Gaston Alive Magazine

There is no better time than right now to be a music fan. Thanks to the internet, there is a wealth of music available at your fingertips whenever you want it.

The days of sitting by your radio waiting for your favorite song to come on are over. A simple Google search will take you directly to your favorite song. Don’t want to buy the whole album? No problem, just download the song you want for $0.99.

The music industry has been turned upside down by the internet. And while the record executives may be losing money, it’s the music lover that is ultimate winner. The internet has opened doors that never existed. Especially for the musicians who don’t have the luxury of having a major record label behind them. The indie artist today has more ways to reach the consumer than ever before. And the Charlotte duo of Jamie & Steve are taking full advantage of it.

Jamie Hoover and Steve Stoekel have been making and creating music for over 30 years. They make up one-half of the long-time Charlotte pop band, The Spongetones. Jamie & Steve are hard at work completing their second project as a duo. And even though the Spongetones have dialed back their musical commitments the last few years, Jamie & Steve continue to play and record and new music. They even perform live from time to time – on an internet browser near you.

That’s right. Jamie and Steve have been organizing mini- concerts online through a website called StageIt.com. StageIt.com bills itself as “an online venue for live and interactive virtual concerts providing fans with a front row seat to a backstage experience”. As longtime members of The Spongetones, both Jamie & Steve have fans not just in their backyard, but as far away as Japan. In fact, a few years ago, they traveled over there for a brief tour. Plane tickets can be expensive, but jumping online to watch and hear your favorite band doesn’t have to be. Each band that uses StageIt.com performs a 30-minute set of music with an optional 20-minute encore.

Evan Lowenstein, of the 90’s pop duo Evan & Jaron, launched StageIt.com to give musicians another way to interact with their fans, as well as give them an additional revenue stream that they had not had before. Lowenstein was looking to raise a family, and that meant he’d have to reduce his touring schedule as a result. That’s where the idea came from. And in a short time, the website has over 3000 bands signed up using their services. And if Jamie & Steve have it their way, this will be a great way to cultivate a new fan base, as well as continuing to interact with their long-time Spongetones fans – all without having to load up the tour bus.

To learn more about Jamie and Steve, and to find out about their next scheduled StageIt.com performance, visit them online at www.jamieandsteve.net.

Article by Ben Dungan bdungan@charter.net

The debate on the over-commercialization of Christmas seems to come each and every year.  And yet, Christmas music is such an integral part of the season.  It sets the mood. After all, what is Christmas without Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, and Nat King Cole.  Those guys (and many others) recorded iconic songs that are synomous with the season.

But what about Halloween?  Where are the iconic Halloween songs?

Perhaps we feel Christmas, whereas we experience Halloween.  Halloween has a more visual component to it.  This seems to be true with all of the scary movies on TV and in movie theaters during that time of the year. But that doesn’t stop the members of the Asheville based-band, The Mad Tea (formerly Mad Tea Party).

The Mad Tea consists of Ami Worthen (ukulele, vocals) and Jason Kreckel (guitar, drums, vocals).  For over ten years, this garage-pop duo has been rocking’ out audiences all over and is a frequent opener for another North Carolina-based band, Southern Culture on the Skids.

Now, first things first.  This band is all about the music – not politics.  In fact, that is why they have had to change their name to The Mad Tea.  According to their website, they are trying to “get away from the darn political associations and get back to the business of rock ‘n roll”. Unfortunately, the Google goes with what’s popular – and in the last few years, the conservative Tea Party movement has continued to trend. Even though they share a similar name, they are completely different.  Especially the way the band treats their music.  Their mission is to rock out and have fun.

You won’t find political commentary on their website.  You will find, however, their latest Halloween/spooky musical contribution, “Batratspidercrab”.  And it’s yours free to download. This marks the third year in a row that Ami Worthen and Jason Kreckel have put together a Halloween-inspired project.  In 2009, they released Zombie Boogie – a four-song EP featuring two originals and two obscure covers. It was so well-received, they did it again the next year releasing another four songs entitled Rock n’ Roll Ghoul.

They are back at it again, yet a bit scaled back releasing just one song this year.  However, it for Halloween lovers everywhere to download for free.

At first glance you think it’s a coincidence.  However, now in their third year, I can safely say this is a trend.  I think it’s safe to say that The Mad Tea enjoy the Halloween holiday. Between both Worthen and Kreckel, they both share a love and passion for all things Halloween.  It’s fits within their mission as a band – to have fun. Halloween is a time to loosen up the collar and let those creative juices flow.  It’s a time to fire up those imaginations and for one night only become larger than life.

That’s what a show with The Mad Tea is all about.  And at the end of the day, if they can provide some music to the Halloween soundtrack of your life, then they will have down their jobs.

To learn more about The Mad Tea, and to download their latest Halloween-inspired single, visit them online at www.themadteaparty.com.

Upcoming Dates:

October 14, 2011: Bishop Dready Manning is a blues preacher who spent some 20 years totally “in the blues life,” until a conversion experience led him into the church. For the past 40 years, he’s used blues guitar, harmonica, and vocals to share the gospel message with his congregations.

November 11, 2011: Michael Reno Harrell and David Childers, two of our region’s most accomplished and popular singer/songwriters, trade songs on the GASC stage. Randy Saxon will accompany David Childers. Come hear their reflections on 21st century life in the South.

December 11, 2011: CFS Holiday Jam & Potluck features a short performance of diverse seasonal songs by Carol Raedy’s Community Singers. Tentatively taking place at Dilworth United Methodist Church, 605 East Blvd., Charlotte. 4:00- 9:45 PM. Bring a dish to share or donate $5/person towards expenses.

Janary 13, 2012: Annual Young Talent Showcase highlights impressive talents of young musicians, including 2011 Marilyn Meacham Price Youth Scholarship recipients Jake Bartholomew and Davy Fee.

All musical genres have what I call ‘gateway’ artists. Once you discover them, a whole new musical world opens up that you never knew existed.

I found my way to folk music through Bob Dylan. So how did Bob Dylan find his way to folk music? He found it through Woody Guthrie. That’s the beauty of folk music – there is more than one way to get there.

Some people discover folk music and find that they want more. And if you’ve lived in and around the Charlotte area for the last thirty years, then you’ve probably heard of the Charlotte Folk Society. Last month, this group of folk music lovers kicked off their 30th Gathering Season.

A ‘gathering season’ consists of monthly folk music concerts ranging in all sounds and styles. They may feature a singer-songwriter one month, and the next offer up a blues performer. The folk music banner is wide and varied. And the monthly gatherings reflect the diversity within the folk music genre.

But they are more than just concerts. A concert implies there are performers and spectators. A true musical gathering allows the folk music community to come together to perform and/or to spectate.

In addition to the monthly concert, the a folk society gathering also offers opportunities for those attending to socialize, to join a song circle or even partake in a jam session. No matter the skill level of the player, there is an opportunity for all to join in the fun.

Perhaps it could be said that a Charlotte Folk Society monthly gathering is like Thanksgiving dinner. However, the food is the music. And people of all ages have a seat at the table to take in the great sounds.

A full list of upcoming musical gatherings can be found online at www.folksociety.org. All events are free to the public.

by Ben Dungan – bdungan@charter.net

They say the pen is mightier than the sword. But in 2011, as communication mediums continue to collide, the video camera may just be a little bit mightier than the pen. If not mightier, it may be more influential in today’s world.

We live in an attention economy. There are messages all around us competing for our attention. If a message can’t grab our attention, then, unfortunately, that message gets lost.

That may be exactly why April Denee has traded in the pen for the film camera. Denee has been a writer all of her life. It was about a year and a half ago when she decided she was going to tell her stories as a filmmaker instead.

The written word can be powerful. So can still images. But when you weave all of the communicable elements that the world of film documentaries offer, it opens up a whole new way of telling stories.

And that’s what Denee is wanting to do – tell a story using the power of film. That’s what’s led her to her latest project. She is using her artistic ability to tell the story of artists of another kind – artists of the busking kind.

Merriam-Webster defines busking as playing music or otherwise performing for voluntary donations in the street or in subways. One of the first things Denee discovered when learning about the art of busking (or street performing) is that it’s not just limited to just music. It can be any type of artistic performance
including juggling, dancing, painting, and more.

But what caught her attention even more so had nothing to do with the busking itself, but rather the response that the buskers received. That response came in different forms from various groups of people.

Denee’s first documentary, BUSK!, is currently in post-production at the moment, and she hopes to have a rough cut by the end of the year. In the meantime, Denee plans to do other things locally to raise awareness of these street performers. She has already organized two busking events in downtown Charlotte and is considering a third at some point.

Her ultimate goal of the film is to raise awareness of these street performers. She wants to show the value they bring to big cities all over the country. She wants people to know that art is available beyond the walls of a gallery, theater, or
concert hall.

Paradigm shifts don’t happen over night. But after the release of BUSK!, she hopes it moves viewers to look at street performers in a way they haven’t previously. And
hopefully down the road, they are moved in such a way that they take action.

For more information about BUSK!, visit the movie’s website at www.buskmovie.com.

by Ben Dungan – bdungan@charter.net

By Ben Dungan

In all of my years, I have never met anyone who has ever disliked the music of the Beatles. Now that doesn’t mean that everyone loves The Beatles.  But I’d like to think the Beatles’ songbook is a lot like Santa’s bag – there’s a gift (or song) for everyone.

That’s the beauty of The Fab Four.  In a short period of time, they churned out timeless music that still resonates with all generations today.  And if you don’t believe me, then I’ll point you to John Tosco.

John Tosco is the owner of the Tosco Music Studio and the president and founding member of Tosco Music Parties, Inc., a nonprofit corporation that produces quarterly music showcases, comprising both professional and amateur musicians.

The Beatles churned out a lot of music in their short time together.  They dabbled in all phases of rock n’ roll from their early bubble-gum pop days to their latter-day experimental drug-induced creations.

These musical ‘parties’ initially started out in his living room, and as a result of their broad appeal, have grown to larger venues in the Charlotte area.

The music parties have been a staple for John Tosco, but the idea of throwing a music party set to the backdrop of all Beatles tunes became a reality in 2004.  And now, seven years later, the Beatles Tribute Night is still rockin’ on.

The venue may change from year to year, but the quality of the music stays the same.

The event continues to grow in size and in scope.  In the last seven years, the location has grown from the small-yet-intimate venue that is The Evening Muse, to the nearly 1200-seat Knight Theater, located in the N.C Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Uptown Charlotte.

John Tosco loves the Beatles.  They are his favorite band.  But that’s not the only reason he chooses to organize a night dedicated to John, Paul, George and Ringo.  The Beatles were and still are one of the few musical acts that have the power to crossover many generations.  People of all ages can find at least one song from their enormous catalog of music that they can agree on.

On this particular evening, there will be 25 performing artists taking their stab at a Beatles classic.  And you can’t forget about the traditional audience sing-alongs that the Tosco Music Parties are known for.

And that’s what makes the Beatles Tribute Night work.  It’s a night of music for the whole family. So, brush up on your favorite Beatles tunes, and get ready to celebrate a night of music with you and 1199 of your closest friends.

I know John Lennon sang, “All You Need Is Love”.  And that may be true.  But sometimes we need a little music too.  You’ll get just that, and more on June 18.

–

More information on the upcoming Beatles Tribute Night on Saturday, June 18 in Charlotte is available online at www.toscomusicparty.com.