We just didn't have nearly enough room for this in print, so here's a link to a huge list of Halloween party songs. Check it out at ocregister.com.
Here you have two music writers -- Ben Wener and Keli Skye Fadroski of the Orange County Register -- having way too much fun compiling scary-day faves. It's a fun list.
Details: 6 p.m. Nov. 11, Roanoke Main Library, 706 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke. Free. 853-1057, http://emergingartists.tumblr.com | http://thewrightkids.com/
The flier says food is by Grace's Place Pizzeria and Maggie Moo's Ice Cream. Nothing against Maggie Moo's, but where's the love for Pop's Ice Cream and Soda Bar, where the Wrights have played many a show? C'mon, emerging artists!
The show was set for Nov. 8. Look for the band to appear about the first of next year.
MusicCast faves, from new channels editor Dwayne Yancey:
> We've another another shake-up, and this one might be our biggest yet. For the first time since March, The Seed is no longer in the Top 5. Close, but no cigars, or any other smoking materials.
We also have a new No. 1 -- The Void, featuring Neanderpaul, with a brand-new video. Another brand new one by Randolph Walker weighs in at No. 2. And the rest of the list also consists of relatively new arrivals. So, newness all around. So what will be the favorite music video on the MusicCast next week? You tell us. We base the MusicCast Top 5 on who gets the most plays -- so if there's someone you like, just keep on clicking.
If you think your band's video should be in the Top 5, post it to our site, and maybe it will be. Many of these are videos the artists shot themselves and sent in to us. Details are below.
Here’s the week's Top 5:
1. "Talking About Me," by The Void, featuring Neanderpaul
2. "Stone Bridge Road," by Randolph Walker
3. "Celebrator," by Heevahava
4."The Natural," by Case Jones
5. "Seeds," by Heevahava
Next update coming: Nov. 5
These guys rock, and they play tonight at the Lantern, in Blacksburg. Get details on our Top Tickets page. Here's our e-mail q&a with the band ...
cutnscratch: The band comes across really intense and authentic live. Do you guys come from pretty deep personal backgrounds of roots music, or did you find it later on in your musical growth?
Josh Daniels: Personaly I've been into roots & country-ish music for years... my grandfather played lap steel & my great uncle (85 years and still kicking) played what he refers to as "old time" music (hank williams style country music) and they both are carolina natives so I would say its in my blood.
This lineup is insanely packed, with so many genres represented. The list of performers is set in alphabetical order, so scroll down and see amazing entertainers.
From a fest p.r. e-mail:
<<MerleFest 2009 Announces Line Up
Tickets on Sale November 11
WILKESBORO, N.C.--MerleFest 2009, presented by Lowe’s and slated for April 23-26, is proud to announce the line up for the event’s 22nd year. The following artists will join host Doc Watson on the campus of Wilkes Community College for a celebration of what Doc calls “traditional-plus” music—traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, complemented by spontaneous jam sessions and musical collaborations not seen anywhere else:
From Martin's Downtown proprietor Jason Martin:
> Scott H. Biram on December 8th (In Spite Of will open) ($7)
> Cravin' Melon on December 19th ($10) (remember the song 'Sweet Tea'?)
Hey, let's do trivia again. This one comes courtesy of Pete Johnson. That's his nom-de-blog, by the way. Anyway, Pete is a deep well of Roanoke music history knowledge, and he sent me some great questions. They might be tough. But hey, if you win, I'll give you a copy of Red Clay River's "Too Poor to Die."
Here's the stumper:
Name the record that was the only top 20 hit ever recorded in the Roanoke Valley. Name the artist or band that recorded it.
Pete's tough, but I'm easy, so I'm giving you a hint -- This song has been used repeatedly in pop culture: One use was in a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Lots of newspaper folks around the country are sadder today, after learning that Carol Horner had died.
I met Carol when she came to The Roanoke Times via the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism at the University of Maryland, where she was director. Our former editor, Mike Riley, hired her as a visiting writer's coach.
I was one who got some coaching, and I learned a bunch from her. She also gave me my favorite newspaper-related quote, and I have repeatedly stolen it from her. We had a hard time getting together, because just about every time we had some time blocked off, news would break over at the Roanoke courthouse, where I used to be the beat reporter. Once I told her I was sorry for all that, and she said, "Don't worry. The news is rude."
Carol touched a lot of writers and reporters. Follow this link to the Knight Center for more about a really cool woman.
Here's the print review.
Two warnings if you go see a show here. First and most important: Get your beer wristband before the show starts. The givers-of-wristbands had left the building by intermission, making me very sad. Second: Don't go outside, because security won't let you back in. I'm not sure if those rules were for this show only. Smokers, the venue has a balcony you can access from indoors, if you want to smoke.
These guys -- Ketch Secor, Morgan Jahnig and Willie Watson, from left to right in photo -- put on a hot show, and I have to say, it was getting a little stinky in the building by the end of it. People were working up sweat, many standing by their auditorium seats, choosing to flatfoot and bop around instead.
The beginning of the show was rough, sonically. Some high-end volume made my eardrums rattle. By the second set, that was under control, but then it was the audience cheers and applause that rattled the eardrums.
If I were betting, I'd put my money on the guess many in the crowd moved from the theater to some extremely wild parties.
The band is really good at covering those high-tempo, old-time dance numbers, and they've incorporated that vibe really well into their own songs. Harrisonburg native Ketch Secor, the frontman, spoke in a southern drawl that was kind of reminiscent of a hillbilly Foghorn Leghorn. But here's a little secret: In normal conversation, his dialect is closer to that of a laid-back, upstate New York guy.
That's not a knock on him. My own accent can drift between Northeast Tennessee and a couple of longtime childhood friends who had moved there from up north. But it was interesting to hear the one he chooses when he's onstage in front of a roomful of Southern rowdies.
