This weekend you could say I became an official “Goosehead.”
My first clue should have been the generations of fans who flocked into The Sophisticated Otter as soon as the doors opened Saturday. But it wasn’t until the loud chants of “Goose, Goose, Goose!” began that I suspected this was an initiation. Pretty soon, I was ready to take my shoes off and sit a spell with a band that is entertaining, talented and a must-see.
My flight with the gander actually started several months ago when I met Doug Habbena, the bassist for the Goose Creek Symphony who now lives in Bloomingdale. We started playing music together and eventually met local singer/songwriter Reagan Boggs. This past weekend, we performed together as the opening act for Goose Creek.
Reagan has impressed me for years. A native of Southwest Virginia who recently moved to Kingsport, she released her first album, “I Can Handle Crazy,” a few months ago.
After her band Carbon Blue called it quits, she began talking to Doug and me on The Buzz music forum at gotricities.com/thebuzz.
During the past several months I had the good fortune to perform with Reagan and Doug at the Down Home and at The Vinyard. We even recorded a live radio performance with Dave Carter for WETS’s “Studio One.”
And this past weekend, there we were, opening for Goose Creek, an experience I must thank Doug for. He’s the man that brought me to the Goose Creek altar this weekend and baptized me with a fresh stream of eclectic post-modern rural music.
Doug is a consummate performer, vocalist and entertainer and while playing with Reagan, we’ve enjoyed many of his stories of travels as a musician. He’s crossed the country many times and was the first bassist to play with BJ Thomas on the early ’70s hit, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.”
Since then he’s been through lots of towns and hotels, and he defines the difference between a professional and amateur musician: “An amateur musician has a day job; a professional musician has a wealthy girlfriend.” Doug lives in Kingsport when he’s not on the road and is “pool boy” for his sweetie Amy, a pathologist.
The synchronicity of the events during the past several months came to a head this weekend, where the local music scene was brewing up some great memories.
Reagan performed a terrific set, and she introduced a couple of her new songs, which were well-received. Even better, one of Goose Creek players, Jon Parry, joined us on stage performing electric improvisations on his violin.
The Goose Creek audience spans the generation gap. You’re as likely to see your nieces and nephews as your grandparents at this band’s performances. Many of the fans have followed them for years, while others are responding to the lovable music passed down from their parents.
Charlie Gearheart is the warm front man and guitarist for the band. He’s in his early 60s, but like a lot of older performers, he’s got a stage presence that welcomes you like a favorite uncle. He started Goose Creek in 1970 with influences that span from Hank Williams to the Grateful Dead.
Each performer in Goose Creek flies in formation, and each is capable of many styles of music. I recognized bluegrass, rock, country, folk, jazz, salsa, swing and a couple of blendings that defy classification. Nonetheless, the band members’ love of the music spills from the stage.
Parry’s violin soars in the midst of the music, but he’s also complemented by talented guitarists Paul Spradlin and Dan McGlamery who grew up over the hill from Charlie in Hazard, Ky. The band is anchored by its drummer, Matt McClure, who was as precise as a grandfather clock and together with Doug, they were the perfect rhythm section.
Goose Creek’s songs are nuggets of wisdom passed down in an Appalachian way. Songs like “Nothin’ as Dirty as Money,” “Welcome to Goose Creek” and “Big Time Saturday Night” were met with more than enthusiasm. Most in the audience could sing the lyrics from start to finish. Even the group’s new song from its 12th recording was easy to sing — “Still Dumb After All These Years.”
Next time Goose Creek is in town, you’ll probably find me honkin’ with the rest of the fans as we yell for the band. I spoke to Doug after the show and agreed that not only is a Goose Creek performance an entertaining experience, but it’s spiritual, too. You leave feelin’ good about yourself and those around you and it’s hard to find that outside the sanctuary.
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