Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

• The Last to Know Dept. Victory Records sent a press release from which I find that they are releasing a project called By the Grace of God, featuring players from several Louisville hardcore bands, including Duncan Barlow of Guilt and Rob of Endpoint, plus members of Falling Forward and Empathy.. Duncan said it was just a bunch of old friends doing some old hardcore just for fun and that the record is selling well, maybe better than the records from their "real" bands.

• Not Top 40 Country Radio. With the recent shifts in ownership of local radio stations, certain formats, particularly country, will be dominated by a very few out-of-town companies. So it was a relief when Harold Thom of the Cumberlands called and said that he will begin hosting an afternoon drive-time radio show (3-6pm) on WKXF 1600 AM, Eminence. The show, to be called "Southern Cross," will feature bluegrass, folk and old-time country, with musical guests and on-air pickin'. Thom said that the station, which was recently purchased by Dave Marcum, reaches seven counties, including the eastern end of Jefferson county.

The program will begin on June 3. Thom is looking for musicians and singer-songwriters interested in being on his program. The radio station's phone number is 502-845-6000. Thom can be reached at 502-245-6262.

• Kraft Country Tour '96, featuring Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, and Carlene Carter is also a food drive for Dare to Care. At the Gardens on the day of the show, June 6, volunteers will be collecting non-perishable food items from concert attenders.

• All-Star Rock 'n' Roll Band Time! Okay, kiddies, time to vote for your favorite rocker for the Phoenix Hill/WQMF/Coors Light All-Star Rock 'n' Roll Band. There's an official ballot on page 13. Fill it in, clip it out, mail to PHT. Do your civic duty, vote!

• Play, Play, Play, v. 7.1. .The Louisville Youth Orchestra is looking for students interested in playing. Auditions are set for late August and early September. Audition slots are available by calling Melody Welsh, Executive Director, 502-582-0135.

• The Louisville Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is staging its fourth annual "Two Step To Spring" at Coyote's on June 4, from 6:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The event features a buffet, music and dancing, door prizes and dancing. Tickets are $20 or two for $35. Proceeds benefit the Alzheimer's Association, Louisville Chapter. Call 893-3607 for more information.

• Louisville-based radio producer Dan Gediman has produced an hour-long documentary on jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck for NPR's new series "Jazz Profiles," set to be broadcast on Sunday, June 2 at Noon on WFPK 91.9 FM. The series will continue through July. This is the first documentary in any medium on Brubeck. Brubeck liked it so much that he working with Gediman on a CD-ROM project.

Gediman is also working on a "Jazz Profiles" documentary on Red Norvo, the first musician to play jazz on mallet instruments – xylophone, vibes and marimba. It will air next year on NPR.

• The Mind Reels at Gediman's Accomplishments. Well, okay, the Mind Reels is Gediman's band, which is offering a FREE cassette single from their upcoming album. The cassettes are available by writing to: Milestone Productions, P. O. Box 4962, Louisville, KY 40204 or you can get one at their gig at the Twice Told Coffeeshop on June 22.

• Scooter's Bar is now Scooter's Blues Bar, according to owner Paul Webb. Wednesday through Sunday. Webb says he's trying to offer blues to fans in the Southeast end of the county. Check the music calendar for who's playing.

• Dick Sisto Says. Our local chief vibraphonist Dick Sisto phoned to tout a couple of cool jazz players who are going to be in town in the next couple of months. Jazz composer Chuck Mahronic will be playing the Seelbach with Sisto on June 7-8. They'll be playing all Mahronic all the time. On the weekend of July 5 & 6, Andy Narell's guitarist Steve Erquiaga will join Sisto and trumpeter Barry Rief for a show from 10 pm until 1 am. All this happens at the Old Seelbach Bar.

• Shopping for a Piano? The U of L School of Music is selling last year's pianos. Yes, you read that correctly. Conrad Music provides new pianos to the School of Music every year, then sells the previous year's pianos. Because the pianos are offered by private appointment first, there may not be any left by the time of the public sale. The public sale will be held on Saturday, June 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday from Noon to 5:00 p.m. For a private showing prior to these sales, call 423-9627.

• What Makes Music? If you don't know and can't explain it to your children, take them to the Louisville Science Center for a little interactive education. "What Makes Music" has 27 interactive devices to help visitors investigate the physical sources of music, including a giant Slinky (aw-w-w-right!) for demonstrating sound waves, a 15-foot Walk-on Piano (Big!), a sound room with a synthesizer to alter voices, as well as more traditional musical instruments. On some weekends, you can hear local musicians performing (Check the calendar). All this for a mere $5 for adults, $4 for children. The exhibit opened May 25 and will run through September 8. The Louisville Science Center is at 727 W. Main St., and the phone number is 502-561-6103.

Festivals and Showcases

• Kentucky Music Weekend, now in its 21st year, will once more bring some of the finest folk / acoustic / mountain performers to Iroquois Amphitheater and Bardstown, on July 26 through 28. Their names were not available at press time. There will also be the regular collection of arts & crafts booths, called the Iroquois Summer Arts and Crafts Festival. It's always a good place to get the interesting gift or personal keepsake.

Kentucky Music Week, from July 29 through August 2, will offer an array of classes, from playing to building instruments. There is a lot to this music weekend, so if you are interested, Nancy Johnson Barker will be pleased to send you a brochure, if you but leave your name and address on her answering machine at 502-348-5237 or write her at P. O. Box 86, Bardstown, KY.

• The Reno Revival, a festival focused on the banjo-style of Don Reno, will be held in Hermitage, TN, just outside of Nashville, on October 10-13, 1996. Call 615-889-4197 for more information.

• The CMJ (College Music Journal) Music Marathon & Musicfest '96 is set for Sept. 4-7, 1996, at Lincoln Center in New York City. This alternative and college rock showcase has grown into the major showcase for this music. Call 516-466-6000 ext. 150 for registration and information or e-mail: mminfo@cmjmusic.com. Their web site is http://www.cmjmusic.com.

• 8th Annual Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp and Concert Series will be held July 14-19, 1996, at Benedictine College in Lisle, Ill. This year, the guest vocalists including Mad-Kat Records' Kitty Margolis, Freelance Records artist Judy Niemack and Janice Borla, founder and director. For info, call 708-829-6324 or write to the camp c/o Illinois Benedictine College, 5700 College Rd, Lisle, Ill 60532.

• W. C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival, Henderson, KY. June 9, 12-15. Check the calendar for the lineup at Handy, which is held at a couple of different sites in Henderson.

Key Changes

• Walter Hyatt, 46, songwriter and co-founder of Uncle Walt's Band with David Ball ("Thinkin' Problem") and Champ Hood, died in the ValuJet crash in the Everglades. Hyatt was 46 and lived in Nashville.

• Patsy Montana, age 81, died on March 31. Montana had the 1st million-selling record by a female artist.

• Edward Ray Riggs, age 78, died on Sunday, April 28. Riggs was a founder of Kentuckiana Hillbillies. He played violin and bass and had been a member of American Federation of Musicians, Local 11-637 since August 1947.

• Virgie W. Tidrow Jr., 55, died on Monday, April 30. He was a member of Musicians Local 11-637.

Songwriter Tips & Contests

• Jerry Anderson is seeking Traditional to Pop Country (ballads, uptempo, novelty) songs for an album project for release in the fall of 1996. Submit to: Linda K. Smith, 2933 S. East St., Indianapolis, IN 46225.

Contests

• The Portland Songwriters Association is holding its very first contest. The Grand Prize is $500, 2nd Place $250, plus $100 for six categories. Entry fee is $15. For information, write PSA, 1920 Vancouver, Portland, OR 97227 or call (503) 727-9072. E-mail address is: psa@teleport.com; Website: http://www.teleport.com/~psa/.

• The Dottie West Music Fest Talent Competition, a non-profit competition, is looking for unsigned singers and songwriters for their three-day music festival, held in McMinnville, Tenn., in June. The deadline for submissions is June 7. There are cash prizes and various other in-kind awards, as well as a fee for entering. For application forms, call 615-320-0485 or 615-473-6535.