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Bob Dylan's Renaldo & Clara: Asleep In The Tomb
Bob Dylan’s Lost Classic Renaldo & Clara: Asleep In the Tomb By James Calemine "I've been read more...
NASCAR: Driving in Different Directions?
by Patrick Snow Some recent events in the world of NASCAR have made us here at Swampland ask the question: In what direction is this sport going? I’ve expressed frustration before about how NASCAR seems to want to forget its Southern roots as they try to put read more...
The Ten Greatest Southern Rock Cities
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Jacksonville, Florida The birthplace of
Guest blog by Bebe Gish Shaw: Magical Mississippi Tour
There are magical moments in teaching which remind us that we do not teach to live but rather live to teach, and Saturday, April 19, 2008, was one of those halcyon days of academic heaven in which one goes into third person, watching himself watching the wonderment sparkle in read more...
Ten Great DVD's For Southern Rockers
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Almost Famous (2000) The semi-autobiographical story of read more...
The Greatest Songwriters of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Dickey read more...
The Greatest Instrumentalists of The Southern Rock Era
INSTRUMENTALISTS (OTHER THAN GUITAR/KEYS/DRUM KIT) by Michael Buffalo Smith
Guest Blog by Molly Hatchet's John Galvin: The Taste of Southern Rock
THE TASTE OF SOUTHERN ROCK by John Galvin of Molly Hatchet I was first read more...
The SEC At A Crossroads: Don't Make NASCAR's Mistake
The SEC sets the pace in all of college athletics. The question is what will it do for an encore? Last week's meetings in Destin, FL ended up largely becoming a time to reflect on
The Ten Best Billy Bob Thornton Movies Ever
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Sling Blade - (1997) Without a doubt Billy Bob’s most famous role. What makes read more...
Guest Blog: Henry Paul On Marshall Tucker
by Henry Paul My first recollection of The Marshall Tucker Band was hearing them on the radio and seeing read more...
The Greatest Keyboard Players of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Chuck Leavell Take one look at the Georgia boy’s
The Greatest Bass Players of the Southern Rock Era
1. Tommy Caldwell - According to all of the members of The Marshall Tucker read more...
Great Southern Record Producers
"There are three kinds of record producers. The first kind is the documentarian -- someone like Leonard Chess, who goes into a bar on the South Side of Chicago, sees Muddy Waters with a six-piece combo, then pulls him into the studio the next day and says, read more...
Kyle Busch: More Sr. Than Jr.?
by Patrick Snow Kyle Busch is in First place in the Sprint Cup standings as the NASCAR circuit prepares for the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte. And if you have watched how he tries to dominate the field each lap of each race, you have to admit how good of a driver read more...
The Greatest Drummers of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Jakson Spires of Blackfoot In my opinion,
Eddie Hinton Does Porretta--Again!
by Penne J. Laubenthal Eighteen years ago in April of 1991 an Italian named Graziano Uliani, founder of the
Top 25 Songs of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd As if there was any doubt read more...
The Greatest Vocalists of The Southern Rock Era
by Michael Buffalo Smith
The Top Ten Guitarists of the Southern Rock Era
The Greatest Guitar Slingers of The Southern Rock Era by Michael Buffalo Smith
Capricorn Records - A Tribute
Swampland's Tribute To Capricorn Records When Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records gave Phil Walden and Frank Fenter the read more...
GRITZ Southern Rock Lists
SWAMPLAND'S SOUTHERN ROCK LISTS
Capricorn Records Discography 1969 - 1979
CAPRICORN LABEL ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY Number - Title - Artist [Release Date] (Chart) read more...
Southern Sporting "Events"
by Patrick Snow As I attended a Kentucky Derby function this past Saturday, it was never more evident that Southerners must throw a pretty good party. We are probably more known
Gritz Legends of Southern Rock
A handful of bands from the Southern Rock Era have earned the title of "Legend." These are the bands that defined the genre and set the bar for all other bands in their wake. These are the few, the originals, the Legends of Southern Rock.
The BCS: A Friend to the SEC (and the Rest of the Footprint)
We at Tribal Fever find it odd that it would be the SEC who would call for a playoff system. We wonder how the SEC can be so blind to the fact that the BCS has been great for that conference. For those that love the idea of a playoff, we will list the reasons why most read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: ZZ Top
by Michael Buffalo Smith "ZZ Top was the best band in the world at remaining mysterious for so long. That was part of their appeal. You saw these beards, and they didn’t talk as much as they do these days. There was just a real mystery about them for a long read more...
Snowman's 2008 Draft Wrap Up
The annual NFL Draft is now over, and the critics will have a field day with opinions on who did well and who faltered with their choices. I thought I would take a look at the Draft from the collegiate view and see who from our region will have the biggest impact on their new read more...
Jim Dickinson's All-Star Music & Film
In Jim Dickinson’s first contribution to Swampland/Mystery And Manners, he wrote an indelible piece on Memphis barbecue. For his second installment Dickinson cites his favorite pianists, films and a desert island music stash. The High Priest of Memphis read more...
SPF's 2008 NFL Draft Awards
Although the NFL Draft still have rounds 3-7 to go, we at SPF think it is time to hand out some awards. Except in very rare cases, team's drafts are defined by their day one picks, and we learned a lot about how the SPF slate of teams are approaching the coming season - for read more...
New York City Southern Style: Alabama Studio Weekend in the Shoals
by Penne J. Laubenthal Imagine starting off your Saturday morning with the perfect Bloody Mary, garnished in typical southern fashion with pickled okra, and served to you by one of the country’s foremost clothing designers,
Widespread Panic: On The Beach
Widespread Panic: On The Beach
Record Stores of the Swampland Footprint
ALABAMA CD Cellar Anniston AL Oz Music Tuscaloosa AL ARKANSAS
Guest Blog by Charlie Daniels; Memories of a Friend
Memories of a Friend by Charlie Daniels I have the greatest respect for talented people who can take nothing and make something out of it. Such is the case of the songwriter. He pulls thoughts out of thin air
Th' Legendary Shack Shakers: "Treulogizing the Gothic South"
A review of “The Tentshow Trilogy”, consisting of “Believe”, “Pandelirium” and “Swampblood” (All on Yep Roc Records) by Frank Gutch
Billy Bob Thornton's Top Ten Southern Rock Albums
by Michael Buffalo Smith In keeping with our ongoing lists of favorite Southern Rock albums, we present the list of actor/musician
Jim Dickinson's Best Memphis Barbecue & Favorite Meals On The Road
When I interviewed the High Priest of Memphis Mojo—Jim Dickinson—I asked him if he’d be interested in submitting his inimitable insight on barbecue, music and movies. Mr. read more...
Getting Realistic About College Hoops Coaching Hires
It’s a who’s who of college basketball in San Antonio with all of the #1 seeds making the Final Four. While the games should be great, there may be just as much drama at the Coach’s Convention, which takes place in conjunction with the Final Four. Many tough read more...
Natasha Trethewey: Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
by Penne J. Laubenthal Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey is a poet who gives voice to the voiceless, names to the nameless, and who creates read more...
The Top Ten Albums of Southern Rock
Southern Rock’s Top Ten Welcome to a new feature at GRITZ called Southern Rock’s Top Ten, where we will be asking the stars an journalists associated with the genre, as well as some of today’s country music stars, to share
The Top Ten Albums of Southern Rock According to...
On the heels of my own Top Twenty Five Southern Rock albums, we asked a few of our friends to share their own lists of Favorite Southern Rock albums, and we got a few real surprises, but one fact read more...
Merlefest at 21, Doc Watson at 85: Festival Notes
A Great American Music Festival And Its Host At The Crossroads by Derek Halsey "In 1934, Dad made me a little home-made banjo,” remembers Doc Watson, on the historic three-CD album of performances and read more...
"Inhale! Inhale! Rock N Roll" by Chris Robinson
INHALE! INHALE! ROCK N ROLL By Chris Robinson Originally Published in New Musical Express July 17, 1993 You pick up the block of read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: Blackfoot
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1969, Jacksonville, Florida: Charlie Hargrett, Rick Medlocke and
Sena Jeter Naslund and Growing Up in the Segregated South
Four Spirits, a novel by Birmingham native Sena Jeter Naslund based on the aftermath of the1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four little girls, made its world premiere read more...
Big House Benefit a Major Success
Article & Photos by John Charles Griffin The annual Allman Brother's Big House Museum Benefit was a rock'n'roll home run with near-capacity crowd at Macon's Armory Ballroom on Saturday, January 19th despite weather forecasts earlier that day for potential snow with ice read more...
Toy Story
This Ol' Cowboy Lives On: Remembering Toy Caldwell (1999) by Michael Buffalo Smith When Toy Caldwell graduated from Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the mid-1960's, he knew that he had a steady gig at the read more...
Guest Blog by Dick Cooper: Delbert Needed a Drummer
By Dick Cooper Delbert needed a drummer. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the truth was Delbert read more...
Darius Goes West: Twelve Guys and a Dream
Once in a great while, just when you think there is no reason to get up in the morning and that there is no hope for humanity, and that people will just go on killing one another forever, and that tomorrow will be probably be even worse than today, then something happens to turn read more...
The Garfeel Ruff Story
by Michael Buffalo Smith From the book Carolina Dreams, 1997. When Rick Godfrey was six years old, he was playing the piano at his Grandmother’s house in Greenville, SC. read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: The Outlaws
by Michael Buffalo Smith Formed in Tampa, Florida in 1972, The Outlaws featured vocalists/guitarists Hughie Thomasson Henry Paul, Billy Jones bassist Frank O'Keefe, and drummer Monte read more...
Fifth Annual Oxford Film Festival
The Fifth Annual Oxford Film Festival (OFF) will open Wednesday evening, read more...
SEC: Conference King Once Again
By Patrick Snow It’s an argument that will never end-whose Conference is better? Fans will debate this topic vociferously every season, and the answer always tends to lie close to your address. I’m not sure that the Bowl games are the best way to evaluate read more...
Huge Hires for the SEC Old Guard
By Patrick Snow It has already been quite the postseason in the SEC coaching ranks, and it’s only going to get more interesting. With the recent additions of Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino along with Houston Nutt and Les Miles staying in the conference, read more...
Macon Holiday Jam Was a Major Success
by John Charles Griffin Macon, Georgia's 2007 Holiday Benefit Jam was held on on December 21st at Cox Capitol Theatre. The event was a major success that featured music by Randall Bramblett,
The Appalachian Sounds of Fonotone Records
The Appalachian Sounds of Fonotone Records By James Calemine “I went out in the open field/Black snake bit me on the read more...
Billy C Farlow is Having Too Much Fun
by Penne J. Laubenthal Billy C Farlow, blues musician, song writer, and harmonica player who skyrocketed to fame in the early ‘70s with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, is a force to be reckoned with read more...
Bah Humbug
By Patrick Snow Well it’s the end of the year, and soon you will be inundated with “Best of/Worst of” lists for 2007. Those lists will have the normal good (Peyton Manning/Appy State) and bad (Mike Vick/Bobby Petrino) perspective on a national scale. read more...
Anarchy in the ATL
By Patrick Snow The current Atlanta Falcons mess brings up so many thoughts and issues. I thought I would try to answer some of the questions that are plaguing this moribund franchise. How did everything go so wrong? The forecast for the Falcons never read more...
Goodbye, Babylon: A Patchwork Quilt of American Music
GOODBYE, BABYLON A Patchwork Quilt of American Music By James Calemine
SEC Coaching - None Better
In the end, it was a surprise. But the surprise came in the school chosen, no the destination - the SEC West. Bobby Petrino finally made it to the coaching promised land when he was named the head coach of Arkansas late last night. Fresh off of a Monday Night read more...
Reality Check
By Patrick Snow Some schools in our Swampland Region are currently learning a harsh lesson: if you are going to make a major change like firing your football coach, you must have a better alternative ready to go. Arkansas, Southern Miss(and Michigan on a national read more...
Bonnie Bramlett Returns with "Beautiful" On Valentine's Day
by Bill Thames Bonnie Bramlett now becomes the third former Capricorn Records artist, along with Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie), and the Capricorn Rhythm Section, to sign with Rockin' Camel Music of Gadsden, AL.
Coaching Carousel
By Patrick Snow The end of the college football season always brings with it unfulfilled goals which translates into coaching changes. There has been quite a bit of movement in our region. Some of the firings were inevitable while others showed us just how unrealistic read more...
Cosmic Art Show in Georgia: A Photographic Retrospective
Buena Vista, Georgia's St. EOM is a Mecca for Cosmic Art Pasaquan's second annual Arts for Pasaquan Day on November 3rd, 2007 featured some of America's best visionary artists including Miz Thang, Robert Seven, Chris (Chubb) Hubbard's Heaven & read more...
Southern Rock and Irish Music Join Forces On Tour
Ireland's Best Vocal Group to Tour With Southern Rockers The Winters Brothers Band by Michael Buffalo Smith Talk about a fresh idea. Ireland's number one ballad and folk group (and holders of eight gold albums) The Dublin City Ramblers have read more...
A Celebration of The Life & Work of Paul Hemphill
A Celebration of The Life & Work of Paul Hemphill By James Calemine "I was ridin' number nine Headin' south from Caroline
First Goal: Win Your Conference
By Patrick Snow 2007 - What a crazy and dramatic season of college football. It seems like the Number 1 or 2 position in the national polls is the most dangerous place to be this year. As hard as it may be for many teams to adjust to all the parity, I believe read more...
Confessions of an Auburn Fan or It's Not Easy Being Orange (and Blue)
by Penne Jones Laubenthal The state of Alabama is a red state. It has been slowly turning red politically since 1960. In the past twenty-seven years, Alabama voters read more...
College Football: More Balanced Than Ever
By Patrick Snow As a kid growing up in the South, the question of whether you liked college or professional football better just would not have been asked. The NFL was always watched and enjoyed, but it never compared to the passion and excitement of Saturdays read more...
West Virginia Music Hall of Fame To Induct First Ever Honorees
Inaugural Class Of Nominees A Diverse Group by Derek Halsey On November 16th, 2007, the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame will induct its first ever class of honorees. Formed in 2005, the Hall of Fame has been building up to these read more...
Colts and Patriots: Providing the Blueprint?
By Patrick Snow The NFL has historically been a ‘copycat’ league and here’s to hoping that the success of the Colts and Patriots influences more teams to build up their offense. When clubs had to adjust to the salary cap in the ‘90s, the theory read more...
NFL Label Book: Overrated
By Patrick Snow Just like many a bad segment of talk radio, another ‘label’ book was recently released into America to get football fans arguing with each other. We have Philly-based ESPN field reporter Sal Paolantonio to thank for this latest read more...
The Great Southern Sportswriters Series
Writing and storytelling have always been deeply ingrained in Southern culture. The people that combined that art with the Swampland Footprint's passion for sports make the whole experience more special and unique. Swampland Sports is proud to offer this series of read more...
Enjoy the Season
By Patrick Snow Another college football season--another initial release of the BCS standings. This annual ritual seems to send everyone running to call a local talk show to scream about a Playoff system and how the middle letter should be removed from read more...
SEC: Top Level for Coaches?
By Patrick Snow Many of us who grew up in the South have always believed that the SEC was King when it came to sports and our allegiances. We watched and cheered for professional teams, but our passion was always at the collegiate level. For many years, read more...
The State of Baseball in the South
By Patrick Snow (editor's note: Swampland Sports considers the following teams to be part of the Footprint: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, read more...
The 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Report
by Derek Halsey On October 4th, 2007 the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) held their 18th annual bluegrass music awards show. In a break from past years, when a lot of the same people seemed to win the awards year after year, the read more...
A Modest Proposal: Southern College Conference Realignment
Now that Swampland Sports has launched Tribal Fever (TF), our dispatch dedicated to college sports in the South, we figured it was time to do weigh in on the current state of college football conferences. The college football conference landscape in the read more...
Post Game Tirades
by Patrick Snow The words and actions after last weekend’s games by two coaches left a lot to be desired. While I may agree with the sentiment of both coaches, there are definitely better ways to express their message. These football ‘CEOs’ have to read more...
Hughie Thomasson Remembered
The world of Southern Rock lost another champion on September 9, 2007 with the passing of Hughie Thomasson. The founding father of the “Florida guitar army” The Outlaws and a long time member read more...
An SPF Tale of Two Waynes
After NFL's week one, Patrick Snow sounded the alarm. The Florida teams in the SPF Footprint were in trouble. It wasn't just about losing games. It was about losing read more...
Athletic Directors: Be Ready To Ante Up
Southern college football-we live it and breathe it year-round, and it has become abundantly clear that the stakes of the game have been raised with some of the recent coaching hires. The ‘price of poker’ is increasing steadily, and if your school is not ready to ante read more...
SPF 2007 Team Previews
As promised, we have our 2007 Team Previews! Since fans can go to numerous places to read about rosters, statistics, etc, we at Southern Pro Football want to focus our 2007 previews on the teams and their connection to their area of the South. We will examine read more...
Danny Brooks: Southern By The Grace of God
Canadian by Birth—Southern by the Grace of God by Bill Thames More than anything else, Danny Brooks is spiritual, but Danny Brooks is soul, too, and deep South gospel tinged with haunting blues. And if you listen close enough read more...
Sunshine State Swoon
Sunshine State Swoon By Patrick Snow Has professional football hit its lowest point in the state of Florida? I’m not trying to overreact to three Week 1 losses, but one has to wonder what direction the franchises in the Sunshine State are going. read more...
St. Simons Island: Seaside Reckoning
read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: The Allman Brothers Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith The Allman Brothers Band is pretty much universally accepted as the premier Southern Rock band, the first, the read more...
The King Is Dead! Hang The Doctor!
The King Is Dead! Hang the Doctor!
The Allman and Oakley Fence Fund Seeks to Protect Grave Sites
by Michael Buffalo Smith There has been an ongoing battle in Macon, Georgia for several years now concerning the grave sites of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley at Rose Hill Cemetery. Over the course of the years, the grave sites have attracted thousands of visitors, and while read more...
Bragg Jam 2007 in Macon: A Photo Retrospective
Macon's annual Bragg Jam, held on July 28, 2007, was again a stellar success. Bragg Jam always draws a lot of Middle Georgia acts, many who were friends with Brax and Taylor "Tate" Bragg, the brothers the event commemorates. The Bragg brothers were read more...
Billy Bob Thornton : Six Degrees of Swampland
W.C. Handy Music Festival, Florence, Alabama, July 22-29
“If Beale Street could talk Married men would have to take up their beds and walk…” Beale Street Blues W. C. Handy wrote those words when he was read more...
Memories of George McCorkle
The first time I met George McCorkle, I was bagging groceries at a Community Cash store in Spartanburg, SC. During those days, many of the Marshall Tucker Band and their wives shopped at the store for read more...
The Divine Spark of Sly & The Family Stone
By James Calemine
Legends of Southern Rock: Lynyrd Skynyrd
by Michael Buffalo Smith Lynyrd Skynyrd may very well be the most popular Southern Rock band of all time. After a skyrocketing climb to the top of the charts during the 1970’s, combined with exhaustive touring, the band who named themselves after their high school gym read more...
The Challenge of Pro Sports in the South
It seems like a simple equation. Growing markets equals new growth opportunities for outside businesses seeking new markets. New economic engines in the South (new factories, new banking and financial concerns, growing tech base, growing populations, and increased buying power) have read more...
Clifton Taulbert at the 6th Annual Writers Conference
Ah, April in Alabama---blistering sun one day, pouring rain the next. A certainty regarding the South is that one just has to wait long enough and the weather will change. Outside the conference building at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Alabama, a precious rain is falling, read more...
Remembering Joann Pierce
by Michael Buffalo Smith When Joann Pierce left this world last week, she was wearing her GRITZ Media laminate around her neck. She had requested it from her loving husband Rick, aka: "Music read more...
Alabama Adventure Weekend
It is Earth Day 2007 and the Alabama sun is unseasonably hot. Summer is still two months away, but the living is already easy, especially in the Shoals area of North Alabama where I am spending the day at the
MerleFest 2007: A Preview
By Michael Buffalo Smith MerleFest 2007, the Americana Music Celebration Presented by Lowe’s, (the 20th annual festival in celebration of the music of the late Merle Watson and his father Doc Watson) will be presented on the campus of Wilkes Community College in read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: Molly Hatchet
by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2007 For our third installment of Legends of Southern Rock, (our first being The Charlie Daniels Band and
Never Ending Soul Food Tour - Mack's Barbecue, Brunswick, GA
James Calemine’s “Never Ending Soul Food Tour” includes documented visits to barbecue joints, catfish dens, chicken shacks and any establishment serving memorable vittles. All photos by James Calemine. Mack’s Barbecue 2809 Glynn read more...
Never Ending Soul Food Tour - Sticky Fingers, Chattanooga, TN
James Calemine’s “Never Ending Soul Food Tour” includes documented visits to barbecue joints, catfish dens, chicken shacks and any establishment serving memorable vittles. Sticky Fingers 420 Broad Street Chattanooga, read more...
Never Ending Soul Food Tour - Swallow on the Hill, Roswell, GA
James Calemine’s “Never Ending Soul Food Tour” includes documented visits to barbecue joints, catfish dens, chicken shacks and any establishment serving memorable vittles. All photos by James Calemine. Swallow on the Hill 1072 Green read more...
Never Ending Soul Food Tour - Wilson's Soul Food, Athens, GA
James Calemine’s “Never Ending Soul Food Tour” includes documented visits to barbecue joints, catfish dens, chicken shacks and any establishment serving memorable vittles. All photos by James Calemine. Wilson’s Soul Food 351 read more...
Never Ending Soul Food Tour - Weaver D's, Athens, GA
James Calemine’s “Never Ending Soul Food Tour” includes documented visits to barbecue joints, catfish dens, chicken shacks and any establishment serving memorable vittles. All photos by James Calemine. Weaver D’s
Never Ending Soul Food Tour - Daddy's Country Kitchen, Acworth, GA
James Calemine’s “Never Ending Soul Food Tour” includes documented visits to barbecue joints, catfish dens, chicken shacks and any establishment serving memorable vittles. All photos by James Calemine. Daddy’s Country Kitchen
Never Ending Soul Food Tour - Fatt Matt's Rib Shack, Atlanta, GA
James Calemine’s “Never Ending Soul Food Tour” includes documented visits to barbecue joints, catfish dens, chicken shacks and any establishment serving memorable vittles. All photos by James Calemine. Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack read more...
Ed King's Journal: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ED KING'S JOURNAL: Skynyrd Guitarist's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Blog
Legends of Southern Rock: The Charlie Daniels Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith For decades Charlie Daniels has refused to label his music as anything other than "CDB music," music that helped elect an American president and been popularized on a read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: The Marshall Tucker Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith "I saw Marshall Tucker in Memphis at the Midsouth Coliseum back in - it must have been ‘73 or ‘74. They were the headliners and the other two acts were The Outlaws and The Charlie Daniels Band. Of course read more...
Tall Stacks 2006
Tall Stacks 2006 A Music Festival Where The Steamboats Rule Cincinnati, Ohio - October 4th through the 8th By Derek Halsey November 2006 In 1988 the city of Cincinnati decided to commemorate its read more...
2006 Americana Music Conference and Awards
Road Trip to The 7th Annual Americana Music Conference & Awards by Michael read more...
GABBAFEST 2006
AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT Article and Photos by Bill Thames November 2006 The Georgia Allman Brothers Band Association read more...
1st ANNUAL GIBSON SUMMER JAM
by Barry Barnes September 2006 Gibson Guitar Corporation hosted their 1st Annual Gibson Summer Jam celebrating the opening of its new Gibson Custom factory on Elm Hill Pike in Nashville, Tennessee on July 27-29, read more...
Mama Louise's Most Excellent Birthday Jam
Story & Photos by by Bill Thames September 2006 A pessimist might say, “a good deed never goes unpunished,” but last weekend, in a room full of smiling optimists, Gregg Allman told the crowd that, “one shared read more...
The Appalachian String Band Festival 2006
An American Diary of a Ukrainian Girl THE APPALACHIAN STRING BAND read more...
Reflections on Gram Parsons: The Complete Reprise Sessions
GRAM PARSONS - THE COMPLETE REPRISE SESSIONS by James Calemine “In my hour of darkness, in my hour of need Oh Lord grant me vision oh Lord grant me speed.” (from Return of the Grievous read more...
Reflections on Willie Nelson: The Complete Atlantic Sessions
WILLIE NELSON: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC SESSIONS …A JOURNEY TO THE RESERVOIR OF AMERICAN COUNTRY & SOUL… by James Calemine “If America had one voice, it would be Willie’s…” - Emmylou read more...
One County Over: Ralph Stanley Sings the Music of the Carter Family
by Derek Halsey May, 2006 AP, Sara, and Maybelle Carter did not invent country music. The music had been evolving in the Appalachian Mountains for generations before the trio made their fateful trip to Bristol, Tennessee in 1927 to record their read more...
Phil Walden Memorial
Phil Was a Capricorn By Michael Buffalo Smith May 2006 Phil Walden, 66, the Capricorn Records founder who launched the careers of Otis Redding and the Allman Brothers Band, died on Sunday, April 23, 2006 after a long read more...
Immortal Blues - In Memoriam: Chris Whitley
IMMORTAL BLUES - IN MEMORIAM: CHRIS WHITLEY 1960-2005 by James Calemine There’s a dirt floor Underneath here To receive us When changes fail May this shovel Loose your trouble Lay them
Shake Me A Lot & I'll Get Hot
“Shake Me A Lot & I’ll Get Hot ” (Directions for “ 3 N 1 Stuff ” barbeque sauce) By Ron Williams April 2006 Actually, the entire “Hawghouse Jingle/Directions for read more...
Larry Rice Memorial
LARRY RICE Bluegrass Musician and Dickey Betts Band Alumnus Dies of Cancer by Derek Halsey April 2006 Larry Rice- Bluegrass Musician and Dickey Betts’ Band Alumnus- Dies Of Cancer We at Gritz Magazine have sad news to read more...
The Georgia Sea Island Singers - Preserving Coastal Music Traditions
The Georgia Sea Island Singers Preserving Coastal Music Traditions By James Calemine Spring 2006 After four decades, Frankie and Doug Quimby continue to travel the world as the Georgia Sea Island Singers, read more...
Road Trip to The Annual Angelus Benefit
by Michael Buffalo Smith & Scott Greene Feb. 2, 2006 Buffalo: I look forward to this every year. The annual pilgrimage from Upstate SC down to Tampa, Florida for Charlie Daniels’ three day read more...
Subdudes Return
subdudes embark on new tour with new album By Richard J. Atkins, Ed.D. February 2006 The subdudes, a New Orleans-based act spanning numerous genres (blues, folk, R&B, country, Cajun, read more...
Marty Stuart Takes Charge of His Music
MARTY STUART TAKES CHARGE OF HIS MUSIC by Derek Halsey February, 2006 Marty Stuart has entered what may be the golden age of his career. He has taken hold of the reins of his musical visions and ideas by starting his own read more...
Derek's Best Albums of 2005
The Top 20 Albums Of 2005 By Derek Halsey Howdy folks. This has been an interesting year in music. While it seems that not as many albums were released in the last year as in the past, a whole lot of great music was thrown out there. read more...
Buffalo's Best of 2005
BEST OF 2005 The Best Releases of 2005, in the Humble Opinion of Michael Buffalo Smith 2005 was a year plagued with sadness, the loss of more Gritz family members than in any year past - Jakson Spires, Danny Joe Brown, Vassar read more...
Kelly Perdue Memorial
KELLY PERDUE - REST IN PEACE Leader Of The Mando Mafia Band Dead At 45 by Derek Halsey December 2005 On the morning of December 15 the music community lost yet another musician with the read more...
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Well Deserved Hall of Fame Induction
Would You Still Remember Me? LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S WELL DESERVED HALL OF FAME INDUCTION by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2005 Eight years. Eight long years of read more...
Sam Shepard Stars in "Don't Come Knocking"
The Electric Cowboy Stars In Wim Wenders' Latest Film by James Calemine December '05 Sam Shepard’s career epitomizes the rugged soul of America’s West. The award read more...
The Jam for Duane: 2005
THE JAM FOR DUANE: 2005 by Mitch Lopate November 2005 Jam For Duane October 27-29 2nd Street Music Hall Gadsden, AL I’m tellin’ ya read more...
Rodney Moag
Austin's own western swingin', yodel singin', morse-codin', on the roadin', book writin', out-of sightin', college teachin', language speakin', fiddle playin', radio deejayin', pickin' singin', always grinnin', college professor
Big Joe Duskin Still Kicks Out Old School Blues Piano
Big Joe Duskin is one of the last of the old time blues piano players who made boogie woogie music what is today. Coming off of his first CD release in 10 years, Big Joe Jumps Again! on Yellow Dog Records, the blues piano master was nominated for the 2005 WC Handy Comeback read more...
Mighty Field of Vision Internet and Radio Foundation Started
JOHN D. WYKER HEADS UP INTERNET RADIO STATION Decatur man's Internet station called a 'vision' of the future; music includes oldies, demos By Ronnie Thomas/Decatur Daily, Decatur, Al October, 2005 The read more...
John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Eddie Hinton
AN EDDIE HINTON CAT TALE October, 2005 In The long, hot, stinking summer of 1984 Eddie Hinton caught a Greyhound Bus back into my hardware store, Hammer Swingin' Life...This was Hinton at his worst...No Nothin'...but a mean read more...
Road Trip to the Ray Brand Memorial Shows
The Ray of Light Benefit Shows Down in Alabama by Michael Buffalo Smith September 1, 2005 It seems like I have spent half of 2005 driving between Greenville, SC and Huntsville, Alabama. But this trip was a read more...
In Memory of Ray Brand
A TRIBUTE TO RAY BRAND GRITZ Archangel Benefit, May 7, read more...
John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Dan Penn
A DAN PENN CAT TALE by JD Wyker April, 2005 Conway Twitty's version of "Is A Bluebird Blue" was real important to Dan Penn...or should I say Wallace Pennington..It was the first real money he made as a read more...
Good Ol' Tater Soup
GOOD OL' TATER SOUP IN THE WINTER; VIZZY SWIZZY IN THE SUMMER By Ron Williams March, 2005 Shhh! Don't tell nobody, but this recipe has some, well, rather French roots. Naw, not celeriac or such, I mean read more...
John D. Wyker's Cat Tales - Macon & Capricorn Records
Macon & Capricorn Records Cat Tale The year 1969 was a wild and strange and crazy time for me.When the editor of GRITZ asked me to write a Cat Tale about the time I spent in Macon,Georgia I was honored to be asked and to be able to say read more...
Breakfast With Hunter
Breakfast With Hunter: A Film By Wayne Ewing Starring Dr. Hunter S. Thompson by James Calemine Feb. 2005 “There may be flies on you and me, but there are no flies on Jesus.” read more...
Road Trip to The Angelus, 2004
Roadtrip - Charlie Palooza 2004 by Michael Buffalo Smith My fourth trip to the Annual Charlie Daniels Country Concert and Golf Classic to benefit The Angelus House was the best ever - A road trip under sunny skies, quite a drive from read more...
Sam Peckinpah
The Furious Legacy of an American Maverick by James Calemine December read more...
2004 Americana Music Conference
AMERICANA MUSIC CONFERENCE NASHVILLE, TN SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2004 by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2004 The ride up to Nashville was beautiful. The majesty of the Blue Ridge read more...
Americana Late Night
by Derek Halsey October 2004 One of the cool things about the Americana Music Conference is the nighttime jams that happen throughout Nashville during the week. I arrive on Tuesday night and end up read more...
Road Trip To The Mountains
Road Trip to the Mountains The Appalachian String Band Festival Camp Washington Carver - Clifftop, West Virginia July 27- August 2, 2004 by Derek Halsey October read more...
Mudcat: Shake 'Em On Down
MUDCAT: SHAKE ‘EM ON DOWN By James Calemine October 2004 Daniel “Mudcat” Dudeck sits in a wooden chair on the small stage playing Blind Willie McTell’s read more...
Drive-By Truckers: Southern (Dis)Comfort
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Southern (Dis)Comfort: It’s Only Rock and Roll by James Calemine I “People need trouble——a little frustration to sharpen the read more...
Johnny Neel: Mr. Soul
Johnny Neel: Mr. Soul by James Calemine “Smokestack Lightning Shining just like Gold.” Howlin’ Wolf You can’t teach soul. Johnny Neel ranks as one of the country’s most read more...
How Southern Are You? Dare Ya! (Pork Brains)
How Southern Are You? Dare Ya! (PORK BRAINS) by Ron Williams (Photo features My Pet Pig, Prissy...) July 2004 I think it's one of those Jeff Foxworthy "Redneck" jokes that says the last words read more...
Phyllis Ann Bailey's Strawberry Preserves
Phyllis Ann Bailey's Strawberry Preserves by Ron Williams Spring City, Tenn., May 16, 2004 The Mexican migrant workers were picking strawberries and loading them onto a Chevy flatbed across Highway 27 outside of read more...
Capricorn Records
By Russell Hall April 2004 In a business where executives often achieve legendary status, Capricorn Records founder Phil Walden has always been something of an anomaly. Unlike say, Jerry Wexler or Ahmet read more...
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
A deluge of Townes Van Zandt releases flood the market since his death on January 1, 1997. A bitter legal battles ensues over Van Zandt's prolific song catalogue. Various related projects recently became available such as Norah Jones' Handsome Band: Live 2004, Margaret Brown's read more...
The World Comes Out To Merlefest
THE WORLD COMES OUT TO MERLEFEST By Derek Halsey June 2004 Merlefest Music Festival April 29-May 2, 2004
I Like My Chicken Fryin' Size
by Ron Williams December 2003 The Yellowhammer, Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Great Carolina Wren, no matter what is listed, are NOT the State Birds of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, or South Carolina. It is The read more...
Hurt: Remembering Johnny Cash
by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2003 During the last several years of his life Johnny Cash was in severe pain 24 hours a day. For many men it would have meant retiring from the spotlight and into read more...
Bluegrass Rules at the 2003 IBMAs
by Derek Halsey August 2003 The International Bluegrass Music Association’s yearly convention is already a couple of days old when I arrive on Wednesday afternoon on read more...
Remembering June Carter Cash
REMEMBERING JUNE CARTER CASH By Derek Halsey July 2003 On May 18th, 2003, Johnny Cash sat in the pew of the First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee looking as old as he ever has. read more...
Ace Moreland: A Remembrance
Ace Moreland: A Remembrance by Paul Doell February 2003 Ace Moreland’s most recent album (Give It To Get It, released on the King Snake-Icehouse label in 2000) includes a 1998 photo of the lean, lanky read more...
The Yucatan is not a tanning salon: Pastel de lujo
by Ron Williams February 2003 I was basically asleep when our oldest son called in from Austin. I think I yelled to ask if his gig paid any real money, and then rolled over and hugged whatever damn dog was in the bed. Turns out, he was calling read more...
Hot Tamales and They Red Hot
Hot Tamales and They Red Hot by Ron Williams December 2002 On Friday, November 27, 1936, in a hotel room in San Antonio, Texas, Robert Johnson recorded "They’re Red Hot." While this song read more...
2002 IBMA Bluegrass Awards Roadtrip
IBMA BLUEGRASS AWARDS ROAD TRIP By Derek Halsey December 2002 As I drove into Louisville, Kentucky on this misty October night I reached for the radio dial to see read more...
QUE TAL, Y'ALL! Tex-Mex Cheese Enchiladas
by Ron Williams October, 2002 Hatcher leaned back in the chair, "Back in the 60’s when I lived in Dallas, we could get some good stuff. Sometimes we’d have to go to the border or even into Mexico to get the read more...
Tom Dowd Memorial
TOM DOWD The Legendary Producer Dies on October 27, 2002 By Derek Halsey Last May I was invited to be backstage at the Grand Ole Opry as the guest of the excellent country and western singer, Joni Harms, whom I had interviewed read more...
Etoufee d' Ecrevissess (or "Mudbug Gravy")
Etoufee d’ Ecrevissess (or "Mudbug Gravy") by Ron Williams September, 2002 I caught crawdads as a kid under the rocks of creeks near Siloam Springs, Arkansas. It was great fun to turn over a rock and see read more...
Road Trip to New Orleans
ROAD TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS THE LEGENDARY JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL Report/Photos By Derek Halsey First Appeared in GRITZ, Print issue #2, Fall 2002 New Orleans is a city being rebuilt these days, as Hurricane read more...
O Sister Thou Hath Been There All Along - Women in Bluegrass
O SISTER THOU HATH BEEN THERE ALL ALONG Women in Bluegrass Music by Derek Halsey June 2002 In the documentary/concert movie Down From The Mountain the women musicians are just read more...
Earl Scruggs Family and Friends
Earl Scruggs Family and Friends A WBZI and Cityfolk.org Production Dayton, Ohio April 14,2002 by Derek Halsey The Earl Scruggs Band featuring; Earl Scruggs, banjo and guitar. Gary Scruggs, vocals and read more...
Barney Barnwell, A Possum's Tale
What follows are some true-to-life tales told by a genuine mountain man, my friend Barney Barnwell of Campobello, S.C. (Camp'beller, that is.) Barney has lead The Plum Hollow Band as singer and fiddle player for over 25 years, playing a unique mix of bluegrass and rock and roll read more...
Best Releases of 2001
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. The Deep End Volume 1 - Gov't Mule What an amazing and unparalleled tribute to the late Allen Woody. Featuring all of his favorite fellow bass players, playing some great music with his band mates Warren Haynes and Matt read more...
Cincinnati Five Way Chili
King-Federal, and the Queen City's Claim to Fast Food Fame Cincinnati Five Way Chili by Ron Williams December 2001 (OK, so I lied about waiting till March to write another column! This is my gift to the read more...
John Hartford Memorial
Where Does an Old Time River Man Go? John Hartford Remembered By Derek Halsey December 2001 In the cool autumn air the sounds of the riverboats were everywhere. There is nothing like the whistle of a ship like the Delta read more...
Holiday Recipe - Cornbread Dressing
Holiday Recipe - Cornbread Dressing by Ron Williams November 13, 2001 Why You Don't Hear, "I'll Beat The Dressing Out Of You."
Celebration of Life Event, 2001
On the Road in Florida Celebrating Life in St. Augustine by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1, 2001 The Celebration of Life memorial Concert and benefit was held on October 20, 2001 read more...
Retail Canned and Frozen Ready - to - Serve Southern Products
Company's Coming! Retail canned and frozen ready - to - serve Southern products A TRUE STORY by Ron Williams October 2001 (ring - ring) "Hello?"
Labor Day Recipes
Yeah, It's Me and I'm Drinkin' Again Labor Day Recipes by Ron Williams August 15, 2001 Labor Day in the South means one thing: Barbeque. It also means NEVER buy any product that happens to be manufactured the day read more...
Leon Wilkeson Memorial
The Cat in The Hat - Remembering Leon Wilkeson July 27, 2001 "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? I must be traveling on now, there's just too many places I've got to see." - RVZ We had been read more...
The Great Molly Hatchet Give Away, 2001
THE GREAT MOLLY HATCHET GIVEAWAY ROCKS LAS VEGAS by Michael Buffalo Smith, 2001 The First Annual "I Love Molly Hatchet" contest wrapped up in Las Vegas, Nevada June 1-3, 2001, with first place winner read more...
John Lee Hooker Memorial
John Lee Hooker (1917-2001) The Man is Gone, But The Boogie Lives On by J.C. Juanis June 21, 2001 The music community lost a great one today, when news of the death of bluesman John Lee Hooker read more...
Bloodkin: Cutthroat Blues
Bloodkin Cutthroat Blues by James Calemine The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.
Biscuits and Sausage Gravy
Get Your Biscuits in the Oven, and Your Buns in the Bed (Biscuits and Sausage Gravy) by Ron & Sandra Williams January 2001 When the South rises again, it will be with the help of White read more...
Best Releases of 2000
My Top CD's of 2000 by Michael Buffalo Smith It's never an easy task to attempt a "Top 40" list. My opinions, like those of everyone else, change with the wind. Still, as a music journalist, I feel compelled at year's end to read more...
Stanley Booth: Can I Get A Witness
Can I Get A Witness The True Adventures of Stanley Booth By James Calemine Winter 2000 Jack Kerouac was a writer. That is, he wrote. Many people who call themselves writers and have their names on books aren’t writers read more...
Remembering Eddie Hinton
Remembering Eddie Hinton "A Musician's Musician" by Dick Cooper Winter 2000 Eddie Hinton was a jewel. The many facets of his talent shone independently, and the whole was much greater than its parts. read more...
Charlie Daniels: Renaissance Hillbilly
Renaissance Hillbilly A Look Inside the Mind of Charlie Daniels by Michael Buffalo Smith October 2000 Not unlike the great state of Texas, Charlie Daniels is a little bit Western and a little bit Southern. read more...
Farther Down The Road with Taj Mahal
Farther Down The Road with Taj Mahal By James Calemine Taj Mahal remains a craftsman of many musical styles. His career reveals a vast scope submerged within traditions of roots music. This year Columbia released four Taj Mahal read more...
In Memory of Allen Woody
In Memory of Allen Woody October 2, 1956 - August 25, 2000 This is the poem Warren read at the funeral.
Janis Joplin Remembered
Recollections of Janis Seen Through the Eyes of Big Brother by Sam Andrew Summer 2000 Janis Joplin spent her childhood in Port Arthur, Texas. That town and indeed all of Texas east of Houston is bayou country, read more...
In Memory of Lonesome Dave Peverett
A TRIBUTE TO LONESOME DAVE PEVERETT by Roxane Crutcher Monday afternoon, I received the news of Lonesome Dave from the webmaster of Foghat...it was all I could do to hold back my emotions..."Rox, Just in case you haven't read more...
Johnson Family of Muscle Shoals
A Legendary Family by Dick Cooper, January 2000 Muscle Shoals music is hard to label because of its diversity. It is Rock, Pop, R & B, Country, Jazz, Folk, and most genres in between. While many influential people have come to the area and read more...
Road Trip To Macon II
Road Trip to Macon, Georgia: The Sequel Makin' it Back to Macon, Again .38 Special, Chris Hicks, Eddie Stone and Remembering the Brothers by Michael Buffalo Smith and Scott Greene 2000