Mountain Music

by Margie E. Burke

As soon as we dropped our play list in October, a dude from over in Richlands shook up the Southwest Virginia music world.

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Richlands’ Noah Spencer rocked the world with a cover of “Something in the Orange” on The Voice, getting three chairs to turn. Spencer has played out in the region as a solo act, showcasing an impressive vocal range and frantic guitar picking. He’s also competed several years in songwriter showcases at the Birthplace of County Music Museum. Something tells us that he’ll be harder and more expensive to catch after blowing up nationwide. Here’s an original from Spencer called “Never Mine.”

Scan the QR Code below with your smartphone a five-piece alternative rock outfit comprised of Jenna Greene, Jacob Bordwine, Brad Albert, Neal Reid and Will Outlaw that came into being in 2022. The play list includes Planes’ piece “Down 4U.”

Basement Days also hails from Abingdon and just wrapped up a mini-tour through North Carolina, ending in Johnson City in late October. Check out their release “McNight Shift” in the playlist.

We’re going to get pushback from purists, we assume, in including Chattanooga in our Appalachian turf. There are those online who don’t count Chattanoogans as mountain folk, but there are also some online who don’t include Asheville or Roanoke or probably Bluefield. Teni Rane hails from the Scenic City. An alternative singer and songwriter, Rane was nurtured by local musicians and also teaches yoga. Here she sings “Golden Rod.”

Contemporary Christian band Forsaken Hero got its start in Marion, helmed by lead singers Casey and Emily Price. Since starting in 2011, they’ve shared the stage with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Stryper, Skillet and For King and Country. Included on this play list is “God Doesn’t Care.”

The rest of the song list is going to get harder and harder, heavier, until there’s not even much roll left in our rock.

Calling the mountains of Southwest Virginia and northeastern Tennessee home, Anthony Wayne has been working on building his sound since 1995. Now that he’s got the vibe he’s been wanting, he’s out with Anthony Wayne Vibe, stripped down and raring to go. On the playlist is “Moving On.”

Another Tazewell County boy, Victor Lawson may be the hardest working man in local bandom. Playing hundreds of sets per year, Victor Lawson & Boogie Chillen reliably brings the roots rock, blues rock basics, packing a party in every single set. Check him out with “Suitcase Full of Blues.”

Coming up next we have a trio of Abingdonbased bands, all steeped in rock-n-roll sounds.

The newest installment, Orbital Planes, is

The old heads from the Abingdon are is Fritz & Co., founded by Logan Fritz, who sings, plays guitar and orchestrates the wizardry. McKenna supplies vocals, and Matt Martin handles bass. Music fans might remember Martin from his years with Holy Ghost Tent Revival – and their banger sure to show up on a future playlist “My Heart Is Yours.” Amanda Hollifield beats the skins and Josh Cavinder is on keys. Cavinder and Hollifield both spent time with Asheville-based Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats. On the playlist from Fritz & Co. is “Say Something.”

Getting steadily heavier is a little band from Oceana, West Virginia. The Switch, drawing their name and inspiration from an AC/DC song, are a perfect band for those who fell in love with the hair bands of the 1980s. Known for their showstopper rendition of “Purple Rain,” check out their first release, “Speak of the Devil.”

Based out of Wythe County, Dying Oath is a six-piece band mixing metal core with modern metal and have built a solid foundation despite not a lot of places to play locally for their music. In the past few years, Dying Oath has played with some of the top bands in the genre. Mindy Jackson provides hardcore, gut-punching vocals while Nestor Idler provides clean melodic vocals. Meanwhile, Josh Hagee shreds on lead guitar and Ryan Endicott holds down the rhythm guitar. Sean Stafford bashes the skins and Kristen Sawyers holds down the bass. On the latest playlist, check out “End of Days.”

Enjoy, and as always, if there’s someone you think everyone should know about, let us know.

Coming up we’ve got a few themed playlists for you including “What up Docs?” and “Ladies First.” Give us your best guesses of who might be included in the comments on our Facebook page.