| |
Nancy Apple
Toni Price
Further
Fish Tree Water Blues
I Remember Keith Whitley
The IsoTope Clan
Willy10Speed
Big Ass Truck
One Word Name
Long4thDay
|
I'm not sure if these would
be considered to be part of the Memphis scene or
not, they are originally from Martin but are
getting gigs in Memphis. This is probably the
youngest band I have ever written a spotlight on.
Ernie and Don started mass
confusion a year ago this summer. it could have
been the boredom or it could have been the heat.
Don started playing guitar when he was a mere
eleven years old. The math would be mean that he
has been playing for four years. Ernie is
seventeen and is currently the drummer, he
started playing bass but when they couldn't find
a drummer he picked up the slack. Ernie's uncle
who used to play for TNN got arthritis and couldn't
play any more gave him his old set. He used to
play in another local punk band that have since
spilt and he played trumpet in an old school ska
band. Jason is also seventeen and has been
playing guitar for about a year now. What's in
the name you may ask? Well when I asked Ernie how
they got the name he stated that "we're just
sticking with Mass Confusion, because that's what
we sound like." After I complied all of this
information from them, I was informed that they
changed their name from Mass Confusion, to (The
Band With) The One Word Name. The name was
changed to make fun of sellout bands that go by
just a one-word name. They go by just "One
Word Name". For the most part this is
strictly a punk/ska band. They are currently
looking for a recording studio to record some
originals. They are not looking for a small two
or three song demo tape they want to make a full-scale
cd.
What does the future hold in
store for them? Ernie is a senior in HS and is
going away to college in a year. So in a year
they will be without a drummer, The rest of the
band has already acknowledged this fact. Ernie
stated that they would look for a replacement but
will more than likely just fade away.
So the point is to see this
band before they fade in college! Go to Martin
and see them or better yet book them in you home
town. They play cheap.
you visit their page at: One
Word Headquarters.
|
Copyright: Eve Morris and
Memphisrocks Dot com
It
may be their first release on Peabody records but
It certainly won‘t be their last. Big Ass
Truck has mounted together to release their 4th
full-length record. That’s not counting the
solo record by the vocalist and lead guitarist,
Robert Grant.
I was shocked and glad in the
same breath to see a cover of "nine bullets"
a Drive By Truckers anthem on this album. Only
Big Ass Truck could do justice to it, the
Truckers would be proud. By far one of the best
tracks, "Queenie come clean", is a
mixture of rock with scratching vinyl. Speaking
of Mixes, one might be stumped while trying to
explain the gender in which Big Ass Truck or
collectively known by fans as BAT, would be
categorized. Is it funk? Is it Techno? Is it Rock?
What is it? If you ask me plain and simple, it’s
Memphis Music, enough said. A different out take
of "Queenie Come Clean" can be
found on the compilation record entitled "Memphis
ain’t like it used to be." The record
was released in 95, I believe, on Memphibian
records. It spotlights some of Memphis’ most
promising stars and also benefits the habitat for
humanity.
Back to the music. There
seems to be quite a few instrumentals on this
record, I guess you would consider them
instrumentals, there is lots of sound effects
throughout the entire record. There is an array
of catcalls in "Yums" or maybe you
would favor the dialing of phone numbers in
"Portuguese Man O’ War"? "The
March of the Dirty Razors" yet another
instrumental in the classic march sound, lets of
a dark mysterious mood.
The record's line up consists
of some notably fantastic players amongst other
things. Robert Barnett is the one keeping the
backbeat going strong, and even a little guitar
of "Yums." The scratches you hear on
the old vinyl is the one and only Colin Butler.
Robert Grant does the vocalizing and six strings.
Andrew Liposcak is the quick tick beat keeper on
the bass, and I might add he also played with the
voice mutilator.
Steve Selvidge vocalized
"Taylor Mississippi" and "Here We
Go", he also wrote them. Selvidge played
guitar and keyboards for the rest of the CD. I
personally favor Selvidge’s vocals, he has
that tenor voice that is perfect for Big Ass
Truck. Special appearances by local favorite Ross
Rice also spiced it up, he played organ and
clavinet on a few. Ross released a solo CD a
while a go and he was playing in a local band
Viva Satellite but they have since spilt. Rice
has been playing in Kim Richey’s road band
more recently.
Other notable songs on the
album are "Who Let You In Here?"
complete with voice distortion. Through
distortion it’s hard to make out lyrics but
then again that’s what makes it great.
"Rascacielo", spotlights Luther
Dickinson on slide guitar, this is another
instrumental. In my humble opinion Big Ass Truck
is it in for the long haul, this is a wonderfully
produced and recorded record. They are certainly
one of the best in whatever genre they are
considered, you choose.
|
Copyrighted
1999 Eve Morris/Memphis Rocks Dot Com
Most band names aren’t
something near and dear to the members. It's just
something be known by as one well “long4thday"
has a deeper meaning to the band, and more
importantly to Chris Wilhite. The twenty-one year
old, lead vocalist and guitarist went on a
Christian retreat back in January of 1994 called
Chrysalis. Chrysalis was 3 days long and changed
his life dramatically. In the Chrysalis community
the rest of your life is referred to your "4th
Day". So after many bands that broke up and
bombed and he decided to start over they decided
to name the band “long4thday”, to
signify the commitment of the band and to each
other.
Chris Started playing in the
band manover, 5 long years ago. Before Manover
came to an end Chirs met up with the ex-front man
for Merrill, Jason George. Jason was in need of a
guitarist at the time. Chris was invited to come
along, there he meet up with Freddie Bargiacchi
and Charles Pinkham. At the time Freddie was the
Bassist and Charles was on drums for Jason, who
was of course the vocalist. Merrill played about
town and got the honor of going on a small tour
in Willie Nelson’s old bus. Soon enough the
members began to feel Jason’s pull toward
what he wanted and not what the band wanted.
Charles, Chris and Freddie packed their stuff and
left Merrill. After the three got together and
worked out some written songs they asked
guitarist David Kemp to join them. David was once
a member of local bands such as Yellow-5 and
Lockdown. The new band was formed and creatively
named Charlemagne which means Charles the great,
in reference to drummer Charles Pinkham.
Charlemagne parted due to college factors, Chris
being older than the others was going into
college while the others were still in high
school.
Two years passed, Chris stated “I was at a
local show and started remembering what it was
like to just be up on stage. It didn't matter if
you only had 9 people listening to you, you were
having fun.” Chris called up what was left
of the old band, Charles now being eight-teen
years old and Freddie now being twenty. David had
left town and became more hardcore, so the search
was on for a new lead guitarist. With direction
from band members of further, Chris found Kevin
Pease. Pease, who is a graphic design major at u
of m, had some local experience too. He played
two years with 50.august and released an album
entitled, ASE. Chris and the other members were
blown away by, Kevin’s writing and playing
ability. “long4thday” with newly
written material and a lot of things behind them
are now playing the scene.
Trust me these are things that matter, It’s
about what it means to the people who make it and
I assure you this band is out for a good time and
to make music you can relate to.
You or your friends can check out the official Long4Thday
website
|
|
WILLY10SPEED AKA CHASER
Influenced by Emo, Christian Punk, and Jazz Willy10Speed
is a new up
and coming project, with a very promising future. This
band formed
from Kayla in June of “98” which is if you may
remember being the
5-piece band fronted by a female singer. Things didn’t
work out and
three people spilt the band, leaving Ben Hardy and Duane
Craig. They
met up with Evan Wilons who had worked with Protocol as
the bassist
and after the rearranging of players; Duane was now on
bass and Evan
on Drums and Ben singing and on lead guitar. During a
long bout with
depression after a break up of 2 years, Ben wrote most of
Willy10Speeds material, focusing all of his creative
energy into
writing songs paid off. Ben Hardy started playing guitar
6 years ago;
he soon started a ska/punk band called the Fisticuffs,
which over
time fell apart. An Emo band called Herway was Ben’s
next focus.
Herway gigged around for about a year then Ben formed
Kayla, which is
now Willy10Speed. Ben is the guy credited for bringing
most of the
Emo bands into town like JimmyEatWorld, Camber,
Juliana Theory, Burning Airlines, and Fireside.
(when you see him, thank him!) Now what does hardcore and
jazz have
in common? Everything. Just ask Evan. He started out
playing Jazz and
still does to this day. Because of this he became very
technical in
his playing style which is a character of 10speed’s
sound. Duane
started playing in a Christian punk band named Lucidsmile,
which over
time too fell apart. When Kayla formed he joined on
guitar. Though it
was unexpected his move from guitar to bass proved to be
quite
promising. Duane is credited as being the older, wiser,
cynical one
of the band . Willy10speed had already experienced local
success by
playing with the likes of ninety pound wuss and
JimmyEatWorld. June
the 22nd Willy10speed is releasing a four-song demo tape
entitled "Things You Lose". The songs include
Midnight, Nowhere Left
To Go, Euthanasia, Lavender, and Palace. You can pick it
up at a show
or order it direct through the band.
Visit 10speed's page at |KaylaPlace|
This review is copyright © 1999 by Eve Morris, and Memphis Rocks Dot Com, all rights reserved.
After seeing the local Memphis scene explode with
wonderful talent
like Lockdown, Whalebone, and 11:29 Gote and Weezil, who
had been
friends for 7 years decided in September of 98 they
wanted to be part
of it. Marty and Weezil had grown up together so
naturally they
asked him to join. The embryo of Isotope was developed. A
few months
later Marty found out his co-worker at Johnny Rockets,
Zilkha, had
some hidden talents also. They asked Zilkha to front the
now a four-
piece band. With a fresh young and energetic line-up
containing
Gote on bass coming in at a whopping 16 years old, Weezil
on guitars being
16 years old also and Marty providing a steady back beat
and Zilkha
kicking out the vocals both being almost 18, Isotope was
ready for
the scene. After a year of gigging and writing some
original material
they found out their name had already been copyrighted,
so in May of
99 they were forced to change their name to The Isotope
Clan, Same
great music, just a different name. They are most noted
for their
live performances, it’s been said “If you haven’t
seen Isotope live
you haven’t seen them at all.” I’m not
going to bother to compare
them to some of the talentless mainstream rock bands,
because this is
nothing like the things you have heard before, as a
matter of a fact
one of the many many motto’s behind the band is
"We try to make
original music. If it meant no one liked it but it was
original, to
me it is better than doing the same thing everyone else
has done just
to please people I don't care about anyway." I think
the rest of the
band would agree with Weezil on that one. I highly
recommend you get
off your lazy bum and go to a live showing of one the
most talented
bands in the Midsouth area.
you can hear Isotope Songs, above or visit Isotope's page
This review is copyright © 1999 by Eve Morris, and Memphis Rocks Dot Com,
all rights reserved.
I remember Keith Whitley
Eve Morris
I first heard Keith Whiitley when I was a small child my
mom
would listen to LA to Miami over and over in the car,
being the
young child I was and always going against everything mom
did , I
of course hated it and wanted to put poison in. I
remember the
day I started liking his music very vividly, we were
driving
through town and when we passed the radio station the
song came
on it was Miami My Amy I finally caught the irony in the
song
itself and fell in love with it. I remember when they put
the
black ribbons on the lamp post, I remember watching the
news,
I remember every bit of it although I didn’t
understand,. Later
mom lost the tape
I grew older and fell into the wrath of the
80’s glam bands. When I was 12. I was a local dance
see around
here every fire department has a dance on Saturday night
. well
I was down there and the band played “don’t
close your eyes”, I
fell in love with it! I asked my friends who sang it they
didn’t
know. I asked mom and she remembered Keith Whitley . I
ran out
and got the greatest hits and when I heard Miami my Amy I
remembered all of it and that it was the same person
because over the
years I had forgot the singers name, but I could never
forget the music.
And since I was 12 ive been on the Keith Whitley crusade
Spreading his memory to all who care to listen. Though I
don’t
play country music and though I may stray to other music
and genders
When it comes down to it I always come back to Keith. The
emotion
that he can convey with in his music is overwhelming .
The guy could
sing a doctor Seuss book and bring me to my knees.
That’s my story, from being too young to understand
to understanding
way too much.
And on my end Keith is missed very much, I regret taking
for granted
the talent when death was beyond my understanding.
Also check out my Keith Whitley page
This review is copyright © 1999 by Eve Morris, and
Troy Elder, all rights reserved.
Further
Before we go any further lets get a acquainted with
Further
Jason Babin on Guitar/Backing vocals studied classical
violin for
over 10 years, but later found his calling, Aggrock?
Starting young
like most guitar GOD’S do, Jason began playing at
the tender age of 15.
After the spilt of his first band union, he experimented
with others
and then joined up with Loudermilk, Which he stayed with
for 2
years. Most of the songs on Loudermilks last release,
“Kills” was
written by Babin, Well how did Babin end up with further?
Loudermilk spilt and Babin decided to join/move on to
better
things. Jake Cook does the vocals after allowing others
to lead
in vocals in his past bands that fell apart he decided
that the
vocals was his in Further. His past bands were Union (With
Babin), Dashsix, and southdown, Cook writes most of
Further’s
lyrics to add to the dark and manic nature of Babin’s
and
Further’s altogether. Chris Mitchhell switched over
to bass
during the absence of Umsted then back to guitar where he
resides
today. Mitchell was once part of the downstream project
where he
was the vocalist and guitarist. At the time further was a
small
three-piece band and he joined thicken the sound.
Patrick Umsted is an original member of further being the
key
songwriter in 206 and Down by Association. He moved for a
while in
which brought Mitchell on bass, he now has moved back to
Memphis,
and Joined back up with Further. Backing the Band up is
Jason
Lefkowitz Cook and Babin met Leftkowitz while working in
the
Southdown Project. Jason is also a producer in his very
own
professional studio, JSLPRO.
Jason has never had any instruction on his drums
techniques, every
bit of it comes naturally…
Visit Further's Site at Listen.to/Further
This review is copyright © 1999 by Eve Morris,
and Memphis Rocks Dot Com, all rights reserved.
Nancy Apple's Release HIGH ON THE HOG
The Cadillac Cowgirl as she is also known
Nancy combines country with a flare of upbeat folk/rock,
you can also sense some Lucinda Williams in there
Apple is also a great writer. Every song on the cd
is either written or co-written by her
teaming up with writing giants like Keith Sykes...
and the song "gunshy " came out of that
Keith sykes (right)
songs like wishful drinking immortalizes what its all
about
--if
money is the root of all evil then I must be a saint--
whether she's singing about
--kissing
cousins with Jesse
James
or her --Cadillac man...
its all good
this is truly one of the most talented people in Memphis
she really stays true to her heart.
this is a person that worked hard to get where she is
and has a rare talent
and knows how to use it
a true original... its a must, to see her live
her live show are packed with full fledged energy that
only Nancy can possess
and of course buy the CD ..im a proud owner of it and it
never leaves my player..
----Eve Morris
 
This review is copyright © 1999 by Eve Morris
Fish Tree Water Blues Various Artists
Bullseye Blues and Jazz
BEYE 11661-9616-2
Making music for a good cause.
Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund’s
campaign has sent out this record to
help benefit saving wild salmon,
ancient forests and free flowing waterways. Wondering
what exactly is
Earth justice defense is about? The album is also CD-ROM
enhanced
giving a short overview of the needs and goals of this
organization.
Containing five unreleased songs, some were
written specially for this album. J. J. Cale’s
“Stone River” being
one of those. From Little Plastics Castles is “Fuel”
by Ani Difranco.
“Fuel” is actually a poem that was recorded
over the band’s jam
session it’s about creating a fuel for change –
and how everything
we do is fuel for the big fire in the end.
She has been noted as the lyrical genius of the nineties.
She even
started her own recording label, Righteous Babe Records.
It
seems everyone is ready to point fingers when it comes to
the shape
Mother Nature is in, but Keb’ Mo states it very
clearly that we are
the only ones to blame in “Victims of Comfort.
“The Road You
Choose” brings together two great instrumentalists,
the jazz
saxophonists Branford Marsalis and blues guitarists Joe
Louis Walker.
Together they bring a great message about living your
life
for yourself, not worrying about the other guy or what he’s
got,
reading the fine print, playing your own hand and being
nobody’s fool. John Lee Hooker learned to play
guitar
sitting in Mississippi forest so it would make sense for
him to
get involved with this organization. Hooker teams up with
John Hammond for “Highway 13” Hammond has been
an active supporter
of environmental issues for many years now. Nearly 30
years ago
Tracy Nelson recorded “Mother Earth” but still
to this day the meaning
is as clear as can be, “I don’t care how rich
you are, I don’t care
what you’re worth. When it comes down, you’ve
got to get back to Mother Earth.”
Roomful of Blues with a new lineup pulls out “Blue
Blue World”
which was written by guitarist Chris Vachon. Another song
recorded
for this album and unreleased on any other would be Mavis
Staples
version of the traditional gospel song “I’ll
fly Away” with
Melvin Seals on Hammond B-3 organ. Alvin Youngblood Hart
also
has an exclusive version if “Rollin’ River”
along with The Robert
Cray Band delivering a live rendition of “The
Forecast (Calls For Pain)”.
Loudon Wainwrigth III asks the question of how much is
our progress really worth? On “Hard Day on the
Planet”.
Ruth Brown covers Johnny Otis’ “Ice Water in
Your Veins.
The live recording of The Eagles’ “Take it to
the Limit” is transformed
by Etta James into a song that celebrates the
perseverance of life and giving life all you can. Charlie
Musselwhite
joins RatDog on Al Green’s “Take Me to the
River”, Musselwhite
grew up along the Mississippi, he states that Clean water
and
healthy forests are the natural state of things and
should be
preserved for posterity.
Great Artists from many different genres
coming together for a good cause and making great music,
is what this album is about.
Just how important is our natural state of earth?
Just ask anyone of these artist.
Soulful songs for Mother Natures soul.
You can visit Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund’s Web
page at Earth Justice.org
This review is copyright © 1999 by Eve Morris, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
Don't expect this hot act to come to a town near you
unless of
course you live in Austin Texas. Every Tuesday at the
continental
club she plays to a packed capacity of 200. She has also
been
racking up the awards including Female Vocalist of the
Year
(1994, 95, 96 & 97), Album of the Year (Hey) Song of
the Year
(Tumbleweed) and Blues Artist of the Year. With songs
like the Bonnie
Raitt ditty "Out The Front Door" to "Why
Is Love Like That" (by
Charlie Brown, who passed away earlier in the year) this
record
is bound to be nominated for another album of year.
Price was born in Philadelphia but when she was five she
moved to
Nashville, where in 1989 she left for Austin. At age 10
she "changed" her name to Toni, before then she
had been known as
Luiese Price. The change took place after her debut
performance where
she sang "One Tin Solider," and told the
announcer her name was
Toni. Since then she's been known as Toni Price although
she only
legally changed her name when she was 21.
On her fourth release most of the songs are either
written by
Charlie Brown which is understandably Price's favorite
writer or
Gwil Owen, who Price met while playing with a local
Nashville
band, Mel And The Party Hats. Price doesn't write her own
songs
claiming writing isn't in her soul. But obviously the
heartache
and loss of love that this album represents is in her
soul with
lyrics like "can't hear nothing but the sound of the
door
slamming shut" in the title track "Lowdown And
Up." "Loserville
Blues" shines a little light on losing all of it
while "Why Is
Love Like That?" adds somewhat of a more comical
tinge to it with
shoeshine Charlie (Brown) opening the track with some
words of
wisdom. I would recommend this album for someone with a
more
folksy taste in music considering that the whole record
is done
acoustically. But overall the quality of this record is
pretty
amazing and everyone at some point can relate to it all.
You can order the CD through Toni at P. O. Box 650080
Austin, TX, 78765
or visit the Toni Price website at www.toniprice.com
This review is copyright © 1999 by Eve Morris, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
|