Hot Springs Hot Spots Magazine - June 2013

JUNE 2013

THE QUEEN OF ARKANSAS ART PG 26

THE ART OF SOUND PG 35 beyond the vapor PG 10

ADVENTURE AT HOME THIS SUMMER PG 22 LIVE VENUE LISTING PG 10

THE SPA CITY SLAM PG 30 ABANDONED Art PG 16 HSHotSpots.com

CoMe viSit tHe riSer niSSan FaMilY on Central avenue

TAKE A SHORT DRIVE TO HUGE SAVINGS!

501.525.4511

4111 Central avenue | Hot SpringS, ar

OUR HISTORY

True Blue BBQ

501-276-5961 • 2012 Central Ave.

at the Freeman Center Parking Lot, next to Stephen’s Jewelers

Open Wed-Sat • 11am until it’s Gone!

Tues • 5pm-8pm at the Farmer’s Market

During the Great Depression, just outside of Newport, Arkansas, my Grandfather, Lil’ Ray, had a grocery store.

Out back, he had a barbecue pit. He smoked meats and sold sandwiches out of his little store to everyone in the community.

As time went on, during the seventies, he and my Dad moved to southeast Missouri where they opened the Driftwood Lounge and BBQ. Many people traveled on I-55 stopped in to enjoy the good food and entertainment.

When my father retired to Hot Springs, Arkansas, he continued to cook and sell BBQ out of his bars and businesses for many years.

My family and I plan to carry on this tradition. We hope you enjoy our way of cooking and eating BBQ as much as we do.

$1

.00

OFF Sandwich or Dinner

(Present this coupon for redemption.)

The Only Thing We Overlook is the View Beautiful mountain view with a rustic, elegant feel for your wedding and reception.

We will go above and beyond to make your day perfect and the wedding you dreamed of.

• Breathtaking View • The Carriage House • Carriage (Coming Soon!)

• Outdoor & Indoor Wedding Venue Call for an Appointment to View

501-545-0112

Photos Courtesy of Terry Scallion Photography

115 East Hawkview Place, Royal, Arkansas

hot springs

IN THIS ISSUE: ON THE COVER

CHRIS HAYNES, MMA Fighter (Left); CAROLINE TAYLOR; DARNELL THOMAS, Recording Artist (Right)

STEINHOUSE KELLER

PG 8

A FRESH JOURNEY INTO TRADITIONAL GERMAN CUISINE

PG 35

BEYOND THE VAPOR

JAKE WILLIAMS HAS BEEN DEEMED THE BEST SOUND MAN BY TOURING BANDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

PG 10

OPPORTUNIST GEARS UP FOR FIRST NATIONAL TOUR

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK! FACEBOOK.COM/HSHOTSPOTS

ALBUM REVIEWS

PG 11

VENUES OF HOT SPRINGS: LIVE SHOWS LISTING

PG 12

ABANDONED ART

PG 16

THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF WALTER ARNOLD

PG 18

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE SPA (EVENT CALENDAR) JUNE

PG 21

ADVENTURE AT HOME THIS SUMMER PG 22

HOT SPRINGS HOT SPOTS STAFF: PHOTOGRAPHER

PUBLISHER

JEREMY RODGERS jeremy@hshotspots.com

RITCHIE WELLS rj@hshotspots.com

ART DIRECTOR

STAFF WritERS

MARISA RODGERS marisa@hshotspots.com

CIARA CERRATO ciara@hshotspots.com

SALES

JIM G. MILLER jim@hshotspots.com

KARI BARS karibars@hshotspots.com

RESTAURANT LISTING

STAYCATIONING IN THE NATIONAL PARK

THE QUEEN OF ART

PG 26

CAROLINE TAYLOR OF TALYOR’S CONTEMPORANEA

THE SPA CITY SLAM

PG 30

LONG LIVE LITERARY ARTS IN ARKANSAS

THE ART OF SOUND

PG 35

A PROFILE OF THE BEST SOUND MAN IN ARKANSAS

ADVERTISE WITH US! MAKE YOUR BUSINESS A HOT SPOT OF THE SPA CITY — CONTACT US AT 501.276.8267 TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROMOTIONS, RATES, AND HOW WE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS.

5

hsathleticclub.com

The Place to Come for Fitness and Fun 150 Peters Point | 501-525-9595

Open 7 days a week

Mon-Thurs 5:30am-9pm | Fri 5:30am-8pm | Sat 7:00am-8pm | Sun10:00 am to 6 pm Indoor/Outdoor Pool Year-Round | Indoor/Outdoor Hot Tubs Saunas and Steam Room | Classes for Every Fitness Level Hot Springs Athletic & Racquet Club has recently come under new ownership. The new owners, Joey & Mayra Godoy (also the owners of Bleu Monkey Grill), are well-known in the community for their contributions through sponsorships & donations.

Hot Springs Athletic & Racquet Club has been a staple in the community for many years, offering a positive and pleasant atmosphere for people of all ages with plenty of activities to satisfy your health and fitness needs. Our family would like to invite you and your family to join us in our growth and expansion of this facility. We hope you enjoy our fun healthy environment at Hot Springs Athletic & Racquet Club!

719 Central Ave 624-7474

707 Central Ave 321-8282

Open 7 Days a Week

Now Featuring

Real Italian Cuisine by an Authentic Italian Chef

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Braveheart Prime & Buckhead NY Strip, T-bone & Porterhouse Steaks

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Join our VIP eClub List Receive exclusive offers, coupons, discounts, menu announcements and Holiday specials!

For an immediate special offer for June!

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available for banquets & receptions Call Penny, Your Party Coordinator, for The Regency Special of the Month

501-617-3070

New York-Style Pizza • Mouth-Watering Burgers Philly Beef & Swiss • Appetizers “Appreciation Night” Monday Pitcher of Beer $4 Domestic-Longnecks $2 Friday & Saturday Nights 9pm - Closing Live MuSiC Domestic-Longnecks & Jello Shots $3 Sunday-Thursday Happy Hour 4-9pm Jagar Bombs $3 Domestics: Pints $1.25 Longnecks $2

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711 Central Ave. • 501-622-2570

”Where elegance is affordable”

EATS

Story by Jim G. MIller

STEINHOUSE KELLER

8

Spencer’s Corner has housed a unique and diverse mesh of ar t, music, and fine dining for a remarkable number of years within its three-story façade. In the dark and cozy basement of its foundations, there is now Arkansas’ newest fine German eatery and Biergar ten where drink, raucous Saturday night polka music, and much fun can be had especially during cool summer nights on the outdoor patio.

Previously known as the Brau Haus, the restaurant and bar closed its doors a couple of months back and has been newly renovated and restored by the hard work of Executive Chef David McGuire and owner operator Amanda Mitchell. “We really had a difficult time letting go of the space especially as it had become a rooted place for locals and tourists to stop off and get a taste of something that’s not common in most other small towns in Arkansas,” says Mitchell.

A staple among downtown bars thanks in par t to the smiling face of Bret Ellis who has been slinging premium German beer for many years, it is a local favorite. Ellis is your classic jovial bar tender who is most often seen dawning a flashy Hawaiian shir t equipped with an arsenal of jokes. He has a broad and unique knowledge of classic film, history, and of course German beer. Always quick to star t a conversation with a perfect stranger Ellis was put on this ear th to bar tend and to generally make people happy.

It was a tearful goodbye for many who had shared deep and heartfelt memories at the old Brau Haus. “I couldn’t really imagine bartending anywhere else in town,” says Ellis who has a passion and love for the weekend regulars and periodic return visitors. People who visit once usually come back, and with a menu featuring fresh German style culinary dishes, there will be more and more reason for people to return.

“We’re all like a family, we have worked together so long,” says Mitchell. Each morning before

A FRESH JOURNEY INTO TRADITIONAL GERMAN CUISINE

the restaurant opens, you can find seasoned German cook Norbert Sporca in the kitchen chopping up red cabbage or potatoes to stew for a fresh pot of goulash.

They are open Tuesday through Sunday. Check out their Stein Hour from 3 to 7 pm on Tuesday through Thursday featuring $1.50 well drinks and 50 cents off draft beer if you bring your own stein. The restaurant also features many trademark German appetizers and main course dishes. The cabbage rolls would definitely be on the top of the list of recommended appetizers, and of course you must always try the schnitzel. Mitchell and McGuire both plan on continuing to incorporate newness into an old tradition. Offering a variety of German sausages with more exciting new beers and other extravagant culinary dishes to come in the future, Steinhaus Keller should definitely be mapped out on your list of exciting new places to eat and drink when you are in downtown Hot Springs.

Arkansas’ newest German Restaurant & Biergarten Tues-Thurs: 3-10pm Fri-Sat: 3pm-2am, Sun: 3-9pm

eaturing the the largest largest selection selection FFeaturing of German German bier bier in in the the State!

State! of

Spencer’s Corner - 801 Central Ave, Suite 15 | 501-624-7866 | LIVE MUSIC!

T I • E R O T S

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MUSIC

BEYOND THE VAPOR op•por•tun•ist - A person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by principles or plans. Opportunist is exactly who they say they are, exploiting their given musical prowess to gain the immediate advantage. They are not guided by principles or plans, at least not for the most part. They are actually planning on going on tour for the first time as a band to promote their first ten track album Vapor.

Their tour will involve a crazy, somewhat drunken, figure eight throughout the entire country, stopping off at venues like Death by Audio in Brooklyn, The Smell in Los Angeles, and the Hotel Vegas in Austin. Together they will waive the Arkansas freak flag as ambassadors of Hot Springs, strutting their newly unwashed vintage western shirts bought by their loving guitarist and thrift store enthusiast Bobby Missile.

10

Missile, who recently worked on tour as a guitar/stage tech with Mercury Prize winning British band Alt-J, also handles most of the booking for Opportunist.

For at least three of the members, this is not only their longest stretch on the road but also their first

time to tour with a band. “It will cut our teeth as Opportunists,” laughed Bobby Missile who has played guitar for numerous acts on many tours and currently books bands nationwide for Ballistic Missile Booking.

Together for a year now, the band is a mashed together combo of what can only be described as experimental “remedial” math rock that borders on post punk. “We say remedial because we don’t want to leave out the math altogether,” jokes bassist Ben Robbins. The band just seems to enjoy making music, and they avoid putting labels on it if at all possible.

Singer Drew Martin expresses his vocals with an uninhibited and freewheeling composure that is pure entertainment to passionate onlookers and listeners.

Melting the crowd and innocent bystanders caught in the path of his unabashed enthusiasm, Martin depicts the type of vocalist other musicians are inspired to see on stage. He is not just singing the words but feeling the music. Martin’s accompaniment on stage is both learned and distinguishable with Missile rifling off his confidently honed guitar riffs.

Story by Jim G. Miller Photography by Ashley Hill

OPPORTUNIST GEARS UP FOR FIRST NATIONAL TOUR

Ben Robbins, a local Hot Springs singer-songwriter has emerged as an impeccable force cultivating new ground with his experimental bass guitar over the past twelve months. Drummer Michael Stewart who has played in the past with Robbins has eased into his comfort zone.

“We just really click,” said Stewart, who shrugs off his percussion skills as simple muscle memory. “Every time we play a show he’ll throw a little fill in there that I’ve never heard him do before and I think it pushes me to play a little more experimentally,” says Robbins, regarding the back and forth between him and Stewart when on stage. “Our breakdowns are simple and solid and heavy. I’m digging the heaviness. Sometimes it’s nice to just be a wall of sound,” reveals Robbins.

It seems true that, both on stage and during practice, they really are just four laid back guys who are passionately pursuing their interests in music. And in Hot Springs, where there are limited resources for most “would-be opportunists,” this is an inspiring thing for all artists. For more info on the band and a full listing of tour dates check them out at opportunist. bandcamp.com or at weareopportunist.tumblr.com.

hot springs

ALBUMS ON REVIEW Contribution Courtesy of & Written by Drew Martin

CHRISTOPER OWENS Lysandre

CHANCE THE RAPPER ACIDRAP

SLAM DONAHUE HEMLOCK TEA

I’d been in love with indie rock band ‘Girls’ since their first full length release, Album, and when I heard last July that they were done for, I got a little sad. Shortly after that I found out that the disbanding was due to Christopher Owens wanting to work on his own solo project, which, while I can respect the decision, worried me. Solo projects often turn out to be a huge let down.

Luckily for the ears of the world, Christopher Owens delivered and the package contained gifts for all. We push off with “Lysandre’s Theme,” a minstrels song that plays at points throughout the album, keeping it cohesive as a full story, with each song as a chapter.

Christopher is able to tell these fantastic tales of love and experience on the open road coyly, but without being too tongue-in-cheek. Interluding these fantastic anecdotes are absolutely gorgeous little melodies on flute, violin, guitar, and so many other instruments, all tie back to what you hear at the very first. His lyrics hit home with all songwriters in “Love is in the Ear of the Listener” when he talks about how he’s a bit insecure about his songwriting and how cliche it may be. Yet, he can pop back in the title track “Lysandre” and have all the romantics in the room at his beck and call. He’s so versatile, yet still finds a way to keep everyone attentive and listening.

The way he has written and arranged this album makes me feel like I’m on an epic journey in Camelot to save a damsel in distress. I want to laugh, I want to cry, I want to dance, I want to run around. I just can’t get enough of it and it very well could end up being my favorite album of 2013. Get this release and an acoustic version of Lysandre at christopherowensonline.com.

Chance the Rapper popped up on my radar as I was helping book this last Valley of the Vapors and I just didn’t really pay attention. Here was this little blip and I was in the middle of the Atlantic looking for the nuclear blast.

Well, Chance must have been working on some classified material at the time because in late April I felt the boom.

With his smooth, sweet flow and beats that could woo the most prudish of people, I can quickly see Chance the Rapper turning into another big voice of his generation.

He’s just so blatantly honest. In “Cocoa Butter Kisses” he talks about the disapproval of his habits from his family.

And all the while his friends still validate what he does because they’re in the same situation. He so accurately and eloquently verbalizes the life and sentiments of many 20-somethings living at or near home because he has gone through it too. And he still manages to stay so damn charming. To top off all of Chance’s charm he has some really prominent figures in the rap scene featured on the mixtape. Fellow Chicago native Twista, larger than life Vice Records rapper Action Bronson, the increasingly popular Ab-Soul, and the ever talented Childish Gambino (actor/ rapper/writer/comedian/producer Donald Glover). The whole thing just blows my mind! Acid Rap pulls off LP status on a mixtape! Chance will only go up from here. Get this release and others at chanceraps.com.

I’ve been following Brooklynites Slam Donahue for almost two years now. I somehow stumbled upon a tiny 3 song “mixtape” on Bandcamp (a massive and well done website where you can find all kinds of independently released music to fit your tastes; bandcamp.com) in 2011 and fell head over heels with how gracefully they could mix pop tunes with nasty, fuzzy vocals and with how catchy their lyrics are. I put it on repeat. I loved their next release in March of 2012, Big House Nice Dreams, and, once again, it played on repeat. Then, last summer, Hemlock Tea EP released and it played on repeat in my car, in my room, on my iPod, in my mind, and in my life. Once again, Slam Donahue had my heart. Singer/guitarist David Otto poetically illustrates his life experiences in all of his songs. He casually asks “Where were we on the weekend?” in the track of the same name since they were just too drunk to remember. The lyrics of Hemlock Tea EP hint at peer pressure, drinking, waking up to reality, and hope that what could happen next will be super rad. It’s a perfectly youthful release without being at all immature. Get this release and others at slamdonahue.com.

Released January 15, 2013 on Fat Possum

HHHHH

Independently Released April 30, 2013

What you missed-Released August 21, 2012 on Cantora Records

HHHH

HHHHH ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR: Drew Martin is an avid music snob. He is a local historian at the Gangster Museum of America in Historic Downtown Hot Springs and also works with Low Key Arts to put on the Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival, the Hot Water Hills Independent Arts & Music Festival, and various events throughout the year. He’s an Aries, and loves caffeine and nicotine. Do you agree with our Reviews? Leave your feedback on our reviews at hshotspots.com. Submit your own Reviews! Send your new release album reviews to info@hshotspots.com

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VENUES

LIVE SHOW LISTINGS EVERY WED

7pm Wednesday Night Poetry, 9pm Karaoke—FREE

THURS 6/6 BAD VEINS, ALEXANDER & THE GRAPES, NICK BRUMLEY FRI 6/7 WATER LIARS, BEN FRANKS AND THE BIBLE BELT BOYS, BRIAN MARTIN SAT 6/8 VAGABOND SWING, UNCLE JOW & THE BACKSLIDERS’ CHOIR THURS 6/13 BONNIE WHITMORE, SOME DARK HOLLER FRI 6/14 THE ANATOMY OF FRANK, AMANDA MORE SAT 6/15 DIKKI DU AND THE ZYDECO KREWE THURS 6/20 DANIEL AMEDES, GOLD BENEATH THE HIGHWAY, JAMES ROSE FRI 6/21 THE FOULPLAY CABARET Burlesque SAT 6/22 THE SOUTHERN RENAISSANCE, THE PARANORMALS, THE SEE THURS 6/27 ADAM FAUCETT FRI 6/28 MANSION FAMILY, SCHOOLS, BILLY SWAYZE SAT 6/29 HONEY SUCKLE, GUMBO CE SOIR

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FRI/SAT 6/7-9 FRI/SAT 6/14-15 FRI/SAT 6/21-22 FRI 6/28 SAT 6/29

CRASH MEADOWS KARLA CASE BAND SOL DEFINITION INTERSTATE BUFFALO RAISING GREY

FRI SAT THURS FRI SAT WED THURS SAT THURS SAT

LyNYRD SKYNYRD EASTON CORBIN GARY ALLEN BUILDING 429 TOBY MAC HEAVEN IS FOR REAL MINISTRIES MERCY ME LITTLE BIG TOWN THEORY OF A DEADMAN CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVISITED

6/6 6/8 6/13 6/14 6/15 6/19 6/20 6/22 6/27 6/29

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EVERY MON

CHUCKY D KARAOKE [7-10pm)

FRI 6/7 SAT 6/8 MON 6/10 Tues 6/11 FRI/SAT 6/14-15 MON 6/17 Tues 6/18 FRI/SAT 6/21-22 MON 6/24 Tues 6/25 FRI/SAT 6/28-29

DELTA DONNIE [9PM-1AM] JOHN CALVIN BREWER BAND [9PM-1AM] SHANE SIMANTON (5-8pm) JOHN JORDAN (5-8pm) ED BOWMAN & HS [9PM-1AM] DEAN AGUS (5-8pm) CHRIS HENRY (5-8pm) THAT DEVIOUS DUO [9PM-1AM] JOHN JORDAN (5-8pm) CHRISTINE DEMEO (5-8pm) CRASH MEADOWS [9PM-1AM]

EVERY MON EVERY TUES EVERY WED

BRIAN BEARDEN or DAVID BALL Lightnin Lee Langdon OR CHRISTINE DEMEO JOCKO OR DAYTON WATERS

FRI 6/7 SAT 6/8 THURS 6/13 FRI/SAT 6/14-15 THURS 6/20 FRI 6/21 SAT 6/22 THURS 6/27 FRI/SAT 6/28-29

TIN PAN ALLEY LIGHTNIN LEE LANGDON DEAN AGUS MIKE MAYBERRY AND THE SLOW HANDS TIN PAN ALLEY MIDNIGHT PARADE CHRISTINE DEMEO CHRISTINE DEMEO MISTER LUCKY

FRI 6/7 SAT 6/8 FRI/SAT 6/14-15 FRI 6/28

FRI 6/29

LUCIOUS SPILLER BROTHERS WITH DIFFERNT MOTHERS MIDAS COVEN TRAGIKLY WHITE MIDNIGHT PARADE

FRI/SAT 6/14-15 FRI/SAT 6/21-22 FRI/SAT 5/28-29

RONNIE BEAR AARON OWENS NEW AGE OUTLAWS

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421 Broadway • 501-627-0505 • Free Shuttle Now Open Sunday Nights for Restaurant and Bar Appreciation Night Free Pool • Shot Specials • $3.00 Wells • $1.50 Domestic Long Necks • .75 cent Budlight Draft All this until Midnight on Sunday Nights!

Miss Boot Scooters

Boots n Bikini Model Search 2nd Round

JUNE 29th Like us on Facebook

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ALBUM RELEASES

RELEASES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN MAY

June 4 GRMLN EMPIRE (Carpark) ROGUE WAVE NIGHTINGALE FLOORS (Vagrant) CAMERA OBSCURA DESIRE LINES (4AD) PORTUGAL. THE MAN EVIL FRIENDS (Atlantic) QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE LIKE CLOCKWORK (Matador)

JUNE 11 SONNY & THE SUNSETS ANTENNA TO THE AFTERWORLD (Polyvinyl) COMA CINEMA POSTHUMOUS RELEASE (Fork and Spoon) SURFER BLOOD PYTHONS (Warner Bros./Kanine) CSS - PLANTA (SQE) SMITH WESTERNS SOFT WILL (Mom+Pop) BOARDS OF CANADA TOMORROW’S HARVEST (Warp) GOLD PANDA HALF OF WHERE YOU LIVE (Ghostly International) THESE NEW PURITANS FIELD OF REEDS (Infectious Music)

June 18 SIGUR ROS KVEIKUR (XL) TUNNG TURBINES (Fulltime Hobby) THE MANTLES LONG ENOUGH TO LEAVE (Slumberland) SPECTRALS SOB STORY (Slumberland) AUSTRA OLYMPIA (Domino)

JUNE 25 BASS DRUM OF DEATH BASS DRUM OF DEATH (Innovative Leisure) OOOOO WITHOUT YOUR LOVE (Nihjgt Feelings) WALE THE GIFTED (Atlantic) ROSE WINDOWS THE SUN DOGS (Sub Pop)

15

ARTS

Story by Jim G. MIller

ABANDONED ART History is a tourist commodity in the small towns of America, especially in the South where so little of it exists in the confines between the concrete where nature and new commerce collide. The ancient edifices left behind from the boomtowns of old wait, quietly removed from their bustling past, for someone to reclaim the memories that they have left behind.

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The Majestic Hotel closed its doors October 22, 2006 but if you catch a peek inside you would think it had been abandoned at a much earlier date. The thing is, of course, you cannot look inside its 400 rooms, you cannot see the swimming pool now a breeding bed for mosquitoes, or its once luxurious spas, you cannot see the playground where there used to be a swing set, or the greenhouse now overgrown with wisteria vines and inhabited by buzzards.

It’s all privately owned now and officially on the market.

The Majestic Hotel naturally appeals to photographers curious about the forgotten scenes and memories left behind as do many other historic buildings in downtown.

One such photographer is named Walter Arnold and he has a rare gift for getting into amazing and historic places all around the country. The story of how he came to find the Majestic is not entirely unusual but was primarily what many of us refer to as luck. Touring across the country from Nor th Carolina with his friend Chris he has found Hot Springs to be a gold mine for his par ticular style of photography.

An award winning and nationally acclaimed photographer, Walter Arnold has reached a level of commercial success that has now established him as a serious photographer with the credentials to shoot some of the most unique abandoned landscapes in the countr y.

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD: THE MAJESTIC HOTEL AND THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF WALTER ARNOLD Arnold’s show currently hanging at the Museum of Contemporary Art at 425 Central Avenue through September of this year showcases his “Art of the Abandoned” technique printed on aluminum sheets using High Dynamic Range photography. By capturing multiple exposures ranging from dark to bright, this method allows him to reveal a greater range of light and detail in a scene than could be captured with a single image.

The Majestic itself sits prominently smack dab at the end of Central Avenue quaintly reminding onlookers of the magnanimous grandeur and pomp of the old Hot Springs heyday. People look at it from the outside and wonder about what lies beyond those musty walls and dirty windows. Speculation among city residents runs amok about whether it will be torn down or remodeled as possible low-income housing.

Regardless of what occurs regarding the future of the Majestic and other buildings like it in

hot springs

downtown Hot Springs the important part is to respect the beauty and art that may be found and depicted through the marvelous scenes found there. “Many of the photos I take are of course not what you would want to be showing people if you were a real estate broker,” says Arnold who no longer has access to the closed hotel. “I think that after I posted the photos and after National Geographic filmed in there the owner was inundated with people asking to go inside.”

The desire is strong to go into the ruins of these old buildings, but it’s always impor tant to get permission before entering.

Otherwise, trespassers could be arrested and/or convicted of unlawful entry onto private proper ty. Arnold credits much of the disrepair to the Majestic to squatters and thieves and throughout many of the older buildings in town you can find where copper has been snatched out of walls and old air conditioning units.

When asked about the risks involved with going into these historic places Arnold cited the impor tance of wearing a facial filter to avoid inhaling par ticulates such as dangerous types of mold or asbestos. The decision to go to these places and take these photos can often be perceived as a double edged sword for a photographer wanting to capitalize on the beauty of an abandoned place not seen by many.

Arnold, who works around the country, has intentions of coming back to Hot Springs to view and photograph other places such as the Medical Arts Building and the Fordyce. Upon his return visit to Hot Springs Arnold hopes to consult with the Garland County Historical Society to find other places and learn more about the unique landscape of Hot Springs National Park.

“The trouble is that it often brings for th a lot more attention from outsiders and it can put the place at risk, however it can also tell a history about a place that the current generation or future generations would not have otherwise been able to see,” says Arnold.

You can see the photos from his shoot at the Majestic and at other historic buildings in downtown Hot Springs at the Museum of Contemporary Ar t at 425 Central Avenue (located in the Historic Ozark Bathhouse).

The MOCA is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm.

To be able to look at what something was and what something could be once again if properly preserved is an amazing exercise of the mind and can be both inspiring and disheartening.

You can also learn more about Walter Arnold’s work by visiting his website at walterarnoldphotography.com or http:// walterarnold.photoshelter.com.

17

EAT/DRINK

RESTAURANT LISTINGS PULLED PORK SANDWICH FROM TRUE BLUE BBQ

18

Akers Market & Deli

Cajun Broilers

4198 Malvern 262-0500

2806 Albert Pike 767-5695

ANDREW’S

CENTRAL PARK FUSION

410 Central 623-3200

200 Park Ave 623-0202

Angel’s in the Park

Cheese Corner

211 Fountain Street 609-0767

303 Broadway 624-3040

Back Porch Grill

Classics Bar & Grill

4810 Central 525-0885

4813 Central 525-7172

Belle Arti

Colorado Grill

719 Central 624-7474

320 Ouachita 623-7992

Belle of Hot Springs

Doc’s Pizzeria

5200 Central 525-4438

1018 Airport 760-2227

BLEU MONKEY GRILL

Don Juan

4263 Central 520-4800

1311 Albert Pike 321-0766

BOATHOUSE

English Muffin

4904 Central 525-8585

4307 Central 525-2710

Brick House Grill

FAT JACKS

801 Central 321-2926

101 Central 623-5225

Buffalo Wild Wings

Fisherman’s Warf

4104 Central 525-9453

5101 Central 525-7437

BUBBA’s CATFISH TO GO

Fuji Japanese SteakHouse

5411 Central 762-3474

608 E. Grand 321-1688

CAFE 1217

Gilligan’s on Lake

1217 Malvern 318-1094

5200 Central 525-3319

hot springs

Hawg’s Pizza

Mi Pueblito

ROLANDO’S

1442 Airport 767-4240

2070 Airport 760-4647

210 Central 318-6054

Higdon Square Café

MOOYAH

Salsa’s

706 Higdon Ferry 623-7744

3954 Central 520-5000

4324 Central 520-5305

HUNAN PALACE

MR. WHISKERS

Sam’s Pizza Pub

4737 Central 525-3344

1538 Malvern 262-3474

401 Burchwood Bay 525-0780

Jason’s Burgers

MUELLER’s BISTRO

Smokin’ in Style

148 Amity 525-0919

111 Crawford #B 501-623-7005

2278 Albert Pike 767-9797

Jose’s

Osaka Japanese

Smyly’s Crab Shack

5361 Central 525-9797

3954 Central 525-9888

4916 Central 525-3442

Kings Restaurant

PARK ISLAND CAFE

Stubby’s BBQ

3310 Central 318-1888

250 Park 547-7172

3024 Central 624-1552

KJ’s Grill

PICANTE’S

STEINHOUSE KELLER

1834 Airport 767-0063

801 Central 623-2300

801 Central 624-7866

La Hacienda

Porterhouse

TACO MAMA

3836 Central 525-8203

707 Central 321-8282

1209 Malvern 624-6262

Longshots Bar/Grill

RAZORBACK PIZZA

TREJO’s MEXICAN

2720 Central 624-4344

4330 Central 525-1616

3040 Albert Pike 760-2316

LUNA BELLA

Rocky’s Corner

TRUE BLUE BBQ

104 Grand Isle 520-5862

2600 Central 624-0199

2012 Central 276-5961

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EVENT CALENDAR JUNE 2-15 HOT SPRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL

10 HOT SPRINGS CONCERT SERIES

29 MUSIC IN THE PARK

at Various Locations

at Whittington Park | 6:30pm

6SAWYER BROWN IN CONCERT

16

Lake Catherine State Park Amphitheater | 7:30pm

at Oaklawn’s Finish Line Theater

at Garvan Woodland Gardens

SEASON 18

FLAVOR IN THE PARK

“CIRCUS DAYS”

FATHER’S DAY GARDEN PARTY

17

at Transportation HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE BIG BAND IN CONCERT Depot

FEATURING “FER’ GOODNESS SAKES”

3 SPA BLAST FEATURING LEE GREENWOOD IN CONCERT at Oaklawn Park Infield

121 Orange St | 6-8pm

at Whittington Park | 6:30pm

7DOWNTOWN GALLERY WALK

20-22

5DOWNTOWN GALLERY WALK

at Kimery Park

6

at Downtown Hot Springs

7-16 NOISES OFF at Pocket Theater

ARKANSAS INVITATIONAL SENIOR SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

24 HOT SPRINGS CONCERT SERIES

8

“GOING PLACES”

at Hot Springs Convention Center

KIDS’ COLLEGE AT NPCC

ARKANSAS ENTERTAINERS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY OPERATION MUDRUN at Lone Oak Duck Lodge, 3242 Hwy 70 East, Lonoke 9am | operationmudrun.com

LOOSE CANNON LIVE at Austin Hotel & Convention Center, The Silver Fox Lounge | 9pm

at Whittington Park | 6:30pm

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at National Park Community College 760-4312 | npcc.edu

28 33RD SESAON OF

at Downtown Hot Springs

MAGIC SPRINGS CONCERT SERIES “LYNYRD SKYNYERD” at Magic Springs

THREE ON THREE BBALL TOURNAMENT BENEFITING ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Hot Springs High School Gymnasium

SATURDAYS Hot Springs Farmers Market at Transportation Depot 121 Orange St

THE WITNESS OPENS

“Salsa Night” Dancing

The Witness Amphitheater 1960 Millcreek Road

at Vina Morita Restaurant and Winebar, 610 Central, Suite B

21

STAYCATION

ADVENTURE AT HOME THIS SUMMER

Story by Ciara Cerrato

STAYCATIONING IN HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK

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It seems, as it usually does, that the spring season has slipped away all too quickly. Perhaps the seasonal changes here are moody and erratic; perhaps it is our eager wait for spring after so many months of winter that makes this season seem so short. Before we know it, daffodiled walkways become vine-entangled, and cool crisp evenings become balmy and lightning buglit. Despite the regrettable briefness of spring, it does

mean that after it comes something great: a longer summer. In many regions in America, the summer and all of its leisure and nostalgia must be rushed through in a few short weeks. Here in Arkansas, we have plenty of time to slow down and enjoy it. So, when planning your summer vacation, instead of rushing off and spending too much money somewhere else, consider the vacation destinations that are just a short car or boat ride away.

hot springs

It is arguable that until you go camping, you have not truly experienced the natural splendor of Hot Springs.

The beginning of the summer is prime camping season, and the numbers of campsites are plenty. Many Arkansans enjoy the hearty experience of primitive camping, but this style is not for the inexperienced.

For beginning campers, the park service has provided designated campsites with certain amenities and services. While you may rent a cabin or hook up your camper in many of these locations, often the cheapest option is to simply pitch a tent.

If you are short on cash or vacation days this summer, a close and affordable camping destination is Gulpha Gorge. This quaint but beautiful spot is perfect for beginning campers on a budget. It is also nestled among some of Hot Springs National Park’s most visually striking and historical natural features.

In 1804, visiting explorer William Dunbar referred to the area as “Fourche á Calfat” in his journals. Over time, Calfat morphed into Gulpha. Gulpha Creek is the heart of the campgrounds, running parallel to the campgrounds as well as the foot North Mountain.

Ranging from a few inches to several feet deep and overhung with the flora of the mountain base, the creek is a great place to relax beside or to jump in and cool off. Adjacent to the camp lots, it lies only a few feet away from your tent.

Gulpha Creek runs along the base of North Mountain, a legendary and stunning figure of the Ouachitas.

Covered with various soft and hardwoods and innumerable quartz crystal deposits, the mountain hosts a network of hiking trails. Leading directly up the mountain from the creek is Gulpha Gorge Trail.

This trail begins at the stepping stones in Gulpha Creek and stretches 0.8 miles to Dead Chief Trail where hikers may assent to Goat Rock Lookout to experience a miles-long scope of the valley. Perhaps one of the best parts of the hike is returning to

Gulpha Creek and jumping in to one of its deeper swimming holes to refresh.

The Gulpha campgrounds offer several amenities to its campers for ease and economy. There are hook ups for R.V.s as well as lots for tents. Each campsite also offers grills and picnic tables, and there are restrooms and water available. It is a family friendly campground that also welcomes pets. The friendly volunteers that staff the park volunteer cabin offer assistance to campers as well. Being just a few miles away from downtown Hot Springs, and with the support of the park service, Gulpha Gorge provides an affordable opportunity for beginning campers to vacation right at home.

slated shores and the mellow popping of smoldering hickory branches, is a much more powerful sound than an iphone could ever impress. A camper needs only a sense of adventure and a few supplies to experience the simple pleasure of island camping.

For experienced campers, there is a more rustic vacation destination right here in the Ouachitas that won’t leave you hard pressed for cash or time.

With approximately 690 miles of shoreline, Lake Ouachita stretches around Hot Springs as it winds through Garland and Montgomery counties. The Army Corps of Engineers manages seventeen different campgrounds throughout the national forest, and each site offers amenities and features suitable for novice and experienced campers alike. Island camping is often overlooked even though it is maybe the most beautiful as well as the only one that is free, and with nearly 200 islands on Lake Ouachita, one could camp all summer without seeing the half of them.

Though there is no camping fee for island campers, there are some prerequisites for both safety and legality. First, you obviously need access to a boat or canoe to travel to the islands. Feel free to bring your own or to rent one from several of the rental facilities in the area. If you were born in 1986 or after, make sure you have obtained your boating license (you won’t be able to rent a water vehicle without one.)

You may camp on an island as long as you desire given that you are actively occupying your campsite every day. The Army Corps of Engineers, as well as ecological responsibility and good conscience, suggests maintaining the “Leave No Trace Behind” practices which include picking up all trash, maintaining all campfires carefully, and respecting the purity of the water by not dumping waste to name a few. Since island camping is primitive, keep in mind you will not be supplied any kind of electricity, water, or facilities. Packing the correct amount of food, water, and medicine is crucial, although marinas are a boat ride away if you find yourself in a pinch.

Preparation is vital for safely enjoying the wilds of the Ouachitas with friends and family as you vacation at home this summer.

Aside from being basically free, island camping offers a truly unique experience among so many campsites that ironically boast the modern accommodations campers seemingly mean to escape in the first place.

Sure, electrical hookups for radios and cell phones might be luxuries, but perhaps the kinds of luxuries one seeks in primitive camping transcend those we are inundated with in everyday life. Maybe silence, interspersed with the calm lapping of fresh water on

Rather than stressfully barreling through an overplanned and expensive vacation destination in some faraway place this summer, remember what your home here in Hot Springs has to offer. It can be easy to take such a beautiful and varied place for granted when you are in it every day. Sometimes all it takes is a good look around and a little adventurousness to turn your backyard into the summer vacation you thought was out of reach.

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TAYLOR’S CONTEMPORANEA

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THE QUEEN OF ARKANSAS ART Story by Chuck Dodson

Art dealer Carolyn Taylor staged her “retirement celebration” on June 2nd with a champagne reception in the downtown building that bears her name, surrounded by her family, friends, and many of the artists she’s championed.

When her Taylor’s Contemporanea Salon of Fine Arts closes, it will be the end of an era. But she has announced that her daughter, Terri Taylor, will take over the art business, and that the stock of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs will be moved to Terri’s building at 301 Whittington Avenue (formerly the Art Church). Many of us will be watching to see how the next generation carries the torch. But, for now, let’s talk about Carolyn.

Carolyn Taylor has been called the Queen of Arkansas Ar t. Her gallery is possibly the oldest in the state, having opened five decades ago. She’s achieved so much since moving to Arkansas in the mid-70s: she’s been a curator, teacher, a restorer of old buildings, a promoter of ar tists, a champion of public sculpture, a festival coordinator, a giver of fabulous par ties, a gallery owner, a board president - she was, in fact, the first female Chamber of Commerce president in Arkansas - a two-time winner of the “Outstanding Arkansas Working Woman” award, and she’s an ar tist herself - a singer, painter, filmmaker, and her intricate handmade dolls are in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian.

“Carolyn is a fantastic art dealer,” said artist and gallery owner Linda Palmer. “I’ve always admired her love of art, but especially of sculpture. She’s made a tremendous contribution to Hot Springs by working to place outdoor sculpture around the city.”

In 1975, Carolyn and her then-husband Delbert left the Washington, D.C. area and moved to

Sheridan, Arkansas. The next year she bought a small arts and crafts shop outside of town. Next, she bought the Bradley-Rushing building on the town square - “the only two-story building in Sheridan,” according to her daughter, “which was on the verge of being condemned.” This was Carolyn’s first restoration project. Before long, instead of being razed, the building housed her art business and a restaurant.

But, wanting to have “a more serious gallery,” Carolyn called Dan Morris at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and asked for a list of the best artists in Arkansas. Morris was impressed by this ambitious request, and he did exactly what she asked, adding that she should tell each artist that “Dan Morris supports what you’re doing.” Carolyn’s first Invitational Exhibition of Arkansas Artists was a big success, drawing nearly thirty notable artists to her small town gallery (a major feat anywhere). “They brought their families, friends, and collectors, and after we closed that night I had a big artist’s dinner,” she remembers. “It was a glorious night! After that, I never had a problem getting good artists to show at my gallery.”

It was after this that Benini, the flamboyant Italian ar tist who founded the Hot Springs ar t community, passed through Sheridan and noticed the gallery on the square. “He was blown away,” Carolyn said, “and he wanted me to move it to Hot Springs. He was very persistent.”

That was in 1990, the time when artists were flocking to Hot Springs and galleries were popping open like spring buds. Carolyn leased a store front at 516 Central Avenue that had previously housed Deborah Phillips’ Contemporanea gallery. To save money on signage, Carolyn adopted the name. But she

thought, “With a gallery called Contemporanea, I should be showing more contemporary art!”

Her first exhibit in Hot Springs featured a young ar tist named Kevin Kresse. When Kresse arrived at the gallery with his work, Carolyn was shocked to see that his show consisted of large paintings of penises. There wasn’t time to change things, so Carolyn hung the show (please pardon the pun). And then the fun began.

“I’d been the choir director at First Methodist Church in Sheridan,” Carolyn explained, “and my church friends had decided to show their support by coming to Hot Springs for my first exhibit. Well, here came all the little Methodist ladies from the church in Sheridan, walking through the gallery, looking at those paintings.

But they were so sweet about it.”

Carolyn quickly moved to the forefront of the growing local art scene, joining the inner circle of leaders that created the monthly Gallery Walk, the Arkansas Celebration of the Arts Festival, the Documentary Film Festival, and the city’s permanent Sculpture Garden. When Bill Clinton was elected president, Carolyn curated an Exhibition of Arkansas Artists for his Inauguration in Washington.

Wanting to own a building in Hot Springs, Carolyn bought a run-down two-story apartment house directly behind her gallery.

Located at 204 Exchange Street, the old place “was in deplorable condition,” she said.

Carolyn undertook the ambitious restoration project, and the building was transformed into one of the grandest art spaces in the region, a venue for countless parties, receptions, and fundraisers, and home to thousands of pieces of fine art.

27

opened not long after they did, so I guess that makes me the oldest gallery in the state now.”

Carolyn called about a year ago and said she wanted to talk. I drove downtown and we sat on the front porch of her building that overlooks not only the Bathhouse Row, Mountain Tower, and part of the Arlington Hotel, but, more immediately, the area where the Hot Springs art community was born: to the right, the Benini’s home and gallery; across the street, the Poet’s Loft; below that, the original Contemporanea and the remains of Carolyn’s old sculpture garden, where the naked ghost still rides atop her spirit horse; directly beneath us, the street where painter Randy Groden chased burglars while waving his handgun in the air, while Benini ran out to help with his wooden club; and a block to the right, the building where my Gallery 404-B continued the evolution of the art movement for a younger generation.

That day, Carolyn told me, “I’ve lost some of my energy for the gallery, and I think it would help if I could take some time off, maybe do some traveling.” A few years ago, Carolyn married New Orleans attorney Wayne Walker, who came to Hot Springs because of Hurricane Katrina. During the past year, I’ve noticed both Wayne and Carolyn easing toward retirement. Wayne’s been good for her, because his relaxed, easy-going nature is a good balance for her ambitious spirit. Once she’d finally made up her mind to let go of the business, she told me, “I think it’s time for the gallery to get some fresh direction, fresh blood. I want to see it go to the next level.”

Over the next twenty years, Carolyn made a name for herself as one of the best art dealers in the region. Al Allen, Bill McNamara, Billy Dee Williams, Carroll Cloar, Clyde Connell, David Hostetler, Fernand Fonssagrives, Sammy Peters, Warren Criswell, and Winferd Rembert are just a few of the artists who have shown at her gallery.

But, by the end of the 90s, the Hot Springs art community had changed. Many of the people who had been leaders at the beginning of the decade had grown tired and stepped aside, or had left town altogether. Even the Benini’s, who started it all, had sold their property here and moved out of state. The Arkansas Celebration of the Arts festivals - both visual and performing - were no more, the famous

28

poets had stopped coming, and the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival had entered a state of decline. The galleries in Hot Springs were finding it harder to make ends meet. Many of them turned away from the edgier works that had defined the town’s art scene a decade earlier to show more traditional, conservative pieces. At a time when most of the galleries here had closed their doors or were for sale, Taylor’s Contemporanea remained opened, and Carolyn Taylor kept finding ways to sell the art she really loved.

I was the first to tell her a few months ago that the Heights Gallery in Little Rock - said to be the state’s oldest art gallery - was closing. She sat for a moment and thought before saying, “Well, I

I asked Terri how she felt about taking over her mother’s life’s work. She said, “I’m honored, and I’m excited. I’m excited to see the excitement in my moms face, and I’m excited about putting my spin on the business.” I hope Terri Taylor’s excitement is contagious, and that it infects a lot of people. She’s a lot like her mom, has the same ambitious spirit, the same pioneering work ethic. After all, she took on her own massive restoration project here when she created the Art Church. Now she has the chance to take her mother’s vision and make it her own.

Taylor’s Contemporanea, at 204 Exchange Street, will host its last Gallery Walk on Friday, June 7th, from 5:00 - 9:00 pm, featuring works by many of the artists who have shown there over the years.

The new gallery, under the direction of Terri Taylor, will open at Whittington Place, 301 Whittington Avenue, in July.

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POETRY SLAM

THE SPA CITY SLAM LONG LIVE LITERARY ARTS IN HOT SPRINGS

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Over the past few decades, the art scene in Hot Springs has been characterized mainly by gallery and festival culture. Filmmakers and painters aside, the poets of Hot Springs and beyond have converged here to share their secrets, their emotions, their insights. Whether it is with a shout or a whisper, these literary souls have made their words loud and alive to all those who have been fortunate to behold and experience poetry culture in the Spa City. On July

Story by Ciara Cerrato

5th, a revived poetry slam tradition will revitalize our city’s already vibrant literary arts.

Poetry has a strong history in Hot Springs, and Bud Kenny and Maria Kuntz are two of the founders of its tradition here. In June, they will reawaken a monthly slam poetry event that has not been in practice since 1997. Both writers and poets, Kuntz originally created the event, and Kenny eventually took it over. He ran the

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event soon after he opened “The Poet’s Loft,” one of the most legendary poetry venues in the United States. Now held at Maxine’s Live Venue, Wednesday Night Poetry, an open mic poetry reading, has been going strong for 23 years with Bud Kenny hosting it for most of its life so far. He also started the Arkansas Grand Slam which for years presented the largest monetary prize for slam poetry in the entire country.

Kuntz has been involved in Wednesday Night Poetry for years as both host and poet. They are the perfect pair to once again bring to life the art of the slam in our city.

You might be asking yourself, what exactly is slam poetry? Quite different than merely reading a poem, slam poetry is performed in competition with other poets. It is an art in and of itself. Judges are selected randomly from the crowd which makes for an unpredictable and

exciting competition that involves spontaneity and crowd participation. Prizes may vary at different slams. At the Spa City Slam, the first place winner will receive money generated from the $5 competition fee the poets must place to participate (attendance is free for the audience.) Second and third places will also be acknowledged with other off-the-wall prizes.

Children have a special place in this monthly tradition with the Creative Kid’s Poetry Reading organized by Kuntz. Rather than a competitive slam, this is an open mic reading that encourages par ticipation of children and young people of all age groups to write and share their original poetry. Kuntz asser ts that “the rhymes and rhythms of poetry helps children with language development and helps them to explore their own thoughts.” She also explains how writing and sharing thoughts

creatively builds confidence in children.

Perhaps it aids them in realizing the power of their ideas and the positive influence those ideas can have on others.

The Spa City Slam as well as the Creative Kids Poetry Reading will have its first event on Friday, July 5th at Whittington Place (formerly The Ar t Church.) It will begin with the children’s open mic at 6p.m. followed by the slam at 8 p. m. Star ting in August, the event will be held every third Thursday of the month.

The purpose of the slam is “to give writers an outlet to share what they write,” explains Kenny, “Writing poetry, or any other sor t of literature, is a positive way of channeling one’s emotions.” With the resurgence of the monthly poetry slam in Hot Springs comes a new oppor tunity and a way for people to share their inner life and creativity.

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THE ART OF SOUND A PROFILE OF THE BEST SOUND MAN IN ARKANSAS

Story by Jim G. Miller

35

“I think my career has gone backwards compared to most,” laughs Williams as he ruminates on his early musical career that ranges from playing guitar and singing to playing bass and then eventually acting as support for bands on stage.

“I record bands at Wolfman Studios in Little Rock, and I used to do sound at Vino’s, so I know about sound, and Jake’s the best there is around,” says Jason Tedford while loading his gear into the van after his band “The See” had finished playing a gig at Maxine’s.

It is a lonely feeling not to have the sound man on your side, especially if you are a solo artist or musician in a new or foreign place. Good communication and a healthy connection between the support team and the band promotes confidence in the musicians and makes the whole experience worthwhile for both the artists and the people in the seats.

“There is no greater feeling than to be doing sound for an artist that you appreciate when the audience is six people deep in front of the stage and everything is hitting and sounding right,” says Williams. Truly a master at his craft, it’s the passion and the carefulness that he has tactfully applied that has helped to lift up the spirits of traveling artists and their audiences.

Jake Williams has been doing sound for four years as of this month at Maxine’s a live music venue, a former brothel located at 700 Central Avenue. When I say that he has been doing sound, I mean that he is the sound man. When I say that he is the sound man, I mean that he is a sound god who wields a mighty, holy hand over the sound board and like Jesus of Nazareth, he is kind to any and all who grace the stage. “I like doing sound for even terrible bands or bands that I don’t particularly care for,” says Williams “The way I see it, I’m not going to let anything get in the way of making you sound as awesome as possible.”

It is fair to say that Maxine’s has arguably been established as the best place for touring bands to play in Arkansas, and the venue owners and the

36

people employed by them have worked extremely hard to make it what it is today. “Before I ever even worked at Maxine’s it was like a second home for me, I’d played there a lot in a band that I was in called Attractive and Popular,” says Williams.

“There are acts and musicians in Hot Springs and throughout Arkansas that give me faith in the music scene here, and I have seen a lot of progress just in the past five or six years.”

The sound man makes or breaks the atmosphere and overall feel of your typical music venue. It takes more than expensive speakers and a sound board to have a good music venue, and Jake has brought that and more. Doing sound for 1200+ bands for four years, Jake started off playing guitar and singing as a front man in a band when he was fifteen.

It is more than just doing sound, but there is a relationship that is built between the person doing sound and the band. “I don’t just do sound, I act as a liaison to the musicians,” says Williams. You can be a master sound engineer behind the board, but if you don’t have people skills, you are going to be a pathetic sound man for your venue. They are most often the first line of communication when bands step out of the van to unload gear and set up on stage to do the sound check.

“He is more than a good soundman. He is a compassionate musician who works with the artists and the room to produce perfection. He cares about what he does without being that snarky sound guy we all know. Jake is funny. He is the man who commands the faders to make my band seem rehearsed,” crooned Adam Faucett who has played on several occasions at Maxine’s.

“All of my passions just collided here with music and engineering: taking shit apart and putting it back together, checking out new gear that bands bring in. I love it, and I’m happy to be here for it. I’d rather it be me here at Maxines than anyone else,” says Williams with a big, cheesy grin.

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