'VILLE #7 Clarksville, TN

PhotosbyJonDuncan

Jay Mean

BRIT DEWEY

“My momma was in a band when she was pregnant with me. She used to say I would kick to the beat- I don’t know if she’s pulling my leg or not, but I think music’s fuckin’ ingrained in me!”

PicturesandStoryby JonDuncan

There’s a tangible moment during every set Brit Dewey plays where this becomes not only evident, but an understatement. A moment where whatever expectations the audience had had for the friendly, laid-back girl from Ashland City are blown clean away like so much shattered glass. She’s turning 33 this yearand in her prime. She commands the stage, dressed in hiphugger bell bottoms and a widebrimmed hat, her gold glasses framed by Farrah Fawcett bangs. Her left arm bears a Waylon Jennings tattoo, alongside a rendition of the Ryman Auditorium’s stained glass windows. But it’s her voice-rising pure and powerful from her chest like a Sunday morning choir, only to dip into a lusty, black-blues howl- that captivates the audience.

From songwriter rounds to recording studios, Brit Dewey is one of the most recognized female musicians in Clarksville. Just as comfortable covering Led Zeppelin as Gillian Welch, her incredible vocal range is matched only by her talent for masterfully capturing the struggles and joys of life in her songs.

“I know this is going to sound cliche, but music is literally everything to me,” explains Brit, in her warm, Tennessee drawl. “There's not a minute in the day I'm not listening to it, thinking about it, or making it. I’m a firm believer that there's a song for everything.”

Brit credits her mom, Annette Greaves, for her love of music. “We moved here from Indiana in ‘96 because she wanted to be a country music singer. I used to spend every weekend watching her play The Nashville Palace,” Brit recalls. “My parents were divorced, so I lived with her. So I was, you know, with her at the waffle house on McGavock Pike at 2:00 in the morning. I grew up around performing country music.”

Itwasn’tlongbeforeBrithadher handsonaninstrument.“My Grandmaboughtmeaguitarat athriftshop,andIusedtomess aroundonit,butdidn’treallyknow howtoplayit.Thenmy mommetLarry(LawrenceGreaves, nowmarriedtoAnnette)whenIwas 14,andheshowed mehowtoreadchartsandplay chords.He’sthereasonIknowhow toplayguitar,withouta doubt.Hewasabiginfluenceon me.Iloveallkindsofmusic,butI REALLYlovemetaland hard rock, and Larry is obviously a huge metal head, you know?” Guitar wasn’t the only instrument she was learning.

“When I was in band in middle and high school, I played clarinet,” Brit remembers. “That’s where I first really learned to read and play music.”

Even as a teenager, Brit was seeking out places to play other than school. “I would do open mics as a teenager, like around 2009. I had a show once at the Coup, and Larry would accompany me on guitar. Mostly covers, a few originals.”

After high school, Brit pursued a degree at Austin Peay State University in music education on a vocal path. “College Choir was the first time I sang with a big group of people. That’s where I first learned how to use my voice to project. APSU was also where I met Henry Rives,” says Brit. “Henry and I were both music education majors. We had a class together called fundamentals of music education. There’s a homeschool music program, and they get kids who are 5-11 years old and the college kids teach them a music class. Me and Henry got partnered up.” Brit laughs at the memory. “Henry always seemed way too cool for me to hang out with- he was doing the jazz band thing, and in class he was a little obnoxious, you know? A little out there! So for this project we had to write a lesson plan and teach it. I ended up doing all the fucking lesson planning, and on the day of teaching, I’m a little aggravated at Henry cause I’ve had to do all the legwork.” Brit felt like she had been left holding the bag. “I was so nervous. But Henry just walks in and starts rocking it with these kids. He was very good with kids, and he had this cockiness and just owned it.” After that assignment, they went separate ways, until ultimately playing together in No Curfew years later.

By 2017, Brit had graduated with a degree in Music Education. Her mom, Annette, and Larry were in a band at that time called EZ Street, and invited Brit to start singing harmonies with them. That’s when she first met guitarist Matt Dewey. Brit and Matt soon fell for one another, and they ended up branching off from EZ Street and forming a new group together. “The way me and Matt fell for each other was sending songs back and forth. That's how we got into this mess,” Brit laughs. “He sent me Brokedown Palace by the Grateful Dead.” Matt and Brit married in 2021.

The new band, called No Curfew, was Billy “B.B.” Bolster on drums, Kenny Buchanan on bass, Preston Tackitt on guitar, Matt on guitar, and Brit. Henry Rives later joined on sax. “I remember thinking Henry was too good for our band, but Matt was set on having him, and he kept showing up to play with us!” Brit laughs. Describing the sound of No Curfew, Brit says “We’re like if Parliament and Tedeschi Trucks had a baby. It’s like a jam band, blues and rock and roll.”

“My musical taste has always been all over the board, I’ve just been exposed to so much in my lifetime,” Brit says when asked about the kind of music she enjoys listening to. “Growing up, there were always two sides of the coin: my mom has always been very into country music, I mean Randy Travis is her favorite artist. That’s what she was performing, 90’s country. Now it’s more classic rock. My dad loved U2, Hootie and the blowfish, AC/DC. We’d ride around in his Camaro with the T-tops off, listening to George Thoroughgood.”

Brit describes her two biggest vocal influences as Aretha Franklin and Patsy Cline. She also counts Susan Tedeschi as a hero. “She’s a badass guitar player, a great songwriter, and a fucking powerhouse vocalist.” Songwriting wise, Brit names Patty Griffin as a major influence. She also loves the Dixie Chicks- “It’s those harmonies!” Brit also credits Matchbox 20 for helping her to really learn to sing harmony parts. “My favorite album of all time that taught me how to sing harmonies was Matchbox 20 ‘Yourself or Someone like You’- that also got my mom through her first divorce, so maybe that’s why I like it so much.”

In 2018, Brit by chance met long-time Clarksville musician and songwriter Daniel Ledbetter. “Me and Daniel are twin flames. The way our process, our brains work is just different. I saw him playing at Scooters with Floodwaters, and I remember just being floored! Daniel is a powerhouse vocalist, and he was singing Deep Elem Blues, a Grateful Dead cover,” Brit remembers. “Me and Matt were just geeking out over that. I went up and introduced myself to him, and a couple months after that No Curfew played our first Clarksville gig at the Revel House.”

Ledbetter showed up, and when he heard Brit singing, the admiration was mutual. Two days later, Daniel called her up to come sing on a Floodwaters track “I’m Not Going Crazy” they were recording at Daniel Walker’s Cumberland Sound Studio. Before long, Brit and Ledbetter had started writing together. Flood Waters soon broke up, and Ledbetter formed a new group, now known as PanAmerican Hayride: Brandon Wilson on steel guitar and mandolin, Kirk Sumner on Drums, Daniel Walker on bass, and Ledbetter playing guitar and sharing lead vocals on different songs with Brit. PanAmerican Hayride’s hard-driving sound is very similar to the Red Dirt music coming out of Texas and Oklahoma. “Alternative country,” Brit says, “Like the Turnpike Troubadours and Restless Kelly.” The band is currently recording a new album produced by Isaac Frost, with Brit and Ledbetter co-writing all the songs. They plan on releasing it later this year.

With her diverse musical interests, what it is that steers Brit’s sound when she writes? “I guess the music that’s most meaningful to me is singer-songwriter stuff- I just listen to lyrics first, the story. For me, when I’m making music, I’m trying to get something out and say something, and that’s the type of music that moves me as a writer. Americana, folk-style music.”

“I can’t write something I or a friend haven’t experienced,” Brit says. “I mean creatively I can put myself in positions and write from that perspective, but I’d say all my songs are autobiographical in some sense. I write a lot of songs in the morning. I’ll get up, have a cup of coffee, smoke a blunt and end up writing something,” Brit laughs. “ I’d say 70% of my songs were written on a wake-and-bake with coffee. A blanket over me, Matt’s guitar, and a cat!”

When asked about which of her songs is her favorite, Brit points out “My favorite song and my most meaningful song I’ve written are different. My most meaningful song is Grandma’s Bible- but my favorite is ‘Hole to China’! That’s one of those where the melody and the words came together simultaneously. I like the line, ‘Surrounded by my friends, but I know how this ends, tomorrow morning blues are here to stay’. That one will be on the new PanAmerican Hayride record.”

Brit’s incredible range and vocal control have landed her some great opportunities to work with other bands as well. She recorded harmonies on “Waves” and “Devil in the Shadows” on Still Moves new album, “Until”. Last September, Isaac Frost reached out and invited her to work as one of three back-up singers with the touring Pink Floyd tribute band, American Floyd.

Brit’s incredible range and vocal control have landed her some great opportunities to work with other bands as well. She recorded harmonies on “Waves” and “Devil in the Shadows” on Still Moves new album, “Until”. Last September, Isaac Frost reached out and invited her to work as one of three back-up singers with the touring Pink Floyd tribute band, American Floyd. “The day Isaac Frost called and asked if I could sing with American Floyd I felt like I hit the big time,” Brit laughs. “ I get to be a-what does Richard Glass call them?-A Floydette! Great Gig in the sky is the most challenging song I’ve learned since college. Pink Floyd was my most listened to band on my end of the year Spotify ranking and I didn’t start learning the songs until September, so yeah, in three months…There’s just a lot of moving parts, man. On Great Gig in the Sky, Clare Torry improvised it. It’s like 40 measures, a minute and a half, of improvisation. It isn’t words, its just ooo’s and ahhh’s,” says Brit.

What kind of advice does Brit recommend to up-and-coming songwriters and singers? “I feel like the best advice I could give anyone trying to write songs is to write down anything you think is clever. When you have one of those moments where that song is just flowing out of you, like when I’m driving to work - put it in your voice notes on your phone, or write it down right then. That would be my best advice. And just write true to yourself. If you’re quirky, write that way,” says Brit. “I really feel like I’ve gotten to where I’m at by going out and supporting other people in town. I’ve met so many people at the open mic at Revel house. Go watch Lucian Greene play at O’Neal's, you’ll meet people. Or go to Poorman’s Country Club if you want to come talk to some musicians,” Brit points out. “A lot of people say this around here, but it’s true: there is a weird sense of camaraderie in the music community here. I have never felt like I’m competing with anyone, or that anyone was out to get me down. We’re all kinda doing our own thing, or doing things together- As a singer, if you want to get jobs, either performing with a band or singing on record, learn to sing harmonies. And be confident. Learn how to find intervals, like a third above the melody, or a fifth above the melody.”

Where can you catch Brit playing these days? “Most of the shows I’m playing now are Great Divide.” Great divide is the acoustic duo of Matt and Britt. “We play O’neals about once a month on Saturdays. We play at Revel House some too. No Curfew is on a hiatus since losing Henry Rives last year along with bass player Tyrell, but Brit hopes they will make a comeback later this year. “I’d really like to get a horn section going with that, so if anyone plays trumpet or trombone, come talk to me!” Brit got a new Fender Squire Mustang electric guitar for Christmas, and plans on playing that instead of acoustic guitar when No Curfew starts back up. “Her name is ‘Mustang Sally Jesse’,” says Brit with a giggle. When asked about where she’d like to be in five years, Brit pauses and thinks. “Let’s see, I’ll be 38. You know, I’m just gonna speak it into existence- I’d love to be able to support myself financially making and performing my own music. Writing for other people, too. But working for myself, performing and writing as much as possible. I’d really like to get PanAmerican Hayride out on the road, and play like, Texas, you know?” Brit pauses, lost for a moment in the idea of road-dogging the open highway. “I just want to experience that!”

Natalia

Six years ago, local flow artist Natalia Castro attended her first music festival, where she found herself not only moved by the sound of the music, but also by the sight of the hoop dancers and flow artists who floated throughout the crowd freely giving themselves over to the music. She watched as their twirling bodies flowed to the melodic rhythms of the songs.

PhotobyChrisLayton

“I thought it was so beautiful and mesmerizing,” Natalia says. “I felt so inspired. I told myself that was going to be me one day.”

She was right.

Her journey from watching others dance and flow to becoming one of the most locally recognized flow artists hasn’t come without its ups and downs. One of the biggest challenges she’s faced and conquered was her insecurities and confidence. She was often too nervous to bring her hoop to shows or events. Over time though, those feelings faded and her confidence grew.

“The more exposure I had hula hooping places, the easier it became to ignore what other people’s opinions may be.”

The confidence she’s gained from hoop dancing has also had a big impact in her life.

“I think the biggest impact hoop dance has had in my life is helping me overcome insecurity and be confident enough to have attention drawn to me while enjoying myself and doing what I love,” Natalia says. “It’s helped me fall in love with music in a whole new way.”

Natalia enjoys having an outlet to express her love for music, and she loves entertaining and bringing happiness to everyone around her. She is also selfless with her art.

“My biggest goal and dream is to inspire people through my flow, just as I was inspired when I first witnessed a hoop dancer. I want to show them that they can also find confidence and expression, whether through hoop dancing or not, to find their flow.”

Being a flow artist is not the only creative outlet for Natalia. She is also a talented tie-dye and wirewrap artist. Be sure to check out her designs on Instagram @_thewanderinggypsy_.

Photo by Gerald Sammons

Ashley Kettle

From Dream to Reality: The Story of Mr. Billy's Bar and Grill

Starting a local bar and restaurant in Clarksville, Tennessee was like a distant dream for Chris Scogin and his father, William "Billy" Scogin when they first started planning in 2018. Unfortunately, their plans were cut short when the elder Scogin died in 2019.

But Chris was determined to see their dream come to fruition, and in 2019 he opened the doors to Mr. Billy's Bar and Grill. (The original bar moved to a new building just next to the old one in 2022.) Now, with another brand-new location called Billy’s, opened with business partner Ricky Reda, Chris has made his family's dream a reality.

What's the Vibe?

Mr. Billy's and Billy's are smoke-free and kid-friendly!

Make it a date night, catch up with friends, or just unwind close to home. Patrons 21 and up can enjoy Happy Hour (4-7 pm M-Th) beer and bites, and weekly menu specials. Follow your favorite teams with numerous TVs for watching sports, and smokers can relax on the outdoor patio. Play pool and darts, listen to live music and join the fun with karaoke.

With all these perks, Billy's is the perfect spot for hosting your company happy hour, casual occasion, or any other gathering.

How's the Food?

Billy's near the mall has an expanded menu that features fantastic new items, including ribeye steak with baked potato and Caesar salad, Bison burgers, gator bites with spicy ranch sauce, and shrimp tacos. The classic favorites such as wings, burgers, BLT, loaded nachos, and turkey club sandwiches are always on the menu at both locations. (Insider tip: Billy's wings are hands-down the best wings. EVER.)

The Future is Bright

With two locations going strong, could there be a third location in the future? Stay tuned!

For more information, including a complete menu, visit Billy’s Facebook page.

Betty Sammons

Project Butterfly

DJ turned multi-genre music producer, songwriter and entrepreneur, Project Butterfly transforms what it means to be a female producer within the heavily male-dominated production industry. According to Project Butterfly, the number of females signed to a record label and actively producing music is a meager two percent. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t more than two percent of females of all ages out there producing music. Oh, they are out there, we just don’t know it…yet.

ByAshleyKettle

“I know a lot of girls that are producers, but they’re bedroom producers,” says Project Butterly.

It’s those bedroom producers who are producing good stuff that nobody will ever hear that makes Project Butterfly strive to be an inspiration and trendsetter for women producers everywhere. She’s currently setting trends locally, nationally and internationally.

“The Clarksville music scene is tight, everybody is so gracious with each other’s music and they’re supportive,” Project Butterfly says. “My best friends have been in Clarksville their whole life, but I met them about 10 years ago, they’re like my family. They support me and I support them.”

Photo by Joey Steadman

PhotobyDamenMichael

She goes on to explain that there have been times when local bands have backed up her electronics. She has been able to return the favor by stepping on the stage last minute to fill any role and play any instrument necessary, except the bass, which she readily admits that she cannot play.

Project Butterfly has also produced for major music festivals, including Sunset Music Festival and Ultra Music Festival.

Currently, she is signed with Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) as a MultiGenre Music Producer. She’s been producing music for SPE since January, and has so far written and produced music for an upcoming film trailer, a 9minute long piece for a combat scene and some dubstep cinematic.

SheisalsosignedwithinternationalrecordlabelssuchasDivisionBassDigitalRecords,wheresheisonlyoneof threefemalemusicproducers,andTranceFriendsRecords.

Beingamusicproducerisn’teasyandittakesalotofwork,sowhydoesshedoit?

“Iwanttomakeadifferenceinthemusicindustry,leavealegacy,andbydoingsohopefullyshowwomenit's okaytotaketheleap.”

Oh,andmaybeyou’rewonderingjustwhatorwhoProjectButterflyis?Well,sherecentlymadeaFacebookpost thataddressesthatveryquestion.

“FunFact:I'maskedaboutthe"Butterfly"soMUCH.EveryonethinksIchoseitbecauseof"SocialButterfly" Nope.I'mactuallyanintrovert&speakwhennecessary&IcamefromthemetamorphosisthatIhavetogo through&it'sreallyaneverendingprocess.I'mintheONLY2%offemaleworldwidestatisticaldataof producersthathavechosenmypath..ICHANGEDmypseudonameWHENIwentfromDJtoProducer,etc...it's ALLLife-Longmetamorphosis.”

Besuretocheckout“Who’sYourDaddy?,”“Fusion”andherlatestTrancereleaseonSpotify,Bandcamp, SoundCloud,AppleMusicandmore. AshleyKettle-

Raistlin Delisle

Open Mic, Open Life

ByStacyLeiser

There’smuchtobesaidforopenness:openmind,openheart,beingopentonew ideasandviewpoints…allgoodthings!Butwhataboutanopenmic?Astage,an audience,andamplificationforanyone–anyone–whoshowsuptoperform.Isart bythepeople,withnogatekeeper,nocurationwhatsoever,worthourtime? Ifyou’reaskingClarksville,theanswerisYES!

It began at The Gilroy in 2016 with Rufus Dawkins running the show, then continued in what Raistlin Delisle calls “the Wild West of open mic” at Pier 118, a sketchy bar that filled in the gap between the Gilroy’s closing and Dawn Marie opening Revel House in March 2019. Today, Tap the Mic is touted as the longest running open mic in Clarksville’s history

Every Tuesday, with signups at 7 and acts taking the stage at 8 p.m., Revel House presents Tap the Mic, with music scene magician Cody Parson as host While you might hear a comedian now and then, most of the acts are musicians, a label that covers a shocking range of possibilities You might see one man singing an original ballad a capella or a five-piece rock band jamming with the full energy of a stadium tour, for three songs, to a crowd of 30. It’s highly unusual. It’s all over the place And if you want a sampler platter of some new and developing talent in town, it’s your Tuesday night

Tap the Mic provides a spot for seasoned performers to try out new material, but it tends to attract more who are new to performing, new to a particular instrument, in a newly formed band, or maybe making music outside of their own homes for the first time ever. Then there’s the unusual case of Raistlin Delisle He was there on Day 1, when the Gilroy’s open mic got going in 2016, and here he is, 7 years later, often revisiting the open mic stage that was his long ago entry point into a brand new world

“I picked up a guitar and I was figuring things out What really drew me, when I was first playing, was trying to create my own therapy for myself,” he said

For many musicians, it’s all about the music, to the marrow of their bones. But for Raistlin, music was a new path to the waterfall.

“I have high functioning autism. For a long period of time, trying to handle social situations around me used to be a harder schtick. What I wanted to do with open mic was to get myself more comfortable with things I wasn't originally comfortable with,” Raistlin said “The more I got onstage, the more I had the support of everyone who comes here, young and old.”

The change in Raistlin from then to now is striking, and his open mic experience is an important element in his evolution

“I’m a raw performer by nature. I go up onstage and I talk about my feelings,” Raistlin said “Therapy wise, I feel like I’m able to bleed everything out of my chest so I never have to hold anything inside of myself. I’m not eating myself away. I can just take the energy, expel it, clean it out ”

Dawn Marie worked at the Gilroy in 2016, and has seen Raistlin progress over the years. She remembers his earliest performances vividly

“He didn’t have vocal control, so he just let out this massive, strong voice that was very loud for the room. Everyone would go outside When he was done, they would all come back in,” Dawn said “It’s really crazy to watch him grow It’s my favorite growth of any human who has graced that stage. One of the most insane guitarists I've seen fiddle around The growth is everything ”

Photo by Chris Layton

Like many performers, Raistlin found it agonizing to get onstage that first time “I remember feeling shivers down my spine,” Raistlin said. “I was nerved the whole time through. I would play one or two songs, stop myself and walk offstage I got nervous, things didn't feel right, the sound was off ” He says he fought that uneasy feeling over time, with repetition, going up on that stage “over and over and over again.”

The challenge abated a bit each time he took the stage

“Over time, I treated it more as a necessity It just feels normal As normal as doing the groceries, doing your laundry: getting onstage,” Raistlin said. “It just became routine. In the best way.” Others have gone from terror to ease on that same stage The crowd does not favor a particular genre, but is generally loving toward all who are brave enough to perform

“People can come here and sharpen their skills. It’s not a boo offstage kinda deal,” Raistlin said. “People can walk outside, mind you, but everyone gets a chance onstage, whether you perform on an instrument, you play on a Gameboy, you do comedy, we try to keep it open to everyone and what they love Open mic has always been a team effort, There are a lot of individuals taking personal strides into doing what is important to them.”

Raistlin is impressed with the hundreds of people who have kept Tap the Mic going strong

“I’ve seen all shapes and sizes come through the door, just to put themselves out there,” Raistlin said “In its way, it's beautiful. The gratitude and appreciation that comes off that stage has held its own throughout the years, which is why it keeps going, big or small ”

The benefits of an open mic are bigger than individual development or audience enjoyment

“It's a showcase. All the artists meet each other. Everyone can collaborate for future plans, gigs that are inside or outside the bar,” Raistlin said “It’s a networking service We all know each other, we all hang with each other ”

Clarksville has an amazing well of evolving talent, and if you’re wondering where to find proof, it’s Tuesdays at Revel House for Tap the Mic. At an open mic, you never know what you’re going to get, it’s true, but you just may end your evening with a new favorite musician and one you actually met in person!

stacyatville@gmail.com

StacyLeiser

Sam Winters

ByIanCargill

ars

Sam Winters is a local electronic music artist. Coming from a musical family, Sam spent his school years playing percussion in marching band. He got into electronic music at a young age and has since released a huge catalog of music. He also happens to be my co-worker, and one of my best friends. When he's not at his desk making new music, he's playing with his son, Finn, or he's downtown making some of the finest pizzas in Clarksville. I recently caught up with Sam after the release of his new album, "NIGHTSCAPE: EXPANSION".

What's up Sam. How did you get into electronic music?

"Around 2002 I started experimenting on freeware programs, writing a bunch of random 64th notes, and calling it a 'Battle Theme' (laughs). I was playing a lot of PlayStation and Nintendo 64 and wanted to make music like that, which was created electronically. So I naturally gravitated towards computers and synths."

Your Bandcamp discography has 8 albums, dating all the way back to 2012. What made you decide to release your first album?

"I saw a documentary about Scott Walker, a 60s pop singer that completely switched gears and became an avant-garde artist. That leap of faith of his, potentially throwing away a safe and successful career, inspired me to just go for it and not care if anyone liked it or not."

Your most recent album, 'NIGHTSCAPE: EXPANSION', has 24 tracks! Your previous album, 'Senescense'(June 2022) had 6 tracks and the one before that, 'High and Low'(August 2021), had 12. That's 42 songs in less than 2 years. How do you manage to create so much music?

"It seems like a lot, but when it takes you twenty years in your craft to reach that point where you can conceptualize something, then more or less execute it, there's no better feeling. You just want to create every song you've imagined for the past two decades."

What is your writing process like?

"Usually I start by working out the chord progression and melody on piano, then punch that into my computer. Choose .sf2s(SoundFont) and mix. When an idea hits me it's a 7-8 hour process. I spend a lot of time drinking coffee and walking while listening to my progress to help me come up with new sections. That one's hard to answer, honestly. It happens in so many different ways."

I definitely feel that. Most of my ideas come to me pretty sporadically. Speaking of sporadic, I feel like your music spans a wide variety of genre's....what are some of your biggest influences?

"Yasunori Mitsuda, who most people know for scoring the SNES game Chrono Trigger, and Ko Otani, the composer of the 1998 anime Outlaw Star are at the top, but really anything coming out of Japan from the mid-nineties through the early 2000s. Symphony X is also a standout inspiration, in particular their use of intricate orchestral midi compositions. Genesis. Depeche Mode. NIN."

Your album 'NIGHTSCAPE' has a couple tracks featuring Jarrod Jackson on guitar. How did that come about?

"I've known Jarrod as long as I've been experimenting with music, ranging back to us being in drumline together. He's a phenomenal guitar player and improvised the solos on my record. This collaboration inspired me to push for more complexity and recording a live instrument for the first time really transformed my work."

Do you have plans for any live shows?

"Ideally I'd like to design a live show and start performing this summer. Maybe something wild like a bunch of standard definition TV's behind me playing footage of retro games and anime. It's in the works."

That sounds sick!! What do you have planned next?

"All my albums are concept albums and I'm in the "idea" phase. It's either going to be NIGHTSCAPE 2 or something completely different. I'd like to write some poppy songs with lyrics sung by Vocaloid."

After the creative streak Sam has had over the last two years, I can't imagine how he has any more ideas up his sleeve. But knowing Sam the way I know him, he will no doubt deliver. The man is a machine, capable of a level of output that to others seems nearly impossible. His new album, "NIGHTSCAPE: EXPANSION" is available on Spotify, as well as Bandcamp, where you can find his entire discography. samwinters.bandcamp.com/ IanCargill

WyntonExisting"SexualDeath"LP

vinyl

In Spring of 2020, Wynton Huddle began recording in the confines of his Pennsylvania home as a way to cope with the isolation he had during the peak of Covid. He took to the boiler room attached to his apartment bedroom and loud noises were made. In fall of 2020 he released his first Wynton Existing album of 10 years, 'Wicked Fabrications'. Playing just about every instrument on the record, Wynton showcased a wide array of genres spanning from Surf rock to Stoner to Indie. Fast forward to 2023 and Wynton

Existing is settled right outside of Nashville, TN with his now current drummer and engineer for the newest album, Gavin Gates. They are currently hitting the town running with their new album 'Sexual Death' and are frequently gigging to the east coast and back in support of it.

Beware: I’m a fan!

That being said, this album has several songs on it I’ve been hearing at their shows over the past months. I would consider many of those, including “Juicy Prevalence” and “Tom-Tom Song” to be some of the coolest fusions of today and retro late sixties acid bliss. It is some great high energy rock! I’ve seen them live a bunch of times, including Possomstock, Revel House, Wicked Good and the Basement in Nashville. They always deliver a killer live show. Speaking of delivery, this album does that with the goods. The recordings are right up there with the live show. Tight and crisp. “Wings of the Fly” “Sonic innocence” as well as the title track have a catchy timelessness that makes this a record I’ll be playing for a long time!

The album also boasts performances by Tyrell Williams, David Estes and Willy Davis.

SEXUAL DEATH is an interesting title for a record that is both sexy and lively. Seriously, I wasted no time getting my copy of this and recommend you do the same. What’s the worst that could happen? A great time? What the f*** is wrong with that??

KarlMcWerter

DavidFox

Who's on the Drums? Kirk Sumner

Photo by Cheyanne Parkans

I have known Kirk for many years, since he started playing with Whiskey Angel in 2014. His style and passion really come out when he's behind the kit. Kirk is one of my favorite drummers in this scene or anywhere! I feel like it's only fitting that we check out what's going on with Kirk and his drums - JC

How long you been playing?

21 years

Biggest influences on drums?

My peers and the other musicians I’m grateful to play and perform with.

What kind of gear do you use? Kit, cymbal set up, sticks, snare (if different from the kit)

4 piece, late 80’s / early 90’s Pearl Export. 22”, 16”, 12” 20” Paiste Rude crash/ride. 18” Zildjian A Series crash. 18” Zildjian Medium Thin crash and some old 14” Zildjian hi hats. Pro Mark Forward 7A sticks

13”x6” Pearl steel sensitone snare.

What band(s) are you in?

Pan American Hayride / Captain Molasses / Delilah’s Sins

No Curfew / Whiskey Angel

Favorite things about Clarksville music scene?

The amazing talent and people around town. Any particular shows you've played stand out as being your best or favorite?

The floor collapsing at a house party in Murfreesboro a long time ago. Magnum Opera reunion and opening for the Hearsay’s. That lightning storm at Neb Fest. Several Possum Stocks. This one time at Further Fest where they parked us in the woods and Ian showed up in a suit. RIP Greenlight. And always playing with the Henrys (Rives and MacAfee).

What music do you listen to? Like what's your play list?

I’ll always love electric guitars and catchy melodies. Recently I was introduced to a killer band called Mephistofeles. I’ve also been listening to Television a lot since Tom Verlaine passed. And I always have something from Guided by Voices ready to go.

Quote:

I don’t want to work. I just want to bang on these drums all day.

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