Since the day I first met Chuck Williams I have considered myself fortunate to call the guy a friend and ally. Yeah these days Chuck looks a little rougher around the edges than years ago but he’s lucky – it’s suits him well. But even though Chuck looks older, and even though I can barely recall a time since I arrived back in Augusta in the early 80′s that he hasn’t been a part of Augusta radio, it’s still hard to believe that Mr. Williams is 60. Holy cow! Hey Chuck, if you ever get around to reading this…in 15 years when I turn 60…I hope to look even half as good…heck…I just hope I’m even still alive and able to use the can on my own. For Chuck this this year’s birthday has been special not only because of that magic number 60…but also because after months of fighting, Chuck and the crew at 95Rock are back on a strong signal via 95.5. Yeah modern rock fans rejoice…Chuck has made it possible for you to listen to those Nickelback tunes that personally drive me crazy. But Chuck knows you love ‘em and you want to hear ‘em loud and clear. And if ever a man in Augusta worked hard to give the peeps what they want…it’s Chuck WIlliams. But that’s not all!

Chuck had a killer birthday bash (my apologies for missing it….you know I love you Chuck)…he was featured as the cover story in the Metro SPirit…his beloved Patriots are back in the Superbowl (and yes, I STILL love you Chuck despite your love for that evil Tom Brady)…and this morning 95Rock announced a kicker of a concert coming to Augusta April 13th – Godsmack, Staind, and Halestorm…James Brown Arena.

Yeah if anyone deserves to turn 60 in such grand fashion, It’s Chuck WIlliams. I may not have the sway but I am officially proclaiming January Chuck Williams month.

Much Love Chuck,
Stoney

On January 21st Augusta hip hop band Dredneck make their official debut at Sky City as they move to support popular single “Glitterbone”, a track that gained popularity as a track on the band’s previous incarnation Jemani. This has created extra talk for Dredneck who feature four members from Jemani’s final recording lineup. Could this be a final grasp to salvage what was left of Jemani’s popularity or the culmination of moving into a more hip hop direction? Either way what’s important is how Dredneck stands its own musical merits. Tune in January 21st to find out. Until then keep up with the band at DREDNECK.COM.

In this day and age, with music fans able to download not just entire albums but select cuts, it’s easier for a band to get their music out but harder to get fans to take in the vanished art of letting an entire album grow on you. These days music buyers can listen to clips and decide which tracks to purchase letting only the tracks make a quick impression and making decisions before really giving the tracks a chance. South Augusta native Carey Murdock has decided to make the supreme sacrifice to get fans to enjoy his most recent release “Baby Don’t Look Down” by offering the album free through his blog site THEMURDOCK.TUMBLR.COM. If Springsteen, Tom Waits, and just soulful rootsy rock and roll is your thing then here’s your chance to get 11 tracks by this up and coming singer-songwriter free.

As the world waits for a possible James Brown tribute album to come out of the Brown camp Tom Sanders, a 20-year music vet based out of Ripley, Tennessee has decided to release his own tribute. With two self-penned songs Sanders has taken advantage of the lack of effort by name artists to create musical tributes to the Godfather since his passing by releasing his own tribute through Portra Records. The tracks, “You Can’t Touch Him” and “I Got It-On the Good Foot” are available for download through 38 music companies including iTunes and Amazon and a video for “I Got It-On the Good Foot” is on Youtube to check out. Continued proof that the influence of James Brown continues to inspire over five years after his passing.

Speaking of influence, after two months of online voting the end of last year the nominees for the 2012 Lokal Loudness Choice Awards are now up and ready for you to vote on at LOKALLOUDNESS.COM. Once the dust has settled winners of all 17 awards will be announced at Sky City on February 10th, the official 20th anniversary of Lokal Loudness.
Well once again I’ve gone over my allowed space so please remember to check out the Daily Planner every month in print and online at www.vergelive.com for great live shows to get out and support and to get an earful of what’s happening in Augusta music stop by and listen to me rant with my good buddy Brian “Stak” Allen each on CONfederation of LOUDness which can be found ironically enough at www.confederationofloudness.com and of course as always…

Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud,
Stoney

Everybody already knows the lowdown on Jemani’s last disc “Segregation” as far as the first half being classic “rip-hip” and the other a bit closer to hip hop. Augusta knows about the last tune being even more out there (Glitterbone) and the cool vid the guys made and put out. We all know about the interesting yet funny at times “S.O.S.” video series that the guys posted towards the end of the Jemani run. It’s also well known that it all was flown under the umbrella of Dredneck Records. No new news here in that respects. Now, with all that being known…I guess the confusion lies in this – is this merely just a simple extension of the Jemani tale or a whole new joint…I mean Dredneck is pushing “Glitterbone” as recorded and released by Jemani. Dredneck now lets fans stay up to date with “S.O.S. Season II”, and to top it off the group is named after the former’s label. Yeah I know the group is 2/3 Jemani alum but just wondering…new group…new name and tunes? Is there something we’re missing? Looks like an interview is in the works.

No matter the answers to this mystery, one thing is crystal clear…Dredneck make their live debut January 21st at Sky City with Mark Deez, GA Froze, Mac And Slim, J Fresh, and more so get you butts out and help us solve this mystery…

For more on Dredneck visit DREDNECK.COM and checkout S.O.S. Season II below.

Speaking of rock & roll, 2011 was filled with some pretty kick ass rock & roll moments and since we just wrapped up the final countdown of 2011, allow me to throw out the first of 2012 – Stoney’s Top Ten Lokal Loudness Moments of Last Year!!!!

10. Metro Music Makes a Comeback – After Metro A Coffeehouse & Pub opened New Years Eve 2000 it quickly became a hot spot for great music particularly for singer-songwriters. After a lull that lasted several years the venue, newly renamed Metro Pub & Coffeehouse, brought back live music 3-4 nights a week in a big way and have been rockin’ Augusta ever since.

9. The Godfather Rocks RockBand 3 – In late July it was announced that classic James Brown track “Superbad” would be made available for download to use with game RockBand 3 along with classic tracks by Heart, Rufus, and the Beastie Boys. No word on if player get fined for missing notes on the James Brown track or not.

8. Willie Mac Wraps Up 52/52 Project – On January 3rd, a year after uploading the kick-off track, Augusta boy turned New York troubadour Will McCranie completed his huge mission of releasing 52 tracks online in 52 weeks when he posted the video for “Brand New Year” on the 5252PROJECT.COM website. Along the way McCranie also released an acoustic CD, joined two new bands, and played two huge Augusta shows – Rock Fore! Dough and the 12 Bands of Christmas concert.

7. Lady A Pulls the Rug Out from Under Graduation – Say you work for 18 years only to be told that your high school graduation plans have been compromised because of the biggest country music act in world? Get over it! Diplomas will be handed out, Lady A will rock, and graduates will have a cool story to tell the grandkids years from now!

6. JB Goes Old School in the UK – What do Deee-Lite, Martha & the Vandellas, Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Fatboy Slim, Abba, Amy Winehouse, The B-52’s, and Michael Jackson all have in common? All had tracks topped by James Brown’s classic “Sex Machine” in a survey of 2,000 UK festival, club, and dance attendees polled to determined the top track that pulls butts on the dance floor. Who feels good now?

5. Jemani Plays Final Show…Then Returns to Play Final Show – So it was announced that Jemani would play their final show opening for a national act and would return with a new name and sound and then…they played their final show as Jemani a few months later. Any chance a reunion show announcement could be next?

4. Seladora Sign with National Entertainment Group – In May Kaedyn Entertainment announced the signing of Augusta metal band Seladora. The band’s debut single was set for less than a month later and the band was ready to take off…by years end Seladora was down to two members and on searching.

3. Easterlin Jazz Rocks Lollapalooza – On August 6 at noon Davidson Fine Arts alum Julia Easterlin was scheduled to rock the same festival that would feature such names as Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse, My Morning Jacket, and A Perfect Circle. What else can I say?

2. M-Tank Roll Van and Return to Rock the House – In August Augusta band M-Tank suffered injuries after an accident while traveling home from a gig in Columbia, SC. A couple weeks later a benefit show at Sky City took place and in November, at the Firehouse, the band was scheduled to make its return. Proof that you can’t stop rock & roll!

1. Laws Leaves Sector 7G – He saw a need, rolled up his sleeves, and with a dingy little building helped make Augusta a hot stop for bands to play all-age shows. A month shy of hitting the six-year mark owner Nick Laws decided to get “out of the game” and though the club has continued under new ownership, the “Law-less” Sector 7G is not quite the same.

Well there you have my top rockin’ memories of last year…Happy New Year, be good to one another, support not just lokal music but ALL things lokal and remember to check out the Daily Planner every month in print and online at vergelive for great live shows to get out and support and to get an earful of what’s happening in Augusta music stop by and listen to me rant with my good buddy Brian “Stak” Allen each on CONfederation of LOUDness which can be found ironically enough at www.confederationofloudness.com and of course as always…

Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud,
Stoney

Now he also knows that he wants anyone who doesn’t already have “Baby Don’t Look Down” to get it…and to do so he’s giving it away via free download on his Bandcamp page. And if that isn’t enough, Murdock is also hitting the road, again…solo.

Mon Jan 2 – Nashville, TN – National Underground – 8pm
Sat Jan 7 – Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar – 8pm
Mon Jan 9 – Nashville, TN – National Underground – 8pm
Thurs 1/12 – Murfreesboro, TN – Liquid Smoke – 9pm
Fri Jan 13 – Tullahoma, TN – Celtic Cup Coffee House – 7pm
Sat Jan 14 – Charlotte, NC – Dolce Vita Wine Bar – 8pm
Wed Jan 18 – Asheville, NC – Lexington Avenue Brewery – 9pm
Thurs Jan 19 – Greensboro, NC – Green Bean – 8pm
Fri Jan 20 – Raleigh, NC – White Collar Crime – 10pm
Sat Jan 21 – New Bern, NC – New Bern Farmers Market – Noon
Tues Jan 24 – Garner, NC – Swift Creek Coffee House – 6pm
Wed Jan 25 – Greenville, NC – Tipsy Teapot – 8pm
Fri Jan 27 – Pittsboro, NC – General Store Cafe – 8pm
Sat Jan 28 – Wilmington, NC – Satellite Bar – 9pm

Dixie Dregs Award for Favorite Lokal Band
False Flag
L.i.E.
LaRoxes
Sibling String
The Radar Cinema

Brandon Layton Award for Favorite All Ages Lokal Band
My Latest Fashion
Panic Manor
The Radar Cinema
Veara

Science Friction Award for Favorite New Lokal Band
Koko Beware
Panic Manor
She N She
Stillview
The Atom Blonde

Dorian Tauss Award for Favorite Lokal CD
Artemia – Something Special
Jim Perkins – Broken Record Reasons
Panic Manor – Vacant Eyes in Troubled Times
She N She – Crimson Silence
The Radar Cinema – Bird Meets Worm

1,000 Miles Award for Favorite Lokal Song
Artemia – Lightening Strikes Twice
She N She – Crimson Silence
She N She – Silver
Stillview – Crave the Numb
The Radar Cinema – Quark

Paul M. Colohan, Sr. Award for Favorite Lokal Male Artist
Jacob Beltz
Jo Bone
John Berret
Mike Dinkins
Morgan Parham

Kat Turner Award for Favorite Lokal Female Artist
Ashley Taylor
Brandy Douglas
Charity Miaco
Dee Hemingway
Drea Suarez

Robbie Ducey Award for Favorite Lokal Solo Artist
Brandy Douglas
Chris Ndeti
Jim Perkins
Josh Pierce
John Berret

Steve Cheeks Award for Favorite Lokal Vocalist
Blaine Prescott (Artemia)
Brandy Douglas (She N She)
Dee Hemingway
Jordan Sudak (The Radar Cinema)
Terrell Lewis (False Flag)

Reed Scott Award for Favorite Lokal Miscellaneous Instrument
Charity Miaco (L.i.E.)
Deveran Roof (Sibling String)
Henry Wynn (Sibling String)
JP Hare (The Radar Cinema)
Scott Terry

Matthew Keenan Award for Favorite Lokal Guitarist
Billy Hickey (Chairleg)
Jason Easler (Artemia)
John Berret (LaRoxes)
Michael Baideme (Sibling String)
Will Duckworth (The Radar Cinema)

Chris Hardy Award for Favorite Lokal Bassist
Chris Libby (G-City Rockers)
Deveran Roof (Sibling String)
Jo Bone
Kate Anderson (She N She)
Nick Laws (The Radar Cinema)

Chris Watkins Award for Favorite Lokal Drummer
Brian Cappelet (Shotgun Opera)
Chris McCarthy (False Flag)
Mike Dansevicus (LaRoxes)
Mike Dinkins (L.i.E.)

The James Brown Award for Favorite Lokal Hip Hop/Soul Artist
Dee Hemingway
Dredneck
Falco
Karen Gordon
Rebel Lion

The dieAgnostic Award for Favorite Hard Rock Band
Chairleg
G-City Rockers
L.i.E.
Shotgun Opera
Stillview

The Brenda Lee Award for Favorite Lokal Country Artist
Eryn Eubanks
Jeremy Graham Band
Jesup Dolly
Livingroom Legends
Sibling String

The David Bradberry Award for Favorite Rock Artist
False Flag
G-City Rockers
LaRoxes
She N She
Sibling String

To vote click here

Tascha Houston, an original dancer for James Brown, is determined to keep Brown’s connection to Macon alive in the hearts and minds of area residents. Houston plans on laying a wreath in Brown’s memory at the James Brown Bridge in Macon at 1p.m. Monday and is inviting others to join er in sharing stories and memories.

The Macon Telegraph online reported Houston as saying “I started doing this because Mr. Brown had such a great impact on Macon. He’s a part of Macon.”

When country music trio Lady Antebellum sold out two nights, May 22nd and May 23rd, at Augusta’s James Brown Arena it was considered a great thing. Not only a sign that Augusta can hang with similar size cities as far as ticket sales but also the boost the two nights could have on the lokal economy.

Well, it’s a great thing except for the fact that the Richmond County School System had planned on holding high school graduation ceremonies at the arena on May 21st and May 22nd. Unfortunately the school system never booked the dates or signed a contract leaving a mad scramble to set up dates for graduation.

School leaders will now consider several options including possible alternative locations such as the Christenberry Field House at ASU (graduation ceremonies have been held there in the past), changing the dates to the 20th and 21st, or keeping the dates the same with larger graduating classes on the 21st at James Brown Arena and smaller classes on the 22nd at Bell Auditorium.