The holidays are here and as usual, everyone is picking up the pace. From crowded parking lots to holiday parties the next few weeks will be alive with the bustle of the season and you can bet there will be plenty of live music.
There’s so much going on that this week, we would like to round up all the rumors and the latest news from the street as reported on The Buzz regional music forum.
There are a lot of local bands getting ready to break out with new original music. This Saturday night, GoTriCities presents Goodspeed for a special breakout performance at the Sophisticated Otter. There were lots of online topics over the past few weeks about this new lineup, so we’ll get our first listen of the band this weekend, so join us.
Other bands in the news include newcomers Johnny Rock Star. They were one of the local bands featured during the 2004 Fun Fest Homegrown Showcase and it was rumored that the band had broken up. This one turns out false, though, as the band is reportedly recording original music and plans a great comeback in the new year and we’ll look forward to more great performances from Adam Cloninger and Johnny Rock Star.
Adam is also teaming up with several local musicians to form an Alice in Chains tribute band and they are taking recommendations for their set list on The Buzz. Other players in this new group will feature players from Stickhorse and Sober Otis and this is something else to look forward to in the coming months.
There’s a big/little change happening at Heather’s in Johnson City. Hands down … one of the best venues in the area for live music is Heather’s Hideaway. In the past year alone this small stage has delivered over 500 of the most electrifying and outrageous performances anywhere in East Tennessee. One of the founding owners, Bela, is moving on and new ownership will be taking the helm at The Hideaway so we wish them luck as they make this transition.
In other news on The Buzz, we’re hearing lots of great things about local bands recording new original music. These creative experiences almost always add more magic and color to the local scene. We feature the latest local music regularly on the GoTriCities.com Web site and if you have an Internet connection, you can download free Mp3s from the bands right to your desktop computer.
The GoTriCities Mp3 Jukebox regularly features new music and this week, we’re streaming some exciting tunes from Rob Russell and The Sore Losers latest CD, a new song from up and coming artists Drywell called “The Fold” and several others are on the way including music from Goodspeed, Omega Tribe, Non-Prophet and more.
Among our staff favorites right now is a band from Johnson City — Winter of ’74. It’s rare that we hear a new act with such distinct songwriting capabilities, but this emo/rock sound is a perfect representative of the area’s best passionate and explosive pop rock. It’s easy to imagine their music on the radio, too, and we can’t wait to see where these guys go over the next few months.
So far we know very little about the band other than their music. We hope to cross paths in the next several weeks, but for now we recommend checking out the Mp3s on the GoTriCities Web site at gotricities.com/music. Let us know what you think too about their two new songs – “Put this thing Together” and “All You’ve Got!”
Live music adds special cheer to the holiday experience for both family and friends. There are plenty of parties planned over the next few weeks and my first was last week at Ridgefields for the Downtown Kingsport Association. These folks throw a nice occasion including a live auction during the pre-meal festivities, but the real pleasure was the music provided by Patty Quarles and Dick Davis. These two performers are among the region’s sparkling gems as professional players and deliver a surprising amount of music for a duo.
Patty is local entertainer that performs at many social functions in the region. Her voice is charming and original and her grace on the piano is outstanding. As the party mingled around the buffet tables, I enjoyed listening to Dick Davis on the saxophone whose lyrical tone is among the best of any instrumentalist in the region. Together, Patty and Dick were the perfect recipe for the start of my holiday season. Thanks!
Take time over the next few weeks to listen to the music. From the stage or online we invite you to enjoy the season with those around you.
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David Cate is new media director for the GoTriCities Network.