A&E // MUSIC
THE KNIFE
GIZZARD, REVISITED
F
Bassist Taylor Griffin fills out the groove rom time to time, I’ll use this column to revisit some of the best (and worst) local with a meaty doubling of Strawn’s riffs. releases of the last two decades. Having Think Atomic Bitchwax with more finesse moved to Jacksonville in the early part of and better vocals and you’re getting close to 1995, and having joined Folio Weekly shortly Gizzard’s rocky edge. thereafter, I amassed quite an archive of tapes There’s a ton of experimentation on Kill and CDs from area bands. Some very talented and Reissue, too. Trippy, synthy mindbenders people have made some amazing music here. like “Neptune Supersprite” and “The Digital Some of them gave it up a long time ago, Horseman” offer ambient breathers between while others remained active in the music the power funk that dominates the album. All community despite their advancing age and of this is threaded together with the late Brian need for real income. Hicks’ muscular sax and delicate flute lines. Looking back on releases from our Strawn remembers: “Gizzard began shortly collective past, I hope to tweak the memories after some friends told me about Brian Hicks, of old scenesters while turning the younger a guy from the Nease High School band who generation on to what was happening back in liked punk rock and hardcore and played the day. Most of this stuff is fairly hard to find saxophone and flute. We met over the phone nowadays but, when possible, and began to talk for hours about I’ll provide information on rock, punk, hardcore, friends and Score Gizzard’s Kill how to obtain copies. (If you life. We soon started hanging out and Reissue CD have archival local music and and seeing what could happen. for $7 at would like to remember it in The first time I met him, he was Dirty Slacks website, print, email me at theknife@ wearing Ocean Pacific corduroy dirtyslacks.com folioweekly.com.) shorts, navy blue dress socks This week’s Knife is dedicated and jogging shoes. We started to that magnificent band Gizzard and their collaborating on songs.” legendary album Kill and Reissue. Well, Hicks was always a visible part of legendary in my mind, anyway. Gizzard was Jacksonville’s music community. So many that rare combination of solid musicianship, people were touched by his music, and many raw talent and fearless experimentation, all of us had the privilege of playing with him. of which was made manifest on their 1999 We lost him too early — in 2010 to stomach release. cancer. I was a notary at the time, and I was asked by his family to sign his death Kill and Reissue opens with the intense jam certificate. Listening to Kill and Reissue is a “Nowhere’s,” a loose, heavy blast of choppy bittersweet experience, but a testament to funk accented with guitarist Chris Strawn’s Hicks’ ability to rock your face off one minute inimitable vocals. Slightly off pitch, incredibly and down-tempo your ass the next. soulful and just a little angry, Strawn’s singing Gizzard was one of my favorite local style was all his own. He was powerful and bands, and Kill and Reissue my favorite of punkish, but there was something lovely and their three records (the other two are We sincere there, too. No one sings like him, and Did Some Things in 1998 and 2000’s Denise!). no one should ever try. Strawn went on to form Brass Castle, another Gizzard’s penchant for badass riffage terrific little project. But for me, Gizzard cannot be overstated, and the blistering was the shit, exactly what we all needed in opening riffs in “Nowhere’s” continue to a unique time in Jacksonville’s local music pop up again and again throughout Kill and history. Hell, we could use a little Gizzard Reissue. Vince Coursey, a total motherright now. effer on drums, puts it down with authority and grace in songs like “Year of the Cock,” John E. Citrone “Transmission Fluid” and “Dress Socks.” theknife@folioweekly.com
26 | FOLIOWEEKLY.com | APRIL 9-15, 2014
CHRISTIAN LEE HUTSON, MATTEO QUMENTO, GARRETT ON ACOUSTIC April 18, Burro Bar PASSAFIRE, LULLWATER April 18, Freebird Live THE GOOTCH April 18, The Jacksonville Landing WHARF RATZ April 18, Mellow Mushroom St. Augustine CASKEY April 18, Brewster’s DJ KEMIT, ANCIENT CITY April 18, 1904 Music Hall ALL THINGS DONE, 3 KNIGHTS & A ROSE, ANDY JACOBS April 18, Murray Hill Theatre LESS THAN JAKE, GENERAL TSO’S FURY April 19, Jack Rabbits THE RESOLVERS, UNIVERSAL GREEN, THE MESSENGERS April 19, Underbelly MERCYGIRL, WHOSOEVER SOUTH April 19, Murray Hill Theatre GERI X, MITAR, ROBBIE FREEMAN, KELLY WHITE April 19, Burro Bar BLESSTHEFALL, SILVERSTEIN, THE AMITY AFFLICTION, SECRETS, HEARTIST April 19, Freebird Live DARIUS RUCKER, ELI YOUNG BAND, COREY SMITH April 19, St. Augustine Amphitheatre MEREDITH RAE, THE 77D’s, JOEY KERR April 19, Riverside Arts Market SLAID CLEAVES April 19, Mudville Music Room THE FRITZ, SQUEEDLEPUSS April 19, 1904 Music Hall NATALIE NICOLE GREEN BAND April 19, Jax Landing MISHKA, SARAH BLACKER April 20, Jack Rabbits THE MESSENGERS, DE LIONS OF JAH, LIONASAURUS April 20, Freebird Live HUEY MACK, COLLETTE CARR April 21, Jack Rabbits KUNG FU, LUCKY COSTELLO April 21, 1904 Music Hall AJ DAVILA, PLASTIC PINKS, UNITED TYLERS OF TYLER April 21, Burro Bar MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET April 22, T-U Center REHAB April 22, Jack Rabbits NEW COKE April 22, Nobby’s TODD SNIDER April 23, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall HURT April 23, Brewster’s Megaplex STOKESWOOD, JIMKATA, NORTHE, SPORE April 23, Underbelly HUEY MACK April 24, Jack Rabbits VANCE GILBERT April 24, Mudville Music Room GRIZ, MICHAL MENERT, LATE NITE RADIO April 24, Freebird Live JANA KRAMER April 24, Mavericks at the Landing WHITE CHAPEL, CARNIFEX, WITHIN THE RUINS, CRUEL HAND April 24, Brewster’s Megaplex ROOSEVELT COLLIER’S BIRTHDAY THROWDOWN: Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk, Herd of Watts, Parker Urban Band April 24, Underbelly R. KELLY April 25, Veterans Memorial Arena TAKING BACK SUNDAY, TONIGHT ALIVE, SLEEPWAVE April 25, Freebird Live YANCY CLEGG, MILLTOWN, SCOTT & MICHELLE DALZIEL April 25, Jack Rabbits JACKYL, JESSE DUPREE April 25, Brewster’s KRACKA JAXX April 25, The Jacksonville Landing COON DOGGIN OUTLAWS April 25, Burro Bar MASTER RADICAL, TOMMY HARRISON BAND, JAKE CALHOUN & THE CHASERS, MINE ALL MINE April 26, Freebird Live TEXAS IN JULY, STRUCTURES, ERRA, MYKA, RELOCTE, ELITIST April 26, Atticus Bar LARRY MANGUM April 26, Mudville Music Room DICK DALE April 26, Jack Rabbits WELCOME TO ROCKVILLE: Avenged Sevenfold, The Cult, Motorhead, Volbeat, Chevelle, Alter Bridge, Hellyeah, Adelitas Way, Rev Theory, Butcher Babies, Memphis May Fire, Chiodos, We as Human, Monster Truck, We Came as Romans, Middle Class Rut, Devour the Day April 26, Metropolitan Park LAVILLA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS JAZZ BAND, CJ FLUHARTY, JULIE DURDEN, ERIC BOWDEN April 26, Riverside Arts Market MASSEYVIBE, MATY NOYES, DIRTY AUTOMATIC April 26, Burro Bar ANTIQUE ANIMALS April 27, Mellow Mushroom Jax Beach SANTANA April 27, St. Augustine Amphitheatre SOLE TOUR: Nate Holley, John Earle, Charlie Walker, Odd Rodd, Rachael Warfield, Matt Still April 27, Freebird Live WELCOME TO ROCKVILLE: Korn, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Seether, Theory of a Deadman, Black Label Society, Black Stone Cherry, Trivium, Motionless in White, Skindred, The Pretty Reckless, Lacuna Coil, Fozzy, Kyng, Nothing More, Twelve Foot Ninja April 27, Metropolitan Park BECCA STEVENS BAND April 27, Underbelly UNDER THE STREETLAMP, GENTLEMAN’S RULE April 27, The Florida Theatre EASY STAR ALL-STARS, CAS HALEY, BIG HOPE April 28, Freebird Live CHUCK RAGAN & THE CAMARADARIE, JONNY TWO BAGS, BEAU CRUM April 28, Jack Rabbits ROB THOMAS April 29, The Florida Theatre POWERMAN 5000 April 29, Brewster’s Megaplex M. WARD April 30, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall AER April 30, Jack Rabbits SUWANNEE RIVER JAM: Brantley Gilbert, Montgomery Gentry, The Mavericks, Chris Cagle, Justin Moore, The Charlie Daniels Band, Colt Ford, The Lacs, JJ Lawhorn April 30-May 3, Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park JOHN LEGEND April 30, The Florida Theatre AA DUO April 30, The Jacksonville Landing LARRY MANGUM, JIM CARRICK, CHARLEY SIMMONS May 1, Mudville Music Room
BEAR HANDS May 1, Jack Rabbits VEGABONDS May 1, Freebird Live ONWARD, ETC. May 1, Underbelly SAVING ABEL, LIKE A STORM May 1, Brewster’s Megaplex THE MOVEMENT, THE HIP ABDUCTION May 2, Freebird Live MODERN MEASURE, SIR CHARLES May 2, 1904 Music Hall GAMBLE ROGERS FEST: Rev. Peyton’s Big Damm Band, The Duhks, Pierce Pettis, Gatorbone, Flagship Romance, WillowWacks, Michael Jordan, Cracker the Box, Colton McKenna, Jig to a Milestone May 2-4, St. Augustine DA GUITAR STUDENT RECITAL May 3, Mudville Music Room TREES SETTING FIRES, NOCTURNAL STATE OF MIND May 3, Jack Rabbits BRIT FLOYD May 4, The Florida Theatre AMY GRANT May 4, T-U Center’s Jacoby Symphony Hall THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMM BAND May 4, Jack Rabbits ADRENALINE MOB May 4, Brewster’s Megaplex EARL SWEATSHIRT May 5, Freebird Live WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY, ALISON KRAUSS, UNION STATION, JERRY DOUGLAS May 6, St. Augustine Amphitheatre CHARLES BRADLEY & HIS EXTRAORDINAIRES May 6, Freebird Live JOHN WESLEY (Porcupine Tree) May 7, Jack Rabbits TURKUAZ May 7, Underbelly KATCHAFIRE, MAOLI May 7, Freebird Live LYME IN THE SOUTH MUSIC FEST: Pat DiNizio (The Smithereens), Alisa Turner, Gregg Kirk (Zen Engines) May 7, River City Brewing Company COMBICHRIST May 8, Brewster’s Megaplex THE HEAD AND THE HEART, LOST IN THE TREES May 8, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall THE MAIN SQUEEZE May 8, 1904 Music Hall PROPAGANDA May 9, Murray Hill Theatre THE FAINT May 9, Freebird Live THE FAB FOUR May 9, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall BLITZEN TRAPPER May 9, Jack Rabbits I SEE STARS, LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES, GHOST TOWN, RAZIHEL, MISS FORTUNE May 9, Brewster’s Megaplex PURPLE HATTER’S BALL: Beats Antique, Emancipator Ensemble, The New Mastersounds, The Heavy Pets, The Nth Power, DubConscious, Space Capone, Rising Appalachia, Greenhouse Lounge May 9-11, Suwannee Music Park BEGGAR’S RIDE, MARK MANDEVILLE, RAIANNE RICHARDS May 10, Mudville Music Room MARION CRANE, BLEEDING IN STEREO, GHOSTWITCH May 10, Jack Rabbits LETLIVE., ARCHITECTS, GLASS CLOUD, I THE MIGHTY May 10, Brewster’s Megaplex SMELLS LIKE GRUNGE (Nirvana Cover Band) May 10, Burro Bar MIKE PINTO, B-SIDE PLAYERS, OJO DE BUEY May 11, Freebird Live SHAI HULUD May 11, Atticus Bar HOLY WAVE May 12, Nobby’s FALSETTA, DEAR ABBEY May 12, Jack Rabbits THE AQUABATS!, KOO KOO KANGAROO May 13, Freebird Live CONOR OBERST, DAWES May 13, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall YOU KNEW ME WHEN May 13, Underbelly ODESZA, KODAK TO GRAPH, LEGINGE May 14, The Original Café Eleven CHER, CYNDI LAUPER May 14, Veterans Memorial Arena MIKE SHACKELFORD May 14, Mudville Music Room WOODY PINES May 15, Underbelly GLADYS KNIGHT May 16, T-U Center TEGAN & SARA, LUCIOUS, THE COURTNEYS May 16, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall CRAFT BEER FEST: Something Distant, More May 16, Veterans Memorial Arena THE GIPSY KINGS May 16, The Florida Theatre THE WINERY DOGS, BILLY SHEEHAN, MIKE PORTNOY, RICHIE KOTZEN May 16, Freebird Live SCREAM OUT LOUD, THE OFFER May 17, Murray Hill Theatre CHRIS BOTTI May 17, The Florida Theatre SUPERSUCKERS May 18, Jack Rabbits THE 1975 May 19, Freebird Live JACK JOHNSON, ALO May 20, St. Augustine Amphitheatre DALE CRICER, DELL SUGGS, BOB PATTERSON May 21, Mudville Music Room STAGES & STEREOS, DARLING PARADE, THE ORPHAN THE POET May 21, Jack Rabbits ANTIQUE ANIMALS May 22, Mellow Mushroom Jax Beach CRANFORD HOLLOW May 22, Jack Rabbits STYX, FOREIGNER, DON FELDER May 23, St. Augustine Amphitheatre JAZZ FEST AFTER DARK: Fusebox Funk, Herd of Watts, Groove Coalition, Heavy Pets, Big Something, Squeedlepuss, Wobbly Toms, Guy & the Yehudas, Goliath Flores, The Dog Apollo, Rickolus, Civil Brute, Jeremiah Johnson, Arvid Smith, Albert Ayler Commemoration May 23, Underbelly, 1904 Music Hall, Burro Bar, Dive Bar, The Volstead, Karpeles Manuscript Museum JAZZ FEST AFTER DARK: Moon Hooch, SPORE, Lumagrove, Dewars, Four Families, Canary in the Coalmine, The Frontier Needs Heroes, Snake Blood Remedy, Cougar Barrel, The Weighted Hands, Christina Wagner, The Sh-Booms, Mama Blue, Skeleton Bros., Goliath Flores May 24, Underbelly, 1904 Music Hall, Burro Bar, Dive Bar, The Volstead, Karpeles Manuscript Museum