The charming, witty and always entertaining writer and humorist Garrison Keillor takes the stage at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta for one night only. Best known for his popular radio show, A Prairie Home Companion, Keillor - true to his radio form - spits out some of the most hilarious anecdotes about growing up in the American Midwest and the aging process, not to mention “late-life fatherhood.� With his wonderful dry sense of humor, he captivates audiences as he delivers his stories with charisma and wisdom. Support GPB- reserve a pair of tickets: 1-800-222-4788
Saturday, January 30
playgrounds magazine
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january 2010
Playgrounds magazine
Attention Artists We would love to see your art on the cover. Send inquiries to playgroundsmag@knology.net or call Vickie at 706-562-0074
january 2010 • volume 16 • issue 1
pg monthly Columbus Jazz Society 4 NSAI News 5 Music in the Valley 8 places to go... 14 PG Picks 18 Life is but a Dream, Tales From the Athens Rock Show 20 go ask Alice 22 Rock Calendar 25 Musicians Exchange 25
feature stories The Big House
6
Allman House Grand Opening
Marshall Ruffin
8
nominated for Independent Music award
Robert Cray
9
contributors
10
Vickie Carson - Editor
14th GRAMMY nomination
Derek Trucks Band GRAMMY nomination
Jamey Johnson
12
Columbus Civic Center
Kris Kristofferson 12 ISIS directory
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Playgrounds Magazine P.O. Box 8154, Columbus,
GA 31908
www.playgroundsmag.com playgroundsmag@knology.net
706-562-0074
RiverCenter
Let’s Make A Movie
Playgrounds Magazine is an independently published entertainment tabloid. Views expressed in Playgrounds Magazine do not necessarily represent those of anyone other than the person who expressed them. Playgrounds Enterprises, Columbus, Georgia, est. 1994. p.s. If you have something to say, we would love to hear it.
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music dvd recorded at The Loft
Love Is Still the Answer by Frank Saunders 17 Tybee Dawg’s Pick of Curtis’ fave CDs of 09 the Litter 24
Karoleigh K Allison Alice Barkwell Blair Burgess Liz Carson Doug Cox Will Dockery Brian Doohan Tonia Hill Andy Johnson Curtis Lynch Angela Nelson Daniel Peiken Frank Saunders
Friday, December 18- Poanna played their last show. It was at SoHo. We are sad to see them go.
Concert & Jam Session featuring
Milkshake Mayfield
sax/flute/clarinet Sunday, Jan 10, 6-9pm Liberty Theatre and Cultural Center 813 8th Ave, Columbus, GA 31901, 706/660-9295 Milkshake Mayfield has traveled around the world and back, gracing national and international stages with some of the greatest ‘who’s who’ among contemporary jazz giants– Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Owens, Frank Foster, Cab Calloway, Freddie Hubbard, Billy Taylor, and countless others. His astounding jazz portfolio includes performances/opening acts with the SOS band, Melba Moore, the Dells, Bobby Byrd & the JBs, Avery Fisher Hall (Washington, DC), Atlanta Montreux International Jazz Fest, Kool Jazz Fest (NYC), New Orleans World’s Fair, Carnegie Hall (NYC), trumpet tribute to the legendary Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong at the United Negro College Fund Benefit’s Salute to Apollo (2004), opening act for Michael Franks/Alex Bugnon concert (2006), Kevin Eubanks (2007), the Trumpet Awards (2008), and featured guest artist in Gospel musical The Glory Road at Morehouse College by Unity Production Group LLC (May 2009). His music presentation carries on the legacy of the jazz greats. The late legendary radio host “Tippy” Calloway befittingly addressed Milkshake as trumpeter extraordinaire. At the age of eight, Gregorie Mayfield, aka Milkshake, ventured to become an accomplished trumpeter. He quickly perfected the playing skills that earned him numerous awards throughout his youth and adult career. He acquired the name Milkshake in his early childhood because of his insatiable appetite for milkshakes. To this day, he is recognized by that name by all who know him, personally and professionally in the music industry. His passion for playing the trumpet and flugelhorn is equally insatiable and has perpetuated him to become one of the most talented and highly respected musicians in the USA and abroad. The word silky best describes Milkshake’s musical style and reflects in his smooth and sensuous sound. Milkshake earned a BA degree in Music from Clark College (now Clark-Atlanta University), Atlanta, GA. He formed the Milkshake Quartet (MSQ) in 1980, which is widely known for contemporary music, bee-bop, and straight ahead jazz, seasoned with a taste of funk and favored for its unique polyrhythmic music in improvised format. Experience the ultimate in jazz. In 2002, Milkshake showcased his debut CD In My Time. His soon to be released Gospel/Jazz and holiday CDs feature the soulfully soothing vocals of his wife and gospel/ jazz artist, Tine. You’ll find Milkshake and MSQ at any number of Atlanta jazz venues – Michon’s, Londzell’s, Olympia Prime, Star, Grown Folk, Crowe’s Nest, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Wednesday WindDown, Hammonds House and Fernbank Museums, Wren’s Nest, Lithonia and Mablehouse Amphitheatres, and more. Concert begins at 6:00, jam session begins at 8:00. Tickets are $10, there is no cover charge for musicians who sit in. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs & soft drinks will be available for purchase thanks to the CSU Music Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha. THE COLUMBUS JAZZ SOCIETY’S 2010 SEASON! January 10- Milkshake Mayfield, trumpet. February 14- Solar Quintet. March 14- CSU Jazz Ensemble. April 11- Alex Pershounin, bass. May 9- William Green, keyboard. June 13- Mace Hibbard, saxophone. July 11- Joe Gransden, trumpet, vocal. August 8- Tom Chadwick, keyboard. Septmber 12- Wes Funderburk, trombone. October 10Trey Wright, guitar. November 14- The Snakebite 6, New Orleans style jazz. December 12- Philadelphia Divas, vocal group. http://www.columbusjazzsociety.com The Columbus Jazz Society is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the celebration and promotion of this great American art form.
Cheer on your Favorite Team with Rivertown Adventure Club! Membership Special Extended!!! Are you ready for some FunInColumbus? Then join the Rivertown Adventure Club on Sunday, February 7 for our Superbowl Party at La Margaritas! Go to www.FunInColumbus.com now to sign up for this event! Take advantage of RTAC member prices of 30% off everything on the menu, and watch the game on a projector screen. Members are also eligible to win prizes in our raffle and a dream vacation! Come and invite a friend, or consider purchasing a gift membership for someone who needs more FunInColumbus! We have extended our membership special! Join or gift a membership to RTAC before January 31, and get an additional three months for free! We’ve had over 150 events this year so far! More info at www.FunInColumbus.com. The Rivertown Adventure Club (RTAC) is the area’s only webbased, group-oriented social club aimed at helping adults ages 21 and over meet, mix, and mingle with each other in a safe and interesting atmosphere, making it easy to make friends and have fun! Singles and couples are welcome to see what the club is all about, but more importantly, discover new people and experiences in the area and have FunInColumbus. RTAC allows members to view and plan events and communicate with each other, so a majority of the work is already done. Simply visit FunInColumbus.com and choose one of the organized events to attend, and you are on your way. Members organize and guide events, so your main objective is to show up and have fun! December witnessed RTAC pick up a new Preferred Partner in Johnny Carino’s, who is giving a 15% discount to members on Wednesdays. Preferred Partners offer special discounts to club members. Don’t forget: Fountain City Coffee gives a $10 credit to members who show their RTAC membership card, Ride on Bikes offers members an all-day rental for the price of a half-day rental, and River City Grill offers their “Game Day Wings” Special to RTAC members all day every day! A complete list with discounts and special offers can be viewed at www. FunInColumbus.com. Other upcoming events include a discover scuba and social night with Chattahoochee Scuba, a poker party, a ski/snowboarding trip to Gatlinburg, an overnight backbacking trip to Providence Canyon, skydiving, kayaking trips with the Chattahoochee Paddling Club, and a four-day trip to Las Vegas. See our complete list and register now at www.FunInColumbus.com. As our number of members and preferred partners continue to grow, new services, discounts and events will further enhance your experience with RTAC. Join Rivertown Adventure Club for its Christmas Party! Gift Memberships Available for those in need of some FunInColumbus at www.FunInColumbus.com. Andy Johnson
Wood • Custom • Chain Link • Vinyl Aluminum • Farm Fencing • Decks • More
FREE ESTIMATES Kurt Whitfield, owner Cell 706-681-4669
playgrounds magazine
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Office 706-221-7706 january 2010
warm and surreal sparked our hearts as we turned over the singing to the many participants gathered there for the evening. Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad! We felt at home with all of you and we will visit often to check up on you! If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the loved ones of our upbringing, make a point to do so…you will leave with a renewed inspiration and peace in your heart; I know we did. Thanks for sharing your lives and love for life with us. You are the reason we believe in the promise of things to come! This year and decade has come to pass and now it is time to turn the page and look into the future for NSAI. We have many new and exciting events planned for the coming year and I know you will not want to miss out on any of these fun and rewarding thrills being offered by our NSAI family! We are looking forward to bringing some very special guest songwriter speakers into town to share in their experiences and teach us more about the art and business of song. Many other cool happenings are in the planning stages for the New Year, but in order to be a part you must…be a part! Come out to our next NSAI meeting and find out what all of the buzz is about! You will be amazed at the talented people that gather in our meetings and you get to learn the craft of writing songs and making music with the help of some of the finest songwriters in the industry. Beginners are most welcome. We want to make you the star that you always wanted to be! Join us on January 12th at 7pm in the mezzanine level of the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, located on First Avenue in Uptown Columbus. See you there and remember… It All Begins With A Song! By Douglas Cox
Columbus NSAI News “it all begins with a song” Sharing with Community Any time of the year you can visit many area restaurants, night spots and event gatherings and you usually will find a local member of NSAI’s songwriting group performing for you as you stroll, eat and enjoy the company of family and friends…sometimes not really paying close attention to the value received as the musicians sing their heartwritten verse into the evening air. Rarely do we songwriters have the pleasured opportunity of gathering as one and sharing in the joy of singing the songs of the season. This year the Christmas Minstrel Singers of NSAI had the honor of being chosen to perform at several of the Bi-City’s most treasured events. The month’s festivities began with a fun gathering of members at our annual Christmas party, held this year at Down the Hooch Promotions, a small, yet intriguing cozy cabin songwriters’ venue in the outskirts of Columbus. Many local songsters and musicians gathered and celebrated in a ‘feasty’ way at ‘The Hooch,’ sang the night away, and brought the month into its opening stages of what was to become the magical musical season. The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts invited our group to perform at the opening of their annual Christmas Winterfest extravaganza, and we could not resist the opportunity to give our support to the community and share in song with the citizens of Columbus as they visited the art galleries and festivities gracing the Uptown area. Our performers rang in the season with many traditional songs that we have all grown up with and enjoyed each year. Thanks to the RiverCenter for giving us the nod to be a part of their gala! Hope to see you next year as well! One of the blessings in being a vital part of the Bi-City’s music scene is that we get to share in our love for our sister city and perform at their events throughout the year. This year was no exception. Through the Phenix City Parks and Recreation Department’s great success in giving back to the people of the area, we were again invited to be a part of their annual “Christmas at Moon Lake” event which brought in the season with a special concert overlooking the beautiful lake, adorned with glorious displays of nativity scenes, spirit filled colorful trees, and many other unique offerings created by local businesses and civic organizations. We even made our own offering to the displays of the season with…what else, but a colorful NSAI Christmas tree and a huge ten foot tall Big Red Guitar that seemed to be a big hit with all of the children as they gathered with their families and had their pictures taken beside the instrument! Although the night air was chilled, we really enjoyed gathering and singing our songs to the gracious citizens that braved the cold and helped to make the event a big success once again! Thank you again, Rebecca Harris and the P. C. Parks and Recreation Department. for inviting the NSAI singers to be a part of your fantastic offering to our community! Perhaps the most fulfilling event of this season was the very special ‘Covenant Christmas Sing-Along’ at Covenant Woods Retirement Community here in Columbus. Our singers sat before a large crowd of our ‘moms and dads’ and we all sang together as the spirit of the season filled the room. Something very
Covenant Woods Christmas Sing-Along
Nashville Songwriters Association International
Columbus Regional Workshop “It All Begins With A Song” Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 12, 7pm
Christmas at Moon Lake
Sponsored in part by
Patron’s Lounge – 2nd Floor (Entrance: Broadway between 9th and 10th Streets)
Every genre of music is welcome There will be a lesson provided by NSAI on how to further the knowledge and craft of songwriting. also Bring along a CD or your guitar and fifteen copies of your lyric sheet for a song evaluation.
Songwriters Night every Wednesday 8pm at Open Mic at The Loft Live
Your life tomorrow is created by the choices you make today. Today, choose to be your own boss. Live the life you deserve - start over, start fresh, start now.
Please call or email with questions or for directions. Kim Sammons & Nona Christie, coordinators - NSAI Columbus Chapter 706-565-7362. NSAI.cols.ga@knology.net myspace.com/nsaicolumbusga
www.youravon.com/cassonyadouglass 706-566-2954 playgrounds magazine
http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com
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http://www.nsaicolumbusga.org
january 2010
Allman House Nears Grand Opening
converted to restrooms - the adjacent gazebo, Potter hopes, will be used for “concerts and weddings”. Executive Director Peggy Thompson (whose husband, Zan, did much of the renovation work and incumbent tussling with zoning boards) hopes that the premises will also be used to hold music education classes and forums. On the second floor, Duane’s bedroom has been preserved with its original furniture and books… he was a Tolkein fan long before the movies. Next door, the room belonging to his daughter, Galadrielle, is slated to become a listening center and, across the hall, Berry and Big Linda Oakley’s notorious six-person shower has been restored. The topmost floor, once the band’s mini-ballroom, is still undergoing renovation. “We haven’t determined what’ll go there, yet,” said Thompson.. But, at least through January, the Big House will be open most weekends for the benefit of Allmanites, as dessert for those coming to visit the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, or just passing through. “People come to Macon just to drink the waters and walk the steps Otis Redding walked, that Greg and Duane Allman walked, that Little Richard walked,” Thompson said. “We especially need to teach the younger generation who these people were.”
Story and photos by Brian Doohan Forty years ago this month, Berry Oakley and 70’s and a key element (with Bob Dylan and Hunter Gregg and Duane Allman moved into the big house S. Thompson) in Jimmy Carter’s 1976 campaign. Now, the Big House Foundation nears its yearsat 2321 Vineville in Macon with their old ladies (as long goal of turning the old manse… built in 1900 and they were called, back in those days), kids, and varioccupied at one time, some say, by another Georgia ous hangers-on. Governor… into a performance center and museum. They agreed to a monthly toll of $225. But when According to the Macon Telegraph, it has raised $2.5 the real estate company found out that their premmillion towards the grand opening, plus a wealth of ises were to be occupied by– gasp!– unrelated perdonated labor and materials. sons, the brothers were promptly told that they could Greg Potter, its curator, resembles one of the scram, or face a rent surcharge… to $235. band’s original sidemen, but he’s a museum profesThe band was nine months old. Money coming sional, an Atlantan who jumped at the chance of a in from concerts and an album was in the works, but “dream job” four years ago. “Only about ten perthe big grosses from stadium concerts were still a cent of the memorabilia will be on display at any one ways off, so economies were practiced. time,” he says. The rehearsal room… now called the Other members, like Dickey Betts, Jaimoe JoFillmore Room (after the New York and San Franhanny Johansen and Butch Trucks crashed at the cisco emporiums the Brothers often played)… conBig House, and band rehearsals took place in a tains vintage instruments used by the band. Another small room off the main entrance. Maintenance was room houses memorabilia from the Brothers’ prechandled by the old ladies. “Berry Oakley’s wife, Big Linda, held the place edents (like Morning Glory and the Allman Joys) and together,” remembers Kirk West, the band’s road spin-off combos (Govt. Mule). Posters, ticket stubs, manager and photographer. “She was the matriarch and handwritten lyrics cover the walls and occasional souvenirs of later days have also been located, ac– like Tony Soprano.” After three years, the band decamped to other quired, and displayed. “There’s Greg and Cher’s pool table,” Potter The Big House, 2321 Vineville Avenue, Macon, (off premises and different destinies. Still, the Big House points… “it had to be re-felted.” Today, it’s covered I-75, exit 164). Open weekends, more or less, call remained a fond memory to those of a certain age, with small keepsakes under glass. Outside, a garage 478-741-5551. and an object of curiosity to the younger generation where the Brothers kept their motorcycles has been as an integrated combo in the South during the early
The Big House at 2321 Vineville, Macon, sheltered the Brothers for three years, 1970 through 1972.
Duane Allman’s second floor bedroom, restored.
Butch Trucks’ drum kit, acquired in 1966, predates his tenure in the band. It’s in the Fillmore Room, just off the ground floor entrance.
Curator Greg Potter closes the gate to the Big House in Macon. Y’all come back, now.
playgrounds magazine
6
january 2010
Fun At SoHo
Martin Ortiz turned 30
Dylan Nabors turned 21
1323 13th Street Columbus, GA
706-571-0402 GUITAR SALE! CLOSE OUT!
Sugar Glyder Returns to Eighty Five
MARSHALL RUFFIN
Sugar Glyder is a 4-piece indie rock band from Charlotte, North Carolina. The band, made up of Chris Rigo (guitar, auxiliary percussion, vocals), Daniel Howie (vocals, keys, guitar), Emily Aoyagi (bass, keys) and Bobby Mathews (drums, vocals) is making their way back down to Eighty Five in Columbus, Georgia on February 5th. Their last visit to Columbus was a good one and consisted of a two night stint at Eighty Five in December. If you are a fan of ambient guitars, soaring vocals and a killer live show, this is a show for you. Please visit their myspace page or youtube page to check out songs and music videos. www.myspace.com/sugarglyder www.youtube.com/planetsugarglyder
IMA BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR NOMINEE Jammates Records announces roster artist Marshall Ruffin has been nominated for the Independent Music Awards ‘Best Blues Album of the Year’. Morning Glory, Ruffin’s latest release, has been selected to compete with four others for the prestigious 9th annual recognition. An esteemed panel of artist and industry judges including Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone), Tom Waits, The Black Keys, Bettye LaVette, and Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour) will select the winner in January 2010. There is also a “People’s Choice Award” determined by fan voting and awarded in June. “Obviously, I’m honored for the nomination” says Ruffin, “I can’t even imagine winning in the blues category because my music is such an amalgam of rock, grunge and blues. The industry prefers you fit nicely into a certain genre. But, that’s what is so good about the IMAs – they are more diverse.” Pat Patten, Morning Glory record producer and partner in Jammates, adds “Some contests are all about the cash and the prizes, but the IMAs deliver yearlong promotional support and performance opportunities that place the winners and nominees in front of millions of music lovers. The most important thing for an indie artist like Marshall at this stage in his career is to play a lot plus grow and know more fans, and the IMA nomination certainly should help.” The Independent Music Awards was created by the Music Resource Group, publisher of The Musician’s Atlas & Atlas Online. Among others, program partners include eMusic, PureVolume, Pump Audio, Rock The Vote and CMJ Music Marathon. Artist submissions from more than 70 countries are reviewed and nomiplaygrounds magazine
ended the year at no. 4 on Georgia Roots Radio.
nated into more than 50 Song, Album, Design, and Music Video categories. Winners will be determined by a panel of 80 influential artist and industry judges. Morning Glory, released in September, is Marshall Ruffin’s sophomore effort. He is the only Georgia artist on this year’s IMA ballot. Other Georgians contributing to the record’s success include: Dennis Baraw (bass), Alan Marcha (drums), Steve Dancz (Hammond B3 & Wurlitzer piano), Steve Meadows (The Loft Recording Studio), Dean Castile (Document Studio), Paul Hammock (Jammates), Rodney Mills (Rodney Mills Masterhouse), and Coe Cloud (Jammates / Coe Cloud Designs). Rich Man’s Dime, Ruffin’s 2008 freshman release, spent eight weeks on the Roots Blues Chart and
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MARSHALL RUFFIN: The twenty-five year old roots-rock and blues singer-songwriter-guitarist grew up in typical Americana, where science was at the fabric of his family. After finding a guitar in his attic at age thirteen, Marshall taught himself to play. Just several short years later, he majored in jazz performance at the Berklee College of Music. It was while in Boston Ruffin recognized and tapped into his songwriting skills and vocal gifts. Within a year after graduation, Marshall moved to Columbus GA for some Ma Rainey education, opened for dozens of regional and national artists, and signed with Jammates Records. After experiencing a Marshall Ruffin performance, one only expects his momentum to accelerate. Rich Man’s Dime, his freshman EP, was released in February ‘08 and spent eight weeks on the roots/blues chart ending the year at no. 4 on Georgia Roots Radio. Morning Glory, his 2009 sophomore effort, hit the streets in September and is nominated for the Independent Music Awards ‘Blues Album of the Year’. Marshall Ruffin will be playing solo and with his trio throughout east coast music venues in support of the new release. www.MarshallRuffin.com, www.myspace.com/MarshallRuffin www.independentmusicawards.com, www.jammates.com
january 2010
Music in the Valley photos by Tonia Hill
Columbus RiverCenter Filthy Gamble at Dailey’s
Todd Moore at Dailey’s
Pistol Town, Ben Foust, Flip Flops 706 at The Oasis
Last Episode, Derek Findley, Scruffy Murphy’s Spent’s Kevin Boswell saying hello to 2010 at Dailey’s
Spent Drummer Kyle at Dailey’s
Ophir Drive at Dailey’s
Whisky Bent at Scruffy Murphy’s playgrounds magazine
Lazy Swamis at Dailey’s
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Saturday, March 20, 8pm Sunday, March 21, 2pm $37.50 - $47.50 (706) 256-3612 www.rivercenter.org Set in a department store, where four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra meet by chance at a lingerie sale. The allfemale cast makes fun of their woeful hot flashes, forgetfulness, mood swings, wrinkles, night sweats and chocolate binges. A sisterhood is created between these diverse women as they realize that menopause is no longer The Silent Passage! It is a stage in every woman’s life that is perfectly normal! The laughter-filled 90-minute production includes parodies from the classics of the ‘60s and ‘70s and ‘80s. Menopause The Musical® has launched a women’s movement that has superseded entertainment and become a must-see event. It is estimated that nearly 11 million women have attended a performance since the 2001 opening in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, writer and producer Jeanie Linders created the show as a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change”. “Most women know intuitively that every other woman is experiencing hot flashes or night sweats,“ says Linders. “There is always a close friend or two who can sympathize or identify with her, but when they are sitting in a theatre with hundreds of other women, all laughing and shouting‚ ‘That’s me! That’s me on stage!’ they know what they are experiencing is normal. They aren’t alone…or crazy. It becomes a sisterhood.” Since its first performance, the show has evolved as a grassroots movement of women who deal with life after 40 and all the challenges that result from the mental, physical, and spiritual freedom of being a woman. Menopause The Musical® has entertained audiences across the country in more than 250 cities and in a total of 14 countries. Each week women of all ages and stages find their spirits lifted by the show’s lighthearted look at menopause. No longer is it The Silent Passage! www.MenopauseTheMusical.com january 2010
Robert Cray Earns 14th Grammy Nod with This Time by Andy Johnson Legendary recording artist Robert Cray has been showered in accolades for most of his career, selling 17 multi-platinum albums, receiving 13 Grammy nominations, winning five of the prizes. He now has his eyes set on his sixth with his 2009 release This Time, nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album, but he remains humble about the honor. “It’s really cool,” Cray said of the nomination. “It’s really nice to know that people are listening to what you do and want to reward you in that respect. That’s great.” Born in Columbus but raised around the country (Robert’s father was stationed in the Army at Ft. Benning for his birth and the family moved several times), Cray has been tagged as a bridge linking the gap between purist blues and soul music and a more modern R&B sound, all while remaining catchy and very marketable. “When we started doing what we were doing I don’t think there were a lot of blues bands that were incorporating a lot of R&B into their stage performance, and now I see a lot more of that going on so if people want to put that label on us that’s fine by me,” Cray says. The diversity of the Robert Cray Band’s influence is especially relevant on This Time, released in August of 2009 on Cray’s own label, Nozzle Records. Cray explained the advantages of releasing work on his own label: “You can do things at your own speed and you can have total control over everything - the whole process of recording, the selection of the material, etc. I don’t think there are any disadvantages. The way we have everything worked out, we’ve done what we wanted to do for this record, and on top of that we have amazing distribution (through Vanguard).” The album was produced by Cray himself, with the assistance of executive producer Chad Jensen and engineer Don Smith, and recorded at California’s Santa Barbara Sound Design. This Time also features the important reunion of Cray with childhood friend and original Robert Cray Band bassist Richard Cousins, who’s first stint with the band lasted from 1974 through 1991. The band also includes keyboardist Jim Pugh, who has been by Cray’s side since 1989 and new drummer Tony Braunagel, who has worked with the likes of B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo and Bonnie Raitt. Impressively, each member of the band shares in songwriting duties on the new record. This Time opens with “Chicken in the Kitchen,” and Cray’s sparkling, silvery Stratocaster tone shines through right away. The band has a very tight presentation of a classic blues metaphor and the song features piercing lead work by Cray. Next comes the slow, dreamy ballad “I Can’t Fail” and the Pugh-penned, modern R&B song
playgrounds magazine
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Good Food at Good Prices and Plenty of it!
“Love 2009.” The song is led by Cousins’ bass and encapsulates the “bridge-linking-past-and-present” label. On the album’s first three songs, three distinct and different styles of music are represented, but all in an original Robert Cray Band fashion. The drums and organ step out front on the swinging, upbeat “That’s What Keeps Me Rockin’,” written by Braunagel and guitarist Johnnie Lee Schell. Next comes the mournful title track about finally parting ways with a femme fatal, written by Cray and clocking in at over seven minutes. Cray’s guitar line is soulfully supplemented by Pugh’s organ as high piano parts counter the guitar like tears hitting the floor. Pugh and Cousins team up on the regretful but optimistic “To Be True,” an upbeat way to admit to past mistakes and beg for another chance. Then comes the album’s most emotionally moving track, “Forever Goodbye,” co-written by Cray and his wife, Sue Turner-Cray. This sad and reflective song mourns a lost love that was taken for granted, and pays homage to Cray’s brother and Turner-Cray’s mother, who both passed this time last year. Cray also commits to tape the most touching and thoughtful guitar on the record. The first single from This Time is the album’s eighth track, “Trouble and Pain,” a tale about infidelity and trust (or lack thereof), that allows Cray to explain some of his songwriting technique. “You take writing from a bunch of different avenues,” he says. “Some of it is personal experience and some of it is observational and some is just totally made up, but it all has to do with life blues, personal relationships and that kind of thing. “Sometimes there’s a good story that pops in and the music follows and sometimes it’s a catchy melody that leads you to the story, but there’s never any one way,” he continues. “I prefer that they both happen at the same time because, in a sense, the music tells you what story goes with it. I don’t know how to describe it but sometimes they just go hand in hand.” “Truce” is the slow closer of the album, written by
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Cousins and Swiss soul/blues musician Hendrix Ackle. The speaker has realized that his relationship has grown stale, and hopes he hasn’t realized it too late. A swaggering organ is very prominent in the song and Cray’s guitar parts feel spacey and bloated, reflecting the daydream attitude of the song. This Time does not offer many songs that will stand the test of time and be considered in the upper echelon of Cray’s library of material, but a few gems shine through and the entire album will surely be improved even more in a live setup, where the Robert Cray Band really shines. Cray himself is respected worldwide as one of the most respected and sought-after live musicians, and that duty has brought him to many places to see many faces. “Well I’ve had the opportunity to work with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Eric Clapton and been onstage with the [Rolling] Stones,” he beams. “All of those have been great opportunities and great highlights, and every once in awhile I go by a picture of one of those people and it just recalls memories of working together and it’s great, but I couldn’t pick just one [highlight].” The Robert Cray Band began touring in support of This Time last June with dates zigzagging across North America through November. After a break for the holidays the band is hitting the road again this month, with dates booked across the entire country, but Cray says don’t expect to hear the exact songs played on the record in concert. “The songs change dimensionally with just the spirit,” he says of re-interpreting the album live. “We get the chance to play the new album and just have fun with it. You can take it the way you feel on any given night, so they are not the same songs.” Currently the closest the tour comes to Columbus are Fort Pierce and Orlando, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama, but new dates are added daily at www.robertcray.com. The band also has 2010 plans of visiting Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, and video recording some of its live shows. Listening to the strong, dynamic vocals on the album and energetic delivery, it’s easy to forget that Cray is a 56 year old man, but he shows no signs of slowing. “I’m having a lot of fun, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he says. “Once we get up on the stage something just takes over and it’s like we are in our teens. The old men become teenagers (laughs). But we have fun and that’s what it’s all about. As long as we’re happy and I’m happy we’ll just keep doing it.”
4th Annual Red Nose Run Fountain City Coffee Saturday, January 9 Marathon 7am, Half Marathon 8am The course starts at 10th and Broadway and loops through the streets of Downtown Columbus and on to the Phenix City, Alabama riverwalk and then proceeds to the beautiful Columbus Riverwalk and ends back at 10th and Broadway. Half Marathon Awards & Door Prizes begin at 11am. There is no entry fee to run the Red Nose. An optional t-shirt is offered for $20 and all your contributions will be made to the John B. Amos Cancer Center.
january 2010
Derek Trucks Band’s Grammy Nomination, Georgia Run, and 2010 Hiatus by Andy Johnson The Derek Trucks Band is riding high on the success of their 2009 release, Already Free. Released last January, the album debuted at #19 on the Billboard Top 200 and reached #1 on the blues chart, #1 on the Internet chart, and #4 on the rock chart. The nominees for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards were announced on Thursday, December 4, the second day of the band’s two-show run at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse, and The Derek Trucks Band was nominated for the first time in the category of “Best Contemporary Blues Album” for Already Free. Nominated in the same category is Derek’s wife, Susan Tedeschi, for her latest work Back to the River, which features Trucks on guitar. Other nominees include The Robert Cray Band for This Time, Ruthie Foster for The Truth According to Ruthie Foster, and Mavis Staples’ Live: Hope at the Hideout. The awards show telecast is set for Sunday, January 31 at 8 p.m. on CBS. On Wednesday, December 2nd, DTB kicked off its Georgia run at the Variety Playhouse, with local legend Colonel Bruce Hampton opening the show. Another hometown hero, Tinsley Ellis, opened the Thursday, December 3rd show with his blues-infused psychedelic rock. A relaxed and absorbent crowd early-on became more and more lively throughout the three piece’s 45-minute set, which was sprinkled with songs from Ellis’ new album Speak No Evil. Derek Trucks greeted the crowd with a warming, Indian-influenced raga before launching into a two hour, 13 song set spanning the band’s 12-year career and a few of its key influences. The set opened with “I Know” and “Meet Me at the Bottom,” an altered version of the blues staple “Rollin’ and Tumblin’.” Trucks and keyboardist/flutist Kofi Burbridge loosened up with energetic lead playing and interacted well on the two opening songs, as well as on the third, “I’d Rather Be Blind, Crippled, and Crazy,” from 2006’s Songlines, which highlights singer Mike Mattison’s classic soul voice. A trombone and tenor sax were added to fill out the already robust sextet on the Burbridge-penned “Days is Almost Gone,” and remained onstage for the rest of the show. Next the band eased into “This Sky,” the spiritual closer to Songlines. Mattison’s heavenly vocal gave way to a Burbridge flute solo, and the gentle, extended ramp fueled Trucks’ slick melodic approach. After an ethereal jam, Trucks led the band through a slow, powerful, grooveheavy version of Bob Dylan’s “Down in the Flood” from the new album. Trucks took on an intense sonic journey with the extremely appreciative crowd for the new single. In a nod to John Coltrane, DTB then took a cool blue approach to “My Favorite Things,” originally from The Sound of Music. The rhythm section of drummer Yon-
playgrounds magazine
rico Scott, bassist Todd Smallie and percussionist Count M’Butu provided a solid template for the most far-out playing yet from Trucks, who really stretched, occasionally referring to the motif with the band, before turns on the organ and flute for Burbridge. The duo of Burbridge and Trucks pushed the audience further on each song, opening minds throughout the venue. Trucks then invited brother Duane Trucks to sit in on drums and wife Susan to deliver an inspired vocal on the soulful R&B cover “Hercules.” The crowd was delighted with the vocal interplay between Derek and Susan, albeit Derek’s voice was his trusty red SG. Susan then picked up a guitar for Lightnin’ Hopkins’ “Feel So Bad” while Mattison traded verses with Col. Bruce Hampton, who excitedly ran onstage in the middle of the first verse. A week removed from closing out Widespread Panic’s fall tour, Jimmy Herring then joined the band for “Young Funk,” the song he co-wrote with Trucks for the 1998 DTB album Out of the Madness. Perhaps trying to raise the bar in his mentor’s presence, Trucks committed some of his wildest playing of the night. After a Burbridge flute solo, Herring took over with his buzzsaw tone and razor sharp playing to contrast Trucks’ liquid fluidity. Mattison and Tedeschi returned to close out the set with the Derek and the Dominoes classic “Anyday.” The band showcased its strong group dynamic ability, then faded into the background for more blissful interplay between Derek and Susan. Her voice and his signature vocal guitar chased and countered each other in weaving harmonics of solid soul. Derek Trucks truly possesses a spirit that I have never experienced anywhere else in this world. He never ceases to amaze. The crowd embraced the invigorating climax with hands raised and eyes closed. Tinsley Ellis joined the band onstage to sing the encore of “Key to the Highway” and tried his hand at dueling with Trucks on guitar. Herring then re-emerged for the closer of “We’re a Winner.” On Saturday the 5th, DTB headlined the first annual Fly South Festival at Macon’s historic Luther Williams Field. Other artists performing included the Laura Reed Trio, Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Proceeds from the festival were donated to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, located in downtown Macon. Cold weather settled into the southeast in late November, so attendance for the concert was somewhat diminished. However, those that bared the uncomfortable temperature quickly learned that the best way to stay warm was to snuggle in with the standing crowd and dance. Onstage heaters may have helped, but the band seemed to hurry through parts of its set. After a quick run through a few tunes from Already
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Kofi Burbridge at Variety Playhouse Free, Scott welcomed Allman Brothers Band percussionist Marc Quinones to assist M’Butu. Mattison led the group through a Latin-tinged sing-along before Quinones and Scott closed out the song with a drum solo. Trucks then applied a softly spiritual touch to “Already Free” and pulled out his Danelectro for “Meet Me at the Bottom.” Burbridge took the instrumental spotlight on the blues classic “Get Out My Life Woman” with organ solos before Trucks led the band into the Band of Gypsys staple “Who Knows” and skyrocketed the crowd into a different realm with his lead playing. “Sweet Inspiration” brought a gospel feel and chant to the crowd, with M’Butu providing nice falsetto harmonies. Next Junior Mack from Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band joined the band for extended guitar jams between himself and Trucks on “Key to the Highway” and “Make a Joyful Noise,” the latter offering exhilarating double-tempo takeoffs and referring again to the gospel vibe. Trucks’ playing echoed the feeling of sacred steel players such as Aubrey Ghent and closed out the set. The band quickly retreated from the cold behind the stage for an encore. As everyone re-assumed their positions, Scott announced that the day marked the 8th anniversary of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi-Trucks’ marriage. Susan left the vocal duties to Mattison so she could share finger-picking duties with Derek to close out the show. After finishing off its fall tour, which took the band up the east coast in December, the Derek Trucks Band is taking its first touring hiatus in 16 years in 2010. The year of 2009 saw the band release a new, Grammy-nominated album and a world tour that brought them to more than a dozen countries on four continents. In the coming months the band will release the Chicago show from the Already Free Tour, their first live disc since 2004’s Live at the Georgia Theatre. In a recent interview, Susan Tedeschi said that she and her hubby will soon commence on a project together - writing in their home studio, putting a band together and possibly touring. The couple has appeared together around 50 times before with the Soul Stew Revival, but the timing has never been right with their individual commitments and touring schedules. They are currently booked to play April 1st at Johnny Mercer Theatre in Savannah as the Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band, part of the three-week Savannah Music Festival. The festival has the show billed as “an original mixture of rock, soul, funk and blues.” Keep a check on DerekTrucks.com for more news about 2010 and details on the release of the album. january 2010
Columbus State University announces the 2010 Fitness Blitz
GHOST OF GLORIA • Signed a deal with MYSPACE Records for over $100,000 on line marketing • Secured a partnership with Myxer.com, the Premier Ringtone Co. • Secured endorsements with Gibson Guitars, Spector Basses, Sabian Cymbols • WON Hard Rock Café sponsored Regional Ambassadors of Rock battle of the bands • Finished 2nd NATIONWIDE in the same Hard Rock Battle out of over 500 bands • Selected as one of the TOP 25 bands to watch by Major Rock Site TuneLab.com • Performed live on NBC 6 South Florida Morning show• WON “Pick the Band” contest on PickTheBand.com • Sold over 2000 copies of original “Voices From the Red Room” EP • Headlined NASCAR’s Ford Championship Weekend at Holmstead Speedway before over 100,000 race fans • Featured Artist of the Month on MyFirstSingle.com • Cover story on RAG MAGAZINE, WE MERGE magazine and SIMPLY THE BEST magazine • Performed over 200 shows in the last year • and they are COMING TO COLUMBUS Friday, January 22, SoHo. Also performing- Losing Adelaide
AUDITIONS Yellow Mojo Productions is pleased to announce auditions for a new stage play entitled “Words”, written and directed by Jonathan S.E. Perkins. It is 2010, and the regulars of “Russell Sprouts Cafe” are struggling to deal with some work place drama, as well as some personal dilemmas. The owner, a recent Cancer survivor, has returned from treatment with a new found charge to speak life
into the world. Armed with only “words”, she takes it upon herself to make a difference in their lives. The play examines the power of words, as well as the ease and difficulties of change. Auditions will be held Jan 6 and 7 from 6-8pm at the Liberty Theatre Cultural Center These roles are non-paying. Auditions will consist of a cold reading from the script. Show dates are February 12-14 and 19-21, also
Attack the New Year and kick off your fitness routine with a bang! Continuing Education at CSU is again encouraging our community to get serious about shaping and sculpting a “NEW Improved You” with a fitness program that runs January 11-14. If you get bored with the same exercise routine, this is your opportunity to sample a different fitness class each evening with one of our highly experienced instructors. Choose from Pilates, Yoga, Body Sculpting, Zumba, T’ai Chi, Hip-Hop Funk, Swing dance, Latin dance and more. Participants can choose select classes to participate in or take advantage of our four-class package for just $29. Students will receive individual attention and an opportunity to find out what type of exercise program best suits their lifestyle. The 2010 Fitness Blitz will begin on Monday, January 11th. Register soon so you don’t miss out on this great opportunity! This is a great chance to see what Continuing Education at Columbus State University has to offer you. If you have any questions or would like to register for a class give us a call at 706.507.8070 or visit our website at www.conted.colstate.edu. at The Liberty. Auditions for Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree will be held at Family Theatre - 2100 Hamilton Rd. Columbus, GA 31901 - Monday, Jan. 11 at 7 PM. Be prepared to read. For information call 706-570-2568. Cheryl Palmour, director at Family Theatre and adjunct professor at CVCC, is adapting the script from the book. She has special permission from William Miller, the author of the book. It is a Reading Rainbow book.
Jason “Gong” Jones is exorcising his demons the only way he knows how... in gut-wrenching, eardrum-shattering rock music. His band of brothers, known as AM Conspiracy, have assembled a self-titled collection of hard-wrought tunes due to shake foundations January 12, 2010. Never quite satisfied to be a follower, Gong exited situations like his lead vocal role in the band Drowning Pool to steer his own ship. He met up with Dean Andrews (drums) and Kenny Harrelson (bass) who had played together for over 10 years and the like-minded trio formed the core of the band. “They are locked in together and wired tight,” says Gong of the rhythm section. The addition of the disciplined, technical guitarist Drew Burke and the re-grouping with guitarist Rob DeHaven were the final pieces to the current AM Conspiracy puzzle.
From Left to Right: Drew Burke, Dean Andrews, Jason “Gong” Jones, Kenny Harrelson, and Rob DeHaven. photo by Heath Starling playgrounds magazine
Saturday, January 9 The Hot Rods + Hellzapoppin’ Sideshow at SoHo - admission $10
Saturday January 9 SoHo, Milgen Rd, Columbus, GA
Putting the music together is a collaboration. Drew and Gong have a comfortable push-and-pull going on that creates some intense and varied tracks. From rock ballads like “Down” to hard-chargers like “Welt,” AM Conspiracy’s songs truly run the gamut. Drew explains “One minute Gong’s a little vulnerable and the next he’s kicking your teeth in. One minute Dean and Kenny are laying down light melodic ideas and the next they’re driving a mosh pit. That is how it works.” The first single off the album, “Pictures” was mixed by Randy Staub (Metallica, Stone Sour, Hinder) and is due to hit Active Rock airwaves in 2010. The lyric writing process is one of free association for Gong. “It’s me, subconsciously, sorting out the wreckage in my brain,” he explains. “I freestyle the lyrics and usually just keep them the way they came out. I figure out what the song is about afterward.” Retrospect tells him quite a bit about himself. “It’s all pretty black, but I get it out in the songs and on stage. The songs take you somewhere - through different emotions.” “AM Conspiracy has never been afraid to go all in,” says Drew. “Conversely, we’ve had no qualms destroying what we built to improve,” he adds. The band set out to create an album that was more versatile than anything else out there... something that didn’t just feature 13 versions of the same song. They lived with their creations, playing them, changing them, throwing them away... After letting them sit for a little bit, they broke them back out and repeated the process until they developed diverse tracks, each with its own signature grit and character. The plan, according to Gong, is to “tour as much as we can and win the people over,” to back up the Burnhill Union Records release. The rest is up to rock fans worldwide. AM Conspiracy plays SoHo Tuesday, January 26 with Trap County and Stereomonster
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january 2010
Award Winning Country Music Singer-Songwriter
The Columbus Civic Center Fri, Jan 29, 8pm. $22.50-$32.50 Jamey Johnson was born in Enterprise Alabama, and raised in Montgomery. From an early age, he was influenced by country acts such as Alan Jackson and Alabama. After graduating high school, Johnson attended Jacksonville State. He quit college after two years and served in the Marine Corps Reserves for eight years. He served in Co L, 3rd Bn, 23rd Marines as an 0341 (Mortarman) and attained the rank of Corporal. He would often play original songs for his fellow Marines and has kept in contact with many of them. He wrote two songs on his initial self-released album that mentions his Marine Corps service. After exiting the Marines, he began playing country music in various bars throughout Montgomery. One of his first gigs was opening for David Allen Coe. By 2000, Johnson had moved to Nashville in pursuit of a career in country music. He also self-released an album called They Call Me Country. One of his first connections was with Greg Perkins, a fiddler who invited Johnson to sing as a duet partner on a demo tape; the other duet partner with whom he sang was Gretchen Wilson. Songs for which Johnson sang demos include Songs About Me (cut by Trace Adkins) and That’s How They Do It in Dixie cut by Hank Williams Jr. with Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Van Zant. In addition, Johnson had made connections with producer and songwriter Buddy Cannon who helped him land a songwriting contract where among Johnson’s first cuts as a songwriter was Honky Tonk Badonkadonk which Adkins released in 2005. Johnson got a record deal and released an album on BNA Records called The Dollar. After that he began to write loads of hit songs for other artists including Give It Away for George Strait that went to #1 on the Country charts. Trace Adkins charted with two more songs that Johnson co-wrote: Ladies Love Country Boys and I Got My Game On, the former being Adkins’ first #1 in 10 years. Also in 2007, Joe Nichols reached Top 20 with Another Side of You, another song co-written by Johnson and re-recorded She’s All Lady, a song that Johnson originally recorded on The Dollar.
Kris Kistofferson THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 7:30pm RiverCenter, Columbus, GA If you’re as old as I am you probably remember Kris Kristofferson as the handsome movie star who starred in A Star is Born, Silver City, Cisco Pike, and Blade. If you are a long-time music fan you’ll rmember the great songs Kris wrote for Johnny Cash, like Sunday Morning Coming Down or Janis Joplin’s recording
Kris Kristofferson at the Atlanta Civic Center
Johnson released an album in 2008 called That Lonesome Song which was only made available online at first but the album drew the attention of Mercury Reords in Nashville, who signed him to a record deal in 2008. His first single for the label, In Color, was released in March 2008. This song, which Johnson co-wrote entered Top 40 in June 2008, and won all sorts of awards as best country song, including a Grammy. Those are the facts about his songwriting talent but the real thing you need to know about Jamey Johnson is how much fun it is to see him perform! He is gruff and growly and very real and doesn’t smooth out his rough edges at all for show business! You’ll love him and his really cool songs! Alice Barkwell
of his Me and Bobbie McGee. The 70’s just would not have been the same without Kris’ wonderful songs Help Me Make It Through The Night, Why Me Lord? and For The Good Times. Before any of that, he was a Rhodes Scholar, a Golden Gloves boxer, and was an outstanding Army Captain and helicopter pilot who was supposed to start teaching at West Point when he decided to move to Nashville and try music. He was a janitor at a recording studio to get his foot in the door. He shook hands backstage one day with Johnny Cash and it changed his life! Over 500 artists have recorded Kris’ songs. He was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He was in the Highwaymen with Willie and Waylon. The first song he remembers writing when he was 11 years old was called I Hate Your Ugly Face and he put it last on his latest record Closer to the Bone. I saw his solo show at Atlanta Civic Center not too long ago and was amazed that Kris and his guitar on that big stage kept everyone’s rapt attention for over two hours just singing and telling stories. An absolutely fascinating man! Alice Barkwell
more than a pretty-but-soulless voice any day of the week. Johnny Cash was an early and ardent admirer of Kristofferson’s literate songwriting, which married his early grounding in the music of Hank Williams with a passion for English literature -- in the ‘50s. Cash’s recording of “Sunday Morning Coming Down” was part of a string of No. 1 country hits artists had in 1970 with Kristofferson songs; Janis Joplin took “Me and Bobby McGee” to the top of the pop chart the following year. “ I’ve never been a disciplined writer. . . . I just wait till something hits me -- and as I get older, it doesn’t hit as often,” Kristofferson says with a laugh. “But I’ll keep writing until they throw dirt on me. I just write more slowly. “ A few years ago, after Kris played South by Southwest, he started playing live solo. Kristofferson found it liberating, if intimidating, to step out of his musical comfort zone. “I carried a band for about 30 years,” he says. “Playing solo means I can make a mistake without causing a train wreck.”
Three-time Grammy Award winner singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson will perform an intimate acoustic concert of both classic hits and new tunes on January 26th at 7:30 pm at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. Kristofferson—one of the greatest songwriters country music has known—has never been the strongest singer, even in his prime. Still, while he may not be a good singer, he is certainly a great one, able to make the listener feel what he’s feeling–a skill worth
Tickets to Kris Kristofferson - $27 - $39. Charge By Phone: 706-256-3612 or Tickets.com 888.332.5200; RiverCenter Box Office –Monday - Friday 10 AM – 5:30 PM; Online: www.rivercenter.org Upcoming Variety Series Concerts Sweet Honey in the Rock: Feb. 19 Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile: Feb. 23 Band of the Irish Guards & The Royal Regiment of Scotland: Mar. 15
photo by Alice Barkwell
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january 2010
PLACES TO GO ... PEOPLE TO SEE... art
6 p.m. SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 Let the Records Show: Discovering the Valley’s Black Community in Slavery and Freedom– Opening celebration: Listen to guest scholar Dr. Anthony Gene Carey’s lecture “Sold Down the River” in the Patrick Theatre before enjoying a reception in the Turner Galleria. Columbus Museum, 6pm. RSVP by Jan. 18th to mgoff@columbusmuseum.com. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6 Art and Artist Book Club: Bohemian Paris. Hosted by Tim Brown. Paris in the 1860s: a magnificent time of expression, where brilliant young artists rebelled against the stodginess of the past to freely explore new styles of creating — and bold new ways of living. Passionate, beautiful and utterly devoted to her art, Berthe Morisot is determined to be recognized as an important painter. But as a woman, she finds herself sometimes overlooked in favor of her male counterparts — Monet, Pissarro and Degas. The Art and Artist Book Club meets the first Wednesday of each month and features works of fiction that explore various topics related to the history of art. Curators and educators at the Columbus Museum provide a contextual analysis of the art and artists featured in the book of the month. olumbus Museum, noon-1pm. Free. For more information call Melinda Durham at 706.748.2562, ext.651 or email mdurham@columbusmuseum. com. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 Reception, Gallery Talk for Guest Artists’ Exhibition Cut, Shuffle and Draw: One of the artists, Sang-ah Choi, will give a 6 p.m. gallery talk as part of the program. The South Korea-born Choi, who works in New York City and Portland, is renowned for blending East and West, kitsch and classical, contemplative and commercial, and plasmic and plastic. She uses glitter, holograms, paint and sumi ink to create swirling, intricate patterns of bubbles, Venuses with cartoon eyes, and Taoist nature symbols for immortality — all interwoven into candy-hued landscapes. The CSU exhibition features her drawings, large-scale pop-up paper sculptures and pop-up books. Columbus State’s Department of Art. Norman Shannon and Emmy Lou P. Illges Gallery. Reception 5:30-7pm. Admission is free. For more information, call 706-507-8300. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 Tours at Two: Learn about the Introductions: Allyson Comstock show. Columbus Museum TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 Toddler Time: Budding young artists will explore art. Columbus Museum. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 Coffee Break: Tour and social for seniors. Columbus Museum, 2 pm, free. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
playgrounds magazine
Film Screening: Watch the Academy Award-winning Civil War film Glory starring Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington. Columbus Museum’s Patrick Theatre, 6pm. Free EXHIBITS CORN CENTER for the VISUAL ARTS’ ILLGES GALLERY CSU’s RiverPark Campus
JANUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 13 Columbus State University’s Department of Art presents Cut, Shuffle and Draw: The show features drawing, sculpture and painting by international and nationally respected artists, including Sangah Choi, Scott Anderson, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Kara Walker, Carrie Scanga and sculptor Peter Dudek, who joined CSU last fall as a resident artist and collaborated with several CSU students on works that are part of this exhibition. Illges Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p..m. Saturday. Admission is free. For more information, call 706-507-8300. COLUMBUS MUSEUM Now and Then: Snapshots of the South, Through January 31: A juxtaposition of historic and contemporary images addressing a variety of enduring aspects of everyday life in the South, including images that speak to Southerners’ longstanding connections with the land and its history, religion and the celebration of the eccentric, the exhibition evokes a unique sense of place as projected through the lens of cameras both past and present. A diverse selection of historic images will originate from the collections of the Eufaula Athenaeum, an impressive private archive of materials assembled by Eufaula native A.S. Williams. One of the largest and most important such collections in the South, the Athenaeum’s holdings include thousands of items documenting a broad spectrum of people, places and events in Southern history. Contemporary images are provided by professional photographer Jerry Siegel. An Alabama native, Siegel is currently one of the South’s leading photographers. He has produced several series of fine art photography that reflect his interest in the rural South’s culture and landscape. While many of the images in this exhibition are especially influenced by his upbringing in central Alabama’s Black Belt region, Siegel shot images for this project during his travels throughout the South. Let the Records Show: Discovering the Valley’s Black Community in Slavery and Freedom. Opens January 17 in the History Gallery. In 1860, nearly 90,000 slaves, almost half the entire population of the lower Chattahoochee River Valley of Georgia and Alabama, called
the region home. Through a variety of documentary evidence, this exhibition sheds light on those experiences.
club scene
MONDAY-THURSDAY Karaoke: Del Ranch Bar & Grill EVERY MONDAY Wii Bowling Tournament/Guitar Hero: AJ’s inside the Quality Inn on 280 ByPass (7pm-10pm) Karaoke: Hookahmeup Jim Patrick: Picasso Pizza Karaoke: SoHo Game Night- trivia, board games, etc: The Tap EVERY TUESDAY Trivia: Fountain City Coffee (7pm) Urban Cafe with poetry and live music: Hookahmeup Trivia Night: Mello Mushroom Ryan Hamner: Picasso Pizza Service Industry Night: The Tap EVERY WEDNESDAY The Bros Johnston: Flip Flops Gary Parmer: Picasso Pizza Karaoke, Texas Hold’em: The Shanty Shack Live DJs: Sky Nightclub (old Memory Lane location) Texas Holdem: SoHo Jamie Free (acoustic): The Tap Service Industry Night/Karaoke: The Vault EVERY THURSDAY Open Mic: Fountain City Coffee on Broadway (7pm, all ages) Comedy: The Loft (8 & 10) Ryan Rulan: Flip Flops Lee Holmes: Picasso Pizza (6-10) College Night with Ethos, Unsung and Stereomonster: The Roadhouse Wii Bowling Tournament: Rosie’s Cantina on 165, Ft. Mitchell (7pm10pm) Service Industry Night, Live Bands, No Cover: Sky Nightclub Karaoke: The Vault EVERY THURS, FRI & SAT Dueling Pianos: The Vault EVERY FRIDAY Drag Shows: Fat Cat Coyote Ugly style dance contest: Oxygen Jeremiah Hobbs: Picasso Pizza EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY Live Music: Del Ranch Bar & Grill Live Music: Fountain City Coffee Lee Holmes: Picasso Pizza (6-10) Live DJs: Sky Nightclub DJ Extreme: The Tap EVERY SATURDAY Blazin’ Hot Bikini Contest: Oxygen Brent Lindley: Picasso Pizza Pool Tournament (5pm): SoHo EVERY SUNDAY Gary Parmer: Picasso Pizza Open Mic night hosted by Henry Conley: Del Ranch THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 Comedy Zone, 8 & 10: The Loft FRIDAY, JANUARY 8 Filthy Gamble: Dailey’s Peggy Jenkins & The Bizness: The Loft SubCam: SoHo SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 Filthy Gamble: Dailey’s
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Gringo Star with NEC: The Loft The Hot Rods + Hellzapoppin Sideshow: SoHo TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 Dixie Maffiaa: Shanty Shack (7pm) THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 Comedy Zone, 8 & 10: The Loft Today The Moon, Tomorrow The Sun: SoHo FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 Zero 2 Sixty: Dailey’s Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness: The Loft The Killing Ground: SoHo SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 Zero 2 Sixty: Dailey’s Tim Brantley: The Loft Buck-o-Five + Delilah Why: SoHo SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 Guitar Hero: AJ’s (7-10) TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 Dixie Mafiaa: Shanty Shack (7pm) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 Echovalve: SoHo THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 Comedy Zone: The Loft Almost Kings + Soul Stash: SoHo FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 Lazt Swamis: Dailey’s Peggy Jenkins and The Bizness: The Loft Ghost of Gloria + Losing Adelaide: SoHo SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 Lazy Swamis: Dailey’s The Kicks: The Loft Hold Cell: SoHo SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 Guitar Hero: AJ’s (7-10) TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 Dixie Mafiaa: Shanty Shack (7pm) AM Conspiracy + Stereomonster + Trap County: SoHo WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 Staci Grimm: SoHo THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 Joan Red: SoHo FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 Ophir Drive: Dailey’s Psyknyne: SoHo SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 Ophir Drive: Dailey’s The Good Doctor: The Loft Burn: SoHo TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Dixie Mafiaa: Shanty Shack (7pm) WEDNESAY, FEBRUARY 3 ONE: SoHo THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 After The Crash: SoHo FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Spent: Dailey’s Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness: The Loft 2 Finger Jester: SoHo SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Spent: Dailey’s Marshall Ruffin: The Loft End Rezult + Blacksmithz: SoHo WEDNESAY, FEBRUARY 10 Born Empty + Murphys Kids: SoHo THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Groovestain + Junkie Rush: SoHo FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Passed, Seven: Dailey’s Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness: The Loft Eleven Standing Still + Poynte: SoHo
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Passed, Seven: Dailey’s Packway Handle: The Loft 6 Days Lost + Hematovore: SoHo
concerts
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 Faculty Concert: Columbus State Schwob School of Music faculty members Susan Tomkiewicz (oboe) and Ron Wirt (bassoo) will present a concert of solo and chamber music featuring a fusion of classical and popular styles. The pair will be joined by CSU pianist Susan Hoskins and guest flutist Christine Beard from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 4pm. The concert is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 Columbus State Schwob School of Music Faculty Concert- Saxophonist Amy Griffiths: Schwob school collaborative pianist Yien Wang will accompany Griffiths for works by Schumann and Demersseman as well as contemporary works by Harbison and Jacob TV. Additional Schwob school faculty members Lisa Oberlander (clarinet), Alex Pershounin (bass) and Paul Vaillancourt (drums), also perform. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 7:30pm. The concert is free. 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 CSU Guest Pianist Richard Zimdars: Richard Zimdars, the Despy Karlas Professor of Piano at the University of Georgia, will perform works by Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and American composers Dane Rudhyar and Marga Richter. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 7:30pm. The concert is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 Trombone Studio Concert: The Columbus State Trombone Studio musicians, directed by professor Bradley Palmer, will perform solo and ensemble pieces. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 7:30pm. The concert is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 First Annual M.L.K. Gospel Concert starring The Williams Brothers: Few gospel groups can equal the Williams Brothers in terms of longevity and popularity. The trio dates back to 1960, when Doug and Melvin’s father, the late Leon “Pop” Williams founded the group. The Brothers have received a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Soul Gospel Album (“This Is Your Night”), won two Stellar Awards and earned a gold record for the WOW Gospel project. Columbus Civic Center, 6:30pm. Advance Tickets$22.50, Day of Show - $27.50. Tickets can be purchased at the Columbus Civic Center Box Office, online
january 2010
at TicketMaster.com or ordered by phone (1-800-745-3000). Join the Columbus Symphony Orchestra “Two Great Symphonies”: eaturing Mahler’s Symhony No. 10: Adagio and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 “The Year 1905.” RiverCenter’s Bill Heard Theatre, 7:30 PM. www. rivercenter.org TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 CSU Guest Artists- Camino Trio: The Camino Trio, a violin, clarinet and piano ensemble featuring Kelly Johnson, Drew Irvin, and Gail Novak, formed in 2009 and specializes in new music. They recently recorded Philip Parker’s Merry Music and Jim David’s Distrocto. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 7:30pm. The trio, Their CSU concert is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, email: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 CSU Faculty Cellist Andres Diaz: Columbus State Schwob School of Music faculty cellist Andres Díaz will perform music from the classic and contemporary cello repertoire. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 7:30pm. The recital is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 Chopin & Schumann 200th Anniversary Series Concert: Columbus State’s Schwob School of Music. Curated by pianist Gila Goldstein, the program includes Schumann’s Fantasy pieces for Clarinet & Piano, Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano, and String Quartet No. 1. Participating artists include Schwob school faculty members Lisa Oberlander, Sergiu Schwartz and Goldstein, plus students from the school’s violin, viola and cello studios. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 7:30pm. The concert is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 CSU’s Legacy Live Series– Cantus: Recognized as one of America’s finest professional male vocal ensembles, Cantus is known for its broad repertoire, bold singing, and engaging stage presentation. The ensemble’s ability to span all periods and genres has earned it praise from critics and audiences alike. Join Cantus for a performance at the Schwob School as part of their Elemental tour, which features works by Schubert, Whitacre, Poulenc, and Weiss. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 4pm. General admission is $20. For tickets call the RiverCenter Box Office at 706-256-3612. For more information, call 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 Kris Kristofferson: Country’s most infamous songwriting Rhodes Scholar and Airborne Ranger helicopter pilot will swing into town to perform a night of his classic gems. Heralded as an artist’s artist, and a living legend, this three-time GRAMMY® winner has record-
playgrounds magazine
ed 26 albums and acted in more than 50 films. His songs “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It through the Night,” and “For the Good Times” helped redefine country songwriting. RiverCenter’s Bill Heard Theatre, 7:30pm. $27 - $39. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 CSU Wind Ensemble: The CSU Wind Ensemble, with guest Robert Sullivan, principal trumpet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, will perform with Schwob school faculty members Lisa Oberlander, Sergiu Schwartz and Goldstein, plus students from the school’s violin, viola and cello studios. RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall, 7:30pm. The concert is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, e-mail: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 Jamey Johnson Concert: Awardwinning country music singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson’s That Lonesome Song album was certified gold and produced the top 10 hit “In Color.” Johnson’s latest single “My Way to You,” will be the lead-off single to his third major-label studio album. In addition to his own material, Johnson has co-written singles for many of country music’s most talented artists, such as Trace Adkins, George Strait and Joe Nichols. Columbus Civic Center, 8pm. $22.50-$32.50. Tickets can be purchased at the Columbus Civic Center Box Office, online at TicketMaster.com or ordered by phone (1.800.745.3000). For more information, visit JameyJohnson.com. SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 CSU Faculty Concert to Feature Electroacoustic Sounds: Matthew McCabe, a CSU visiting professor of audio technology, with Albany State woodwind studies professor Russell Brown, will present cutting-edge electroacoustic music in full surround sound. The show will feature musical pieces by both artists, incorporating live instruments, interactive computer performances, and 3-D sound diffusion.RiverCenter’s Studio Theatre, 6pm. The event is free. For more information, call 706-649-7225, email: schwobmusic@colstate.edu or go to http://music.colstate.edu. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Emanuel Ax: World-renowned pianist Emanuel Ax brings his virtuoso performance to RiverCenter’s main stage with the works of Chopin and Schumann. Ax, who has performed with greats such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman, was awarded a 2009 Institute for the Arts and Humanities Medal for Distinguished Contributions to the Arts and Humanities. In regard to some audiences’ fear of expressing appreciation between movements of works, this multi-Grammy Award winning classical artist says, “I’m leading a one-man crusade as a listener to start applauding”. RiverCenter’s Bill Heard Theatre, 7:30pm. $10 - $49.
dance
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 Montgomery Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with The Columbus Ballet’s Swan Lake Act II: Montgomery Ballet, a professional company, will be performing the delightful story ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, choreographed by Elie Lazar. This wonderful ballet, with music by Mendelssohn, will be performed by 16 professional dancers from the Montgomery Ballet. Senior Company dancers of The Columbus Ballet will also be in the production. The Columbus Ballet will open the program with the second act of the ballet Swan Lake, which is indeed a complete ballet within itself. The second act closely identifies with the story of the entire ballet for it is in this act that the worldly Prince Siegfried first sets eyes upon a beautiful Swan Queen by the side of the Lake. This classical ballet has become famous as a touchtone in the careers of many ballerinas. The beautiful music for Swan Lake was composed by Tchaikovsky. RiverCenter’s Bill Heard Theatre, 2pm & 7:30. Tickets $20 & $25.
film
THE SCREENING ROOM The Screening Room film series at Peachtree 8 Cinemas (3131 Manchester Expressway), presented by the Film Society of The Columbus Museum and Carmike Cinemas, features a different, critically-acclaimed film each week. Check the box office for regular show times. Tickets are $6 ($5 matinee). www. columbusfilmsociety.com JANUARY 1-7: Act of God– A documentary about the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning. The event represents the paradox of being singled out by randomness, and so precipitates questions about chance, fate and meaning in life. The film explores seven stories from around the world that raise and respond to these questions, while keeping the sky and what comes out of it as a central visual metaphor and thread. Paul Auster, who was struck as a teenager, philosophically anchors the film, along with Fred Frith, the improviser, who both imaginatively underpins it and personally demonstrates the ubiquity of electricity in our bodies and the universe. (Zeitgeist Films) JANUARY 8-14: Antichrist
lectures
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 Visiting Scholar Lecture: Mario Kessler will give a lecture, “Between Lenin and J. Edgar Hoover: Ruth Fischer — Communist and Anti-Communist between Austria, Germany and the U.S., 1895-1961.” A research fellow for Potsdam University in Germany, Kessler is teaching at CSU as the 2009-2010 Mildred Miller Fort Foundation Visiting Scholar in European Studies. Spencer Event Hall at CSU’s International House, 12:30pm. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 706-565-4036.
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nature
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 Pine Mountain Trail Association Workday: Meet Carl Carlson at FDR Park Office large parking loton left of building at 10am. Bring work gloves, water and your lunch. PMTA furnishes tools. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 Pine Mountain Trail Association Hike- MLK Holiday Hike: LeadersCurtis Lynch and Bill Vang. Meet at Dowdell Knob Trailhead at 1:30pm. Hike Dowdell Knob Loop. 4.3 moderate miles.
poetry
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 Open Mic Poetry: Every first Thursday of the month. Bring your own poems and those of your favorite poet. We usually have a featured poet. Schwob School of Music, Choral Practice Room, 900 Broadway, 7pm. For more information contact Keith Badowski (334) 448-4715
sports
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8 SPHL Hockey- Columbus Cottonmouths vs Mississippi Surge: Columbus Civic Center, 7:30pm. $12- $22. $3 off upper level seats for military and college students with valid id. SATURDAY, JANUARY 9 SPHL Hockey- Columbus Cottonmouths vs Louisiana Icegators: Columbus Civic Center, 7:30pm. $12- $22. $3 off upper level seats for military and college students with valid id. NCAA Basketball Doubleheader–CSU vs North Georgia: CSU’s Lumpkin Center; women- 1:30pm, men 3:30pm. $5 for adults, $3 for students/kids (including non-CSU students), free for ages 5 and under and CSU students, faculty and staff with ID. 706-568-2204 or go to http://www.csucougars.com. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 NCAA Basketball Doubleheader-CSU vs Clayton State: CSU’s Lumpkin Center; women- 5:30pm, men- 7:30pm. $5 for adults; $3 for students/kids (including non-CSU students); and free for ages 5 and under and CSU students, faculty and staff with ID. 706-568-2204 or go to http://www.csucougars.com. SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 SPHL Hockey- Columbus Cottonmouths vs Fayetteville FireAntz: Columbus Civic Center, 4:05pm. $12- $22. $3 off upper level seats for military and college students with valid id. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 NCAA Basketball Doubleheader– CSU vs Georgia College and State: CSU’s Lumpkin Center; women- 1:30pm, men- 3:30pm. $5 for adults, $3 for students/kids (including non-CSU students), free for ages 5 and under and CSU students, faculty and staff with ID. 706-568-2204 or go to http://www. csucougars.com. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21
SPHL Hockey- Columbus Cottonmouths vs Fayetteville FireAntz: Columbus Civic Center, 7:30pm. $12- $22. $3 off upper level seats for military and college students with valid id. SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 SPHL Hockey- Columbus Cottonmouths vs Pensacola Ice Flyers: Columbus Civic Center, 7:30pm. $12- $22. $3 off upper level seats for military and college students with valid id. THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 NCAA Basketball Doubleheader– CSU vs Lander: CSU’s Lumpkin Center; women- 1:30pm, men- 3:30pm. $5 for adults; $3 for students/kids (including non-CSU students); free for ages 5 and under and CSU students, faculty and staff with ID. For more information, call 706-568-2204 or go to http://www. csucougars.com. SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 NCAA Basketball Doubleheader–CSU vs Augusta State: CSU’s Lumpkin Center; women- 1:30om, men- 3:30pm. $5 for adults; $3 for students/kids (including non-CSU students); and free for ages 5 and under and CSU students, faculty and staff with ID. For more information, call 706-568-2204 or go to http://www.csucougars.com. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 SPHL Hockey- Columbus Cottonmouths vs Fayetteville FireAntz: Columbus Civic Center, 7:30pm. $12- $22. $3 off upper level seats for military and college students with valid id.
theatre
EVERY FRIDAY No Shame Theatre: Springer Opera House, Foley Hall. $5 TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 & WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 Camelot: Broadway Series. Rediscover the grandeur of one of history’s greatest love stories in Lerner and Loewe’s timeless masterpiece, Camelot. A sumptuous tale set in a land where honor and chivalry reign, Camelot follows the love triangle of King Arthur, his Queen Guenevere and the young Lancelot. With one of Broadway’s most enchanting scores, featuring the hauntingly romantic “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “I Loved You Once in Silence” and “Follow Me”, Camelot is the definitive musical theatre fable. RiverCenter’s Bill Heard Theatre, 7:30. $39.50-$49.50 JANUARY 21-24 Family Theatre– Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business: Columbus State Theatre. CSU Theatre on the Park Mainstage in downtown Columbus. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. General admission is $10 adults $ 5 seniors, children, active military, CSU alumni and free for CSU students (limit one) and CSU faculty and staff (limit two). For more information, call the box office at 706-507-8444 or go to http://theatre.colstate.edu/index.asp.
events continued on page 25 january 2010
Let’s Make a Movie! Why didn’t someone tell me they were making a live music concert DVD in Columbus? I would have loved to have been there to see it happening! On December 2nd, The Loft Live in Uptown Columbus hosted a ‘Live DVD Taping’ event in conjunction with The Loft Recording Studio, and created by Tim Gill, a well known filmmaker and director in the arts and music industry, based out of Savannah, Georgia. Tim has been associated with such notable clients as MTV, Antiques Roadshow, CMT, Food Network, The History Channel… ok, you get his credentials! The taping was part of a live music documentary that began here in Columbus with three of our area’s most promising artists performing on stage as the cameras rolled. Similar to the old ‘Midnight Special’, ‘Bluebird Café’, and ‘Austin City Limits’ shows we have all watched and admired for their earthy real format, this evening’s show was to be a reminder as to why going to a live show is so much more fulfilling than just buying an album. Beginning the evening was none other than our own Southern Blues mind blowing artist Marshall Ruffin, the epitome of bluesy, gutsy, ‘wah’; stabs you in your gut and makes you want to mimic his sound. Very few can make the music flow from their soul quite like him! Marshall shot the cameras right in the eye as if to say, ”Bring it
Filming scene
playgrounds magazine
on!... I can shoot more blue fire into your soul than you can handle”! Next on the ‘big screen’ was Heather Luttrell, another Blues/Americana music stylist based out of the Atlanta market. Her ‘grab at your balls’ punchy style had me squealing for more! Ouch, did I say that? Great performance from a “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues” songwriter! That sound she creates will soon be knocking at your radio door and I’m sure she will grab you as well! Finishing out the evening was recording artist Jefferson Fox, now based in California, but in our area visiting and performing under the guidance of Atlanta based director James Salter, a long time friend from his Savannah playing days. As the movie set was being adjusted to fit all of his mannequins onstage, I began to wonder what was in store for his end of the bargain…hmmmm…did I see pretty plastic girls scattering themselves all around this singer? What was I to gather from his performance tonight? After all, he’s here in the Deep South, and we never seen anythin’ like that ‘round these parts! I mean we love us some ‘Jeff Foxworthy’, but this Jefferson Fox dude might be touchin’ on a nerve in our little neck of the woods…just kiddin! He came out and put on a phenomenal show with the dimmed lights and a cool raspy sound that pulled me out of my seat so I could stand closer to the stage in order to take in more of the creative sounds he was delivering to the rocking crowd! I loved the show that he put on! And them mannequins were startin’ to look cute
Marshall Ruffin
Heather Luttrell
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before the show ended. I swear I saw one of ‘em winkin’ at me!… I’m just sayin’… Ha!...seriously, they made for cool video effects that helped set the scene, given his eclectic musical style! J-Fox reminded me of a Jack Johnson/Roy Orbison/Elvis Costello clone…go figure that one out… but you get my drift, hard to place him into one category which makes for a unique sound that gets him remembered! So, remember Jefferson Fox…check out his works, and watch for more news of the movie as it comes into fruition…we’ll keep you posted. Watching the process of making the movie was very cool to say the least. I found myself saying ‘Take Two!’ several times and never once did I feel the need to say ‘Cut!...’ no need to; perfection in just several takes was all that was needed, given the professionalism of the performing trio of guests for the evening! Gee, every now and then we actually have something cool going on in Columbus, duh, so keep watching right here, in Playgrounds Magazine, for updates on events happening in our area…after all, you picked up this little musicnewsworthy paper so why don’t you actually read more of it and use it as your ‘calendar of events’? Keep it next to your ‘to do list’ and circle the many neat things in each month’s issue that kindles your interest? You’d be surprised at what goes on right under your nose! Maybe you will be sitting in the next audience that is a part of filming up and coming stars from our Southern Star hideouts! Ya listenin’? by Douglas Cox
Mannequins
Jefferson Fox
january 2010
Love Is Still the Answer in 2010, but Let’s Toughen It Up a Bit.
By Frank Saunders
When the issues of the world start to weigh heavily on me, my first response is frustration and anger. While this is a normal response, the actions that are taken when under the influence of these emotions are not helpful to me or anyone else. So what is the answer? Once again, as trite or simplistic as it may sound, love is still the answer. Love can manifest itself in many ways though so it is important to be aware of the facets of love. Sure love is patient and kind and forgiving as scripture says, but love also holds people accountable for what they may do. This is where we have it wrong in our society. To me, our society is like a spoiled child allowed to do whatever it wants without penalty. Sure, there are jails full of people that are being held accountable for something, but there are other areas that are left untended. Take terroristic acts such as the gun violence ending in a shooting spree then suicide in Finland, the shooting spree at Fort Hood, and the individual that recently tried to take down a plane by essentially setting his pants on fire. In each of these cases the individual gave indicators that he was unhappy and potentially violent. We need to demonstrate some tough love in our global society. When someone makes terroristic threats or is caught in an act of terror, action needs to be taken. Now this is not easy all the time, but sometimes it is. The shooter in Finland had a history of domestic violence which ultimately ended with him shooting his companion, a few others, then himself. I am sure that this was no surprise to some people familiar with the events leading up to this. Why not be proactive and set an example by putting these people out of their misery? What is going to happen to the idiot terrorist that set his lap on fire while trying to take down a plane? How did he get through security? Why didn’t the Nigerian officials act when his father told them he was concerned with his son’s anger toward America and the statements he was making? People that fail to respond to the warning signs or fail to execute their duties need to be held accountable. The Fort Hood shooter was a radical Muslim officer in the U.S. Army whose duty was to counsel soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. This doesn’t even make sense. This Muslim army doctor even made speeches consisting of how the Quran instructs the infidels to be destroyed. Muslim soldiers in attendance at one of his radical speeches voiced their concern that this was not how they interpret the Quran, but he continued anyway. Perhaps the army does not have regulations in place to deal with this sort of situation. Perhaps the politically correct response is to allow this Muslim his free speech, but that didn’t end well. And when the Muslim army doctor went on his shooting rampage, there was not enough firepower available on one of the largest army bases in the world to take him out. It is against regulations for soldiers to be armed on a military installation, yet military installations take great precautions to keep law abiding citizens from entering the base. So what I am suggesting as a step in the right direction for 2010 is to continue loving one another while adding the tough love component. We should voice to our representatives our anger towards the policies that are not logical. Not only the ones listed in the paragraph above but also: immigration, healthcare, and outsourcing of jobs. If we continue as a world in the direction we are headed, our civilization will fail.
playgrounds magazine
2ND ANNUAL “DREWLAFEST” Drewlafest was a huge success!! Tons of people came out and showed support for the cause.. The event managed to raise some much needed cash, even in these tough economic times and being held so close to Christmas. The Guckenberger and Bishop families were very deserving candidates and very grateful for everyones help! Everyone had a great time! Lots of cool prizes were given away and raffled off and everyone experienced some of the best artists around. We look forward to Drewlafest 2010!! Thanks to all the artists and sponsors: without them this wouldnt have been possible... you guys rock!!! ARTISTS: Chris Collins band, Joey Robinson, Joey Stevens, Heath Jackson, Alternate North (Cols locals), L.E.D (Newnan Ga), Nothing More (San Antonio Tx), and Pandemic (New Orleans La) SPONSORS: Pink Moose Entertainment, The Roadhouse, Playgrounds Mag, Rock 103 & Chris Chaos, B&B Beverage/Budweiser, Quick as Wink printing, Waffle House, Black Lotus Tattoo, Infusion Products, Mike&Eds BBQ, Chelles Nails, Tranquility Day Spa, Buffalo Wild WIngs, Dixie Pin-Ups. A very special thanks to Rob and Tracy at Roadhouse, Chris Chaos and crew for the extra support, Dan Dailey, Tonia Hill and Aubri Pettee for their photography and all the crew that helped pull this event off!! Thanks to Atom Smash and Tantric for sending in some really cool prizes!! These guys were on a national tour and couldn’t play the show. Kenny Cook
Neal Lucas with Chris Collins Band
Alternate North
Pandemic
LED
Nothing More
Nothing More & The Bishop Family
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january 2010
pg picks
BIBB CITY RAMBLERS Andersonville The Bibb City Ramblers’ new release, Andersonville, is a much tighter and cleaner offering than their last album, Sucker’s Prize. However, this collection of stories from the War Between the States still remains firmly rooted in the band’s front porch pickin’ circle beginnings. This anthology covers subject matter such as the tale of the infamous Confederate POW camp and its oft-villainized commander Henry Wirz, stories of unknown soldiers, women of ill repute, and a few odd tidbits here and there for added amusement. The album opens up with the title track, a mournful ballad telling the story of the prison. Frontman “Dirty” Dan Davidson’s drawling vocal style aptly portrays the misery and tedium one must have felt as an inmate. The second song on the album, Ramblin’ T, tells the story of a soldier trying to find his way home. This song is produced in a style that reminds me of archival recordings of old Appalachian folk music and features a weeping fiddle and claw hammer banjo. Interspersed among the lyrical stories are three instrumental tracks entitled Battlefield Dream Sequence, Parts 1, 2, and 3. These meandering musical jaunts were cowritten by Davidson, band co-founder Brian Fowler, and local guru of things-withstrings, Jon White. These tunes, ranging in style from raucous bluegrass romps to Bela Fleck-style experimental psychedelica, carry all the warmth and chemistry of a jam session among friends. Perhaps my favorite track on the album is the delightfully and deliberately sloppy ballad Bodies and Horses about a former CSA officer who apparently suffers from severe PTSD-induced alcoholism. Brian Fowler carries lead vocals on this tune. His slurring lyrics, the plodding rhythm, and the purposely dischordant and slightly off-beat backing vocals of former BCR band member Adam Brown evoke a vivid mental image of a hobo in tattered clothing weaving down the street, swilling something suspicious from a brown paper sack as he spins his battlefield tales for anyone who might be willing to listen. Added bonuses to Andersonville are the final two tracks, unrelated to the album theme. Aunt Pearlie’s is a high-spirited one-minute-and-eleven-second ode playgrounds magazine
cd reviews
to frozen side dishes, reminiscent of Tim O’Brien’s old Hot Rize spots. Birthday Blues is a woeful country waltz about spending a birthday alone with one’s dog and a bottle of whiskey. Dirty Dan’s gritty baritone and mournful yodeling on this tune showcase his gift for wallowing in delicious faux-misery. In the interest of full disclosure, I feel the need to add that I consider Dan, Brian, Adam, and Jon all good friends. I also consider myself to be a bit of a BCR groupie, having followed them all the way to Lafayette, GA last summer for the Cherokee Farms Fiddlers’ Convention. I have greatly enjoyed watching the Bibb City Ramblers develop both as performing and recording artists and feel quite a bit of local pride in their accomplishment with the release of Andersonville. These boys are more than welcome to jam on my porch any time. Katy Clyde
as a host of songs from Reckoning, the concert includes older songs like Gardening at Night and future-single Driver 8, as well as a wonderful cover of The Velvet Underground’s Femme Fatale. The official bootleg alone is worth the cost for longtime fans, though the souped-up remastering of the original album will undoubtedly have thirty and forty-something audiophiles going into paroxysms of ecstasy. If you already own Reckoning, it’s time for an upgrade. If you’ve never heard Reckoning before, it’s time for an education. Kevin Martell
cent cover of Jesse Winchester’s Rhumba Man, Bruce Cockburn’s wistful Life Short Call Now and A Lot to Drink About, a pretty clever, topical “high-speed drinking song.” As Buffett says in the extensive liner notes (printed on recycled paper), “when you are lucky enough to get to a point in your life where you can basically do what you want, the trick is to be able to enjoy it.” This is not the Buffett of 1973, who indulged in penny-ante shoplifting (Peanut Butter Conspiracy from A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean), it’s been twenty years since this pirate looked at forty, and Buffet Hotel won’t garner him any new fans (not that he needs any), but it’s a pleasant enough listen. Buffett’s gift is making his enjoyment of life infectious, and on Buffet Hotel, he does just that. Curtis Lynch
JIMMY BUFFETT Buffet Hotel Mailboat Records www.margaritaville.com
R.E.M. Reckoning I discovered R.E.M. through 1988’s Green, cemented my love with 1991’s Out of Time, and became an all-out fanatic with Automatic for the People the following year. But these were the foursome’s major label records—the tip of the iceberg for anyone who wanted to know the real story. So, I went back and bought everything they ever released on I.R.S. Records. It was a rewarding process of discovery; each “new” album brought greater delight. The band’s sophomore LP, 1984’s landmark Reckoning, was a rare, unparalleled experience. Reckoning mixes the heart of an old soul with a charming naiveté, making it beguiling. Peter Buck’s skittering, jangling licks perfectly match Bill Berry’s deft drumming and Mike Mills’ solid bass work, providing the perfect backdrop for Michael Stipe’s yearning keen and post modern poetry. Songs like the plaintive So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) and the sunny appeal (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville became college radio staples and highlighted the fledgling band’s ability to write catchy singles. However, it was Reckoning’s overarching depth and stirring coherence that helped it emerge as a true classic, and thus become a touchstone for the American alternative scene. This 25th anniversary deluxe edition comes with a live show from Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on July 7, 1984. As well
With apologies to Forrest Gump, Jimmy Buffett is like the anti-box of chocolate – you know exactly what you’re going to get. With every CD bought and every live show attended, the paying customer is guaranteed a sun-drenched, salt-rimmed good time. There are other places you can go if you want to be challenged or astounded, but sometimes you just want that familiar, comfortable cheeseburger. This year’s cheeseburger turns out to be pretty tasty. Buffett Hotel, Jimmy’s 42nd release, is inspired by a trip to Mali, and the title comes from a hotel in Timbuktu where many Mali musicians got their start. The twelve tracks here are co-produced by longtime bandmates Michael Utley and Mac McAnally, and guests include slide guitarist extraordinaire Sonny Landreth, Cedric Burnside, and Will Kimbrough, who co-wrote four of the tracks and plays guitar, harmonica, banjo, and mandolin. In fact, full disclosure compels me to divulge that Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack’s band DADDY is one of my personal favorites, and they grab the opening track here. Nobody from Nowhere is a song that doesn’t romanticize rural, small town life so much as it simply accepts it for what it is, where “waiting for a car to drive by, just so you can wave hello” is the highlight of your day, and that’s okay. Drummer Roger Guth contributes Big Top, a tune that gently acknowledges that the circus that is the travelling Parrothead roadshow is a bit out of their control (“I’m an accessory in front of the pack.”) and Kimbrough chimes in again on Surfing in a Hurricane, which takes the opportunity to slap in a few surf-guitar licks for good measure. Otherwise, the rest of the record is a pretty standard selection of familiar ballads, a couple of uptempo tunes that are obviously slated for live shows, a de-
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DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS The Fine Print (A Collection of Oddities And Rarities 2003-2008) New West Records www.drivebytruckers.com Rock ‘n roll bands who embark on a recording career have a certain path they tend to follow: independent releases, major record deals, first releases, maybe a sophomore slump, a live record, rejection by their early fans who think they’ve sold out, lineup shuffles, (and if you’re lucky) a greatest hits CD, solo records, DVDs, and finally, after logging enough hours in the studio, they dump out an odds-n-sods compilation, which may or may not be worth a shit. Friends, this one is worth at least one shit, maybe two. Typically, these things are for the hardcore fans who want everything the band has ever done and while I’m not going to tell you it is essential listening, I will say that it’s a representative sample of the band during this time, which spans the albums: Decoration Day, The Dirty South, and A Blessing and a Curse. This is a period that follows their masterpiece Southern Rock Opera and includes the departure of guitarist, vocalist, and writer Jason Isbell, who left the band after playing on the three DBT albums mentioned above. Isbell has two of the strongest tracks here: TVA and When the Well Runs Dry. Patterson’s excellent and informative liner notes even say that the latter should have been on 2008’s A Blessing and a Curse and I agree. It would certainly have made for a stronger record, which in retrospect was not a high-water mark for the band. The CD reviews continued on page18 january 2010
TybeeDawg’s Pick of the Litter – 2009’s Top Ten CDs Does the year you’ve had influence what you listen to, or is it the other way around? Do you listen to the blues because you have them or because you’re glad you don’t? And what about love songs? Or death metal? This year’s selections are even more heavily weighted toward the Americana genre than my normal listening habits, mainly because the songwriters here are unusually adept at surveying and communicating the human condition, and in my opinion, our condition in 2009 surely needs someone to explain it to the rest of us and put it in context. As Will Kimbrough says, “For balance, how about we take in a little Buddha… and Johnny Cash.” So with that in mind, here are the CDs that spoke to me in 2009, in no particular order. DADDY –For A Second Time: Finely crafted roots music from Will Kimbrough and Tommy Womack, two guys who know their way around a song. Best track: “Nobody From Nowhere,” also the opening track on Jimmy Buffett’s new release. GRANT PEEPLES – Pawnshop: Grant sounds like a rusty-hinged wooden gate swinging wildly, beating out a rhythm in the chaos of a hurricane, but whether he’s railing against capital punishment or singing about trailer-park breakups (“Leaving her was easy once she’d done throw’d all my shit out in the yard”), Peeples is consistently entertaining, provocative, and not afraid to shoot straight. Best track: “Searching for a Sign” (“It’s hard to swallow the truth, but I sure could use a taste right now.”) PETER COOPER – Mission Door: Cooper’s songs are eloquent without being stilted and manage to tug a heartstring just as easily as they coax a smile. Best Track: “715 (for Hank Aaron)” is the best song about sports ever. Ever. PATTERSON HOOD – Murdering Oscar (and other love songs): Hood, the frontman for The Drive-By Truckers, has a second solo release that is much more cohesive than his previous one, thanks to Scott Danborn and Will Johnson from Centro-Matic. Best track: “I Understand Now” TODD SNIDER – The Excitement Plan: Todd successfully channels Randy Newman, wrings the most out of every line, and joins the ranks of Americana’s finest songwriters, maturity optional. Best track: “America’s Favorite Pastime,” the true story of Dock Ellis, the Pittsburgh Pirate who pitched a no-hitter on LSD. SCOTT MILLER & THE COMMONWEALTH – For Crying Out Loud: Rock ‘n roll with a big heart and a sly grin. Best track: “Cheap Ain’t Cheap” – “the dollar’s weak but it’s stronger than me.” RYAN BINGHAM – Roadhouse Sun: Rock ‘n roll with a big heart and an upraised middle finger. Best track: “Dylan’s Hard Rain” - a scathing diatribe that would invite name-dropping if it wasn’t so sharply honed. THE GOURDS – Haymaker!: Gleefully defying description, the Gourds play music for “well-read-necks.” This is a record for people who are okay with throwing the GPS out the window and taking a sudden left turn down a dirt road. Best track: “Shreveport” - a semitribute to a town filled with meth-addled, spandex-clad, heavy metal rednecks. ERIC BRACE AND PETER COOPER – You Don’t Have To Like Them Both: This duo release by Eric Brace (Last Train Home) and Peter Cooper is full of friendship, warmth, and good times. And good tunes. Best track: Cooper’s bouncy travelogue “Denali, Not McKinley.” (co-written with Todd Snider) THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS – The Fine Print (A Collection of Oddities And Rarities 2003-2008): Just what it says. The stuff the Drive-By Truckers leave behind in the studio is better than the most of the dreck that passes for rock-n-roll on the radio today. Best track: The cover of Tom T. Hall’s “Mama Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken).” I’m sure I left off several things, but such is the nature of these lists. What are your top ten CDs? Write ‘em up and drop them off at http://tybeedawg.blogspot.com/ Curtis Lynch playgrounds magazine
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january 2010
Life Is But A Dream:
Tales From The Athens Rock Show
If you saw my article in the November issue of Playgrounds Magazine then you read about Vic Chesnutt (www.vicchesnutt.com). I mentioned that, for me, seeing Vic play live was as close to church as I get, I also advised everyone to go and see him perform. If you didn’t take my advice then you’re too late. Vic Chesnutt passed away on Christmas Day 2009. He overdosed on muscle relaxants that sent him into a coma, he wasn’t found for two days and died two days after that. His family is accepting donations to help pay for his hospital bills at http://kristinhersh.cashmusic.org/vic/. Vic left us enough music that we will never forget him. He sang with beauty and shame in his voice, he had a forked tongue and didn’t care if he offended anyone with his lyrics. The world will learn of his talent as other musicians start covering his songs. Widespread Panic, R.E.M., Cracker, Garbage, Smashing Pumpkins, Soul Asylum and Madonna have already done so. Vic Chesnutt
I’ve composed a list of my favorite Athens bands of the last ten years. Since I started with a musician that you will never see play live again, I’ll continue with that unfortunate thought and tell you about some great bands that don’t play very often. Some have broken up, some are busy doing other things, most of the players are still around. I am lucky enough to say that I’ve seen The Glands perform live a few times. They played a handful of times last decade but not nearly enough. When they play all of Athens’ elite come to see them. They sound like the Kinks when they were groovy, the Beatles during their LSD phase, and Elvis Costello without the whining. They sing like they have nothing to prove. Lead singer Ross Shapiro runs Schoolkids Records for many years now, maybe working in a record store gives you some sort of understanding of music, through osmosis. It only hurts when I laugh. Two of their shows are posted in the archive at www.SouthernShelter.com. The Star Room Boys broke up just as I was making myself at home in Athens, but most of the players stayed in town and luckily I’ve been able to see them perform many times. They sing with a Georgia twang about whiskey drenched evenings, being alone and depressed, broken hearts, and bars and stones. They remind me of the beer soaked - sticky floors at the end of a sold out show at the 40 Watt Club. Dave Marr handles the vocals and boy does he know how to sing, he’s like a punk rock cowboy with a velvet voice. Marr along with John Neff and Phillip McArdle are the main players. Now Neff plays with the Drive By Truckers but when he’s in town, he also plays with The Chasers, The Wydelles, Lona, Barbara Cue, and more. Phillip McArdle plays in the Wydelles and the Chasers but we just lost him to California. Another band that I don’t get to see any more is Southern Bitch (http:// www.myspace.com/southernbitch). Adam and Wendy Musick are the backbone of this band. And yes, Adam was playgrounds magazine
born ‘Adam Musick’ and he is one of the most talented guitar players I have ever heard. There aren’t friendlier people on this earth then the Musicks. They recently relocated to their family farm up north, I hope those pigs and donkeys are loving the tunes that the Musicks make. Southern Bitch
photos & story by Daniel Peiken
with Brad, John, Barbe, and Will Johnson and Scott Danbom of Centro-Matic. Centro-Matic (www.centro-matic. com) is a fantastic band out of Denton, Texas. DBT is my favorite band of all. You can go to my website, www.AthensRockShow.com to see photos from almost 100 of their concerts. Drive By Truckers
I recently wrote about Masters of the Hemisphere (www.myspace.com/mastersofthehemisphere) and I can’t write an article about my favorite Athens bands without mentioning them again. Some of their songs are silly and “cartoony” - about dogs, frogs and girls. But they don’t take themselves too seriously, so the songs work. The lyrics may be colorful and silly the but the musicianship cannot be hidden. Their songs may be unimportant in the whole scheme of things but the band shouldn’t be forgotten. Members have moved all over the country but have been known to lurk around the Caledonia Lounge every few years. I don’t think I’ve mentioned Now It’s Overhead (www. nowitsoverhead.com) but that’s only because they don‘t play very often. Andy LeMaster fronts this band when he is in town, he co-owns Chase Park Transduction studios with David Barbe. He has performed, produced, and engineered many recordings on the Saddle Creek Label, including records by Bright Eyes and Azure Ray. They make beautiful sounds together with clock-like timing, sweet sounds of heartache and despair, hollering out to the heavens. Michael Stipe of REM sings on a few songs on their last album. Clay Leverett (Lona, Chasers) plays drums and helps with vocals and two members of the Summerbirds in the Cellar play keyboards and guitars. The Summerbirds called Athens home for a few years but they recently broke up, you can still hear them at www. myspace.com/summerbirds. When they played they blew me away, I never missed a show. I even ran out of a Drive By Truckers show at the Georgia Theatre once to high tail it to the 40 Watt Club to catch their act. I ran back to the theatre to finish with the Truckers of course. Summerbirds in the Cellar
Speaking of the Drive By Truckers (www.drivebytruckers.com) I’ve got lots to say about them but I won’t even try to start here because I have too much to say. I could write a novel about their music and the concerts that I’ve seen. The band is made up of Patterson Hood (www. PattersonHood.com), Mike Cooley, Brad Morgan, Shauna Tucker, John Neff, and Jay Gonzales. Athens is lucky to have more than half the band living here and I’m even luckier to call most of them my friends. When Patterson wants to play but Mike and Shauna are not around he simply gathers up David Barbe and along with Brad, John and Jay perform as the Belvederes or as the Screwtopians
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David Barbe, of Chase Park Transduction Studios, has his own band called David Barbe & the Quickhooks (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Barbe). Barbe, Jon Mills, Frank McDonnell and Kyle Spence play real slow, if they were riding a bike they’d hit the pavement hard. They play slow so that you can hear their fantastic musicianship and take it all in. They have the confidence to play slow. It’s like they’re playing to the heavens. David Barbe and the Quickhooks
Clay Leverett heads up two bands, Lona and The Chasers (www.myspace.com/thechasersband). Lona is made up of John Neff (DBT), Nick Bielli, Marcus Thompson and Neil Golden, add Dave Gilliard and Phillip McArdle and you have the Chasers. Lona is like the Rolling Stones if Mick was born in South Georgia. They sing boozy, fun Rock’N’Roll. They’re very talented and when they’re tight they’re on fire. They’re like a modern steel train heading straight to the future if they can keep their direction. The Chasers are admittedly a country band and always a great time. With a pickle in the middle and some mustard on top. The Wydelles (www.thewydelles. com) are Bo Bedingfield, John Neff, Phillip McArdle, Brandon Reynolds and Clay Leverett on drums. They have been quietly earning respect and fans in our town. Bo is much more talented then he knows but I think he’s realizing it now. He is the world’s tallest drummer, and he’s a true gentleman. Just sit back, listen and enjoy the music. Bo sings and writes like John Prine and Jackson Browne. The future of the Wydelles is uncertain since McArdle moved out west. Bo wrote a song about him called San Diego - check it out at www.SouthernShelter.com (search Bo Bedingfield). Lona
january 2010
The Arcs (www.myspace.com/thearcsrock) have been playing together as a band for less than five years but they’re already an Athens classic. I love songs about Rock’N’Roll, radios, and the feeling we get from listening to music. They sing those songs and give me that feeling every time. They respect the music and pay attention to the audience, they play about four times a year, and they make sure every show is a special event. The Arcs
few times a year we get to see Kimberly Morgan & the Everloving Band (www.myspace.com/kimberlymorganandtheeverlovinband). Kimberly is happy to share stories about heritage and family. She’s got a warm and nurturing voice, and sings cute songs about gambling’and bein’a good woman. She writes songs that should be handed down from generation to generation in a Linda Rondstadt sort of way. Betsy Franck & the Bareknuckle Band pound out the blues. Betsy’s got a powerful voice and sings songs about powerful women. I’ve heard her do Aretha Franklin proud and I’ve heard her sound like she’d fit right in on Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Catch these lovely ladies if you ever get the chance. Kaitlin Jones and County Fair
I don’t think I’ve mentioned Don Chambers and GOAT (www.donchambersmusic.com) as much as I should. GOAT has an ever changing line up but usually includes Jim Wilson, Matt “Pistol” Stoessel, and Brandon McDearis. The most obvious comparison for Don is Tom Waits. Don is an original and a great man. He sounds like he’s shouting outside the freak tent at a circus sideshow. His songs are filled with irony, rust and rock. Dark swampy songs about family vacations gone wrong. Jim Wilson plays his “caddiladder” which is made up of his finely tuned wooden ladder with specific hubcaps attached (usually). Don wails in one of his songs… “I wanna walk home singDon Chambers ing”…and I do after every Don Chambers show. Check out Boo Ray at www.booraylive.com or you can just keep an eye out for him at the CMA’s. I first ran into him at a Lona / David Barbe show at the 40 Watt Club on February 25, 2004. At first I didn’t get him, tall, lanky, cowboy want-to-be, he seemed to know many of my friends but he didn’t make any sort of impression on me. That didn’t stop us from having a brief conversation where he handed me his newest CD. I took his self-titled album home and fell in love with it. I played it hundreds of times over the next four years. My wife got hooked and we shared it with family, friends, and in-laws. I never saw or heard anything from Boo until he splashed back in town in 2008 and he’s been lighting it on fire ever since. He sold over 10,000 copies of his first album out of the trunk of his car, do yourself a favor and order Bad News Travels Fast and save Boo Ray some gas. Boo Ray
The Whigs (www.thewhigs.com) will be huge this decade. The Whigs are an extremely talented three-piece garage rock band, that sings intelligent songs that will grab you. Their songs are so well written that I find myself wondering why no one else ever put those words to music before. After their show you’ll wanna be their friend. Parker holds his guitar up high like a prisoner guards his food, occasionally tempting the drums like a bullfighter tempts his bull. Tim Deaux marches along like he’s in the marching band and Julian Dorio keeps the beat. Before it’s all over you realize you’ve been jumping up and down to the music for an hour. The Whigs have had lots of well earned success in the latter part of the decade. The Whigs as Blumpkin Cafe
Workhorses of the Entertainment and Recreational Industry
Dead Confederate (www.deadconfederate.com) are made up of a bunch of friends who have known each other for years and played in other bands together. They regrouped as Dead Confederate and have found great success. These are the guys that I want watchin’ my back if I’m ever in a fight. They’re a bunch of good ole boys who seem like they would kill to defend their own. Their shows build up with intensity until it explodes like a car accident, black and white flashing lights, sounds, noises, screaming. One song is written from the perspective of a rat. Athens old timers Bloodkin (www.Bloodkin.net) have become a favorite of mine this year. I’ve seen them play Bloodkin
Three of Athens most talented singers are women, Kaitlin Jones, Kimberly Morgan and Betsy Franck. You’ve heard it here before, Kaitlin Jones & the County Fair (www.myspace.com/kaolinjones) sings like she’s old country. Imagine Lorretta Lynn and Patsy Cline sharing a meal at the Waffle House, singin’ songs about their stack of pancakes, hash browns and grits. They’re that good. A playgrounds magazine
at least ten times in the last three years but only this year have they become a ‘destination’ band for me, now I won’t miss them. Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter have been playing together since they were children. They moved to Athens over 23 years ago and formed Bloodkin. They have been tearing it up every since. William Tonks plays an important role with them as well as almost every other band mentioned in this article. Daniel is a word-slinger, he throws them at you like a whip, over and over again. Some songs are dusty, whiskey-driven, dirt road-takin’ songs about love, history, heritage, and heartache. Some songs are about being at rock bottom written while still there. Their new album, Baby, They Told Us We Would Rise Again is truly a work of art. My Name is Alice takes you from below the bottom and Little Margarita shows you how good life can be. Every song is a novel. Widespread Panic has been playing their song Can’t Get High since their beginning. Another of Tonk’s bands is the Workhorses of the Entertainment and Recreational Industry (www.myspace.com/weri). Ben Reynolds, formerly of the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies, takes center stage, Rob Keller plays stand up bass and sings like Neil Young. When these guys share the stage they create a natural sound like a guitar pickin’ circle at a family re-union in the country. You’re guaranteed a good meal, they’ll satisfy your musical craving. Tonks sings about taking life easy, his covers will teach you about other great singer songwriters. He’s also been playing with Barbara Cue (www. myspace.com/bbcue) since 1997, along with Widespread Panic’s Todd Nance on drums and John Neff, Jon Mills, and Crumpy Edwards. These guys are musical craftsmen who sing songs that are perfect for riding down the road in the back of a pick up truck with the wind blowing thru your hair and a cold High Life in your hand. Just sayin’.
I believe that every member of Still Small Voice and the Joyful Noise (www.myspace.com/stillsmallvoiceandthejoyfulnoise) has worked at the 40 Watt Club at some time. Chip McKenzie writes sweet, haunting songs that will creep up on you, when you start to realize how good his lyrics are you are already hooked. Elf Power (www. elfpower.com) is another band like that. Andrew Rieger writes otherworldly, beautiful songs that paint very colorful scenes. The band is full of horns, guitars, harmonies and sounds that may hold the answers to the universe. Five Eight (www.fiveeight.com) is different and they’ll be the first ones to tell you that. Mike Mantione isn’t afraid to sing about his past to get his point across. Their songs are happy and mad, fun and depressed, heavy and hard, nurturing and hateful, loud and loud. They seem like they’re always playing on some sort of inside joke. They let you know that it’s OK to be nuts. Their shows are full of laugh-
Still Small Voice and The Joyful Noise continued on page 24
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january 2010
Go Ask Alice
story & photos by Alice Barkwell
Happy New Year! Can you believe it is 2010? A new decade full of promise for Columbus and for music in general! Maybe we can negotiate it all together---
Alice and Shaggy In January Columbus is getting some great shows. Do not miss Kris Kristofferson January 26th at the RiverCenter if you are a fan of his music or of his remarkable persona. What a fascinating life he has lived! Also at the Civic Center Jamey Johnson has a show on January 29th. There’s a real dearth of shows in Atlanta this time of year, but Mariah Carey will be at the Fox January 19th. The wonderful Butch Walker is doing four shows in a row January 13th-16th at 7 Stages, a theater in Little Five Points. Anvil is at Variety on January 30th, which should be fun. And get ready for Februray 1st at Gwinnett when Slayer and Megadeth will blow the roof off of the arena. For Birmingham rock fans there’s great news—my favorite little rock venue, the 5 Points Music Hall has reopened and has Sevendust on January 1st. Watch for more rocking shows there this spring! A very intimate and reasonably priced venue you’ll enjoy! Also remember Willie Nelson and family will be in Montgomery at the Performing Arts Center January 17th. Show Reviews My first show of the month was Jim Brickman at RiverCenter, a part of this year’s wonderful Winterfest celebration. (which also included lovely decorations, a great marching band, snowfall, and lovely
Tracy Silverman, Jim Brickman’s rocking violinist arts and crafts.) Jim Brickman is a talented pianist and song stylist. I have always wanted to see him, so I was thrilled. When he touches the piano keys beautiful magic happens for sure, but I wasn’t prepared for the crew of talented people he brought along. There’s a wild rocking fiddle player Tracy Silverman, a very smooth male singer Mark Masri, and Jim himself on piano and keyboard with beautiful Christmas songs and medleys as well as his romantic hits from over the years. The show literally dazzled the holiday crowd! I didn’t particularly like Anne Cochran, the female singer, but he claims he met her in high school at her locker and asked her right then to go on tour with him and she did. Who can beat a story like that! From Jim’s lovely piano solos to the fuller sound of the entire ensemble, which also included a hammer dulcimer player, it was an incredible show! The ambience was enhanced by the lovely RiverCenter lighting and sets that made the whole stage look like a giant forest of Christmas trees made of glorious color and light. Each artist got to showcase their talent, and I especially adored Silverman, who looks like Ronnie James Dio and is a rock fiddler as good as any I have seen. He blew everyone away! Masri’s voice is dreamy. Brickman makes piano keys tinkle like a waterfall. The focus was clearly on Christmas and the beauty of the music— a wonderful show! If he ever comes back to Columbus, don’t miss it! The next show also was conveniently here in Columbus at The Columbus Civic Center, where Kelly Clarkson and two excellent opening acts put on an exciting show. A new Virginia band called Parachute was first, mixing rock sounds with blue-eyed soul and radio pop. Singer Will Anderson, who was a hit with the ladies is also the songwriter, guitarist and piano player. She Is Love, the ballad torch song and first single, features Van Morrison-like scatting by Anderson; Nate McFarland’s chiming, The Edge-styled chunks of guitar laced through Back Again, Under Control, Ghost, Words Meet Heartbeats, and All That I Am. It is a band with very real possibilities! The next performance was by
Parachute’s Will Anderson Eric Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s first song All Over Now jump-started the vibe for his entire performance. The jazzy bassist, soul-filled drummer, funky keyboardist, and cool background vocals added to the already dynamic show. Eric brought guitar and piano elements to the mix, showing everyone why he deserved to be onstage while singing All Over Now. Playing electric guitar, Hutchinson danced across the stage with fancy footwork that reminded me of a funkier version of James Brown. By the third song, Oh!, Hutchinson was comfortably seated at his keyboard. I expected Eric’s busy feet to stop at any moment, but they did not. Even while singing his heart out at the keys, Hutchinson’s two feet were dancing out of control with the beat. Hutchinson, bolstered by his boyish good looks and beautiful voice continued to amaze me. With the song Back to Where I Was, fans immediately began clapping upon hearing the first bar of music. Then Eric, waiting to come in, said, “Yeah, keep clapping, I like it,” adding that it would “keep him on track.” Eric followed Back to Where I Was with his latest single, OK, It’s Alright With Me. His last song was his hit Rock and Roll, and I graciously complied when Eric told the audience to “Get up to get ready for Kelly.” Eric Hutchinson’s vocals, the unity of his band, and his creative dancing showed his genuine talent and skill. Basically, Eric Hutchinson and Parachute gave an awesome start to a fantastic concert to come.
Jim Brickman playgrounds magazine
22 U2 at the Georgia Dome
Eric Hutchinson With a mix of songs from each of her four albums and a handful of surprising covers, the original American Idol champ sang for more than 90 minutes for enthusiastic fans, divided between groups of twenty-something women, little girls and their moms, and gay guys. She showcased her powerful voice, backed by an elevenpiece band with horns. Clarkson seemed to be having a great time, and beamed proudly whenever the crowd took over on vocals. She waved at people in the crowd and often began to jump in circles for joy! Clarkson opened with All I Ever Wanted and ranged through her catalog belting out songs like Miss Independent and I Do Not Hook Up, an upbeat assertion of self . Her covers started with a mashup medley of Alanis Morissette’s That I Would Be Good and Kings of Leon’s Use Somebody. Later she sang The Black Keys’ Lies and a torchy rendition of Patsy Cline’s classic Walking After Midnight. Later she surprised with the White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army. She ended the regular show with her biggest hit Since U Been Gone. What a terrific singer! One of the most impressive young voices I’ve ever heard. Columbus fans seemed very happy to have experienced this show! They actively parjanuary 2010
Kelly Clarkson at Columbus Civic Center
ticipated by clapping when she wanted and singing along loudly and cheering enthusiastically. Then I was off to Atlanta for Star 94’s annual Christmas bash Jingle Jam. The big act this year that garnered the most excitement was Atlanta’s own Justin Bieber, who is the current tween/teen poster boy. The crowd seemed largely made up of ten to sixteen year old little girls with a few parents thrown in for good measure and man they could scream! I arrived too late to see much of Owl City, the project of Adam Young of Minnesota-and his big hit Fireflies. Next was Cobra Starship and their crazy front man Gabe Saporta. They are crazy and colorful and had a recent radio hit with Good Girls Gone Bad. Gabe actually said “Cobra Starship isn’t just a band, it’s a lifestyle,” which I thought was very funny. I think he was quite serious. They brought Justin Beiber on stage to play drums on one song to the screams of Justin’s fans. Saporta kept saying Hotlanta as he told the crowd his drummer was from Atlanta! I also heard that term in the movie “Up in the Air.” I guess Atlanta will be called that forever, like it or not. British singer Leona Lewis was next— the one I really came to see. After a huge hit with Bleeding Love on her first album there have been no big American hits on her second album yet. I did really like the last song she did called Outta My Head. She’s quite lovely with a really powerful voice a little like a Mariah Carey who doesn’t show off. When she did the repeating chorus of Bleeding Love “...just keep bleeding-just keep bleeding...” the teen playgrounds magazine
crowd loved it so much they drowned her out completely! At 8:45 Justin Beiber came out and the arena went into uncontrolled pandemonium. They were all screaming “Justin! Justin!” Justin, who is actually from Canada, has lived in Atlanta for three years. The mop topped 15 year old (who looks closer to 12) created a near riot at a mall in Long Island last week. He is managed by Atlantan Scooter Braun, who discovered him on YouTube. Usher helped Justin get a deal with LA Reid’s label Island Records. Bieber has had 2 top 20 hits so far. When he sang “One Less Lonely Girl,” one lucky young lady got to sit on stage and he gave her flowers– what jealousy! His voice sounds about 12 but he has a lot of stage presence for one so young. He broke his leg in London at a concert before the Atlanta show and was wearing a large cast on his right leg. He hopped around the stage and tried to keep up with his backup dancers. He kept asking the crowd to jump
Leona Lewis
Jordin Sparks
up and down, while jumping on his good leg. Jordin Sparks was next, an Idol winner I had never seen perform. Now 19 years old, she has a far better stage presence than she did on Idol when she was just 16. She is very tall and elegant and can dance pretty well in very high heels. She sang a lovely a cappella version of I’ll Be Home For Christmas and ended with her recent hit Battlefield. The Fray was last, and surprisingly,
Justin Bieber
The Fray’s Isaac Slade the crowd did not thin out much. Isaac, the singer was way more active than usual, actually getting up off his piano bench and singing into a microphone a few times— I have never seen that before! Having seen them many times, they are still pretty much a bore, so I went home. Thanks to Star 94 for a fun show! Please let us know if you see a show or find a CD you want people to know about. Send us your reviews and photos please! Call me with your rock and roll news (706)576-6633.
Owl City’s Adam Young
Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta
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Life Is But A Dream continued from page 21 ter, energy, and sweat, and they’re always a real good time. Timi Conley (www.rowyourboatrecords.com/timi-index. htm) is like that too - always a good time. He’s at his craziest when he plays with Jay Rodgers and Andrew Hamner in Kite to the Moon (www.kitetothemoon.com). He’s a hoot to see solo, outrageous as Ziggy Stardust, charming in Abbey Road, and he shines in Pigs on the Wing. Five Eight
Instrumental band A.Armada (www.myspace.com/aarmada) is a machine, they perform with military precision and play with intense power and energy. The show will be over before you know it and you won’t believe what you just witnessed. If Mozart had a band in the 1970’s this is what he might sound like. Similar but different is Maserati (www.myspace.com/maseratirocks). The first time I saw them at the 40 Watt I was hooked. Late last year their drummer, Jerry Fuchs, died in an accident involving a freight elevator in NYC. Their previous drummer died when he was hit by a car while riding his bike in 2005. Hopefully they will find a way to continue to play their music. Powers (www.myspace.com/byyrpowerscombined) appeared to me one hot AthFest night in 2009. The four members performed on the floor in the center of the 40 Watt Club completely surrounded by fans all eager to have a look. These bands may play the loudest music that your ears can handle without ear plugs. They are that tight and play that
clean. I hope to see all these bands again real soon. I wish Nic Goodson and his band, Sleepy Horses (www. sleepyhorses.net), would play more often. They blew into town during a dust storm a few years ago, played a few shows, gathered a few fans then came divorce and a suicide attempt. A couple more years have passed and things are better for Nic. He’s newly married and he’s enjoying life and playing music again. I saw him perform a solo show during AthFest 2008 which has become one of my favorite shows of the decade. It was 100+ degrees outside, he was playing inside the Cathedral-like, air-conditioned space at Cine (www.athenscine.com). He pulled out his guitar and filled the room with swirling sounds and guitar feedback. He just takes off and takes you with him, then he brings you back down and sets you up for the next song (hopefully it’s not his last one). It’s like he’s playing for the angels without looking like he‘s trying too hard. I left this show in tears. It was 3:00 on a Sunday afternoon. Another band that has brought tears to my eyes is Summer Hymns (www.myspace.com/summerhymns). My friend Zachary Gresham puts on his sailor’s cap and leads this band of pirates. They sound like the Flaming Lips if they were fronted by Neil Young. Zach’s songs are funny and sweet and accidentally romantic. His beautiful lyrics make you think, his words flow and fall like feathers sometimes overlapping themselves as they lay. Not those pretty, fluffy white feathers but the brightly colored rainbow kind you find in the hobby shop. In one of my favorite songs he simply sings “Cock-A-Doodle-Doo“ over and over and over until it all makes sense. At least it did to me. Other bands to watch out for are the Modern Skirts The Modern Skirts
CSO: Two Great Symphonies - Mahler and Shostakovich! Saturday, January 16, 2010, 7:30PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts Two Great Symphonies will feature Mahers’ Symphony No. 10: Adagio and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11 in G Minor, Op. 103 “The Year 1905.” Mahler and Shostakovich: the pre-eminent symphonists of the twentieth century are represented in this concert featuring the musicians of the Columbus Symphony. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11 is a fantastic musical canvas, much like a movie soundtrack, relating the events of the year 1905 in Russia. Mahler’s great Adagio is his last completed work for orchestra. This concert will feature live program notes and a musical demonstration.The Columbus Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1855 and is the third orchestra founded in the nation. The CSO, under the direction of George Del Gobbo, has long been considered one of the Southeast’s premier musical ensembles. Come early at 6:30pm and enjoy, Know the Score, a pre-concert discussion given by Conductor George Del Gobbo about the music featured in Two Great Symphonies. Tickets are $28 - $36 for adults; $26- $31 for seniors (over 60); $22 - $25 for students and enlisted military; $10 Student Rush ticket for University Students (1 hour prior to the show); and $5 for Children (under 12). The CSO will open the final dress rehearsal (S’MORES - Saturday Mid-Day Orchestra Rehearsal) for this concert on January 16, from 12:30 to 3:30pm for seniors over 60, fine arts students from CSU and children under 12. The cost is $5 for seniors and students and $3 for children. For more information call (706) 3235059, ext. 3640. For more info about the CSO www.csoga.org or call (706) 323-5059. playgrounds magazine
(www.modernskirts.com). These guys sing beautiful, poppy songs for young girls to love and young men to follow them to the shows. They sound like the early Beatles or a very young Billy Joel. Nate Nelson (www.natenelsonmusic.com) is a young Nate man, he often plays Nelson with his friend, Cortright. What do you expect a kid growing up in a music town like Athens to do? Pick up a guitar before puberty and start performing for your friends and schoolmates. He did that for years and now he‘s playing in the clubs. He sings on his tippie toes, his mom still comes to his shows and he has rockstar hair. You will hear from Allison Weiss (www.allisonw.com) over the next decade. She’s a very talented singer songwriter who sounds a lot like Lisa Loeb but has her own stories to tell. Does Lisa sing about unicorns and marshmallows? I don’t think so. If you like Widespread Panic, the Grateful Dead, the Doors or Ben Harper you should check out Lionz (www.lionz.org). My good friend Jefferson Taffet has been leading this band of animals for many years now and this year they are finally Breaking Out Of The Zoo. That’s the name of their new album and it’s coming out in 2010. Marc Cunningham and his Burning Angels (www.myspace.com/burningangels09) are making huge waves here in Athens. They’ll be bringing their brand of Americana / Country-Rock, to your town soon. Rock’N’Roll doesn’t have to hurt, but I can’t live without it. All of my photos are at www.AthensRockShow.com. All of my videos are at www.youtube.com/athensdaniel. Check out www.AthensHome.com for real estate in Athens. I’d love to hear your comments about my photos and ramblings, email me at dpeiken@hotmail.com. See you at the Rock Show!
MEGADETH, SLAYER ANNOUNCE “AMERICAN CARNAGE” TOUR with special guest
TESTAMENT Recession-Proof $10 Tickets Available “American Carnage” will kick off on January 18 in Seattle for a 26-date trek across North America. “American Carnage” is the first time that Slayer and Megadeth will have toured the U.S. together since 1991’s epic “Clash of the Titans” tour. To celebrate that and in recognition of the tough economic times that many of their fans are having, Megadeth and Slayer have decided to roll back the price of a chunk of tickets at every U.S. show to the “1991 price” of $10. These specially-priced tickets will be limited and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Megadeth has also teamed with iloveallaccess.com to provide an Ultimate Fan Package including premium seats, meet and greets, pre-show parties and more. In addition, Testament - who was also on the “Clash of the Titans” bill, will be special guests on the tour, marking the first time that all three bands have shared a stage together in more than 18 years, and making this a “must see” metal event. Both Megadeth and Slayer will hit the road supporting new albums: Megadeth’s 2009 album, ENDGAME, while Slayer’s World Painted Blood, the band’s 10th studio venture, hit stores November 3. Testament’s The Formation of Damnation: Special Tour Edition, will be released on February 23, 2010, with special unreleased bonus tracks. FEBRUARY 1 - Gwinnett Arena, Duluth, GA (tickets on sale now)
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5th Annual Danish Film Festival January 22 - January 30 Atlanta High Museum of Art Sponsored by the Danish Film Institute and the High Museum
All of the movies are in Danish with English subtitles. Tickets are available at Woodruff Arts Center website (www.woodruffcenter.org), the box office located at 1280 Peachtree Street and by phone at 404.733-5000. Phone orders incur an additional fee. Tickets are $7 for general admission and $6 for students, seniors, DACC members and museum employees. Fear Me Not: Fri, January 22, 8pm Struggling with symptoms of vague distraction and unease, Mikael, a middle-aged married man, agrees to participate in a clinical trial for a new anti-depressant drug. The results are miraculous, leaving him feeling unburdened and rejuvenated. But when the trial is suddenly called off for unforseen side-effects, Mikael hordes his pills and continues self-medicating. Insidious changes begin to surface and soon the upstanding citizen is hiding out in his country house, scheming how to move on with his life, and discovering the undomesticated animal within. Flame and Citron: Sat, Jan 23, 8pm Denmark’s heroic resistance to German occupation during WWII is the basis for this taut, finely acted drama about the historical figures code-named Flame and Citron, a duo who gunned down Nazis and their Danish collaborators for the Underground. Red-haired, fresh-faced, and fearless Flame (the charismatic Thure Lindhardt) is young and foolish enough to fall for a beautiful woman who may be a double agent. His partner, the glowering Citron (superstar Mads Mikkelson), is a bundle of nerves, bereft over his lost marriage and more comfortable behind the wheel than making a hit. Together, they are essentially contract killers, and though their cause is noble, they become less so every time they pull a trigger. Take the Trash: Friday, Jan 29, 8pm Jesper is a successful IT salesman. With a beautiful wife and a lovely home, his picture perfect life seems complete. Until one day when his arrogance hits him like a boomerang, and he loses everything overnight. Jesper is sentenced to community service at a recycling dump with people he thinks are lowlifes. As Jesper gets used to his hands getting dirty, he meets a girl and realizes that this simpler life is more meaningful than expected. But when the dump is threatened to be shut down, Jesper has to fight a greater cause to help his new-found friends. Terribly Happy: Saturday, Jan 30, 8pm Considered a potential 2009 Oscar nominee in the foreign language film category, Terribly Happy is the story of Copenhagen cop Robert Hanson who, following a nervous breakdown, is transferred to a new post as the marshal of South Jutland, a small town that might as well be Twin Peaks. Awash in an ominous atmosphere and bordered by a bog that seems made to suck up troublesome evidence, Hanson’s new home is populated by townspeople whose bizarre behavior leaves him baffled and alienated. Soon he’s bedding a married femme fatale and spiraling down into a vortex of rumor, suspicion, and murder. playgrounds magazine
events continued from page 15
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 Annual MLK Jr. Day Observance at Columbus State: CSU’s Davidson Student Center auditorium, 12:30pm. The speaker is Ann Hardman, bishop, Faith Worship Center, Columbus. The program, themed “What Happens to a Dream Deferred,” is free and open to the public. Call 706-568-2273 for more information. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 Unity with Pam to showcase “Midtown: A Community with a Mission”: The program will focus on the historic, vibrant MidTown section of Columbus, the MidTown Business Association. It will feature a series of distinguished speakers, a catered networking luncheon and benefitfor Habitat for Humanity. The scheduled speakers -touching on a variety of topics in MidTown, from the arts to education to business -- are Unity with Pam host Pam Wills-Hovey, Move of God Ministries Pastor Will A. Willis, Jr., MidTown, Inc. Executive Director Teresa Tomlinson, Columbus Museum Director Tom Butler, Muscogee County School District Superintendent Dr. Susan Andrews, MidTown, Inc. Director of Community Affairs Judith Tucker, and Aflac employee and MidTown Business Association member Jacqueline Egins. “MidTown: A Community with a Mission” is requesting donated items for Habitat for Humanity to be delivered during the program. For a list of the needed items, email pam@unitywithpam. org. Columbus Museum, 11am - 1pm. This event is free and open to the general public, though donations for both Habitat for Humanity and the luncheon are suggested. To learn more or to watch previous episodes, visit: www.unitywithpam.org.
DECEMBER ROCK CALENDAR
by Alice Barkwell 8 Dead Confederate The Earl 9 Between The Buried and Me Masquerade 10 Behemoth Masquerade 11 Zappa Plays Zappa Variety Playhouse 13-16 Butch Walker 7 Stages Theater 14 The Ettes Drunken Unicorn 16 Jason Michael Carroll Wild Bills 17 Willie Nelson and Family Montgomery Performing Arts Center 19 Mariah Carey Fox 20 Anvil Variety Playhouse 20 The Cribs The Earl 20 Ecovalve SoHo 21 Almost Kings, Soul Stash SoHo 22 Ghost of Gloria, Losing Adelaide SoHo 22 Sinbad Cobb Energy Center 22 Cowboy Mouth Iron Horse, B’ham 23 Hold Cell SoHo 23 Trombone Shorty Smiths Olde Bar 25 Mayday Parade Masquerade 26 AM Conspiracy, Trap County, Stereomonster SoHo 26 Kris Kristofferson RiverCenter 28 Joan Red SoHo 29 Yonder Mountain String Band Tabernacle 29 Jamey Johnson Columbus Civic Center 30 Scary Kids Scaring Kids Masquerade 31 Shadows Fall, 5-Finger Death Punch, Throwdown Masquerade 31 Natalie McMaster Ferst Center, Ga Tech
Musicians’ Exchange
classes
Lead Guitar Picker wanted for “Outlaw” style country band. Vocals helpful. Call 706.464.6989
T’ai Chi for Health, Stress, Balance, and Back Pain: New seven week T’ai Chi classes for beginners will be available starting January 19. Select from three convenient time slots: Tuesdays at 5pm, Thursdays at 3:30pm and 5:30pm. $70 for seven weeks. For information and to register, call Dr. Chan any days after 10am, 706-5633539.
Singer seeks band. Influences: radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, Dr.Dog. 706-392-0217, timskuse@hotmail. com
Tai Chi for Health: Sun Style Tai Chi provides numerous benefits for health, energy, and relaxation. Lynn Norris, Certified Instructor, (706) 5960155. Wednesdays, 10:30am, Hughston Health and Fitness, 6262 Veteran’s Pkwy. For more information call Flo at (706) 596-0155. BRITT DAVID CULTURAL ARTS STUDIO 706-653-4196 www.columbusga.org/parks for complete class schedule FRIENDSHIP CAFE & INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP MINISTRIES In Albrights, 3400 University Ave Registration: 706-507-2487 Healthy Living In 2010 Seminar: Learn simple ways to improve the quality of your life for 2010 & beyond. Thursday, January 14, 6:15-8pm. Seminar fee $20 with meal included. Registration requested. NORTHSIDE POTTERY STUDIO (706)576-2061, www.columbusga.org/parks PSALMOND ROAD POTTERY with Tom Truett, 706-565-6883 www.columbusga.org/parks SHIRLEY B. WINSTON POTTERY with Toni Connors, 2025 Steam Mill Rd (706) 653-4958
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In search of Music to be used on a new Adult Internet Site. Need non-copywrited original music for use as background music on Adult Site, and Videos. Aprox 2 hours of track music. No cash for music at this time, company is willing to exchange promotion world wide and also artist name and site link can be posted on the company’s site. (At artist request and approval). Please contact Ric 706 536-7002, floormee1@yahoo.com Skilled acoustic musicians needed for Christian music ministry in Taylor County, GA. Contact Mark at 706-289-7366 COUNTRY MUSIC PICKERS Local Nashville Recording Artist seeking steel guitar and fiddle player for regional tour to promote single release. Safe and secure practice area. Serious inquiries only. Call (706) 577-0574 Former members of Lady Jayne are looking for a drummer to complete a new project. Must have pro equipment. Must be dedicated and willing to practice. Must be 18+. For more information call Tyler at 706-457-1076 WANTED: Experienced Keyboard player for strictly 80’s Top 40 Party Band. QUALIFICATIONS: Must be 21, have own pro gear, own transportation; vocal skills a plus. Must be familiar with 80’s music. No drunks or druggies. Contact Shannon, Andy or Gerry at riskybusinesscolumbus@gmail.com Rock/metal band needs lead singer/songwriter. Too many influences to name. We have a cd of originals with no vocals. please call Jerry @ 706-304-3016 or Chris @ 706-536-1890. myspace.com/chrisweiseandjerrypope. Tama drum set, Pearl timbali set, CP conga’s w/stand for sale. Contact Kim at 706 323-9689 or hammockim42@aol.com. Do you need to buy or sell equipment? Do you need a drummer? A band? Practice space? Listings in Musicians Exchange are complimentary. Send info to playgroundsmag@knology.net
january 2010
Ask ISIS Courage, Smiles and Frowns A New Year’s Message Just what is courage? Is it not being afraid? Is it a hero that charges the enemy without worry about the outcome? No, the person without fear is an idiot who should be protected from his own actions. Courage is being afraid, but doing it anyway. Courage is the captain of the submarine during the Second World War that was being torpedoed and knowing that they’d never get out alive said, “Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead.” Courage is doing something even if you are scared that you will embarrass yourself. Courage is a child who stands up to a brutal parent knowing in advance the penalty and scared of the outcome but determined to protect another innocent. Courage can be as simple as walking away from a guarantee to face the unknown. A child finds many confusing things to fear. The dark has always scared children (and even some adults) and the monster that was either under the bed or hiding in the closet waiting to jump out and devour the child are two of the most known childhood fears. A child swallows his fear of the dark if outside by running really fast past those trees that seem to stretch out like the trees in Snow White trying to catch and
Pick up a free copy of Playgrounds at these locations. APARTMENTS Brittwood 2444 W Britt David Rd 3271443 Garden Brook 3561 Hilton Ave 596-9111 The Grand Reserve Luxury Apartment Homes 1700 Fountain Ct 653-8111 Greystone Farms 7401 Blackmon Rd 221 9200 Inverness 7175 Moon Rd 571-9200 The Lodge 464 N Oakley 689-4402 Main Street 6400 Main Street 322-8100 Milgen Village 5800 Milgen Rd 563-2550 Sherwood Arms 3909 Baker Plaza Dr 689-1759 The Village on Cherokee 3113 Cherokee Ave 324-2112 Whisperwood 6029 Flat Rock Rd 5630001 Willow Creek Apartments 3700 Buena Vista Rd 687-5672 Windsor Village 3700 Bridgewater Rd 561-5935 Woodlands 6000 River Rd, Green Island Woodville 3940 Macon Rd 563-3320 ART Britt David Studios 2700 W Britt David Rd 571-5877 M-F10-4:30, Tu & Th 7p-9p Rankin Arts Center 1004 Broadway 6414000 AUTOMOTIVE Bradley Park Car Wash 1655 Whittlesey Rd 653-8882 Fred’s Tire Center 1600 2nd Ave 3237353 M-F 8-6, Sa 8-1 Maaco Auto Painting, Bodywork & Collision Repair 148 Challenger Ct 571-9500
playgrounds magazine
trap the child. When the child has run into the light they feel justifiably proud that they had escaped serious capture or harm and feel full of courage. So the next time you wish that you weren’t afraid just remember that only those who proceed despite their fears can ever really be called courageous or heroes. Smiles Smiles seem to be a natural progression from courage for when you have proved yourself in spite of your fears you automatically smile and feel good about yourself. So let us touch on smiles. A smile lights up your face and makes people happy. Ask one of those happy people why are they happy and they don’t know. Just that they feel good. A smile makes everyone feel good. A teacher once said that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown so everyone should smile. Besides, smile lines look better then frown lines. If you are introduced to a stranger, and he smiles at you then you immediately feel like you have made a friend. Come home and be met at the door with a smile, and you immediately know that all is right with the world. A smile seems to cure all ills and makes people feel good about themselves. Frowns If you meet someone you know who is frowning when you meet them, what is your first thought? Isn’t it, “What did I do to upset him?” If you are introduced to
BEAUTY SALONS Cut Ups Family Haircare Center 1290 Double Churches Rd 327-5557 Great Clips 1648 Whittlesey Rd 706-3223628 Hairmasters 5555 Whittlesey Blvd 3245744 Head Start Hair Care 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Suite 1720 324-5744 Styles By Cooper 6298 Hamilton Rd 322 7621 M 9:50-5, Tu & Th 9-7, W & F 9-6, Sa 9-3 BOOKS Barnes & Noble Booksellers 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. 706-653-7880 M-Th 9a-10p, F-Sa 9a-11p, Su 9-9 Columbus Book Exchange 6440 W Hamilton Rd 324-2559 Judybug’s Books 1033 Broadway 3235588 BUTCHER SHOPPES Burt’s Butcher Shoppe & Eatery 2932 Warm Springs Rd 653-0677 Tu-Sa 9a-7p (butcher shop hours) CAMPING Lake Pines Campground 6404 Garrett Road, Midland 31820, 706-561-9675, lakepines115@yahoo.com. Office Hours Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sunday 1-6pm COFFEE SHOPPES Columbus Coffee Co. 1660 Whittlesey Rd, Suite 100 321-1675 M-Th 6:30a-9p, Fr 6:30a-11p, Sa 7:30a-11p, Su 10a-5p Fountain City Coffee 1007 Broadway, Columbus, GA 31901 M–Th 6:30am–10:30pm, F 6:30am-2am, Sa 8am-2am, Sunday: 9am-8pm Fountain City Coffee Simons Plaza, Airport Thruway Starbucks Coffee Veterans Pkwy
someone who frowns at you isn’t your first thought, “I don’t even know him; why is he upset at me?” When a man/woman goes home to their significant other and they are greeted with a frown isn’t the first thought, “What did I do?” A frown automatically means that the person being frowned at has displeased the frowner, even if the only reason the frown is there in the first place is because the frowner is thinking and doesn’t even realize that they are frowning. A frown can mean a person is thinking through a knotty problem, but we, being only human, usually take it as a form of displeasure or in a person who perpetually frowns we believe that they have a vinegar personality. So if you find yourself frowning a lot, start changing it to a smile. You will notice that everyone becomes friendlier and the world seems to become a better place. We are entering a new year. A year that will be different from any that has gone on before. It is up to each one of us how we react to this year. We can “hide under the covers” and quiver in fear or we can take that fear and boldly go on. Knowing that at every step there could be a pit but still taking that step. Taking that step with courage knowing that hiding under the covers isn’t an option. We also have the option of frowning or smiling. A wise man once said, “Confound your enemies. Smile.” Smile and the world smiles with you, frown and you scare everyone away. Isis welcomes your input. askisis@isistemple.org
COMPUTER REPAIR Alboe’s Computers and Supplies 6298 Veterans Pkwy 706-327-4900 CONVENIENCE SHOPS The Corner Store 5100 River Rd 6530804 M-Sa 8-8, Su noon-6 Money Back Amoco Williams Rd DONUTS Golden Donuts 625 Manchester Expwy 706-660-8783 FITNESS CENTERS North Columbus Athletic Club St. Francis Marketplace 324-3334 M-Th 5a-11p, F 5a-9p, Sa 7-7, Su 11-7 GROCERY/ RETAIL K Mart all Columbus and Phenix City locations Winn Dixie all Columbus and Phenix City locations HAMS Honeybaked Hams 1701 Rollins Way 653-1703 10-6 HOTELS Baymont Inn & Suites 2919 Warm Springs Rd 323-4344 Colony Inn 4300 Victory Drive 706-6891590 Comfort Inn 3460 Macon Rd 256-3093 Country Inns & Suites 1720 Fountain Ct 660-1880 Days Inn 3452 Macon Rd 561-4400 Days Inn S 3170 Victory Dr 689-6181 Econo Lodge 4483 Victory Dr 682-3803 Extended Stay America 1721 Rollins Way 653-9938 Hampton Inn 5585 Whitesville Rd 5765303 Hampton Inn N 7390 Bear Ln 256-2222 Holiday Inn Airport-North 2800 Manchester Expressway 324-0231
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Holiday Inn Express at Northlake 7336 Bear Lane 706-507-7222 Howard Johnson 1011 Veterans Pkwy 322-6641 LaQuinta Inn 3201 Macon Rd 568-1740 Microtel 1728 Fountain Ct 31904, 706653-7004 The Residence Inn 2670 Adams Farm Dr 706-494-0050 Rivertown Inn 1325 Veterans Pkwy 3222522 Sheraton Inn 5351 Sidney Simons Blvd 327-6868 Springhill Suites by Marriott 5415 Whittlesey Boulevard 706-576-3773 Marriott. com/CSGSH Staybridge Suites 1694 Whittlesy Rd 31904. 706-507-7777 Super 8 2935 Wm Springs Rd 322-6580 Wingate Inn 1711 Rollins Way 225-1100 Wyndham Garden Hotel 4027 Veterans Court, 31909, (706)507-1111 Wyndham Hotel 800 Front Ave 324-1800 MOTORCYCLES Chattahoochee Harley Davidson 7373 Fortson Rd 324-4294 MUSIC- INSTRUMENTS AJ Music 1313 13th St 571-0402 M-F 10-6, Sa 12-5 Baker Music 2 Midtown Loop 563-7924 MF 10-6, Sa 10-5 Everything Musical 2400 W Britt David Rd 323-1809 M-F 10-7, Sa 10-6 Gorilla Guitars 1038 Broadway 706-5070462 M-Sa 10-6 NIGHTCLUBS & PUBS Belloo’s Martini and Cigar Bar 900 Front Ave 706-494-1584, M-Sa 5p-3a Flip Flops Hookahmeup Bar 1234 Broadway 706649-2902 The Loft 1032 Broadway 596-8141 W-Sa
january 2010
To The Magic Store by Will Dockery “I lean more toward Democritus’ view that poetry is ‘traced to the poet’s invocation with the Muse’ than Pindar’s view that ‘poetry is an acquired skill.’ My problem is that I don’t know where my Muse is half the time. It’s like being married to... someone who says she’s going to the store, then disappears for days only to return with no explanation, then wanders off again...” -Seaborn Jones Marvelman: Yesterday Gambit & other rarities “Does it include ‘The Yesterday Gambit’? I hope Marvel’s reprint/redraw includes it...” Yes... I’ve just been looking at “The Yesterday Gambit”, available (for now) here: http://miraclemen.info/comics/ W04.html “For a while there was talk of having the Moore stories retold as a different character ... I was rooting for Captain Miracle myself.” “Fascinating convolutions Anglo put the character through, Captain Miracle
is covered fairly well here, who supposedly fought the... KKK?” http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/ c/capmir.htm And then Anglo’s Super Hombre, Marvelman stories redrawn for the Spanish market, which were then translated back to English, as... Miracle Man!... Read More http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/m/mircman.htm This is all pretty hilarious, Marvelman’s history has got to be the most complicated & convoluted of all time... I just came across this, pretty interesting description of Marvelman #255, July 5 1958: “This issue’s 8-page cover-story, “Marvelman And The Prehistoric Men”, starts as Mickey Moran, Marvelman’s civilian alter ego, reads a book that contains photos of petroglyphs drawn by prehistoric cavemen. Somehow, the cave-wall pictures include a depiction of what looks like a sleek spaceship! Deciding to investigate, Mickey utters the magic keyword “Kimota” and (accompanied by the somewhat inappropriate sound effect “Woof”) is transformed into Marvelman!” Cover scan of the issue is included, as well: http://www.oddballcomics. com/article.php?story=archive200201-21. Cool stuff, hope some of y’all enjoy it.
7p-2a Oasis 1107 Broadway 706-507-3089 Oxygen 1040 Broadway 706-596-8397 W-Sa 9p-3a Shanty Shack 4475 Warm Springs Rd, 31909 706-507-3418 M-Sa 3pm to 2:30 am www.myspace.com/shanty_shack SoHo Bar & Grill 5751 Milgen Rd 5683316 M-F 3p-3a, Sa noon-3a www.sohobarandgrill.com, www.myspace.com/sohobarandgrill The Tap 1024 Broadway 653-8277 M-Th 5p-2a, F-Sa 5p-3a The Vault 1026 Broadway 576-2242 M-Sa 6p-3a PARTY SUPPPLIES Cagney’s Party Shop 5751 Milgen Rd 568-1889 M-Sa 10a-11:45p Lee’s Package Store 1435 Double Churches Rd 324-6311 M-Th 10-10, F-Sa 10-12 Peachtree Package Store 2928 Warm Springs Rd 327-0311 M-Sa 8a-11:45p RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT Strategic/Medley 615 Manchester Expwy 706-322-1819 RESTAURANTS 13th Street Bar-B-Q 5506 Veterans Pkwy 596-1833 M-W 10a-3p, Th-Sa 10a-7p Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar 5555 Whittlesey Blvd 706-507-2110 Burt’s Butcher Shoppe & Eatery 2932 Warm Springs Rd 653-0677 Tu-Sa 7a-4p (restaurant hours) Butterfingers Crazy Chicken 4641 Warm Springs Rd 706-568-1132, fax 706568-1163 Caffe Amici 2301 Airport Thwy 653-6361 M-Sa 11:30a-2p & 4:30p-10p Cannon Brew Pub 1041 Broadway 706653-BEER The Cantina 1030 Broadway 706-320-
playgrounds magazine
Stopwatch My wayward muse, I am still in the bewilderness. Leave it to me, A mute passing notes to a blind man. Time has a demand - she’s yelling Through shutdown clocks frozen at noon. The memories here are snow dust Under the tiny glittering moon. Time for Winterworld descending Ignite time with a Werewolf bullet s...o slow. Flaky leaves spin by me Past the ceramic building down below. In front of a wet breeze, I think its time to leave your smile. Even if I am wrong, Please sit by me for a little while. Time to draw another picture, Manufacture memories forever gone. Somewhere on some red October morning, We’ll meet on that field, alone. -Will Dockery “Red Lipped Stranger & other stories” by Will Dockery: http://www. myspace.com/willdockery
4520 CiCi’s Pizza 1660 Whittlesey Rd Country’s Barbecue 3137 Mercury Dr 563-7604 Su-Th 11a-10p, F-Sa 11a-11p Country’s Barbecue North 6298 Veterans Pkwy 650-1415 Country’s Downtown 1329 Broadway 596-8910 11a-11p daily Deorio’s Cross Country Plaza 563-5887 MF 11:30-3 & 4:30-9:30, Sa noon-10:30 El Carrizo Mexican Restaurant 3747 Macon Rd 706-561-6000 El Carrizo Mexican Restaurant 6575 Whittlesey Blvd 706-561-5714 El Vaquero 2976 North Lake Parkway 317-5900 317-0047 Firehouse Subs 2501 Whittlesey Rd 706507-0225 Gus’s Drive-in 3498 Victory Dr 687-5770 11a-2a daily Hooters 2650 Adams Farm Dr 596-4668 Johnny’s Hot Dogs 4022 University Ave 568-6368 M-F 10-7, Sa 10-6 Longhorn Steak House 3201 Macon Rd 563-2221 Macon Road Barbecue 2703 Avalon Rd 653-0542 M-Sa 10a-8p Mellow Mushroom 6100 Veterans Pkwy 322-4602 Newman’s Grill 1011 Veterans Pkwy (in Howard Johnson’s) 322-6641 11a-2p & 5p10p daily Ok Sun Oriental Restaurant 2929 Victory Circle Tu-Sa 11a-6p Parnello’s 5828 Moon Road Allendale Shopping Center 706-569-7272 M-Th 11am-11pm, F-Sa 11am-Midnight www. myspace.com/parnellospizza Peluso’s Italian Restaurant 5600 Milgen Rd 563-9934 M-Th 11a-10p, F-Sa 11a10:30p Peluso’s Italian Restaurant St Francis Shopping Center 324-5888 M-Th 11:30a10p, F-Sa 11:30a-11p Picasso’s Pizza 1020 Broadway, In front
DBT CD review continued from page18 other ten songs here consist of covers, unreleased and alternative versions. The covers include Tom Petty’s Rebels, recorded for a King of the Hill episode, a truly inspired take on Tom T. Hall’s Mama Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken), Warren Zevon’s Play It All Night Long (the chorus “Sweet Home Alabama/play that dead band’s song” mocks the Lynyrd Skynyrd /DBT comparisons), and the finale, Like A Rolling Stone, where each of the vocalists take turns on the verses (and features bassist Shonna Tucker’s first lead vocals with the band). The alternate take of Goode’s Field Road doesn’t convey the dark fatalism of the version that ended up on Brighter Than Creation’s Dark although Mike Cooley’s Uncle Frank (originally on Pizza Deliverance) makes for an interesting counterpoint to Isbell’s TVA. Hood’s liner notes mention that they had intended to release these as a two-sided single, but those plans never came to fruition. The unreleased originals include a full band version of Hood’s George Jones Talkin’ Cell Phone Blues, The Great Car Dealer War, which is yet another tragically poetic southern tale that was left off of The Dirty South, and Mike Cooley’s acoustic Little Pony and the Great Big Horse. Of all the songs here, only Mrs. Claus’ Kimono leaves me lukewarm, and that’s a pretty good batting average. The Fine Print just proves that the stuff the Drive-By Truckers leave behind in the studio is better than the dreck that passes for rock-n-roll on the radio today. Curtis Lynch
of The Tap, 706-576-6991 M-Sat 11a-3a, Su 1p-12a, www.picassopizzauptowncolumbus.com Quiznos 1648 Whittlesy Rd 706-327-9231 Ruth Ann’s 941 Veterans Pkwy 322-2154 M-Sa 6:30a-2:30p, Su 8a-2p Scruffy Murphy’s 1037 Broadway 3223460 10:30a-2a daily The Speakeasy 3123 Mercury Dr 5610411 M-Th 11a-10:30p, F-Sa 11a-11p The Sports Page 5736 Veterans Pkwy 641-9966 11a-12a daily Steak Out 3709 Gentian Blvd 706-5681007 Twelfth Street Deli 117 12th St 576-6939 M-F 7a-3p Willy T’s Chicken Fingers 7325 Fortson Rd 507-2210 M-Th 10:30-9 F & Sa 10:3010 Su 11-8 Willy’s Wings 4405 Armour Rd 322-4020 Tu-Th 11a-12a, F-Sa 11a-2a SHOPS Daniel’s Wood Den 396 Highway 27 cataula 31804 706-660-9613 Hot Topic Peachtree Mall 706-320-3910 Northside Pawn Shop 1648 Manchester Expwy 322-0561 Woody’s World 2723 Manchester Expwy Suite 13 596-1868 SHUTTLE to ATL Groome Transportation 2800 Harley Ct 706-324-3939 www.groometransportation. com TANNING Bermuda Tan 3507 Macon Rd 563-4044 M-Sa 10a-10p, Su noon-5 New Life Tanning Center 3709 Gentian Blvd #8 561-1153 M-F 9-8, Sa 9-2 New Life Tanning Center 1701 Rollins Way #400 596-1153 M-F 9-8, Sa 9-2 New Look Tanning Center 5120 Warm Springs Rd Suite 1 569-7075 M-F 8:30a11p, Sa 10-7, Su 1-6
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TATTOOS & BODY PIERCING Dedicated Studios 3818 2nd Ave, 31904 706-221-8282, M-Sa noon till 10 pm, tattoosbyinkmark.com THEATRE The Springer Opera House ETCETERA Columbus Civic Center Columbus State University Col Convention & Visitors Bureau Columbus Technical Institute Georgia Welcome Center RiverCenter for the Performing Arts ROCK 103
PHENIX CITY (area code 334) Colonial Inn Phenix City Bypass 2989361 Del Ranch Bar and Grill 4920 Lee Road 334-297-9177 Smoking allowed. M-Sa 3pm til ? Holiday Inn of Phenix City 1700 Hwy 280 Bypass S 298-9321 The Red Barn 1223 280 Bypass 298-9246 M-Sa 10am-2am, Su 1pm-10pm 13th Street Bar-B-Q 1310 7th Ave 2911833 M T Th F 9:30a-6p, W Sa 9:30a-3p MACON Georgia Music Hall of Fame 200 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd 1-888-GAROCKS www. gamusichall.com M-Sa 9-5, Su 1-5
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Attention Bands: upload your music to www.rock103online.com. ALL ROCK GENRES requested for possible air play Sunday Nights at 7pm. Acoustic, metal, progressive, alternative, blues, etc!! playgrounds magazine
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november 2009