5 minute read
Dave Sisson and local music
Frank Jones and Dave Sisson appearing on the Hippy Hill stage for the 2023 Americana Bean Jamboree Festival at Bill Monroe’s in Bean Blossom.
~by Jeff Tryon
The Brown County music scene is on the rise, led by several young local artists coming into their own, and fueled by businesses recognizing the popularity of live music.
Brown County offers a variety of music and musicians, ranging from the big-name national acts who grace the stages of the Brown County Music Center and the Brown County Playhouse, to the amazing array of quality players and bands hosted by bars, a winery, and restaurants. Buskers also play on street corners for tips in Nashville, just as the late John Franz used to do.
That’s where Dave Sisson started out, on the same street corner where Franz had plied his trade, made a name and a career for himself, and became a sort of local musical legend.
“I played on a few coffee shop stages before that, but I definitely cut my teeth playing on that corner,” Sisson said. “I was kind of polishing my craft out there.
“It’s great. Sometimes you make money, sometimes it’s not about the money, you just meet cool people. You just never know what you’re going to encounter out there. I’ve collaborated with a lot of people that I met just randomly on the street.”
Sisson remembers the value of local venues which opened up the microphone for young players just starting out.
“Currently we do have a lot of great venues that support music, but I’ve got to give a shoutout to Muddy Boots and the Pine Room,” he said.
Owners Betsy and James Oblack encouraged local music, and their stages were favorites for many people. Sisson said, “I used to play there for the brunch crowd for tips and a free breakfast. That was the perfect vibe.”
Those venues are gone, but Sisson said strong local support is providing a boost for the current local music scene.
“It’s a good town for music,” he said. “There are a lot of different stages and places to play out.”
All kinds of talents at all different stages of artistic growth can find a place to play and improve.
“I think we have a lot of venues that really appreciate music at all levels—full bands, little duos, and solo acts. There’s a lot of different levels for people to play—from open mics up to theater shows.”
Sisson said the music offered at local venues has changed in flavor during his time on stage.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a distinct change. You know, music goes in cycles,” he said. “I think when I started, a lot more of the local music was ‘bluegrass-centric.’ I think a lot of the people and the groups that you see now have the same instrumentation, but there’s a lot more folk and Americana influence, and less division between the different genres—I think there’s a good blend around here.”
Sisson was set to play in August with Caitlin Spangler.
“She’s another good song writer, and she has a good voice. Just another person you meet and collaborate with.”
Spangler got her start playing with Mickey Harden as the roots/ blues duo “Spank ’n’ Mickey.” Sadly, Harden passed away earlier this year at the age of 45.
Sisson also had praise for The Hammer and The Hatchet, John Boyer and Jamie Hood.
“We used to have a little side-project band,” he said. “I feel like they are another one of the real representatives of local songwriting.”
Another bright light who came up around the same time as Sisson is Kenan Rainwater. He performs but also explores and promotes other musicians. His Rainwater Studios’ “The Stream” features performers from throughout Southern Indiana and surrounding areas.
Live streaming allows artists to build their content collection by capturing live performances to disc
as fully mixed stereo. The studio also offers help with post-production and publishing.
As a bonus for local live music fans, artists who deliver the best live performances on Rainwater’s “The Stream” are featured live in showcase performances at the Brown County Playhouse.
“He’s been around since the Muddy Boots days, we’ve kind of come up together,” Sisson said. “I’m
glad to see him collaborating with the Playhouse. It’s good for a lot of these up-and-coming artists to have these videos so they can show then world what they can do.”
Sisson said “Kenan has been very generous to me” with his latest project, an album of original songs, due out later this year.
“It’s finally to the point where I need to have my own album,” he said. “So, I’ve got eight or nine all original songs. Some of them are collaborations with my friend Sam Love. I’ve played with him since high school. He’s a killer harmonica player and a good songwriter.”
“I’d say it’s self-produced. Keenan and myself are doing all of the engineering and mixing, capturing everything. It’s pretty stripped down.”
“It will feature my songs and Sam’s songs. He’s playing harmonica and we brought in Frank Jones to play bass on a few tracks.”
Sisson considers Jones, from a generation earlier in the local music scene, as “probably my biggest influence.”
“Frank is just the best,” he said. “If you want to see a true legend songwriter, you should catch him. He’s always just at the top of his game.
“I’m excited to get the word out on my CD,” Sisson said. “I think this will be a good calling card for me as a songwriter and a little local go-to guy. I want to make it available to stream, but I also want to have a physical album that I can sell at shows.”
