Keeping the sound sweet throughout the evening was none other than that lost Hillbilly Gypsy himself Trae Buckner. With a little help from his friend Lou Fletcher and Jed Buretz, the in-house sound filled the room and kept the crowd hoping.

  You need to check out the Davvison Brothers Band website. The opening flash animation highlights these boy’s talents and is very well put together. Log on and go to www.davissonbrothersband.com. And check them out live as soon as you can, they will be live April 12^th at the Treehuggers Ball in Tera Alta at Sunshine Daydreams.

The Heart of West Virginia Live at The Domain

Matthew Trout

  For those who are unaware, such as I was Saturday night, Mike Morningstar’s thought provoking lyrics are an inspiration to every tried and true Mountaineer. For almost four decades, Mike Morningstar has toured the Mountain State with his songs of hope & struggles. Saturday night, he graced the Digital Domain stage once again to the utmost delight to all in attendance.

  “Mountaineers Are Always Free” is a soul stirring anthem of our state based on the idea of having as much of the wonders of West Virginia preserved for our future generations. Like most of us growing up in these mountains, Mike wants to be sure that his grandkids, and their grandkids, can be inspired and enriched by our states natural beauty and harmony.

  “Buffalo Creek” released in 1972 still invokes a sense of anger and shame towards the coal companies that wasted our resources and the lives of our people. West Virginia is a national treasure, Mike Morningstar, and other original artists of the state are a large part of the rich culture that sets our state apart.

  Mike did not arrive on the scene alone Saturday night, he had the support of three very talented Mountaineers on the stage with him. Rick Roberts, and his vast array of instruments and talents, complimented the acoustic sounds of Mike’s guitar with mandolins, a fiddle and a neat little Electric Mando Blaster. Steve and Susan Low added percussion and background vocals to the mix, creating a friendly folk sound that would make any hillbilly feel at home.

  People are drawn to Mike Morningstar’s music through various avenues, and a fan base of loyal supporters has been building for decades. Some are turned on by friends or West Virginia Public Radio while some happen to catch a live show and are hooked from the start. Perhaps the most interesting story was the gentleman who found his CD and came to the Domain as soon as he heard Mike would be here. It seems that a couple years ago, he was driving down a busy road and spotted a box of CDs lying in the roadway. Some were busted from car tires, others were old and weather worn. Having no indication to the owner, he watched for notices and gave an effort to find who had lost them to no avail. Deciding to keep them, he started going trough them to see what all was there. Most were given away, in fact he did not find a single CD he liked in the bunch, until he came upon Mike’s. Saturday night, he bought a couple more.

  Experience a show for yourself; I assure you it will not be your last. Mike Morningstar’s lyrics and music goes beyond generations or styles and speaks to the heart of every West Virginian. Check out Mike’s Electric Hickory Stick and experience what cabin fever and a strong love of music can bring forth. Go to Mike Morningstar’s official website to learn more about one of West Virginia’s most talented secrets http://members.citynet.net/mikemorningstar/.

Rollin the Sound through the Domain with OSFT & ZEN

By Matthew Trout

  There was a special vibe in the air Saturday night as Old School Freight Train and Zen brought a diverse array of musical talents to the stage at the Domain. The tradition continues, in bringing the best in live original music to this part of our woods, my hat is off to the Digital Domain and the untiring effort put forth in every show. Let’s face it; some of the best bands you’ve never heard of are playing the Domain. The evolution of the music industry is upon us, and venues and recording outlets that take a chance are being rewarded with the efforts of the most talented performers of all, those who do it for the love of the art.

  The harmonious sounds that flow from these mountains can never be captured or canned. The best we can hope for is to share moments in time and space with those who allow the muse to flow through them. The Digital Domain and other such recording venues are archival treasures that provide but a fleeting glimpse into that space and time to share with those not present during the moment.

  I am amazed at the level of commitment I see on the Domain stage on any given night. Artists the caliber of Zen and OSFT epitomize the spirit of music in its most basic form. They play for the pleasure, a state of mind, and sometimes just because the muse won’t let them do anything else. Mark and Bonnie brighten the entire room with a feel good dose of old fashioned harmonies and rhythms. OSFT stream flawlessly through break downs, bridges and segues creating a continuous flow of music creatively enhanced to carry one away, I found my happy place and OSFT is providing the sound track.

  Old School Freight Train does it for the love of the art. All classifications aside, these guys combine all of the best in sheer talent and commitment into the purest music I’ve heard to date. Super tight, with breakdowns and flowing rhythms that are simply amazing, OSFT are masters of the craft and it is readily apparent how much these guys love to make music together. Take a cyber trip and check them out at www.osft.net, take a listen and get ready for the next time they are close by, you do not want to miss this show.

  Zen brings their collective talents together to create a mixture of folk, bluegrass, blues and funk that they lovingly refer to as “Folk Fusion”. Mark’s mandolin is a natural extension of self acoustically capturing his inner energy. Their voices are a reflection of their life, serene and complete, meshing seamlessly as one.

  You can check out Zen at http:wearezen.com to download some MP3s and get a feel for Zen. Also, take the time to slide by www.midxmusic.com and vote for Zen to play on the Mid-Atlantic Music Experience Emerging Artist Stage.

  Make plans now for September 5^th and 6^th to get down to the Pegasus Farm in Elkins for the High Land Jam. This will be the weekend after Labor Day and the stage is set for a great two day line up of Bluegrass and heavy jams. Get the details and ticket information at www.highlandjam.com.

  On a parting note, I would like to give a shout to the guys from that terrific Bluegrass Band From The Hip in attendance Saturday night to dig the show. Rick, you were right, these guys really did blow me away.