No'Ala Huntsville, July/August 2014

Cigar Box Guitar Fest | Quinceañera: Coming of Age | Remembering Johnny Wyker | Body of Art

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CONNECTIONS The 60th Season

Video Games Live Friday, October 17, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. • Pops Series

Musical Chairs Sunday, February 1, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. • Casual Classics

Berlioz and the Ladies Friday, October 24, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. • Classical Series

Georgia Bottoms: A Comic Opera of the Modern South Saturday, February 21, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. • Classical Series

And The Beat Goes On Friday, November 14, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. • Classical Series

For Michael - The Music of Michael Jackson Saturday, February 28, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. • Pops Series

Dinner Divertimento Sunday, November 16, 2014, at 5:30 p.m. • Casual Classics

Strauss Connection Saturday, March 14, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. • Classical Series

“Music from the Mad Men Era,” starring Steve Lippia Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. • Pops Series

The Science of Music Sunday, April 19, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. • Casual Classics

Verdi’s Requiem Friday, January 16, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. • Classical Series

On A High Note Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. • Classical Series

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Presents its 60th Season Season subscriptions go on sale July 1 Single tickets available August 15 • • • •

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256-539-4818 or www.hso.org

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Reflecting half a century of excellence in neurosurgery neurosurgery.

A lot has changed since we started in 1964, but our commitment as the regional leader is stronger than ever. From the latest minimally-invasive neck and back treatments to 24/7 trauma care, Spine & Neuro Center combines confident care with a convenient, patient-focused facility. Fifty years is more than a nice round number — it’s experience you can feel good about.

NeuroSpine Surgeons:

Rhett B. Murray, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Joel D. Pickett, M.D., F.A.C.S.

John D. Johnson, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S.

JJason TT. B Banks, k M.D., M D F.A.C.S. FA C S

Cheng W. W Tao, Tao M.D., M D F.A.C.S. FA C S

Bryan A. Gaspard, M.D.

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation:

Keith C C. Anderson Anderson, D D.O. O

Hayley Campbell, M.D.

Ryan C C. Aaron Aaron, M M.D. D

Huntsville • Decatur | 201 Governors Drive • Huntsville, AL 35801 Toll Free: 1-888-736-1762 • 256-533-1600 • www.spineandneuro.com july/august  | noalapress.com | 

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July/August

features HOME GROWN SOUND Our annual round-up of locally-sourced musicians.

34

BY CLAIRE STEWART PHOTOS BY WHITE RABBIT STUDIOS

Clara Belle and the Creeps prepare to duke it out. See the aftermath on page 106. © White Rabbit Studios

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WILD CARD Remembering Johnny Wyker

BY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY DICK COOPER

62 74

© Patrick Hood

52

Tattoos—they’re not just for sailors anymore.

BY CLAIRE STEWART PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

EUBANKS PHOTOS BY BAILEY CHASTANG, MICHELLE CONSUEGRA, MICHELLE RUPE EUBANKS, & WHITE RABBIT STUDIOS

Lowe Mill’s 10th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Fest

BY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

BODY OF ART

A trio of “makers” who prove that not all artists create from a blank canvas.

BY MICHELLE RUPE

THE SOUND OF SIMPLICITY

© Dick Cooper

THREE TO WATCH

86 MAKE ‘EM LAUGH Revealing portraits of six North Alabama comedians.

BY REBECCA ROSS PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

© White Rabbit Studios © Cristian Amoretti

editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson no’ala huntsville advisory board Osie Adelfang ARC Design-Build, Inc. Sarah Brewer Click Photo Designs by Sarah Brewer Madeline Boswell Finery Bridal Boutique Macy Chapman Downtown Huntsville, Inc. Jennifer Doss Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Leslie Ecklund Burritt on the Mountain Marcia Freeland Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Dan Halcomb Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Elizabeth Jones Burritt on the Mountain Ginger Penney Liles Matthew Liles AIDS Action Coalition Guy McClure Athens State University Patrick Robbins Alabama Pain Center Ashley Vaughn White Rabbit Studios/Vertical Records Charles Vaughn Vaughn Lumber Company Anna Baker Warren Anna Baker Warren Interiors Andrew Wilmon Broadway Theatre League

Let us entertain you!

Welcome to the second most-read magazine of the year, our annual Entertainment issue. Second only to the Bridal issue in readership, this is our yearly recap of the best and brightest rising musical stars, and this year you are in for a treat. The musicians you will meet cover a broad range of musical genres, from rock and ballads to instrumentals, but all have one thing in common: they help reinforce our belief that there is just not any place in the world better for fostering talent and getting musicians started on their careers. There must be something in the waters of the Tennessee River—talent in North Alabama is everywhere!

Comics are entertainers, too—check out our quick look at several North Alabama comics who are making a name for themselves by making fun (of themselves, often times) on stage. We’ll take a look at a teenage rite of passage, a Quinceañera, by profiling a young Huntsville girl’s celebration. We’ll show you a different way to look at body art—tattoos—and suggest that this way of decorating yourself has a deeply personal meaning for those who are doing it. We’ll tell you about how well represented we were at Southern Makers, and profile musical personality Johnny Wyker. There’s a lot to entertain you in this issue, and we hope you enjoy it!

The summer is flying by, and before long the kids will be getting ready to go back to school. We’re already beginning work on our fall issue, which is all about personal style, and we have some great surprises in store for you. As you rush to the beach for that last vacation, rush from Burritt’s City Lights and Stars concert to the back dock concerts at Lowe Mill, or rush to the stores to get ready for school, remember to buy locally whenever you can. From food to clothing to school supplies and even entertainment, there is simply no reason to go anywhere else to find everything you need. World-class shopping; world-class craftspeople; world-class entertainment. This little corner of the world is just about as good as it gets!

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contents July/August 2014 Volume 3: Issue 4 ••• C. Allen Tomlinson Editor-In-Chief David Sims Creative Director Contributing Writers Amy Collins, Sara Wright Covington, Michelle Rupe Eubanks, Sarah Gaede, Maxine Guerry, Rebecca Ross Claire Stewart, Allen Tomlinson

QUINCEAÑERA

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Keeping alive a centuries-old Latin-American custom.

Contributing Photographers Bailey Chastang, Michelle Consuegra, Dick Cooper Michelle Rupe Eubanks, Patrick Hood, Danny Mitchell, April Stanley, White Rabbit Studios

BY SARA WRIGHT COVINGTON PHOTOS BY APRIL STANLEY

Advertising Director Heidi King Advertising Sales Myra Sawyer, Heidi King © April Stanley

Features Manager Claire Stewart

everything else 12

Business Manager Roy Hall Graphic Designer Rowan Finnegan

CALENDAR Events for July-August 2014

82

Intern Savannah Comer

MARKET

•••

BY CLAIRE STEWART PHOTOS BY DANNY MITCHELL

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No’Ala Huntsville is published six times annually

by No’Ala Press PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: 800-779-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106 Web: www.noalapress.com

BACK TALK “What Song Never Gets Old?”

BY CLAIRE STEWART

Standard postage paid at Huntsville, AL. A one-year subscription is $19.95 for delivery in the United States.

Signed articles reflect only the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.

Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements.

100 THE VINE “Portugal’s Green Wine”

BY AMY COLLINS

102 FOOD FOR THOUGHT © Patrick Hood

“Olé, Olé!”

BY SARAH GAEDE

104 HEAR TELL “Let’s Go Fishin’”

BY MAXINE GUERRY

106 PARTING SHOT

BY WHITE RABBIT STUDIOS

A BIG OOPS, AND OUR SINCERE APOLOGY In our last issue, we mistakenly credited a house to designer and builder Stewart Abel. In fact, the house we pictured was designed and built by Thomas Kenchel of Huntsville, a marketing and product designer who was also responsible for the design of the Martin Industries corporate headquarters in Florence. We apologize for the error!

© 2008-2014 No’Ala Press, All rights reserved.

Send all correspondence to Allen Tomlinson, Editor, at the postal address above, or by e-mail to allen@noalapress.com.

Letters may be edited for space and style.

To advertise, contact us at: 256-766-4222, or sales@noalapress.com.

The editor will provide writer’s guidelines upon request.

Prospective authors should not submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query the editor first.

No’Ala is printed with vegetable-based inks.

Please recycle.

Connect with us on Facebook: No’Ala Huntsville and Twitter: @NoAla_Magazine

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calendar

Tuesday, July 1 PJ Storytime (all ages) 6:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Madison Branch, 130 Plaza Blvd.; (256) 461-0046; hmcpl.org Tuesday, July 1 – Monday, July 14 Janet Fisher: Master of Light and Shadow Tues-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm and until 8:00pm on Thurs, and Sun 1:00pm-4:00pm; Admission charged, Free to members and children under 6; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St. W.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Tuesday, July 1 – Sunday, August 10 Seeing is Believing: Contemporary Works on Paper from the Collection Tues-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm and until 8:00pm on Thurs, and Sun 1:00pm-4:00pm; Admission charged, Free to members and children under 6; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St. W.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Tuesday, July 1- Sunday, August 31 Alice’s Garden of Wonders Sun Noon-6:00pm, Mon-Sat 9:00am-6:00pm, and Thurs until 8:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Botanical Gardens, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave.; (256) 830-4747; hsvbg.org Tuesday, July 1- Tuesday, September 2 Treasure Hunt at Gold Mountain (For children 3-11) Sun Noon-4:00pm, Tues-Sat 10:00am-4:00pm; Admission charged; Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com Tuesday, July 1 – Sunday, September 14 Al Hirschfeld: A Celebration of Hollywood and Broadway Tues-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm and until 8:00pm on Thurs, and Sun 1:00pm-4:00pm; Admission charged, Free to members and children under 6; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St. W.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Tuesday, July 1- Tuesday, September 30 Purdy Butterfly House Sun Noon-6:00pm, Mon-Sat 9:00am-6:00pm, and Thurs until 8:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Botanical Gardens, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave.; (256) 830-4747; hsvbg.org Majestic Minerals: Nature’s Building Blocks Sun Noon-4:00pm, Tues-Sat 10:00am-4:00pm; Admission charged; Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com Tuesday, July 1 – Friday, October 31 Wade Wharton Exhibit Sun Noon-6:00pm, Mon-Sat 9:00am-6:00pm, and Thurs until 8:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Botanical Gardens, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave.; (256) 830-4447; hsvbg.org

Thursday, July 3 – Thursday, August 28 The Greene Street Market at Nativity (Thursdays only) 4:00pm; Free; Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 304 Eustis Ave.; (256) 682-4429; greenestreetmarket.com Thursday Night Bikes (Thursdays only) 4:00pm-8:00pm; Free; Corner of Green Street & Eustis; (256) 682-4429 Madison Gazebo Concerts in the Park Series (Thursdays only) 6:30pm-8:30pm; Free; Village Green Gazebo, Downtown Madison; (256) 527-7802; madisonartscouncil.net Biergarten: Stein, Wine, and Dine! (Thursdays only) Thurs 4:30pm-7:30pm; Free, food and beverage available for purchase; Space & Rocket Center, One Tranquility Base; (256) 837-3400; rocketcenter.com Friday, July 4 Celebrate Huntsville: 4th of July Fireworks 6:00pm-10:00pm; Parking fee; US Space and Rocket Center, One Tranquility Base; (256) 837-3400; rocketcenter.com City Lights and Stars Concert Series 7:30pm; Admission charged; Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com Saturday, July 5 – Saturday, August 30 Madison City Farmers Market (Saturdays Only) 8:00am-Noon; Free; Trinity Baptist Church, 1088 Hughes Road, Madison; (256) 656-7841; madisoncityfarmersmarket.com Huntsville Ghost Walk (Saturdays Only) 6:00pm; Free; Harrison Brothers Hardware, 124 South Side Square; (256) 509-3940; huntsvilleghostwalk.com Breakfast Trolley Tour (Saturdays Only) 10:00am; Admission charged; Alabama Constitution Village, 109 Gates Avenue; (256) 535-6564; earlyworks.com Monday, July 7 – Monday, August 4 (Mondays Only) Concerts in the Park Series 6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; (256) 519-2787; artshuntsville.org Monday, July 7 Book vs. Movie: The Mortal Instruments – City of Bones Noon-2:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Bailey Cove Branch, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE; (256) 881-0257; hmcpl.org Interactive Bollywood Film Series 5:30pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, 915 Monroe St.; (256) 532-2362; hmcpl.org Tuesday, July 8 Tuesday Evening Concerts at the Library: The African American Drummers 6:00pm-7:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Downtown Huntsville Branch, 915 Monroe St.; (256) 532-5975; hmcpl.org

Thursday, July 10 Civil War Presentation: Soldiers, Spies, and Femme Fatales 6:30pm; Free; The Elks Club, 725 Franklin; (256) 278-5533 Knitting Between the Lines: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Noon-1:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Bailey Cove Branch, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE; (256) 881-0257; hmcpl.org Teen Fandom Fest 6:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Madison Branch, 130 Plaza Blvd., Madison; (256) 461-0046; hmcpl.org Thursday, July 10 – Thursday, August, 28 Downtown Huntsville Sounds of Summer Series (Thursdays Only) 5:00pm-7:00pm; Free; Westside square; (256) 886-8022; downtownhuntsville.org Friday, July 11 Homegrown Comedy 8:00pm-10:00pm; $7; Flying Monkey Arts, 2211 Seminole Dr. SW; (256) 489-7000; lowemill.net Friday, July 11 – Sunday, July 13 Nunset Boulevard Fri-Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2:00pm; Admission charged; Von Braun Center Playhouse, 700 Monroe St., (256) 536-0807; yourseatiswaiting.org Saturday, July 12 Grotto Lights Concert Series 6:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; (256) 886-8022; downtownhuntsville.org Thursday, July 17 – Sunday, July 20 Nunset Boulevard Thurs-Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2:00pm; Admission charged; Von Braun Center Playhouse, 700 Monroe St., (256) 536-0807; yourseatiswaiting.org Thursday, July 17 Arts Stroll 4:30pm-8:30pm; Free; Constitution Village, 109 Gates; (256) 534-8376; sidewalkartsstroll.org Movies in the Park: Village of Providence Dusk (7:30pm-8:30pm); Free; 7 Town Center Drive NW, Providence; (256) 704-3354 Friday, July 18 The Winslow Davis Ensemble 7:30pm-9:30pm; $10; Flying Monkey Arts, 2211 Seminole Dr. SW; (256) 489-7000; lowemill.netw Decatur Third Friday 5:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Downtown Decatur; facebook. com/3rdfridaydowntown

Street Food: Beach Food Challenge 6:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Downtown; downtownhuntsville.org Saturday, July 19 Drop-in and Create Saturday: Artful Fishy Tails 11:00am-1:00pm; Free; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St. SW; (256) 532-1743; hsvmuseum.org Jazz Concert at Three Caves 6:00pm; Free; Three Caves; (256) 534-5263; landtrust-hsv.org Folk Music Day 10:00am-4:00pm; Admission charged; Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com Tuesday, July 22 Tuesday Evening Concerts @ the Library 6:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Downtown Huntsville Branch, 915 Monroe St.; (256) 532-2362; hmcpl.org Friday, July 25 City Lights and Stars Concert Series 7:30pm; Admission charged; Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com Sunday, July 27 Docent-led Tour: Looking at the Collection: Contemporary Works on Paper 2:00pm-2:45pm; $10 adults, $8 military, students, and teachers, and $5 children 6-11; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Tuesday, July 29 Meet the Author: Robert Bailey 6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Downtown Huntsville Branch, 915 Monroe St.; (256) 532-2362; hmcpl.org Thursday, July 31 Harry Potter Birthday Party (for teens) 5:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Madison Branch, 130 Plaza Blvd., Madison; (256) 461-0046 City Wide Gallery Tour 5:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Locations and other information available at huntsvillegalleries.org Saturday, August 2 Books and Bricks LEGO™ Workshop 1:00pm-3:00pm; $2 registration fee; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Monrovia Branch; 254 Allen Drake Dr.; (256) 489-3392; hmcpl.org Monday, August 4 Book vs. Movie: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare Noon-2:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library,

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calendar

Bailey Cove Branch, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE; (256) 881-0257; hmcpl.org Tuesday, August 5 Tuesday Evening Concerts at the Library: Maple Hill Band 6:00-7:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Downtown Huntsville Branch, 915 Monroe St.; (256) 532-5975; hmcpl.org Thursday, August 7 Teen Writing Group 5:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Madison Branch, 130 Plaza Blvd., Madison; (256) 461-0046 Saturday, August 9 Grotto Lights Concert Series 6:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; (256) 886-8022; downtownhuntsville.org Jazz Concert at Three Caves 6:00pm; Free; Three Caves; (256) 534-5263; landtrust-hsv.org Thursday, August 14 Knitting Between the Lines: The Shop on Blossom Street

by Debbie Macomber Noon-1:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Bailey Cove Branch, 1409 Weatherly Plaza SE; (256) 881-0257; hmcpl.org Movies in the Park 8:30pm; Free; Big Spring Park behind the Museum, 300 Church Street; (256) 519-2787; artshuntsville.org Friday, August 15 City Lights and Stars Concert Series 7:30pm; Admission charged; Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com Movies in the Park: Village of Providence Dusk (7:30pm-8:30pm); Free; 7 Town Center Drive NW, Providence; (256) 704-3354 Decatur Third Friday 5:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Downtown Decatur; facebook. com/3rdfridaydowntown Street Food: Tailgate Party at VBC 6:00pm-9:00pm; Free; Von Braun Center; downtownhuntsville.org Saturday, August 16 Drop-In and Create: Get Your Hollywood On! 11:00am-1:00pm; Free; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St. SW; (256) 532-1743; hsvmuseum.org Sunday, August 17 – Sunday, October 26 The Red Clay Survey: 2014 Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art Tues-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm and until 8:00pm on Thurs, and Sun 1:00pm-4:00pm; Admission charged, Free to members and

children under 6; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St. W.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Tuesday, August 19 Tuesday Evening Concerts @ the Library: SlipJig 6:00pm-7:00pm; Free; Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Downtown Huntsville Branch, 915 Monroe St.; (256) 532-5975; hmcpl.org Saturday, August 23 Rhythms Brew & BBQ Festival 2:00pm; Admission charged; Redstone Arsenal Gate 10, Jordan Lane So.; (256) 313-5224; redstonemwr.com Sunday, August 24 Docent-led tour of The Red Clay Survey 2:00pm-2:45pm; Free to members, Admission charged for non-members; Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St. W.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org Army Country Concert Tour 2:00pm; Admission charged; Redstone Arsenal Gate 10, Jordan Lane So.; (256) 313-5224; redstonemwr.com Rocketman Triathlon 7:30am; Recreation Area, Redstone Arsenal; Information available by calling (256) 508-9116 or online at teamrocketri.org

July 31 Huntsville City Wide Gallery Tour

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scene

Miss Alabama Chandler Champion and Margo Alford 2014 JLH Members Alexandra Glenn

Caroline Blankenship and Ashley Corley

Margo Alford

American Girl Fashion Show Models

JLH American Girl Fashion Show Committee

Lily Kate and Jennifer Swoboda Photos courtesy of the Junior League of Huntsville

Above: Junior League of Huntsville American Girl Fashion Show

Below: Grace Club Centennial Celebration Tea

march -,  · burritt on the mountain, huntsville

may ,  · huntsville museum of art

Back: Amy Brooks, Kakki Brooks, Louise Reynolds, Mary Beth Wilson, Berta Hargett; Front: Caroline Brooks, Mary Kate Brooks, Anne Louise Wilson

Nancy Davis, Gloria Batts,Carolyn Blue, Bobby Bradley, and Betsy Lowe

Minnie Lois

Linda Riley, Mary Butler, and Betty Peeler

Emily Burwell

Caroline Curran, Katie Vest, Torie Park, and Bailey Bentley

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Karen Andress, Eula Battle, and Susan Sullins Caroline, Ivy, Alice, Jennifer, and Bailey Bentley Photos courtesy of the Grace Club

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REMEMBERING JOHNNY WYKER text by sara wright covington photos by dick cooper

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THE YEAR WAS 1972.

The song “Motorcycle Mama” had just climbed to number 12 on the Billboard Music chart. For the Alabama group Sailcat, this success would warrant performances at Carnegie Hall and American Bandstand. But for journalist-turned-musician Dick Cooper, what he remembers most about 1972 is that it was the beginning of his life-long friendship with Sailcat frontrunner Johnny Wyker. Assigned to do a feature article on Wyker for the Florence Times, Cooper recalls this infamous first interview: “We were standing by his apartment talking and someone comes by on a motorcycle and the next thing you know, Johnny is on the back of it. And then the next thing, he bought it. That began a five year stint of us racing motorcycles in both organized and disorganized chaos—going out to Tennessee and going up and down the power lines of Pickwick Dam and building huge bonfires and parking around them in a circle of bands.” Like the song “Motorcycle Mama” itself, an anthem about a free-spirited, motorcycle riding vagrant, Wyker’s own life of organized and disorganized chaos paralleled his art as he roamed from one adventure to the next.

Born in Florence in 1945, Johnny Wyker spent most of his life in and around the music industry. Although professionally his highest career achievement would be Sailcat’s one-hit-wonder of 1972, he was also an accomplished songwriter. He cowrote and recorded “Let Love Come Between Us” which was later recorded by artists Mavis Staples, Delbert McClinton, and the Pointer Sisters. And although Wyker received some acclaim for his writing and recording, it is really his intense creativity and ability to inspire for which he became known. He had a great deal of friends, both famous and not, including renowned musician, producer, and founder of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, David Hood. An original member of Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (or The Swampers), Hood produced and played bass for Wyker’s album Wild Water Ski Weekend. “Johnny was one of the more creative artistic people I ever met,” says Hood. “He was very charismatic. He was not a great singer or player himself, but he was the one who inspired other musicians. He gave them ideas of things to do.”

Like so many creative personalities, Johnny Wyker was often misunderstood. Hood originally met Wyker as a teenager when they both attended a Bo Diddley concert. “He came from a prominent family from Decatur,” says Hood. “He was always considered by his family to be a black sheep.

He marched to the beat of a drum that they couldn’t hear.” Wyker battled the demons of addiction throughout his life, and he developed a dependence on alcohol as a child, quite literally, sampling the drinks of adults. But despite his vices, Wyker’s creativity was still the force that ruled him. “His main problem was that he was just a super creative person and had a hard time dealing with people who lived regular lives,” says Hood. “He just couldn’t slow down. He would think of 18 different creative ideas by the time a normal person would drink a cup of coffee.”

Facing page: Johnny Wyker and Bankhead Hotchkiss Below: David Hood, Tommy Patterson, Wayne Perkins, and Wyker.

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REMEMBERING JOHNNY WYKER

Wyker was also well known for creating a non-profit radio station called “The Mighty Field of Vision,” in honor of his friend Eddie Hinton who played lead guitar for the Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section.

Hinton had fallen on hard times and Johnny took it upon himself to help rehabilitate him and then went on to co-produce his next album with Dick Cooper. For Wyker, this was a selfless act, given his own history of addiction. “It was a part of him,” says Cooper. “Alcohol was really his nemesis. I really admired Johnny for taking on the project of helping Eddie. He was in the process of trying to rebuild his own career and then he took that on. And that was a big part of the 80s for Johnny.”

During this time Wyker also married and had two children with his wife Margaret Wyker, who still lives in Decatur. “If and when you had the privilege of running into him,” says Margaret, “it was only because he was running on the octane level he required. He was a genius, so far ahead of his time in fashion, design, art, and on and on. Johnny was so much more than people were allowed to see.” Those who were closest to him did see his talent went beyond just music and creative inspiration. Wyker became known for being a talented visual artist as well as musician. Using odd techniques, found materials, paint, and boards, Wyker designed his own album covers. He also became known for his fashion. Commonly seen in dark glasses and with an American Spirit cigarette dangling from his bottom lip, Johnny’s look often consisted of ensembles he designed himself. “He had a way with clothes,” says Dick Cooper. “He could take anything and make it look hip. He would wear vests with lots of pockets and put LED lighting on them and on his hats. One time he came to an event where he had taken CD covers and taped them around the crown of a hat. He had a chipped tooth in the front. He was in a business where appearance was prime. And he would never fix the tooth because that’s who he was. He said ‘that doesn’t matter, if

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“WYKER WAS JUST SUCH AN ENIGMA. HE WAS EXTREMELY TALENTED. AND THEN HE GOT TO WHERE HE WAS EXTREMELY NUTTY. IT WAS HARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE HOW CRAZY HE COULD BE AT TIMES. BUT, HE COULD BE SO CHARMING.” —DICK COOPER

you can smile big with a smile that is honest, you can win people over.’”

Win people over he did, as he was notorious for being the “fun-raiser” wherever he went. Cooper recalls one of Johnny’s infamous “parking lot parties” where he rented apartment space with several other local musicians. When the landlady showed up to collect rent one evening, Wyker’s inexorable allure put her completely off her course. “Before we knew it, he had his landlady with her wig on crooked dancing to the music from an eight track in one of the cars in the parking lot,” says Cooper. “Wyker was just such an enigma. He was extremely talented. And then he got to where he was extremely nutty. It was hard to explain to people how crazy he could be at times. But, he could be so charming.”

Johnny Wyker’s death last year at the age of 68, and the recent release of the documentary Muscle Shoals, give cause for remembering all of the talented musicians and personalities from North Alabama.

“If I had to sum him up in a few words, he was the best friend I ever had,” says Cooper, who is now the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Museum Curator. Although lesser known than some of the more famous talents of this time, Wyker’s charisma, quirks, and passionate personality were imprinted on everyone who had the privilege to know him.

“I truly loved and miss him,” says David Hood. “The day he died I went to sleep that afternoon and dreamed that I went to his house and he peeked out from under his bed covers and said ‘shhh, I’m still here….’ That’s how I like to remember him.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

text by sara wright covington » photos by april stanley

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

Quinceañera: Coming of Age

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

Viviana Miranda’s lovely, sans-makeup, -yearold face is glowing. It’s just after 4:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, and she and her mother, Rosario, are huddled together at a table in the coffee shop at the Bridge Street Barnes & Noble. They are giggling like girlfriends, their heads nearly touching. Their intimacy is palpable to any onlooker—the unforgeable mother/child bond built by years of shared allnighters and fluent familiarity. They are kind and welcoming when I approach. We discuss ordering coffee, and Rosario affectionately sweeps the hair from Viviana’s forehead. “Do you want some coffee? Are you tired?” she asks her daughter.

As we settle in at our table to talk, I’m immediately aware of Viviana’s sweet spirit. A typical teenager might roll her eyes when bothering to look up from a cellphone to make eye contact, but it’s clear that Viviana isn’t the norm. She reveals later that she doesn’t even possess a cellphone—“I kind of like not having a phone,” she says. “Then I don’t get distracted.” Distractions are certainly unavoidable, especially to the youth of America, in this age of social media and mature marketing. But one thing is certain as I talk with Viviana and Rosario: old traditions celebrating their Latin culture, family, and faith are very much still at the heart of the Miranda family. Viviana’s upcoming fifteenth birthday celebration, or Quinceañera, will be a most memorable one, as it symbolizes her passage from childhood into womanhood in a very big way.

A Catholic mass is an integral part of a Quinceañera—one of the most significant events in the life of a Latina girl’s life.

Only having recently moved here from Virginia, the Mirandas represent just one of the many cultures that make up the melting pot that is Huntsville. In the Hispanic culture, a Quinceañera ceremony is considered one of the most significant events of a young Latina girl’s life. “For me and for Viviana, it’s really to maintain some sort of Mexican tradition,” says Rosario. “None of us have been born here in the states.

She was born in Okinawa, Japan. My husband is from Puerto Rico and I’m from Mexico. So there is a lot of blending. But, it’s really important for us to maintain tradition, even though we are living in the US. It’s a piece of us.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

Quinceañera: Coming of Age

Dating back to the year 500 BC, this Latin American custom has evolved over time, but the core of the celebration is still all about a girl’s welcome into adulthood. The age of 15 is most significant because this is the age at which the Virgin Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus. And although in its origin the Quinceañera signified a girl’s readiness for marriage, the modern-day ceremonies aren’t marriage focused at all.

In fact, Rosario is making sure that Viviana isn’t rushed into growing up in any way. “I think that television and the internet play a big role in wanting to change our kids,” she says.

“And today’s marketing tries to target younger kids now. As the youngest of five, I think I learned about some inappropriate things at too young an age.”

“[Our heritage] is something that you don’t want to give up. I think knowing

Viviana, a freshman at Bob Jones High School, is also in no rush to dive into adulthood. Rather than hanging out at the mall with her peers, Viviana would rather spend time playing soccer and swimming. She also enjoys her dogs and her three sugar bears (small Australian, gliding possums).

In preparation for her Quinceañera, she and her younger brother spend time keeping each other fluent with their Spanish speaking—which can be difficult when most all of their friends are English speaking. “It’s fun to talk in Spanish,” says Rosario. “The other day Viviana and her brother set a challenge that they could only speak Spanish all day long.

Since she has learned English, she isn’t as fluent.” As a former Spanish teacher and as a mom, Rosario especially appreciates that keeping her kids on their toes with speaking Spanish at least slows the rapid cadence of teenage speech. “Teenagers speak really fast,” she says. “This requires them to have to stop, pause, translate whatever they are going to say, conjugate verbs correctly, and then actually express what they want to say.” Viviana also practices by writing letters to her grandfather who lives in Puerto Rico and speaks limited English. “He writes her in all English and she writes back in all Spanish,” says Rosario. “They are teaching each other.”

other people’s cultures and embracing it really helps young people mature.

And it will help them in the future.

Everywhere I’ve been, my languages have helped me. And my kids are taking that with them everywhere they go.”

ROSARIO MIRANDA

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

As we discuss the details of Viviana’s upcoming celebration, it is very clear that planning a Quinceañera is every bit as complex as planning a wedding—more so in many cases. “The weddings for Latinos tend to be very small and intimate compared to the Quinceañeras. The Quinceañeras are huge,” says Kathleen Bernal, a local event coordinator and owner of Kathleen Bernal Events. “One of the last ones we did, the father said, ‘I want everything perfect because this is more important than the wedding.’” Kathleen and her husband Anthony, who is a trained dance instructor and owner of the Elegant Dance Company, devote most of their business to the specialty of Quinceañera ceremonies. They have been working for months with the Miranda family to plan Viviana’s “A Night in Paris” themed party.

Having a Quinceañera theme is a newer tradition being embraced by today’s His-

Clockwise from left: Rosario Miranda and her daughter, Viviana; Viviana with some of the members of her court; Viviana addresses her guests at the evening celebration; Viviana’s father presents her with a new pair of high heels—just one of several traditional symbols of her transition into womanhood.

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

Quinceañera: Coming of Age

panic girls, but dancing has always been a big part of the celebration. Traditional Quinceañeras have a court, similar to a wedding party, which is usually comprised of 14 damas and chambelanes (girls and boys) plus the Quinceañera herself, who makes 15. After a midday Catholic Mass, the court will come together at the party later in the evening to perform specially choreographed dances, months in the making. A court waltz is followed by a father-daughter dance and lastly, a more modern “surprise” dance, also known as the baile sorpresa—which also features the court. “The surprise dances are all different. They are having a lot of fun with it,” says Antonio. “The waltz is very traditional. It’s very low pace. But the surprise dance is getting very modern. Most people want a mixture of Latin dancing with hip hop.” Along with the dancing, there will be toasts, cake, and the giving of the muñeca—a doll that represents the giving of the last toy. The Quinceañera commonly receives a new bible or rosary beads as gifts, as well as a new pair of high-heeled shoes—which will be presented to her by her parents when she changes out of the flat shoes she has worn throughout the day. The first pair of high-heels further symbolizes the transition to womanhood.

Although Quinceañeras can be elaborate events with hundreds of people, the Mirandas have planned a more intimate ceremony, with about 82 guests expected. Viviana’s pink, strapless gown has been carefully selected and most all of the other details had been finalized when I met with Viviana and Rosario.

Both mother and daughter seem eager to enjoy the fruits of their months-long labor. But even in the anticipation of all of the music, pictures, dancing, and dresses, this celebration signifies so much more than just a big party for the Mirandas, who are determined to hold on to their heritage in a day and age when it’s so easy to become lost. “It’s something that you don’t want to give up,” says Rosario. “I think knowing other people’s cultures and embracing it really helps young people mature. And it will help them in the future. Everywhere I’ve been, my languages have helped me. And my kids are taking that with them everywhere they go.”

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

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News, classical music and more 88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsville www.apr.org july/august  | noalapress.com | 

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scene

Beth Wise, Pam Gann, and Stacey Gardner Grace Greco, Emily Knowling, Lauren Hammond, Sanders Clayton, and Madison Sheible

Alexandra Herring and Shannon Drake

Leila and Allie Hergert Emily and Sophie Mantooth

Lindsay Birchfield, Bailey Geiger, and McCarley Buchanan

Alice Lawson Stallworth, Spence Stallworth, and Betsy Lowe

Robin and Brinn Loftin

Above: Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Debutante Tea

Below: Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Debutante and Dads

may ,  · the ledges, huntsville

may ,  · the ledges, huntsville

Instructor Randy Roper, Emily and Neil Sutphin Lillie and William Brown, Emily and Mike Brown Corey Rives, Debra Jenkins, Emma Jenkins, and Peyton Davis Monty and Brooke Taylor

Harold and Harper Stephens

Gary and Spencer Anglin

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Debs line up for rehearsal

Jon and Cara Sharpe © All photos courtesy of Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

HOME GROWN SOUND text by claire stewart » photos by white rabbit studios

CLARA BELLE AND THE CREEPS RACHEL WAMMACK AARON BLADES BAND PHIL WEAVER INGRID MARIE WHILE THE SHIP SINKS MARY KATHERINE MURPHY DANIEL ELIAS & EXOTIC DANGERS BRITTANY SMITH

july/august jju jul ully/ y/a y /a /augu ug u gust gust gu st   | no   n noalapress.com oa allla ala apress. ppre pr reess r sss. ss..com com co m | 

“As far as the future goes, I am hoping for world domination. Don’t worry, it will be a peaceful reign, though, full of dancing—but we still stop at nothing until we have accomplished this feat.” —joey Barrier

Brian Borden, James Sego, Gracie Barrier, Joey Barrier, Jon Lucius, and Jacob Leonard (not pictured)

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

clara belle and the creeps

If you’re out and about one weekend and hear Clara Belle and the Creeps playing a show down the street, you’ll be very intrigued by what you hear.

First, you’ll notice the steady drum beats from Brian Borden, then the low vibrato from James Sego’s bass, and then a few smooth wails from the saxophone of Jacob Leonard. Next would be some toe-tapping accordion action from Jon Lucius and a steady guitar line from Joey Barrier.

And then you’ll hear the adorable, unaffected twang of a well-trained performer coupled with the sass of a lady with a lot of life experience.

As you turned the corner to see the group, there would be 12-year-old Gracie Barrier smiling from ear to ear, singing her heart out into a 3.5 foot tall microphone.

Joey Barrier has played guitar and provided vocals for many local bands, many of which also included members of the Creeps. But little did Joey know, during all those band practices, that one of his children was listening closely and honing her own vocal chops.

Jon says the group was created pretty organically after they realized Gracie’s talent. “[She] has had a phenomenal voice—and ear—her whole life and occasionally sang with us in previous groups,” he says. “She was raised watching shows and band practices and really turned out to be a natural. As her voice matured, and other bands died off, it just made sense for this group to form.”

The five gentlemen and one little lady have inherited an interesting sound which is not often found in this area. With a 60s pop feel, the group channels the vibes of The Crystals, The Shangri-Las, and The Ramones, all of whom the Creeps twelve-yearold front woman knows well.

Gracie and Joey usually do most of the songwriting for the Creeps. He admits, “Her stuff—the stuff she comes up with all on her own—are always the best songs.” Gracie says their songwriting process usually involves sitting on the couch, playing with Barbie dolls, and making up song lyrics. “Mostly about beating up boys,” she jokes.

Whether they are singing about first kisses or getting your heart broken, all the members agree that playing in Clara Belle and the Creeps is a fun experience. While Jacob says he is perfectly content playing shows and having fun with the group for a long time to come, Jon says he would love to get to the point where they could support themselves with the band. “But that is a lot of pressure to put on a seventh grader,” he admits. No matter where the group goes next, they promise to always perform boot-stomping, lively shows for their fans.

So far, Clara Belle and the Creeps have been rocking and rolling throughout the Valley, having fun wherever they are. As for what’s in store for this group, Joey has pretty modest plans. “As far as the future goes, I am hoping for world domination.

Don’t worry, it will be a peaceful reign, though, full of dancing—but we still stop at nothing until we have accomplished this feat.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“I see what melodies my ear favors. I try to express in words how the music makes me feel, and I go from there.” —rachel wammack

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

rachel wammack

In , Rachel Wammack was a restaurant server and student by day and an aspiring musician by night. After working shifts at the 360 Grille in Florence, Rachel would go home and write songs and tinker around on the piano. “I write music by sitting down at the piano and playing around until I find something I like,” she explains. “I see what melodies my ear favors. I try to express in words how the music makes me feel, and I go from there.”

One day she asked her manager if she could possibly play at the restaurant on the weekends. After a short audition, she became a regular. Though she was mostly performing covers of well-known songs from artists like Adele and the Civil Wars, she would occasionally throw in a few of her own originals. Small venues like this are where Rachel developed the confidence she has now to perform.

“Performing is where my heart is,” she admits. “I want to make the audience have as good of a time as I am. Sometimes I get goofy, but I was told as a young girl, ‘Be yourself, Rachel.’ So I am. And it is goofy.”

After singing backup vocals on some of her friends’ albums, Rachel decided she wanted to write and record her own music. In May of 2013, she recorded her first album, Pass It On. “It includes nine original songs that represent me and my life,” she says. Being a young college student, many of the songs on her freshman album reflect this current time of her life. Her lyrics refer to childhood days gone by, as well as songs like “Ramen Noodles,” and “He’s a Liar” that could only come from a college student.

Her silly, carefree attitude, with a pinch of teen angst, may make her more comparable to Taylor Swift in the eyes of some of her audience, but her musical inspirations are varied and wide ranging, including Mumford & Sons, Notorious B.I.G, and Phantogram.

In late 2013, Rachel learned that she had been chosen to be Singing River Record’s featured artist for the semester. UNA’s student-run music label adopts one local musician per semester and works to provide the artist a good deal of promotion and studio time, as well as giving participating students a chance to try out their skills in recording, producing, and publicizing an artist. Rachel says this experience was a huge help and the support of the program was overwhelming.

Be on the lookout for Rachel’s next album, which includes her featured song, “Ooh Sweet Baby Baby.” “The first album—I think it was me trying to find my sound.

Well, now I have found my sound, and it’s not just one sound; it is a couple, actually,” she said. “So I am excited to release the crazy beast of a sound that has been sweetly blossoming.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“We love to be versatile.

We love when everyone can participate with our roller coaster of emotions when we play.” —aaron blades

Matt Blackburn, Jay Garrett, Aaron Blades, Lorenzo Burke, and Tyler Ross

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

aaron blades band

If you are a Shoals native, you may remember a little Mexican restaurant and bar called LaFonda Mexicana on Florence Boulevard. Though the building has now been torn down, the establishment was known for its mason jar margaritas, party atmosphere, and rocking music from talented local musicians.

It was a hot spot for the college crowd after game days and was a great place to let off some steam and dance the night away. Some may have called it a dive bar; some may have called it their favorite place on earth. No matter your feelings about LaFonda, you can’t say it wasn’t memorable. But for the Aaron Blades Band, it was the start of something great—and the beginning of their future in the music industry.

Aaron Blades, singer, songwriter, and guitarist, was playing at LaFonda two years ago when he met bass player Tyler Ross. After discovering their shared tastes in musical style, Aaron and Tyler decided they needed to bring in a couple more musicians and start a group. Aaron knew drummer Lorenzo Burke, and Tyler brought in guitarist and singer Matt Blackburn. While tinkering around with styles and jamming out together on the weekends at LaFonda, the four gentlemen realized they had a good thing going. But it wasn’t until Aaron was playing in Birmingham and met trombone player Jay Garrett and scooped him up that the Aaron Blades Band took the form we know today.

In their time together, the group has developed a relaxed, soulful sound that directly reflects their biggest musical influences, artists, and genres who range from the funk and soul of Stevie Wonder and James Brown to the smooth pop, singer/ songwriter style of Maroon 5 and Ed Sheeran.

But the group admits they are still learning and growing, and since the release of their first album, Cloud 13, their sound has already changed a lot. “Driving with the windows down in the summer not thinking about anything type of music,” is how Tyler describes their freshman album, Cloud 13. “Our next album, Operation Overload, will feel like more of a soulful funk record with hints of jazz and rock. It is definitely something you could get down to.”

No matter what their music changes and morphs into, this group just wants people to stick along for the ride. “We love to be versatile. We love when everyone can participate with our roller coaster of emotions when we play,” says Aaron.

The group has had a lot of experience performing. They have headlined at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater already, as well as playing on live TV a couple of times.

But according to the band, that is when they do their best work. “After Aaron writes a song, the band bounces all sorts of ideas off one another for hooks, steps, tempos, etc.,” says Tyler. “We then play the songs multiple times live at shows to create our best version. This band definitely thrives and is the most creative in ‘on-the-fly’ settings.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“I hate the pretense associated with classical music,” he admits. “Classical music doesn’t have to be tedious, and it shouldn’t just be played in concert halls!”

—Phil WEaver

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

phil weaver

Phil Weaver’s first job was working on a shrimp boat in the Pensacola Bay. “I would much rather pick guitar than shrimp,” he jokes. “It is much more rewarding and it smells better!”

After moving from Pensacola to Sand Mountain, Alabama, Phil Weaver picked up a guitar for the first time at Sneed State Junior College. “Much to my parents’ chagrin, that became my passion, and what I decided to work on when I graduated,” he says.

After earning a degree in classical performance, Phil went on to receive great recognition for his talent. As well as becoming the first guitarist to earn an individual artist’s fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, he is one of the few classical musicians on the Music Achievers roster at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Phil has played in symphony and concert halls around the country, and he has also performed solo concerts in London and Sawbridgeworth, England, and other locations in Europe. But, if Phil is being honest with you, symphony halls are not where his passion for classical music thrives. “I hate the pretense associated with classical music,” he admits. “Classical music doesn’t have to be tedious, and it shouldn’t just be played in concert halls! Okay, I will admit that some parts of it can be tedious, but a lot of the music is very accessible and can appeal to a large range of people.”

Day to day, Phil lives that philosophy. He performs in traditional venues, but Phil also plays music for fire swallowers at burlesque shows, performs alongside blues star Microwave Dave, and has taught college music classes for the past 30 years at UAH, demonstrating how fun classical music can really be for the next generation of musicians. “Classical music can be minked and ivory towered,” he says. “I want people to see that it isn’t so intimidating.”

In a scary turn of events in 2012, during a hiking trip in April, Phil took a bad fall, breaking his right elbow in six places and fracturing his wrist. Doctors were skeptical he would ever have full mobility in his arm again. Fortunately, after nine months of therapy and a little bit of hardware in his elbow and wrist, he is back to playing the way he always has. In a show of redemption, Phil recently made a music video for one of his songs in which he walked up a mountain with his guitar, to symbolically recognize he had overcome this setback. “I just felt like it was a celebration of my recovery process,” he says.

His first post-recovery performance was for a City Lights and Stars concert at Burritt on the Mountain. The concert series, of which Weaver is a founder and artistic director, showcases jazz, classical, and world music talent to the Huntsville community in a very casual setting—encouraging concert-goers to bring picnic baskets of food, lawn chairs and blankets. The success of events like this reaffirm Phil’s dream of future generations supporting the arts—and in particular, classical music. As he tells his students, “You don’t have to be serious in classical music, just be serious about your passion for it. The rest of it will become fun.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“Music is around me at all times. I feel like a synthesizer—sampling parts from my environment and timing the pace of my walk in time.”

—ingrid marie

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

ingrid marie

Ingrid Marie Felts’s life has always been centered around music.

From a very young age, she remembers her father singing German hymns and whistling Sinatra tunes throughout the house, and her mother playing classical piano to get her to fall asleep at night.

From cello lessons when she was seven, to playing the flute when she reached grade school, to singing in All-State a cappella choir performances, it seems that music has always been pulsing through her veins. So much so that composing and writing music just seems innate now for her. “Music is around me at all times. I feel like a synthesizer—sampling parts from my environment and timing the pace of my walk in time,” she said.

Though today Ingrid seems as upbeat and optimistic as a fresh newcomer on the music scene, she is a seasoned musical veteran with an extensive and varied songbook. Her first ‘gigs’ as a vocalist were in New York, where she provided her own piano accompaniment. After being told to play something more upbeat, she decided to open herself up to more music and more genres. And she did just that— during her early years she joined a blues cover band called “Blues & Diamonds” in West Virginia, “Token Blond,” an alternative rock group in Colorado, and a wedding band in Washington D.C. called “James Jellasic.” “All of this really made me appreciate the traveling aspect of being a musician,” she says. “I would take my guitar along with me, meet people, and write down their life stories.”

Today, she has settled down—as much as possible—in north Alabama and is producing her own solo music. She also sings with a local jazz sextet, the Watters Felts Project, with local greats Ken Watters, Keith Taylor, Abe Becker, Marcus Pope, and Darrell Tibbs. This project seems to be a breath of fresh air to Ingrid— “The first time I heard Darrell warming up his wind chimes and percussion instruments, I felt a breeze of promise,” she admits.

Throughout her travels and bands, she has been able to learn nuances and techniques of many types of music that she has incorporated into her own solo work.

“There is a definite pull toward the dance/soul vibe for me, which carries out in my more bluesy tunes,” she says. “Instrumentation on my album is key, because you can present a quiet, keys-driven ballad with a driving bass line or a toy piano and have a different ride.”

All of this genre experimentation seems to have lent itself well to the richness and tone in Ingrid’s voice, as well. While she can belt out soul and R&B classics with the best of them, she can also deliver sweet, soft, velvety ballads like the one on our compilation CD, “Hand Me Down.”

“I love the song ‘Hand Me Down,’” she says. “The song, to me, is about loving each other, and wearing each other in, until we’re threadbare—about falling for the simple things and giving life, and love, a second look.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“All I really care about is the healthy relationships I’ve been able to build with my bandmates and other people due to their interest in our music. That is what makes it worth it.” —jeff pruet

Tyler Young, Brian Corrigan, Jeff Pruet, Kimi Samson, Clinton Harris, and Robin Gillespie

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

while the ship sinks

North Alabama is filled with musical talent—so much so, it seems, that singers and songwriters are almost commonplace in our part of the state. Even so, it is a bit unexpected to find young people playing in bands composed entirely of instrumentalists without a lead singer in sight.

In late 2012, ukulele player Jeff Pruet met mandolin and guitar aficionado Clinton Harris while attending the after-party of a local musician’s concert. The two started chatting about the need for a strong, well-rounded instrumental group in the area—and how much they would want to be in that group—and quickly the search began to fill out the rest of the band. Tyler Young, a talented accordion and guitar player in the area was soon added to the roster, as well as bassist Brian Corrigan and percussion player Robin Gillespie. The gentlemen got together and tested out their sound as an instrumental group to see how they would work together. They liked what they heard. After practicing for a few months, the group adopted their last member, viola player Kimi Samson, in the summer of 2013.

With the final addition of Kimi, the group established its sound and While The Ship Sinks was born. Though Brian says he hears many people classify the group’s music as ‘newgrass’ (a modern, contemporary take on bluegrass), many of the members say they feel their music is unclassifiable, at least in terms of genre. “Personally, I think our music sounds like the soundtrack for a movie about a Parisian café starring Steve Martin on a bicycle,” Jeff jokes.

Whatever term you use to describe While the Ship Sinks’s sound—newgrass, or “French Café/Spaghetti Western/ Surf Polka” as they do on their artist page—it is undeniable they are a talented group. As for inspiration, the group cites artists like Jonathan Richman and Leonard Cohen, as well as motifs found in the rhythms of old world Latin music. Instead of sounding like the music blasting through every radio station, While the Ship Sinks likes to take older, more mature musical touches and reinterpret them in a modern way.

While getting them all together in one place at one time can be a challenge, once they are together they can play for hours. Their latest shows have kept them playing alongside local artists like Red Mouth and Belle Adair, and they are currently gearing up for this summer’s Secret Stages in Birmingham. The band is currently saving money to put out their first full album, so make sure to keep a look out for this group while they play across north Alabama this summer. The music is great, but the thing that makes this group stick out is their camaraderie and their commitment to their craft.

Jeff says, “All I really care about is the healthy relationships I’ve been able to build with my bandmates and other people due to their interest in our music. That is what makes it worth it.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“I have always been a dreamer and a thinker and somewhat of an outcast, dancing to my own rhythm.

It is just a necessity in my life to have a form of expression.” —mary katherine murphy

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

mary katherine murphy

Mary Katherine Murphy’s musical history sounds like the lyrics to an old folk song.

She began preforming and singing when she was seven years old, putting on at least one or two shows a year for her family. Her grandfather, an entertainer with a radio show in Birmingham, was her role model. He was later signed to Columbia Records and toured the country, performing for huge crowds. Later in life, he decided to go into the ministry—as did his son, Mary Katherine’s father. Church is where she first fell in love with music and performing. She began playing bass, then moved on to singing during church services, and eventually picked up a guitar and started writing music. After playing in a duo for a year, she decided to go out on her own and become a solo act.

Her down-home, church-centered roots brought her to her current musical style.

Her first EP, Who Are You, tells stories of love, nature, and big city dreams, through flowery, Americana ballads reminiscent of Allison Krauss or Gilliam Welch. Many of the songs on this album tell a story, and for Mary Katherine, writing those stories is what connects her to her audience. “I love the need humans have for stories as a way to connect and empathize with one another,” she says. “I think that need is one of our deepest uniting features to staying alive.”

Mary Katherine was accompanied by many local favorites on the album like Billy Smart, Jon Davis, David Hood, and Spooner Oldham. Although she is already recording her sophomore album, Mary Katherine feels that she is still figuring out her comfort zone with her recorded music. “My last EP had kind of a bluesy folk style, but I feel that I am still developing my sound,” she says. “My next project will be a lot more intimate and acoustic, like my live performances. This first project was a way for me to jump in head first—it is important to me to learn by trial and error. That has usually been my path, as painful as it has sometimes been. But I have always learned something from it.”

As well as expanding her musical ventures, Mary Katherine has also acted in movies and short films, including a couple of projects that are still in pre-production.

Her experience as an actress inspired Mary Katherine to try her hand at screenwriting. She is currently planning to write a screenplay about her experiences following Widespread Panic across the country. But instead of distracting her from her first love, screenwriting has actually deepened her appreciation for the craft of songwriting. “I love music because it is something I can do with my hands that doesn’t rely on others to help me create it, like a movie or stage play would,” she said.

Though her music career started from honest beginnings and she has made a few twists and turns to get here, Mary Katherine has a big vision for her future. “I have always been a dreamer and a thinker and somewhat of an outcast, dancing to my own rhythm. It is just a necessity in my life to have a form of expression,” she said.

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“I like turning gut feelings, daydreams, and routines into anthems. There is a difference between creation and imitation that I strive to define, to find the balance between nostalgia and permutation.” —Daniel Crisler

Maggie Crisler, Brady Gomillion, Daniel Crisler, and Jon Mosley

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

DanieL Elias & Exotic dangers

A few years ago, Daniel Crisler bought his wife Maggie a ’s Farfisa, a compact organ with multi-timbral synthesizers. In return, she gave him an Eastwood 12-string guitar. “We didn’t really know it at the time, but that was when our sound for the Exotic Dangers was born,” says Daniel.

Daniel Crisler has been a regular in the north Alabama music circuit for years.

But if you don’t recognize his name, it doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t familiar with his work. For several years, Daniel has been performing as a solo act under the name, “Elias Patriot.” In addition to his solo acoustic work, Daniel has demonstrated his versatility as a member of the retro garage/rock band Cicada Screamers. “I love both of those groups and the music we put out, but I still had some solid material that didn’t fit in with either of those acts, as well as a sound in my head that I hadn’t attempted yet,” he says.

Once he and Maggie started playing around with the Farfisa, some shakers, and his new guitar, the sound in his head began to materialize, and it was much easier to see what was next for him. He then called up long-time friend and talented bassist Brady Gomillion, as well as his Cicada Screamers bandmate and drummer, Jon Mosely. “I feel like they were just waiting by the phone for the call to get together and start this group,” he says. And so, Daniel Elias and Exotic Dangers has been producing toe-tapping, sixties-feel, songwriter rock for the past two years, channeling the early works of The Byrds, The Who, and Elvis Costello.

Though the group’s musical inspirations have much more of a retro feel, their lyrics take on contemporary, real-life experiences. “I like to freeze a seemingly uneventful or average moment in time, dissect it, and explain what is really going on,” Daniel says about DE&ED’s songwriting process. “I like turning gut feelings, daydreams, and routines into anthems. There is a difference between creation and imitation that I strive to define, to find the balance between nostalgia and permutation.”

The group has mostly been performing at local venues and has dropped a couple of singles along the way, including “Make the Most For You,” the song on the No’Ala compilation album. But in the next year, the group hopes to work on a full album, created by local engineers, videographers, and designers in the Shoals area.

“Mainly, our goal with Daniel Elias and Exotic Dangers is to create honest and true material that is worth getting stuck in your head,” he says.

Even though the group would be more than happy for you to check them out on Facebook or listen to them on SoundCloud, Daniel says that is not where they shine. “Come to a live performance,” he insists. “Recordings are good, but we are all about our live show. You have to experience the music for yourself and physically become part of what is happening in our community and music scene.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

“It’s so hard to predict what might happen or how my career might move forward. But what I know for sure is that I’m going to keep making honest music, full of integrity, that I pray will inspire, encourage, and empower those who choose to listen.” —Brittany Smith

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Brittany Smith

“I consider myself more of a lyricist than a songwriter, since I don’t play an instrument,” said Brittany Smith. “Well, besides the tambourine. And I guess you can’t write a song with just a tambourine. I will have to try to work on that, though!” Brittany may joke about her talent, but just listen to her music and you will understand what a serious vocal powerhouse she really is.

Brittany got started in 2009, when Decatur, Alabama, producer and engineer David Vest invited her to sing on some demo vocals for a client. Her comfort level in the recording studio and her passion for singing impressed him, so the two worked together to release her first solo EP later that year. Though she is now signed with Marc Berman of Los Angeles-based Heartthrob Management, she still lives in Alabama and continues to play in and around north Alabama.

Brittany’s proximity to the 2011 tornados that hit Alabama moved her to write a song about the tragedies. But instead of writing a song about devastation and loss, Brittany was inspired by what happened after the storms, as communities banded together to help one another. It only took Brittany ten minutes to write what would become her most popular single, “We Will Rise.”

“One of the biggest and most treasured moments in my music career was the making and release of the music video for ‘We Will Rise’. The video was truly a team effort—my parents helped come up with the concept, one of my brothers and my husband acted in it, and my other brother helped film and edit the entire video. On top of all that, all of the extras in the video are family and friends…the whole process was so powerful to me because of that,” said Brittany.

If you search through Brittany’s early recordings, you will find more strong pop power anthems like “We Will Rise,” but with age, Brittany says she is moving forward with a more mature sound. “Pop is what I grew up on, and it is natural to me,” she says. “However, my new songs are going to be a lot more rock-influenced: think Heart’s sound, modernized and revamped. It feels a bit as if I’m starting fresh, in a sense, with the new direction I am headed in.” Her song “My Day” on the No’Ala compilation CD reflects the rock-inspired approach she has adopted.

Although she does not plan to release a full album any time soon, she is hoping to release new material in the form of multiple singles before the year is up. She doesn’t know what is in store with her new style of music, but she is definitely optimistic. “It’s so hard to predict what might happen or how my career might move forward,” she says. “But what I know for sure is that I’m going to keep making honest music, full of integrity, that I pray will inspire, encourage, and empower those who choose to listen.”

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THE SOUN D OF

Y T I C I L P M I S TEXT BY

SARA W R

IGHT CO VINGTO

N » PHOT

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

OS BY

PATRICK H

OOD

“When you get to a cigar box guitar, you have to throw away the rule book. It’s much less intimidating to carve something out of a cigar box, a broom handle, and some bailing wire.”

—WILLIAM JEHLE

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“These instruments prove that one man’s trash truly is another’s treasure.”

—WILLIAM JEHLE

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

It likely all began with a hunter and a bow.

Somewhere around some prehistoric campfire, some thousands of years ago, that hunter brought the end of his bow to his mouth and using his fingers, began to strum out one or two very simple notes. Maybe he did it out of curiosity, or maybe he did it out of boredom. Maybe he did it because he just knew the souls of men were bursting with songs needing to be sung. Whatever the reason, this early experiment marked the beginning of stringed instruments.

Fast forward several thousand years later to 2014, to an open air concert on the grounds of an old cotton mill in Huntsville, Alabama. It’s a dusky evening and a late spring shower has left the air cool, without any trace of late summer humidity. On the stage, that now-evolved hunter is still plucking away at the simplest of instruments—which have progressed over the centuries to become known as guitars. Throngs of people have gathered to watch—some are sitting and some are standing, but they all listen, mesmerized, as this particular musician strums away on this especially unique guitar. Although these instruments have evolved through the centuries from bows and strings to the now common models which have sleek, flat wooden bodies, long fretted necks, and electric amplifiers—this particular guitar is so special because its bones are still quite basic. Featuring a wooden cigar box as its resonator, it is quite simply known as a cigar box guitar.

The people who have come to watch are all here to celebrate it at Lowe Mill’s 10th Annual Cigar Box Guitar Festival. There are no flashy light shows or special effects—just talented musicians, playing humble instruments while men, women and children look on, tapping their feet and bobbing their heads to its rhythm.

The beauty of the cigar box guitar lies in its simplicity. For William Jehle, who is widely known as the man at the forefront of cigar box guitar building in the South, this type of musical carpentry is something he stumbled upon accidentally many years ago. “I was trying to build the most complicated, perfect guitar I could,” says Jehle. “In the course of doing that, I built something that was imperfect and I appreciated it more for its idiosyncrasies.” Perfect in its imperfection, cigar box guitar making is less about aesthetics and more about the resourcefulness of the individual making it. “When you get to a cigar box guitar,” says Jehle, “you have to throw away the rule book. It’s much less intimidating to carve something out of a cigar box, a broom handle, and some bailing wire. And that same liberation that you feel building it goes right into playing it. There are no rules on how to play.”

As a historian, Jehle has spent many years researching the origins of musical instruments and has written his own book documenting his findings called One Man’s Trash, which sums up how instrument making likely began many thousands of years ago. “I’m trying to get people to realize this didn’t just begin with poor share croppers, blues singers, or the Mississippi Delta,” he says. “People have latched onto that one idea, but this has been around for much, much longer.” In addition to being an expert in his field, Jehle also has the largest known collection of cigar box guitars in the world. “I know it’s well over 100,” says Jehle. “I’ve lost count in recent months and a few are on loan to a museum in Paris. In addition to the guitars, I also have a lot of old publications. Some are the original works from the 1800s.”

At this year’s festival, venders from both Alabama and Tennessee brought their cigar box guitar collections to show and sell. Lowe Mill also included some of the very best performers for the two-day event. Ben Prestige, Microwave Dave, and Justin Johnson were just a few of the featured artists renowned for their skill with these simple instruments.

John Nickel, owner of Nickel Cigar Box Guitars, located inside Lowe Mill, also performed with his father, Pat, who has been teaching guitar for over 40 years.

John traveled for years as a musician and worked out of his garage making and playing instruments. When Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment opened, he decided to take a leap of faith and turn his hobby into a living. His is the only brick and mortar storefront in the South. “I never intended for this to be anything but a hobby,” says Nickel. “We

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just started to improve on the simple design that we began with. Really, we just want to make simple perfect. It’s a poor man’s instrument. It doesn’t matter what the guitar looks like. As long as it looks good and plays well, that’s all that matters.”

Nickel insists that education is the primary purpose for his storefront, and that given a little time and some tools, he can teach anyone to play a cigar box guitar regardless of their musical prowess. “We could take a tone-deaf, rhythmless person, and at least teach them to play a couple of songs,” says Nickel. “It really is an instant success.” In the past three years, Nickel Cigar Box Guitars has made over 1500 guitars and sold them all over the world. The guitars range from acoustic to amplified, and they even sell do-it-yourself kits for anyone who wants to make their own. Beginner and advanced cigar box guitar lessons and workshops were also available inside Lowe Mill’s Flying Monkey Theater at this year’s festival.

In an age where so much of modern music shows consist of computer-enhanced sound, laser lights, costumes, and choreography, it’s no wonder that there is a growing appreciation for the rarity of raw talent with a simple instrument.

Looking around at the crowd at this year’s festival, the diversity makes it impossible to pin down an exact demographic.

“We see everything from suits and ties to dreadlocks and hemp ware,” says Nickel. “It’s definitely all types, from carpenters to musicians to just hobbyists.” But the one common denominator for cigar box guitar enthusiasts seems to be the look of wonder on their faces. “I can almost pick these people out in a crowd,” says Jehle. “It’s when they first see it.

Regardless of age, race, background, or gender, these people see these things that they have never seen before, and there is this child-like fascination or sparkle in their eye.” Cigar box or not, these instruments prove that one man’s trash truly is another’s treasure.

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

Read our lips Your oral health is more important than you might realize, and regular check-ups are critical! In addition to your health, a good smile can increase FRQĂ&#x20AC;GHQFH DQG PDNH D EHWWHU Ă&#x20AC;UVW LPSUHVVLRQ If LW¡V EHHQ D ZKLOH VLQFH \RX¡YH YLVLWHG D GHQWLVW RU LI \RX KDYH D IHZ FRVPHWLF LPSURYHPHQWV \RX¡G OLNH to make, call the friendly staff at Complete Dental WRGD\ WR VFKHGXOH \RXU DSSRLQWPHQW

t NZDPNQMFUFEFOUBM DPN Four convenient locations in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, and Decatur. Convenient appointment times Mon - Fri 7am - 7pm & available on Saturday.

july/august ď&#x2122;&#x2026;ď&#x2122;&#x192;ď&#x2122;&#x201E;ď&#x2122;&#x2021; | noalapress.com | ď&#x2122;&#x2C6;ď&#x2122;&#x152;

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scene

Dr. Rhett Murray Dr. Joel Pickett, Dr. Robert Hash, Mayor Tommy Battle, and Dr. John Johnson

Debbie Atchley and Sharon Wiley

Peggy Beene and Debbie Atchley

Rebbeca Davis, Valerie Atchley, Sarah Lattanzi, Rema Schuyler, Hamy Hartford, and Courtney Cooper

Dr. Hayley Campbell and Linda Hampton, RN

Dr. Alex Johnson and Dr. Mac Phillips

Dr. John Johnson and Dr. Frank Haws

Above: Spine & Neuro Center 50th Anniversary Celebration may ,  · spine & neuro center, huntsville

Amy Allen, Heather Schilling, and Kayla Blackwell Gail Moss, Steve Denny, and April Denny

Dr. Frank Haws Dr. Robert Hash and Jan Batts

Dr. Thomas Bell and Sharon Bell

Elizabeth Johnson, Jack Johnson, Emory Johnson, Chris Johnson, and John Johnson, Sr.

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Dr. John Hartley and Kim Hartley David Spillers and Congressman Mo Brooks

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Three TO watch Three who prove that not every artist creates from a blank canvas

text by michelle rupe eubanks » photos by michelle consuegra, bailey chastang, michelle rupe eubanks, and white rabbit studios

© Michelle Consuegra

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Constance sepulveda & Marisa Keris

IF Southern Makers teaches us anything, it’s that Alabama is alive with artisans and crafters. These individuals gathered in May in Montgomery to celebrate their creativity and share it with each other as well as those lucky enough to get tickets to the sell-out event. A few standouts emerged from the group of more than four dozen who participated, and they each consider north Alabama their home.

The Leather makers Marisa Keris and Constance Sepulveda have adopted the Shoals as half of their home base for their business, ScoutX2.

Marisa and I spoke about the business, why they chose leather as their canvas and how it fits into the burgeoning creative scene in the Shoals and the state.

ScoutX2

ME: Tell me about your creative process, start to finish. Your product is so simple yet so beautiful. I’m sure there are those who can’t quite grasp the artistry of it without knowing the detail involved.

MK: There are many small tasks that go into making our goods. Most of our process is labor intensive, especially for the leather pieces which are all hand-sewn and have rivets hammered on. Our Peacemaker Wallet, for example, is traced as a pattern onto cow hide, hand cut, shaped, a pattern is wood-burned one triangle at a time, holes are punched, hardware is attached, stitching holes are punched, then it’s hand-stitched and conditioned. We produce them in small batches for efficiency, and the sewing can take a long time, but I love the meditative practice of it and smell of the leather.

For new products, our ideas start with a sketch, then a threedimensional sample from material. I find it much easier to come up with design solutions by working with the actual material and working with my hands. In fashion, a tradi© Michelle Consuegra

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

“I hope our products empower women to feel confident about our personal style and inspired them to learn a craft and start a small business of their own.” MARISA KERIS

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three to watch

Lucy Rogers Farmer Lucy’s Inspired “My goal is, and always has been, to create something that I love and that people love.” LUCY ROGERS FARMER

© Michelle Consuegra

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tional method is to create a sample of your product from an economical canvas or muslin as not to waste expensive material. But working with leather during this step allows me to produce results I would have never figured out on paper. I am still able to reuse that material if the sample doesn’t turn out; I cut it up for the details, creating straps and smaller goods. I have a huge basket of misshapen leather odds and ends and never throw away a piece smaller than which I can turn into a ½-inch washer to back our rivets and button closures. Typically, samples turn out pretty good, though, and become one-of-a-kind items for happy customers. It’s also a way to experiment with design, which keeps the process fun and interesting.

ME: You chose leather as your primary canvas. Tell me why that’s your medium and you see it allowing you and ScoutX2 to grow and evolve.

MK: My business partner, Constance Sepulveda, who is the Brooklyn, NY-based half of ScoutX2, and I have always appreciated vintage leather goods. We have our favorite purses that belonged to our moms and leather belts and wallets collected from traveling, Chile for Connie and Italy for me.

Leather is luxurious but tough, and, with a few simple rules, such as hydration, you really can’t mess it up. If you don’t have a lot to invest, and buy a leather bag early on, it will most likely last you a lifetime. The vegetable-tanned leather we choose to use is all USA-grown and tanned using natural bark and vegetable matter, which foregoes the usual chemical processes and dyes used in chrome-tanned leather goods.

We appreciate the quality of well-made goods that last decades and can range from flea-market finds to designer goods to hand me downs. Constance and I design and make functional items that we ourselves use daily, that can sustain a workday and transition to a night out. We call our ideal customer “urban cowgirl.’ This is a woman who may work in a city, large or small, but has a deep country spirit, who travels on the weekends, or even just gardens after work. I hope our products empower women to feel confident about our personal style and inspires them to learn a craft and start a small business of their own. Constance and I hope to continue to build our customer base and push toward more consistent manufacturing that could eventually incorporate other local craftswomen and education through training or workshops.

ME: The South and Alabama, especially, is experiencing something of a revival when it comes to artists and makers.

Tell me how you and ScoutX2 fit into this revival and why you and Constance chose to build your base here as well as in NYC.

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three to watch

© Michelle Eubanks

Clockwise from left: Lucy’s Inspired offers unique, elegant jewelry pieces made from found objects; ScoutX2 display included both new leather pieces and a few one-of-a-kind items like this tote (above), created from a vintage money bag; Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea Co. is committed to brewing and blending its teas with local ingredients whenever possible. © Bailey Chastang © Michelle Eubanks

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Embracing a craft, passing on a tradition, no matter how large or small the pursuit, I think is wonderful. Constance and I have been inspired by each others’ cultural experiences as she was raised in Chile, and we have both traveled quite a bit. Like other artisans out there, our take on the ‘craft’ are meshing with the maker revival and producing original results. There may be overlap in the style and branding of the trendier takes on the ‘maker’ movement currently, but it isn’t necessarily a negative thing. It’s inspiring to see so many people passionate about starting companies and really going after their dreams. I also personally appreciate the reach away from technology and back to hands-on craft, so that those skills can be saved and passed down.

© Michelle Eubanks

MK: Well, neither of us is originally from the South but hail from New York and New Jersey, and we met at the Rhode Island School of Design, where we both attended college. We have always been artists and are thrilled to be part of a thriving community of makers in both the South and North. We choose to work long distance with each other via New York and Alabama and actually began the business after I moved down South, and Constance moved to Brooklyn from Long Island. It is a challenge, but we make it work, both manage and make and pick up the loose ends for the other to keep moving forward. We want our business based where we live, and, in this case, it’s in two locations. We feel we can reach both our communities this way to share with a broader audience. The business grew out of a love of making and a need to share our ideas, no matter how far away we live. Our styles are a good match, and I guess you can say Scout By Two’s look is the result—minimal and well-constructed with a touch of folk.

As a resident of Alabama for the past five years, I am happy to see growth of companies reviving traditional trades and practices in everything from fashion to coffee, and I’m proud to be part of it. I see the same resurgences in Brooklyn’s style and fee connected in a way through Constance, our NY network, and technology like Instagram. I think the South is inspiring them! The last time I visited New York City, I definitely saw an appreciation of vintage Southern style, barbecue, and moonshine. I also like that I can share a bit of my Alabama with Constance and let her in on all the fun going on here! Florence has some incredibly inspiring and talented individuals who we have been lucky to collaborate with.

ME: Finally, Marisa, tell me about being involved in Southern Makers. It really is a testament to your craft and skill, so tell me what it was like and if you found your creativity to be inspired by those around you?

MK: I attended Southern Makers in 2013 as a visitor and loved the sense of community they were creating with the festival. I wanted to be involved and, at the same time, was just starting the business. I think it inspired me to reach toward the goal of participating the next year, which we did!

Scout By Two feels like it has grown to become a part of the community that is Southern Makers. It’s an honor to be part of such a curated bunch of talented makers and inspiring to be next to business that are much more established than ours. The fair had a very comfortable feel, and I found that visitors to the festival were truly appreciate of the work vendors were presenting. I heard many comments commending the festival and the makers, and it was moving to be brought together with the attending group. Not every craft fair, or any I have been to, had quite that level of love. I hope the festival will continue to grow and evolved as well as Scout By Two and that visitors will recognize us in future years.

THE Jewelry makers Lucy Rogers Farmer attended the University of North Alabama, where she majored in fashion merchandising. And, surprisingly, her medium isn’t clothing but salvaged items that she fashions into remarkable, one-of-a-kind necklaces and cuffs for her brand, Lucy’s Inspired. Her commitment to craft is undeniable.

ME: Tell me about your creative process, Lucy. Your designs are imaginative and fun, and they’re obvious conversation starters.

LF: In 2013, I’d been making jewelry for myself and a few others. It started with a certain keyhole I found at Southern

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three to watch items that I might be able to use. I do like to find what I use locally because I love the story behind it. Arlington School, which is the oldest high school in Birmingham, was recently demolished, and I love the idea of being able to say that a piece on the necklace came from a door in Arlington. It makes the piece that much more romantic, and it’s more of a reason to but it. I always say, ‘Why make a statement when you can tell a story?’

© Bailey Chastang

Accents (in downtown Cullman where Farmer worked at the time), and it was gorgeous. I didn’t really know how to use it, but I put it on a chain, and I wore it around my neck. I wore it every day, and it became a conversation piece. Customers wanted to know where I got it, and, when I told them I made it, they wanted me to make one for them, too. At Southern Makers, in 2013, it occurred to me that this was something I needed to be part of and involved in. At the Southern Accents booth, I had a table with some of my pieces for sale, and actual people were buying them, not just close friends and family. After that, I did a show in Atlanta, and I sold even more pieces. This was outside validation from people I respected, and it made me feel as though I could really do this.

ME: Where can people find your pieces now?

LF: It’s in several stores throughout Alabama as well as in the DejaVu store in Seaside, Fla. It’s also at the Audie Mescal Boutique in Tuscumbia.

ME: Where do you find the unique items from which you create your pieces?

LF: Fashion has always been something I’ve loved, but I never thought jewelry would be the vehicle for realizing that dream. I grew up antiquing with my mom, so it’s always been a part of my life, and I still get a lot of my stuff from Southern Accents. When I can’t get them there, I do know someone in Atlanta who helps me get the supplies I need, and there are a couple of other places in Birmingham. I’ve even had a few builders and contractors call or text me when they have

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I was at a place in Atlanta, an architectural store similar to Southern Accents but much more expensive and mostly European, where I found a bucket of old pieces that hadn’t been polished up and ready for sale. I asked about the prices, and I got a few looks, but, after showing him the pictures of how I planned to use the items, he pulled down a jar from a top shelf and showed me all kinds of buttons that were from jackets worn by train conductors or the Army. It was really fun. When someone buys that item, they now own a piece of the story.

ME: Tell me how you get these items ready for sale and the process that goes into it. How do you know, for instance, when it’s finished and then what you’d like to name it?

LF: We have to clean the items, and we have to make sure they’re in very good shape. I get lots of questions about how heavy an item is and other things about it. The escutcheons, which are door plates, aren’t heavy, but they can still be large and make a statement. The jewelry is going to stand out, and while it might not finish an outfit, it will create an outfit. Personally, I’ve gotten to the point where I choose the necklace first and then the outfit.

As far as naming a piece, I’ll just look at a piece, and, whatever name comes to mind, I’ll give it. It might look like something a friend would wear, but I don’t want there to be too many of any one item. I would love to have all components of each piece be reclaimed, and all are more old than new. The leather strap on the prism necklaces are new, but the one-ofa-kind pieces, I always search out a reclaimed chain. Those are often the hardest to find.

ME: How do you see Lucy’s Inspired evolving? How do you see it growing and changing? Do you ever wonder, for instance, if these items you rely on for your creations will simply be nonexistent?

LF: I think about evolution all the time. I think about how long this will last, and I would love for it to last forever. From 2012 to today, I see the difference. Being able to find certain things, keyholes, for instance, are becoming harder for me to find. And I know there won’t be as many because they

Connor Knapp PIPEr & leaf artisan tea co.

“We know we’d like to be in as many parts of Alabama as possible, and, with each place, we’re working to create that connection with the community.

We never want to be so big that we lose that connection.” CONNOR KNAPP © White Rabbit Studios

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

three to watch

The Tea Makers Conner Knapp is well-educated, and, just recently, he resigned from his full-time job to blend and brew teas as part of the Piper & Leaf Artisan Tea Co., based in Huntsville. It was a big step, and, with the help of his family, who are part of the company, it’s been the most fulfilling part of his life thus far. Is he worried about outgrowing these roots? Not at all.

ME: I had the chance to sample your product at Southern Makers earlier this year. Where can folks find you today?

© Michelle Eubanks

stopped making them as separate pieces. Most of my pieces come from the 1950s and earlier, but the ones I like the most generally come from the late 1800s. There are still thousands and thousands of escutcheons out there with white chippy paint on them, but they’re not easy to find. Now, I’ve shifted to bobeche (pronounced bo-ba-shay), which are the little cups that held candles on antique chandeliers. Some are etched glass, and the brass ones look like flowers, so they’re perfect for what I’m doing.

I’m really lucky because I have one employee, and she shares my style. She helps me, and she gets it. I had to find that in someone who would have the same kind of passion for creating what we create. We also share the same passion for the stories behind our pieces and how we can save them from being lost to the world. When we save it, we have a rare and wonderful opportunity to put it back into the world and continue to be used.

I’m at a crossroads about growth. Since Southern Makers, I’ve been to a public relations workshop for makers about getting into certain national magazines in time for the holidays. Others tell me I should get into the Atlanta market because of its size. It scares me because I don’t want to be a full-time professional. I want to continue to be part of my kids’ lives, and it’s why I believe Lucy’s Inspired has evolved the way it has.

I’ve taken it slowly because I have family and more important things to take care of. I plan on building slowly, but I’m proud of having sold my pieces throughout the county.

My goal is, and always has been, to create something that I love and that people love.

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CK: We’re at Lowe Mill in Huntsville, and it’s our working studio. It’s also where we brew and blend the tea and where people can come watch us work. We’d like to get a new location because we’ve already outgrown this space here.

ME: Did I read on your website that you have other locations?

CK: We are planning to open a tea bar at Court Street Market (in downtown Florence), later this year, and we’re considering one for Birmingham, but it’s not likely to happen this year.

ME: How did you get your start?

CK: We’ve been around now for about 13 months, and it started as a family project. I moved back to Huntsville and wanted to do something with my family and that would connect with the community. Initially, we started at the Green Street Market (in Huntsville) selling compost. We took tea sort of as an afterthought, but, what happened, was that the tea sold out, and we were bringing the compost back. We were selling it in Mason jars, and the idea was that people would come back to the farmers’ market to get their jars refilled and get more compost. The focus has always been on community and relationships rather than on ourselves. We’re still doing that with tea; it’s where we started and where we plan to stay. We’re still in the back row at the Green Street Market, and there are still a lot of people just discovering us.

ME: Tell me about your product.

CK: Our most popular is probably the premade brewed tea.

It comes in the Mason jar, which is big. While we push the loose-leaf tea, people like the premade because it’s so convenient. But it really depends on the market, the location, and the time of the market. Morning markets where more farmers and grocery shoppers gather is usually more of a loose-leaf crowd. If it’s more of a city market, we focus on the premade brewed tea.

ME: You have a good selection of flavors in the loose-leaf

and premade brewed teas. How do you arrive at the variety, and are you in charge of the blends?

CK: My brother-in-law, Caleb Christopher, determines the blends, and a lot of it comes from experimentation and the season. We also have eight distributors, one of which is in Georgia.

We source most of our tea from India and China, but we also have a source in South Carolina. We’re committed to having something local in every tea we blend, and that may be mint or apple or strawberry. This drives the seasonality. We have a batch of apples now to go into a batch, and we’ll cut them down, put them in a dehydrator, store them and then put in the different blends. A strawberry/apple variety is really popular.

Coloring is tricky. I had a revelation at a tea conference in Atlanta, where I learned that most, if not all teas, have flavor or coloring added. We didn’t want anything artificial, so we might use beets if we want a blend to brew redder. Most of ours comes from beets, but depending on the beet variety, the color will vary for every batch we make.

ME: How do you see growth playing into your ability to stay connected to the community?

CK: We’re not even sure. The original vision was that Piper & Leaf be a family project that would connect us to the community and where folks could become reliant on us for employment. We never expected it to take off quite like this, and, honestly, we’re still developing our vision for the future.

We know we’d like to be in as many parts of Alabama as possible, and, with each place, we’re working to create that connection with the community. We never want to be so big that we lose that connection.

Now, for instance, we have 30 employees and another 100 who come in and paint our jars for us and who feel some connection to us. Me and my three siblings all have college degrees, and we’ve joked about growth and selling out, but we want something that reflects our values.

ME: Would you say ‘no’ to a large national chain that came in and offered to buy Piper & Leaf for a large amount of money?

How do you see Piper & Leaf pushing against that tide of mass production and maintaining not only your craft but your place in the creative community?

CK: We were approached within the first three months of opening our doors by three national companies. We turned them all down because we knew we couldn’t handle the volume. We’ve also turned away investors because we wanted to have control and make sure what we were doing was a reflection of our values. It’s just something we’re committed to and feel strongly about, and our friends, many of whom we’ve hired, reflect those core values. july/august  | noalapress.com | 

Southern Makers a celebration of state’s creative best Walking in to the Southern Makers venue in Montgomery—a train depot just hovering between past-its-prime and kitchy cool—it’s impossible to miss the energy and excitement among those participating as makers and those who are, well, participating.

The makers, who during the rest of the year are artisans and crafters and experts in a variety of fields, are the best in Alabama. Over here are the good folks from the Back Forty Brewing Co., which is based in Gadsden, while just to their right and back a few feet are Cal and Christy Breed, of Orbix Hot Glass. Cal’s business of beautiful blown glass is based in the way back of Fort Payne.

The northern portion of the state is well represented at Southern Makers. Fashion designer Natalie Chanin, of Alabama Chanin, anchors the event along with Billy Reid.

Their booths are near Jakob Reed’s Albano Bistro, of Athens, and Rachel Lackey of Green Pea Press in Huntsville.

It’s an experience to see and visit with the artists. It also builds a sense of pride in all things Alabama. You might not have known, for instance, that Zkano Socks, which supplies the bulk of men’s and women’s socks to Billy Reid, is based in little old Fort Payne. Each sock is crafted with care, is super soft to the touch, and beautifully and lovingly designed by Gina Locklear.

Even more than a showcase of the best the state has to offer in tangible goods, Southern Makers also features workshops on sustainable urban farming, beekeeping, and even the time-worn skill of letter press.

With just eight hours to enjoy it all, the time passes quickly and a sense of urgency prevails that those who visit Southern Makers should, no, must, stop at each and every booth to chat, touch, discover some new gem of Alabama.

If not, the chance to get all of these folks back together won’t come again until next year.

PHOTOS BY

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PATRICK HOOD

BENNETT “IN TOTAL, I HAVE OVER 23 HOURS’ WORTH OF TATTOO WORK ON MY ARM. ULYSS BLAIR IS THE ARTIST AND HE IS VERY TALENTED. I CAME TO HIM WITH ROUGH IDEAS I HAD FOR THE SLEEVE, LIKE A SKULL, A DRAGON, A SNAKE, AND AN EYE, AND HE DID ALL THE DESIGN WORK AND MADE IT WHAT IT IS TODAY.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

BODY OF ART

KATE “MY TATTOO IS ACTUALLY A COVER-UP. I COVERED A PART OF MY PAST WITH THE THING THAT SAVED ME—MY MUSIC. MY FRIEND BRIAN FROST DREW IT OUT FOR ME AND THEN RICH AT WEST COAST CUSTOMS DID THE WORK SO FAR. I HOPE TO ADD ON TO IT EVEN MORE IN THE FUTURE.”

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made in Florence, Alabama

www.shopbohem.com

403 31 Parkway 31 Par Par Pa arkw kway kwa wa way w ayy Dr a Dri D rriivve ve, e,, Su e Suit S Sui uiitite D F uit u Fllo loren ore o rren re en e n nce ce c ce, e,, A e AL L 356 35 35 56 630 30 A sp spec eci ecia e cia c iia al ‘T ‘Th han hank ank nk Y nk You Yo ou o u’ tto Lib ib bbyy Wat att a atts ttts tttss, th the Ro Rose ose sen senb en enb e nb n bau au aum um mH Home Hom Ho ome o me, & C m Cit City iitty ity ty of of Flo Flo Fl Flor llor orrence o enc e en nc nce n ce ce

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

BODY OF ART

BRITTANY “MIKE VALLENTINE IS A VERY TALENTED LOCAL ARTIST WHO DESIGNED AND GAVE ME THIS TATTOO. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED ALICE IN WONDERLAND SO HAVING A TATTOO OF IT JUST SEEMED NATURAL TO ME. I LOVE THE FANTASY OF IT AND EVERYTHING IT REPRESENTS.”

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

PIPER “JAYNA TANNER OF HANDMADE TATTOOS IN MUSCLE SHOALS WAS MY TATTOO ARTIST. PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME IF I AM GOING TO GET THESE FILLED IN. I NEVER WANT TO. I LOVE THE OUTLINE OF THE ROSES. I THINK FILLING IT IN WOULD RUIN IT.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

BODY OF ART

ALLY “A FEW YEARS AGO I TRACED OUT THE IMAGE OF TWO TREES WRAPPING INTO ONE ANOTHER AND I DECIDED I WANTED IT AS A TATTOO. WHEN I MET TATTOO ARTIST, SHANNON SCHOBERT WITH THE DRAWING, SHE TOOK IT AND IMPROVED UPON IT AND MADE IT REALLY BEAUTIFUL. AFTER A SEVEN HOUR TATTOO SESSION, THIS IS WHAT I GOT. TO ME, IT EXPRESSES HOW I SEE LIFE. I BELIEVE IN LIVING SIMPLY AND LIVING NATURALLY, CONNECTED WITH THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND US.”

 | noalapress.com | july/august 

City Lights & Stars 2014 Summer Concert Series

July & August Concert Schedule Friday, July 4th

Microwave Dave and the Nukes Friday, July 25th

KUSH

Friday, August 15th

Eric Essix

Tickets in Advancee: Adults $12 Students $8 Members $10 Student Members $5

Concerts start at 7:30.

Arrive Early! Gates Open at 6:30 Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Wine and Beer for purchase.

No outside alcohol or pets.

All Tickets $15 at Gaate.

Charge on your Visa o or Mastercard by callingg 256-536-2882 or visit it burrittonthemountain.co om!

Presented By: y

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market » Claire Stewart » Photos by Danny Mitchell A

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Music lovers CITY LIGHTS & stars CONCERTs AT BURRITT ON THE MOUNTAIN

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Chambray Blouse ($41) B Peach Shorts ($34) C Top Moda Wedges ($39) D Purse ($34.30) » J. Whitener » (256) 885-2006 E Infinity Scarf ($15.98) » Goody 2 Shoes » (256) 341-0190 F Ananda Khalsa Necklaces ($310, $420) Ananda Khalsa Bangles ($240-$300 each) H Chee-Me-No Sterling Silver Earrings ($160) » The Little Green Store » (256) 539-9699 A

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STRAIGHT TO ALE TAP ROOM SHOWS

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Status Brand Football Shirt ($35) B AG Jeans ($219) C Billy Reid/K Swiss Shoes ($85) » Status » (256) 585-2232 D Leather Wallet ($20) » The Little Green Store » (256) 539-9699

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

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market » Music Lovers

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LOWE MILL CONCERTS ON THE DOCKS

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Printed Dress ($48) B White Lace Duster ($45) C White Sandals ($20) » Goody 2 Shoes » (256) 341-0190 D Amanda Marcucci Necklace ($189) » Finery » (256) 429-3429 E Thomas Mann Ring ($300) F Monte Perry Bracelets ($40-$70 each) » The Little Green Store » (256) 539-9699

DECATUR CONCERTS

BY THE RIVER

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Vineyard Vines Button-Up ($89.50) B Southern Tide Flip Flops ($69.50) C Southern Marsh Khaki Shorts ($59) D Seersucker Cotton Snaps ($25) E Vineyard Vines Cooler Bag ($58) » Pelican Joes » (256) 517-8252

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

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text by rebecca ross » photos by patrick hood

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 | noalapress.com | july/august 

Scott Eason’s foray into standup comedy sounds like, well, a joke.

In 2009, the lifelong comedy fan decided to enter an open mic contest at Chips and Salsa Sports Bar. A natural raconteur, he thought he was ready for the stage.

He was wrong.

“I didn’t even introduce myself, just launched into it,” Eason recalled. “I had an eight-minute joke about bestiality. It did not go as planned.”

These punchlines are as varied as the comics who zing them.

There are story tellers, absurdists, prop comics, musical humorists, and yes, a few good ol’ boys. Eason, creator of Enter the Comedy Dragon, a monthly comedy show at the Sports Page Lounge & Deli, said the comedic diversity represents the region itself.

“Here in our area, you have everyone from engineers to average Joes,” he explained. “So you want your shows to appeal to a wide range of tastes: raunchy to clean, intellectual to base.”

It’s up to each comedian to focus their act and find their target audience.

But it didn’t put him off. Or out on his ear.

Lesson learned—along with some new material—Eason would eventually win the popular contest and become a familiar face on the Huntsville comedy scene.

“Standup is instant gratification, whether the crowd loves it, hates it, or is completely indifferent,” he said. “It’s addictive.”

Aldridge, a restaurant host in Florence, started doing standup with his best friend, Brian Johnson, in 2012. Pop culture provides the bulk of his comedic inspiration.

“I’ve been talking about Batman a lot, because super heroes are big in the media right now, and comics definitely influenced my childhood,” he mused. “I poke fun at the things I love or find completely absurd.”

Luckily, the laughs just keep coming.

Sometimes the jokes are provoked by a regular paycheck.

In the last couple of years, the local standup circuit has grown from a handful of events to a calendar-cramming, knee-slapping comedy showcase. Weekend or weeknight, where there’s a stage and a microphone, there’s a joke being told.

North Alabama bars, eateries and other venues are hosting open mic nights, dedicated comedy hours, and monthly shows featuring regional and even national comics that draw 250 to 300 attendees.

“If you haven’t stumbled upon a show yet, you will,” Duell Aldridge assured.

The 29-year-old comedian believes that the North Alabama comedy scene is indeed a treasure, but no longer a hidden one.

“It’s been growing by word-of-mouth, from fans and other comedians who have performed here,” he said. “We’re building audiences as we go.”

But don’t go looking for Southern stereotypes (unless that’s what tickles your funny bone).

Sam Ashby hosts a twice-monthly comedy show, Clockwork Comedy, at the Chips and Salsa Sports Bar in Huntsville. When the self-deprecating comic’s not delivering laughs, he’s delivering pizzas.

“I get a lot of material from my job and just drawing from my own experiences,” he said, adding, “But I try not to scare people away with anything too dark or offensive.”

Not so for Guy Frizzell, another area jokester. If causing inappropriate giggles were a super power, he’d definitely claim it. The Huntsville mailman, 34, loves to make audiences snicker at the things they know they shouldn’t.

“A lady came up to me one time and said, ‘Oh, you were so funny! I wanted to laugh but I was afraid to,’” he recalled, chuckling.

“I told her, ‘No, I need you to laugh! It’s okay to laugh!’”

Frizzell, who describes his humor as silly and insensitive, even enjoys tangling with the occasional heckler. “This is my favorite thing,” he admitted wryly. “If you can put a heckler down, everyone’s on your side. I probably do best when I heckle someone right back.”

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Yet another Huntsville comedian, Matthew C. Tate, also works blue. But not blue collar. His decidedly adult comedy allows him to say things he couldn’t get away with in his dayto-day life.

“What you really want to say at home or at work, you can say on stage,” the host of Alright Bayou Comedy at Tim’s Cajun Kitchen teased. “It’s a catharsis, in a way.”

Why in the world would anyone want to stand in front of a crowd of perfect strangers and bare their soul, hoping for a laugh? We asked Duell Aldridge a few questions about his craft.

Performing standup, and performing it well, has become a personal challenge for Tate.

How did you get interested in stand-up?

I actually started when I was six years old. My father produced an annual Fourth of July event called “JulyFest” in Vina, Alabama. There were musicians and performers all day, and he booked me for about five minutes of random nonsense. After that, I went on The Morning Show with Buddy and Kay Bain, on the Tupelo television station, to do jokes, and I loved it. I got interested in community theater and then majored in theater in college. But I got interested in stand-up because my good friend Brian Johnson was doing stand-up in Birmingham, and I would sell jokes to him.

“Hey, here’s a joke—for five dollars you can have it to keep for all eternity!”

“I have a big fear of heights, but I got really good at climbing,” he revealed. “It’s the same way with comedy. It’s terrifying the first time you get up in front of a crowd, but you keep at it.”

Because behind every good comic, he said, is a string of bad shows.

Tate, who, like many of his fellow standup comics, started with local open mic nights, recalled a four-week flop in 2012.

“Every time I went on stage, I bombed,” he said. “I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. It was terrible.”

A visiting out-of-town comic suggested that it was Tate’s onstage demeanor, and not material, that was the problem.

“I had to learn to demand respect from the audience,” Tate explained. “That bit of advice really turned me around. No comedian grows unless they fail a few times.”

Sound advice for those considering the spotlight, or even a critical seat in the crowd.

But whether you bomb or beat the odds, there’s no place like home when it comes to the North Alabama comedy scene.

“The audiences have been great and the other comics are really supportive,” Ashby said. “It’s like a fraternity.”

Some of his fraternal funny men can’t help but marvel at the changes a few years have wrought. Jonathan Craig is a Huntsville producer/promoter and host of Comedy Mayhem, a monthly show at Miller’s Tavern. He’s been performing his deadpan brand of adult standup since 2010, when the scene was much smaller.

“There were only about six of us performing regularly,” Craig, who works in sales, said. “But we were all in it together. We believed that this area needed a comedy scene.”

And now, it has one. And it’s on its way to becoming a pretty darn good one.

“That’s what people need to know about us,” Craig said.

“We’re here and we’re growing. It can only get better.”

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

Is it scary?

I’ve never had stage fright issues, at least no severe stage fright issues, since I was a child. But when I don’t know my material, I sort of get wigged out. If the audience is not having a good time, you know it.

Have you ever been heckled?

I’ve been lucky—I’ve never been heckled. I did have a guy interrupt my show one time to ask a question, but he was so drunk, no one in the audience understood what he was asking. I just let him talk for a while and then told him I didn’t understand the question and moved on.

What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you?

It actually wasn’t doing stand-up. I was in a play one time, called Don’t Drink the Water, and I wasn’t the lead, but I had a major role. There was a section where I had to stand in front of the bad guy character and pretend I was pointing a gun at him, and all of a sudden my pants started to sag.

Later in the play, I was supposed to go pantless, but this was way too early! I had to do all of the things I was supposed to do with both of my hands and just pray that my pants wouldn’t drop to the floor.

What’s your advice to anyone who wants to do stand-up?

Write it down! Performing like this is not the same thing as sitting around a table with your friends and throwing out one-liners and modifying what you say based on the reaction you get. It’s stunning to me how many amateurs come to open mic night and don’t have anything prepared—they are just trying to talk off the cuff. Doing stand-up is like performing a part; it’s like a self-written, self-directed play, and you’re playing a character. It’s not the place for an entire ad-lib presentation.

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scene

1st Row: Kalli Scherlis, Sanders Clayton, Anna Lee Lawson, and Caroline McCrary; 2nd Row: Beth Byers, Spencer Anglin, Alexandra Ferguson, and Madison Sheible; 3rd Row: Alli Murphree, Lauren Hammond, Lillie Brown, and Elizabeth Earles

1st Row: Allison Vann, Darby Steinberger, Emily Sutphin, and Rachel Givens; 2nd Row: Cecilia Masucci, Caroline Easterling, Anna Katherine Kimbrough, and Merrill Boles; 3rd Row: Harper Stephens, Katherine McCown, Callie Cole, and Bailey Geiger

1st Row: McCarley Buchanan, Brooke Taylor, Emily Mantooth, and Lindsay Birchfield; 2nd Row: Eleanor Burke, Carol Ann Kelly, Cara Sharpe, Grace Greco, and Emily Brown; 3rd Row: Brinn Loftin, Emily Knowling, Allie Hergert, and Alexandra Herring

Above: Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Announces 51st Symphony Ball Debutantes

Below: Greengate School 5th Annual Spring Swing april ,  · greengate school courtyard, lincoln mill, huntsville, al

Denise and Steve Murphree

Lucas and Sabra Neidert, and Adam Kimbro Phylis and Bob Baron, Amity and Robert Baron

The Swingin’ Medallions

Leslie Bruton and Seth Farrington

Victoria Jurenko and Jordan Hopkins * Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Joe and Christy MacKenzie Eula and Tommy Battle, Lee and Duffy Boles

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

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back talk » Claire Stewart

“What song never gets old?”

“Sister Golden Hair” by America (NANCY FINNEGAN)

“My Way” by Frank Sinatra (CYNTHIA BURKHEAD)

“Funnel of Love” by Wanda Jackson (ASHLEY VAUGHN)

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland (CALEB WOODS)

“Morning Has Broken” by Cat Stevens (LOUISA ELMORE)

“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison (JOHN CROSSLIN)

“Thriller”

by Michael Jackson

(YVONNE FALL)

“You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor (KATHI BERTSCH)

“Dancing Queen” by Abba (CAROLE FORÊT)

“Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding (KAREN HARRISON)

“Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison (BROOKE PHILLIPS)

“Try To Remember” The Fantasticks (GUY MCCLURE)

“Yeah” by Usher (EMILY MARS)

“I Fell in Love” by Carlene Carter (CHUCK VAUGHN)

“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (CHARLENE GARD)

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel (NANCY TAYLOR)

“Respect”

by Aretha Franklin

(PATRICK ROBBINS)

“Home”

by Phillip Phillips

(SHELLEY CARTER)

“Celebration”

by Kool & the Gang

(JAMIE FEAR)

“Ho Hey” by The Lumineers (KAITLIN CHAPPELL)

“Dixieland Delight” by Alabama

“The Weight” by The Band

(CINDY FRANKS)

(JARED MARS)

“December 1963” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (COURTNEY LESUEUR)

“Ave Maria” by Pavarotti (KIM GRISSOM)

“Barbie Girl” by Aqua (KRISTY GARCIA)

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

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the vine » Amy Collins

PORTUGAL’S GREEN WINE It’s hot, too hot to drink anything without ice, which for me means trading in the wine bottle for gin or vodka over abundant ice. Though there are some vinous exceptions one can pour over ice without shame. Technically, you can do anything you like with wine and still get through the Pearly Gates. But there are a few whites that can be delicious and refreshing with a few cubes. My favorite is inexpensive Vinho Verde from north west Portugal.

Vinho Verde translates to ‘green wine’, so named for its intention to be drunk young, though the region itself is quite verdant. The wine typically has high acidity, light alcohol, citrus notes and a subtle spritz. There are two basic categories of Vinho Verde, the first is made from the Alvarinho grape (they call it Albariño in Spain) with slightly more alcohol, more body and intensity, and of better quality.

These wines have improved over the years as consumer demand has driven grape growers and producers to lower yields, concentrating the fruit sugars and in turn increasing the nuance of a finished wine.

They also tend to be more expensive and are not recommended over ice.

There are other Vinho Verdes made from native varieties, like Loureiro, Arinto, Trajadura and Azal made with quality grapes into wines that stand quite beautifully on their own. A recent favorite is the Conde Villar Vinho Verde made from the Loureiro grape. It has a touch of effervescence and a pleasing blend of tropical fruit and citrus notes.

The producer’s website recommends the following: “Excellent pairing with sea food, bird meat and also salads. This wine is also indicated as a summer day aperitif.” The mention of ‘bird meat’ makes me love the wine all the more.

Traditional grape growing in the region took place on pergolas nearly 13 feet above the ground, saving space for additional crops between vine rows while also providing air circulation for the fruit in this particularly damp part of the world. Vinho Verde gets up to 78 inches of rain annually (compared to Northwest Alabama’s 53 inches). The area is heavily agricultural, with 90 out of every 100 farmers being grape growers as well. According to The Oxford Companion to Wine, “Ninety percent of holdings are less than 5 hectares in extent and the majority are little bigger than a suburban backyard.” This requires grape growers to sell fruit to local coops, though many also make their own wine. I like the image of my neighbors all growing wine grapes alongside their tomatoes and summer squash, then swapping mason jars of homemade vino on the porch swing for comparison. Of course

industrialization has driven more dollar-minded producers to plant vineyards on large swaths of land with lower trained vines that allow for mechanical harvesting.

Many Vinho Verdes will have some residual sugar, though not always a perceived sweetness. Wines with high acidity benefit from a balancing touch of sweet, presenting the wine as dry without being astringent. And some will have a distinct off-dry finish. The Lagosta non-vintage Vinho Verde has a low nine percent alcohol with a few grams of residual sugar. It’s a wee bit sweet on the finish. It also has more sparkle than most Vinho Verdes I’ve tasted that are available in north Alabama. The wine is a blend of four grapes, Arinto, Azal, Loureiro and Trajadura, and is a perfect over-ice quaff for under $10 a bottle.

Try out one or all of these Vinho Verdes for your pool side, creek edge, lake living, beachfront hot days this summer. All wines are available for purchase in Alabama.

Conde Villar Vinho Verde 2012 Bright and lemony with tropical fruit and floral notes with 10.5% alc. $12.99 Gateway Vinho Verde 2012 Grapefruit and green apple notes with a distinct fizz and an off-dry leading toward sweet finish.

9.5% alc. $10.99 Lagosta Vinho Verde NV Green apple, pear, flowers, fizzy and off-dry.

9% alc. $9.99 Octave Vinho Verde 2012 Lemon, lime, spritz, dry, easy. 9.5% alc. $8.99

Follow Amy at www.pigandvine.com for more stories and wine suggestions.

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

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food for thought » Sarah Gaede

OLÉ, OLÉ!

Most of Provence, in the South of France, is characterized by hot, dry summers, mild winters, little snow, and abundant sunshine. Sound like somewhere we all know and love? The climate and geography of Provence influence the traditional cuisine, just as our climate and geography influence our own native dishes. Provençal cooking features olives and olive oil, summer vegetables such as tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers, white beans, green beans, lots of garlic, and herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and lavender. The local peaches, apricots, strawberries, cherries, and melons are heavenly.

Here in our South, we might substitute bacon grease for olive oil, use butter beans or lady peas instead of fresh cannellini beans, and throw in some okra, but all the other ingredients that make up the warm-weather food of Provence are available to us here. One of my very favorite summer dishes, ratatouille, is the signature dish of Provence. Ratatouille is a vegetable stew of eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, garlic, and herbs. It’s pronounced Rat-a-too-ey, but in my family, we call it Ratooey-olé. Of course there’s a story behind this.

When my daughter Martha was 16, she worked at the Express Café in Savannah, Georgia, where the owners were good about hiring the children of their friends.

One day, Martha came home from work laughing hysterically. The special for the day had been ratatouille. A customer marched up to the counter and demanded some of that ratooey-olé. It was all Martha could do not to say, “Oh, are you feeling Mexican today?” She’s my daughter, for sure. I knew she had inherited my snarky personality when, at the age of seven, she turned to the man sitting behind us at “Hello Dolly”, who had snored through the entire performance, and asked sweetly, “Did you enjoy your little snooze?”

Ratatouille is one of those throwwhatever-you-have-in-the-pot recipes. You really don’t need to measure. I like to cut my vegetables in 1-inch chunks, but you can cut them smaller if you like. You can use all zucchini or all yellow squash.

If you don’t like olive oil, try grape seed or canola oil.

You can add mushrooms, cut green beans, or pitted kalamata olives if you have some lying around. Diced red potatoes would be good as well.

Or go all out and toss in some okra just for fun. Add each vegetable according to its cooking time. Use whatever fresh herbs you have on hand. I always use fresh chopped basil, oregano, and thyme, but some finely chopped rosemary and lavender would be good too. I usually serve mine with a dry Provençal rosé, but a young slightly chilled beaujolais would go down nicely as well.

You can eat ratatouille hot or cold; as a main dish or a side with grilled meat or fish; on couscous, rice, field peas, cornbread or pasta. I’m thinking a dollop of Belle Chèvre on top would only enhance the final product. If you really have your mouth set for Mexican ratooey-olé, you could add a teaspoon or two of cumin and some chili powder with the onions, flavor with fresh oregano and cilantro, top with some grated Mexican cheese, and serve with beans and rice.

How bad could it be? You can try it and let me know.

Ratatouille • 1 medium eggplant, unpeeled, cut into 1-inch cubes • 4 tablespoons good olive oil, divided • 1 large sweet onion, cut in 1/2-inch dice • 4 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped fine • Pinch of crushed red pepper • 2 bell peppers, any color, cut in 1-inch squares • 2 medium summer squash, cut in half lengthwise and sliced 1/2-inch thick • 2 medium zucchini, cut in half lengthwise and sliced 1/2-inch thick • 3 ripe medium tomatoes, peeled and seeded, cut into 1/2-inch dice • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste • 2 tablespoons or more chopped fresh herbs— basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavender Toss the eggplant cubes with about a teaspoon of kosher salt. Set the cubes in a colander to drain for about 20 minutes. Rinse well in cold water and pat dry on paper towels. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet or Dutch oven.

Toss the eggplant in the oil until golden. Remove eggplant and set aside.

Add 2 more tablespoons oil and onions. Cook onions for about 7 minutes, or until soft and translucent.

Add garlic, crushed red pepper, a bit more salt, and black pepper. Cook for a few minutes, then stir in bell peppers. Cook for a more minutes, and stir in summer squash. Cook for a few more minutes and stir in tomatoes. Cook for 10 minutes, then stir in browned eggplant and herbs and cook for 10 to 15 minutes more, until all the vegetables are soft. Taste for seasoning and serve hot or at room temperature.

july/august  | noalapress.com | 

104 »

hear tell » Maxine Guerry

LET’S GO FISHIN’

T

he birds haven’t even started chirping their “good mornings” yet and my brother Edward is out in the backyard where he keeps his bass boat, making the loudest ruckus you’ve ever heard. Usually he tiptoes around like he’s afraid to wake Jesus when he’s getting ready to head to the river. He likes to get an early start, before the fish start biting. But this morning, I’m awakened by things being moved around in the dining room, the front door slamming and him whistling—at five o’clock in the morning, mind you.

Curiosity takes over the desire to crawl further under the covers. I’m wide-awake now, anyway. I tiptoe over to the window that looks out over the back yard to see what the noise is all about. At first, nothing looks out of the ordinary. I see Edward loading the boat with his tackle box and cooler of beer. But then I notice something odd. The dining room chair, the one with arms that usually sits at one end of the dining room table, is being lifted up onto the boat. Edward starts working up a sweat using a piece of rope to tie the chair to the seat closest to the bow. I ask you, why in the world would somebody tie a dining room chair onto a boat?

I hear Uncle Si’s feet hit the floor. “What’s all that racket at this ungodly hour of the morning?” he calls out to nobody in particular.

“It’s just Edward, Uncle Si, loading up the boat to go fishing,” I say.

“Sure wish I could go with him, but these old bones won’t allow it. My rheumatism is getting worse by the day.

My legs hurt too bad to sit in those low seats,” he says.

Just about now, I hear the front door open and shut. I follow my nose to the kitchen. Mother is making breakfast and packing a lunch for Edward while he stands over her, sipping on a cup of coffee.

“Edward, where’s my good dining room chair?” asks Mother.

“Where’s Uncle Si?” he asks.

“He’s up and about, but you still haven’t answered my question. You about woke up the dead this morning scraping the dining room chair across the floor. It’s a good thing your Daddy was already up and gone to work. I think I hear Si in the bathroom. Go tell him to come butter his pancakes before they get cold.”

“Uncle Si,” yells Edward. “Get a move on. We’re going fishin’!”

Uncle Si hobbles up the hall. “Who’s going fishin’?”

“You and me,” says Edward.

“What the hell are you talking about, Edward? You know I can’t go fishin’. These old legs are about to give out on me.”

“Sit down and butter your pancakes, Si. You can’t go fishing on an empty stomach,” says Mother.

“Hurry up and eat, Uncle Si,” says Edward, as he leaves through the kitchen door. “I’ll meet you out by the boat.”

“Thelma, that boy needs his head examined,” says Uncle Si. “He’s stubborn, that’s what he is. Won’t take no for an answer.”

Uncle Si starts eating so fast, syrup dribbles down his chin. “Guess I’d better get dressed and go see what he’s up to. Those were mighty good pancakes,” he says.

Next thing you know, Uncle Si is walking out the door wearing old clothes and his good Florsheim shoes, the ones he wears to work.

Edward sees him limping across the yard like he’s 90 years old. He’s only 68, but you’d never know it sometimes.

“What’re you doin’ wearing your good shoes, Uncle Si? Those’ll get ruined.”

“These are all the shoes I got, Edward.”

“Well, come on then. Come see what I got rigged up for you,” says Edward.

They walk together over to the boat, Edward holding onto Uncle Si’s elbow to keep him from slipping on the grass that’s still wet with morning dew.

Uncle Si stops dead in his tracks when he sees the chair hitched up in the boat. “Well, I’ll be, Edward. You think that’ll work? I’m not so sure about this.”

Edward stands proudly, admiring his handiwork.

“Come on, I’ll help you up.” He picks up Uncle Si like he was picking up a sack of feathers and sits him in the chair.

“Jiggle around a little bit to see if it’s going to hold,” he says.

Uncle Si squirms this way and that, testing it. “I think it’s okay, Edward. Let’s go fishin’.”

Next thing you know, Edward is backing out of the driveway, boat in tow, with Uncle Si riding shotgun. Just as the sun begins to dance across the water, they make it to Dog River in South Mobile County. Edward puts the boat in first, then Uncle Si. Next thing you know, Edward’s gunning the motor until they’re practically flying over the low delta.

Uncle Si is sitting straight up in the chair, gripping the chair arms, looking for all the world like king of the Nile as they head toward Edward’s favorite fishing spot. After they’ve gone about a mile, Edward slows the boat and comes to a complete stop, throwing out the anchor in a narrow part of the river. On both sides of the river, the river banks are heavy with overhanging vegetation, the roots of cypress trees jutting out of the water.

“It’s going to be a hot one, Edward,” says Uncle Si. “Hope you remembered to bring some suntan lotion.”

“I’ve got it right here in the cooler,” says Edward. “It’ll feel good on your skin when the sun starts baking us.”

“Boy, you think of everything, don’t you?” says Uncle Si. “Try to,” says Edward. “Let’s get to fishin’. We’re wasting time.”

It’s not long before Edward is hauling in a mess of bream and croaker. Uncle Si hasn’t had even a nibble.

“I don’t know what your secret is Edward, but you’re out-fishing me for sho,” says Uncle Si, who’s starting to get restless, shifting his weight around in the chair.

“Sit still, Uncle Si,” says Edward. “You’re liable to tump us over and scare all the fish away. And I don’t want to have to save your ass from a hungry alligator.”

Next thing you know, Uncle Si’s standing up in the boat.

“Sit down, Uncle Si,” yells Edward.

“I can’t help it. Lawd, Edward, I’ve got something on my line,” yells Uncle Si. “I think it’s a big one.”

“Just sit down, I’ll help you haul it in,” yells Edward, just as Uncle Si is sailing over the side of the boat, still hanging on to his fishing rod.

“Jeezus H. Christ, I told you to sit down,” mutters Edward as he jumps in after Uncle Si, who, by now, has disappeared.

Edward starts diving, feeling frantically for Uncle Si, unable to see his hand in front of his face in the brown, murky water. He comes up, dives again, over and over. The last time his head breaks through the water, he screams in anguish, “Dammit, Uncle Si, where are you?”

He swims slowly over to shallow water, climbs up on the riverbank and hangs his head between his knees, sobbing.

“I’ve killed Uncle Si. How am I going to face everybody?”

Next thing you know, he hears some splashing around and a voice, but he can’t make out what the voice is saying.

Edward’s thinking he hears Uncle Si’s ghost. He keeps his head hung between his knees, unwilling to look out at the river that has swallowed up Uncle Si. But the voice starts getting louder and louder, and, for sure, it does sound like Uncle Si. As he raises his head, he sees Uncle Si treading water near the riverbank, right in front of him. “Boy, I’m talking to you. I’ve been trying to get your attention for the last 15 minutes,” says Uncle Si. “I thought you had drowned,” cries Edward. “Where in hell have you been, Uncle Si?” “The current took me clear over to those bushes on the other side of the river,” says Uncle Si. “I liked to never come up for air. When I finally did come up, I could see you sitting on the opposite bank with your head hanging down.

I thought you was taking a nap while I was drowning.”

Edward, his voice shaking with frustration, says, “Uncle Si, I liked to have drowned myself. I was scared out of my head. I must have dove down twenty times trying to find you.”

“Aw, it’s okay, son. I’m right ‘chere, see? I’m alive as you.”

A slow smile spreads across Uncle Si’s face. “Why don’t you come on in? The water feels pretty good.”

The fishing part of the trip forgotten about, Edward and Uncle Si are treading water, not saying much, until Uncle Si says, “Sure is peaceful here, isn’t it?”

“You still have those good shoes on, Uncle Si? I bet they’re ruined by now.”

“Naw, Edward, when I made it to shallow water and tried to wade to shore, the mud on the bottom of the river sucked ‘em right off me. Them shoes had just about seen their last days. I needed new ones anyway. Still have that mess of fish you caught?”

“Yessir,” says Edward. “They’re still on the boat in the cooler.”

“That’s good. I sure hate that I let that fish get away.

What say we go home and get your momma to fry some up while we take us a nap? I don’t know about you, but I’m all tuckered out.”

Edward lets out a sigh that sounds more like a shudder. “I gotta’ swim out and get the boat first. You stay put.”

“I’m not going anywhere, bubba. I’ll be right ‘chere,” says Uncle Si.

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parting shot » White Rabbit Studios

SILLY STRING THEORY: Clara Belle and the Creeps

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