, we do, but it's not really us. AM: So you go do a show, or go into the studio, you what, pack the kitchen sink in case the spirit moves you during a show? CW:The song tells us what it needs, and we really like to wing it. Dave Lindley (Jackson Browne) really did it right, he'd take everything into the studio, I follow that thinking. AM:What do you want the world to know about your music? CW:That we really like this- doing the show and we're going to keep doing it. MG: If we have a vow to our fans it's that we mean to get back to some original music. AM:Speaking of that,do either of you fancy yourselves with the title:singer/songwriter? MG:It seems like there's not enough time for that,but really mean to get back to recording original stuff. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
AM: What's going on now/next and how do we find out about it? MG: Chris is working on his second and third fiddle books for Hal Leonard. CW:You can download podcasts of Mad Toast Live!, you can check stellanovas.com, that kind has the Chris and Mary calendar of events. Or, bigbangstringthing.com, or check out graminy.net our newest band. AM:What's the new band about? MG: It's new grass/ class-grass AM:And what is the difference between new grass and blue grass? CW: New grass has jazz chords, and Latin sound. Our group, "Graminy" is actually more "class-grass", mixing elements of Classical, Bluegrass, Klezmer, Indian, and jazz, while "Big Bang String Thing", our group with our long-time friend and musical partner, Bob Westfall, is more "Jazz-Grass". MG: So rehearsing is really more about arranging, which is one of the most exciting things. Chris and Mary spent our time conveying this supporting cast role they have taken on over the years, but make no mistake, they are really more like the white-coated research geniuses pro-creating the human DNA of the Madison music community for all posterity.Thanks you two! Website info: MAD TOAST LIVE www.madtoastlive.com THE STELLANOVAS www.thestellanovas.com GRAMINY www.graminy.net BIG BANG STRING THING www.bigbangstringthing.com STUDIO STRINGS www.studiostrings.com Story by: Anne Miller
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Chelsea Crowell Releases 2nd Solo CD – CRYSTAL CITY Well you can’t ever say the Americana Gazette is not family friendly! In the past we have had Rodney Crowell (Chelsea’s Dad) and Rosanne Cash (Chelsea’s Mother) featured on the cover of our magazine. This time it is Chelsea’s turn and she deserves it. If you listened to her first CD, self titled “Chelsea Crowell”, that was a great CD, now her second solo CD, “Crystal City” is amazing. She is one gal you need to be checking out. Chelsea Crowell was born January 25th in Nashville Tennessee. She attended elementary school and high school in both New York and Nashville. She has also lived in Baltimore, Memphis, Charleston and Colorado. When she was 19, she formed a band, Jane Only with Stephen Braren, with whom she still works with on occasion. She attended Belmont University and Memphis College of Art, studying history, English and photography. Currently she lives in Nashville and has just finished recording her second album as well as working on an opera. In the last issue of the Americana Gazette we reviewed her latest CD, and now I had the chance to talk with Chelsea about her CD, her career and her dog, Lefty. (Which happens to be this issue’s featured Pet Note, be sure to check this out.) Joyce: Hello Chelsea. How is the weather in Nashville this evening? Chelsea: We are having great weather. I have been in Ireland for a few weeks and I was ready to see some sunshine again. Joyce: Chelsea, do you know anything about our magazine? Chelsea: Yea, in fact I do. You had a photo of my Dad on one issue and my Mom too. I’m well acquainted with your magazine. Joyce: Well, now it’s your turn to be the featured artist. Chelsea: This is great timing with my new CD coming out and I will be starting out on tour again this Spring. Perfect! Joyce: Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself. You obviously grew up in a musical household, Rodney, Rosanne, and your grandparents, Johnny and June Cash. When did you first start playing and thinking music was going to be your career? Chelsea: That is really not a very interesting story, so I’ll make it fast. (we both laugh) I first started playing guitar when I was 13 years old, then I gave it up for a number of other projects I wanted to try to see if I could find out what I wanted to do with my life. I didn’t start playing again
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until I was about 18. I started a band with my boyfriend at the time. We had one record that we put out.
Chelsea: Online on my website: chelseajanecrowell.com, unless you live in Nashville, then you can get it at the local record shops, Grimey’s etc. It is also available on Amazon.
Joyce: When did you start writing songs? Joyce: Do you work another job now or is music going to be your one and only career? Chelsea: I started writing back when I was 13. I never stopped writing songs, I just stopped playing music. I was the head of a literary column for a magazine in high school, so I wrote a lot for this. When I got to college, I started playing again. We lived in Charleston, then moved to Memphis, then back to Nashville where I started a band and started recording. Actually my cohort, then boyfriend and later collaborator, he recorded on the last record I did,“Crystal City”. We still work together. Joyce: Do you co-write? Chelsea: (laughs) I don’t co-write with anybody! Joyce: Not even your Mom or Dad? Chelsea: No. I have co-written with one of my best friend’s from high school. We cowrote some funny songs together one time. Another good friend of mine, who does videos for me, and actually just came off a 7 week tour with me, I co-write with him, that’s about as far as it went.
Chelsea: Yup, this is it. I’m in it for life! Joyce: Now a little bit about Chelsea as a person. What do you do to relax, hobbies? I know you are a dog lover. Chelsea: I’ve been working in Equine Therapy since I was 17. I started riding horses when I was 4, then when I lived on a farm in Colorado, I started working in Equine Therapy. Equine Therapy is therapy for children with disabilities. It is really a great thing. I’m really not a big TV person, but am a huge football fan. Tennessee Titans of course! I take football pretty damn seriously! Joyce: Well, Chelsea thank you very much for your time. Good luck with your new CD and your future endeavors in your career. I hope to come hear you in person sometime. You are a very nice and talented young lady and your parents should be very proud of you and your accomplishments.
Joyce: Chelsea you play guitar. Any other instruments? Chelsea: Umm, not well. (I laugh) I have a piano in my bedroom, actually my TV sits on top of it. I was taught to play a lot of things, but don’t play them now. Just the piano if anything else besides the guitar.
Chelsea: Thank you Joyce. It was a pleasure speaking with you. I look forward to seeing the article. For more information on Chelsea, visit her website at: www.chelseajanecrowell.com and be sure to check out her CD. It will be well worth the listen!
Joyce: This is your second CD, correct? Some background information taken from Chelsea Crowell’s website. Chelsea: My third including the band CD we did. But yes, my second solo CD. Joyce: What would you like people to know about your CD?
Story by Joyce Ziehli Photos supplied.
Chelsea: That’s the hard part. I really don’t know what to say. Joyce: Any stories about the songs? Chelsea: Yea, there are lots of stories. The song, “Don’t Talk About The Girl”, I actually wrote on the airplane and when I got in the car I pulled out my guitar on the way home and had it figured out by the next morning. A lot of my songs are fantasies, some are very personal to me. Except for 2 or 3 songs,all of them were done on a live track. Then we went back and overdubbed stuff on top of it. We just did it live at the time. It’s really kind of sparse. Joyce: Where did the title track,“Crystal City” come from? Chelsea: Crystal City is actually a real place. I am planning my tour around that place, I want to play Crystal City in the middle of the tour. It’s the strangest town ever. I’ve done research on it. I wrote the song based on seeing it on a map. I was looking at a map of Texas in an atlas on a road trip and as I was sitting in the passenger seat, I saw a place that said Crystal City, so I wrote the song based on seeing it on the map. Now it seems like I’m landmarked to be able to hit that city. Joyce: Where else will you be touring? Chelsea: I will be back touring in the Spring to promote this CD. Will be starting in the south. Doing South By Southwest, Jackson, Nashville, Crystal City, then to Arizona and LA. Joyce: Any plans on coming North to Wisconsin? Chelsea: Not as of yet. Joyce: I see you are on a mission to play Crystal City! Chelsea: Yea, I’m hoping to find a honky tonk there to play. My Dad is from Texas. Joyce: I love this CD. Are you working on songs for another? Chelsea: I have a lot of songs, piles and piles of songs. I have enough out there to make another CD. I’ve also been working on an opera for the last 4 years. Every time I am making headway on it, I get sidetracked on another project. I will be damned if it doesn’t see the light of day in the next 7 years. Joyce: Good for you. Where can people purchase your CD’s? w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
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From the Farm
Fields of Wisconsin
to the Sandy Beaches of
Florida!
This tale was unthinkable to me as recently as six years ago. Until that time six years ago I would never have dreamed I would walk on Florida beaches and even enjoy spending time at the seashore. It took my good friends and former colleagues Jerry and Carol a fair amount of persuasion to finally convince me to consider such a feat. I was a country guy from Wisconsin. I grew up and lived among the farm fields and hills and valleys of Southern Wisconsin. I felt comfortable and at home there. Other people walked on beaches, other people soaked their feet into oncoming waves from oceans, and other people sat on beach chairs sunning and resting and reading. Not me but others did those things. Jerry and Carol upon their retirement investigated the Miami Beach area, and they came home raving about the good time they had there. For two years they came back telling me that I should come along with them next year. Eventually my defenses weakened and I agreed to try a six night stay in South Beach with them.As we flew southward to Florida, I wondered how I would survive six days and nights living on the beach.Would I be bored? Would the time drag? We arrived, and as I walked out of the airport to the transportation to the hotel,the sight of waving palm trees,warm breezes, and a bright blue completely clear sky started to win me over. As we all do on vacation, we rush to our hotel room and quickly change to take part of the action of that vacation. After only being in Florida for an hour, I was standing on the sand glancing over the miles and miles of open ocean before me. The sound of the waves crashing on shore stirred my soul in ways I had not dreamed Hundreds of people were camped out as far as I could see up and down the beautiful white sanded beach. Blue lounging chairs dotted the beach. Life guards sat up in towers spaced all along as far as I could see. Waiters balancing trays of food and drinks were moving among those umbrella-covered chairs. Happy conversation and laughter filled the air along with tons of sea gulls many of which followed those waiters hoping for a handout. Some gulls rested on top of the umbrellas. The voices filtering through the sound of the waves spoke many European and South American languages, and the sound of a lot of American accents could be heard throughout the crowd. People were frolicking in the waves, and other people were walking in and out of the oncoming waves and down the beach as far as you could see. Florida is flat, so you can see a great distance at any one time. Turning your back to the ocean you spot miles and miles of high rise condos and hotels. The tourist is the King here. Between the sand and those buildings is a wide path made of concrete decorated blocks perfect for jogging, bike riding, walking, pushing buggies and strollers, and perfect to move to any of those buildings. Once on the beach a hotel staff person would come over to set up our “beach area”. He planted into the ground as many beach umbrellas as our crew would need. We
helped him drag a chair per person to that section. We were now “camped” on the beach, and I was hooked. This country guy was communing with a new kind of nature---not farm fields, not pine trees, not rolling hills, nor not steep valleys. I was now at home on the beach sitting within feet of the ocean. I could get up out of my chair at any time and walk into those waters and journey up and down the long long South Beach, Florida, area! We could order a lunch from the hotel delivered to us on the beach. We could spend hours moving in and out of the sun while people watching or listening to the many voices around us,and we certainly could read to our heart’s content. Around 4:30 that afternoon Carol and Jerry suggested we leave our spot and go to our rooms and change for dinner. We would meet in the lobby around 5 PM to walk to dinner. Another special feature of South Beach is that there are over one hundred special restaurants within easy walking distance from the hotels.There are three distinct regions, and we visited all three on our nightly haunts. Staff from each restaurant stand on the sidewalk attempting to convince you to eat at their restaurant. If you show interest, they flash their menu to you and point out early-bird specials, and if you really seem interested they offer reduced prices or a free drink or a free dessert. Our trick was to walk through each section and then compare notes and decide where we will dine that day. Many of the places had both indoor and outdoor eating. Just think of how wonderful the thought is to be able to eat outside in January or February or even March. Because it does cool down around sunset, most places had heaters for the outside area. The heaters are mounted on poles above your table and resemble torches. It is amazing to see how many people fill those many restaurants each night of the week. Our evening always ended with us stopping at a famous chocolate shop for a free sample of their chocolate. It did not take long to set our pattern: get up whenever you want but usually set a meeting time for breakfast and walk on that wonderful path to a nearby section of many breakfast spots. Here it was the same with staff holding menus and begging us to try their spot. The gimmick they could offer was free coffee or tea or orange juice. We often ate our breakfast on porches. Then it was back on the path dodging seemingly everyone possible out walking or jogging. The early morning walk or jog is very popular with the retired people living or visiting in Florida. Next on the agenda was changing for the beach or for the pool area and claiming your spot. The earlier you were the better the spot you got. We would often split up to claim a good spot at each,and therefore we could move back and forth as we wanted. But we would spend the entire day at the pool area and/or the beach. Lunch would be delivered to us from the hotel or we would walk two blocks west and one south to a fantastic French bakery and sandwich shop. We would eat our fares on tables in front of the place not being bothered by the heavy traffic passing in front of us. After all, we could soon escape all that and return to the beach. That was our pattern. Some times after the dincontinued on page 30
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Women and Crime - it really does not pay! About five years ago three women met in the kitchen of a home in the country.Their purpose was to meet with close friends once a month after reading a mystery. They would meet in each other’s home and the books would be chosen by the hostess of the month.The three women agreed that eight members was a good count since this was the number of chairs around the dining room table. Five more women were invited to attend and the first meeting was launched.They decided that Monday morning was a good time to meet.They would call themselves the Monday Morning Mystery Book Club.This went well for a couple of months when a conflict in schedules of two of the members appeared and it became apparent that a new meeting time would have to be established. Thursday morning was the most acceptable day and so it has been ever since. Only the name was changed to protect the innocent. It has become the “Monday Morning Mystery Book Club That Meets On Thursday Morning.”The books read are fictional and are mostly written by feminine authors.The endings are usually pretty tidy. But, is this always so in real life crime? In my collection of many books I found an answer. It was a book written in 1981 by Jay Robert Nash. The title is “Look For The Woman.” He calls it a narrative encyclopedia of female poisoners, kidnappers, thieves, extortionists, terrorists, swindlers, and spies. There are over three hundred entries of women who have committed crimes. From Elizabethan times to the year of 1981 he has researched. I do not know if the book is still in print. An interesting observation that Nash made is that in all his research he discovered the most popular names of women criminals are – in order of frequency, Catherine, Elizabeth, Mary and Ann. Here are the facts of four women with those names. Mary Ann Burdock. (1805-1835) - Mary Ann , a landlady, who lived in Bristol England, had fallen in love with a young sailor named Charles Wade. He had rented a room in her house. Even though Wade also loved Mary Ann he told her that he could not marry her because he had no money. He had wanted to open a lock shop but did not have funds. One of Mary’s roomers, a Mrs. Clara Smith, did have money and Mary knew this. She knew that Mrs.Smith kept the money in a cash box and hid it under her bed. Mary was desperate to marry Wade and so she poisoned Mrs. Smith, stole several thousand pounds from her room, and gave the money to Charles Wade. Mary began planning her wedding. A relative of Mrs. Smith whose name was Read became suspicious. He heard from Mary that Mrs.Smith had“died very poor.”He knew that Mrs.Smith was not poor and had considerable amount of funds. He took this information to the police. They exhumed the victim’s body and it was found that she had been given arsenic. Mary Ann Burdock was arrested, tried, and condemned to death. She was hanged in April of 1835.Charles Wade did not attend her execution.
Celia's Column
Catherine Bevan (1680-1731) was a murderer whose execution was to be strangled by the neck at the stake and then her body was to be burned. The fire was set prematurely and the rope around her neck was burned away by the fire and Catherine was burned alive. She was the only woman in America to encounter such a horrible end. She was having an affair with her husband’s servant Peter Murphy. Murphy decided to murder the husband by using poison. He gave the poison to Catherine and she gave it to her husband with his morning coffee.This failed so Murphy jumped upon the husband,beating him unconscious while Catherine strangled her husband, Henry with a handkerchief. Catherine sent young Murphy to town t inform the officials that her husband had died of a fit.The funeral was held rather quickly.A local judge thought it was suspicious that the coffin was nailed shut. The official ordered the coffin to be opened and there was Henry’s body all battered and the real cause of death was determined. Both the wife and lover were arrested and Murphy was quick to confess.The execution date was June 10,173l. The next two entries in this summation of murderers are women by the name of Ann Bilansky (1820-1860) and Elizabeth Mason (? – 1712) Ann,of St.Paul Minnesota,longed for the affection of her handsome nephew John Walker. She complained to a neighbor and friend that her husband, Stanislaus Bilansky was nothing but a bother to her. She dosed the old man’s soup with arsenic and shortly thereafter he died. The neighbor had a few bad dreams and because it bothered her so much she told her husband she thought that Ann had killed her husband. The husband went to the police. They exhumed the body, and found that he had been given arsenic. John Walker was arrested with 40 year old Ann but was released for lack of evidence.Ann was arrested, found guilty, and was sentenced to be hanged on March 23,1860. She was the only woman hanged in Minnesota History. Elizabeth Mason was a servant girl who thought she was to inherit her godmother’s estate and so she poisoned her. She mixed yellow arsenic into the woman’s coffee. She then tired to poison her godmother’s closest friend believing she might be the one to inherit instead of Elizabeth.The friend grew ill and called a druggist.He made her drink a large amount of oil which expelled the little arsenic that she had swallowed. Elizabeth was arrested a short time later. She was tried on June 6, 1712 after confessing to the crime. She was hanged twelve days later. These were crimes of passion, and greed, all committed by women, all used poison namely arsenic, all executed and hung. Then, as now, it was proven. CRIME DOES NOT PAY. Written by: Rosemary Ziehli
Does anybody else grin like a madman whenever they hear ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ by Bob Dylan? (Insert catchy intro music here). Would that I was good enough to be able to stick intro music into writing.That would be a pretty epic skill.Don’t have it though. How does somebody go about getting epic skills like that? Wheezy Waiter might know. Speaking of Wheezy Waiter (You Tuber, also known as Craig Benzine, who’s incredibly hilarious once you start to understand some of the inside jokes) Driftless Pony Club (The band he’s a part of) was in Madison in January.Which you can imagine was pretty exciting. It’s nice that they’re from Chicago, because they actually get up here sometimes (I’m glaring at you, Hank Green [another You Tuber, who’s one of the vlogbrothers and also makes wonderfully nerdy music]) On a totally different topic,Malvina Reynolds is kind of awesome. Like kind of really awesome. Sadly, I can’t find any of her CDs from our library system, which is really unfortunate, because I really like her voice as well as her songs (weird as that might sound, because she’s got kind-of an old lady voice, but I think it’s awesome). In case anybody doesn’t know who I’m talking about, she wrote ‘Little
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Boxes’ and ‘Morningtown Ride’ and ‘Turn Around’ and “We Hate to See Them Go’ and ‘It Isn’t Nice’ and a whole host of other amazing songs. Also, she was on Sesame Street sometimes as ‘Kate’, which pretty much makes you impervious to being un-awesome. Also really awesome are The Seekers. I’m particularly fond of ‘Red Rubber Ball’ and ‘I know I’ll Never Find Another You’.‘Nuff said. Totally irrelevant, but did anybody else watch season two of Downton Abbey? Arg. I can’t even begin to describe how awesome…. If you haven’t seen it (or the first season) then find them. Best Period Drama Ever.Although Cranford is quite nice too,and… I’ll stop. Happy 2012. Best Wishes. Written by: Celia Carr
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GaGa for the Lady
2011 is starting off in many very unusual ways. The most obvious unusual event here in southern Wisconsin it’s January and it’s nearing 50 degrees outside, and yes, that is above zero. I have come to the conclusion that at this point in my life (and forever more) I am happy to live without snow in my day-to-day experience. I will happily go to where the snow is rather than it needing to come to me. Snow, please take note. The less obvious (unless you’re driving past my house or next to me in my car and can hear the thump) is that I am writing an article on Lady Gaga. I can see the bubble above your head right now: meat dress, enclosed in an egg, or in a leather jacket with fishnet stockings and a thong. Yes, all of those pieces of Lady Gaga are accurate and part of her created persona. Jim, please remember that you are writing for a publication entitled the AMERICANA GAZETTE. Yes, I remember. Jim, do you realize that perhaps most of the readership of this publication prefer acoustic instruments over electronic beats? Yes, I am aware of that. Jim, are you really going to try and sell an artist such as Lady Gaga to this readership. Darn right I am! It is a week before Thanksgiving 2011 and Bob has recorded the Lady Gaga special out of curiosity. Up to the moment I sat on the couch to watch with him I had heard only one Gaga song,“Bad Romance” from her FAME MONSTER release. Okay, going to clear up that other little bubble over your head. Even though I am of the community that finds men my preference, I have never enjoyed dance music, flamboyant costumes, female impersonation, bars, or over the top diction or pride parades. I mostly prefer acoustic instruments, harmony, great songwriting and authentic artists, just like you. Gaga jumps into “Lady Is A Tramp” with Tony Bennett. Wait a minute I was thinking, this woman can SING! My only exposure to her music was the dance heavy “Romance”; now I was really curious. Next she was back at her grade school doing crafts with the young girls there, and with a genuine connection she shares art and sings with them the chorus of the title track of her new album “Born This Way”. The lyric is clear and moving. Next she jumps into the dance version of the same song. Soon she was sitting at a piano playing piano only versions of “Edge Of Glory” and “You & I”. I was speechless. The following week I purchased her “Born This Way” LP and played it from top to bottom. After watching her Thanksgiving Special and getting a glimpse into the “why” of whom she is, I listened with open ears and an open heart. I will turn 50 this year,and I thought I pretty much had myself figured out. I knew what I liked in the realm of music. Heck,I have been listening for almost 45 years! Miss Gaga gave me a huge gift for Thanksgiving this year. Her TV special opened a door inside of me for which I will be forever grateful. I could not get enough of her music. The more I listened the more I felt myself getting what she was about. Her songs mixed themes but overall her message to me (and I soon found out to everyone who loves her) was, who you are is perfect, amazing even. Be proud of who you are and don’t let anyone tell you differently. I found myself home alone one afternoon with her music playing on the sound system that I have
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wired through the house. I then found myself DANCING to track 6,“Hair”. This is amusing for two reasons. 1- I hate dancing. 2 - I am almost bald. I could not help it. I was filled with such joy that I just had to move, and I loved it! I could FEEL the spirit that Gaga put into her carefully crafted pop music. There I was jumping up and down, spinning in the middle of my living room. I had no idea what I was doing and I did not care. That is not how I normally approach my life. I am usually more concerned about what someone else will think about what I am doing. I had five minutes and eleven seconds of FREEDOM. I was a changed man. I am not kidding. This is why I am writing about the amazing Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in the AMERICANA GAZETTE. I was unaware of my rigid mindset of what I liked or what had meaning as far as music and musicians were concerned. We all know of the very visual aspect of Lady Gaga. I had a preconceived notion of her as an artist even though I never listened to her music. Shame on me! What I love so much about Lady Gaga’s music is the blending of her infectious beats, melody lines and the fact that her voice is front and center in the mix. Make no mistake folks, Lady Gaga can SING! Pitch correction is not necessary. It was very clear as she sat alone with her piano that she is a skilled pianist and sings with mastery. She is deeply emotional. She is on a mission to uplift any who feel trampled under the feet of any kind of naysayer, even if that negative voice happens to be in oneself. Gaga looks and acts larger than life. She has said she owes it to her fans to be consistent and often will look as she does in her performances while she is cooking dinner. It is important to her to be a sort of lighthouse for the bullied and ignored, as she has experienced in her young life. To me what sets Gaga apart from other over-the-top visual artists is she is not doing it for just the shock. Sure she leans on Madonna and Britney and even Bette, trying to find her unique expression for her heartfelt message. What makes her shine is her heart. Her fans (this one included) can feel her sincerity. There is love in the air and Gaga wants to make sure we all get our share. Miss Gaga, thank you for reaching out to this 50 year old man, helping me find authentic joy in who I am right here and now. Thank you for helping me dance with a joyful heart for the first time in my life. Thank you for helping me look beyond the surface of those around me. Thank you for caring so much for my happiness and my freedom. Life is full of joy; it really is. There is so much that is right in the world. If you’re finding it difficult to tap into the good feelings that life has to offer, remember you have some choices. The TV can be turned off rather than on. The newspaper does not need to be read for a few days. Play music you love when you’re tempted to turn on the news. Let the world spin without you being “plugged in” for a few days. With this new year let‘s give each other a break. A little more “live and let live” and relaxing a bit when we think someone should do or be what WE think is best. Perhaps, if we do that just once, we may find ourselves dancing more, laughing more, loving more and enjoying each other more! Written by: Jim Smith
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“SOMEWHERE IN MY BROKEN HEART”
Remember This Song?
Billy Dean Won Songwriter of the Year for This in 1992!
WHAT HAS BILLY DEAN BEEN DOING SINCE THEN? I grew up listening to Billy Dean on the radio and when I received an email about him and Kenny Rogers doing a 2011 Christmas Tour, I thought wow what a great time to catch up with Billy and find out what he’s been up to! For those of you too young to remember Billy Dean, check out his accomplishments below then read on to see what Billy has to say nowadays: Music Awards 1992 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Songwriter of the Year for Somewhere In My Broken Heart 1992 ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year 1991 and 1992 BMI Pop Awards 1993 BMI Country Song Awards for Billy The Kid and Somewhere In My Broken Heart 1993 BMI Million Air Plays Award for Somewhere In My Broken Heart 1993 CMT Rising Star Award 1993 TNN Songwriter Award for Billy The Kid 1996 Grammy for A Country Tribute...Amazing Grace TV Roles One Life To Live, Lois and Clark,Wings, Diagnosis Murder Movie Roles A Face to Kill For, Blue Valley Songbird TV Hosting Roles: Lifetime TV Special, Good Morning Texas, Prime Time Country,ABC
formed on a TV show and met a number of the judges that were in the music business and they encouraged me to move to Nashville. With the help of my friends and my local community rallied together and helped me get an apartment and make the move. Joyce: And it’s been good ever since? Billy: Yes, it’s been quite an adventure. In every sense I have the feeling that I belonged here. Some people thought I should go home, weather a few hard knocks, turn 30 years old and then come back, but I didn’t. The songwriters actually opened up their arms to me, guys like Guy Clark,Verlon Thompson, and Richard Lee. I got a publishing deal, and as I was recording with Guy Clark, in walks Emmylou Harris to sing on the record. Also met Rodney Crowell and what a great source of energy and talent there. I was just a sponge taking it all in. Joyce: What have you been doing the past few years? Billy: I started a publishing company, BDMG (Billy Dean Music Group). I’ve tried to stay connected to my fans, touring has picked up which is the best way to get back out to connect. I have some new music to get out and am working with a “Nature Company Outlet”, a distribution outlet. I’m also looking into a management company out of LA to secure another record deal. I have my farm, Dean Acres which I bring concerts to. I had 3 in 2011 and hope to expand that in 2012. We have other artists come of a very high caliber as I want visitors to know us as a great life style and be able to enjoy amazing music and the beautiful surroundings here in Tennessee. Joyce: Boy keep talking like that and I’m on the next plane there! Billy: Come on down.
Info from Billy Dean’s website. Me in Wisconsin with my eyes fixed upon a gorgeous picture of Billy Dean, began my interview with Billy who was enjoying a quiet day in Nashville. After talking about the magazine and other things for awhile, we got into the interview. Joyce: Hi Billy. Let’s start out with how you ended up getting into the music business? Billy: My Dad, his name was Billy Dean; he had a band for 28 years. His band played at the American Legion every Saturday night in Florida. He was playing here before I was even born. He was above average, an exceptional singer and they were very successful. The place was packed, probably around 300 people every night. They called it a square dance back then. Yea, I grew up with band members coming over to the house to rehearse. Dad had aTexaco Gas Station,filling station and they would rehearse there. I loved being around my Dad and all these guys. I started playing early on,I think the second grade. I was performing in front of my second grade class, I would play the guitar and sing. This has stayed with me all through high school and then I entered into a series of contests and did well in them which built my confidence and made me think I might actually have a career in music. Joyce: Billy when did you move to Nashville? Billy: I moved to Nashville when I was 20 years old back in 1983 I believe. I entered into the Wrangler Country Star Search Contest and made it into the top 10. I per-
Joyce: As we are speaking, you are currently on tour with Kenny Rogers doing a series of Christmas concerts. How did you hook up with Kenny? Billy: I’ve been working with him off and on for about 20 years, back in the ‘90’s we did a lot of shows with him. Alison Krauss and myself sang on Kenny’s hit,“Buy Me A Rose”. This is my 4th or 5th Christmas Show Tour with Kenny.We developed a relationship and he’s my pal. He has an amazing group and crew, they are like family to me. He’s an iconic music figure and great to be around that stardom and experience this. Also I hope I am taking some of the workload off for him. Sometimes we do 5 shows in a row, it gets a little grueling. Joyce: Any new CD’s on the horizon? Billy: I have a CD that is only available on tour now. It’s time for me to embrace the niche’ I’ve always felt I’ve belonged to, which is writing music for the 45 to 65 year old female audience. I can write about it now and am focusing on this, love and life, etc. I’ve experienced it which helps me to write about it. Joyce: Do you co-write with anyone? Billy: I usually co-write when getting songs recorded by other artists. When it’s my own music, I write on my own because it is so specialized. Joyce: Well, thank you Billy for talking to me. I look forward to seeing you in concert one of these days. I will send you some good Wisconsin cheese! continued on page 28
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BUCK OWENS the Biography Eileen Sisk author Tracing some of the roots of Americana music will take one through the early days of country music. Hank Williams. Johnny Cash.George Jones.Merle Haggard. Gram Parsons might have been one of the first to show that there needn't be the great division between country and rock-n-roll as there once was. Perhaps the hippies and rednecks could co-exist at a time when it was thought to be impossible.Another musical pioneer who was not afraid to take some chances and blend some influences was Buck Owens. He owed as much to Chuck Berry and the Beatles as he did the driving honky- tonk twang as he and his Buckaroos were creating, which came to be known as the 'Bakersfield sound'.Author Eileen Sisk has taken her investigative journalism experience to write a book about a man who greatly differed from his innocent,good old country boy persona.The result is a shocking account of the man and his music and a deep rooted lust for money, fame, women and power. AG- Hey Eileen, when did you first get into journalism? Eileen- I've always been a writer. I was an editor of the high school newspaper. In college I was an art major for 3 years and then switched to communications. I wrote for some local community newspapers in the wine country. I got an internship at the LA Times.Then to Las Vegas, which was my hometown paper. I got to cover music and entertainment while I worked there.That’s kind of where it all started.Then I moved to DC and worked for the US Chamber Of Commerce for a few years on its newspaper then worked part, then full time for the Washington Post.Then I came to Tennessee in April of 2000 and worked at the Tennessean.
rect? Eileen- Correct. At first, he was very charming and open. But there’s a whole story behind that...I've learned since why Buck wasn't going to have me write his story.When I was interviewed recently on Word on Words, he thought that was Buck's worst career moves, because had Buck hired me, I would have worked under his terms.
AG- Was music, particularly country music, always a passion for you? Eileen- Yeah, my first book was on honky tonks, Guide for Country Dancing. My dad always listened to music. I was always into country and rock-n-roll.
AG- Which would have made it an entirely different book.... Eileen- It would have been a totally different book. It would have been his entire viewpoint. Instead, this book speaks from many different voices. I interviewed Buckaroos, people who could talk.There were some who couldn't, still being in the organization. Anyone who was still alive, which some are gone now, I got to talk to.
AG- What led to the decision to write specifically about Buck Owens? Eileen-Well, with my dad being a big fan, we always watched Hee-Haw every Saturday night. It came down to my agent telling me I should write a bio on a celebrity.Write about something you know about, like a country music star. So I wrote to 10 different singers who hadn't had any books written about them to date and Buck was the only one who responded. AG- What were your very first impressions of him when you met? Eileen- My first impression of him was how tall and bigger than life he seemed. He was very charming.Warm.A very engaging, charismatic person; I liked him. AG- Were you aware in the beginning what kind of shrewd, cut-throat guy he was, as you would come to find out, and so different that what had been portrayed to that point? Eileen- I had heard stories about what a tough business guy he was. But I had no clue on how he treated people until I started interviewing people who had worked for him. It was a real eye-opener in that respect. I was a fan going in, and I had the same image of him as everyone had. He was this innovative musician who had an edge, with country and rock...and this was where I was coming from. I was in awe and a little starry eyed. But I know we're all human. So I don't really deify anyone. AG- I’m sure that Buck would admit he was country and rock with the Chuck Berry and Beatles influences... Eileen- He absolutely was.Those early recordings in 1956 were rockabilly, rhythm and blues. AG- So as I understand the intro to the book, Buck wasn't very guarded and was in fact very willing to give the details of his life in the interviews that you had with him, cor-
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AG- So, after Buck had divulged all in the interviews and his management came back to you and said that the bio would be 'unauthorized', did Buck talk to you personally at any point and ask you not to write the book? Eileen- He did not talk to me personally. He had Jim Shaw call me and leave a message on my machine.At the time I was interviewing Kris Black, who was Buck's former promotion director. It was funny because Doyle Holly (Buckaroo bassist 1963-70) talked to Buck and Buck told him it was alright if we do the book but he didn't want us to mention anything about Kris Black or sex. So that was at the point that Buck knew I was out talking to people, that’s when Jim Shaw called and said it would be unauthorized. And I said fine. AG- Even though all the Buckaroos were vital in shaping that sound, what was Buck's reaction like when you brought up guitarist Don Rich's motorcycle accident and death? Eileen- His reaction was very strange.When I told him in the office in Bakersfield that I wanted to delve into the death of Don Rich because I thought that story had never been properly told, it was like this big wall had come between us. Silence and this big pause, then he couldn't look me in the eye and he said,‘well it’s like this Eileen, I just don't trust publishers. But you know I've got enough money that I could write the book myself, I could pay you a fee.What would you think about that?" And I just said however you want to work the deal. I was going to stay another day. He was going to pick me up.And he never showed up. I even went to the Crystal Palace where he was that night.And he slipped out the back.Then I knew I had been 'Bucked'. (Laughs) AG- So at the time, you hadn't looked into any of the police or autopsy reports? Eileen-No.I just wanted to know as a fan.We all knew about the accident and that Buck continued on page 28
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Robert’s Ramblings
Here we are twelve years alive and kicking and surviving after the dreaded date of January 1,2000. So you suppose some people are still using stored food and water they put away in fear of the total collapse predicted for 2000? That reminds me of a friend that reported that her mother-in-law was sure that the arrival of Castro as the leader of Cuba would mean no more sugar forAmericans. This woman was so certain of this that she had hoards and hoards of bags of sugar in her house. They filled one room and spilled over to another. The college football season,usually my favorite sports season,has come and gone seemingly with a whimper. So many of the bowl games this year brought me little pleasure or excitement. It appeared to me that many of the teams playing in the various Bowl Games really did not deserve to be in one. One game featured two teams with a total of thirteen losses and twelve wins. And the so-called championship game featured two teams that had played each other earlier in the season in a game with no touchdowns. They were also from the same league. There are rumors that the championship format will be changed by next fall with even some talk of an actually play-off system. But don’t hold your breath. The period of time from Thanksgiving to the new year is the special time that the so-called “best” movies of the year come out. What that means is that the movies released during that time often have the best reviews, best advanced word of mouth, and will receive many nominations for the whole host of award shows that appear on our television screens. It does seem that there is no big block busting movie for this season. There appears to me no single movie talked about the most. I decided that I would attempt a movie eachTuesday of that period and test the waters for movies that pleased my tastes. Remember it is all about taste, and what excites one person would not dent an ounce of enthusiasm from another person. Keeping all that in mind let me review what I have seen so far:
J EDGAR--I found it very interesting and well done. The acting was excellent, and I thought the movie was fair in showing the good accomplishments of Hoover and also showed the warts in his personality.There was also a good job recreating the time frame of the early days of Hoover and the FBI. DESCENDANTS--Who would dare criticize anything George Clooney does? The main subject of this movie is a very difficult to tackle, but the movie pulls off a good balance of humor and the seriousness of the topic. The entire cast is excellent and look for many nominations from this movie.The scenery in Hawaii is spectacular and three different islands are featured.A good break on aWisconsin winter day might be just sitting in the theater and looking at the background of this film. YOUNGADULT--After I left the theater and walked the mall for a bit having just seen this movie,I was stopped by a couple who had seen me in the movie. They wanted to know my reaction. I told them I was very disappointed in the movie. It was listed as a comedy, but I saw little if any comedy, and as a life time small town guy I found the putdowns of small towns disturbing. The couple told me they had complained to the management of the theater about their disappointment and unhappiness of having spent money on the movie. Enough said?
about this movie,a true account of the events featured in the week the author spent with Marilyn Monroe while she was in London for a film. Michele Williams is certainly deserving of Oscar talk for her job as Marilyn. She does not try to imitate her, but she simply seems to be her. Marilyn was famous for turning on and off her screen Marilyn in comparison to her off-screen personality. Michele does that so well. Again the re-creating of the time frame for this movie is very well done. WE BOUGHT A ZOO---You want a fun relaxing time at the movies? This is the movie for you. Matt Damon like George Clooney can play the every day man or ordinary man so well. And if you like animals,then for sure this is a movie for you. THE MUPPET MOVIE--Were you a fan of the long running television series featuring the Muppets? If you were, then head to the theater to see their newest feature. It drags a bit at times,but the charm and the humor of the Muppets is still intact. And it is fun to look for and spot various famous people in their brief moments on the screen in this movie. Bet everyone spots Mickey Rooney. And the use of humans and Muppets works very well. It feels real. THEARTIST--Perhaps the most unusual movie for us in 2011 or 2012 would be a silent movie. THE ARTIST does an excellent job to bring to us the tradition, the feel,and the artistry that went into silent movies. The human leads are wonderful, but be ready to see the real star of t h e movie and the character that steals the whole movie in my opinion at least. That is the dog! Treat yourself to something different. Also it is not a particularly long time viewing this clever film. If your cable provider gives you the BBCAMERICA channel, then you just might find yourself enjoying the Graham Norton Show usually on Saturday nights. It is a talk show with musical guests and lots of laughter. The production crew seems to find very interesting clips and facts and things about the guest that you never knew of before you see it there. Norton’s show usually features at least oneAmerican guest and a wide range of stars of British television. Most of them are extremely interesting, many are funny as can be, and the inner action of host and guests the best on television right now. Consider giving it a try. Re-runs of past shows run almost daily at some time of the day on BBC AMERICA. And finally if you are a mystery reader and want an easy read or a fast moving read,then Mary Higgins Clark’s latest is just for you. You could accuse her of being a formula writer,but she always keeps you guessing and creates vivid characters for you the reader to visualize. The book is called I’LL WALK ALONE. Written by: Bob Hoffman
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN--I loved almost everything w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
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Farmer Jason …because there is a little farmer in all of us
When internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Jason Ringenberg created his family music character Farmer Jason in 2003,he had no idea he was launching what would prove to be the most commercially successful creation of his career, culminating with his recent signing to the MyKaZoo Music label through Universal Music Enterprises.His videos are in regular rotation on MyKaZoo TV, the first of its kind, streaming, online and interactive music channel for young children and their parents. With Jason and the Scorchers, he pioneered the fusion of punk rock and country that turned the music world on its ear during the mid-1980s.The band’s first record, Lost And Found, still shows up on critics’“Best of the 1980s” lists, and there is an exhibit of them in the Country Music Hall of Fame.When Jason went solo in 1999, the London Times called him“one of the most dynamic live performers of his generation.”In 2008 the Americana Music Association awarded the band their Lifetime Achievement Award. Jason could rest easily, assured that his place in rock ‘n’ roll history was secure. However, with two sweet, beautiful, preschool daughters missing Daddy Jason during his 200 dates-a-year touring schedule, Jason wanted to make a CD that his kids could listen to while he was out globetrotting. Since they lived on a small farm near Bon Aqua,Tennessee, and Jason grew up on an Illinois hog farm, he reckoned that a roots oriented record about farming and farm animals was just the ticket. Hence the first Farmer Jason CD,A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason, was born. Jason’s peak ambition for A Day at the Farm, released in fall 2003, was that his daughters could laugh and sing along to his songs.
the world, including many major European and US festivals. At the huge Stagecoach Festival, USA Today called the Farmer Jason show “one of the most memorable of the festival.” Back in Tennessee, Nashville Public Television noticed this new sensation in their back yard and produced an educational interstitial video series starring Farmer Jason based on songs from the two CDs, It’s a…Farmer Jason! To everyone’s delight and surprise, the series won an Emmy Award for Best Children’s Program Mid South Region in 2009. Using those videos and more new footage, Farmer Jason released It’s a…Farmer Jason! on DVD in May 2009. Dadnabbit called it “instantly memorable fun… everything you would want in entertainment for your young ones.” He continues to tour internationally, attracting new fans along the way. In 2011, Jason signed on to become the debut artist for a brand new label, MyKaZoo Music, through Universal Music Enterprises to release his newest CD Nature Jams. What started out as a simple side project for Jason to entertain his own daughters has grown into a worldwide bandwagon pulled by a tractor and a singing farmer.You can bet the tractor will keep on rolling. Climb aboard and grab a pitchfork…or a guitar… Watch Farmer Jason’s interactive music videos on MyKazooTV and stay tuned for more news from the barnyard soon. Info from Farmer Jason’s website
To his surprise, word got around, and soon lots of other young daughters and sons were singing along, too. Disney’s magazine Family Fun called it “one of the Top 5 Family CDs of 2003.” Farmer Jason, Jason Ringenberg’s “twin brother,” was soon doing concerts from inner city schools in Brooklyn to country fairs in rural Norway. Buoyed by his success in the family arena, he kept writing songs and released Rockin’ in the Forest with Farmer Jason in 2006.With stick-in-your head hooks and subtle lessons about ecology and nature appreciation, this CD also earned rave reviews, including the Parents Choice Gold Award.Farmer Jason’s success generated even heavier touring around
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Farmer Jason Encourages Kids To Get Active & Delight in the Big World Outside with Nature Jams The Premier Release for the New MyKaZoo Music Label Guest Appearances by Top Musicians,Collectible Musical Package includes 4 Videos and 20-page illustrated book
Farmer Jason, an award-winning, internationally acclaimed family music artist, will release a new collection of original songs a n d music videos on a brand n e w music l a b e l MyKaZoo Music thru Universal Music Enterprises on February 7, 2012. Nature Jams features guest appearances from top artists and will be the debut release from the new label. MyKaZoo TV, a new 24/7 interactive kids’ entertainment channel, will premiere additional music videos based on these songs in early 2012. Nature Jams is a high-value, kid-friendly gift package of 16 original songs, 4 music videos and a colorful 20-page booklet created by über designer Brad Talbott. The song styles range from rock and roll anthems to sea shanties, jazz to folk. Farmer Jason talks with his musical guests about taking hikes, going canoeing,skating and even spelunking. The idea is to get kids excited about the big world around them, observing various animals (“Meadowlark in Central Park,”“Manatee,”and“Dison the Bison”), learning about cool places around the world and simply enjoying nature.“The point is to motivate kids to get outside and excite their curiosity without being preachy,” says Jason.“We tried to make these songs energetic,fun and exciting.” Farmer Jason raked in an all-star list of guest artists to sing and perform with him on Nature Jams, including Steve Gorman of The Black Crowes, Mike Mills from R.E.M., Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick, Iris DeMent, indie folk darling Brandi Carlile, Grammy®award winning bassist Vic Wooten,Americana hipster Todd Snider, banjo virtuoso Ali-
son Brown, zydeco star Terrance Simien, platinum-selling vocalist Suzy Bogguss, Celtic rockers The Sawdoctors, humorist-musician Webb Wilder, Hank Williams III and the legendaryTommy Ramone ofThe Ramones.With these engaging songs and videos,Farmer Jason and friends hope to motivate children to get outside and experience nature firsthand. Music videos for the songs “Take a Hike,”“Spelunker,”“Can You Canoe” and “Dison the Bison” are included in the Nature Jams package. MyKaZoo TV will feature these and other music videos by Farmer Jason and more top artists. MyKaZoo TV offers parents and kids a safe, focused environment showing hundreds of entertaining music videos by top artists,kid hosts and humorous educational interstitials. The channel, at http://www.mykazootv.com, launched in January 2012. Farmer Jason is Jason Ringenberg, also known for his pioneering band Jason and the Scorchers, which won the Lifetime Achievement Award for Live Performance by the Americana Music Association in 2008 and still tours internationally. Since 2003, as Farmer Jason, he has also built a fervid international fan base for his kids’ music and Emmy® Award winning public television music videos.The father of three daughters (featured on the album’s last track,“Skating Along”) lives on a small farm west of Nashville. He plans a wide-ranging Nature Jams family concert tour across North America and Europe during 2012-13. He is the first artist signed to the MyKaZoo Music roster. MyKaZoo Music is a new family music label created in partnership with Universal Music Enterprises (UMe). For more information about the company’s plans to develop and present high quality family music experiences, visit www.mykazoomusic.com Nature Jams Track list 1. Nature Jams 2. Can You Canoe (with Alison Brown) 3. Take a Hike (with Mike Mills of R.E.M.) 4. Well Oh Whale (with The Saw Doctors) 5. Meadowlark in Central Park (with Suzy Bogguss) 6. Bayou Boogie (with Terrance Simien) 7. Prairie Riddles (with Iris Dement) 8. Buffalo or Bison (by Webb Wilder) 9. Dison the Bison (with Webb Wilder and Steve Gorman of the Black Crowes) 10. Spelunker (with Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick and Ruthie Foster) 11. The Glacier (with Jason and the Scorchers) 12. Manatee (with Hank Williams III and Tommy Ramone) 13. No Place Like the Woods (by Victor Wooten and the Wooten Kids) 14. The Moose Lives Where? (with Todd Snider and Jo Nesbø ) 15. Have You Ever (with Brandi Carlile) 16. Skating Along (with Kristi Rose,Addie and Camille Ringenberg) Bonus: 4 Music videos! “Take a Hike,”“Spelunker,”“Can You Canoe” and “Dison the Bison” Info supplied by: Beth Blenz-Clucas, Sugar Mountain PR beth@sugarmountainpr.com
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Supe Granda, What a Guy!
Of all the great musicians I have had a chance to meet, none are quite like Michael “Supe” Granda! He’s a world class bass player, songwriter, artist, mandolin player, vocalist, journalist, author and Santa Claus impersonator; besides being one of the most comical people I have ever met. To say that Supe is a true renaissance man of the arts would be an understatement. He draws, writes, performs, and covers the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. I first heard of Supe when in the early 1970’s when his band,the Ozark Mountain Daredevils released their first album. That album was a standard issue here in Southern Wisconsin,long before Frampton Comes Alive or the first Boston record. All my friends and I wore out the Daredevils first two records and learned all the songs on them (of which we all still play in our bands today). Those shaggy hippies from Missouri helped turn me onto playing music, for which I am eternally grateful today! I talked with Supe at length about his long musical career, and his career as a journalist and author. AG: Is this a good time to talk? Supe: It is! I was busy earlier this morning on WSM Radio promoting my Christmas record and a gig tonight at the Family Wash. Mark Horn and I went over to the station and had a blast. AG: Who is playing with you tonight? Supe: Supe and the Sandwiches. Mark Horn,Tom Mason, Jen Gunderman and myself - and whoever the hell else shows up! If you’re in town you can come on up and play too! AG: I’ll let you run this interview. What do you want to talk about? Supe: I’ve always liked artists that do a whole bunch of things. They put out records, make a video, write a book, record a single, and that they’ll start all over again in a different genre of music. That’s how I like to lead my life. I want people to keep guessing what I’m going to do next? For the month of December I’m using my talents (white beard and beer belly) to play Santa Claus. I love doing that! I’ve got my own custom Santa Suit! I don’t even know what I’m going to do next. All I know is, if it interests me, chances are it will interest other people too. I’m getting ready to start another book which will take up a lot of my 2012. It’s a collection of baseball stories I have written over the years. In the 80’s, I befriended some folks on the Cardinals team and in the front office. I would get them Daredevil tickets and they would get me Cardinal tickets. I
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started writing a monthly column for a publication up in St. Louis about Cardinal baseball. I have 60 or 70 of these columns that I am going to put together in a book along with some of the rock & roll articles I have written. AG: I loved your first book! Supe: Thank you. AG: As I have told you before, the Daredevils have always been one of my favorite bands. They were huge here in Southern Wisconsin. Every beer party had the first two records played either on 8 tracks or vinyl. My band still does two to three Daredevil tunes a night when we play. Supe: Thank you for that! It’s fantastic that you guys still play those songs. We were a very, very lucky bunch of guys. When I wrote my book I took six months to do the research. I wanted the facts to be correct - but along with that, I did not want it to be an encyclopedia. I wanted it to be a story of what really happened and how things truthfully were. I wanted to make the writing style entertaining. AG: It was very entertaining! Supe: Another thing I wanted to do was add the flavor of the late 60’s early 70’s. It was a very distinctive time, not only in our country’s time but in music. We had no idea what we were doing. We were just getting together and writing songs and saying “let’s try this”. It was complete artistic freedom that was afforded to us. When you have complete freedom, art just flourishes. AG: So what did your band mates think of the book? Supe: Well, none of them are suing me! It was pretty much how it went down. We made some really bad decisions back then. I was in on some of those and making the bad decisions myself. There were some things that went a little haywire. I wanted to include them in this book. I did not want to sugar coat the story. AG: It was the 70’s and people smoked dope and snorted coke. That’s how it was back then. Supe: That’s the kind of flavor I wanted to include in the book. We screwed up a lot, but we also did some very cool things, too. AG: How did you end up making Nashville the center of your universe? Supe: I came to Nashville in the late 80’s / early 90’s. The Daredevils were not working much. We had some personnel changes and had been on the road way too long. I needed a new creative space in my life. John Dillon, Steve Cash and I were just burned out. I had some friends down here in Nashville. We had made a record here and I fell w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
on stage or TV. I have to say that our mutual friends are all that way. They are the kindest people you would ever hope to meet. I have been so blessed to be able to hang out with and make music with all those great folks. I feel so lucky that I get to spend my creative energy and good times with these people. You know when you first move to Nashville and spend your first night here alone, it’s kind of scary. You wonder if you made the right decision. Then you wake up and start meeting these wonderfully supportive people and they become your family. That’s what makes life great! AG: We feel so blessed to be part of that group, too! AG: Can I ask you a couple of questions about the Daredevils? Supe: Of course you may. AG: In the beginning there was the six of you, all songwriters and players. After the second album Randle Chowding (lead guitar & vocals) left the band. Were you guys expecting that? Supe: Everyone was completely surprised. No one saw that coming. AG: Is he still playing today? Supe:Yes. He’s living in Springfield and playing around town. Everybody is still playing music today. AG: When you guys started you weren’t really a band. You just got together and helped each other out. Supe: That’s right. We were a bunch of writers and musicians that were tired of playing the Doobie Brothers new hits. So, when we got together to play, it was 100% original music, no covers. For the first year it was very hard. We were just a local band in Springfield Mo. and no one wanted to hear our original music. We would play gigs and people would come up to us and say “play some Doobie Brothers, play some Stones”, but we stuck to our guns. For the first year and a half, we pretty much starved. We played our gigs for our fans. The local fraternities wanted covers and we did not do that – so, we did not get paid. We had our sights set a little higher. We wanted to make a record. It paid off in the end, but it was tough there for a while. We ate a lot of beans back then! AG: You guys were basically what they call Americana today. You were just a different band than the others like the Eagles, Doobies and Steve Miller. You had a sound that really resonated with me and all my friends.You had a very cool sound. It was something that was not out there anywhere else. Supe: We knew that, too. That’s why we stuck to our guns and did not cave in. We honed our sound. After we made that first record, everyone wanted to hang out with us.
in love with the town and creative community here. One day I just got up and said to myself“hey I’m going to Nashville. I want to play more, sing more, write more and be more creative. So, I packed up my stuff and moved here.” When people ask me for advice about moving here, I tell them “put your crap in your car and just move here!” Twenty one years later I feel pretty good about my decision to come here! I just kind of stumble into things. I’m part of the Grammy nominated“I Love;Tom T Hall’s Songs of Fox Hollow”CD. Chet Atkins cut one of my songs. I just kind of fell into that. All the other good things that have happened to me, I just stumbled into. Life is good! AG: Tell me about Supe and the Sandwiches. Supe: Supe and the Sandwiches started in the early 80’s. I started writing songs that were a little more raucous than the standard Daredevils fare. The songs were a little too crazy for the Daredevils. So, one night I just got some guys together and sat down and taught them up in Springfield. This band was put together just to play my songs, nothing but my material. Because I write so much I had over a 100 songs to choose from. We played around Springfield between Daredevil tours. We ended up becoming quite popular in the local club circuit. Then, one guy left and I replaced him, and then another did the same until I have had over 50 people be in the band since I started it.
AG: When all of you were hanging out and living at that house outside of Springfield, did you find that it was a very creative time for you? Supe: It was a very creative time for all of us. We would stay out there for four to five days. Make music all day, hang out and be creative. It was the best of times. It was the most creative fertile soil we ever tilled. AG: My favorite Daredevil song is “Country Girl”. We still play that song every night. Supe: That was the very first song we ever worked on together. We would get together and play “If You Wanna Get to Heaven” and “Country Girl”. Our friends and families would say that those were great songs, but the outside world did not get it - yet. AG: The depth of the writing on those early records is so good. You had rockers like “Heaven”and“Look Away”,then great songs like“You Made it Right”,which I told Joyce I want played at my funeral.That is such a beautiful song. Supe: That’s what we talked about earlier, that when we first got together, we got together as musicians and writers - and the songs came alive. We were not the greatest musicians,but we were great songwriters and had a style that was different than everyone else.
When I moved to Nashville I brought the same batch of songs and found some knuckleheads down here to play them and started all over. They are great players and great friends and we have a blast playing together. I just put out my 11th album of Supe and the Sandwiches music.
AG:You were pretty good musicians, trust me! Supe: Our strength was our songwriting. When people finally got to hear them, they thought that they were pretty good. The trouble was that,because we were from southern Missouri, we got lumped into the Southern Rock thing and we were not that kind of a band. Our diversity made us so different than those types of bands.
AG: Do you know Jack Clement? He’s a great guy! Supe: Yes I do! When I came to town I did not want to be Wired Al or Cletus T. Judd. I wanted to be like Roger Miller and Cowboy and write humorous songs, not parodies. I got together with him (Clement) before his fire and played him some polka music I had written. I have a polka band with some college buddies from Springfield and we recorded some polkas and took them over to Cowboy to listen to.
AG: Supe, thanks so much for the interview. I still listen to you guys all the time yet. You are one of my favorite acts of all time to listen to. Supe: Thank you and thanks to everyone who ever listened to and still listen to the Daredevils and myself. It’s been a great ride and I hope it continues for years to come. I’ve got lots of songs left to be written!
AG: We have a lot of mutual friends. They all said that I had to interview you! The saying that came up was that you were a hoot to be around and one of the nicest people in Nashville. Supe: Well, thank you! My friends are all such great people. You know, when you see a person that is famous, you hope that they are as nice in person as they seem to be w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
Story by:Andy Ziehli Photos supplied and one by Joyce Ziehli
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dean... continued from page 21
Billy: Thank you Joyce. I enjoyed speaking with you. For more information on Billy Dean check out his websites at:www.billydean.com and www.deanacres.com . Story by: Joyce Ziehli Photos supplied.
Dean Suffers Loss of ‘Dean Acres’ Barn, Farm Equipment, Career Memorabilia in Blaze Nashville,Tenn. (January 9, 2012) – This past holiday season while country music star Billy Dean was touring the countryside with Kenny Rogers, disaster struck back at home. Dean’s farm,‘Dean Acres,’ located in Smithville,TN caught ablaze, destroying the Grammy Award-winning country star’s farm barn.The fire destroyed the entire 1,500 square foot barn that contained Dean’s fishing boat, tractor and many career keepsakes. Dean lost demos and master recordings that dated back to the early days of his career, before he was signed to a label. In addition, vintage posters and photos from Dean’s early 20’s were also taken in the blaze. “I lost a lot things that were very meaningful to me but no one was hurt and that’s really all that matters at the end of the day,” says Dean.“We’ll rebuild but I’m really going to miss that tractor and fishing boat this spring.”
owens... continued from page 22
went into a long depression over it.That’s all you heard.There weren't any newspaper reports. It seemed suspicious. He was such a huge part of the sound. AG- Do you believe someone was going to, or would have signed him as a solo artist? Eileen-He wanted to go solo. I'm trying to get it in the paperback version of the book which comes out in July of 2012, a former lover of Don's said that he was unhappy wanting to leave. His widow had told me that he wanted to leave. Countless others have told me the same thing. He was telling Buck that he was going to write a tell-all book.And there were things that Buck didn't want told. Don knew what was going on behind the scenes.When you have these underhanded deals, late night business dealings going on...there must be something Buck didn’t want out there. But I have new information that may make it into the paperback on how the whole death investigation was botched. So, it’s interesting stuff. AG-The book gets into how Buck wanted to control everything early on. I was surprised to learn how little Don Rich was able to contribute with the harmony vocals on the records. So even though Don was the only one who would stand up to Buck, Buck was obviously the boss in the studio as well. Eileen- He was the boss in the studio. He knew what he wanted.You can hear it in the chatter in between takes in his early work on the Bound For Bakersfield CD with alternative takes.You could hear what he was like in the studio. But I do like the music on it. AG- And he had no issue with stealing songs and claiming them as his own? Eileen- Oh no! (Laughs) It’s common practice; even in the business today. Elvis and Col.Tom Parker did it all the time. AG- He even tried it with 'Act Naturally’? Eileen- Johnny Russell had to sue Buck.And he actually did win.Buck said he didn't lose many lawsuits. But he lost that one. AG- Well, with the Buckaroos being under Buck's contracts, did they even want to contribute to any of the songwriting? Eileen- Doyle might have contributed to one song, but Buck never gave him any credit for it.There wasn't any incentive for them.And when they left the band, they had to turn everything over to him anyway. Don Rich's family might be getting a little bit. AG- With all the questions that still out there; mostly have to do with Don's death, are you planning on doing further investigation beyond the book? Eileen- Yes, if the opportunity arises. I really have not stopped. Further details on the autopsy report, they could have done a true blood/alcohol test.There’s some mysteries surrounding the condition of the bike from the accident as well. AG- Do you have enough for a book on Don Rich alone? Eileen- (Laughs) I probably do. We'll have to see what happens after the paperback comes out. AG- And lastly, any other artist out there that you'll be writing about for the next book? Eileen- It’s a female singer. But I don't want to say too much about it yet. (Laughs) By: Travis Cooper Photo of Eileen Sisk by Anthony Scarlati
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miktek... continued from page 13
Mike- We had thought about it awhile.We saw with so many companies, they have to cut costs to make and sell microphones.Which is fine, but it was almost like the companies were forgetting about the step up products.There are a lot of folks who love that old,vintage expensive gear. It seemed there was big gap between the inexpensive stuff and something that was unreachable to most of us with project studios. So I thought there was an opportunity for a small company to come into the marketplace to offer something that was boutique. In our experience, we try and bring a global scale to boutique products. Something that would represent a great value. It could be in the reach of the serious project studio guy and gives him a sound that’s really incredible. AG- And yet it still maintains that sort of handmade feel too... Mike- Absolutely.As a matter of fact, we put as much money into everything that makes a difference to the sound as we can.And we try to buy smart everything that doesn't have to do with the sound, like the casings, shock mounts…stuff like that. But honestly, when it comes to our microphones, the thing that gives us our real mojo and sound are the transformers.Which are made here in the U.S.? There’s a lot of parts look the same and do the same function,you can get them out of a catalog...you can pay less money for them. But we choose them from AMI because it has ALOT to do with why our microphones sound so special. AG- Did you guys feel confident right away that you had a product that would fill a niche, stand up to the industry standards and even go beyond? Mike- That’s really a great question. One I like to bring up from the other side because, the quick answer is of course we did.Yes. But in reality, you think you might have made all the mistakes before. And every day brings new challenges. Having said that…the way the product came out, the way we designed it, the way the engineers came together. We had a great team and the whole was greater than the sum of parts in this case. We knew it was good, but we didn't expect the level of greatness.The stories we've been hearing from great artists and producers like Buddy Miller and Ray Kennedy, Keb Mo' and his producer John Schirmer.They were shooting it out, not against other microphones in the price range, but the iconic ones that we all dream of like 251 Telefunkens, U-47 Neumann. C12 AKG.The big boys. I don't know of other microphone companies having those kinds of stories going around. If it’s out there, I'm not aware of it. Just in the first year of shipping, we've already been on some great records from Jake Owen to Macy Gray, Keb Mo' and others. AG- Incredible.And for how many years have you' been at this? Mike- 18 months of shipping as of now. AG- Describe some of the microphones you have with their ideal applications. Mike- The first 3 are the condensers that you want to have in your studio.The C5 is a pencil condenser which can be used on many stringed acoustic instruments.You can get it as a single or a matched set.The C7 is the FET condenser.It’s a multi- pattern,large diaphragm and a wonderful vocal mic that would be reminiscent of the mics from the 60's. But like the C5, it can be used as an overhead on a drum kit.The flagship mic would be the CV4 which a 9 pattern tube mic. Loaded with a big AMI transformer and a new/old stock Telefunken tube.The sound is incredible.The C7 and CV4 are voiced very similar. Slight difference on the top end. Lots of harmonic content going on. AG- So a female vocalist may prefer the tube mic? Mike- Well...it would depend on what female vocalist.There is a thread going on out there that a very popular female singer is using the non-tube C7.The great thing about our mics is that they have a very even and well balanced frequency response.Those are some of the best comments that I get. I put mics in 2 categories...ones that have been scooped out and ones that have been bumped up.That’s the thing that sets us apart, the balance. Not too much midrange. Not too little. AG-And you have a killer new preamp out as well.Tell us about that. Mike- It’s a 2 channel and based on one of the most famous, Class A preamps out there by Neve which has been duplicated, simulated...evaporated (laughs) many times, but we wanted to put on our spin on it.You can use it with old ribbon mics. It’s not the same as everyone’s preamp.Not as dark as an API.And its got more beef than you would expect from a Neve reproduction.We like the fact that it has a unique sound all it s own. AG-So one of the stories I've heard lately is that Keb Mo',who's records do sound great, decided to recut his record using a Miktek.... Mike- Yes.The C7. So he was recording in a famous studio and they rented a $10,000 microphone for $100 bucks a day.They set up a new studio in his home in Nashville. So when they went to buy a microphone in the budget of a 1000 dollars or less for that studio, they bought a C7 on the recommendation of a dealer.And when they listened to it, they were so impressed that they decided to recut half the record.We heard that by a very nice letter from Keb's producer. We got a call from Buddy Miller a couple weeks ago that he was recording Shawn Colvin.They had tried a 47 and a C12 and SHE ended up picking the CV4.The one thing I love to hear is what the artist feels when they step up to the mic.That’s what it’s all about.You can argue about the technical aspects of it all.But what matters to me is how the artist feels while using the gear. As an engineer, we want it to sound great.You want the artist to give the best performance they can give.They love what they are hearing through the headphones and they give a great performance. It’s the best compliment we can get. AG-I 'm learning that too.The last time I was in the studio, I was able to A-B some various microphones. I was shocked by the differences. Mike- Exactly. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
AG- So tell us about some of these webcasts Miktek has been a part of. Mike- One of the great things about Nashville, we figured we could be a part of the great community of engineers that we could interface with.We couldn't be happier about that.The quality of people who have been trying our products. And some of these guys have a microphone locker we would all be jealous of. Every mic in the world.They're not going to use something that doesn't sound great. Some just want to try something different. But it comes down to this, if it doesn't sound up to par with what they have, they're not going to use it. It has to be great. So a company called Music Fog rented our studio to do a television broadcast.Aaron the engineer brought in his 'comfort zone' microphones, the big name ones.And little by little, 30 some acts that came in to film, by the end Miktek mics were being used exclusively.To have guys like Gary Nicholson,Marty Stuart and Connie Smith,new artists like Elephant Revival...a very diverse group of artists all sounding great with Miktek mics. AG-What’s on the future horizon for Miktek? Mike-We're just about to start shipping our mics for stage use.We introduced 2 handheld mics...the PM5.Which is high end... like a having a vintage studio condenser mic for the stage.Very sweet.And we have a dynamic mic that killer (PM9). It been on some tours and they love it.The drum mics PM 10 and 11 are getting great reviews from studio drummer Chad Cromwell and Randy Kohrs. AG- Well thanks for the time Mike, and I wish you and Miktek all the best! By- Travis Cooper Photo by Travis Cooper
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“the cardinal wanttobe” says that all are not welcome at church in the Madison diocese. He only wants “true” believers and followers, not sinners in his pews! What would Jesus do? I know what Jesus would do! He would tell Bishop M. to get with the program and study his story. You know the ones about how everyone is welcome in his house. What the Bishop has forgotten is that the church is God’s house not the Bishops, and God makes the rules not the Bishop, and God will kick his ass for keeping his flock out! I understand too that the priest in Mt. Hoerb made a rule that women could not were pants to mass anymore only dresses. Does that mean that men can’t wear kilts to church in Mt. Hoerb? Who do these jokers think they are? I’m running for Pope so please vote for me!
If at first you don't succeed, redefine success… Success or being successful has many different definitions to many different people. What does it mean to you as a musician? Being wealthy and attributing that wealth to your art music is probably the easiest way to define if you are successful or not, but is it the only way? Do you draw large crowds when you play? Do you continually sell out venues? Do you have a fan base of over 1,000 fans that regularly attend your shows? Are there younger acts emulating you? The questions could go on forever, because all are measurements of being successful, but what about how“you”measure success in your heart based on your music? Are you the type of artist that can write a new song every day? Are people telling you that your music touches them and enhances their lives? Are you living out a dream you have always had? Are you keeping your head above water by applying your art to making a living? Are you feeling fulfilled by performing and or writing? These too are ways to measure if you are successful. Taking the title of this editorial and applying it to your own circumstances, can you become successful? The answer is yes! Success is what you want it to be, not what society says it is. Success is you and your music touching the fans at your shows, your peers wanting to perform with you or your songs in their shows, the smiles you bring to people when they hear your music and it’s 1,000 other things. If any or all of these things happen, then the money will happen too! Redefining success and building from that new definition will help to carry your career forward. It is becoming successful under your terms, thus making it easier to create the opportunities for you and your music to reach the heights you dream about! Mostly though it provides you with the positive base and steps you need to become the kind of artist you were meant to be. Andy Ziehli, Senior Editor
With that I’m running for Governor of Wisconsin too. Have you seen the commercials Scott Walker is running? I don’t know but I would sure like a swig of whatever he’s been drinking or smoking!!! He says he’s saved all these union jobs, and created new private sector jobs in the last year. In what state? I don’t know about you but I think he’s beginning to believe his own spin doctors. Can you say out of touch with reality? I can’t decide who is worse for Southern Wisconsin, Scott Walker or Bishop M.! Signing off Litt Dubay
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1st,atThe Froth House,11 North Allen St.www.frothhouse.com from 7 to 9 (There will be another act too.They do half hour sets, where each act plays twice). Plus both my bands will be playing at an Oxfam America International Women's Day show in March, and an Alliance for Animals Benefit in April. Joyce: Carell before I let you go, what would you like people to know about you? Carell: I guess just that I love to play music and feel that I write from my heart. I hope people enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoy making it! Joyce: Thank you Carell for talking to me. Please check out Carell at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/carellcasey Carell: It was a pleasure meeting you. Thanks Joyce! Story and photos by: Joyce Ziehli
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Stacie Collins ♪♪♪♪♪ Sometimes Ya Gotta Rev Records Rocking Country Music
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The Good Lovelies ♪♪♪♪♪
While Canada has a long history of folk music, the county has experienced an unprecedented renaissance in folk and alt-country singer-songwriting in the last two decades. Among those numbers you can count the Good Lovelies. Known across the northernmost nation of the Americas for their humorous on-stage banter, impeccable harmonies and sly, playful lyrics, this trio is making a splash across the border as well. When I picked up the Good Lovelies’ self-titled album, I expected to hear a sound similar to the Wailin’ Jennys or the Duhks. It was a pleasant surprise to hear music more akin to the swing of the Andrews Sisters and the contemporary, inventive explorations of L.A.’s Ditty Bops. This Canadian trio of award-winning musician is comprised of Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore. Their self-titled full-length album, released in 2009, won awards for New Emerging Artist at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, as well as a Juno in 2010 for Roots/Traditional Album of the Year. With hammock-swinging melodies, their lyrics sprinkled with nostalgia and innuendo,the Good Lovelies brighten both the folk and bluegrass genres many would label their music. In addition to their lilting melodies and tight harmonies, the Good Lovelies excel at blending an ear-inspiring variety of instruments in their songs. To my ear, the Lovelies are at their best with their flirtatious dance songs. Cheek to Cheek,an engaging combination ofTommy Dorsey swing with full clarinet,finger-snapping and bright vibraphone, is one of my favorites. The live So Charming broadcasts the Lovelies’ confident sex appeal through their unique combination of coy voice and bold lyric. I Want is a small work of genius, in which the singers’ luscious harmonies are contrasted against a backdrop of tinny piano and fiddle.These yesteryear techniques accompany the three singers as they, like the song, run pell-mell across their dreams and desires with the abandon and precociousness of a preteen girl. In Lie Down, the Lovelies croon to their lover while accompanied by a positively spicy mandolin, closing with a male voice and men’s chorus singing in call-and –response style with the women. (The Lovelies apparently routinely use the occasional men that accompany them as musical foils, not just as onstage ones). Not all their songs emulate the lively music of the past. While its tone is light, Lumberjack is a gentle waltz that pays tribute to Brooks’ grandfather, whose influence and memory created the legacy of trust and love of home she feels today. Shades of rebellion gather round Down, Down, Down--the sparkling banjo, chipper beat and cheerily sung lyrics nonetheless evoking a social critique reminiscent of Indigo Girl ballads like Shame onYou. The Good Lovelies’lyrics are at their strongest in songs such as this. In this case,they capture in spare imagery the uneasy parting of ways between mother and daughter –one perennially searching life for redemption, the other for meaning. With another Juno Award under their belt—this time for Best Vocal Group of the Year in December of 2011—you can bet we’ll soon hear more of the Good Lovelies here in the U.S. In the meantime, until summer returns, I recommend picking up the Good Lovelies for a fresh but cozy foray into the warmth and comfort of North America’s well-loved musical past. Review by:Anne Gravel Sullivan
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ner hour, we would sit by the pool or use the pool before escaping to our rooms for the day. Some lobby sitting time is also a must for the evening or a stroll to nearby shops can be fun, too. And so that became our routine. I found that I could enjoy the sandy beach as much as my farm fields and wooded lots. Those six days and nights went by in a snap, and therefore, by the next winter I was pushing my friends to return for another winter break in South Beach. We did that for three years,and we added a day or two more each visit. We found some other friends that wanted to join us there, too. We loved it there. The staff went out of its way to make you comfortable and happy. The hunt each evening for our meal was special, too. We did not need to rent a car as we could walk to everything. But there was a downside,too. South Beach is very expensive, and hotel living gets to be a drag after a few days, and thus by year four we were ready for a change. June another former colleague was always raving about her time she spent in Siesta Keys, Florida, which is on the Gulf side off Sarasota. Thus we spent some time investigating on the computer, and we decided last winter that we would give that place a
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Stacie Collins is a singer/songwriter/performer from Nashville who is nothing like all the other singer/songwriters from Nashville, this lady rocks!!! She is 10 sticks of dynamite!!! This is her third CD and it rocks from the beginning notes of Hey Mister to the ending notes of Lend the Devil a Hand! Sometimes Ya Gotta shows Collins singing/songwriting and harmonica playing style full out. Along with husband/bass player/ and songwriting partner Al Collins, Stacie put together a wonderfully exciting CD of rocking good time songs. The CD was produced by Dan Baird, who did an excellent job of capturing Collins talents and transferring her live show to the CD. Joining the Collin's with co-writing were Warner Hodges and Tommy Womack. My favorite cuts on the CD were all of them! There is not a bad song on this CD. It is not often you get a CD with 12 fantastic songs but Sometime Ya Gotta has that! All the tunes here have a life and sound of their own which makes this a great CD to throw in the ole CD player and turn it up as you go down the road on Weekend night to hit the town! This CD has it all Rock, Country, Ballads, and Blues, you name it, it’s here, and all played with intensity and style. Collins is very lucky to have the great band she has on this CD backing her, Dan Baird, Al Collins,Warner Hodges, Jimmy Lester, Eric Borash, Michael Webb, and Collins herself on Harmonica. These fine musicians leave their mark all over this CD without stepping on Collins toes. I can’t say enough of how much I love this CD! This is what singers like Gretchen Wilson, Miranda Lambert, and the rest of the made up Country Queens wish they sounded and rocked out like! Stacie Collins is the real deal! A down to earth singer and performer who gives 200% to everything she does, and it shows. Check out Stacie on you tube and at her website staciecollins.com. Go out and buy this CD and her other two as long as you are at it. She’s a keeper! Look for the future story on Stacie in the April / May issue. Review by:Andy Ziehli
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try. Some travel shows on television had named the Siesta Keys beach the best one in Florida (with South Beach being number two). The big draw was that this was condo living and not hotel living. Our friends opted for three weeks, but we decided to try eight days mainly because by the time we called the rental office that was all that was available at the time our friends would be there. Here a car is needed if you want to get to stores and shops and restaurants. Siesta Keys was wonderful. We loved that beach, and the complex we stayed in had over 100 units and most people there were from the Midwest like us out to escape some winter. The condo was perfect for us and gave you some privacy and choices not available in hotel living.The complex had three pools and beautiful landscaped trees and plants native to South Florida. It was great fun to make your own breakfast in your condo and take it to the patio for eating in the morning sun. A loud crow lived in the palm tree outside our unit,and I used the technique that I use at home to silence him. I simply stand outside and clap my hands as loud as I can, and off the Florida crow flew just as our Wisconsin crows do. Again the key is to get to the beach as early as you can to claim your spot and your chair. Our favorite spot was under a lonely palm tree so we could move back and forth from sun to shade with ease. Walking this beach proved as good as the Miami one, and because there were fewer people, it was often more fun. Everyone seems to collect shells on these strolls.. Lunch was back at the condo often a sandwich and fresh fruit. You could prepare your evening meal in your condo because it is completely equipped for that, but it is fun to try new places to dine,and so we packed into our vehicle and explored the region of Sarasota or Siesta Keys for dinner. A conversation with another snowbird taught us a trick of the trade so-to-speak. Roll your deposit over for the next year and that will hold a spot for you. While checking out, I asked to do that and gave them a range of dates I wanted to consider for the next winter and told them how many days I was wanted for the next visit. Thus this winter it will be two weeks on the beach, and we were assigned a condo next to the one we had last winter. It is a short walk to the beach and close to all three pools. The beach is calling! To my surprise I am as at home on the beach as I am in the fields and valleys and hills of Southern Wisconsin. Written by: Bob Hoffman
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man. As comfortable in the studio as he is on stage, Sies mentors and records local performers, helping to bring their music and dreams to life.
in the first 15 seconds he heard us. We didn’t know what that meant. He offered us the deal the next day and while we were waiting for the paper work to arrive we got 14 other major label offers from that one show. We chose what we thought was the best shot for us. We put out a couple of records, did some movie soundtrack stuff, moved to L.A., toured a little, and lived the Rock & Roll life style for a few years. I lived just down the street from Warner in L.A.
People listening to Sies will be struck by his agile finger work and the fluidity with which he plays the guitar. To this day the six-string is still his favorite instrument. “There’s no place to hide”behind an acoustic guitar, Sies chuckles as he quotes Stephen Stills. This characteristic candor is part of what makes Sies the musician he is: comfortable taking risks, always challenging himself. Faced with the loss of his voice, Sies continuously found new ways to grow as a musician. Sies credits his wife Mary for unequivocally supporting his need to continually express himself and connect with people through music. One cannot talk to Sies without being left with the impression that you’ve barely scratched the surface. Sies clearly believes there is no limit to the places music can take people, whether musician or listener. Putting fingers to string, it’s as if there are no barriers between reality and the soul that music can’t cross. Sies’ peers are quick to praise not only his skill and musicianship but his work ethic and collaborative style. Sies’ ability to work with a wide diversity of artists,in an even wider variety of genres-- and always bringing a generous musical contribution of his own--has earned him an unparalleled reputation for creativity and trustworthiness. Sies’ many musical partners characterize him as being as generous in spirit as he is in talent. “Doug is incredibly giving,”Beth Kille says warmly,recalling that there was always a sizable cohort of friends that she and her band mates came to dub“Doug’s People”present for each CBB performance. Even when performing in more distant locales like Denver,the vast,loyal network that comprised “Doug’s people” would come out to hear him perform. Sies acknowledges he’s had more than his fair share of Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame. He’s experienced the gratification of having a large fan base and of earning money for playing the music he loved as part of Summer Haze. He’s known the camaraderie and satisfaction of collaboratively creating original rock as part of Clear Blue Betty. And in both these musical enterprises,he’s known the thrill of being part of something larger—and of being recognized for his talents with popular as well as critical acclaim. Still it’s clear there’s more to come for this veteran musician; he has always enjoyed the thrill of live performance, playing the circuit and meeting new people. As I prepare to leave he plays me a song he recently recorded with a young woman from Kansas City, Mo. Her voice is clear and pitch true; its understated sultriness brings back memories of a young Allyson Kraus. A lovely voice, transformed into a clarion anthem by the elegant acoustic showcase Sies constructs for it. It is precisely this trait of Sies’--this inclination to reach out to people, to connect with them through music that will no doubt lead Sies to the next phase of what he calls his wagon full of dreams. “I love people,” he states matter-of-factly, opening his arms expansively as he speaks. Translation: keep an eye out on this ever-evolving performer, songwriter,producer and raconteur. Some piece of Sies’ magic will wrap around another leaf, sprout or kernel of an idea, take root and grow. With rare skill, Sies accomplishes something critical to the magic of performance that goes largely unacknowledged by musicians and audiences alike: by connecting them, translating and reframing divergent notes and tempos, he fills in the gaps and becomes what bonds them. Jimi Hendrix had it right when he said “knowledge speaks, wisdom listens.” By:Anne Gravel Sullivan Photo supplied
AG:After the Royal Court of China you took a different path right? Blanton: After the A&M days, I moved back to Nashville and started writing songs for Ronnie Milsap’s Publishing company. I did that for three and half years. It was very cool. I got to learn the craft from some very, very good writers and they taught me a lot about songwriting. It was probably the best thing that happened to me at that time. I had no formal music training and no training in songwriting. Up to that point, I was just writing whatever came to me in dreams and everything was from my perspective. I started trying to connect with the audience during this time and creating characters in my songs that still had parts of me floating around in them but it wasn’t just me. It also taught me a lot about collaboration with other writers. AG: Did you find that they were open to you coming from a Rock background? Blanton: Since my band was signed out of Nashville and we had received a great deal of press, they had heard of me. Everybody is looking for a different angle and spark in songwriting so my Rock & Roll background was really not an issue to them; in fact it was a different way for them to write too. Rock & Roll had crept into Country (the early to middle 90’s). It was Garth Brooks swinging from the rafters and loud guitars, smoke, and light shows, so it did not hurt to have that kind of a background. They were all looking for the “edge”, but nobody really wanted it when they heard it (laughs)! The thing you have to remember about writing in Nashville is that you write so much that you can fall into a trap and get stuck writing the same things over and over again. Being different and writing with different people with different styles keeps you fresh and gives you new ideas to work from. Writers always want to say something new and exciting. Collaborating with different people gives you that opportunity to do just that. It can throw you into a whole new direction. AG: Now you are a graphic artist too. You do that for your“day”job,but do you draw and create on the side for other musicians? Blanton: I do. Right now I’m doing a huge project for Ray Stevens. He is putting out a nine CD box set called The Encyclopedia of Recorded Comedy Music and I’m doing the artwork for it. I do all of his artwork for his projects. I’m also a videographer and editor which also keeps me busy. I feel I’m a better audio engineer, but video and audio today are built along the same lines and with the software that’s available I keep my chops up in both worlds and I keep busy with both areas. AG: Do you find when you engineer and produce other people’s projects that they are open to your suggestions and ideas on how the project should go? Blanton: It really depends if you are coming from a strictly engineering approach or as the producer. If you are coming from engineering perspective you have to be able to read the artist. You have to be in tune with what they want. You’re just there to capture the sound and reproduce it the way the artist and producer wants it to sound. If you hear mistakes you need to point them out, but sometimes people want the mistakes left in because they think it’s cool. Sometimes…it is! It’s a very organic process. When people have a set vision of how they want the session to go, then it’s your job to follow their lead and do your best to make sure the red light is on. As far as production goes, you might hear one small gui-
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tar lick and the artist may not even know that it’s there. That could be the hook of the song. They might be so close to the song that they are not even aware that it’s happened. As a producer it’s your job to listen for those things and bring them out. You also have to listen for the strengths of the artist and find ways to enhance them. You also need to have good communication skills. If you’re Mr. Negative guy, you can shut down the creative process fast.There are many ways of saying something sucks! And I have heard them all! Ha! AG:What do you like better, engineering or producing? Blanton: I like them both. It’s really kind of like writing. It’s the most beautiful part of the process. When Warner, Dan, & I are writing you can tell that we’re itching to get the song down and recorded. Being able to write, record, and create the song in its entirety in the studio is fantastic. I’m the most inspired in the studio. I don’t know where it comes from, but the studio seems to bring it out in me.Maybe I just like switches and buttons and blinking lights. AG: When you write do you have a formula, lyrics, melody, chords? Blanton: I hear the full song, words, chords, a full band playing in my head. It usually happens when I’m doing some mundane task like cutting the grass. The white noise seems to clear my head and it allows me to create. I grab my phone and sing the song into it. After the inspiration, the work part comes, sorting it out, organizing but not trying to beat the life out of it.I love beautiful mistakes so I try not to over-think a song. AG: When you get inspired and record the melody or song into your phone and come back and listen to it later, do you go “god I heard this before?” Blanton: It has happened to me, and I think it happens to everybody who listens to a great deal of music. It can be very accidental that you rip something off. You’re working with a finite number of chords and notes, so borrowing something from other songs or writers is bound to happen. The trick is to take three chords and make them sound different than anything that has come before. It’s an art & skill to do so. Its okay to borrow and we are naturally going to do that. The trick is to not outright steal from someone else. I’ve had to scrap songs I’ve written because they were just too close to someone else’s song. Sometimes I use the old“reverse the riff or chord structure” trick and you can save it! AG: So what’s on the horizon for Joe Blanton? Blanton: Well I’m putting the finishing touches on the mixes for the Bluefield’s album which comes out in 2012. It’s been very exiting working on this with my friends. I recently finished editing the Dan Baird & Homemade Sin Sweden Rocks DVD and it came out great! I’m also awaiting the release of new The Farmer Jason album on Kazoo/Universal which I co-wrote and produced 4-songs for. The Scorchers are doing a 30 year anniversary tour and I’m directing the filming of their New Year’s Eve show in Nashville for a live performance DVD they are making. I get to mix the audio too! This is such a cool project for me because I’m a huge fan of the Scorchers. It’s a labor of love! I’m very grateful to Warner Hodges for keeping me in the middle of all this bustling activity. AG: I love the Bluefield’s sound! Your show at the Mercy was incredible! It was a joy to see guys having fun on stage instead of just posturing. Blanton: It’s a great band! I’m the least famous person up there and it’s such an honor to be on stage with those guys. It’s just fun to make music with them! AG: Joe thanks for your time and I am looking forward to the Bluefield’s CD! Blanton: Thanks Andy and I’ll send you a copy when it’s finished. I’m sure we’ll be lighting up The Bluefield’s facebook page too when all’s said and done. Story by:Andy Ziehli Photo by Joyce Ziehli
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The Quotable Dolly: A Collection of Rich Sayings to Live, Love and Laugh By From the Country Music Legend Dolly Parton
This book celebrates the wit and wisdom of country's favorite singer-songwriter and includes 25 rare and unusual photographs and an introduction by music journalist Alanna Nash. Fort Lauderdale's Rock & Read Books has published The Quotable Dolly: A Collection of Rich Sayings to Live, Love and Laugh By from The Country Music Legend, a gift-book sampling of Parton's wit and wisdom. The totable volume, designed by the award-winning Carley Wilson Brown, pairs self-deprecating quips and philosophical quotes with photographs of the Smoky Mountain singer-songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist from various stages of her life and career. The topics are as diverse as her cantilevered looks and her indomitable faith. For example: "People always ask me, `What do you want people to say about you one hundred years from now?' I want them to say, `Dang, don't she look good for her age?"' The 80-page collection includes an introduction by noted music journalist Alanna Nash, who writes, "With the face of an angel and the zeal of a tent-show evangelist, Dolly Parton remains, at sixty-five, a mountain miracle. As ever, she appears a tangle of contradictions, a world-class poet in stiletto heels, a fragile flower and one-woman conglomerate, a serious songwriter and wisecracking comedienne. She is, most of all, a Southern original." Part of the proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit the Imagination Library, the non-profit organization Parton founded to promote early childhood literacy. Available now from: rockandreadbooks.com, fanclubhouse.com, Amazon.com, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.