|
|
Music, music and more music: SOS Spring
Safari wraps up with more new music being released than we have seen in the
Beach world in quite some time. Both Clifford Curry (Cold Beer, Hot Women) and
Tim Cashion (Feeturing) have new albums
out. The legendary Clifford's is a combination of previously released singles
as well as new material. Tim's includes collaborations with Terri Gore, Gary
Brown, Earl Dawkins as well as brothers Pat and Joe Cashion.........The
Boulevard Boys, which consists of former Ember/Band of Oz member John Thompson
and former Poor Soul stalwart Roger Smith, have just released Originals, ten
tracks of all original material as written by Roger...........
|
|
KHP Records has their first compilation
of 2015 out entitled Movin' -N- Groovin',
new Beach music with the title track sung by former Castaway and
Fabulous Daddy'O's band member Phil Wilson. Advance single releases already
making the charts include: I'll Know
(When The Right One Comes Along) by Sonja Grier, Love Again from Tim Cashion, This
Girl Needs A Tune Up by the Marsha Morgan Band, Tears Of Love from Jim
Quick, Dance Tonight by the Blackwater
R&B Band, She Wants Me from Boulevard Boys
as well as the title track from Phil. There are also outstanding tunes
from new Hip Pocket member Dustin York, Nicol Andrews, Paul Craver, Jackie
Gore, KB & the Shifters, Midnight Allie and Angel Rissoff. Another KHP
compilation, Take A Walk In The Sunshine, will be coming out very soon.........
Sisbro Records has released Carolina Shag VI and Carolina Shag VII. Already charting from VI is Lesa Hudson's Get Your Feet On The Floor, Music Machine's You Gonna Know It, Lomax with Swing It, Winzell Kelly's #1 Love and I Want It All Back from Gary Lowder & Smokin' Hot. Additional hot tracks include songs from Rick Strickland,
Craig Woolard, The Embers, Mojo Blues Band, Andy King and Big Joe Maher. The charting hits from VII include Ms. Jody's The Rock, Mighty Saints Of Soul with I Fell In Love as well as Mark Black and Keith Stone's duet of Rise. There are also tunes from Rick Strickland, Lesa Hudson, Fat Jack Band, Lomax,
Steve Edmunds, Andy King, OB Buchana and Joe Graziano...............
Bo the Webguy certainly does not let grass grow under
his feet! Based on online hits and feedback on his beachmusiconline.com website, he has decided to publish a monthly list
of the Top 30 Beach artists. To be fair, the concept may be the earlier product of Coastline band members Casey Meyer and
Albert Rogers, who started doing a recent video ranking of what they considered to be the top bands. We do applaud Bo for
doing this - it will definitely spark a great deal of conversation and stimulate interest in the coming months. In looking
at Bo's most recent list, some thoughts/questions come to mind:
Should an artist/band be in this list if they don't
really call themselves a Beach music artist and only play a very small amount of what would be considered Beach music in their
live sets? Yes and No answers follow.
Yes, because they book shows/fill venues that are
considered to be Beach clubs/festivals outdoor concerts etc. that would ordinarily be filled by groups/individuals that do
consider themselves to be Beach artists.
No, because they do NOT want to be called a Beach
artist and therefore play as little Beach music as possible in their gigs. Both
Yes and No are pretty good points I think.
Another question comes to mind: Are all the artists
that consider themselves to be Beach eligible here to receive votes? Well, Bo has provided a way to insure that all artists
are listed in his 'Beach Music Artist Schedules' page BUT they do have to sign themselves up. For example, I do not see Tim
Cashion, Paul Craver, Phil Wilson, Fat Jack Band, Mighty Saints Of Soul, Terri Gore, Shag Doctorz, North Tower etc. Some artists
do not really have tour schedules to load, but they are definitely in the Beach genre. Hopefully these and others that are
not currently there will sign up in order to receive online hits and be part of the monthly survey.
It is most definitely Beach music festival time - I had the pleasure of
MC ing/hosting a big two day event this past weekend. The Second Annual Bass Mountain Boogie
was held Friday evening and all day Saturday at the Cane Creek Campground in Snow Camp, NC, which is in Alamance County about
10 miles south of Burlington. Owners John and Natalie Maness have a beautiful setting on several acres with an outdoor stage
that is ideal to hold such an event. Campers and non-campers alike came to enjoy eight bands, lots of food and product vendors
and a continuous stream of outstanding music. The gang from the TV reality series Lizard Lick Towing were among the vendors.
DJ extraordinaire Bob Graves provided Beach and Shag music in between the band
live sets. Heavy rain earlier in the day Friday only made us more determined to make this outdoor event happen!
Friday evening led off with the recent re-incarnation of Shaggie Maggie, reformed from a band
called The Drive. It was awesome to see Pam Russell back on stage singing her heart out. The Holiday Band did an excellent
job, playing a set both Friday night and Saturday. Two new members of the band that seemed to fit right in are Tim Taylor
on bass guitar and and Chris Castelda on drums. Holiday's Turn Down The Lights is currently sitting at #1 on Ted Bell's 94.9
The Surf's Top 20. Despite an interruption for a heavy rain shower early in the
evening, the Big Time Party Band cranked up, quickly getting the crowd back into the mood. The successful first day was topped
off by Alamance County's own Hip Pocket, always a huge party gathering pleaser.
The Tams Little Redd working the crowd on Saturday!
Sunny weather was the norm for Saturday as Burlington's
Magnificents kicked off the party at noon. I had not seen them in quite some time - they were simply great! I introduced Clint
Horton as 'the second coming of Lou Rawls', he has one of the best voices in any music venue! All the way from Atlanta, the
Tams put on a tremendous afternoon show. Little Redd has been performing for forty years and has never been better! He currently has recorded a new rendition of Down And Dirty Love, which is already getting Beach music chart attention. Holiday followed, taking us on
a tour of their hit songs, both old and new, until the dinner break at 5 PM.
The Band of Oz turns it out on Saturday night!
What else can you say about the Band of Oz? Their
position at the very top of the list of the best Beach artists is pretty secure - it is hard to beat as many as four horns
on stage and lead vocals possible from either Jerry West, Scott Fine, Chuck French, Tim Morris or David Franks. It was no
coincidence that the crowd continued to swell as their 7 PM performance approached. They did not disappoint - ninety minutes
of pure entertainment. The day was capped off by a rousing set from local favorite Mason Lovette Band, who in my opinion ought
to be in Nashville, they are that good. Lead singer Clint Rhodes is an amazing vocalist!
All in all, it was one great weekend! Check it out at this website: www.bassmountainboogie.com.
Artists, DJ’s, Club owners etc. send me your latest news for potential
inclusion in Beach Buzz at nealfur@aol.com.
|
