The Nashville Songwriters Association International(NSAI), The Naked Truth, SongFinishers, Tosco Music Party, Foundation House Jam and The Evening Muse are working together to organize several benefit shows for local singer/songwriter Jackie Moseley. Moseley is a single mom who recently suffered a life-altering injury to her shoulder that will require surgery. Needless to say, she will need assistance with medical expenses and such. The first benefit is scheduled for Sunday, December 29, at The Evening Muse. At press time, justincase, Steve Simpson, John Dungan, Rick Spreitzer, Eva Gael and Second Wind were among those scheduled to perform. The show starts at 3pm and admission will cost $10. Plans are still underway for two more events including the Tosco Music Party (scheduled for mid-January at Spirit Square). Part of the proceeds raised at the concert will benefit Moseley. Another show is being scheduled for sometime in February. Currently, the Evening Muse is selling copies of its holiday compilation A Christmas Evening at the Muse for $10 with proceeds going to Moseley as well. For more details on the CD or the upcoming shows, visit www.queencitymusic.com.
Another good show for a good cause: On Sunday, January 19, Puckett’s Farm Equipment will host a benefit show for Gaston College’s WSGE 91.7 FM. The show will feature a ton of local and regional artists including Gigi Dover & Bill Noonan, Michael Reno Harrell, Delancey Street, Chris Cook, Robin Rogers, Home Remedy, The Stragglers, David Holtzclaw & Donna Duncan, Willy Evans Trio, Jem Crossland & The Hypertonics and Tesser. The music starts at 2pm and will “go “till the cows come home.” Cover will be $5 and all proceeds from the door as well as the bar will go to the station.
After auditioning new drummers over the past couple of weeks, the Bel Air Saints will not only be announcing their new line-up soon, they’ll also begin a new chapter as The New Blacks. Bassist Clyde Covington says the band is very anxious to get out and showcase the new project, so look for the guys to be playing out very soon.
Crisis (Randy Franklin, Tommy Franklin, Ed Leitch, and Bobby Hodges) have returned to the studio to begin work on their third studio release. The new album, entitled Pop-n-Crunch, is being recorded at Hooverama Studios and is being produced by Jamie Hoover (who will also appear on the recordings). The new disc will feature 12-13 new original tracks and will also feature guest musician Henry Killian. The band hopes to release the album in the fall of 2003. For more info on the band, check out www.crisisofcharlotte.com.
Locally based Gaff Music is receiving a good amount of press from across the nation (Baltimore Sun, Los Angles Times) in regard to an upcoming release. The project will feature novelist Madison Smart Bell who label owner, Scott Beal has teamed up with a Southeast supergroup of sorts consisting of Mitch Easter, Don Dixon, Jim Brock and Chris Frank (of The Red Clay Ramblers). Beal says he hopes to release the record in May 2003.
Gaff will also be releasing Guitar Party by Henry Kaiser and Glenn Phillips in February. For sound samples or more info, check out www.gaffmusic.com.
Status Flow manager Dave Beaumont has changed the name of his company from Fluid Productions to Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Productions. This new company will be promoting the first annual Ya’llternative Fest January 8-9 at Amos’ SouthEnd. Beaumont plans for the upcoming showcase to be the first of many. Artists interested in participating in future showcases can send press kits to: Dave Beaumont c/o Meck Deck Productions, 4035 L Collegiate Ave., Charlotte, NC 28262.
The Scott McCloud Group will host a CD Release Party on Saturday, December 28, at the George Washington Tavern & Bookstore. The show will be one of their firsts with new bassist John Dillard. The new disc, On The Gig is now available at CD Warehouse and at the band’s website www.scottmccloud.net.
Charlotte-based MoRisen Records has recently started working with Marat, a fairly new group out of Chapel Hill. The band, consisting of singer John Ensslin (Teasing the Korean, What Peggy Wants), guitarist Michael Rank (Snatches of Pink, Clarissa), bassist Des White (The Veldt) and drummer Scott Carle (Dillon Fence, Collapsis) recently finished recording with producer John Plymale. The label, which also released Leisure McCorkle’s latest CD, also plans to release a new Dillon Fence compilation that will feature previously unreleased material as well as fan favorites from their past albums.
And finally, as much as I’m going to miss it, folks, this will be my last “In Tune” column for a couple of months as I’ll be out on maternity leave during the months of January and February. In the meantime, my esteemed colleague, Tim Davis (he paid me to say that, by the way) will take over. If you have any band news and such to submit, please contact Tim via e-mail at timothy.davis@cln.com. And any show dates you’d like included on the Soundboard need to be directed to lindsey.herman@cln.com. Thanks to everyone who’s given me something to write about and I look forward to catching up with you all again next year. And please, keep rocking!
This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2002.
