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

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

Yeah I know it was a sad day in Whoville and all that smack what with having to read a Stoney-less verge but it’s OK, I’m back. Once you’ve recovered from the excitement, please feel free to read on.

So in just a few days friends, family, and neighbors will gather for yet another rousing 12 Bands of Christmas concert. This year’s CD is a doozy and as always the concert, to be held this Sunday December 18th at the Imperial, should rock. Surprising? Nah, the show always rocks.

But all this 12 Bands talk has got me thinking what Augusta-related Christmas tunes I would dig while I was putting up the tree, re-gift wrapping, or even setting up booby traps on the roof for Santa. Yeah everyone’s got their fave Christmas tunes, and normally I could get by with Billy Squire’s “Christmas Is a Time to Say I Love You”, but I’m thinkin’ a bit homegrown.

James Brown – Santa Go Straight to the Ghetto: James Brown’s Funky Christmas is probably the coolest album ever by an Augusta-related artist and even though it’s filled with a ton of funky holiday goodness, “Santa Go Straight to the Ghetto” has gotta be my fave tune of it. Play this one loud, the kids are gonna love you so!

Hellblinki Sextet – Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas: This medley of tunes from the 1977 Jim Henson Christmas television classic somehow manages to be pure Hellblinki while paying proper homage to the original. Andrew Benjamin and his rotating cast of musicians never failed to bring interesting tracks on their appearances on several 12 Bands of Christmas CDs but this may be the best of the bunch.

Brenda Lee – Rocking Around the Christmas Tree: “Little Miss Dynamite” may have gotten her start right here in Augusta but her version of this Christmas tune is well known far outside of the Garden City and is easily regarded as THE classic version. We’ve all heard it on radio, television, and in movies and even now, 53 years later, it still rocks!

48 Volt – Lights on the Boulevard: Ok so maybe I’m a bit biased but how can anyone with a heart not be touched by a song like this one off of 12 Bands of Christmas: Volume 6? It’s touching, beautifully graphic, and contagiously catchy. Yeah I may have a few extra reasons to love this song but take those reasons away, it’s still an incredible song.

Whether on the radio or on CD, there’s plenty of Christmas tunes out there to choose from and they make for great listening when heading out to your favorite Christmas rock & roll event such as 12 Bands of Christmas, Festivus at Sky City, or the 18th Annual Kevin Scott Brown Rocking the Stocking Concert at Metro Pub & Coffeehouse (December 22nd) and now that it’s actually December, you can crank the Christmas tunes without fear of evil stares and comments. If you’re worried about jacked by any Scrooges, just bring along a few candy canes for protection.

Well looks like Augusta and semi-area country trio Lady Antebellum got an early Christmas a couple of weeks ago. Despite the fact that they just hit town not that long ago, tickets for next year’s May 22nd show at James Brown Arena sold out in 3 minutes prompting the band to add a second show May 23rd. Correct me if I’m wrong, but by the time those shows are over the group would have performed in Augusta more times in a two-year span than Amy Grant has the past ten…or may twenty years. Not sure, it’s not like I’m keeping count. But Amy shouldn’t feel bad, Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs/Morse Code/Kansas/Deep Purple) hasn’t been here since the mid-80’s. But that’s o.k., Merry Christmas to ‘em both anyway. Between Lady A, Sharon Jones, and Terri Gibbs we have more than enough big league Augusta love to go around.

Speaking of Augusta love, I’d like to ask that everyone take these last few days before Christmas to bundle up and enjoy a nice brisk walk downtown and check out the lights and sights with someone close. This is a great time of year and even the chill seems to add a little something to the experience. It is a beautiful at night with all the holiday lights and decorations, people walking, sounds pouring out of bars and restaurants, yeah I know that sounds like any other time of the year, but right before Christmas, it’s an even more special feeling.

Well I guess I better finish wrapping a few last minute gifts before those evil zombie elves (or Sprowls) stop by and make off with all the nifty presents I picked up to give this year. But before I go let me extend my wish for everyone to have a beautiful love-filled Christmas surrounded by family and friends, and if you decide you want to get out during the holiday 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

If I learned anything on my week-long cruise it’s that it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, or who you’re with, everyone knows SOMETHING about Augusta music. Of course the majority of that is due to the Godfather and on a ship in the middle of the ocean filled with employees from all over the globe it’s always cool when you can say you’re from the home of James Brown to the Romanian bartender singing along to “I Feel Good.” All week long the music of the Godfather followed us around. From a song snippet in the welcome show in the theater, to a guy from Texas singing karaoke, to JB funk playing in the market in Freeport, to ass shakin’ Godfather tunes in the couple dance clubs on the ship, it was everywhere. Even the Lido Deck reggae band kicked up some James Brown. But if you think all this Augusta music love was solely because of James Brown, think again – a country duo from New Zealand (yeah I said country duo from New Zealand) cranked out a couple Lady Antebellum tunes in our fave walk through bar Metropolis. (the Metro Bar for short…no wonder it was our fave bar on the ship lol) I woulda shown some love but we all know I ain’t funky enough to cover James Brown and I barely know any Lady A. The closest I could find outside of that was some Edwin McCain at karaoke and the Otis Redding/Black Crowes classic “Hard to Handle” that I sat in and sang with the ship’s house band during the talent showcase. (Yeah I know…but my wife kinda made me…but I did get a ship on a stick for me effort lol) Hey at least I kept it in the Georgia-lina vicinity!

Now just when you thought it was safe to come out of the water…or the ocean as in my case…Hip-O Select has released the final edition in the ongoing series dedicated to the task of compiling every James Brown single from 1956 to 1981 – James Brown: The Singles Volume 11: 1979 – 1981, a 2-CD 28-track retrospect of the Godfather featuring mostly tracks from his journey into disco music. Pulling from tracks featuring on a pair of Brian Shapiro produced albums – “The Original Disco Man” (1979) and “People” (1980) and several 12-inch singles (many one-sided re-released promo-discs for DJs), Singles Volume 11 is an interesting release to say the least but not without some variety with a couple tunes “flavored” with mild hints of soul and country. All in all a good addition if you already have the first 10 volumes…but for the less than die-hard fan…maybe purchasing individual tracks via download might be the way to go.

Just the other day I kinda got ripped a new one by this sweet old lady for ragging on Amy Grant in my last few columns (kudos to you Ma’am for keeping up with local music!) so I thought just for her I would mention that Ms. Grant, or shall I say “Mrs. Gill”, will be performing on the ABC television program “CWA Country Christmas” December 11th with country music stars sharing their own recollections of Christmas. In addition to her TV appearance Grant also has a tune on “WOW Christmas” release which features 32 Christian artists at their holiday best. So yeah…why settle for just this year’s awesome “12 Bands of Christmas” CD when you can have this one too? (Am I forgiven now Ma’am?)

So now that I’ve traded my beach wear back in for jeans and a fleece pullover, it’s time to put this edition to rest and huddle up with some hot cocoa and some cool tunes so until next time…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

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think of fall is an old 30 minute TDK cassette I had made years ago. Ok, so maybe back in the day mixed tapes were pretty common things for a kid with a love of music and a way too big boom box to have (and I made my share!) but on this particular cassette I scratched out the words “radio tunes” and prepared to recycle (yeah…I was green way before there was a “green”) this at least once used audio canvas into the perfect autumn soundtrack.
At least the perfect fall soundtrack for me and to be honest, with the exception of maybe adding Neil Young’s 1992 song “Harvest Moon”, I don’t think I would change a thing. Just the fact that I can pretty much remember what songs were on that tape speaks volumes. I may not be able to remember the order but in bits and pieces, but I can hear each song like it was yesterday and if I close my eyes? They sound even better.

Frank Sinatra – September Song: So many artists have recorded this Kurt Weill penned tune including Bing Crosby, Lou Reed, and even James Brown but for me, Sinatra captured it best not only once in 1946, but also twice in the first half of the sixties. The final version Sinatra recorded is one of the first sounds to be recorded in my musical memory and holds not only a special place in my childhood heart, but also a regular spin on my life’s fall season soundtrack.

Journey – Wheel in the Sky: This track, released in 1978 on Journey’s “Infinity” album, helped kicked off a four-year military brat tour in Hoechst, Germany, just outside of Frankfurt and just below the Taunus Mountains. Talk about cold, dark, and dreary. Sure it may have been a sad song but at the time it was also a fairly rockin’ tune by a band the girls liked. Definitely a no-brainer to put on a mixed tape back then.

Led Zeppelin – Ramble On: In the late 70’s (around the time of supposed fall mix tape creation) no other band could write about just about anything and make it sound mystical and spooky like Led Zeppelin could. Back in the day these guys were the topic of all kinds of bizarre rumors and the music became a magical soundtrack to every recess and after school discussion. Granted, back in the day I had no clue who or what Mordor or Gollum were but they or it sounded pretty cool. Great lyrical imagery pulls in the creeping start of fall. Great track.

Mamas & the Papas – California Dreamin’: Few songs in history capture the desire to escape winters sullen grasp to escape to the warmth of the west coast like this legendary Mamas & Papas song. This tune battled it out with “The Ballad of the Green Berets” during the final weeks leading up to my birth in 1966 and perhaps best captures the feel of fall better than any other song. The band may have been dreamin’ about California but this certainly isn’t a sunny song.

Nat King Cole – Autumn Leaves: This pop/jazz standard based on 1945 French song “Les Feuilles Mortes” (Dead Leaves) has been recorded by several artists but the version sung by Nat King Cole in the 1956 Joan Crawford flick “Autumn Leaves” is a personal fave thanks to my grandfather on my father’s side. The closing lines “But I miss you most of all my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall” just oozes the somberness of fall.

Van Morrison –Moondance: The title track off Morrison’s 1970 classic release holds the odd distinction of not being released as a single until 1977 when it was added as the A side to track “Cold Wind in August” off Morrison’s then newly released album “A Period of Transition.” The beauty of this track is that despite its jazz fusion leanings, it somehow became a rock era classic years after similar style tracks fell out of mainstream popularity. Once again the lyrics speak of falling leaves which could explain why this is just as special a track to my wife and I as it was in the late 70’s when I was just beginning my teen years.

So there you have it, my very own fall soundtrack. Sure there are probably many more tunes that manage to create a fall vibe but for me, these hit the spot now as much as they did in the late 70’s. Maybe you’ll be inspired to put together your own fall “mix tape” who knows. In the meantime, 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

So what have we missed? Well we haven’t actually missed anything, we’ve just been out of the loop of bringing you the dirt you need. And there’s been quite a bit if you read my music column in Verge…or check out the crude reprint here in Lokal Loudness, you’ll get most of the nifty little bits.

So what else do you need to know? Well if you check out the Featured Post in the left-hand column column you can nominate your fave lokal musical artists to move to the voting round for February’s Choice Awards. That time again? Yep but we REALLY want your input this year ‘cuz see…February’s event (February 10th at Sky City to be exact) is gonna be kinda extra special as we will not only celebrate lokal music but also the 20th anniversary of Lokal Loudness as well as the birthday of the beautiful Alexis…whom we dedicated Lokal Loudness to by putting the first issue out on her 5th birthday AND who the Lexie’s Plexie’s themselves are named after! Just wait until you see what we have planned for you! I would recommend marking your calenders NOW…this is gonna be one you ain’t gonna wanna miss folks!

Well anyway…enjoy your Halloween…
Stoney

It’s pretty fair to say that while Mr. Brown passed away a few years back his music and spirit are more alive than ever! Last issue I mentioned the new James Brown exhibit at the Grammy Museum, well now Soul Brother Number One has been inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame in Atlanta. A no-brainer you say? Well this hall of fame just ain’t for any ol’ person who may have just happened to have been played on the radio. (And J.B. has been played on the radio a LOT!) Brown just happened to be in the radio biz owning several radio stations starting way back at a time when there were hardly any African-American deejays, never mind owners. The Godfather was full or partial owner of stations in not only Augusta, but Tennessee, Baltimore, and Atlanta. He may have helped paved the way for black artists in music, now it’s nice to see James Brown acknowledged for the barriers he moved for African-Americans in business as well.

Speaking of Augusta radio, a while back I was lucky enough to get hold of an hour-long CD copy of a WBBQ radio broadcast from November 18, 1970 featuring legendary area jocks Buddy Carr and Harley Drew. The uncut re-mastered broadcast features some pretty cool commercials for Southside Datsun, Smoakes Bakery (remember when everyone it seemed won a birthday cake from there?), Honda of Augusta, and Shakey’s Pizza, plus some neat WBBQ jingles including the “Tiger Radio” ID spot and of course great music. This particular broadcast featured tunes from The Beatles, Elvis, Chicago, Santana, and Gladys Night & the Pips. Why am I even bringing this up? Well it just so happens that several copies of this great broadcast are once again available on ebay and well worth the $10. If you want a piece of history that’ll bring back some great memories, get online and get you a copy!

While all of Columbia County is gearing up to pay tribute to hot country music act Lady Antebellum (featuring Augusta boys Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood) at the kick-off for the new Evans Town Center Park on the 28th of this month, perhaps the most original, not to mention corniest, tribute to the trio already happened last month in Grovetown. The band’s logo was recreated at a five-acre farm at Steed’s Dairy in Grovetown. Pictures of the “maize maze” found online shows the maze to be simple, straightforward, and easy to digest. Much like the trios pop country tunes. Find out more at LADYANTEBELLUM.COM.
If you wandered over to the Lokal Loudness website and wondered either a) why it seems out of date, or b) to have been taken over by the Russian mafia, well you’re not that far off. Recently the site, which has been online since October 1998, was hacked rendering it useless. Thanks to the talents of chief webmaster Jessica King, the evil invaders were chased out of town and good and rockin’ has prevailed. Look for new content as well as the chance to nominate your fave lokal artists for February’s Choice Awards at LOKALLOUDNESS.COM!

If anyone tells you rock & roll is dead…well I’m about o tell you different! Two area music stores have been in the process of relocating and expanding. The Aiken branch of Rock Bottom music is set to move to a larger spot that many feel put the store in the prime spot to all but completely take over music retail in Aiken and a large surrounding area. On a similar note, Big City Music has moved from Wrightsboro Road to its new location on Windsor Spring Road bringing back a music store to the south side. Both businesses look to be the prime supplier of music instruments and accessories in those areas of the CSRA. With three large music store within mere miles of each other, one has to wonder if there are any other stores planning on relocating in the future.

Well looks like all the seeds and gunk has been removed from my pumpkin. Now all that’s left to do if funk with it a while until it’s go soul. Maybe a whole different kinda “soul” than I would have got if I would have decided to go with the Amy Grant Jack-O-Latern but soul nevertheless! So until remember to check those apples for razor blades, don’t eat any unwrapped candy, and 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

Speaking of scary, the lineup for this year’s edition (the 17th edition) of Bloodfest has been finalized and features some pretty fierce bands. Imagine Augusta’s rockin’ ghosts and ghouls rattling their chains to the lethal sounds of BLURRING THE LINE, CAROLINA CHUPACABRA, CHAIRLEG, REBEL LION, SOUL CRIME and a reunited JAMES GATE. Scary isn’t it? Now picture all of this in a haunted Sky City and you should get a hellacious picture of what’s gonna be going down October 21st downtown. That’s powerful enough to make even James Brown rise from the grave if only he were…well you get the idea. Demonic details available at SKYCITYAUGUSTA.COM.

If that’s not scary enough than the amount of product Augusta artists continue to release takes up the slack by being downright frightening. THE RADAR CINEMA recently released “Bird Meets Worm” with a limited edition of 100 copies. Luckily for fans the downloadable version continues to be available at THERADARCINEMA.BANDCAMP.COM. Beachy retro rockers KOKO BEWARE have also digitally released their new platter “Back and Forth Forever” which is available at KOKOBEWARE.COM and full of catchy pop goodness. In the middle of all this madness hip hop act REBEL LION dropped “Adidas and Backpacks and now rockers FALSE FLAG are set to release “One Size Fits All” on October 7th complete with a show at the Playground. If there was ever a time when it would be perfect to have a radio show dedicated to solely kicking out CSRA jams…it would be now!

Seems like it was ages ago that I agreed to do something crazy and stick a group of elder gents playing classic covers on a bill made up of original (and mostly heavy) bands and to this day I consider it to be one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Since those days THE VELLOTONES have gone on to become as important part of Augusta music as anyone else eventually releasing their own CD of originals, an awesome video for the song “No Way”, and appearing on several 12 Bands events and CD’s. Their Musicians Night Out events have become well attended things of legend and these days the guys spend a portion of their time backing Augusta music vet George Croft formerly of late-60’s recording artists THE PALLBEARERS. Now it appears that band voice John Donnelly is retiring…either from his day job or music. (We hope the day job) October 8th the band (with Mr. Croft) will be throwing a retirement party at Laura’s Backyard Tavern on Belair Road. Look for good music, lots of fun, killer food, and no cover…and if Donnelly has his way, his now-famous giant presentation board filled with clever sayings and such. God bless the Vellotones. More info at VELLOTONES.COM.

While online news services are reporting that former James Brown publicist Jacque Hollander has hired a private detective to investigate the late soul singer’s death (Hollander reportedly believes Brown was murdered), Mr. Brown’s daughter Dr. Yamma Brown has been busy working to keep the music legend’s spirit alive. Dr. Brown recently announced several upcoming projects while participating last month in a preview of new exhibit “Say It Loud: The Genius of James Brown” at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. In addition to the exhibit, which takes up a large portion of the museums’ fourth floor, Brown also announced an in-the-works biopic and a possible tribute album. Daughter Deanna Brown Thomas, son James Brown II, and widow Tomi Rae Brown also participated in the event honoring James Brown.

L.A. isn’t the only city paying props to Augusta music. Due to the closing of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon this past June, the Augusta Museum of History is now in possession of 53 museum artifacts including many record albums, hand-written lyrics, and dresses from Terri Gibbs, Brenda Lee, and the Lewis Family. The items were chosen from a list of performers from Columbia, Richmond, Burke, and McDuffie Counties and will be part of an exhibit showcases area actors, athletes, musicians, and writers and is scheduled to open October 28. While James Brown IS the man, it’s great to know that so many others connected to Augusta music will finally be recognized in a way that’s fitting of their important contributions to music no matter how big or small.

Well my fellow freaks looks like the “Casual Friday” look isn’t cutting it and I’m getting the “OMG you like a homeless person” look from my wife so I guess it’s time to decide on something a bit more…shall we say “rockin’?” So until next don’t forget to play your tunes loud, take advantage of Happy Hour, raise your devil horns high, and remember, 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

I keep hearing more and more about members of our Augusta music family making their voices heard across the southeast and it’s always really cool to run into friends out of town so imagine my excitement when I same Hellblinki Sextet on the performers list for Dragoncon. I immediately wondered how Andrew Benjamin and his cast of musically artistic crazies would fit into a mixed up world of Spiderman, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Harry Potter but after three hotels of madness and an amazing jaunt through the Steampunk exhibition room…yeah I sort of get it now. Even in a world of fantasy there exist characters that live out side the box. Andrew Benjamin is one of those characters. If you missed Hellblinki Sextet’s recent performance at Sky City or even Dragoncon, the group returns to Atlanta September 29th at the Maquerade and will also be at Yong’s Country Club in Savannah on the 30th. Step outside your own box and find out more at HELLBLINKI.COM.

Every year new, talented musical artists appear on the scene with many getting their starts at open mic night and easily the top open mic night in Augusta can be found on Thursday nights at the Playground. Hosted by talented singer-songwriter Brandy Douglas, open mic night at the Playground has turned into an outlet for new artists to tweak their craft and while most are acoustic-based singer-songwriters, it’s not usual to catch some hip or spoken word and on occasion, someone attempting comedy. Already a popular night at the Playground, the venue plans on stepping things up with a six-week open mic contest starting November 6th. Each week a winner will be chosen from a rotating cast of judges with the finals to be held November 17th. All it costs is $5 to enter and there will be a weekly cash prize with the grand prize for the overall winner being a recording session with Morgan Parham at Parham Studios. Parham’s credits include songs/albums by Jim Perkins, Panic Manor, The Radar Cinema, She N She, and more. For more info, hit up Scott Levine 706-951-6924 or Brandy Douglas at 706-284-2515.

Sometimes irony can be a beautiful thing and in the case of the new courthouse being on James Brown Boulevard, a “beautification thang.” Despite the attention and love that the Godfather James Brown has given to his beloved Augusta there continue to be those who only wish to dwell on Mr. Brown’s brushes with the law. Yes it’s true that there are some who forget how James Brown changed the face of music, helped to calm racial unrest, and through giving never forgot where he came from. Yeah it may be ironic that in Augusta, the place of Brown’s most storied brush with the law, that the city’s new courthouse is on James Brown Boulevard but now it appears that the shiny new courthouse has moved officials to make improvements to James Brown Boulevard including over $1 million in work being done between Laney Walker Boulevard and Reynolds Street. The announcement has even prompted the Downtown Development Authority’s Margaret Woodard to refer to James Brown Boulevard as “a gateway” into the city. Proper respect as The Godfather never forgot his beloved Augusta. Wonder when the city’s gonna make renovations to Amy Grant Lane…hmmm.

Speaking of James Brown, when is Augusta gonna get it together to finally put together a proper annual festival of music to honor our greatest musical treasure? There was that first festival, which was pretty lame then the Payback Festival, which was much better, but since then…nothing. In September we have the huge Border Bash event, then Augusta’s long-running premiere arts festival Arts in the Heart of Augusta, and a week of city-wide events called the Westobou Festival. All in one month! Are you telling me that Augusta can’t find a way to have an annual day-long festival of music featuring mainly CSRA artists paying homage to James Brown?!?! In May to celebrate the Godfather’s birthday? Augusta, Georgia is known mainly for two things around the world. A gold tournament and a music innovator. That tournament is one week a year. James Brown was Augusta 365 days a year! The least we can do is give him one day a year in return. Wouldn’t it be great to see visitors to Augusta come through the “Gateway” in order to rock out at our very own annual James Brown celebration? Augusta you know I’m right. Besides, I’m far from being the first person to make the push for such an event. Get it done Augusta!

Well fellow music nuts looks like it’s time to pop in my Hellblinki CD and fall asleep so I can have crazy soundtracked nightmares of superheroes and video game villains. Is it too early to start planning my costume for next year’s Dragoncon? First there’s Halloween to think about so until we meet again, 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