21 minute read
A consersation with Martin Sexton
IN THE JOURNEY
A conversation with Martin Sexton
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Leaving his hometown of Syracuse, New York, in 1988, singer-songwriter Martin Sexton hit the road — in search of not only himself and his place in the world, but also his audience, too.
Now, over 30 years later, Sexton is regarded as one of the finest singers and songsmiths in the country, this mesmerizing blend of folk, soul and rock music. It’s a magnetism of tone and aura akin to the likes of Otis Redding, Van Morrison, and Simon & Garfunkel, to name a few.
It’s a communal thing when you’re at a Sexton show, with the cosmic reverend himself up there upon the high stage of melodic serenity, radiating this sense of togetherness and connection between fellow human beings in the presence of the universal language — music.
Smoky Mountain News: Amid “all this” that we’re currently facing as a society, have you been seeking out any silver linings?
Martin Sexton: Oh, have I ever. And I haven’t had to look very far. At first it was, “How am I going to pay the bills?” I just lost a year of touring all around the earth, and, of course, that’s how us musicians make the bulk of our living is touring. Luckily, we had a little money saved we tapped into, and other digital means of revenue streams, which have been a godsend.
But, the root true silver lining I found was, “Hey, I’m stuck.” In fact, it was a beautiful thing, [my family and I] were stuck up at [our cabin in the] Adirondacks [in Upstate New York]. We went up there, and we’re blessed to have that place.
We’re stuck in this cabin. Me and my family — my wife, my boy. And the silver lining we discovered was that we have to be together. We have to do something. So, we’re going to cut each other’s hair. We’re going to wax the floors. We’re going to build a tree house.
Me and my son, we’ve been talking about building the tree house for years, and this was finally the year we did it — we got it done. And then, I sat in the tree house and I wrote a song. [Some] songs came out of it.
I got to FaceTime with my family. I got to focus and kind of look inward. There’s a lot to be learned from sometimes in life. You just have to chop wood and haul water, and there’s a big, big lesson there. We’re so caught up in being wired into the grid 24/7, constant leaps on our cell phones or smartphones reminding us of, “got to be connected, got to be connected.”
But, to just chop wood — and I was literally chopping wood and hauling water — there’s a certain dignity in that. It brings you to the present. It keeps your head where your hands are. And to me, that was part of my silver lining, too, is remembering I’m a human being. I have family that I love. I need to count my blessings. We are here. We’re healthy. That’s what truly matters.
SMN: And I think the shutdown made folks realize how much they miss and need live music, that it isn’t just entertainment — it’s a healing force.
MS: Oh, yeah. You can’t get that digitally. You’ve got to be there and feel the vibration. You’ve got to feel the subs. You’ve got to see the singer sweating. You’ve got to hear your neighbors breathing, emoting, applauding and dancing. You know, there’s no real substitute for that physical reality.
SMN: And I would surmise a justification for why it is you love performing.
MS: Yeah. I mean, I never took it for granted, the fact I could show up and play and have people listen. But, having it gone for six months was a wake-up call. [My first shows back] were in New Hampshire. About a hundred people, in a backyard at some venue. [Small stage], PA [system] was tiny, lights were literally hung up in a tree.
But, it was beautiful. People got live music. It definitely wasn’t the Fillmore [in San Francisco], but it was a beautiful, honest to goodness musical experience for music-loving fans. And, for me, I’m just happy to be singing in front of human beings, whether it’s in a backyard or on a massive stage somewhere.
SMN: What are you feeling in that moment, where you’ve created this back and forth energy that radiating into the air?
MS: Well, I’m honored and I feel a sense of unity with the people, a sense of “we are in this together.” There’s no real differences. Any differences are left outside the door, where now we’re all one — we’re all alike. We could be different races, different sexual orientations, different political schools. But, in that moment, we’re just people singing in harmony.
— Martin Sexton
Martin Sexton.
Want to go?
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Martin Sexton will perform on the Lake Eden stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5, in Black Mountain.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to www.thefesty.com and click on the “Buy Tickets” tab. To learn more about Martin Sexton, visit www.martinsexton.com.
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
Grandpa’s cooler on Lake Logan.
(photo: Garret K. Woodward)
I feel summer creepin’ in and I’m tired of this town again
He walked into the bar, grabbed a seat next to me, and proceeded to order four shots of Jameson Irish whiskey. He was surrounded by two friends to the left and one friend (me) to the right. I figured he was buying us a round, even if I wasn’t in the mood for liquor this past Monday evening.
Nope. He ordered the shots and when the bartender placed all four glasses in front of him, he grabbed one, tapped the wooden counter with a salute of the glass, and threw it down, leaving the other three shots unattended and quiet. Purposely silent.
He swallowed the firewater and shook his head back into reality, his gaze raising upward with a 1,000-yard stare — through the bartender, the back wall, through the window onto the parking lot, onward into the never-ending abyss outside.
His name is John, and he’s been a friend of mine for, well, at least a few years at this point. We met a while back at The Water’n Hole on North Main Street in Waynesville, a blurry interaction of camaraderie and conversation way past the midnight hour. Shots of whiskey and cheap domestic beers shared between us.
Monday night, his clothes smelled of long gone and smoked cigars. His words spoke of his tours of duty as a Marine overseas in the Middle East. We were the same age, same taste in music, same life philosophies, same dreams of global travel. And yet, he had served and experienced war firsthand. I had not.
“Hey, brother, where have yah been?” I said, extending my hand to shake his.
“I’ve been driving a lot. All over the country — for work, for whatever. Doing a lot of thinking,” he said with a heavy presence.
“Well, I just wanted to say again, thank you for your service,” I leaned in and said in a humble tone. His next beer was on me as word. I thought of my high school buddies he waited for his to-go order. who left our hometown for Iraq and/or
“And I appreciate that,” he said quietly. Afghanistan, many never the same when “But, today is not my day. Today is their day, all three of’em.” He then gestured to the untouched three shots of Jameson, symbolizing three friends of his, three fellow soldiers who didn’t make it home. John finished his (now) lukewarm domestic beer. He grabbed the bartender’s attention and paid his bill, but not before telling her to leave those three shots of we'd cross paths later on. And I thought of how lucky I was to sit on that lake, in that sunshine and with those friends, in that moment, in a place where I'm free to roam and free to think, free to choose, and with the deeply-held right to stand up for others. Shortly after John left, the bar soon turned a sing-along once Tom Petty & The arts & entertainment Jameson alone at the end of the counter, at Heartbreakers’ “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” least until the bar closed. came over the speakers. Several patrons
She said OK. He smiled with a slight tear erupted into a sense of solidarity amid odd in his right eye, only to shake my hand good- times, even though the struggles of the bye and leave the bar. Exit to the parking lot, human condition are as eternal as they crank the engine of his truck, go home and try again tomorrow. In his absence, I sat there on the barstool. Empty seats now on both sides of me. NHL Stanley HOT PICKS Cup Playoffs on the numerous glowing TVs in seemingly every direction of where I was posi- 1 Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Kevin Fuller (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. Sunday, June 6. tioned. I sipped my beer and smiled as I watched my beloved Montreal Canadiens win Game 7 of this divisional round against 2 Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Duo of the Decade June 4, Positive Mental Attitude (rock/roots) at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 5. the Toronto Maple Leafs. Monday night. Memorial Day 2021. Earlier that afternoon, I 3 The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host a special dinner show with Sheila Gordon (vocals/piano) at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5. found myself on a dock on Lake Logan, in the depths of Haywood County. Warm sunshine and cold mountain waters. Friends and 4 “Pickin’ on the Square” (Franklin) will host Lisa Boone Band (variety) 7 p.m. Saturday, June 5. laughter. Grilled hot dogs and ice-cold beer. Nearby on the dock, as per usual, was my late grandfather's 5 Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host “Bluegrass with Blue” at 6 p.m. Friday, June 4. old Coleman cooler, used for decades on his hunting and fishing trips in the North Country. He served in the Army and was there at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. I thought of all he saw and partook in amid the Pacific Theatre. I thought of my other late grandfather and all he witnessed in the European remain mysterious, “Well, I don’t know, but I’ve been told/You never slow down, you never grow old/I’m tired of screwin’ up, tired of going down/Tired of myself, tired of this town.” Monday night. The smile on my face slowly evened out once the hockey game ended and I thought of John, of all my old June 2-8, 2021 Theatre, especially during the Battle of the friends who served in the military, of those I Bulge. I thought of all my extended family never knew (but will always love) who also and ancestors who all served, some never served, and of those I will befriend along this coming home. continued journey of understanding,
I thought of all the World War II, Korean humanity, and the push to make sense of War and Vietnam War veterans that I've why people do what they need to do to preinterviewed over the years as a journalist, serve justice and compassion for others. telling their stories through the written Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday.
Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Billingsley (jam/rock) June 12 and Positive Mental
Attitude (rock/roots) June 19. All shows begin at 9 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or www.boojumbrewing.com.
• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host a special dinner show with Sheila
Gordon (vocals/piano) at 7 p.m. June 5. Cost is $62 per person, which includes the meal.
Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.369.4080 or www.coweeschool.org.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.634.0078 or www.curraheebrew.com.
• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or www.elevatedmountain.com.
• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will be held at the Town Square from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with
Byrds & Crow June 4 and Frank & Allie (Appalachian folk) June 11. Free and open to the public. www.highlandschamber.org.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host
The Realtorz June 4, Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/country) June 5, Kevin Fuller (singer-songwriter) 4 p.m. June 6, Gypsy & Me
June 11 and Sugah & The Cubes June 12. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.
• The Haywood County Courthouse (Waynesville) will host the Haywood
Community Band on the front lawn at 2 p.m.
July 3 during the Stars & Stripes Celebration.
Free and open to the public.
• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host
Douglas Aldridge June 6 and Shaine Weston
Lyles June 13. All events are free and begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.innovation-brewing.com.
ALSO:
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Bird In
Hand (Americana/indie) w/Rye Baby
The Jeff Little Trio.
The “An Appalachian Evening” series will return to the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.
Performers include The Jones Brothers & Julie Nelms June 5, Frank & Allie June 12 and Buncombe Turnpike June 19. The three shows are free and open to the public.
All June shows will be live streamed at 7:30 p.m. on YouTube, with a link available at www.stecoahvalleycenter.com prior to the show. A special online performance by The Kruger Brothers will be held June 26.
Ticketed shows will include The Jeff Little Trio July 10 ($25), Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road July 17 ($15) and Darin & Brooke Aldridge July 24 ($25).
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or click on www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.
(Americana/indie) at 7 p.m. July 4. Free and open to the public. www.innovation-brewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Duo of the Decade June 4, Positive Mental
Attitude (rock/roots) June 5 and karaoke 7 p.m. June 11. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.342.5133 or www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host karaoke
June 4. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or www.lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or www.mtnlayersbeer.com.
• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host a “Jazz
Night” from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends.
Free and open to the public. 828.641.9797 or www.nantahalabrewing.com.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala
Gorge) will host “Bluegrass with Blue” June 4 and 11, Brown Mountain Lighting Bugs
June 5 and Somebody’s Child June 12. All • “Pickin’ on the Square” (Franklin) will host
Lisa Boone Band (variety) June 5 and Tugelo
Holler (jamgrass) June 12. All shows start at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. Located on Main Street. www.franklin-chamber.com.
• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com
• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will be held at the Kelsey-Hutchinson Park from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with The Linda Ronstadt Tribute Band
June 5 and Crowe Brothers (bluegrass/Americana) June 12. Free and open to the public. www.highlandschamber.org.
• Southern Porch (Canton) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.492.8009 or www.southern-porch.com.
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) “An
Appalachian Evening” series will host The
Jones Brothers & Julie Nelms June 5, Frank &
Allie June 12 and Buncombe Turnpike June 19. The three shows are free and open to the public. A special online performance by The
Kruger Brothers will be June 26. Ticketed shows will include The Jeff Little Trio July 10 ($25), Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road July 17 ($15) and Darin & Brooke Aldridge July 24 ($25). 828.479.3364 or www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 or www.theuglydogpub.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 or www.theuglydogpub.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host
Blackjack Country June 3, Tricia Ann & The
Wolfpack June 5 and Crossfire June 12. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.
• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host
Scoundrel’s Lounge 3 p.m. July 25. 828.926.7440 or www.valley-tavern.com.
• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.456.4750 or www.facebook.com/waternhole.bar.
• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.743.6000 or www.whitesidebrewing.com.
Presented by “Kids at HART,” a production of “Sister Act Jr.” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. June 12 and 19, and at 2 p.m. June 13 and 20 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
The musical tells the story of Deloris Van Cartier, a high-spirited aspiring singer, who witnesses a murder and is forced to enter the Queen of Angels convent under witness protection.
Based on the hit film of the same name, “Sister Act Jr.” features music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, and additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane. This fabulous cast includes: Morgan Allen, Akilah Black, Henry Blackburn, James Cloninger, Robin Cloninger, Ruby Cloninger, Lia Collier, Kayenta Cruz, Melodie Erickson, Chelcy Frost, Drake Frost, Naomi Gevjan, Rob Gevjan, Tabitha Gevjan, Turner Henline, Erica Henry, Hannah Meigs, Logan Norman, Josie Ostendorff, Jada Roundy, Savanna Shaw and Abby Welchel.
Tickets are available now. For more information, contact the box office at 828.456.6322 or click on www.harttheatre.org.
COVID-19 Oral History Project
Blue Ridge Public Radio and Foxfire Museum have launched the “COVID-19 Oral History Project” to collect pandemic stories from the community throughout Southern Appalachia.
Learn how to record your own stories, interview community members and leave your mark in the internationallyrenowned Foxfire archives.
During the virtual info session from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 3, Foxfire and BPR staff will present a community toolkit with tips and tricks for interviewing.
Then, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5, meet in-person outside the Macon County Public Library in Franklin to be interviewed by the BPR and Foxfire team.
Register at bit.ly/bpr_foxfire_event.
On the table
• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will shopping. www.mountainlovers.com. host a special dinner show with Sheila Gordon (vocals/piano) at ALSO: 7 p.m. June 5. Cost is $62 per person, which includes the meal.
Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com. • “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in downtown Dillsboro. Start with a visit to the
Jackson County Farmers Market located in the Innovation Station parking lot. Stay for dinner and take advantage of late-hour • There will be a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.
• The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing
Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky
Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com.
Evans Media Source 119 Clearwater Road Satsuma, Florida 32189 (386) 385-3500 www.evansmediasource.com eanddmedia@gmail.com
The Mortgage Mommy
Amber Patterson BRANCH MANAGER NMLS#113578 828.476.9218 Robin A. Smathers LOAN COORDINATOR 828.400.9560 Amber-Patterson.com | 367 Dellwood Rd | Suite A-1 | WAYNESVILLE
The exhibit “Inspiration: The Creative Muse at Work” will run June 4-26 at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville. The showcase will feature works from our current retail artists: Diannah Beauregard, Linda Blount, Barbara Brook, Bonnie Calhoun, Susan Remi Dawkins, Allison Gernandt, Gayle Haynie, Jude Lobe, Jennifer Sharkey, Debbie Skelly (earrings pictured), and Cheryl Summey. www.haywoodarts.org.
• The Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will be offering a free craft for adults. The library’s adult services staff will walk you through simple instructions to start creating an Americana star. The star craft will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19. All crafts are limited, so call 828.488.3030 to reserve your spot. www.facebook.com/mariannablacklibrary.
• “Faces,” an exhibit of drawings by the late
Ron Hunnicutt, who passed away in
February, will be held through the end of
June at the Macon County Public Library in
Franklin. 828.524.3600.
• The Haywood County Arts Council’s “Art
Works @ The Library,” a collaborative program between the Haywood County Public
Library system and the HCAC, is currently showcasing works by artist Cayce Moyer at the Canton Library. Working in traditional and mixed media, Moyer blends the worlds of high-brow and low-brow work. Classically trained at Savannah College of Art and Design, her portfolio includes drawing, painting, sculpture, illustration, graphic design, murals, and set prop painting for theatre and TV.
• Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays through October at 117 Island
Street in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts, and more. Food truck, picnic tables and a strolling musician. Leashed pets are welcome. Outdoor event. Current
Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed and enforced. 828.488.7857.
• Open call for artists to sell their work in the
Carriage House Gift Shop at the historic
Shelton House in Waynesville. For details, call 757.894.2293.
ALSO:
The Folk Art Center in Asheville has opened its Main Gallery exhibition showcasing the Graduating Class of 2021 of Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program.
Located on the second floor until Aug. 22, the show continues the historical relationship between the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Haywood, an educational center of the Guild.
One of the most anticipated shows of the year, the class of 2021 represents works of wood, metal, clay, and fiber. This new generation of craft is led by instructors Amy Putansu in fiber, Brian Wurst in wood, Emily Reason in clay, and Robert Blanton in metals/jewelry.
Haywood Community College and the Southern Highland Craft Guild share a history that documents the role of craft education in preserving traditional culture, creating economic opportunity and fostering professional practice. All of the artists represent the vitality and creativity of craft practice today.
Haywood Community College is located in Clyde. The college’s Professional Crafts Program began in recognition of the region’s strong craft heritage. It was envisioned that students would learn the basics of craft media and how to transform that craft into a business.
The showcase is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.craftguild.org or call 828.298.7928.
For more information about the Professional Crafts Program, call 828.627.4674 or visit creativearts.haywood.edu.
‘Lulus Monday Mood’ by Ariella Szemkus.
Botanical art workshop
Norma Hendrix, retired art professor at Western Carolina University and founder/director of the internationally recognized arts organization Cullowhee Arts, will lead a two-day botanical art workshop June 14–15 at Lake Logan Conference Center in Canton.
Participants will learn to make graphite rubbings, embellished with collage. This workshop is for any level, including beginner.
The art of frottage, or “rubbings,” is a printmaking process done without the need of a printing press. Using simple graphite sticks, an accurate impression of plant material is “rubbed,” onto vellum paper.
These rubbings become the basis of further creative exploration using collage materials, watercolors, and dry media, such as art graf chunks, and colored pencils.
Overnight single, double occupancy and commuter options are available. For more information, visit www.lakelogan.org/event/ botanical-art-workshop or call 828.646.0095.
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