NOTES ON THE CORRIDOR

NOTES

ALONG THE Corridor

by RICK REILEY

MAKING MUSIC ALONG THE CORRIDOR BERLINE, BAXTER and BAYS

Byron Berline has long been a fixture in Oklahoma music. The world renowned fiddler, bluegrass music maker and promoter and all around good guy who’s never met a stranger, continues to persevere in Guthrie. The Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival (cancelled for this year) was begun largely through Berline’s efforts. Berline who’s recorded with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys has called Guthrie home for decades now. He lost his music shop/ concert hall, Double Stop Fiddle Shop in downtown Guthrie a couple of years ago to fire. But he was able to bounce back just in time to be waylaid by this current COVID 19pandemic.

His band regularly tours the country, as well as interna

tionally, at festivals and other events but those have also been cancelled for the year as well.

According to an interview with Byron by Perris Jones on KOCO-TV in OKC, his music shop is fully stocked and back in operation as well. The music hall is back in performance mode as well. But instead of seating 100 or so, as in the past, they’ve limited capacity for safer distancing. His recent book, Byron Berline, A Fiddler’s Diary, is filled with first hand accounts of his life as a Los Angeles session musician and his involvement with various well known bands throughout the years. It’s a must read for those interested in popular music history, especially those whose lives have been marked and defined by popular music.

Byron is a true Oklahoma living legend who’s still performing at the top of his game.

All Shows begin at 7:30 at the music hall.

The posted schedule for the rest of the year:

October 17 - The Byron Berline Band October 31 - The Byron Berline Band November 14 - The Byron Berline Band November 28 - The Byron Berline Band December 12 - The Byron Berline Band

There’s no better place to hear live bluegrass!

Follow the Double Stop Fiddle shop Facebook page for hours and performance schedules.

Joe Baxter of Oklahoma City is a bona fide songwriter that I like to think of as a true people’s poet. This fella who has penned such country songs as ‘Don’t Take the Beer with You Wanda’, ‘Drunk on Communion Wine’, ‘Bluebird of My Heart’ and ‘Rest Home Romeo’ is equally adept at writing instrumentals that provide a safe place to dream and to soothe the spirit.

From old time gospel feel to rockin’ country to folky reminiscences of grandma’s garden, Joe covers a lot of ground. Since Joe’s retirement from his long time job at Tinker Air

Force Base a few years ago, he’s recorded six albums, the most recent is ‘Arcadia’. Of course this is a tip of the hat to his love of Arcadia’s Round Barn on Route 66. Joe has served as a volunteer there on Tuesdays for quite awhile and also schedules and provides live music there for the visitors on weekends.

I’ve heard one cut of his upcoming CD, ‘Sweetie Pie’. It’s a fine tune to tickle and lift the spirit, and I’m anxious to hear the whole project.

This new album titled ‘Arcadia’ is scheduled to be released in late October.

My first experience with his music was his 2010 album, ‘Old Piano’. Which was followed by ‘Soldier Creek Waltz’, 2012, ‘Okie Boy’, 2013, ‘Pick Rash’, 2016 and ‘The Weather’, 2018.

An old rock and roller Joe also recorded five albums with his band the Regular Joes from 1994 to 2005.

The Regular Joes are reuniting for a performance at the Round Barn on Oct. 4th.

Here’s the schedule for the Round Barn music sessions and guest performers for October. Saturday sessions are from 10:30 to 12:30. Sunday (when they are scheduled) from 1:30 to 3:30.

October 3 - Ben and Alycia Groeke October 10 - Middle Sister October 17 - Dan Siebert October 24 - Janice Frances Smith

And don’t forget, on Sunday October 4th Joe Baxter and the Regular Joes outside under the Elm Tree from 1:30 - 3:30. Don’t forget to ask about his CDs!

Music sponsored by the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society. All music is free but donations are appreciated.

Please check Joe Baxter’s posts to the Arcadia Round Barn Facebook page for updates and details.

Tim Bays, over there in Chandler, has long been making and recording music. From cover bands, bar bands, to acoustic trios and Celtic music - perfect for St Paddy’s Day, Tim has done it all.

These days his live performances, like so many others, have been put on hold but he’s still writing and recording with his brother Jeff at their home-based studio.

He has a brand new, New Orleans influenced album, ‘Voodoo Lily’ scheduled for release on all streaming services on October 11th.

This one is a wild but steady ride. The opening cut titled, ‘The Finest of Times’ is a Tom Waits style tribute (maybe tongue in cheek?)to a rough life, lived dangerously with no guard rails and fewer regrets.

Take country blues oriented lyrics, Tim’s deep raspy voice, combined with occasional jazz influence, drive it down a rough, Lincoln County road at 30 miles an hour, in the moonlit dark, in a 1980s Lincoln Town Car with the windows down and the volume turned up and you’ve got the perfect atmosphere for Tim Bays ‘Voodoo Lily’. (I ain’t kiddin’! But don’t drink and drive!)

This is a good piece of work! And Tim’s mom, Linda Bays, provided the cover art!

Tim released two projects in 2018, one titled ‘Hey Now’ and another rockabilly album titled ‘The Devilish 3’. Both available on iTunes and Spotify.

So yes, folks! Music is still being made, played and recorded right here at home. Nothing stops the spirit through those stalwart souls driven to create, record and perform.

If you still want to get out and about and hear live music, and do it with a reasonable measure of safety, it’s still there! And if listening at home is currently your cup of tea there’s plenty of that to be had too!

So however you enjoy it, do it with a smile and be sure to pass it on! n