MERICANA GAZETT E A December • January 2009
Feature Story: Arnie Alme Belleville's Grandfather of Country Music Farewell Drifters BlackWaterGin Hal Ketchum Broadjam Raspberries Cards 5 Points Band Betty Fahey Jen Gunderman Doug Sies Good 'N Loud CD Reviews
AMERICANA GAZETTE Holiday Greetings to all: Well here we are again, the end of another year. The holidays are upon us and we are all scurrying around like busy little beavers! This has been a very eventful year for the Americana Gazette. We finally published our first issue in June. Now this is our fourth issue and we hope you are continuing to enjoy the magazine. In 2009 we would like you to share your ideas with us as to what or who you would like to see a story on or even submit your own story for print!!! We are open to your suggestions and welcome them.
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Remember to slow down a little bit during this time, enjoy the sounds of the holidays, share memories with family and friends, stir up those old holiday favorite recipes and most of all, just enjoy the season. If it doesn’t get done before the holiday, don’t worry about it, don’t sweat the small stuff!!!! Life is too short – this is great advice and one of my New Year resolutions is to start living life!!
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Take care and here’s wishing you all a very happy holiday season and a healthy 2009!!!! See ya all next year!!!!!
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Litt Dubay FEATURE WRITERS Robert Hoffman
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Welcome to
Americana Gazette TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE STORY 16 Arnie Alme WHERE TO LOOK: 3
1/2 Notes
4
Litt DuBay’s Slant
6
Farwell Drifters
8
Hal Ketchum
10 3 for 1 12 Pet Note 13 Reflections 13 Country Living 14 Women In The Round 15 Nashville Songwriter 16 Arnie Alme 18 Black WaterGin 20 Roy Elkins of Broadjam 22 5 Point 23 Byrne & Schmidt 25 This End Up 26 Andy’s Top 15 26 Santa 27 Want to See 28 Mary Chapin Carpenter 30 CD Reviews
1/2 Notes The MAMA’s Registration is now open for the 2009 Registration & Nomination period. Check out the MAMA’s home page at themamas.org for full details. Here is a schedule for this year’s award. • October 13, 2008 Registration begins • January 10, 2009 - Registration Ends • January 15, 2009 - First Round of Voting Begins • March 1, 2009 - First Round of Voting Ends • March 10, 2009 - Final Voting Starts • April 10, 2009 - Final Voting Ends • May 9, 2009 - Awards Show Spring Green’s Mostly Mondays Poetry Society has set their 2009 schedule. Share poems, prose, and music all at the General Store from 7 - 9 pm on the first Monday of each month. Bring your own original work or favorites by other authors. 2009 Schedule: January 5, February 2, March 2,April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6,August 3, September 14, October 5, November 2, December 7 Cranes and Conversations: New work by artists Jill Metcoff and Diane Farris will be displayed through January 18, 2009. Jill Metcoff (SGAAC member) and Diane Farris dwell at the opposite ends of a sandhill crane migration route in Wisconsin and Florida.The collaboration began in 2003 with photographic migrations, visiting and studying the connections between home and away for both the cranes and photographers. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago FMI:773-755-5100 or www.naturemuseum.org “A Handmade Christmas” exhibition will be held on through December 31, Fri-Sun 11am5pm. This exhibition features handmade ornaments, cards and gifts by Wisconsin artists. Featured in November: Christmas cards and prints by Charles Munch. WI Artists Showcase/Jura Silverman Gallery, 143 S.Washington, Spring Green
FMI: 608-588-7049 or slvmnart@webtv.net; www.springgreen.com/jsgallery Clovis Man is busy setting up and fine tuning their spring tour. Check out next issues CD reviews when Rob Kosmeder Reviews Clovis Man’s CD Dues. On Friday December 26, 2008 the High Noon Saloon presents a Benefit for Cadillac Joe. Cadillac Joe is a long time fixture and blues man around Madison and the mid-west. Joe is ill with cancer. This benefit is to help defray some medical costs. Playing at the event are: Joel Pingitore and the Playground Sound,Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo, Cash Box Kings with Billy Flynn, and Clear Blue Betty. The show starts at 8:00 PM with a $7 cover. You must be 21 years old and over to attend. Green County Arts Center "Watercolors...to Delight the Eye and Stir the Senses" Gallery Exhibit by J. Eric Anderson December 4th – 27th. Monroe Arts Center, 1315 - 11th St. Capturing landscapes from rural Northwest Illinois and Wisconsin, to the fishing lakes of Minnesota, from the deserts of the Southwest to the misty shores of the Northwest, this Stockton, Illinois artist brings to you the essence of these places with his watercolor art. He is known for conceptualizing his subject matter to reflect the importance of composition, perspective, line, mass patterns and color. He is also highly skilled in employing textured washes to reinforce these elements in his work. Veteran's Winterfest will be held on January 16th – 18th in New Glarus. You can find more info at http://www.swisstown.com. The 11th Annual Community Showcase of Talent will be held on January 16th – 17th at the Performing Arts Center, 1600 - 26th St., Monroe. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. You can find info at http://www.monroeartscenter.com. Peter Cooper and Eric Brace's duo album,You Don't Have To Like Them Both, is now finished, mastered and ready for a 2009 release. The album features plenty of harmony singing, and instrumental virtuosity from players including Tim O'Brien, Richard Bennett, Kenny Vaughan, Tim Carroll,Jen Gunderman,Paul Griffith,Dave Roe, Daniel Tashian and Scotty Huff. Songs come from Peter and Eric, and from luminaries including Todd Snider, Jim Lauderdale, David Olney, Paul Kennerley and Kris Kristofferson. The Nashville release concert is set for Jan. 24 at the Station Inn, and other tour dates are forthcoming. The new Rising Gael release is available now.This new CD features driving rhythms, intricate fiddles and guitars accompanied by sweet melodic vocals. Learn more about Rising Gael at www.myspace.com/risinggael continued on page 15
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3
Litt DuBay’s
Rant!
by Litt DuBay
What I Want for Christmas and How I’ll Redefine Myself in 2009 Every year people always ask if you could have anything for Christmas what would you choose. I never know what to say. This year is different and I know what I want. I want the press to stop screwing up the economy. I want those meatheads to stop reporting how bad the economy is because it is making it worse. If they keep telling us that it is slowing down people will keep slowing down. Yea it’s tough out there I know, but if you slow down and don’t help the economy it’s only hurting the economy. So be cautious, but don’t pull your head back into your shell or bury it in the sand, and for God’s sake quit listening to those doom and gloom news people. We’ve been through this before. We’ll get through it again. Now first why I need to redefine ole Litt Dubay in 2009. Some folks say I’ve got a very sharp pencil and tongue, and that I’m way too critical of people in the entertainment business. Well yes I am, and I don’t plan to change 4
that in 2009. Some people say that I’m a dinosaur and never listen to new music. Well they are right there too, but I don’t plan to change that in 2009. Finally they say that I’m way too opinionated, and yes I am, but I don’t plan to change that in 2009 either. What I am going to change and redefine myself as is an expert in terminology of Americana culture. I’m going to dive into what makes this thing called Americana Music and art tick. What the dirty little secrets of the industry are! I’m going to be the Edward R. Morrow of Americana News. No sugar coating here, just the hard brittle truth! I am also going to redefine how people see me. No more Mr.Teddy bear nicey nice. Now I’m going to be a truly hard charging focused journalist and music critic. I’m going to walk the walk, and talk the talk. No more dancing around the issues. Just the facts! With that I’m giving you my list of priorities and resolutions for 2009. • I will continue to blame everyone I can for the downfall of declining CD sales even though I might be part of that problem. • I will continue to try to prove that Modern Drummer magazine has an oxymoron for a title. • I will continue my quest to educate everyone on the importance of the fact that I’m right 90% of the time and I don’t really care about the other 10% anyway with a plus or minus difference of 10% margin depending on how much coffee I have drunk when I am asked a question. • I will continue to deny that I am French and my name means “boozy noodle” • I will continue to be the beacon of the truth in Americana Music and Journalism. • I will try to talk to my drummer friends without using illustrations or flash cards to get my point across. • I will try to listen to music that was recorded after 1976 at least once a quarter. • I will try to not refer to the new crop of Nashville stars as next week’s trash. • I will try to not laugh when someone says Carrie Underwood is a better Country singer than anyone out there performing today.
• I will try to control my urges to not implode when someone asks why I don’t cover top 40 Country Music. • I will try to be a better role model for Journalism majors everywhere. • I will try not to ramble on incoherently for hours on the importance the Burrito Brothers played in defining all music created since 1973 at the Fat Cat Coffee Works. • I will learn a new language in 2009, probably English. • I will learn to text my friends on my cell phone as soon as I learn how to spell the new speak texters use. • And lastly I will try to be funnier, wittier, and more sophisticated in my writing in 2009, even though it will be hard to improve on this design. Have a great holiday season! I hope you are truly looking forward to 2009. It will be a great year if we all pull together and work at it. Take care and have a blessed holiday season. Litt Dubay
LOOKING FOR SOME GREAT ENTERTAINMENT AND HELPING OUT A WORTHY CAUSE??? PLAN ON ATTENDING THE CADILLAC JOE BENEFIT. CADILLAC JOE BENEFIT High Noon Saloon Dec. 26th, 2008 Clear Blue Betty Cashbox Kings Featuring Billy Flynn Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo Joel Pingitore and the Playground of Sound Show starts at 8pm, also a silent auction will be going on during the show. All proceeds go to Joe's health care cost!
• I will try to listen to local Top 40 Country Radio at least 30 seconds a day, one day a week. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
FROM THE WEAVER’S FRIEND My “Weaver’s Friend” loom sits in a sunny corner of my upstairs weaving room. It is an inviting location to go to for a few hours a day and quietly weave. I can both watch the wooded hillsides and open fields in rural Belleville and the inch by inch of materials being locked in place on the loom to become a rug. Overall, I confess it is most pleasing! I got the “weaving bug” through working as an apprentice for a weaver in the Kickapoo Valley area back in the 1980’s. I started out just sewing strips of material together and tying the fringes on her woven rugs. One day she asked me if I wanted to weave and I jumped at the offer. I wove a number of denim rugs for her and some corduroy ones for myself. That weaving experience set the desire to have my own loom. I acquired the two harness floor loom from an elderly retired farm women in South Dakota over 20 years ago through an ad in a farm magazine. (Yes,‘Weaver’s Friend” truly is its own brand name.) When I went to pick up the loom she explained to me that she and her two sisters had woven rugs on it during the Depression to supplement their income. She still had some of the tightly woven rugs in her house to show me how well the loom worked. When I left with the loom in parts in the back of my father’s truck, I felt I had acquired not only a loom but some lovely history and a tradition to carry forward. Once you have a loom, the accumulation of materials seems to follow! A wide variety of materials are stacked on shelves and in boxes in a large walk-in closet adjacent to my weaving room. The over flow shows up in lots of places though. Cut up jeans, corduroy slacks, cotton print house dresses, sheets, chenille bedspreads, curtains, wool coats, terry cloth bathrobes and towels all help to jump me with ideas. Primarily they are recycled materials that I find at garage sales and resale shops. Infrequently I may purchase new yardage if the colors seem tantalizing to my eye. Synthetic materials I try to avoid for they do not lay well in weaving nor do they feel good to work with. The ideas for a rug come from a variety of sources. It can be colors from a painting that fascinates me, or from the juxtaposition of materials in front of me. Observing Nature around w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
me gives me frequent inspiration for many of my rugs. The colors of a winter morning or an autumn day or the delicate shading on a mushroom can take me to my stacks of materials to try to match it and “lock it into a warp.” The overall appearance of a rug can vary depending upon the idea or the pattern I have “planned”. “Planned”sometimes becomes a loosely defined word. I can have a pattern idea and the amount of the materials may redefine that overall pattern. Or I may start a rug and the look at the beginning may, shall I say, dictate where to go from there. It sounds strange to describe but many are the times I feel like I am the catalyst for what is being woven in front of me. Almost like it takes on a life of its own. A number of rugs when finished have surprised even me! The width of rugs is determined by how much warp you put on the loom. I usually weave 28” rugs with lengths from 3 ½’ to 5’ or 6’. From start (cutting up materials into strips) to finish (taking the rug off the loom and tying the fringes) may take 8-9 hours. It all depends on both the length of rug I want and what kind of pattern I am weaving. A hit and miss pattern (where the materials used are randomly placed in the rug) takes less time to weave than a rug of a set pattern with bands or stripes in it. I have shown and sold my rugs in a variety of venues: coffee houses, craft shows, jewelry stores, a bed and breakfast, gallery-like setting, and an interior decorating shop. When I was growing up they were called “scatter rugs”. Now they are viewed as a Green item made from recycled fabric. Either way, a beautifully hand woven rag rug is unique. One of a kind, hand crafted, and can be extremely durable. I have some rag rugs on my floors that my mother used well over 70 years ago! Whoever that weaver was can be proud of his/her work. Weaving is an ancient art and rag rugs are a tradition medium. I desire to keep both forms alive. Some days those thoughts are like a mantra to myself. Story & photos by: Diane Kunde
EAST NASHVILLE’S PETER COOPER AND ERIC BRACE PERFORM AT PUEMPEL’S IN NEW GLARUS Well it happened to me just like it happens to everyone else. I turned 50 this year. When I was little and my parents and their friends were in their 50’s, I thought they were ancient – now here I am in the same situation. No, I don’t feel older than dirt. They say the 50’s are the new 30’s. I actually do not feel any older, and certainly don’t act any more mature (just ask my friends and co-workers). Anyway the point of this little story is to tell you how I celebrated my birthday with my dear friends,relatives,fellow Black Belt buddies and my special friends from Nashville whom provided great entertainment for the big event, Peter Cooper and Eric Brace. We celebrated the big day at Puempel’s Old Tavern in New Glarus. Now you have read all about Peter and Eric in past issues of the Americana Gazette, but in case you don’t know who I am talking about. Peter Cooper is a very talented songwriter, musician and also the guru of music history and writer for the Nashville Tennessean. Eric Brace is also a multi-talented musician, songwriter and is in the band, Last Train Home, and he and his wife, Mary Ann are the owners of Red Beet Records in Nashville. Peter and Eric put on quite the 2 hour show for my big party. The audience was in awe at the talent these two men exhibited. And they have a new CD being released shortly, entitled You Don’t Have To Like Them Both. They sold many copies and graciously signed and visited with my guests. What true Southern gentleman! Andy and I will be venturing to Nashville in January for their CD release party at the Station Inn – it will be an amazing show. . . . . . Please watch for this CD and check out their other CD’s – they make great Christmas gifts. Yup, turning 50 wasn’t so bad – it is just a new adventure, with a few more aches and pains. Andy and I are trying to think of a reason to have another party in 2009 and to have Peter and Eric back to perform in Wisconsin. It will be our 30th Wedding Anniversary next year, maybe we could celebrate that. (If we are still together –of course I’m just kidding!!!) I am happy to join the 50 club, just think of my AARP discounts and my doctor was happy to schedule a colonoscopy for me. Does it get any better than this???????? Joyce Ziehli – 50 and moving on. . . . . . . . . 5
The Farewell Drifters S u p e r
B l u e g r a s s
The Farewell Drifters are a young Bluegrass Band that plays like they were born with Bluegrass in their souls. These five musicians are stellar in their playing and singing. Their harmonies are both high and lonesome and loud and proud. I recently caught a showcase of this band at the Station Inn in Nashville for the Americana Music Conference and was completely blown away. Their sound check song, a magnificent cover of Michael Martin Murphy’s Carolina in the Pines, set everyone in attendance on their ears. The incredible harmonies and instrumental breaks were beyond incredible. When they took the stage to play their own songs and a couple of standards they had the whole club in the palm of their hands. Guitarist Clayton Britt, Mandolinist Joshua Britt, Guitarist and lead vocalist Zachary Bevill, Banjoist Trevor Brandt, and bassist Dean Marvold are sure to find fame as they journey forward spreading the good news of Bluegrass. A couple of weeks after the show I had a conversation with Joshua Britt about the band. We talked in length about how they got together and just what it was like being on the road in a Bluegrass band. Be sure to check out all their videos on youtube.com, their MySpace page The Farewell Drifters, and their website at thefarewelldrifters.com AG: When did you guys first get together? Britt: We first got together in 2005. Trevor and I had played together before that. AG: Were you all students at that time? Britt: We were just finishing up our college courses. AG: At the Station Inn you told how your brother was a Heavy Metal guitar player, did he start with you in 2005 also? Britt: Yes he had. He actually had started playing with Trevor and me in 2004. He joined us when he first came to college, which he is just finishing up now. We all started out at Western Kentucky University. We needed a lead singer so we came down to Belmont in Nashville and met Zach who was the lead singer in the Belmont University Bluegrass ensemble. We met Zach just by chance walking around one day. 6
N a s h v i l l e
S t y l e
Trevor came to Belmont to get his PhD in Physical Therapy. AG: With your different backgrounds, why Bluegrass? Britt: A good question. I really got into the mando and I had a banjo lying around and Trevor picked it up and started playing it. We really were into Folk music and the early stuff with the mando and banjo. Then I got into David Grissom and Trevor got into Tony Triska. I grew up listening to it because my grandfather used to play it all the time. My father actually plays Rock music and he was in a Rock and Roll band. A lot of my early Rock & Roll heroes use to listen to Bluegrass music so I started to check it out in earnest.
break and it would not interfere with us being on the road. We are always thinking and planning ahead! AG: Are your wives musicians? Britt: No they’re not. AG: So they’re the breadwinners?
AG: Were the other guys influenced by Bluegrass when they were kids?
Britt: (Laughs) Oh yea. Trevor works part-time as a Physical Therapist so he can travel at his leisure. The rest of us do this full-time.
Britt: Zach grew up playing Rock. When he got to Belmont somebody gave him a Bluegrass album and he never looked back. None of us had played Bluegrass before this. We all learned how to do it in this band.
AG: Your first album was produced by Jeremy Garrett’s father who is a big time Bluegrass Producer here in Nashville. How did that come about?
AG: Do you travel all over the U.S.? Britt: Yes we do. We have played in Wisconsin three times. Nashville is kind of a hard town to play in and make any money. There is so much competition with Country music and so many people playing for free it’s hard to get good paying jobs here. This summer we played in Maine and New York at both festivals and clubs. Our usual route is the Northeast part of the U.S., Kentucky,Ohio,and Illinois. We pretty much travel all the time in a Mini-Van. We all got married in a four month period of time except Dean because we were taking a
Britt: He heard us and liked us. So we went ahead and made the album ourselves. We released it Indie style. We have some distribution and on basically all the on-line outlets, and our web page. We also sell it at shows. Currently we are working on a new album that will come out in the spring and we hope to have it on a label and better distribution. AG: Your original songs are great! You write a lot of them, is it hard to pick the songs to play when you have so much invested in them? Britt: No we pick songs that work for us, be it covers or originals. Carolina in the Pines, we w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
arranged it differently for ourselves. We had heard it played by another Bluegrass Band and took it apart and made it our own. We added a couple of minor chords. I had never heard the original version by Michael Martin Murphy until we had been playing the song for quite awhile. I write most of the songs and I bring in songs pretty much complete with chords, melody, and words. Then Clayton adds some tasty guitar work and the rest of us figure out our parts until we are all happy with it. Sometimes we argue for three days until we get it right (laughs). AG: What kind of crowds do you draw at your shows? Britt: We draw young people. We play some Indie Rock Clubs around Nashville and go over very well. Young people accept us and our music. Our ages are all under 25 except Dean who is in his early 30’s. He joined us about 6 months ago. Our shows usually run two sets in a club about an hour long and for festivals we play 45 minute sets which allow us to play our best material. We are not a Jam band at all. AG: Most bands play for tips in Nashville, do you guys do that too? Britt: When we first came to Nashville we played on Broadway in a club and did that. There are a lot of guys playing down there and make good money. The trouble is that you can make such good money you never want to leave and expand your career. After a while we knew that we had to leave to get further along in our careers.
Grown in the dirt of middle Tennessee
Big fat roots, big wide leaves,
Full of vitamin A, vitamin E,
all that good stuff.
But mostly, full of good music. We’re a small label based in East Nashville, Tennessee We love zip code 37206.
There’s a ton of great music
here, and we’re bringing it to you!
AG: You also had some luck with bar patrons helping you out? Britt: Yes, the first day playing on Broadway a fellow from California heard us and told our banjo player to meet him the next day at a music store. He then proceeded to buy him a very expensive banjo because he liked his playing and our sound. Another time a guitar builder did the same for Clayton. AG: No such luck for you? Britt: No not yet, but I’m patient. AG: Well thank you so much for your time and a great interview. Keep us informed on The Farewell Drifters schedule and happenings. Britt: Thank you and tell everyone to watch for us when we get back to Wisconsin.
RED BEET RECORDS P.O. BOX 68417 NASHVILLE,TN 37206 EMAIL US AT mail@redbeetrecords.com
Story and photos by: Andy Ziehli w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
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Songwriter, Recording Artist, Master Woodworker, Pinter/Artist Good Father...
ALL THIS ROLLED UP IN ONE TALENTED GENTLEMAN.
How many of you out there know who Hal Ketchum is? If you don’t, you seriously need to check him out. Not only is he a talented songwriter and great artist, he is a master woodworker and painter. Not to mention he is a very distinguished good looking gentleman, with a personality to go with it. Andy and I have been listening to Hal’s music since he started out with his first album,Threadbare Alibis. We still have this on cassette tape. (Hal and I both laughed about this.) I caught up with Hal as he was driving to visit relatives in upstate New York. Hal and I visited as his 3 daughters jammed out to Nirvana in the car. AG: Let’s start with early Hal Ketchum. You were raised in Greenwich, a countryside of upstate New York. You came from a very musical family? Tell me about them. HK: My dad was a great banjo player. He was a front porch picker, a really fine player. I was inspired by all of this. AG: You played with your brother at one point also? HK: Yeah, my brother was older and we did a 8
I’m Talking About Hal Ketchum! folk duo together. We had a couple of good Martins. My brother was a big influence for me. In fact I am on my way to see him now and we will probably jam a little during our visit. AG: You played drums at age 9 and were playing in bars at age 14. You play 5 string banjo and guitar. Who taught you how to play and what was this like for you as a child? HK: I was kind of self taught. I observed my dad; he had good techniques and my older brother was a guitar player, so I could learn from him also. Music was just part of our family, that is what we did. AG: You moved to Texas and you spent Sunday afternoons listening to Townes Van Zandt and others. You called this your songwriting school. Did you get up and jam with these guys? Were they the inspiration to your songwriting in general? HK: Absolutely. I played harmonica with John Vandermeer. John was from Magnolia,Texas. I just kind of got invited into this little circle, including Lyle Lovett and Jimmy Gilmore. I lived
behind a dance hall so it was real convenient. I have to say that Lyle Lovett was the first to encourage me to take a swing at music. AG: Small town Saturday Night was your first single in 1991. This kind of burst Hal Ketchum into the music scene? What were you doing before this? HK: I was a cabinet maker. AG: Do you still do this? HK: I keep my tools sharp. I have a carving bench in my house and I make toys for my kids. AG: You put up the cash and recorded Threadbare Alibis on a label? Tell me about this project and how this brought you to Nashville? Was this a scary time for you? HK: I was too stupid to be scared. I got together with an old friend,John Hill, I hired musicians and went with it. I really didn’t know the process, it was a learning experience for me. The songs on this record were the first 9 songs I had ever written. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
AG: What inspires you to write or where do your song inspirations come from? HK: I really don’t know where they come from. Nothing in particular inspires my writing. I’d be afraid to ask where they come from, I would scare them away if they knew. AG: Let’s talk about your new CD, “Father Time”. It is a great CD, in fact we reviewed it in our last issue of the Americana Gazette. Tell me about this. HK: I am very happy with this CD. In fact I cut it in two days time with a crew of some of Nashville’s most virtuosic players and singers. It was both arranged and mixed as the music was made with no overdubs. AG: Ok Hal, let’s get to a little personal stuff about Hal Ketchum. Do you have any hobbies, you mentioned your woodworking already. Besides being a master woodworker, what do you do to relax? HK: I am an artist also with a studio in my home. I try to keep canvases going and I had a gallery showing in Santa Fe.
writing by myself. I kind of flush out an idea on my own. I usually carry a hand held tape recorder or I call my answering machine and sing into it. AG: Your wife probably thinks this is great, you calling in and singing to her on the answering machine? HK: (He laughs) Yeah, I make a lot of points this way. AG: You are married and have three daughters, what is your idea of a perfect evening with the family? HK: Just really laying low. Actually staying home, eating popcorn and watching a movie. This is as exciting as I care to get. AG: If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be?
AG: What is your favorite meal? HK: I’m all over the place on this one.
HK: Thanks, hon.
AG: You had better not say fast food!
Hal Ketchum Albums Father Time - Released: 09.09.08
AG: Do you sell your paintings?
AG: What question do you never get asked,but wish someone would ask you? HK: Wow, that’s a great question. Huh??? I don’t really know how to answer that. I guess I wish sometimes people would ask me to be quiet. There’s an answer for you!!! AG: What do you think of the music scene in Nashville? HK: I really don’t participate in this. I am so out of it. I travel so much and am on tour, my life style is so different that when I am home, I just like to spend time with my family. Just hang out and do normal stuff. AG: What types of music do you listen to when you are driving around? HK: All Kinds. I like jazz, classical, I like it all. In fact I am jammin’ out to Nirvana with my three daughters here in the car. (Hal’s daughters are 11, 7 and 4 years of age.)
HK: (Laughing) Slow food. AG: Do you have any pets? HK: Yup, we have a dog named Samson. AG: You’ve had 15 top 10 singles, and over 5 million albums sold.You are a member of the Grand Old Opry since 1994 – what does the future hold for you? HK: I’m working on developing a new TV show with Chuck Howard, titled,“In the Living Room with Hal Ketchum”. We will go to famous musician’s homes and tape song writing and singing sessions. I’m also working on writing a book of short stories. I’m taking some time off here in October and November, but also have a new CD in the works. AG: When people hear the name Hal Ketchum, what do you want people to say about you? Other than he is a great songwriter and performer? (This is obvious)
AG: Do you write mostly by yourself or with others?
HK: He’s a good father.
HK: I write with a handful of guys, but prefer
AG:Are you scheduled to play in Wisconsin any-
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HK: No, but hopefully I’ll be up that way next Spring. AG: Hal, it was a pleasure talking with you and I wish you the best in your future. Hopefully see you in the Spring and I’ll send some Wisconsin goodies to you and your family in Nashville.
HK: At this point, Barack Obama.
HK: I have sold everything I had painted, but am working on new stuff and hope to have another showing in a year.
time soon?
Greatest Hits - Released: 05.06.08 The King of Love - Released: 03.25.03 Luck Man - Released: 05.08.01 Awaiting Redemption - Released: 05.18.99 I Saw the Light - Released: 05.19.98 The Hits - Released: 01.01.96 Every Little Word - Released: 01.01.94 Sure Love - Released: 01.01.92 Past the Point of rescue - Released: 01.01.91 Threadbare Alibis - Released: 01.01.88 For more information on the making of the Father Time CD and to learn more about Hal Ketchum, please check out his website at: http://halketchum.com. Be sure to watch for his future concerts in our area!!!! Written by: Joyce M. Ziehli Photos supplied. 9
Doug Sies
3 for 1 BETTY FAHEY
Doug’s ability to play guitar, bass, and keyboards makes him a busy man filling in with bands. He is an excellent songwriter and arranger. The thing though that sets Doug apart from his contemporaries is his even temperament and ability to get along with everyone. He is a true gentleman. As they say down South‘his Mama raised him right”! Always ready to lend a hand,never seeking the limelight,and being the voice of reason in many discussions, Doug exemplifies what it is to be a true friend.
Eighteen years ago, Betty Fahey began her painting career. Her grandson, who was also an artist, inspired her to begin painting and she thought that she may be able to steal some tips from him. So she began painting in a senior paint class, but it wasn’t only for the painting, it was for the camaraderie. Betty is inspired,simply by the world around her. She enjoys painting nature, but wildlife in particular. The life she lived in Southern Wisconsin is actually the foundation of her art.Painting partly from photos,and partly from memory, she has created over two hundred paintings. And she has never made multiple prints;all two hundred are different and special in their own way.She enjoys seeing the way the original idea, or photos turns into whatever you want it to be. But they are all similar in the fact that there are no buildings. Betty made it perfectly clear that she DID NOT LIKE DRAWING BUILDINGS!And she will only paint in acrylics. Money was never an important point in Betty’s career. She told me, when I asked about selling her work, “Oh I have, but not for big prices by any means, mostly just to get my expenses back.” Her painting is more of a hobby. Some paintings she will work on for days and days on end, but there may be weeks between paintings. It all depends if anything catches her eye, anything inspiring. But her main reason for painting was for a release.“It’s a good outlet,it really is, other than making a mess on the kitchen table,it relieves you of a lot of pressures,you can forget a lot of problems for a while”. But,I’m sure we all hope that Betty will keep making a mess of the kitchen table and continue to create her art. Written by: Rob Kosmeder
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for its whole existence, Doug performed throughout Wisconsin and the Mid-west. During this time Doug setup a home recording studio which he regularly records local bands and singer songwriters. During his “downtime” he also plays in the Dixie Earthmovers, an eclectic group of musicians who get together and play from October – February. This group is made up of musicians Doug grew up and went to school with. They even traveled to Nashville to play a show at Tootsies.
Please don’t miss the chance to see Doug in his true element on stage making music with his friends. You can’t help but feel good when you hear him sing your favorite Beatles song, or groove to his superb bass playing. If you are looking for a great recording engineer check out his skills in the studio too. Doug is and will always be one of the top musicians to come out of Southern Wisconsin. Written by: Andy Ziehli
If there is one person who stands out as a musician and gentleman that man is Doug Sies. Doug is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and recording engineer who owns his own business with his wife Mary. Doug has been playing Rock & Roll music for over 40 years (that’s a lot considering he is only 52 years old). He and his very talented brother Dewey and close friend Dale Freidig started out playing cover tunes in the mid 1960’s at ice cream socials and teen dances. Their first band was the Red Barron’s. Doug played rhythm guitar and sang lead. After a few other high school bands ending with Summer Haze which still packs clubs whenever they get back together,Doug took a few years off to concentrate on getting his business SGTS Inc. up and running. The itch to play was still there when a call came through to join Watershed, a group of songwriters from Belleville to play bass. Doug played and recorded with Watershed for two years before the band split up and he joined with members Beth Kille and Jim Smith to form Clear Blue Betty, which was one of the best bands to ever come out of Madison. Playing bass and acoustic guitar with Clear Blue Betty
Good’ n Loud Music In today’s world of shopping malls and big box stores it’s still great to see a true“mom and pop” music store still in existence. Good’ n Loud is the last such store in Southern Wisconsin. It is owned and operated by Steve and Chris Liethen. Madison’s first couple of music. Good’n Loud has been in existence since 1976. Steve and his business partner were building sound and speaker systems in the basement of a building that was occupied by a music store. The music store went out of business and Peavey offered them a franchise and the rest is history. Steve and Chris bought out his partner in 1990 and still own and operate the store themselves today. Good’ n Loud has over 500 guitars on display and over 200 amps combined at their two locations (2045 Atwood Ave, Madison,WI 53704 (608) 663-9933 and 5225 University Ave, Madison, WI 608-231-5990) along with keyboards, PA systems, and drums. They also carry a wide w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
state to earn her bachelor's degree in piano performance from Vassar College. Her undergraduate studies included a junior year abroad at the Heidelberg-Mannheim State Conservatory of Music in Germany. She has a Masters degree in Ethonmusicology. Jen spent two years working with bands in Columbia/Sony's record development department in New York City. She stated that "I thought working in the record business would be less risky than trying to actually be a musician, but of course, it was not satisfying at all." She soon joined the band DAG which was a funk alternative band from Raleigh, North Carolina which formed in 1989 and disbanded in 1999. After that band broke up, she found out the keyboard player was leaving the Jayhawks, a great Americana Band out of Minneapolis,and Jen soon joined as her replacement. She stayed with the band for a couple of years before moving on. Jen’s wizardry on not just the grand piano but the B-3, Rhodes, and Wurlitzer has graced and enlightened many recordings for her friends and co-harts in the East Nashville music arena. She is a regular on Red Beet Record Recordings. She is a joy to watch on stage having seen her play many times in my travels to Music City. A true professional on stage Jen never seeks the spotlight playing only when it suits the song. Her fills and solos are always perfect. Many a young musician could learn from her stage performances and presence. Be sure to go on-line and check out the numerous recordings she has blessed with her playing. Off stage Jen is as wonderfully entertaining as she is onstage. Hopefully we will soon get an album of Jen Gunderman songs. The world needs to hear more of her talent.
selection of accessories, patch cables, and effects. They have a very qualified staff of guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum instructors who can teach everything from beginning to advanced musicians. Heck they even taught this ole Road Dog a few new licks! Speaking of their staff, the folks that work the floor are all highly qualified and experienced musicians who know and understand the gear, unlike 99% of the folks who work for the big box stores. They are not pushy and won’t try to sell you something you don’t need or want. If they don’t have it in stock they will go the extra mile to get it for you, or tell you how you can obtain it. Their prices are very competitive; repeatedly they are below the big box stores. Good’ n Loud is a clean family friendly store where all ages are welcome and encouraged to come and shop. They also run clinics with big time stars and musicians who come in and lecture and teach to those in attendance. I think the thing that is the coolest, is that they have showcases of their students playing with their instructors in the East side store throughout the year. It gives these young musicians a taste for the stage and lets their parents hear how they are progressing in a band environment. Please check out their weekly specials and their great selection of instruments and accessories. The official website is www.goodn loud.com. Christmas is almost here and if you don’t know what to get that musician of yours a Good’ n Loud gift certificate is a great start! Shop local. Stop in and say hi to Steve, Chris, Slim, Gary, and the gang at Good’ n Loud music. Next issue we will have a full feature on Good’ n Loud music and the Liethen’s. Written by: Andy Ziehli
Written by: Andy Ziehli Photo by Andy Ziehli
Jen Gunderman You might not know Jen Gunderman by sight, but if you love Americana music your ears surely know her. Gen is a delightful talented person who has played keyboards on CD’s from LastTrain Home (which she is a member), Peter Cooper,The Coalmen, Caitlin Carey, and was a member of DAG and the Jayhawks. She is a Senior Lecturer in Music History at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. She is an East Nashville musician who is consinctenlty in demand as a session and stage performer. She has had numerous radio appearances in U.S., Canada and Europe; played on recordings for Columbia Records and Yep Roc Records as well as independently released CDs. Jen has appeared on The Craig Kilbourne Show, Viva Variety, MTV - Europe, and other television programs in U.S.,Canada and Europe. She has also w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
appeared with Roger McGuinn (Byrds), Chris Robinson (Black Crowes), Vic Chesnutt, and others. Jen started playing piano at a young age, and credits two Topeka piano instructors Virginia Wallace and Julie Rivers with setting her on her musical journey. "They're both amazing, amazing women," Gunderman stated during an interview when she was in the Jayhawks. "Virginia Wallace taught me to play with passion because she was so animated and so passionate about music, and Julie really got my hands in shape, and brought me along technically. Jen also studied piano with Blanca Uribe and Todd Crowe. The Kansas native left the 11
A PET NOTE If you know anything about me, you know I am a real animal lover. My friends frequently refer to me as Elly May Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies, as I am always wanting to bring home strays. I once made Andy stop the car and take a tree toad off our windshield and put it back in a tree. Andy loves dogs and tolerates the cat as he says. (Deep down inside, I know he loves that cat!) Our real pet family however consists of a Golden Retriever, named Bailey, an English Springer Spaniel named Duncan, and a very spoiled black cat named Mulder. Here is their version of their pampered lives! My name is Bailey. If you look real close at my picture you will notice a lot of white fur. I’m just prematurely gray; I am really only 7 years old. I’m a little overweight, but who isn’t in this family? My favorite snack is a milk bone, and I can pretty much tell time and let my masters know when it is milk bone time. I hate the Wisconsin summer weather. During the summer I usually just lay around the house with my head perched over the air vent“hogging”all the cool air from the air conditioner. I love the fall and really love this time of year – the winter. When I go for my daily walk I usually make several “doggy snow angels”. Anyone that lives down by me probably has seen my creative art 12
work around the block. My days are spent going to the office with Dad,sitting in my favorite overstuffed blue chair and keeping watch over the neighborhood throughout the day. When mom comes home from work, we go on our walk so that I build up an appetite. Who knows what the supper table scraps will bring!! One of my bad habits is to sneak around when the guys are having band practice and pick up their beer bottles. I tip my old head back and drain the remains if they let me. I have to be careful to not get caught. One of my favorite beers is Fat Squirrel by New Glarus Brewing. Then I’m down for a long nap for the evening. (Mom and dad say I snore atrociously.) Hi, I’m the 5 year old chunky Springer Spaniel, Duncan. I’m named after Duncan McCloud of the television show, Highlander. I pretty much do what my brother Bailey does. He has always been my mentor. I had 9 siblings in my family and some of them come over frequently to visit. In fact we usually get together with about 3 or 4 of them at our house on Easter! What a day this is. I like to be with my dad. In fact I am never more than a few feet from him at any given time. I lay on the couch in his office and stare at him while he works. With these big sad eyes, I am always guaranteed a hug or pet every hour or so. Everyone makes fun of me because of my weight – what can I say, my brother Bailey has a drinking problem and I have an eating issue. Dad says I’m kind of goofy. People will be at our house
for 10 or 15 minutes and I am fine with them, then all of a sudden I forget and start to bark at them. Must be my short memory span. When the guys from Nashville come to see us, Peter Cooper and Eric Brace,they always laugh at me when I do this to them! In fact they leave the room and then come back in just to make me bark. Must be Southern humor????? I’m Mulder the cat, I’m spoiled and that is fine with me. How’s that for a cat attitude? I am named after Fox Mulder from The X-Files. I am actually 11 years old and do indeed live a life of leisure. I do eat Fancy Feast, yes out of a crystal bowl like the cats on television. In fact, mom will open a couple different cans of food if I don’t like the first choice she gives me. I too get a kitty treat at the same time the other two get their milk bones. If they forget me,I remind them with that subtle little meow. I expect my mom to hold me every night, as this is just part of my daily routine. I am pretty much mom’s cat, but when mom is gone or has to travel, I can be nice to Dad. I have a couple of kitty condos around the house where I lay and soak up the sun, and Duncan and I share the bed at night with mom and dad. I do love my two dog brothers, I even forget sometimes that I am a cat, and I just blend in with Bailey and Duncan when they go outside! What a great household!!!! Written by: Joyce Ziehli Photos by: Andy Ziehli w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
a TIME FOR REFLECTIONS... Vera Caravello passed away on Halloween. She wasn’t a famous musician or artist. I don’t think that she ever played in a club in her entire life which was 90 years long. She was a multi-instrumentalist that played the accordion, organ, piano, concertina, and guitar. She was self taught on all of them. She was an excellent artist who drew and painted freehand everything from farm landscapes to animals. Her works did not hang in museums or galleries, but instead in homes of her grandchildren and friends. She had a lovely singing voice, and a knack for changing lyrics in songs that became family classics such as Out Behind The Barn. With her sisters she entertained all at family gatherings, reunions, and house parties. With her late husband Steve she would play for hours and sing as he accompanied her on the concertina in their kitchen. Vera was my aunt. Most guys get into music to pick up girls. I got into music to be able to play music with my Aunts in the family band at those house parties and reunions. I couldn’t wait for the annual family reunion to be able to her them play and sing along with my cousin Dale. They played old country standards like Old Shep, Out Behind The Barn, Looking Back To See, and my favorite Church in the Little Green Valley. My Aunt Rose taught me my first guitar chords, and I still play G with my thumb hooked over the top of the neck like she taught me. My Aunt Dorothy owned a genuine old Wisconsin Supper Club with the knotty pine walls where when I got good enough I played my first professional job with my band. She would also belt out a tune. My Aunt Carol sang the heck out of Hank Williams and even a Merle Haggard tune once in a while. My grandma and my aunt Margie would sing harmonies most of the time. Aunt Vera would play the melody and keep everyone in time. These four women taught me more about making music and enjoying music than anyone I have ever known. Vera taught my mom to dance
who passed this treasure on to all of us kids and our spouses. These same women influenced my mom to play the piano and she passed this onto me. As I get older and start reflecting back on my life and what I have accomplished, I owe all my talents and artistic skills to a group of self taught very talented women who have had one of the greatest impacts on my life. I am a writer and musician because my mom, grandma, and my aunts nurtured it. They gave me the inspiration to be creative. They always encouraged me to be a musician and writer, and because of this I live a life today that most people would love to be able to do. I am a musician, writer, and poet. I don’t punch a clock. I don’t report to anyone (except Joyce of course), and I get to be creative everyday. How cool is that! I guess what I’m really trying to say here is that being an artist is not something that just happens to someone. It is something that is instilled into you by people who love and care for you. It is a gift from someone to you, a gift that you need to recognize and nurture into others when you see it. Talent is just a word unless there is something backing it beyond 8 hours of practice a day. Love and encouragement from those you love and care for goes way beyond all the music lessons in the world. I was very fortunate to have that love and encouragement from my grandma and her sisters. It is something I never take for granted, and something that inspires me everyday. So to Grandma Delta, Mother Rosemary, Aunts-Vera, Dorothy, Rose, Margie, and Carol thank you for the gift you gave me. I hope I have and will continue to use it wisely. I pass it on every chance I get. I hope you are proud of me, and I hope that I have brought as much joy to others as I received from listening to your music and stories. Mom, I hope too that I use the gift of words from you wisely and I make you proud. Without the love and support of all of you Joyce and I would have never been able to start this magazine and continue to be inspired to do so. Thank you all. To all of our readers thank you for making the Americana Gazette such a success. I hope you have a blessed holiday season. I hope too that you can find someone to inspire you to accomplish all your dreams. God bless Andy Ziehli
The Best of Country Living
At the edge of the town where I live stands an old abandoned farm house. Its doors and windows have been boarded up, and the paint has peeled from the exterior long ago.The land is prime land for developers.The owner, for his own reasons,refuses to sell. I have always been curious about this house. I wonder what secrets of living its walls could reveal? The following is my interpretation of what this house stood for when it was in its prime. I call it THE BEST OF COUNTRY LIVING. The house sat back from the road by a stand of trees. It had once been white clapboard, but through neglect and the elements of the weather, the siding was chipped and the color in places had turned slate gray. A big lilac bush remained in the front yard. In the spring its blooms ran from a light lavender to a deep purple.Its fragrance was heady in the morning breeze. Orange day lilies, Queen Anne lace, and Black-eyed Susan’s made their appearance in the proper season in the field beyond the house. The house once had a summer kitchen in the rear. A big black cook stove provided the means for baking and cooking. On a hot summer day the smell of bread baking and pies cooling, wafted through the open windows. There was a porch to the front of the house. During the summer evening hours, when the days work was finished, a woman sat in a rocking chair holding her youngest. She sang to the child as she slept in her arms. On the steps a man sat, softly playing tunes on a harmonica as the woman hummed to the child.The rest of the children played in the yard catching fireflies in a mason jar borrowed from the kitchen. When fall came the big black cook stove was dismantled and moved into the other kitchen in the house.It was blackened and polished and made ready for the coming cold season. Water warmed in its reservoir to be used when needed for washing dishes, and other household chores. Apples were picked and wrapped in newspaper and packed in crocks and barrels.These were savored for long winter continued on page 29
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dition of“Joy to the World.” My mom & I always dance around like idiots & sing opera-style as off-key as we possibly can until my Dad & sister start throwing ornaments at us to make us stop. We think we’re hilarious.
OUR FAVORITE SOUNDS OF THE HOLIDAY. . . . . . . This issue of Women in the Round consists of a survey completed by a couple of women on their favorite sounds of the holiday. I hope after you read this, you will find some new holiday music to check out! (I had asked several others to complete the survey, but they must already be caught up with the Holiday rush!!!!) 1. Please introduce yourself. Tell me who you are, what you do for a living and a little bit about yourself. RH – Rosalie Huntington: I am Rosalie Huntington and I live in New Glarus, with my partner for 18 years, Ron Kittleson. I grew up on a farm near Darlington,WI, and grew up with a father that played the fiddle and a mom that played a 12-bass accordion. I was the oldest of 5, 3 of who are now deceased. I have a sister that lives in Darlington. My employment was on a part-time basis until my 2 girls graduated high school. I had always worked in the medical field as a secretary and ended my career by working at home the last 10 years as a medical transcriptionist. I began piano lessons at the age of 6 and took lessons until I was 13. I play the piano,the church organ,and the accordion. BK – Beth Kille: I’m Beth Kille, I’m a Wisconsinite, but currently living in HoustonTX while my husband completes some training for his job. I have a part-time consulting job that helps pay the bills,but I am currently a full-time songwriter! I fronted a 6-piece rock band from Madison called Clear Blue Betty for 6 years,but left them behind in WI, so I guess I am a solo act now. My goal is to get a staff writing deal at a Nashville publishing company so I can make a living doing what I’m obsessed with! 14
2. Do you enjoy listening to Holiday music? If not, why? How does it make you feel? RH - I thoroughly enjoy listening to holiday music; I love the Christmas season and the warmth and traditional memories the music/season evoke--a time spent with family and friends and school and Sunday school plays. BK – In limited amounts! I wish they wouldn’t start playing Xmas carols before Thanksgiving in the malls. I would say it makes me feel festive! 3. What is your favorite holiday CD and who is the performing artist? RH - My favorite holiday CD is "Goin' Home for Christmas" by Merle Haggard. BK – Lord, I have no idea what the albums are called, but my parents have been playing the same Christmas records when we decorate the tree every year, pretty much since I was born! They finally put them on cassette-tape after their record player burned out a few years back –haven’t quite made it to CDs yet! They had all these great compilation albums with artists like Julie Andrews & Tony Bennett. It’s all old school Christmas for me! 4. Why is this your favorite holiday CD? RH - First of all, Merle Haggard is an all-time favorite of mine, and I thoroughly enjoy all 10 songs that are on the CD. BK – These are the only holiday albums I’ve really ever listened to! Oh, wait! Last year, Jake Johnson of Paradyme Productions made a GREAT Xmas compilation album with all local artists –I guess I’ll change my answer & say that’s my favorite. I just loved that it had all these great Madison writers pouring their hearts into it. 5. Which song on the CD is your favorite and why? RH -The title song,"Goin' Home for Christmas," again, because of the memories it brings to mind.
6. How does music fit into your holiday celebrations? RH - I am one of 4 pianists/organists at our church here in New Glarus, and I very much enjoy singing the familiar Christmas carols and accompanying the choir as they sing songs of Christmas. BK –Really, I only listen when decorating the tree. Or when I’m forced to in the mall. 7. What is your favorite old time Christmas Carol? RH - "Silent Night." BK – The Little Drummer Boy – I’m serious! It’s not just because I’m married to a drummer. 8. If you and your family could spend Christmas with a musical artist, who would it be? RH - Merle Haggard. BK – Uh,I have no idea,I don’t know if I’d want to subject anyone I’m not related to by blood to that….next question! 9. If you could suggest some great holiday listening music (CD’s) for people to buy, who would be included on this list? RH - Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, and Suzy Bogguss ("Two Steppin" Around the Christmas Tree") BK – I highly recommend Paradyme Production’s compilation album from last year – there are great tunes on there from artists like Mark Croft, Jessi Lynn & Rob Dz – oh, and of course Clear Blue Betty! 10. What would be your holiday greeting that you would like to share with our readers? (Other than the usual World Peace.) RH - In this season of warmth and tradition, let us not forget Christ, the reason behind our celebration. BK - I just wish everyone health, joy & love in their lives! Story by: Joyce Ziehli
BK –My favorite song off the “old-school” albums of my parents is this Opera-singers renw w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
1/2 Notes... continued from page 3
NSAI - Nashville Songwriters Association is conducting monthly NSAI meetings at Paradyme Productions at their studios on West Washington Ave. in Madison.This not-for-profit trade association serves as the advocate for the songwriting profession on the international, state and local levels.These monthly meetings offer local songwriters of all genres a platform to perform new material in front of a group of peers and receive critiques from industry professionals. Please stop in and check out this great networking opportunity. You can find more information about NSAI at www.nashvillesongwriters.com. The next meeting is on December 13th at 10:30 am. Folklore Village presents the 61st Annual Christmas & Midwinter Traditions. Ongoing events from a traditional tea ceremony, song & dance, juggling and various workshops to a Christmas Festival auction and a NewYears Eve supper & ball. Call with questions & pricing 608.924.4000 or e-mail at staff@folklorevillage.org HARMONIOUS WAIL is playing the Stoughton Opera House on FEB 6th, 2009 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15 at $1www.wail.com. If you are not familiar with this great band or are new to the area Harmonious Wail is about the sound, and what a sound it is--a mixture of swing, jazz, solo singing and vocal harmonies, with a touch of blues and scat peeking out every now and then. This talented swinging group preserves and presents a multitude of musical styles from the 30s, 40s and 50s.The Wail plays everything from swing standards like "Tico Tico" and Stuff Smith’s "It Ain’t Right" to classics like "Exactly Like You," "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and "How High the Moon" with style and timeless grace. Check them out, you won’t be sorry. Beau Geste Productions has annoused the new lineup for Joel Pingitore and the Playground of Sound. This fine Blues Band is fronted by the talented guitarist Joel Pingitore. If you like Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and good ole straight blues music you’ll love these guys. The bands lineup is as follows: • Joel Pingitore: Guitar Joel Brantmeier: Drums Frank Queram: Bass Brad Reichert:Vocals also Tony DiPofi fills in Vocals &Harp when Brad can't make gigs. Upcoming shows to see this talented group while you’re still able to see them playing clubs are The Cadillac Joe Benefit at the High Noon Saloon on Dec. 26th, the US Masters Night at Stella's in Stoughton on Dec 27th, and New Years Eve at Toffler's in New Glarus.
Nashville Songwriter Honors Fallen Police Officers With a Song A Meaningful Request from my Friend I don't know if you will have any space in your paper or if I can afford it but Derick Schumacher from Nashville wrote a song & dedicated it to fallen police officers and their families and if you could mention it with the website www.inmemoryofthem.net that would be good. I listened to it and thought it was moving and meaningful to survivors. Proceeds from downloading the song ($1.49) go to the COPS organization which benefits the survivors of officers killed in the line of duty. See the following message that was forwarded to me. Your friend, Dottie
From Derik: "I wanted to tell you that my new single http://www.inmemoryofthem.net "In Memory Of" has been nationally approved and endorsed by C.O.P.S. http://www.nationalcops.org (Concerns Of Police Survivors). To learn more about C.O.P.S.please visit our links page or go directly to www.nationalcops.org Proceeds from the single are being used nationwide to help fund the many programs that their organization has to aid the survivors of Officers killed in the line of Duty. WE shot a video in November and the video will be available for purchase and used as another fundraising tool for the organization and also as part of a nationwide drive to reach out to those who may not have heard of C.O.P.S. We also have the song for sale at www.inmemoryofthem.net . Survivors are able to tell their stories of their Hero at www.inmemoryofthem.net/blog . It also provides a sounding board for survivors and other organizations to share resources, ask questions, and see that these people were not only great representatives of Law Enforcement, but also extraordinary members of society.
:H DGYRFDWH IRU WKH DUWV :H GHOLYHU ZRUNVKRSV DQG HGXFDWLRQDO offerings on entrepreneurial skill topics :H IRVWHU FRPPXQLFDWLRQ DPRQJ artists and arts groups via email updates containing information about grants, workshops, and opportunities. 2XU RQ OLQH GLUHFWRU\ RI DUWLVWV KHOSV creative entrepreneurs increase their visibility. $UWV%XLOG LV FRPSOHWHO\ IUHH WR MRLQ
Carol Spelic 608.342.1314 spelicc@uwplatt.edu
15%
DISCOUNT
On your first recording project!
Thank You for your consideration and we here at Bull River Records and C.O.P.S. wish you the best!" 313 East Church Street • Belleville, WI 53508 Derik Schumacher
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played the music he loved. But he did not play modern country, which was to be made clear, when he was asked what his opinion on today’s music he said, “Modern country music seems to be getting away from what country music used to be”. I started this meeting with the age old question, “Why did you start playing guitar?” “I learned guitar to satisfy myself” were the opening words on this brisk November day. I sat at the kitchen table of Arnie Alme, “The Grandfather of Country Music in Southern Wisconsin” and listened intently as he told his stories. But Arnie never aimed for the name that he made for himself today, he only started playing for himself, for the selfsatisfaction of it. He had no dreams of being Johnny Cash or Hank Williams.
GRANDFATHER OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC COMMUNITY - BELLEVILLE, WISCONSIN
Arnie Alme As I walked up to the country home of area-music legend Arnie Alme, I was nervous. Though, I thought it was justified. Arnie’s name has been on the lips of the music scene since the late 1940’s, but not only the music scene’s, but on everyone’s lips. Whenever anyone speaks of local music, Arnie’s name is brought up and it’s always with a tone of admiration. For over fifty years Arnie has brought his version of country, or western as he likes to call it, to Southern Wisconsin. At one point Windy Whitford, of the Goose Island Ramblers, said that Alme “was one of the last Western singers around”, but no matter who he played with or at what point he was in his career, Arnie always 16
Born into a musical family, he was bound to play some instrument, some day. But it all started by the influence of his parents, his father played fiddle while his mother played piano, and listening to the radio. “We had those old 32 volt radios and they would play clear as a bell up until like midnight. We’d get stations like Del Rio, Texas. All this was cowboy music, and that’s what got me interested.” As a child Arnie would carry a harmonica or mouth harp in his pocket, or dabble on the accordion left by Santa. And he even began yodeling. “We lived next door to some Swiss people, so Swiss yodeling was the first type of yodeling I picked up, and then I would hear the cowboys on the radio, and learned to do it that way.” He loved to hear artists like Slim Ryan Heart, Rhett Foley, and his favorite, Rex Allen come streaming over the airwaves and find their home in his radio. But it wouldn’t be until 1945, at the age of nineteen that he would begin to start playing guitar himself. After about four or five years of practice Arnie began to play out with the mentoring of a friend who had recently moved back to the area. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
Among his first shows were a couple of talent contests held in the Brooklyn Community Hall. When I asked if he had won, he threw two fingers into the air and proudly declared, “I got second!” After a few of these smaller shows, a close musician friend of Arnie’s encouraged him to try out for the traveling show that he was also part of, entitled “John Deere Days”. So, Arnie went and auditioned and was immediately hired. This troupe of performers, about twelve or thirteen acts, would travel around Southern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and some of Iowa going from dealer to dealer. But due to the owner becoming ill, Arnie was only able to tour for about two years, and it was back home he went. But that was only a small setback in the story. Soon he was out playing again, but not only at clubs, fairs, or bars. He covered all forms of media. Arnie appeared on a few TV shows, including the Dick Sherwood Show, but he also found his way back to his roots and what started it all, the radio. “We had a radio show on WIBA for thirteen weeks, that’s the way they would set up their shows, thirteen weeks at a time and four a year. Well, we were on for thirteen weeks, every Saturday morning”. But he didn’t do all this alone. Bands were an important part of Arnie’s musical career, and he has been in more than can be counted. As I sat there in amazement, Arnie called off a long list of names of the people he has played with. Some names were familiar and some were not, but all had made an impression on Arnie. “You have to have three or four guys that get along, and let me tell ya, that doesn’t happen in every band.” And as Arnie played with more and more people, his playing area got larger and larger. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
When I asked what his favorite memory was from playing all of those years, I was surprised when he said that they were all good, he couldn’t ever remember a bad show. And I’m sure that most musicians would be envious about never having a bad night. He did talk of one year at the Belleville Community Picnic, “I remember one year a storm came up after we had got all of our instruments set up, and it got so dark and looked so terrible that they shut down the whole show and everyone got kicked out of the park, but we just sat in the beer tent for the night”. Even though he didn’t have a favorite memory from a show, he did have a favorite place to play. “If I had to pick a favorite spot it would have to be Argyle, the Norseman. The acoustics in there were the best that we had ever played in. It was just something about the way it was built. I liked that better than being in a radio studio”. Now there was one thing that stayed constant throughout his career and that was the use of his famous guitar. It was a 1954 Fender Stratocaster. This guitar must have caught a few peoples’ eyes because I had heard about this guitar long before I met Arnie. When he brought it out for photos, I got a very good look at it. It was baby blue and looked like it had plenty of years of use. But Arnie was proud of it and held it well. As he sat back down recording was brought up. Arnie has recorded only a few times in his long career, but both brought up stories, but overall, Arnie wasn’t “overwhelmed with joy” to be recording, but he went through with it. He even recorded at the bowling alley in New Glarus. Some people would have gotten sick of music long ago, but Arnie still loves it, if it’s the right kind that is. So as he sat with his guitar in hand, the reason he didn’t play anymore was brought up. In 2006 Arnie had a stroke and since has found playing the guitar to be difficult. “The fingers don’t work anymore after that stroke. Not like they used to. They know what to do, but they won’t do it. The dexterity is not what it
used to be by any means, but it might get better if I started playing. Maybe with winter coming on I’ll have a little more time to work at it.” And as he said this he played a few notes on the guitar and put it down. As I got up to leave he said, “You know, I don’t really miss playing the shows, what I miss is playing for myself” Another thing, besides the guitar that has stayed constant throughout his career, the reason for playing, self-satisfaction. Written by: Rob Kosmeder Photos by: Lynn Nimsomboon
Editor’s note: A few years ago the local Belleville Musicians gave Arnie a plaque commemorating his contribution to the Belleville Music and Country Music in Southern Wisconsin. I had the honor of helping present the award to Arnie, a memory I will always cherish. It has always been a true honor to be able to share the stage with Arnie as any local musician will tell you. I have had that honor many times in the last 35 years. Arnie has always been very supportive to all the “young” guys who started bands in this area. If Arnie liked what you did you knew you were on the right track. Once in a lifetime a person and musician like Arnie comes along. Someone to be admired, respected, and emulated. God knows all of “us” Country musicians here in Southern Wisconsin do all three whenever Arnie’s name is mentioned and every time we take the stage. Hat’s off to you Arnie, the Grandfather of Country Music in Southern Wisconsin!) Andy Ziehli
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BlackWaterGin Rockin’ The Club Tavern As I entered the Club Tavern for the first time in many years, a familiar gravely voice called out my name. It was Moose himself. After a hardy handshake and a few laughs Moose said I hear that you came tonight to interview this great band BlackWaterGin (BWG). I answered “that’s why I’m here”. Moose then informed me that they were a superb band and to “do them right” in my interview. Well Moose here you go, as right as rain and with no holds bared Joyce and I sat and talked to BWG and found out what makes them tick and their burning desire to create a long lasting musical enterprise. The interview took place in the back room as it is called in the Club Tavern, a quaint booth away from the crowded dining room. After they finished their sound check we sat down with Chris Meudt (drums), Julie DeVoss (Lead Guitar), and Ethan Cox (Rhythm Guitar & Lead Vocals), newest member Hoyt O’Brien (Bass), and Julie Meudt (Manager) for a rousing discussion on Country Music and how BWG plans to change it. AG: How did you come up with the name BlackWaterGin? Ethan: It came about from a song Ethan had written about a guy that lives in the swamp and makes this bootleg gin. We originally just had 18
the name Black Water but did not want to be associated with the Merc’s under the same name operating in Iraq so we added the Gin to be different. AG: During the sound check Julie filled me in on a few details such as the fact that they have been together for about 9 months and had gone through a couple of bass players before you settled on Hoyt. She also told me that all of you except Ethan have played in bands before. Can you give me a little more individual background on each of you? Chris: Hoyt and I have played together on many projects dating back to the early 80’s. Those were mostly Rock & Roll projects. Julie was involved in the 90’s with Hoyt and I in a band called the Edge. She had been a solo act before that.
Julie: I had been in a Hard Rock Band in the 80’s down in Dubuque. After that I did not play for quite a while because I was busy raising my sons. My son started playing and that made me really want to get back into it again. I was always interested in playing guitar. ACDC was and is my biggest influence in wanting to play. I love that Angus Young guitar style. After I got back into playing I was in a band with another women and the band was called Goldie Rocks. It was an 80’s cover band; you know big hair and all. Chris: I started playing in middle school marching band banging on the bass drum. I played in a number of Rock bands in my youth. We had a band called Slammer that was pretty good at the time. It was a Hard Rock Band playing Judas Priest material. Then I played in a Band named the Edge with Julie and Hoyt. The Edge w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
I sang in the choir and played in the band in High School where I played the trumpet. I was a terrible music student because I was self-taught. I was always last chair until the end of the year, by then I had figured out the songs. I have always written songs. I had to finally learn to play the guitar so I could put music to them. I just have a constant over active imagination. I can sit and write all day long.
was more of a Pop band. It seemed that after each band would end there would be about a five year hiatus between ending and starting a new one. The first band I was in before BWG was a band with Hoyt called the Hellbilly’s. We played Alt-country material. We lasted about 5 years and that too ended. After that I did freelance work in Madison filling in. That involved playing rock and blues. After about five years I found myself in Central America on vacation and got involved playing with a band in a resort whose drummer did not show up. It started me wanting to play again. When I got back Julie called me up and said she had found this “Country” thing named Ethan and he was the real deal. We started jamming with some other folks but came away not being real happy with the results. For a long time it was just the three of us and then we found a bass player, then another, and finally I talked Hoyt into coming back and playing. I have a son that is a drummer. There are a lot of drummers in my family. My brother and nephew are drummers in Minneapolis. I think it’s genetic!
I met Julie just jammin around Dodgeville and she said she knew this drummer. So we called up Chris and got together and started jamming. I had never done that before so it is a constant learning experience for me. We have all these different musical influences going through this band with Rock, Country, and Blues. I grew up not far from where John Mellencamp is from so he was a huge influence on me. My writing really depends on the kind of mood I’m in. These guys add in their parts and make the songs complete. They add their own flair to the songs. That’s the coolest part about writing songs is hearing the finished product after everyone adds their part. I do most of the writing. Sometimes they say I write too much. They think it would work out better if I strapped a tape recorder to my head to catch it all.
Hoyt: I’ve been playing around Southern Wisconsin since the mid 80’s. This probably is the 15th band I’ve been in. I just joined this group two weeks ago. I had one practice and then they threw me to the wolves! A baptism by fire they keep telling me. AG: I understand that you guys played over 50 jobs this summer which is incredible especially for a new band. How are you going to follow that up next year? Julie: I see it growing with fewer jobs but better exposure from those jobs. AG: Do you all have full time “real” jobs or is this how you make your livings? Julie: Everybody has day jobs. Getting back to the name of the band when they were looking for a name I told them it should have Country cogitation to it and some bite to it too. They can play it all from old country to alt-country, blues, rock & roll, and folk, but they had their own twist to it and that’s what makes it unique. That’s the point I sell to the customers when booking the band. AG: You are working in the studio right now; can you tell us about it? Chris: We are recording a demo at MMI’s studio. We are trying to finish that up so we have something to use as a promotional tool. What we were trying to do this summer was whip the band into shape and the only way to do that is to get out and play. You learn while you’re playing. You get used to each other and learn to read each other on stage. That helps continued on page 29
I have a three year-old son who has a drum set. Mostly he plays the cymbal. I don’t know what he’ll evolve into as a musician. I’ll probably wait a week or two before I ask him to commit to anything (everyone laughs).
Ethan: I started singing when I was real young. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
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Roy Elkins of Broadjam: “T he Pa t ri a rch of I n d i e Music Online”
His first musical love was the Hammond organ, an interest that eventually led him into the business of music technology. Roy Elkins is the Founder and CEO of Broadjam, Inc. a Madison based company that serves independent musicians and industry giants. Elkins began his career as a musician, playing the Hammond and early synthesizers in bands around the Midwest while in his teens and twenties. He left for the warmer climate of Memphis, finding work in retail music sales. At the request of Ensoniq Corporation, a manufacturer of synth and digital sampler technology, he relocated to Washington D.C. to work in the largest musical instrument store in the world. Elkins became Ensoniq's top salesperson and was subsequently hired by Ensoniq to build and create their training program. At Ensoniq, he ran many projects including artist relations where his client list developed into a who’s who in the music industry. Elkins joined the fledgling Sonic Foundry in 1997 as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Roy was responsible for raising sales revenues to $20 million in two-and-a-half years. He started with a sales and marketing staff of five at Sonic Foundry and built the department into a team of sixty. Roy also successfully managed and established the European operations headquartered in Amsterdam. Elkins is a very community minded entrepreneur serving on many boards. His charitable work can only be summed up as “spectacular” in comparison to most CEO’s in Southern Wisconsin. The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) is a great example of his charitable work. He has been the Chairman of the MAMA’s since 2003. His work ethic and his drive to get Indie musicians heard, along with the MAMA’s mission to bring instruments to kids is a glowing example of desire to help others. His company, Broadjam, provides technology services to 90,000 artists from 190 countries and major industry players such as the Academy of Country Music and Warner Chappell. They have always been on the cutting edge of the internet music industry and have 20
recently launched new technology which peaked our curiosity. Elkins was kind enough to grant us an interview in October 2008. He is articulate, focused, but very “laid back”in his style of management. He has a great sense of humor and is a fantastic interview. I hope you enjoy it. AG: What’s new at Broadjam in 2008? Elkins: In the past year, we have nearly rebuilt the entire website from the ground up. In August, we launched a new look to the site along with a very unique social network. The social networking component of Broadjam enables a member to share their activities with their friends. So if you’re a band who has 1,000 connections and you upload a gig, your contacts are immediately notified. If you’re a fan of music and you listen to some great songs, then your contacts are notified as well. So anytime there is activity in your account, such as song, gig and photo uploads or song and video streams, your friends can know about it if you chose. It is very viral, because it spreads from friend to friend. It all starts at your profile page and can be very addicting as well. Everyday, I am turned on to new music that one of my connections heard first. Without this system, it’s likely I would have never heard it. Also, there are many sites that promote free music. Once you get inside, you realize that you have to pay. Free songs at Broadjam are exactly that. We ask for your email address, a password and your age (required by law). Once we have that you can start acquiring free
songs directly from the artist. We just launched this recently and over 800 artists are already providing free songs to fans. AG: How many members does Broadjam presently have? Elkins: We currently have over 90,000 members worldwide from 190 countries. In Wisconsin there are 2700 members of Broadjam of which 1200 are from the Madison area. We stream 10,000 songs everyday from co-located servers in 100 cities worldwide. There are 3040 new members signing up everyday. AG: You started in 1999, are any of your competitors still in business? Elkins: I did start the company in 1999 in New Glarus, WI., but it did not launch on the web until 2000. I was told a while back that we are the only Internet Music business still in business that was in business when we started. I’m w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
not sure how accurate that is,but the ones that I’m aware of have liquidated, changed their model or closed their doors. Regardless, we worry about only Broadjam. With that said, the internet music space still is in its infancy and there are many new ones entering everyday. AG: Let’s jump back to the free songs for Are a second. artists restricted to giving only one song away? Elkins: Yes, we discourage mass free downloads because we don’t want an artist to give away their whole catalog. Your free song will hopefully be a lost leader to the rest of your catalog, similar to the way radio currently is for the labels. At some point in the future, we may change this policy. It is a great selling tool and allows for many artists to be heard by a lot of people. AG: How does an artist or band know what kinds of people are listening to their material on Broadjam? Elkins: With Broadjam you are immediately contacted when someone downloads your songs. AG: Have any members of Broadjam had success in the national market? Elkins: Many have. Numerous writers have been connected and signed to publishing deals, others have music in video games and many TV shows as well.We have had artists sell songs to America’s Funniest Home Video’s,MTV Road Rules,All My Children,Lifetime Network,movie soundtracks and other artists as well. What I am really proud of is the fact that artists from all over the world are networking and writing songs together because of the connections they made through Broadjam. That means that collaborations from 190 countries are being formed and occurring everyday on the site. The possibilities of the creative process growing exponentially from this are mind boggling. AG: There is another side of business to Broadjam that most artists are probably not aware of, the Consulting side. Can you tell our readers about it? Elkins: Several years ago, we decided to start w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
another group in our business and license the technologies from our core business. One of our strengths is metadata management. Metadata is data about data. We analyze songs and determine the tempo, the gender of the vocal, the genre, subject matter, mood and many other characteristics. We are hired by publishing and record companies to catalog all of this information for use on their websites. We do this for organizations like Warner Chapell Music which is one of the world’s largest publishing companies. One of our other core technologies is our song review and voting mechanism. Our largest client is the Academy of Country Music. We manage their website and manage the electronic voting process. We even prepare the envelopes and personally hand them to the presenters at the awards show which airs on CBS in the spring. Broadjam has been doing this for six years along with the management and tabulation of major and regional song writing contestants. In addition to managing the voting at the show, we host a contest on our website and five of our country songwriters attend the show and we arrange face-to-face meetings with some of the key publishers in the industry. So far, several of these writers have had songs signed to publishing deals and soon we’ll see one on a record. We do not take any consulting work that does not benefit or promote our core business which is to help musicians get their music heard. AG: What do you attribute your success to?
AG: As a leader you have a vision which is very clear, with a vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. How do you relate that to your employees? Elkins: You have to not fret or regret mistakes. You cannot let emotion take over your thought process. If you spend your time thinking about your past, that’s where you’re going to end up. The past is just a guideline. To be a good leader and entrepreneur you never ask permission, just ask for forgiveness. And most importantly, jump off the board and throw the hose in the pool while you’re in the air. Eventually you learn how to land and get more comfortable jumping off again. AG: Good advice. I wish I had that kind of courage. Elkins: It’s not so much courage as it is drive. I wake up every morning with a ton of ideas but I’m cautious about which ones to bring to the attention of my staff. It’s very easy to get de-focused in a company like ours, so I try hard to think through most of the ideas before presenting them. But the good thing about our staff is that they let me know when they think an idea is not up to par. AG: Any new ideas from this process you can let us in on? Elkins: We are always thinking of the future here. We have entertained the idea of publishing group at Broadjam, but have decided to hold that thought for awhile. Broadjam is always trying to improve our processes and delivery systems. We don’t want artists and bands to have a bad experience with us so we are constantly working on and becoming the industry leader in customer service. All in all we strive to be the best, not the biggest. AG: Thanks so much for your time and the insight into Broadjam.
Elkins: It would be a couple of things. One, I try to hire the right people. That is so important. I want people who are excited about music, who are technologically literate, and who fit into our corporate culture. We have a very laidback relaxed culture on the surface, but the expectations are high and we spend lots of hours getting it right.
Elkins: You’re welcome.
Secondly,we are extremely focused but nimble enough to adapt and change if needed. We are very good at being able to deal with the many hurdles that have been thrown at us.
Written by: Andy Ziehli Photos supplied
Elkins is also a renowned producer who takes on one or two projects a year. Recently he co-produced Jimmy Voegeli’s album, F is for the Blues. This past year he produced the selftitled album from Fedora of Monroe, WI. You can check out their CD review in this issue.
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Point 5 at the Royal Inn Point 5 is an Americana Acoustic Band from Mineral Point that really rocks! They started the evening with Steve Earle’s City of Immigrants and played it f lawlessly. The first set of the evening they were short their lead guitarist who had car trouble. Their song selection was excellent and the packed house really was into Point 5. Point 5’s harmonies were incredible. Husband and wife members Aaron and Monica Dunn sing very well together. It is hard not to compare them to Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, or Buddy and Julie Miller. Aaron plays rhythm guitar and he and Monica both sing lead vocals. Monica’s vocal style fits the material played perfectly. She has a very nice high voice not unlike Fayssoux McLean or Emmylou Harris. The fine song selection of Folk, Celtic, No Depression, and Americana music was presented to a crowd that was more than receptive. Multi-instrumentalist Paul Biere is a standout musician who is equally at home playing the fiddle, mandolin, tenor banjo, and he also sang a few lead vocals very well. Bassist Carole Spelicc is very competent on the standup bass. She 22
kept the pace of the songs right at the meter, and her smile was a ref lection from the upbeat crowd. Throughout the evening their song selection hit a note with the crowd. This comes from practice and knowing what the crowd is into. Biere's fiery solos and excellence on the many instruments that he plays adds a texture to their music that other bands do not have. The band circles around a single mic to play and sing and this made for a very cool sound. Everything was well balanced and the volume was perfect for the room. The second set lead guitarist Dave Irwin joined them and they went to a more traditional four mic set up, which made for a different sound than their first set. Personally I liked the first mic set up better. Irwin is a very talented guitarist whose finger and f lat picking fit each song perfectly depending on what style he chose for each song. I really liked their sound and was impressed with the songs chosen by Point 5 which included material by Whiskytown, The Greencards, Kate Campbell, Gillian Welch, John Hiatt and Vance Gilbert, as well as rollicking jam-based covers of Gomez, Ryan Adams, Nickel Creek, and Alison Krauss and Union Station.
The room itself deserves some press. It is a large room with very high ceilings, a large fireplace, and a beautiful wood framed oversized window that looked out upon High Street in Downtown Mineral Point. The dark stained wood f loor showed the scars of years of dances and community gatherings. The smell of a Wisconsin Fish Fry drifted through the air adding to the character of this stately venue. A perfect place to hear great music. The crowd itself was made up of mostly 30 something’s and boomers on the verge of retiring. This was a very eclectic group of individuals with a taste for good beer, fine wines, and aromatic strong coffee drinks. The dress of the crowd was upscale hippy. Young and old really enjoyed the music. A good room deserves a great band to play in it and Point 5 filled the bill. Point 5 performs regularly at several local venues, including the Spring Green General Store, Mineral Point Historical Society’s summer “Jammin’ on the Porch” series, and The Old Royal Inn in Mineral Point. They have a website at pointfiveband.com. Please take the time to check them out when they play in your area or make the trip to Mineral Point to hear them. You won’t be sorry. Written and photos by: Andy Ziehli
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Byrne & Schmidt, they’re not lawyers, but they are solicitors of humor! Now I’m a sucker for good “one-liners”. You know the kind that get you right in the kidney and drop you to your knees in hysterical pain gripping laughter. Rodney Dangerfield comedy, Stooges, Bugs Bunny, Monty Python, and Byrne and Schmidt humor. Byrne and Schmidt you ask, who are they? Well let me tell you! Byrne and Schmidt are the brains, brawn, and humor of the Raspberries greeting card line. You know the hilarious cards with the over exaggerated features that are fastley becoming a favorite internationally. Jim Byrne and Dennis Schmidt are two Wisconsin guys who grew up on a steady diet of cartoons, Mad Magazine, rubber chickens, and whoopee cushions. They came together in the early nineties to create a line of cards that were sold to small retail outlets that featured one-line humor with a sketch to go with it. Today they sell over 700,000 cards a year throughout the U.S., Australia, and Europe. From their humble beginnings with 12 Xeroxed copies of sketches Schmidt created, from Byrnes comic lines to national licensing and distribution through Recycled Paper Greeting Cards, they have paved a new path in an industry that is very unforgiving. Byrne and Schmidt got together as college students working at a bar where Byrne was a waiter and Schmidt a bartender. They would come up with one-liners and Schmidt would draw sketches to them between drink orders. A co-worker suggested that they start a greeting card company. They thought that there was money to be made, so with a $10,000.00 loan from Firststar Bank they entered the high pressure world of Greeting Cards. On a rainy November morning I met the two at the Fat Cat Coffee Works in New Glarus for an exhilarating laugh filled morning of stories, tall tales, and humorous antidotes. Let me tell you that if these guys ever get on TV,we are all in for side aches and hiccups from laughing too much.
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Dennis Schmidt and Jim Byrne
AG: Why did you venture into the cut throat world of Greeting Cards? Byrne: We thought long and hard about what we were really made of. What made us tick, and we determined that we were an artist and a writer. Schmidt: We knew that we could make a lot of money! We just didn’t know it would take years to do so. AG: Do you market your cards yourself or do you have a distributor? Schmidt: We do both. Jim distributes our cards locally and we have a network of retail outlets that sell them. We also have a licensing deal with Recycled Paper Greeting Cards that markets some of the cards nationally and internationally.
Byrne: Several cards have been rated #1 in tests across the U.S. In fact, the cartoon on the cover of our book is a #1 ranking card and remains our most popular cartoon to date. AG: Do you print all your ideas? Schmidt: No we don’t. Jim keeps notebooks of his ideas and we get together and hit them off each other. Sometimes we bring up the same lines over a year’s time before we come up with a concept for the drawing. When we do create a cartoon it does not always go to be printed as a card or on our website. Sometimes we just keep them until the right product or time comes around. Byrne: Our cartoons come from goofy ideas or things we see, so sometimes we have to wait for the right climate to release it in. 23
AG: When you get a finished product do you test market it?
cards, others are from our files. They are our favorite cartoons.
AG: If you had to describe your business to someone what would you say?
Byrne: We print a few up and take them to our local retailers and see how they do. The retailers like this because they are getting first chances at our work. It also keeps the inventory fresh. Our distributor likes it because they know already that the product will sell when they get it. We are very grassroots focused in testing and distributing our cards.
Schmidt: It’s a collection of our finest work, sort of who’s who of our cartoons.
Byrne: We are in the humor business.
AG: I have read the book 4 times and each time I find a new favorite cartoon. I sit and laugh until it hurts at
Schmidt: With the website, book, and daily cartoon we have risen past being just a Greeting Card company. AG: Describe a Raspberries customer.
AG: Do you ever ask people in stores what they think of them?
Byrne: Our sales of greeting cards are 80% women. The books are bought by 60% men,but most of the women who buy the book buy it for a man.
Byrne: Not really. While we are servicing retail stores,we watch people’s reactions to the cards. For every card you see in a display there are 10 of them that did not make it.
AG: So what does the future look like for you guys?
AG: What do you do to a card when its sales slow down?
Schmidt: We will be creating a cartoon a day,looking to do more books,and create the cartoon shorts.
Schmidt: We retire them to the vault. Byrne: We want to find more outlets for our work. Syndication is something we would love to get into. Growing the business nationally and still being able to market locally the way we have in the past is very important to us. We still believe in the small business owner and want to work with them. Quality of our work is still the most important thing to us. Making people laugh and bringing a smile to their faces is important to us. If we stop doing that, we are out of business.
AG: Do you do any other kind of cards? Byrne: Well it’s hard to create a humorous sympathy card so we have stayed out of that market. We have done one Father’s Day Card, A Thanksgiving card, and a Christmas card so far. AG: Tell our readers the timeline of your business. Schmidt: We started in 1991 as Byrne & Schmidt with the 12 initial drawings and cards. We slowly added to them and in 1996 we changed our name to Raspberries. It was always pretty much a part-time business. In 1998 we went national with Recycled Paper Greeting Cards. In 2004 we decided to crank up our output and work so that we could do this as full time work.
some of these. Byrne: Thanks, but only read it in small doses so you don’t injure yourself! AG: Any plans for an animation project?
Byrne: At that time we started really pushing more cartoons and looking into different markets. New material came at a faster pace. We don’t create cartoons in volume. Quality is very important to us. In March of 2008 we started creating a cartoon a day for our website. People can signup and get a new cartoon everyday emailed to them.
Schmidt: We have been exploring that option. Jim has a couple of characters that would be fun to draw and write scripts for. They would work great as cartoon shorts.
Schmidt: It’s very hard to come up with a cartoon a day that is funny and meets our quality standards.
AG: Do you guys do this full time or do you have day jobs?
AG: Let’s talk about your new book This end up a cartoon collection. Byrne: It is a collection of cartoons we have drawn over the years. Some have been on 24
Byrne: Yes, Bill the Rodeo Chicken, Galactic Grocer and Ladder Man may soon be on You tube.
Thanks so much to Jim and Dennis for their time and the laughs. You can find their work throughout Southern Wisconsin at café’s, drug stores, bookstores, and other retail outlets. Their new book can be purchased at some of the same outlets you find their cards, on-line at www.thisendupcartoon.com (their website), and now on Amazon.com. Please check out the review in this issue of their new book and sign up on-line to get your cartoon a day. These are two very, very funny guys! Written by:Andy Ziehli Photos by:Andy Ziehli
Byrne: It is my day job. I write and take care of all the local distribution in Wisconsin. Dennis is working into doing it full time in the near future. With the book taking off so well it should happen shortly. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
This End Up →
A Cartoon Collection Dennis Schmidt and Jim Byrne Published by Byrne & Schmidt Greetings, LLC
This book is one funny bevy of first class humor! I have read it four times and still find new laughs each time I do so. Jim Byrne and Dennis Schmidt are two very talented funny guys from Wisconsin who have created a hilarious line of greeting cards called Raspberries. This book is an offshoot of their previous work. A collection of both released and unreleased cartoons that will make your sides split with laughter. Byrnes knack for taking the everyday mundane and turning it into humorous antitidotes along with Schmidt’s conceptions of his partners verbiage morphs into a cross between Mad Magazine and Readers Digest. Nothing is sacred in their side way view of the world. From Nuns to Presidents nothing escapes Byrne & Schmidt’s take on life as we know it. Personal favorites include a new take on the Tooth Fairy, Road Kill, Pirates, Clowns, Hog w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
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Swallowing, and my personal favorite the old Sound of Music song Doe Rae Me made this book impossible to put down. If you like one liner's, Bugs Bunny cartoons, The Tick, The 3 Stooges, or Monty Python humor you will love this book. If you are a stick in the mud and don’t know that comedy isn’t pretty then go back to your night time soaps and church meetings and stay away from this book ! The rest of you do whatever it takes to procure this first true treasure of the 21st century art. You’ll be peeing your pants and hacking up a lung laughing.
Written by:Andy Ziehli Photo supplied.
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Andy’s top 15
CD’s from 2008 you should own 1. Peter Cooper - Mission Door: This CD is always in my truck and I play it at least 3 times a week. It’s just good music for whatever mood you are in. Cooper is one of the brightest stars coming out of Nashville, East Nashville to be exact. Check out his shows before you can’t get into the door to see him because the crowds will be so big. He’s that good! 2.The Steel Drivers - The Steel Drivers: This is one hot CD. It brings me up when I’m down. Mike Henderson is on it, enough said! 3.Todd Snider - Peace Queer: Okay I know the title is something most people don’t get , but the message isn’t. This is a great CD. Fun to listen to, fun to debate. Snider is tops in his field. They just don’t get any better. Love or hate the title the music rocks. 4.Fayssoux McLean - Fayssoux: This is an excellent CD filled with excellent songs and brilliantly produced. The vocals are out of this world.The playing is superb. I love this CD. 5.Emmylou Harris - All I Intended To Be: Wine ages beautifully and so does Emmylou Harris. She is at the top of her game here. The “young” under 30 crowd of performers from Music Row should take a listen to this. This is how you build a career. Great Songs, great styling, not being trendy. Emmylou is what country music should be about. 6.Whiskytown - Strangers Almanac: This too is a reissue with outtakes and more. This is Ryan Adams at his best hands down. It’s too bad his ego got into the way here. They could have been stars. One of the greatest Alt-Country/Americana albums ever recorded. 7.Hal Ketchum - Father Time: Okay I am a huge Hal Ketchum fan. And I would buy a CD of him mumbling Gregorian chants. This CD 26
is the best work he has done in the last few years. His voice is strong and so are the songs. You can’t go wrong here. 8.The Honky TonkTwisters - Jukebox Therapy: If Buck were alive today he’d hire these guys for his backup band! God I love this CD! Twang,Twang,Twang, and more Twang. Give me a Telecaster through a Fender Twin any day. You guys Rock!!!!! 9.Credence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo’s Factory: Okay this is not a new CD but it was rereleased this year. This is the first CCR album I bought back in 1973 and it sounds as fresh today to me as it did back then. I feel that this was Fogerty’s best work. Up around the bend here I come! 10.Eagles - Long Road out of Eden: They came back and did not miss a step. This is a great CD and a great buy with it being a double album. Old Rockers never die they just get better with age. 11.John David Souther - Greatest Hits: Often billed as the 6th Eagle Souther was a great artist on his own. His songs were thoughtful and enduring. The record labels never knew how to market him which is too bad. This CD is filled with great songs. It’s a must for any collection. 12.Lloyd Green - Master of the Steel Strings. The little Darling Sessions: Lloyd Green is to the Steel Guitar what Richard Petty was to racing. A legend and a champion. Green’s playing graced so many number one hits in country music and his work with the Byrd’s in 1968 is still being written about today. This is his early work and it leave’s you wanting more. For anyone who loves the steel guitar this is a CD you must have. 13.The Byrds - Live At Albert Hall 1971: The Byrds are my favorite band of all time. This is when Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, Skip Battin, and Gene Parsons were at their best. A truly great live album. 14.Dallas Frazier - The RB sessions: Great early stuff from one of Countries greatest writers. Cut in small studios with big sound. Mohair Sam what else can be said. 15.Nat Stuckey - The very best of Nat Stuckey: This was re-released this year. It is a fantastic CD. Old Country and R&B type material. Throw it in with the Dallas Frazier CD and you’ll have a great road trip.
Santa
came early this year! It was on October 8th, 2008 at 1:30 pm PST to be exact. No sleigh or reindeer were involved. Boxes wrapped in paper with shiny bows? Nope. Snow? Nada. Nothing that would put this gift I am talking about in a familiar framing of the Holidays. But there it was waiting for me to discover it and like most amazing things it was always so near, simply needing the proper stage for me to receive it. I love the Beach Boys. I always have. I was 12 years old growing up in Green Bay (surf capital of Wisconsin!) and having a bit of a hard time with the pains. Things at home were not the best and things I was feeling inside did not make sense to me. I felt alone and, well, different. The summer of my 12th year four perfect things entered my life. The colorful covers,the classic black label with the rainbow band around it and in the grooves were songs from the Beach Boy’s LP’s “All Summer Long”, California Girls,” The Beach Boy’s Today!” and “Summer Days and Summer Nights”. They were given to me by my oldest sister’s roommate. Pat always loved me and could see the trouble I was having inside and thought these would help. She literally saved my life. I have loved music all of my life and at an early age played piano,guitar and finally drums. Drums were my passion and my favorite. Most of the music I listened to had a rock and roll beat driving it. When I put the first Beach Boys LP on I was aware of the drums but something wonderful happened to my soul when I heard those voices and the arrangements of the harmonies. Just at the right time these sounds found me, or rather I found them, and into me came a feeling of comfort and love. I was trying to share my love for this music with my friends, but they were not able to hear it like I did. Again I found myself feeling isolated and different but this time there was a guy writing songs that felt that way too! Songs like “In My Room” and “I Guess I Just Wasn’t Made For w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
These Times” rang like a bell inside of me. Something about this music was like nothing else I had ever heard. There was magic here. So, my Christmas present this year did not come from someone I know personally. They did not wrap it up and hand it to me and wish me a Merry Christmas. My present this year was a moment that I will never forget. On the afternoon of October 8th, my partner and our traveling companions had just pulled away in our rental van as I was walking toward the shores of the Pacific Ocean,a stretch of open beach,miles long between San Francisco and Monterey. The gift came in stages. First, we had lunch at this wonderful ocean side restaurant, and I spent an hour being called by the waves through the window. Second, the idea came to me that possibly I would be able to stay behind while the others went off to explore Golden Gate Park. Third, was the okay from the bunch that it was not a problem for me to spend some time alone with the mighty Pacific. Picture all of that as presents under the tree. My gift arrived moments later as I headed for the beach. My I-pod in my hand dialing in the music of the Beach Boys. I could feel this inward pressure in my chest, a sort of deeper knowing what was to happen but my head had not figured it out yet. I arrived at the place where the water meets the land, the surf roaring in my ear-bud filled ears and hit play. The song I chose was my all time favorite Beach Boy’s song “Surf’s Up.” “A diamond necklace played the pawn, hand in hand some drummed along, oh, To a handsome man and baton…..As Carl Wilson sang these very familiar words to me and the music of the shaker, bass guitar and quarter notes played on the piano found me, my eyes filled with tears. It was as if someone had completed a circle in me. I stood there watching the waves build and crash toward me and all the years of listening to the words and music of the Beach Boys suddenly made sense. I got it. Brian Wilson had from a very early age expressed a desire to create music that would make people feel loved. His style of arranging vocals was influenced by groups like “The Four Freshman”and others but none of them put the notes together like he did. Brian’s gift was to find a way to create music that allowed the listener to be transported to a place where “new things could be found”. I was standing in that place at that moment. My gift this year was to understand and embrace in an even deeper way, beauty and hope. The tears in my eyes were the only way I could express what I was feeling at the moment. I was glad no one else was there so I did not have to try to put words to something that was in every
AND YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE? Everyone has a special dream when it comes to seeing someone or something in person. So if there were no obstacles for you--money not an issue, time not an issue, distance note an issue,and there was nothing to prevent you from attending just what would you want to see? Does a sporting event occur, and you say to yourself,“I wish I could see it.” Do you hear a song and think to yourself that someday I will see that artist or group in person? Have you already decided on your choice? Are you shouting it out loud for all of us to hear? I have my secret dream concert, and I have had it for a long time, and I will tell you about it later in this story. Is it a sporting event? A NASCAR race? A World Series game? A Super Bowl? A tennis final in one of the major tournaments? Your high school team in a state tournament? I have seen two Rose Bowls and one bowl game in Tampa, Florida. All three were so special and full of excitement and times of great pride in the Badgers. It would be special to see one World Series game as long as the Brewers were one of the teams. Have you given any thoughts to a stage presentation? WICKED? THE LION KING? Is there a certain someone you would love to see in a certain role? Again I have been fortunate in this entertainment form. I have seen Carol Channing as Dolly,Yul Brynner as the King, Petula Clark as Norma Desmond, and a very young almost unknown Carol Burnett and John Davison on Broadway. I saw Bette Davis and her then husband Gary Merrill doing a night of Carl Sandburg poetry on the stage in Madison. It was much better than it sounds. She did make those poems come alive. I saw Kathryn Hepburn in Chicago in what was one of her last stage appearances. The play was weak and she shook as much as the comedians joked about, but she was still a regal body on that stage
Is it singers you would travel anywhere, anytime, and without thoughts of cost? I saw a young Johnny Mathias, Tommy Sands, Pat Boone, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Eydie Gorme before she was married to Steve Lawrence. Later I saw the two of them in a great evening of a high end nightclub show. Patti Page had just had a string of hit recordings when I saw her in Soldier’s Field. Glenn Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, Cat Stevens (his name then), James Taylor, and Sunny and Cher were all entertaining shows in the Dane County Coliseum. The most recent concerts that I enjoyed were by Simon and Garfunkel, Billy Joel and Elton John,Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, and Dolly Parton. Would your choice be a band or group? I have seen a wide range of such groups: the Glenn Miller band, the Lawrence Welk band, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians (always a fun evening with lively entertainment), Sly and the Family Stone (who was on stage only about 35 minutes), and a wide range of area bands. Have you made your choice by now? Maybe comedy is your thing. I had three great evenings of fun watching the Smothers Brothers (later Tommy visited with fans outside the old Madison Civic Center),Victor Borge always filled the evening with laughs, Bob Hope was a riot in the Field House, Lily Tomlin was a disappointment to me because she did not do her characters from LAUGH IN. And Robin Williams! What can you say? He was as zany and as much fun as you can imagine. He quickly threw out his prepared show and spent the evening creating comedy with ideas thrown out from the audience or from remarks made from the audience. He was as hyper as you could imagine, but you laughed until your sides hurt. Well, your time is about up, have you made your choice? Remember money, time, and travel are not an obstacle. This is your personal dream, remember? Okay, my choice would be Barbra Streisand doing one of her recent shows. I have the DVDs of her two recent tours, but if I could be there in person, well, that would be my dream come true. Written by: Bob Hoffman
continued on page 29
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Mary Chapin Carpenter – Christmas CD
Who hasn’t heard of Mary Chapin Carpenter? She is a great songwriter and artist. Andy and I have seen her many times in concert. Anyway, I was not able to personally connect with Mary Chapin, but I have been in contact with her publicist, Asha Goodman. Asha has provided me with this press release and information on Mary Chapin’s new Holiday CD. What a perfect time to pick it up, give it a listen or as a Christmas Gift!!! By: Joyce Ziehli Info supplied. MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER’S FIRST HOLIDAY ALBUM OUT NOW ON ZOË/ROUNDER COME DARKNESS, COME LIGHT: TWELVE SONGS OF CHRISTMAS RELEASED TO CRITICAL ACCLAIM “…a brave and beautiful collection of songs that dares to run counter to what most folks expect from a Christmas album...”—AllMusic Nearly 20 years into her recording career, Mary Chapin Carpenter’s first ever Christmas album is out now on Zoë/Rounder. For the selections on Come Darkness, Come Light:Twelve Songs of Christmas, Carpenter and co-producer John Jennings took a far different approach to recording a holiday album. Rather than simply lending her singular, distinctive voice to timeworn Christmas standards, Carpenter wrote her own set of seasonal songs which explore the many meanings and emotions that Christmas evokes in each of us.These songs, mixed with a few hand-picked gems from other writers and rarely heard traditional tunes, will speak directly to long-time Mary Chapin Carpenter fans and introduce a new audience to her warmth, intelligence and unmistakable voice.These are not merely holiday songs; they are classic Mary Chapin Carpenter songs that artfully capture the spirit of the season.This is a rare Christmas album that, for many, can enjoy regular play well beyond the traditional holiday season.Along with Jennings, who plays guitars, piano, bass, drums and provided background vocals,Carpenter has stellar support on this recording from longtime musical partner 28
Jon Carroll on piano. Come Darkness, Come Light follows her critically acclaimed, GRAMMY® nominated, 2007 Zoë/Rounder release, The Calling which The Wall Street Journal said was“…mature and uplifting, high-minded and accessible, and delivered with controlled passion.” The Boston Globe raved it was “…her most comfortable and confident work in years.”
Over the course of an 11album recording career, Mary Chapin Carpenter has won five GRAMMY® Awards and sold over 13 million records. She has scored 12 top 10 singles, including “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” which was nominated for a Record of the Year GRAMMY®. Carpenter has achieved the same success as a live performer, having toured nationally and internationally for nearly two decades and won two Pollstar Country Tour of the Year awards. She has remained immersed in humanitarian work throughout her career,performing in support of cancer and AIDS research, U.S. troops overseas, the Campaign for a Landmine Free World and hunger relief efforts, among other causes. She has performed or been profiled on NBC’s “Today Show;” CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman,”CBS News’“Sunday Morning,” NPR’s “Morning Edition” as well as NPR’s “All Things Considered.”She was also part of a CNN special on the anniversary of September 11. TRACK LISTING 1. Once in Royal David’s City Lyrics by Cecil Alexander and music by Henry Gauntlett 2. Hot Buttered Rum Lyrics and music by Tommy Thompson 3. Still, Still, Still
Traditional 4. On A Quiet Christmas Morn By Robin and Linda Williams 5. Come Darkness, Come Light By Mary Chapin Carpenter 6. Christmas Time In The City By Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Jennings 7. Candlelight Carol By John Rutter 8. The Longest Night of the Year By Mary Chapin Carpenter 9. Thanksgiving Song By Mary Chapin Carpenter 10. Bells Are Ringing By Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Jennings 11. Christmas Carol By Mary Chapin Carpenter 12. Children, Go Where I Send Thee Traditional w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
BlackWaterGin Rockin’... continued from page 19
you put on a better show. In 2009 we are really going to focus on recording and putting out a quality CD. Ethan has some experience in the studio but the rest of us are new to it. Playing live is much different than recording in a studio. AG: Are you looking to get into the festival circuit in the future? Julie: What ever comes up. Getting the opportunity to play for people and get better known is very important. The better known they are the better jobs will come from it. They played some festivals this year besides the mom & pop clubs and beer tents. They don’t want to get away from playing the mom & pop clubs. They just want to expand on the festival and large venues in the future. AG: Do you have a MySpace or web page up and running? Julie: We have a MySpace page and it is BlackWaterGinband. We are working on a web page. Chris: The internet and having a quality CD is what makes a band today. You can play all the time, but if you are not reaching the most people by doing so you can’t get bigger. The internet is the future of music. The old model of road dogging it is over. You have to have a plan and use technology to help you reach your fans. AG: What is the hardest thing about playing in general? Ethan: The hardest thing is working so hard and playing to just a couple of people in a bar, because there are 50 other bands playing within 5 miles of each other. There are just so many good bands always playing it sometimes is hard to draw big crowds. Chris: The other problem is that there are two giant behemoth bands in the area that suck everything in for miles around. It’s hard to compete with their stage shows and promotional tools.
weeks ago to stay playing the style that we do and not become a Top 40 Cover band. We like playing originals and playing covers our style. The folks that come to see us like it too. AG: Thanks so much for your time tonight. BWG: Thank you! Joyce and I were then treated to a in your face rocking show by BlackWaterGin. They smoked the stage with load and proud Country Rock and Twang. You can tell that Meudt and O’Brien have played together for years because of the almost physic connection on stage. The rhythm section here is first class. Playing with abandonment these two road warriors know when to take it up and bring it down. I don’t think you’ll find a better pair in a rhythm section in Southern Wisconsin.
Ethan: We made the decision a couple of
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way spiritual. The true meaning of Christmas found me. I felt loved in a way that was larger than I could comprehend, and I knew for certain that there was no end to the flow. I stood there at the waters edge unable to move; my entire being filled with the “Good Vibrations” of this music from the Beach Boy’s. Amazing and wonderful. I was able to see a chance to connect the music and the water both of which I love dearly. My companions that afternoon were five men from California whom I had never met. Their gift to me was a life time of creating music that came from deep within them. I took the chance and let it all in. I am forever changed for the better. Your moment is waiting for you. I’ll see you on the beach.
Lead Guitarist DeVoss may be petite in stature but not on the guitar. This lady can wail. No old school girl’s guitar playing here. She rocks with the best of them. Fluent smooth solo’s with in your face chunky rhythm playing makes DeVoss a double threat on the guitar. Her experience as a player and on stage really shone through as she made the whole stage her own, moving to all points to incise the crowd with her hot licks. Lead vocalist Cox is a cross between Jason Ringenberg, Hank the III and Bob Seeger. He can howl the blues, rock it out, or sing a gutsy gravelly ballad. I really enjoyed his vocal styling. His original material is very good. It reminds me of early Allman Brothers, Rodney Crowell, and Bob Seeger Midwestern rock & roll. His Country material although played with an edge could easily be adapted to a steel guitar and fiddle for a more traditional sound. These guys rock so check them out when they come through your town! You won’t be sorry! Editors note: BWG is also the name of their booking agency. Julie informed me that they are always on the look out to book other bands so if you are a band looking to get more jobs give Julie a call and see what she can do for you. Written and photos by: Andy Ziehli
Julie: The one good thing to come out of that is that people get bored easy and they start tiring of the big shows and want to go back to the smaller clubs and hear music again.
Santa... continued from page 27
Written by: Jim Smith The Best of Country Living... continued from page 13
nights when the family sat together around the table. Some would be reading or doing schoolwork. Others were saved for school lunch boxes. The overripe apples were run through a cider press to make a drink for the holidays, or for a special treat when friends came to visit. Wood was stacked in the woodshed and the house was made ready for winter. The strong north wind blew, snow came, causing the pump to freeze and cuss words spoken when no water was available.The big lilac bush in the front yard offered itself as a wind break when the wind blew in gusts and the snow fell soft and heavy. The seasons passed, the years went by, and the children grew up and moved away leaving only the woman and the man. In time they left, leaving the house abandoned to face the seasons alone and empty. Tomorrow the land developers will come with their big machinery to demolish the house and woodshed and to uproot the lilac bush, burying them deep into the earth, never again to be seen. Condominiums will be built on this land with manicured lawns and exact trimmed shrubs. A sign will hang in the front lawn. “FOR SALE,THE BEST OF COUNTRY LIVING.” Only the sign will not ring true. The best of country living was in a white clapboard house, with a porch in the front, and a lilac bush blooming in the yard. Written by: Rosemary Ziehli
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CD Review
illebillies turbo twang! Twang on boys, mighty fine mighty fine! Written by: Andy Ziehli
The deVillebillies The deVillebillies
♪♪♪♪
Style:Alt-country,Turbo twang, Good Ole Wisconsin Bar Country
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals ♪ Cardinology Lost Highway Records Style:Americana Ryan Adams is supposed to be the heir apparent to Gram Parson’s legacy, and in the past he has really shined. This time around he is as far away from the top as I am from 200 #’s. This CD sucks! Now I know Rolling Stone gave it a good review, and many other music magazines and websites are hailing it. I don’t get it. Adams has put out great works in the past. I love his other stuff especially with the Cardinals. Whiskytown is one of my all-time favorite bands, and Strangers Almanac is one of my 10 favorite Albums of all time,but this time Adam’s is way off mark. In interviews he brags of his matron writing sessions and all the songs he creates. I think that’s the problem here. He maybe has written too many songs and they are becoming weaker with the amount he is creating. All the tracks drag like dirges. There is not one exciting point or measure here. Ryan, just because you write a bunch of songs, doesn’t make them good songs. Go back to the wood shed dust of the guitar you used in Whiskytown and start again. We’ll forgive you for this CD, just don’t let us down on the next one. Written by: Andy Ziehli
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Yea hey dare these boys Rock! This is the perfect example of Good Ole Wisconsin Bar Band Country music! Barrelhouse piano, hunky bass guitar, and Fender Telecasters played loud and twangy. Here in Wisconsin we put a little oomph in our Country music. A little more bass, a lot more drums,and one hell of a lot more fun than our Southern cousins. Maybe it’s the cheese, sausage, or the beer we consume here but Wisconsin Musicians definitely have more kick in our Country Music. The deVillebillies have the high octane juice to make this style roar to the top! The deVillebillies are Duke, Lewis, Skeeter, Elmo, and Slim. According to their website “The band was conceived after an all night Old Milwaukee party on the redwood deck of a dilapidated Air stream trailer. Realizing that most top 40 cover bands made better tranquilizers than roadhouse rockers, these boys knew they needed to add a little turbo to the twang." This CD is more of an EP with only eight songs than the standard 10-12 songs most artists put out, but it is a fantastic collection of barroom anthems. All the songs are written by the band. They all have a great dance beat and are sure to get your feet tapping. My personal favorites on this CD are Truck Drivin Woman, Coal Miner’s Cocaine, Cowgirl Butts Drive Me Nuts, and Sandstone Steps. It was recorded at Randy’s Recording in Cottage Grove,WI. Hat’s off to Randy on another excellent job of capturing the total package of a band, not just the bells and whistles. You can feel the heat of this revved up twang machine in every song. You can purchase the CD at their live shows and off their website, the deVillebillies .com. I’ve not seen these guys live yet, but I sure plan to soon. If their live show is half as much fun as this CD I know I’ll be craving a Hamm’s and fried cheese curds to go along with the deV-
The Farewell Drifters Sweet Summer Breeze Farewell Drifters.com
♪♪♪♪
Style: Bluegrass This CD is an incredible work of art. The 14 songs recorded here are impeccably written and recorded. The CD sings with tunes that can’t help but make your foot tap and your heart sing with the visions painted on this sonic landscape. Bluegrass music has always been a take it or leave it music genre. Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Jimmy were the stalwarts of this style and the face of Bluegrass for many years. Big men that wore suits and ties when they played, and stood still the whole show very stoic and somber only smiling when a riff was played well. Bluegrass went away from mainstream America in the 1990’s. Now bluegrass is cool again led by Sam Busch, Del McCury, Allison Krause, Yonder Mountain String Band, and the Grascals. These musicians wear comfortable street clothes, smile when they play, and put on great shows with unbelievable licks. They perform at Indie Rock Clubs and Jam Band festivals. Their music is played on radio. Now a new group of musicians has arrived to take Bluegrass into the next decade, the Farewell Drifters. This CD is filled with great songs, period. There is not a bad tune on it. Lead vocalist Zach Bevill’s voice is clear and cuts right through the mix. His vocal style is traditional yet has the quality young people can relate to, compared to Bill Monroe’s or Lester Flatt’s. Eleven songs on the CD were written by either Bevill or Mandolinist Joshua Britt. Britt’s style is a little more cutting edge than Bevill’s. They do a great cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers song Wheels. Britt shares lead harmony vocals and his voice is a good match to Bevill’s. His w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
mandolin playing is spectacular. The Farewell Drifters have few peers in their playing. They are a solid group with super chops and superb vocals both in the lead and harmony parts. Every solo taken is pure enjoyment to your ears. It’s hard to believe that lead guitarist Clayton Britt once slung a Les Paul over his shoulder and played Heavy Metal. His fluent Clarence White licks sing throughout these songs. Banjoist Trevor Brandt is a master of the Scruggs style and yet puts his own signature on each lick he plays. You can purchase this CD off The Farewell Drifters website and CD Baby. Please check this band out. They deserve great things and you will not be disappointed buying this CD. Written by: Andy Ziehli
Speaking of Albright it would have been nice to have him play on a couple of these tunes. His drum style was just as much part of Waylon’s sound as was the phase shifter and thumping bass. The one tune I don’t get is White Room by Cream. Waylon always took chances and played whatever he wanted. As long as he was happy with this, I guess I can accept it. It’s just a weird song for anyone to cover. The 357’s are a good backup band and play with a lot of heart. They might just be a little too rocky for Ole Waylon on some tunes. Talent wise they are second to none. They did a very good job reworking classics and putting their own stamp on them. They get points for that. All in all this is a pretty good album. If you’re an old fan of Waylon you might not like the rockier arrangements on some of the songs. But if you can get past the souped up guitar parts and vocal effects I’m sure you’ll find a great album by a great artist tuned up for 2008. Written by: Litt Dubay
No don’t get me wrong there are some real tear jerkers on this album. The sparse use of instruments and the lonesome haunting vocals on tunes like Rattlin Bones gives you a shiver in your spine. But you can tell that this album was a labor of love for both Chambers and Nicholson. If you like the Carter family, Gillian Welch, or Uncle Tupelo you’ll love this stuff. The harmonies and vocal parts are superb. You would think that they have been singing together forever. Great musicians on this work never overplaying.The electric parts fit nicely with the acoustic temperament of these songs. My two favorite tracks are Rattlin bones,Sweetest waste of time, and Monkey on a wire. This is a great album and deserves to be played on Radio. You won’t be disappointed if you purchase this album,especially if you liked the Down from the Hills material or Foggy Mountain Boys Man of Constant Sorrow. You’ll be tapping your foot and singing along. Please enjoy, I did. Written by: Andy Ziehli
Band Name- Fleet Foxes Album Title- Fleet Foxes Style:Americana
Waylon Jennings and the 357’s ♪♪♪ 1/2 Waylon Forever Vagrant Records Style: Outlaw Country/Rock It’s great to have a New Waylon Jennings Album even though Waylon has passed on to the great HonkyTonk in the sky. This alum was started before Waylon passed on. He and Shooter wanted to do a project of his material and some different things Waylon would not normally record. This is a fine tribute to the Man. The songs rock and have the punch of the early Waylon recordings. The remakes of early classic Waylon hits with updated recording techniques should bring a whole new audience to this great entertainer’s work. Ain’t living long like this roars out of the speakers with burning guitar. Waylon’s vocals are a little weaker than his original version but the song rocks none the less.The lead break blew me away especially the change up. Lonesome On’ry and Mean bleeds Waylon Outlaw Stomp all the way. The heavy Bass line and a pretty good copy of Ritchie Albright’s drum parts makes this song the best on the album. w w w. a m e r i c a n a g a z e t t e . n e t
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson ♪♪♪♪ Rattlin Bones Sugar Hill Records Style: No-Depression, Folk,Alt-Country Kasey Chambers is one of Australia’s greatest exports. It’s too bad that most of America thinks that Keith Urban is Australia’s greatest country star,when talent wise Kasey Chambers is the brightest star in the sky. I first saw Chambers open for Lucinda Williams at the Orpheum in Madison. She blew me away with her vocal style and songwriting. She reminded me of early Emmylou Harris. Her songs were thought provoking and you could tell that they come from the heart. On this CD she has matured, had a baby, and is singing with her husband Shane Nicholson a star in his own right. The style and vocals are still there, but a new feeling has emerged in Chambers music. That feeling is love.
Hailing from Seattle WA,Fleet Foxes brings a new lively sound to the music industry. How does one describe Fleet Foxes? Folk? Alternative? Pop? Who knows? They are an amazing and deep mix of acoustic guitar, dense harmonies, and great vibes.The lyrics, although at some points hard to decipher from the music, create vivid images and scenes. Songs of family, lost loves,Meadow larks,and the hills ofTennessee. This is the bands debut album and if this is only the beginning, it’s going to get much, much better. And being such a young band, we may have many great albums to look forward to. I have seen this band in concert and they do a superb job in a live setting as well.As soon as the singing begins, you get lost in the sounds. Basically, after you listen to this album you are left with a sweet warm feeling inside. And I don’t think anyone should pass on that feeling. Written by: Rob Kosmeder
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