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Emily Colston Psychology Junior 1. “Nightmare” by Avenged Sevenfold 2. “Love the Way you Lie” by Eminem featuring Rihanna 3. “Catalyst” by Linkin Park 4. “Bad Company” by Five Finger Death Punch 5. “Forever and Always” by Bullet for My Valentine
To me, music is ... “stress-relief.”
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Top 5
Fort Myers music walk brings revelers out for a night of music, food and fun By Kayla Stirzel
I
Staff writer
n Fort Myers, the newest tradition every third Saturday of the month is attending the Downtown Music Walk. It’s an open venue for more than 18 different local music artists to show their talent and please listeners’ ears. The variety of music pleases all different tastes. Walking down the brick streets, the sounds from a solo saxophone musician are playing. On another corner only one block down, there is a live rock band jamming out. The musicians range in age from college students to mid-lifers. All have different stories as to how they made it to play for the music walk. Jimmi Melton, a native of Virginia who has been singing and playing acoustic guitar for the past 38 years, says he’s “not a guitar player. I’m a singer who just plays guitar.” Melton has been playing acoustic music in the Fort Myers area for the past six months; mostly 1970s and 1980s classic rock, but also more mainstream rock such as Alice in Chains and Fuel. Melton comes from a family rooted in bluegrass, but claims, “I came from a dad who played saxophone, but that ain’t for me.” He is inspired to write his own music from personal life experiences, but still enjoys playing tunes to which everyone can sing along. The Downtown Music Walk opens your horizon to hearing music that is so unique. Whitey Alabastard, an experimental, noise improv master, stood on the corner making random noises with his accordion in hand. With his noise machine, he created a beat that had some heads nodding and other heads twisting to the sounds. Anthony Wayne, another acoustic guitar player and singer, has been playing in Fort Myers for the past four years. Originally from the Indiana area, Wayne described his view of music. “There are so many bands playing the same old same music in bars, and sometimes I get caught up in that, too, when I perform. It’s why I like to play at open venues to get a feel for what people want to hear, but sometimes still play some of my original stuff.” Music from talented artists such as these guys needs to be discovered and appreciated. The talents that are offered at this event are unbelievable. In front of the French Connection restaurant, a steel drummer played sweet sounds that made you feel like you were on a tropic island lying in the sun. Inside Red Rock Saloon, the Cornbread Brothers, known for playing their classic rock’n’roll and blues, had the crowd not only rocking but dancing up front along the stage during the night’s performance. This is the second time the Downtown Music Walk has been put on, and this return engagement drew a greater turnout than the first. Mark
Local musician Whitey Alabastard rocking out at the Downtown Music Walk.
your calendar for the third Saturday every month to come out and check the undiscovered-but-amazing talent these musicians have and want to share. It’s a treat to be able to walk from block to block to each bar and restaurant and have a choice of what type of music you want to listen to. The talent, location, and atmosphere of the Downtown Music Walk combine to create a night to remember.
Movies of the Weekend Anthony Wayne’s tip jar. EN photos/ Kayla Stirzel
1. ”The Town” $23.8 million
Venues that participate in the Downtown Music Walk
2. “Easy A” $17.7 million 3. ”Devil” $12.3 million 4. “Resident Evil: Afterlife” $10 million
5. “Alpha and Omega” $9.1 million
These figures are courtesy of boxofficemojo.com.
Anthony Wayne pleases the crowd in downtown Fort Myers.
Red Rock Saloon Spirits of Bacchus Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center HOWL Gallery Space 39 daas Gallery Cafe Matisse French Connection Cafe Enjewel
Hotel Indigo Twisted Vine Bistro Coloring The World Gallery City Tavern World Famous Cigar Bar Hideaway Sports Bar Morgan House Veranda Indigo Room