Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

• Oops Again. For those folks mislead by several errors in the calendar, we offer our apologies and a familiar excuse - the computer did it. As it happens, it was the database software, but, of course, it was this human that made the goof.

• Fans of Laura Shine will be interested to know that she's back on the air at WRVG World Radio FM 89.9 in Georgetown. Shine is holding down the noon to three slot with a show called "Eclectic Blue." WRVG can be picked in East Jefferson County and possibly further into the city. Read Mary C. Smith's story on the new station else where in this issue.

• The word from Jimmy Brown is that Louisville's most idiosyncratic band, Bodeco, is set to return to live performance. The first show is set for July 25 at the Mercury Paw. Ricky Feather apparently has recovered from his flight from sudden success. Could there be another record deal in the making down the line? Stay tuned.

• The Derby City Chorus won first place in the Harmony, Inc. Chorus Competition on June 13 in Chicago. The competition included choruses from Indiana, Illinois and Wisconssin. The win qualifies the chours to advance to international competition in Indianapolis in November.

In addition, three quartets from Derby City, Diamond Girls, Take That! and Stay Tuned competed in the quartet competition. Diamond Girls won the quartet competition for the second straight year and Take That! won the Novice Award.

• David Dean of Rainbow at Midnight Records sends word that Mario Da Silva's CD, Meet Mario, has sold enough copies at the Barnes & Noble store on Hurstbourne that the company will now stock the CD in their regional stores in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

• Submissions are now being accepted for the 1998 Harvest Showcase, which will be held at the Butchertown Pub on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26. The event will feature three stages: rock, alternative and singer/songwriter. A commemorative compact disc containing recorded material by artists performing in the showcase will be released at the show.

Artists interested in participating in this year's Harvest Showcase should send an original song on cassette with name, address, phone number and contact person to: Primitive Entertainment, attn: Harvest Showcase, 806 Fountain Avenue, Louisville, KY, 40222. Submissions must be postmarked by July 24, 1998. Each tape must also include a processing fee of $15.00 made payable to Primitive Entertainment.

• The 2nd Annual John Lennon Songwriting Contest is now accepting applications. The deadline is August 31, 1998, which they define as postmarkedBy August 31, 1998, which means postmarked by midnight on August 31, 1998, okay? Just so you don't think that means Sept. 1, okay? Write it down.

There's a lot of information about this contest you want to know, but the second most important is that the Song of the Year will pick up a cool $20,000, courtesy of Maxell. There are a number of categories, with various prizes in each category. To find out more and get an application, which you must have to enter, fax your query to 212-579-4320 or check their website at info@jlsc.com or write to 459 columbus Ave., Box 120, New York, NY 10024. DO NOT SEND ENTRIES TO THIS ADDRESS.

The entry fee is $30 per song.

• After fourteen years as the marketing guru at the Kentucky Center for the Arts, Marilyn Settergren has left. Settergren indicated that the continual grind and lack of a real vacation had worn her down and that she needed a break. We send our best wishes and thanks for a job well done.

By the way, what's a "vacation," Marilyn?

• Initial Records' Krazy Fest was a success, according to K. Scott Ritcher of Initial Records. The total paid attendence was 3,500, plus an additional 200 complimentary guests. The percentage of out-of-town guests was 60-70%, according to Ritcher. He noted that while CD sales at the event were not tallied separately, sales were "better than three days without a festival."

Power problems plagued the Brewery on Sunday, finally requiring the building to be evacuated and forcing the cancellation of the last two bands' performances. The Sunday headliner turned out to be Metroschifter bassist Pat McClimans singing karaoke to Allman Brother tracks, Richter said.

The company is planning to do another Fest next year, but with a new, perhaps more extreme, name.

Richter also said that the website at www.initialrecords.com has a wrap-up of the event, with space for attenders to add their own stories.

• Bluestock, the National Blues Convention & Showcase, set for October 23 & 24 in Memphis, is accepting applications from artists or bands for the showcase. For information and a form, contact Bluestock at: POB 41858, Memphis, TN 38174-1858 or check the website at crossroads@wspice.com or call 901-526-4280.

• The building at 142 Outer Loop, which has housed a succession of nightclubs/bars and was most recently the Gone Country Saloon, must be cursed. After the name was changed to Las Palmas and the format to Latin music, the structure suffered roof and water damage during one or the other of the recent series of storms to come through the area.

• LMN writer Robert Gruber and his wife Wendy had a baby boy, named Joel Andrew Gruber, born June 5, 1998 and weighing in at 8 lbs 6.7 oz. Congratulations, Robert and Wendy.

Club News

• A new coffeehouse/gallery, Vine Gallery, has opened at 620 E. Market. According to owner Erin Devine, there will be live music of the "Triple A" variety on Friday nights from 8 - 10 p.m. Check the calendar for the schedule of who's playing.

Codas

• Elvis M. Head, 79 died on June 4 in Louisville. He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 11-637,

• Foreest Heeren, 82, died on June 10 in Louisville. Heeren was the dean emeritus of the School of Church Music at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, which he headed for 29 years, beginning in 1952. He was also the former choir director and minister of music for Crescent Hill Baptist church, Bethany Baptist Church and Strathmoor Presbyterian Church.

• Roger Clark Miller, 52, died in Louisville on June 13. He was a musician.

• Gerald E. Mochwart, 83, died June 11 in Louisville. A member of the Peoria, Ill, Birmingham, Ala. and Louisville federation of Musicians, he led the Gary Marquis Orchestra before retiring.