Tri-State Music Scene

Farewell

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:13:00 +0000

It could have ended because I was horrible at updating, it could have ended because I offered very little even when I did post, but it's ending because the economy is in a slump and I am no longer a part of the great time that was the H-D.

Anyway, farewell music fans, I will still do the best I can for all of you!

taylor.kuykendall@gmail.com

Pop Music and How You Too Can Ignore the Depression

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:50:00 +0000

I don't care about the current state of our economy. I should probably feel sadness, despair or a lack of hope. I just can't do it. Not without a proper soundtrack.

In the 1930s, songs like "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" led a nation of frightened and impoverished Americans through financial hardship. It's dismal lyrics and instrumentation was a stunning portrait of the American populace. America was broke, but we were united in song.

Pop music is popular because we all love to hear the same music. It could be argued that each piece of work has something significant that makes it popular, but with so many musicians out there, the song itself is becoming arbitrary to the modern music industry. Indeed, we don't care about the song, we care about sharing an experience.

The issue is that current popular music is tightly gripping cheesy cliches a that comes with the same thematic elements repeated ad nauseum. Popular songwriters no longer look to current events as source of songwriting. As the economic crunch looms heavier and heavier on our day-to-day lives, we move away from the seemingly frivolous content of such songs. Here are some examples, drawn from today's Billboard Top 10:

10.) Ciara Featuring Justin Timberlake- Love Sex Magic

Selected Lyrics:

Baby, show me, show me
What’s your favorite trick that you wanna use on me
And I’ll volunteer
And I’ll be flowing and going
Till clothing disappears, ain’t nothing but shoes on me
Oh, baby

Why it doesn't relate: The song is overtly sexual. Not a single acknowledgment about a modern day struggles. If this was an exception and not the rule, it may be interesting. This may even be a good time for a good ol' fashion STD scare tactic in the middle of the song. Perhaps I should have sought a job in laying out soundtracks for R-rated high school dance movies, nothing else has been on the radio since the early 2000s.

Why I may have hated it anyway: I think I am missing the appeal of the shoes being left on. Perhaps it would be acceptable in the heat of the moment, but they dedicated a whole line of a verse break to keeping the shoes on! I'd be concerned if someone trying to hook up with you uses an offer to have "nothing but shoes on" as one of their predominant assets.

9.) Lady Gaga featuring Colby O' Donis- Just Dance

Selected Lyrics:

What's going on on the floor?
I love this record baby
But I can’t see straight anymore
Keep it cool, what's the name of this club?
I can't remember but it's alright, alright

Why it doesn't relate: This one isn't too bad. Lady Gaga and crew have obviously devised an ingenious economic stimulus plan: Drink 'til you pass out. Boost alcohol sales, boost bar employees and even stimulate the health care industry. Lady Gaga for President!

Why I may have hated it anyway: I hate dancing and I hate songs about dancing.

"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt.
He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would
fully suffice." -Albert Einstein

8.) Miley Cyrus- The Climb

Selected Lyrics:

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
always gonna be an uphill battle
sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
ain't about how fast I get there
ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
it's a climb

Why it doesn't relate: Sarcasm aside--not bad, Miley. Or more appropriately, not bad songwriters J. Alexander and J. Mabe. The song is about a troubling incident, but I feel as if the song is probably more about personal struggle and identity. I don't think Cyrus is talking about moving mountains of debt or climbing toward peaceful relations with North Korea.

Why I may have hated it anyway: This sounds like every piece of preteen girl pop music that has been released since Disney took over the radio.

7.) Kelly Clarkson- My Life Would Suck Without You

Selected Lyrics:

Guess this means you’re sorry
You’re standing at my door
Guess this means you take back
What you said before
Like how much you wanted
Anyone but me
Said you’d never come back
But here you are again
Cuz we belong together now
Forever united here somehow
You got a piece of me
And honestly
My life would suck without you

Why it doesn't relate: It's another cliche. Man breaks heart. Man sorry. Woman accepts man back. Feel free to rearrange the genders in the story and you have 80 percent of every song written ever. Think about it--someone somewhere in America probably put her album on a credit card. Therein lies the source of our hardship.

Why I may have hated it anyway: I don't feel sorry for men or women who lose someone they're dating, particularly if I don't know them. You're going to have to dig a little deeper for my sympathy. More so, I don't care that they are back together. Come on Clarkson, have a little self-confidence.

6.) The All-American Rejects- Hope It Gives You Hell

Selected Lyrics:

I wake up every evening
With a big smile on my face
And it never feels out of place
And you're still prob'ly workin'
At a 9-to-5 pace
I wonder how bad that tastes

Why it doesn't relate: Let's travel into the minds of the All-American Rejects a moment. "I want to write a song everyone can relate to! Yeah, like that feeling of schadenfreude (pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others) you get when you see a former significant other fail! I know! I'll mock her working conditions in the first verse!"

Thanks for reminding the weakened job market that you are rock stars who are not only fortunate enough to have a job, but a super-sweet one at that.

Why I may have hated it anyway: It's infectiously catchy and sounds like a slightly less cool OK Go song.

5.) Jamie Foxx ft. T-Pain- Blame It

Selected Lyrics:

Girl, What ya drinking
Gone let it sink in
Here for the weekend
Thinking, we can
See what we can be if we press fast foward
Just one more round
If you're down, I'm for it
Fill another cup up
Feeling on your butt-What?
You don't even care now
I was unaware
How fine you was before my buzz set in

Why it doesn't relate: Apparently, Foxx is in support of the Lady Gaga political platform. Why are the charts filled with club music? I'm pretty sure 95% of radio listeners are in their cars. I have never seen a dance club crankin' on the FM. For real though, maybe Foxx just wanted to give everyone a scapegoat for our problems. Blame it on the Henny, bro.

Why I may have hated it anyway: I'm simply tired of the mating calls of quasi-thug, bad boys with a taste for expensive liquor passing this booty shaking junk off as music. I said it.

4.) T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake- Dead and Gone

Selected Lyrics:

Now thinking back then what a life I had
Most of that stuff, look back, just laugh
Some stuff still look back get sad
Maybe my homeboy still be around
Had I not hit the sucka in the mouth that time
I won that fight
I lost that war
I can still see my homie walkin' out that door
Who'da thought I'd never see Philant no more?
Got enough dead homies I don't want no more

Why it does relate: Well, it does. Surprisingly, this is a very poignant song. It may not relate to everyone in this world, but it certainly hits home with a lot of people who have grown up in struggle. This song is in a long line of pieces that may just be able to turn hip-hop back into songs of triumph over adversity instead of drinking and promiscuity. It may not relate to major world events, but it's certainly current.

Why I may have hated it anyway: Timberlake's vocals are repetitive and a little tiresome, but really overall, I don't think this is a horrible song.

3.) Soulja Boy Tell 'Em feat. Sammie

Selected Lyrics:

I need you in my life, yeah all day everyday I need ya
And every time I see ya my feelings get deeper
I miss ya, I miss ya, I really wanna kiss you but I can't
Six, seven, eight, triple nine, eight, two, one, two

Baby you know that I miss you, I wanna get with you tonight
But I cannot baby girl and that's the issue
Girl you know I miss you, I just wanna kiss you
But I can't right now so baby kiss me thru the phone, I'll see you later on
Kiss me thru the phone, see you when I get home

Why it doesn't relate: Another round of not so clever, coming-apocalypse-unaware drivel. On the genius side of things, the phone number mentioned above in the lyrics is a number where you can leave Soulja Boy a message. Hooray for the commercialization of what originally began as an art form!

Why I may have hated it anyway: Jealousy. Soulja Boy by far has the highest ratio of success to IQ of anyone on this planet.

2.) Flo Rida- Right Round

Selected Lyrics:

I like my jewelry, that’s always on gold
I know the storm is comin
my pockets keep tellin me it’s gonna shower
Call up my homies that’s home
Then pop in the night cuz it’s meant to be ours
We keep a fade away shot cuz we ballin
it’s platinum patron that be ours

Why it doesn't relate: Flowing cash, money galore and designer brands on everything! Isn't that nice?

Why I may have hated it anyway: You Spin Me Right Round wasn't good in the 80s and remixing it did it no favors. Then there was the whole viral video it was associated with. DO NOT LOOK IT UP (Innappropiate and gross.)

1.) Lady Gaga- Poker Face

Selected Lyrics:

I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me I love it)
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love if its not rough it isn't fun, fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(she's got me like nobody)

Why it doesn't relate: I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

Why I may have hated it anyway: Could somebody please convince Lady Gaga to quit this inevitable conquering of the charts?

There you have it. Almost zero relationship between current events and pop music. It's all sex. I wonder if Bob Dylan cries about the radio? If Woody Guthrie would have been able to stand it?

So, until someone wakes to the world and sees that music is becoming irrelevant outside the walls of a a few dance clubs, I will not sulk in the coming depression. As far as my radio is concerned, it's not even happening.

Reflections From a Friend of a Son of a Son of a Sailor

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Soon, a woman from a small town in Hardy County will give birth to the granddaughter of a West Virginian pirate. A pirate who walked her down the aisle only a few weeks ago before he traded this life for one with more beaches, warmth and daiquiris.

Robbie Taylor, 40 or 10-years-old (depending on how you count the leap year), probably never realized the impact his life made on my own. Some things were temporary, such as making it as difficult as possible to date his daughter in high school. Others would last forever, like his deep effect on my general attitude toward life.

He taught me lessons in a language I truly understood, but few others used to communicate. For example, he could have told me that culture and trends would come and go in passing, instead he ridiculed my love for the White Stripes. He could have said something about how hard it is to grow up and resist impulse, instead he showed me Social Distortion.

His perpetual force-feed of Jimmy Buffett tunes, however, probably did more for my life than he will ever know.

Rob was a man of simplicity and good-times. He loved his dogs, his dirt bikes and his relaxation. He was at his best trading stories and smiles—I still remember the way he tilted his chin back when he really smiled or laughed.

When I met Rob, I was a less-than-relaxed young teen battling the science fair racket. I wanted to be a doctor, and other than casually playing the guitar, I focused on science. The only interest we seemed to share was his daughter, but he definitely didn’t like that. Our families would go to the beach and I would staunchly resist sing-a-longs and a cappella Buffet performances on the car trips.

Eventually the man was able to spearhead a group trip to a Buffett concert. At the time, I was appalled Buffett may be the first concert I ever attended, but I admit I was excited nonetheless. It didn’t happen immediately, but somewhere during that trip, parrot-headedness became slightly appealing.

The cheesy songs about food items in paradise and the fishily cutesy songs about sharks aren’t what I am talking about. Some years down the road, perhaps I will learn Rob had a lesson in these songs as well. It is tracks like “A Pirate Looks at 40” and “Son of a Son of a Sailor” for which I am currently grateful.

I appreciate the slew of relaxing-on-the-beach jams these days as well, but it’s the aforementioned ballads that weigh heavy as I reflect on Rob’s life. He was a man I think would have been content to be rock star or a motocross champion, but he was also a man who was happy refereeing little league games and meeting at the Stray Cat Café to talk about upcoming beach trips.

The atmosphere he brought with us to Ocean Isle, N.C. was probably worth more than anything the beach itself had to offer. He belonged at the beach, he longed for something. I don’t know what he wanted, but I am not sure he did either. I think he wanted to want, and there is something strangely beautiful about that.

I think Rob saw a lot in the potential in the Buffett-lifestyle. Robbie Taylor barely saw past forty; perhaps if Buffett would have written a song entitled “A Pirate Looks at Fifty,” Rob would have held out another decade.

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothing to plunder
I’m an over-forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late

-Jimmy Buffett, “A Pirate Looks at 40”

Rob wasn’t a Wiseman, but he was wise. The amount of knowledge isn’t near as important as the quality of it. Rob knew the most important piece of knowledge about life is to enjoy every bit of it. I’m glad he passed that along to me, because it wasn’t in any of the books I had been reading. I don’t know what his great-grandfather did for a living, but he may as well have been a sailor.

As a dreamer of dreams and a traveling man
I have chalked up many a mile
Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks
And I learned much from both of their styles

-Jimmy Buffett, “Son of a Son of a Sailor”

My last memory of Rob is fuzzy. I think we ran into each other on one of my trips home, but one of us was in a hurry. My last clear memory is sitting on his porch and trying to play “Margaritaville” by guitar tab while he sang along. It was a summer home from school and I’m not sure how I ended up at his place.

Pirates are rarely known for their parenting abilities, but Rob raised a wonderful daughter who married a wonderful man. Both will give birth to a wonderful granddaughter that would have had a wonderful grandfather. I am glad to have had the opportunity to have known him, even if I regret spending such little time with him lately.

I never would have thought he would be gone so soon. I don’t know if he’s riding some super-bike, laying on some beach, commanding some ship or just sipping on pina coladas while he is picking up shells in front of the beach house he picked out for his friends and family. I only hope that right now, Rob is smiling that smile that I will remember forever.

Yes, Rob many have been a pirate, but he wasn’t 200 years too late. Buffett was wrong about this pirate. He arrived in perfect time to touch every life he encountered, even if he had to leave early.

Rob's obituary tells a little more about a man you all should have met.

I have so much more to say about this. Perhaps I will revisit it at some time, but for now I simply can't think about it anymore. If I come back, I would love to tell you about how I think the man helped my father relax as well, how Rob helped me get my first hangover and how for a period of about two years I spent half of my life as his friend and another half scared to death of him. That's for another time, or it's just for me. Every time I hear a Buffett tune, sip on some frozen concoction or find a sea shell in the sand, I'll remember Rob.

Artist Profile: Justin Cron

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Justin Cron is probably one of the most unique cover artist in the Tri-State. He is also set to play the Local Musician Showcase 2.

Cron plays modern and classic radio favorites on woodwinds. Each song swaps vocals for soulful instrumental melodies instead. Justin is one many artists playing the showcase on Feb. 21. Support your local scene!

Here is some information about Justin Cron chopped out of a page of the Dave Lavender clip book:

DAVE LAVENDER

The Herald-Dispatch

In his regular gig, Justin Cron, who is getting his degree in computer systems at Marshall University, works as a computer tech for Neighborhood Networks at the J.W. Scott Community Center.

When Cron goes home, he still plays on the computer.

No, he really plays on the computer.

Born in San Diego and raised in Missouri, the Huntington resident has mixed his passion for music and his technical savvy to become one of the biggest Tri-State-based musical stars of YouTube.

Cron's silky smooth saxophone sings on a dizzying array of 32 different pop, rock and rap songs that have garnered the 23-year-old's homemade music videos more than 500,000 views on YouTube, and counting.

Currently, Cron, who plays each Sunday in the Christ Temple Church horn section, is racking up more than 10,000 views a day.

His YouTube connection came last year when he became homesick while doing an internship from January to June in India.

"My first video was just me talking from India," said Cron, who is in his third year at Marshall taking systems networking and systems securities. "It got kind of lonely for a while. I just put one up, and when I did, I started searching YouTube and saw people were just blowing up on YouTube and becoming overnight sensations. When I got back to the U.S., I thought, well people love the tone of my sax and my style of music, but what if I started trying to relate it to songs that you never imagine a sax being played on."

Cron surfed YouTube and hit upon Tay Zonday's quirky hit, "Chocolate Rain," a song that many YouTube viewers were taking and making their own versions of.

Cron went to his bedroom, plugged his microphone into his laptop and, armed with Cool EditPro, put up his own "saxy version" of the original "Chocolate Rain," which has gotten some 33 million views.

"Tay Zonday blew up overnight, and he mentioned my video when YouTube asked what his favorite video was of someone re-doing his song," Cron said. "He said my song. ... When I put my first video on, I don't know, I got a couple thousand views in an hour and that kind of tipped me off. That was amazing. So I started putting them on as quick as I could."

Cron, who outside of Christ Temple does a few rare gigs in the area with fellow Christ Temple musician Sean Pauley, began blowing his sweet horn on a wide range of the latest hip-hop and pop songs including Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back," One Republic's hit "Apologize" that featured Timbaland and several songs by YouTube stars such as Louisville keyboardist and hip-hop artist Ronald Jenkees, whose song "Clutter" has been re-done by a bunch of YouTube viewers.

In fact, in six months, Cron's version of "Clutter" has chalked up more than 127,000 views and counting and has gotten him some great props from Jenkees himself.

"He wants me on his next album," Cron said. "He's been doing a lot. He just got done doing the ESPN theme song and has been working with Papa Roach and Weezer."

Cron said he and Pauley, who just did a gig with Dolly Parton's sister, Stella, are stoked to be introducing younger people to a broader range of what guitar and sax can do.

"When we first started doing it hearing sax and guitar, especially an acoustic piece with no vocals, was unheard of," Cron said. "We thought it would be cool to start experimenting and see what we could come up with in trying to do more 21st century songs that people can relate to like John Legend and John Mayer songs. ... We're just trying to hit on some new styles so we can show people our age that sax and guitar isn't strictly used for jazz or rock or any specific style of music. We're trying to define a new style."

While Cron and Pauley, a Marshall student studying international affairs, hope to make a CD this year, they also hope to play a few more gigs around the city as well.

This past summer, they played the pre-show at Huntington Outdoor Theatre in Ritter Park and set up and played at Empire Books and News in addition to their Sunday worship sessions at Christ Temple.

Even though Cron is letting his sax do the talking (he's not even told many local people about putting up his music videos), the musician who has been playing saxophone since he was 15 and clarinet since he was 12 wouldn't mind doing music full time someday if something good hits his inbox.

"Even five years ago you really needed to be in New York or Hollywood or at least in a bigger state where there's a lot of talent searching going on. Now, you've got all these people who used to travel all over the world chilling at the office and browsing MySpace and YouTube," Cron said. "YouTube and MySpace has opened up the world to musicians who no longer have to wait for a label to pluck them up. As long as you build up a fanbase and have a good amount of views, you can be like Ronald Jenkees, he's not signed to any labels, he's just sitting in his room, putting CDs out and selling them like mad over the Internet. We no longer have to wait for somebody to find you -- just put your stuff out there and start exposing it to the world."

New outlet for local musician CD sales

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:39:00 +0000

It wouldn't take very long to list everyone in Huntington that is actively involved in supporting and spreading the local music scene, but Ian Thornton is definitely near the top.

Thornton has been pushing the idea of selling local musician CD's for the past few months, and he has now kicked it off. WVRockScene already did a lengthy interview and profile of this, so here is an abstract and link to their article:

Artist, Ian Thorton, formerly of the Lovecoats, and currently booking for The Shamrock Pub and playing for Whirling Dervish, is selling CD's of local musicians at the Shamrock Pub. In addition, he is only playing local music in the backroom of the Pub. CD's will be about $8. This local champion of the Huntington Music Scene put his own money forward for this project, so make sure you support him!

WVRockScene Article

Local Musician Showcase 2

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:09:00 +0000

The Local Musician Showcase is coming back for the month of February. Just like last month, I have a stellar lineup in store for the Tri-State! Here's the basics:

The Gentleman (CelticPunk)
Steve Free (The Folksy Native American)
Signals (Nashville Blues Funk)
The Buttonflies (Punk infused Folk Rock)
Good Ol' Boys and A Girl (Bluegrass)
The Browning Automatics (Raw Rock)
Sir-Boy (Delicious Electronica)
Sly Roosevelt (Alternative Rock)
Ladybird (Folk Rock)
Caitlin Haught (Acoustic Folk)
Justin Cron (YouTube Sensation)

The show is 18 and up.

Date: February 21
Time: about 5 p.m.-Til 3 a.m.
Cost: $8 at the door, $5 Advance
Where: V Club, 8th St. and 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV

Article about The Local Musician Showcase

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:19:00 +0000

Here is a little write-up about the Local Musician Showcase from an excellent WV music blog. WVRockScene has been doing an excellent job of covering the local scene in the entire state, especially in Charleston.

Local Song of the Week #5: Attack Flamingo- Burning

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:56:00 +0000

This is part of a series where I pick out a song from the Tri-State area and tell you as much as I can or feel like telling you about it. More importantly, I will only post something if I can in some way provide you with the means to hear it.

Attack Flamingo- Burning

Sometime before Attack Flamingo was attacking Dido for copyright infringement on their new CD cover, they recorded a gem of an album called "No Star Could Be as Large," a concept album based around a peculiar journey to space.

The music itself is an electronic Radioheadesque arrangement of instruments and master mixdom underneath vocals that sound like a slightly less green than Billy Corgan. It's electronica that doesn't make you feel guilty--or European.

The truly impressive aspect of Burning is it's dynamic. Rarely do you find an electronic beat that doesn't repeat itself out the window. Burning is a fresh song from a fresh band. The movement of the song is quite impressive.

The secret to Attack Flamingo's ability to be graced by my favor when so many electronic bands have failed? These guys aren't failed musicians relying on computers. They are skilled musicians who use computers.

The problem with Burning is that is not intended to be listened to singularly. Go ahead. I dare you. You'll probably enjoy it, but I also bet you won't have near as much fun with the song alone as you would when the songs are butted together.

Past Song Picks

1.) Paul Callicoat- Mama's Grave
2.) Redding Brothers- Chauvet
3.) Benji Taylor - Subways
4.) Bad Employees- Bad Employees

Artist Review: Steve Free

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:46:00 +0000

This is something older I wrote and was published in Graffiti. I'm not recycling for the sake of recycling, I just couldn't find a link to it. It was in my archive and I feel like this is a guy you should know something about.

Steve Free—even the name sounds majestic. Yet, if all that the man had was a name, I would not waste a word of your time. Steve Free is the Appalachian Jimmy Buffet, the Native American Bob Dylan, and the friendliest musician I have ever met. After several coffee shop meetings that unfortunately have been getting too far apart, Steve Free has inspired me—to travel, to meet people, and to get in touch with nature.

The music swings about from folk ballads to island party music across his multiple albums, and the songwriting is unique and genuine. Each song is a reflection of life and love for the people and places that Free has encountered, and his perspective is often very different from many other folk writers.

One of my personal favorites is the “Ballad of Battery L,” a marching thunder of a song that weaves the tale of a Civil War company at Gettysburg. Free once told me he spent hours in the library researching the story, and was later told that even the re-enactors and historians of Battery L were impressed with his accuracy.

Steve Free is nothing short of professional every time he takes the stage. He has won a slew of professional writing and performing awards, but still plays the small venues across the tri-state area. You can usually find him at a local coffee shop, playing his heart out to small, enraptured crowds.

His newest album, “All Points Between,” is a masterpiece and has warranted many repeat listenings from this music fan. Ballads of Mexican border crossers bring a tear to the eye, while jaunting dance folk like the opening Down by the River urges you to your feet. The environmental lament of “When the Trees Are All Gone,” reminds us that our Appalachian friend has roots in Native American culture and songwriting and makes you seriously reconsider your own environmental impact.

The beauty of Steve Free’s music is that he comes from a different angle when he protests. He’s not here to tell you what you are doing is wrong, and he’s not professing perfection himself. He merely states what he sees, but in prose and metaphor that makes the message simultaneously enlightening and entertaining.

“Jamaican Lady” sounds straight out of Margaritaville, and even the most discriminating parrot heads will be drawing comparisons. Yet, if I had to pick out one weak point on the album, I must admit that I do not particularly enjoy the cover of “Homegrown Tomatoes.” “Nothing against,” Free’s personal rendition, I think it just may be the song itself. I may be wrong though, I have a few friends that think it’s the best song on the album.

Steve Free is constantly touring and you can usually find him around the Huntington area, performing his songs and selling his albums the old fashion way. He writes beautiful compositions and plays them with heart. If you find a show, I recommend you check it out, and more importantly try to stay after and talk to the man for a while. He has more stories, adventures, and lessons than what a current album CD has the space to hold.

Browning Automatics at the Shamrock Pub

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:12:00 +0000

Rounding the corner of the Shamrock’s bar and into their staging room, I expected something big. I heard the roar of a big blues-rock band and I knew I was in for a treat.

I was quite surprised to find two men on stage. Shane Browning, guitar and vocals, and Justin Carpenter, drums, were laying down some hard hitting blues rock laden with rough rock and bluesy riffs.

The music was much tighter this go-around then their show at the V Club a few weeks ago after they had just formed. The Browning Automatics churned out a fresh and lively sound any band should be proud of, let alone a new group.

Both are formerly of Adam Bienek and the Sound Assassins, but their sound is different. They have a real Black Keys feel with their return to roots rock and two-man lineup. This is a band worth watching as they grow.

Speaking of the Shamrock, Ian (Booking guy) and I have some great ideas in store for the local music scene, so keep checking out the Tri-State Music Scene!

Tri-State Music Scene Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:02:00 +0000

Fake Band Names: Hot Chicken in the Deli

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:27:00 +0000

Band names are curious little creatures. There is a story behind each of them. Some of them are meticulously thought out, others are inspired by silly items that caught the eye of a burned out drummer.

This new feature of the blog is going to highlight the things that I see that make me think it should be a band name. It's one of the many futile things I think about incessantly. As a bonus, I will describe what I think the band would sound like and maybe even a little mini-bio.

Fake Band #1: Hot Chicken in the Deli

Bio: Hot Chicken in the Deli was formed by a group of barefoot pickers living on the outskirts of Cabell County. They have been around for nearly a decade and have managed to spin out two full length vinyls and play at bluegrass festivals and family reunions around the Tri-State.

Found in Kroger on 5th Avenue in Huntington, W.Va.

They failed to "make it big" due to being stiffed from a gig payment in 1996 that the band had depended on to purchase gas money for their statewide tour. When Whiskeytooth records denied further sponsorship of the tour due to their inability to make it to a "hog feed" outside of Charleston. The band continues to tour and maintain full-time jobs outside of the band.

The Sound: Their string-fueled take on modern rock singles and gravelly vocals lend several nods to bluegrass and early country music. Often described as "folksy, except original...kind of..." the band loves to serve up all the bluegrassy Hot Chicken you can eat.

SUBMIT YOUR OWN: Send in pictures of things you think would make a great band name and I'll post the best of them up here. Email the picture, your name, and what you think the fake band would sound like to taylor.kuykendall@gmail.com

Photographing Audio: The Art of the Awful Shot

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:43:00 +0000

When one takes a photograph, a lot of different things go into composing the shot. Everything has to be perfect. This is a shot that wasn't perfect. I hate the technical aspects of this photo. The lighting was dim, the artist never faced the camera, but technically cameras weren't allowed and the artist was Bob Dylan.

Even though a picture of this quality would be awful if it was by anyone of any less stature, it is one of my favorites. It's hard to appreciate the difficulty of packing yourself into the front row with a DSLR and flash unit that you are supposed to be hiding from the security guard. Just keep that in mind when you judge the following photos.

Local Musician Showcase Tickets on Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:43:00 +0000

The tickets for the Local Musician Showcase are on sale now. At, $5 a pop, it's a hard value to beat. 14 bands... that's far less 50 cents a band! Get your tickets here. Here is the show information again:

The Basics

Lineup

Blues Crossing
Paul Callicoat
Cory Jackson
Benji Taylor
Jordan Andrew Jefferson
Extragrump
The Stops!
The Bad Employees
Attack Flamingo
The Red Velvet
The Demon Beat
Sarasota
Time and Distance
Jeff Ellis

Date: January 24
Time: about 5 p.m.-Til 3 a.m.
Cost: $8 at the door, $5 Advance
Where: V Club, 8th St. and 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV

Local Song Pick #5: The Red Velvet- Above the Clouds

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:13:00 +0000

This is part of a series where I pick out a song from the Tri-State area and tell you as much as I can or feel like telling you about it. More importantly, I will only post something if I can in some way provide you with the means to hear it.

The Red Velvet are a group of radio-friendly rockers with a sound easily swallowed by a mass audience. However, their tunes are actually quite unique to the area and really stand out against a lot of the typical fare offered in the Tri-State.

"Above the Clouds" doesn't fail the bands typical typeset of driving, harmony based modern rock. The harmonies on "Clouds" though, seem to offer up an almost haunting quality to the vocals on the track.

The instrumentation on the track is perfect for it's genre. It fits neatly into a package and doesn't distract you from really getting into singing the catchy and repeatable line of "get your head above the clouds."

The band doesn't list any influences on their MySpace page, but I think this is something for fans of bands like Breaking Benjamin, with a little more of an indie twist. This song is really the only track that sounds like that, the rest of the album is a little more experimental. This track is definitely not the best of Red Velvet, but it may be the most accessible.

The bottom line on this song is that it is catchy and fun. The song offers a great opportunity to get into a great band, The Red Velvet. I love a lot of bands and the kind of music offered by Velvet is not my favorite, but I feel like they are making music that has a broad appeal with a lot of potential for success. That said, give the song a listen on the new music player, just for so

Herald-Dispatch Tri-State Music Scene Song Picks of the Week Music Player

Past Song Picks

Artist Profile: Jeff Ellis

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:32:00 +0000

This is an old interview from my Magazine Article Writing Class. Unfortunately it is the first draft. I hope you enjoy it and more to come each week. Expect me to flex a little out of news writing and AP style on these posts...

Though he should be, Jeff Ellis probably won’t be on the radio tomorrow. He probably isn’t in your own collection. He probably doesn’t care.

Jeff Ellis is a 27-year-old West Virginian singer songwriter with a knack for grabbing the heart with soaring, but rough vocals and lyrics that pierce the American heart. He can play the perfect instrumental accompaniment to his poetry more than 10 percent of the time, but he surely knows how to find the guys for the other 90 percent.

Every time I ran into Ellis, it’s usually at a bar, the V Club in Huntington, W.Va. specifically, and a meeting to discuss his new album his no different. Notably, Ellis doesn’t have a drink in his hand, so I pick up an extra bottle of beer on the way to his spot on the patio.

Ellis is surrounded by murals of great musicians in the chilly air outside the club. Dylan, Marley, Joplin, Hendrix all grace the walls. He takes a look and points out Bob Dylan.

“I know I have been playing for a while, but Dylan, and really none of the great musicians just shot to the top you know? They gradually built a career out of playing great music, Ellis continued with a grin. “If I am lucky I can be right up there too. I am not trying to get real famous, real quick.”

Ellis may be climbing the ladder to fame quicker than he ever was before. He has a new album out now, “Covering the Distance,” and he captured a recent finalist spot at the NewSong songwriting competition.

“I was really excited about the NewSong competition,” Ellis said. “I just entered my work for the third time and hoped for the best, I was sort of surprised when I was selected as a regional finalist; later when I found I was a national finalist, I was completely stoked.”

Ellis’ new album, “Covering the Distance” is an odd amalgamation of Dylan crooning and Petty guitar riffs, Springsteen story-telling and the smoothness of Neil Young. The sound is rounded out into a package that appeals to teenagers, college students and even the old folks at the bar.

His sound comes from listening to records that would influence Ellis as a 12-year-old guitar player. His sound developed in Chapmanville, W.Va. before he moved into Marshall University and hooked up with a group of tightly knit jam musicians called Guniess Clarke’s Wine. He played with the band until he was called into the Army Reserves when he was 17.

“Man we really tried to keep the band together, I was driving back from North Carolina on the weekends to play these frat show type parties and stuff, but eventually it was just too much. The age difference between the members of the band was kind of like a time bomb anyway. We had kids coming into college and guys with kids and families.”

Ellis did not spend much time in North Carolina either, he was deployed to Kuwait in 2005. During the three years before he was sent from North Carolina to Kuwait, Ellis recorded his first solo album, “The Enemy,” containing the first ten of Ellis’ highly politically charged songs.

Ellis was an ammunition support man on the border between Iraq and Kuwait where he would inspect and confiscate materials not allowed to be transferred between the borders. In the mean time, Ellis started filling a notebook with songs and playing his guitar. He said he shifted his sound from more full band rock and roll to a delicate folk sound, because it was the only instrumentation that was available to him while he was in Kuwait.

“When I came back, I had more than 50 songs ready to be put on a record,” Ellis said. “That was just too much though, so when I started looking at it I noticed there were two types of songs. Some of them were about the struggles of being overseas and the others were about just being home and living in West Virginia. I wanted to get all that political stuff out of me while it was still fresh so we recorded it first.”

The album, “Front Seat to the End of the World,” featuring a cryptic Ellis looking out into the sunset with a guitar in hand, was a resounding local success. He played his music at bars and venues across the Appalachians and even took a shot at the nationally popular “Mountain Stage” on NPR.

After touring that album for nearly two years, Ellis said he was ready to try something else. He still held a part-time job at Borders and was trying to make it as a student and Army Reservist, but he found the time to record his next set of songs. “Covering the Distance” was a rousing change from what some considered the overly political “Front Seat” album.

“If you really liked the last album, this one may not be for you, but if you didn’t like the first one you may like this one. Hell, you might like both of them,” Ellis said. “This album is much more about personal relationships and the places you go and make your home. There isn’t much message here beyond what it really means. The album is very genuine.”

The album was produced by Eddie Ashworth who has worked with musicians as prominent as Sublime and Pennywise. With Ashworth, Ellis was able to bring in Huntington musicians like Bud Carroll and Paul Callicoat to record on the album.

“Ashworth was such a rare find, he’s our little diamond in the rough in this area,” Ellis said. “Bud Carroll and Paul Callicoat can both do things with a guitar that I could never do, they really fill out the sound on the album. “

“Besides, legend goes that Bud was born with a guitar in hand,” Ellis added with a laugh.

I wished Ellis good luck at his opening party only a few days away and we parted ways. I saw Ellis again at the V with Todd Burge opening up for his release party. I wish I could say I was surprised by Burge’s performance, but then I recalled a few words from Ellis the previous week.

“Todd Burge is a staple of West Virginia folk music. He has played Mountain Stage more times than I can count and he just has this really super-unique sound.”

Ellis may view Todd Burge as a West Virginian legend, but there was no doubt that Jeff Ellis, in the midst of that slow and steady climb to the top, held his own on the stage after Todd Burge.

That is the beauty of the local musician. He’s not jaded on his own music and talents, but instead he is a raw force that is still as entranced by the music. Ellis has the grace of a musician that has played for years with the passion of an 18-year-old belting along with their favorite tune on the radio. He is grit. He is gusto.

Ellis offers up his CD to everyone before he leaves the stage, and even awkwardly signs a few autographs. You hate to see Ellis pack it all up and go overseas again, but you have to love the possibility of more great music to be made in the process.

Local Musician Showcase!

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:10:00 +0000

In twenty days, the Tri-State Music Scene will be unleashing a sonic extravaganza at the V Club on 6th Avenue and 8th Street in Huntington.

The V Club will be hosting a collection of 14 musicians selected by the Tri-State Music Scene Blog. The event will raise money for charitable purposes.

COMMERCIAL BREAK: May I suggest you listen to the bands playing at the show while you read? A Music Player of Local Musician Showcase Bands

The Basics

Lineup

Date: January 24
Time: about 5 p.m.-Til 3 a.m.
Cost: $10 at the door, special price for advance tickets--check back soon
Where: V Club, 8th St. and 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV

A Request: The kind folks at Route 60 Music in Barboursville have offered to sell us a few guitars at only their cost. We would like to use the proceeds from this show to donate a few guitars to a local music program, particularly school programs. If your group has a need for this, please e-mail me at taylor.kuykendall@gmail.com.

Who These Bands Are:

Blues Crossing is duo from Milton, WV who play very rootsy blues music. They will probably end up jamming with local folkster and guitar salesman, Paul Callicoat before his set kicks off. Cory Jackson, a Van Zandt-Dylan-Beatles-Josh Ritter devotee, will transition the folk sounds into the soulful John Mayer/Jack Johnson inspired tunes of Benji Taylor.

Jordan Andrew Jefferson will play a unique set of originals unlike anyone else in Huntington to welcome the catchy indie rock of Extragrump (formerly Fistfightwithgretchen) of Beckeley. Then comes the strange eccentricity of stoner rockers The Stops! followed by the electronic and disgruntled Bad Employees, who will hand the electronic rock torch off to Attack Flamingo.

Then we get two "The" bands. The Red Velvet get loud with a radio-friendly rock set that will be hard to follow. The Demon Beat will step to the challenge all the way from Shepherdstown, W.Va. with stripped down garage rock fresh from the vein of The Black Keys, The White Stripes and Kings of Leon.

Next is the punk rockers Sarasota, a loud, booze-fueled brand of grungy punk that has been bouncing about several Huntington venues lately. Then the sweeter pop-punk of Time and Distance from Charleston will take the stage before the final show.

Jeff Ellis, a NewSong competition winner and NPR Mountain Stage alum, will play his singer-songwriter jams, with possible accompaniment from other local musicians.

The lineup is looking great for the first in what we hope becomes a monthly showcase of local talent. Here are a few places to further interact with the show:

A Music Player of Local Musician Showcase Bands
Facebook Event
MySpace Event

For more information contact me at taylor.kuykendall@gmail.com

New Year, New Music Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:59:00 +0000

A letter to the music scene served by the Herald-Dispatch Tri-State Music Scene Blog:

Dear readers,

This blog had an idea. It had a goal. Due to many things, including my ignorance to the value this blog could add to the Huntington music scene, things have been a little lackadaisical around here. Therefore, to better serve you, my freewheeling-post-when-I-feel-like-it-and-have-time attitude is gone. I am putting myself and this blog on a posting schedule. There will be special content here and there, but from now on, you should be able to loyally find posts on the following topics, on the following days:

Sunday: Show Reviews- A review of a local or major show from the previous week.
Monday: Artist Profile- An interview and profile of a local musician or band.
Wednesday: Local Song Pick- A favorite local song of the week.
Every other Thursday: Event Calendar- A calendar of the next two weeks of events.

I don't have a show review for you today. Instead, I will be posting a special show announcement for you later tonight. Many of you may have already heard about it. The show will be another way to keep this blog, and the music scene fresh.

Check it out tonight,

Sincerely,

Taylor Kuykendall

Local Song Pick #4: The Bad Employees- Bad Employee

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:27:00 +0000

This is part of a series where I pick out a song from the Tri-State area and tell you as much as I can or feel like telling you about it. More importantly, I will only post something if I can in some way provide you with the means to hear it.

Bad Employees- The Bad Employee

The movie Office Space was a hit because every blue-collar worker crammed in an office cubicle suddenly received mass media justification for their inner frustration.

The Bad Employees, from Huntington, understand the same concept and translated it into a song that makes you feel less guilty, but slightly less cocky than "It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta." The song drives home the concept of the droning office slave buzzing from task to task.

The song is narrated by vocalizations that sound somewhat frantic while they maintain a mechanical and irritated vibe. It's easy to see the frustration behind the artist, but it is their use of electronic big beat that allows the listener to really enjoy the dullness that is the office job.

Don't get me wrong on this one. The music is done well and the beat holds together tightly, but it serves a conceptual purpose by droning on. The vocals are less than polished, but the rawness translates into a forced expression of despair.

It is completely fathomable to imagine that the artist really is fresh off a job that won't "let (him) go." The recording sounds like he barely had time to loosen his tie before turning away from a day of TPS reports and hunting for his stapler.

The Bad Employees are an electronic duo that play music inspired by a diverse set of electronic musicians. Most of their lyrical inspiration is derived from the dismal, but they push it out in a way that makes the music pretty near danceable. They describe it as such:

“The songs serve as outlets for anything that makes us feel helpless: consumerist debt, the corporate system, even small town gloom, but paired with the easily accessible beats and melodies, the whole thing’s not so dismal.”

Check it out:
Bad Employees- The Bad Employee

Past Song Picks

1.) Paul Callicoat- Mama's Grave
2.) Redding Brothers- Chauvet
3.) Benji Taylor - Subways

Local Song Pick #3: Benji Taylor - Subways

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:30:00 +0000

This is part of a series where I pick out a song from the Tri-State area and tell you as much as I can or feel like telling you about it. More importantly, I will only post something if I can in some way provide you with the means to hear it.

Benji Taylor - Subways

The third local song pick is from a guy that bleeds emotion and heart all over his recordings and plays it just as powerful on the raw open mic night stage at the V Club.

"Subways" is a powerful ballad by a local singer-songwriter in the vein of Ray LaMontagne or Damien Rice. The music is of a soulful genre popularized and then slightly perverted by John Mayer.

The song is about the loss of someone who is trying to replace the torn narrator who can't stop loving the source of his pain. He seems to know he was doing wrong, but he may have taken advantage just a little too long.

The vocal work is solid and emotionally appropriate. The guitar work is smartly accompanied with electronic elements and delicate string work.

The song is so polished, you may mistake it for a radio favorite, but the raw talents of Benji Taylor are still being trimmed an refined in the city of Huntington.

Benji Taylor is still pushing his first solo record, "The Things Between Us."

Check out his Web site for more information.

Highlights of the Past Week

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:16:00 +0000

What a week for music... I have a big show announcement to make of my own, but stay tuned for that information. First a quick recap of some of the great stuff that went down over the week.

The Shamrock proved itself as an upcoming scene for talented young rockers with several groups bringing their rock sound to the Tri-State. Jordan Andrew Jefferson, Attack Flamingo, Sound and Shape, Atomic Johnny, Bad Employees and Given Hatred were just a few of the hot bands that came through the Shamrock.

The V Club also held up to it's standard as a hotbed for music with shows by the highly classy Bob Thompson Quartet, Yo Momma's Big Fat Booty Band, Jeff Ellis and their typically amazing open mic showing.

Woody's Restaurant showcased a local favorite, Shaun McCoy, who plays 90's tunes and originals with another great rocker by the same first name.

Stay tuned for the announcement and a calendar of what will be going down in the Tri-State very soon.

Tentative Upcoming Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:13:00 +0000

Here is the schedule of what's going down in the next two weeks of music in the Tri-State:

Nov. 18

Nov. 19

Open Mic Night at the V Club on 6th Avenue. The club is also featuring a showing of indie films as well.

Nov. 20

HER and Kings County at the V Club on 6th Avenue

Staind, Seether and Papa Roach at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.

Another Year Gone at Club Echo on 4th Avenue.

Nov. 21

Rock Candy and Common Ground at the Fuzzy Duck in Ironton. This place doesn't seem very popular yet, but the music it attracts is pretty awesome.

Ashes of Serenity, Brink of Oblivion, Anger Strike and TBA at Club Echo on 4th Avenue.

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge with the Goldsmith Pickers at the V Club on 6th Avenue. Larry Keel is an excellent musician and worth a listen if you haven't before.

Nov. 22

The Redbloods w/ The Demon Beat at Shamrock's Pub on 3rd Ave. The Demon Beat is a great rock trio coming from Shepherdstown. This is a rare opportunity. The Redbloods seem to be a great little rock band as well. This is a much anticipated show...

Rock Candy and Common Ground at the Fuzzy Duck in Ironton. This place doesn't seem very popular yet, but the music it attracts is pretty awesome.

Marcie Bullock CD Release Party at the V Club on 6th Avenue.

Paul James Acoustic "Singing Postmaster" at Fins/Sharkey's

Nov. 23

Nov. 24

Acoustic Monday's with Russ and Fred at the Shamrock's Pub on 3rd Avenue.

Nov. 25

Nov. 26

Halloween Eve St. Jude's Benefit Show at the V Club on 6th Avenue.

Nov. 27

Nov. 28

Gypzy Rose at the Fuzzy Duck in Ironton. This place doesn't seem very popular yet, but the music it attracts is pretty awesome.

Garrett Moore and Jeff Ellis at the V Club on 6th Avenue. This Ellis fella has a lot going on. A LOT. Check him out.

Nov. 29

Given Hatred, Daytime Earth and Eye to Eye at the Shamrock's Pub on 3rd Avenue.

Gypzy Rose at the Fuzzy Duck in Ironton. This place doesn't seem very popular yet, but the music it attracts is pretty awesome.

The Heptanes w/ Lords of the Highway at the V Club on 6th Avenue.

Keep on a rockin’ me baby…

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:22:00 +0000

I warn you folks... It's a long one.

Henry Rollins was the force of the hardcore punk band Black Flag. That’s irrelevant background fodder to set up a quote that is important to the story. Rollins once said:

“Go without a coat when it's cold; find out what cold is. Go hungry; keep your existence lean. Wear away the fat, get down to the lean tissue and see what it`s all about. The only time you define your character is when you go without. In times of hardship, you find out what you're made of and what you're capable of. If you're never tested, You'll never define your character.”

The quote is something I have held on to when I am trying to write. The best work I do is when I am some sort of inspired and deprived of food, sleep or other necessity. I was nothing but inspired on a cold Sunday night in November so I took a walk.

The inspiration was a girl of course, isn’t that what most great writing is about? Maybe not. However, she made a slight hint at winning her favor by writing her song. Rounding the corner of 5^th Avenue and 10^th Street, I had made no progress beyond the first two lines.

“I am just a writer, who aspired for cartography instead,

Drawing maps of your body from the things my fingers read.”

It seemed beautiful, perfect and spot on, but nothing else was coming to my head. As I began to turn after walking nearly five blocks, a second set of lyrics came to me.

“And I’m stuck between two feelings, whether I should push or pull,

Do I draw you closer, or should I play it cool?”

They probably won’t stay in the song, I haven’t decided if I liked them. It usually takes time with a anything from people to piece of art to decide that. There was only one exception, she knows what I am talking about.

Trying to piece it all together, I ran into a man yelling at what appeared to be nothing. He approached me with a box of food and a silver can of beer, both precariously wrapped in a plastic bag.

He asked me how I was doing. I told him I wasn’t sure. Then he told me he could identify with that. He smelled like he had been drinking, but he steadied himself and placed his hand on my shoulder. Would you like to hear the song I was writing while I was walking down the street?

My eyes lit up. I couldn’t believe we had both been doing basically the same thing. This man however looked like he had suffered for his art far more than I could understand. He began singing a song. It was a beautiful, scratchy a cappella about the lies people tell.

I told him it sounded great, and I shared the first line of what I was thinking about. I held the second line back, it wasn’t ready for the public—not with my name attached to it. He said he thought it was great and wished he knew someone that made him think of things like that.

Then he asked if I had any money. I told him I only had a dollar in change, a dollar I was hoping to use to buy a soda. I handed it over—he told me he was homeless and sleeping behind a church on 5^th Avenue.

We chatted about the joys of music and how an accident that crippled this man’s hand left him with trouble playing the guitar.

“It’s the reason I’m on the streets, man,” he said. “I cry about it every night.”

Then he told me where he was going. He was walking to a home a few blocks from the corner to beat up a man who had stolen his wallet.

“I don’t want the money I had back,” he said. “I just want the pictures of my daughter. She means the world to me and every night I look at them and pray.”

I told him not to do anything he would regret. I tried to let him know that he could possibly have the pictures returned without risking getting hurt. Then he yelled at another homeless man walking down the street.

They started talking about the Steve Miller Band show they sat outside to watch earlier in the week. The new guy introduced himself as Bobby, the man I had been talking to said his was Randall.

The three of us sang the lyrics to “Keep on Rockin’ Me Baby” by Steve Miller, and we all tripped over the parts. Of course that only lasted about 20 seconds or so. Randall was smiling more. He handed his food over to Bobby, who never asked for it.

Then he said he was going to have to walk on now. Randall and Bobby walked down the alley and added one more chorus of “keep on a rockin me, rockin me, yeah.” Then Randall told Bobby “that man there is one of our brothers.”

Randall only wanted to play music. He wanted someone to hear his song. He told me he was convinced that if he could only get one hour in a studio, he would never be on the streets again.

The lines that were starting to form to my own song took a break. This man had passion and he knew where he was coming from. He offered help to those in need and suffered a horrible loss at the idea of missing his baby’s pictures.

Music kept him warm, it will keep him alive. He gladly offered his meager meal of potato skins to a fellow struggler at the simple trade of a cold nighttime sing-a-long.

Music floods the streets of Huntington. The citizens are thirsty for it. It’s too bad no one seems the storm of music outside. Randall may never get a recording contract, he may never have a home. However, musicians spend their lives trying to touch the hearts of someone, and many never succeed.

Randall did.

Local Song Pick #2: The Redding Brothers- Chauvet

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:33:00 +0000

This is part of a series where I pick out a song from the Tri-State area and tell you as much as I can or feel like telling you about it. More importantly, I will only post something if I can in some way provide you with the means to hear it.

Redding Brothers- Chauvet

When I first came to Huntington about four years ago, I was but a super small town country boy who just so happened to love all sorts of great music. Unfortunately, I also grew up with the mind set that great music could not happen in my locale.

Huntington changed all of that. I was particularly moved by a set of 90's style rockers who just so happened to be willing to come on to my upstart WMUL radio music program.

The Redding Brothers grew up together in Hurricane listening to Johnny Cash tunes on an acoustic guitar at the hands of their father. When I met them, they had just recorded The Physics of Immortality, a homage to their inner geek, as well as a beautifully crafted album.

The three brothers harmonize perfectly, probably a result of a very long history with each other. They played stripped down rock and roll, often with just an acoustic guitar. The music has a heavy 90's feel, calling on the spirit of Hootie and the Blowfish, Matchbox 20 and the Goo Goo Dolls.

Chauvet, a song where drummer Gabriel Redding steps up to the plate to show Gabriel is not the only brother with vocal chops, is no exception to the soaring 90s feel. The music will take you back to the mid-90s post-grunge era and the nonsensical lyrics add a level of intrinsic mystique.

Plus, the song is super catchy.

An early whisper, palm-muted rhythms and a steady beat set the listener up for a genuine surprise when the chorus flips the song from a tense and rushed ballad to a full on rocker. The lyrics sound less like the ramblings of a 20-something West Virginian songwriter and more like a cryptic poet holed up in some grungy apartment in the Midwest.

The song is frantic and soothing. It is a rare mix of the subtle and the complex, which is rarely tolerable, let alone fun.

You can listen to the song on the Redding Brothers MySpace page.

The last Tri-State Music Scene local song pick was Paul Callicoat's Mama's Grave.

Music in the Tri-State, early November

noreply@blogger.com (Taylor Kuykendall) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Here is the schedule of what's going down in the next two weeks of music in the Tri-State:

Nov. 2

Dirty South Revolutionaries, Crash Notice and Most Ill at the Shamrock Pub on 3rd Avenue. The show begins at 10 p.m.

Nov. 3

CD RELEASE EXTRAVAGANZA at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland. Rob McNurlin and his Beatnik Cowboys, Luna, Paul Callicoat and Sasha Colette will be performing at a multiple CD release party. A free CD is being offered with every ticket purchased. For tickets, call 606-324-3175. SIDENOTE: Callicoat may have sold you music equipment out at Route 60 Music. Coincidentally, he is a super-swell guitar player.

ACOUSTIC NIGHT at the Shamrock Pub on 3rd Avenue.

Nov. 5

OPEN MIC NIGHT at the V Club.

Nov. 6

OPEN MIC NIGHT at the Left Bank Cafe in Ashland 9 a.m.-3 p.m. before the First Friday Art Walk. Featuring singers, storytellers, poets, comedians and others.

Nov. 7

Kool and the Gang Live Dance Party Extravaganza is at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. I'm not much of a dance band fan, but these guys are classic.

Nov. 8

9th Annual River Cities Benefit Concert noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. The concert will benefit area food banks and the Humane Society. Entertainment by ETA, noon; Davo and Clyde, 12:30 p.m.; The Hardly Brothers, 1 p.m.; Roger Smith, 1:30 p.m.; Dana Romanello, 2:15 p.m.; The Jackson Cabin Boys, 3 p.m.; Barry Frazee, 3:45 p.m.; Traci Ann Stanley, 4:30 p.m.; and Shalah, 5:15 p.m.

The Greens at the Shamrock Pub 10 p.m. Cost: $5

John Berry at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland. I don't know much about this guy, but the Web site seems to make a pretty good fuss about him. May be worth checking out.

Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls at the V Club with Lonely H at 10 p.m.

Paul James, the Singing Postmaster at Sharkey's/Fins Cafe on 10th Street.

Joe Lambiotte at Fins/Sharkey's 9 p.m.

Nov. 9

Don McLean at the Clay Center for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. You may have heard about the man who penned and performed the classic "American Pie."

Nov. 12

Hillbilly Rockstar at Fat Patty's on 3rd Avenue.

Nov. 13

Bobaflex at Club Echo on 4th Avenue

Push Play with Phil Bensen at the V Club on 8th Avenue. This is an all ages show, so make sure you take advantage!

Nov. 14

Genuine Junk Band at the Shamrock Pub on 3rd Avenue, costs $5.

Steve Miller Band at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. If you do know who the Steve Miller Band is, you probably already have tickets, if not you probably should have.

Loretta Lynn will be at the Performing Arts Center in Ashland. If you have a hard time deciding, between the four events today, Lynn plays here pretty often.

Bob Thompson Unit at the V Club on 8th Avenue.

Nov. 15

Jesco the Dancing Outlaw at the Shamrock Pub on 3rd Avenue cost is $10 in advance, $12 at the door. The Good Ole Boys and a Girl will open the show.

The Yetti with 40 Pound Snapper at the V Club on 8th Avenue , show starts at 10 p.m.

20 Ton Angel and COG- EP release show and grand opening of Pure in New Boston, Ohio. The group, 20 Ton Angel is an interesting sounding Christian band with a diverse catalog of song and influences.