North Carolina Weekend Recap
I had a great time in North Carolina, despite some weather-related attempts to dampen my spirit and everything else.
Friday I drove down from DC. About ¾ of the way down I remembered that I’d forgotten to pack some important things – a hat and sunscreen – for my Saturday at Merlefest (www.merlefest.org). I remembered that at the next exit there was a Wal-Mart. Now, I’m not in favor of the way Wal-Mart conducts most of its business (though I do like their attempts to make the music industry lower prices on CDs), but this time I chose to drink from the devil’s well. I found a straw sunhat and some sunscreen and headed to the music & movies area, where I picked up special editions of “Stand By Me” and “Rocky” from their $5 rack. I mean, I just could not turn these down. Thing is, I know that’s how they close down smaller retailers – they drastically lower prices on popular things, taking sales away from smaller retailers, and never intend to carry less than popular, artier titles. Like I said, I drank from the devil’s well.
Friday evening I got down to Gerald and Elizabeth’s house, who graciously put me up for the weekend. Gerald is the musician behind Sound of Singles, whom I opened for Sunday night. Friday evening we went out and met a few friends for a beer, then called it a night.
On Saturday we were off to Merlefest. As you may know, Merlefest is an Americana / bluegrass / folk / roots music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This year the lineup included Old Crow Medicine Show, Tift Merritt, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson (the festival is named for his late son, Merle), Jorma Kaukonen, Levon Helm, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sam Bush, Avett Brothers, and many more. The drive from Durham to Wilkesboro took about three hours, but we arrived in time to see a blistering set by Tift Merritt and a cool jam with Jorma Kaukonen. The weather was hot, Gerald was cursing himself for wearing black, and I was glad I bought the Wal-Mart hat. After a corn-dog lunch we headed to an indoor workshop on record production. It was interesting to hear the Nashville perspective and I learned a thing or two. We then headed outside to… a thunderstorm! We’d brought chairs and I’d left my sweatshirt out, which I brought in case the evening got cold, and everything was beyond soaked. I’d hoped that the storm was just passing through and that the sun would come out again, but it wasn’t meant to be. We did stick around for a few more hours and caught a few more sets, including a great one from the fabulous Carolina Chocolate Drops. Levon Helm was headlining that night and I was really looking forward to seeing him, but since the rain never really stopped we elected to pack up our wet things and head home. Still, I had a great time, and one of my fantasies for the future would be to stay for the entire festival, get one of the nearby motel rooms (or stay at the campground, where I hear the real partying takes place!), and make a weekend out of it.
On Sunday I spent the afternoon exploring downtown Chapel Hill. I browsed some used book and CD stores, went by the Cat’s Cradle, and generally just looked around and enjoyed walking out in the sun. That evening Gerald and I packed up our instruments and headed out to the Cave. The Cave (www.caverntavern.com) is located in a basement downtown and, as it turns out, it’s moniker is well earned. It’s very cave-like. Dressed up in my finest blue thrift-store suit, I played a 15-song acoustic set that included 5 new songs, as I believe I mentioned in the last entry. Everything went very well, I thought, and I feel like I’m finally getting my performance-legs back. The small crowd was very supportive and I had a great time. Gerald – Sound of Singles – played a blistering set that was capped by a warp-speed version of Bob Segar’s Turn The Page. A great time was had by all, I think.
On Monday I headed back. Most of the time it was pouring rain, at times quite heavily, and after seeing a Motel 6 sign inviting me to stay over for only $37.99 I elected to get off the road about an hour south of DC. When I got settled in I turned on the news to see that I’d missed, by less than 100 miles, some wicked tornadoes. It was nice to be off the road.
On Tuesday I packed back up and came home to DC and got ready for my shortened working week.
This coming weekend I’ve got more going on… Thursday night I’m attending a Sweetwater Sound sponsored ProTools workshop. Friday morning I’m hopping on a bus to New York City where my pal Sash and I are going to catch the Mother Hips at the Mercury Lounge that evening. I fell in love with the Hips after much encouragement from my friend Shawn (where are you these days?) and one spin of their 2001 album, Green Hills of Earth. As they are a Northern California band I saw them several times in Eureka and Arcata, CA, where I grew up and lived for years. It’ll be cool seeing them in New York. I don’t think they make it back this way too often, so it’ll be a California Soul treat.
Saturday I’m planning to play tourist in New York and just look around. The Living Room show didn’t come off, and to be honest, I’m kind of glad. I would’ve loved to have played, but I’m glad I don’t have to worry about it. It’ll be nice just to bum around.
I’ll let you know how it went.
Take care, be safe, and smile!
Friday I drove down from DC. About ¾ of the way down I remembered that I’d forgotten to pack some important things – a hat and sunscreen – for my Saturday at Merlefest (www.merlefest.org). I remembered that at the next exit there was a Wal-Mart. Now, I’m not in favor of the way Wal-Mart conducts most of its business (though I do like their attempts to make the music industry lower prices on CDs), but this time I chose to drink from the devil’s well. I found a straw sunhat and some sunscreen and headed to the music & movies area, where I picked up special editions of “Stand By Me” and “Rocky” from their $5 rack. I mean, I just could not turn these down. Thing is, I know that’s how they close down smaller retailers – they drastically lower prices on popular things, taking sales away from smaller retailers, and never intend to carry less than popular, artier titles. Like I said, I drank from the devil’s well.
Friday evening I got down to Gerald and Elizabeth’s house, who graciously put me up for the weekend. Gerald is the musician behind Sound of Singles, whom I opened for Sunday night. Friday evening we went out and met a few friends for a beer, then called it a night.
On Saturday we were off to Merlefest. As you may know, Merlefest is an Americana / bluegrass / folk / roots music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This year the lineup included Old Crow Medicine Show, Tift Merritt, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson (the festival is named for his late son, Merle), Jorma Kaukonen, Levon Helm, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sam Bush, Avett Brothers, and many more. The drive from Durham to Wilkesboro took about three hours, but we arrived in time to see a blistering set by Tift Merritt and a cool jam with Jorma Kaukonen. The weather was hot, Gerald was cursing himself for wearing black, and I was glad I bought the Wal-Mart hat. After a corn-dog lunch we headed to an indoor workshop on record production. It was interesting to hear the Nashville perspective and I learned a thing or two. We then headed outside to… a thunderstorm! We’d brought chairs and I’d left my sweatshirt out, which I brought in case the evening got cold, and everything was beyond soaked. I’d hoped that the storm was just passing through and that the sun would come out again, but it wasn’t meant to be. We did stick around for a few more hours and caught a few more sets, including a great one from the fabulous Carolina Chocolate Drops. Levon Helm was headlining that night and I was really looking forward to seeing him, but since the rain never really stopped we elected to pack up our wet things and head home. Still, I had a great time, and one of my fantasies for the future would be to stay for the entire festival, get one of the nearby motel rooms (or stay at the campground, where I hear the real partying takes place!), and make a weekend out of it.
On Sunday I spent the afternoon exploring downtown Chapel Hill. I browsed some used book and CD stores, went by the Cat’s Cradle, and generally just looked around and enjoyed walking out in the sun. That evening Gerald and I packed up our instruments and headed out to the Cave. The Cave (www.caverntavern.com) is located in a basement downtown and, as it turns out, it’s moniker is well earned. It’s very cave-like. Dressed up in my finest blue thrift-store suit, I played a 15-song acoustic set that included 5 new songs, as I believe I mentioned in the last entry. Everything went very well, I thought, and I feel like I’m finally getting my performance-legs back. The small crowd was very supportive and I had a great time. Gerald – Sound of Singles – played a blistering set that was capped by a warp-speed version of Bob Segar’s Turn The Page. A great time was had by all, I think.
On Monday I headed back. Most of the time it was pouring rain, at times quite heavily, and after seeing a Motel 6 sign inviting me to stay over for only $37.99 I elected to get off the road about an hour south of DC. When I got settled in I turned on the news to see that I’d missed, by less than 100 miles, some wicked tornadoes. It was nice to be off the road.
On Tuesday I packed back up and came home to DC and got ready for my shortened working week.
This coming weekend I’ve got more going on… Thursday night I’m attending a Sweetwater Sound sponsored ProTools workshop. Friday morning I’m hopping on a bus to New York City where my pal Sash and I are going to catch the Mother Hips at the Mercury Lounge that evening. I fell in love with the Hips after much encouragement from my friend Shawn (where are you these days?) and one spin of their 2001 album, Green Hills of Earth. As they are a Northern California band I saw them several times in Eureka and Arcata, CA, where I grew up and lived for years. It’ll be cool seeing them in New York. I don’t think they make it back this way too often, so it’ll be a California Soul treat.
Saturday I’m planning to play tourist in New York and just look around. The Living Room show didn’t come off, and to be honest, I’m kind of glad. I would’ve loved to have played, but I’m glad I don’t have to worry about it. It’ll be nice just to bum around.
I’ll let you know how it went.
Take care, be safe, and smile!
posted by Rob Christensen | 1:18 AM
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