  |
|
|
|
|
|
Tight! No other word describes good Bluegrass better. When every instrument is playing, with seemingly no room for another note or chord, the result is an ear pleasing mixture of mountain harmonies aesthetically pleasing to the ear. Stewed Mulligan, no matter how many family members are on stage at any given time, are the Bluegrass definition of tight. This was my first live “Stews” experience, I assure you it won’t be my last. I have met various members of the “Stewed” family in other professional capacities over the years and have checked them out on MP3.com, but by far the live show they create surpasses all expectations. “Stews” have a knack for making one feel a part of their show with a terrific mix of traditional and original material. Also on tap for the evening was a huge dose of “Miracle Elixir” served from the stage by the Snake Oil Medicine Show. Promoting peace through art and music, Snake Oil is a nationally and internationally touring band of artists out of North Carolina. Their combination of original music and visual art is a two pronged attack on ones sense of being that I highly recommend everyone to check this out. |
|
|
Highlights: Fiddlesticks! No, not what Grandma says when you make a stupid comment, rather the original concept of the term, playing with sticks on a fiddle. Combining the “Snake Oil” drummer with a “Stews” Fiddler created a taste of old time charm seemingly original to most ears. The Venue! That Ed Guy has created, in my opinion, one of the best venues for local and touring musicians in the Mountain State. Created with love and a lot of hard work, this former grade school is an intimate gathering place for music lovers and musicians to interact. The Main Auditorium is 6000 square feet, seats 150 and has a capacity of 250 nothing is better than an old gymnasium for atmosphere. Parachutes and acoustic foam make the sound phenomenal. A projected screen on the back wall catches the bands and the audience in their blatant displays of joyous emotion as well as cartoons and pleasing images. Preston County, West Virginia is rapidly becoming a Mecca for music in the Mountain State and the Digital Domain is one of the main reasons why. Check out Stewed Mulligan at http://www.stewedmulligan.com/ and Snake Oil Medicine Show at http://www.snakeoilmedicineshow.net/ both have CDs for sale and I highly recommend both. Jed didn’t need to get the gun Saturday night, with the Snake Oil Medicine Show and the New Relics in attendance, the night was explosive enough. A rocking crowd and a great atmosphere set the stage as the Hillbilly Prom Night brought down the house at the Digital Domain. Caroline Pond in her Hillbilly Prom Dress is a site for sore eyes, and the way she fiddles and sings leaves you longing for more. Stand up Basses, Banjos, Mandolins, and Cow Bells set the evening’s tone, while smiles, a birthday poem, dancing and laughter filled the air. The beautiful and talented Megan King, a vision to behold in her long white gown and straw hat, mastered the ceremonies for the night. Her first challenge was entertaining the crowd while slightly delayed by the process of getting Caroline’s prom dress just right, trust me, the wait was well worth it and Megan kept the crowd “a whoopin and a hollerin”. First to the stage were those romping and rowdy SOMS (Snake Oil Medicine Show) with a set including the high strung “Come On Ya’ll”. How great it was seeing George Pond slapping the stand up bass in his hillbilly tux, telling us all “don’t feel weird about being singled out, they’re gonna get us all”! Towards the end of the night, George and Caroline joined the happy partiers in a train dance around the Domain. The SOMS are an interactive crowd oriented group of artist that keep you wanting more, check them out at www.snakeoilmedicineshow.net. The New Relics proved why they were voted Pittsburgh’s Best Acoustic Band. Mike Arbogast can really belt a tune and John Schooley picks an intricate lead guitar weaving chords to perfectly fit Mike’s rhythm. “Something New” flows like a mellow stream then rocks out as it tells the story of a student’s life. Check out their site to hear some of the great music these boys from Morgantown are creating at www.thenewrelics.com. Looking forward to Cherylann Hawk and from the Hip on Saturday, Jan. 18th, come on out and join the fun at the Digital Domain. See ya there!
Hands on fire, Greg Short blissfully slaps the “Bluegrass Conga”. Now how different is that? Such is the magic of music, when good people come together on stage the love encompasses every instrument. The blend is at its peak during the grand jam percussion explosion when Greg Short and Rob Grano brought the house down tapping on Nathan Winslow Wilson’s Bass. Anything can happen at the Domain! I can’t heap enough praise upon the wonderful Cherylann Hawk. One of the hardest working musicians in the Pittsburg area, her dedication and love radiate through her songs. Her star is shooting rapidly upward; I am honored to have basked in its glow if for only a brief time. From the rollicking fun of “Bits & Pieces” to the soul stirring “Part of Me” and “The Giving Blues”, Cherylann is the performer’s performer. Jack Marshall from Cow Creek Films was on hand to grab some footage of one of our favorite local bands, From the Hip. Cow Creek Films has contracted From the Hip to write and record the soundtrack to their upcoming film “To Walk in Heaven”. A better choice could not have been made; these boys are as tight as they come with their high strung acoustic bluegrass groove. Five part harmonies are rare these days. Five part harmonies in a six piece band are scarcer than fleas on a fish. As in the tradition of old style Bluegrass and little league baseball, everybody plays. Keith Pitzer’s Mandolin and Ryan Snyder’s Banjo set the tone of traditional old home style. While Jake Pitzer and Rick Chaney on guitar, Chris Bern's Bass and Greg Short’s Congas tie it all together. “I’ll Take Tomorrow” is an inspirational look at whatever the future holds. Chaney’s uplifting lyrics, complimented by Keith Pitzer’s flowing mandolin chords, bring pleasure and hope to warm the soul. I saw some of the guys from The Hillbilly Gypsies in attendance digging the music, it’s clear that they know where the sound is found. Check out Cherylann Hawk online at www.cherylannhawk.com, and From the Hip at www.musicfromthehip.com . Both have CDs and merchandise available, and be sure to check out their clips, I promise you will find two new favorite bands.
|
Copyright© Digital Domain 2003
