Alabama Posts
New Features, Capricorn Records, Southern Rock Lists
We are happy to add a couple of new ongoing features here at GRITZ. The first is our
Tom Waits Glitter And Doom Tour Dates (Mostly Southern)
Tom Waits Glitter And Doom Tour Dates Mostly Southern 5/6/08
SEC Football Update, Memphis Style!
Ron Higgins was on fire over the weekend. He's one of the best writers about SEC football newspaper writers outside of Tony read more...
The Legends of Southern Rock, a Guide
Greetings from Carolina. We are happy to present our new
Too Much Fun
When Deryle Perryman contacted me last week to say read more...
Why Swampland Sports Loves the BCS
Despite winning back to back national titles in football, the SEC susre seems to hate the BCS. Lately, this hatred has been read more...
New CD Reviews: Jackson Rohm, Beat Daddys and Mighty Handful
Well, it's 50 degrees at 6:15 PM here in Greenville. Tell me again what the date is? Of course, it was almost 80 degrees yesterday, read more...
More Vintage GRITZ Articles Unearthed; Jimmie Van Zant, Jerry Carrigan, Jimmy Johnson Family
Today I'd like to bring back three more classic features from our GRITZ archives, for your enjoyment and information. The read more...
April in Alabama
Nothing could be more beautiful than April in Alabama and, in my case, nothing could be more exciting. I recently returned from the read more...
Why I Love Bonnie Bramlett
I remember reading about Delaney and
Widespread Panic In Orange Beach, Alabama
Widespread Panic On The Beach 4/19/08
...Night Before Widespread Panic On The Beach...
A Prelude To The Spectacle 4/17/08
Vintage GRITZ Articles Unearthed; Hatchet, Skynyrd, Tucker, Ricky Skaggs and More
It's time once again to add a few more Vintage Gritz articles to the archives, and I hope you'll check 'em out for a "blast from read more...
Snowflakes: What Are SEC Football Critics Going To Do Now?
With spring football in full gear, it’s never too early to look ahead to the upcoming season. We at Swampland have focused many read more...
Outward Bound
“The eye and mind would be functioning as a camera. The writing would be selective and necessarily interpretive—but once read more...
Alabama: Places to Be and People to See
The Alabama Book Festival held in Montgomery, read more...
Alabama Beat: Words and Music in the Deep South
The three poems currently appearing in the Poetry section of Swampland are by Mississippi born Pulitzer Prize winner
Alabama's Going Green: "Let's Get Dirty"
Huntsville, Alabama, has chosen
Thinking About Jakson, Three Years Later
Exactly three years ago today, on March 16, 2005, my world was rocked like it hadn’t been rocked in quite some time. read more...
Alabama's Going Green: A Delicate Balance
Yes, I read the article in the New York read more...
Video Clips: Tornado Hits Downtown Atlanta during SEC Tourney Game
Below is a clip of the game broadcast of Alabama vs. Mississippi State during the moment when a tornado hits the Georgia Dome and read more...
Snowflakes: Why SEC Hoops is No Longer Just Kentucky
With Mississippi and Florida both dropping first round games in the conference tournament, the SEC contingent for the Big Dance seems read more...
Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops Does the Footprint Proud
It’s the most exciting time of the year for many of the smaller schools around our region. Their conferences tournaments have read more...
Midnight in the Garden of Good Southern Rock: Late Night Tea & TV
I love it when things like this happen. I was sitting up late tonight writing, as I often do. Beside me a nice hot cup of read more...
Billy Bob Thornton Speaks at George Lindsey Film Festival
The 11th Annual George Lindsey Film Festival was held down in Florence, Alabama last week. I can say from experience, the Festival is read more...
Alabama's Going Green
Holden Caulfield wanted to know where all the read more...
Snowflakes: C-USA/Big East Hoops
* West Virginia has won 3 of their last 4 and really seems to be coming together at the right time. One of the main reasons for their read more...
Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops
* We still have a great two-horse race in the Sun Belt Conference as both South Alabama and Western Kentucky try to prove they are read more...
Snowflakes: C-USA/Big East Hoops
* Well, it finally happened. The 47-game home winning streak and the perfect record on the season ended for Memphis last Saturday read more...
Dylan Organizes Recordings of Unfinished Hank Williams Songs
Bob Dylan Discovers Unfinished Hank Williams Songs 2/28/08
Black History Month: Look Back, but Move Forward
“Look back but move forward” was the credo of civil rights activist
Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop To Drink
Today the New York Times ran an article entitled
Obama, Spooner and a Drive By Southern Rock and Roller
Back in 1991 I was Executive Editor and co-founder of an alternative press entertainment publication called EDGE in read more...
Another Call To Harry Crews & Beyond
...An Ongoing Pursuit & Recording of the Mystery And Manners Saga...Widespread Panic...Jim Dickinson...Harry Crews and read more...
Let The Sunshine In
I was listening to NPR on Saturday morning when I heard the bluesy sound of an acoustic guitar and a voice that reminded me of read more...
Blackfoot is Our Latest "Legends of Southern Rock" Entry
"Highway Song" and "Train, Train," "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie" and "Wishing Well"- all of these read more...
New CD's from Delaney, Bonnie and Whitlock
This may be the only time in history that the stars have lined up like this. Literally. If you check out the GRITZ CD read more...
It's Not Easy Being Indie
I always thought that in my next incarnation I wanted to come back as an independent documentary filmmaker. I held on to that dream read more...
Video: Jimmy Johnson and Alan Walden from Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary
I have been aware of the Lynyrd Skynyrd read more...
Weekend Notes and Tom Dowd On Ronnie Van Zant
I really hope everyone is enjoying the new look of GRITZ, as well as our “Mothership” Swampland.com. The powers that be read more...
Snowflakes: SEC Hoops
* The Kentucky Wildcats finally look to be playing the kind of winning ball that Big Blue fans expect. It took a while to adjust to read more...
Southern Rock and Country Superstars to Headline BamaJam
Enterprise, Alabama will host the first annual BamaJam Music & Arts Festival scheduled to take place, Thursday, Friday and read more...
Snowflakes: Big East/C-USA Hoops
* With the league’s RPI being 11th in the nation, it’s a distinct possibility that Conference USA could be a one-bid read more...
The Day The Music Died
The day was February 3, 1959. At approximately 12:55 AM, Buddy read more...
Snowflakes: SEC Hoops
by Patrick Snow * Someone forgot to tell 2-time National Champion Florida that they were supposed to struggle this read more...
Lest We Forget: Four Spirits
January 30, 2008, marked the 60th anniversary of the assassination of India’s political and spiritual leader
Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops
by Patrick Snow The regular season seems to get a little overlooked in many of the smaller or “1-bid” leagues in read more...
Snowflakes: C-USA/Big East Hoops
by Patrick Snow * Could this week finally bring the contest where #1 Memphis actually loses a conference game? The read more...
The Best of All Possible Worlds or Is There Balm in Gilead?
I live in the boonies, the hinterlands of Northern Alabama. For years, I made do with erratic reception from local television read more...
Dick Cooper Is Our First "Guest Blogger"
I am happy as a clam to present the first in our series of "Guest Blogs." This one concerns the legendary Delbert McClinton read more...
My Favorite Southern Rock Song?
I was talking to one of my pals down Florida way the other day when the conversation shifted to great Southern Rock songs.We started read more...
Six Degrees of Separation
In the south we not only claim kin we also claim friends. I have learned that behind every new acquaintance there lies the read more...
LIghts, Camera, Action! Film Festivals and Film Debuts in the South
Late winter and spring of 2008 will see the blossoming of a host of film festivals in the South. A number of the festivals read more...
Cowboy in The Studio : A Photo Feature
Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton are back in Duck Tape Studio in Decatur, Alabama this weekend for "phase 2" in read more...
Cowboy in Studio Again This Weekend
Cowboy is back in the studio at Duck Tape Studios with
White Pelicans on Elk River
White Pelicans are a rarity on Elk River. I have never seen one north of Gulf Shores, but on Christmas morning a friend down the read more...
GRITZ Best Albums of The Year
Lots of great music rocked my world in 2007. Here are my choices for the 15 best of the best. Feel free to log on and comment. Let me read more...
Music and Movie Making in Alabama
Sorry to have been incommunicado since Thanksgiving. This time I was overwhelmed by the holiday madness and computer read more...
Montgomery Dedicates New Year's Eve To Hank Williams
On New Year's Eve Hank Williams Fans Gather In Montgomery 12/17/07
Brothers of the Southland Advance CD Download Available Now
The Brothers of the Southland with Bo Bice CD is now available for a limited time as an advance download of the CD. The read more...
Jimmy Hall Launches New Web Site, Features Exclusive Video and Audio
Jimmy Hall's
John Sayles Interview
Mystery & Manners John Sayles Interview 12/8/07 On Thursday I interviewed
Rockin' Camel Music Gets Website Makeover
Rockin' Camel Music, based in Gadsden, Alabama, has been creating quite a buzz over the past couple of years. They have been compared read more...
...Into The Deep...
Mystery & Manners Dispatch 12/05/07
Picture of the Day: Buffalo and T. Graham Brown
Gritz man Michael Buffalo Smith hangs out with country r&b legend T. Graham Brown at the Angelus event in Tampa, read more...
Picture of the Day: Boyer & Talton with Johnny Sandlin
Taking a break outside Duck Tape Studios during the recording of the new Cowboy album, Scott Boyer, Johnny Sandlin and Tommy Talton. read more...
John Hammond "Southern Fried;" Old & Heavy Gold
Southern Fried John Hammond This true “lost treasure” read more...
TF Rivalry Week Preview
Rivalry games define college football. More than bowl games or even conference championships, a win against your rival means read more...
Swampland Salutes Great Southern Writer Paul Hemphill
Mystery & Manners Highlights Writer Paul Hemphill 11/21/07
The Cowboy Diaries: Part One
by Michael Buffalo Smith GRITZ went into the studio with Cowboy for the recording of their all new album, their first in 36 read more...
Confessions Redux
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Auburn’s 1957 National Championship. Not only did the Tigers go undefeated that read more...
Picture of the Day: Cowboy Reunion
The entire original read more...
In The Studio for the Cowboy Reunion Album
Well, here I am in Decatur, Alabama, a stone's throw away from Muscle Shoals. I only have a minute to report that recording on the read more...
TF Saturday Preview: The Year of Transition Nears An End
The wild year continues. In many ways this was just a sign of the transition college football around the Footprint has read more...
Jerry Wexler Talks Bob Dylan, Doug Sahm and Muscle Shoals
Jerry Wexler Talks Dylan, Doug Sahm and Muscle Shoals 11/15/07
Cowboy Take Me Away: The Scott Boyer Interview
GRITZ is happy to present an exclusive interview with one of the South's finest musicians and human beings, Scott Boyer. From his read more...
TF Saturday Preview: Everything's Still To Be Decided
Patrick Snow has it right. This year's
Blind Boys of Alabama 70 Years Young
Blind Boys of Alabama: 70 Years Young
Tribal Fever's Weekend Observations
1. That enormous exhale coming from the Oxford, Mississippi area would be the sigh of relief of Ole Miss Coach Ed Orgeron. His Rebels read more...
Tiger Rag
In the spring a young man’s fancy may turn to baseball, but in the fall in the South everyone’s fancy turns to read more...
TF Saturday Preview: Pole, er.. Bowl Position
If you aren't a Florida or Georgia fan, this weekend might be a good one to spend with the kids. This is a pretty thin weekend read more...
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Wednesday night’s opening game of the 2007 World Series at
It is Raining on the River!
I guess I rattled my rain stick enough this weekend to wake up the clouds. We In North Alabama are reveling in what the Navajos call read more...
TF's Saturday Preview: Act Like You've Been There Before!
It's the old saying when a player celebrates a little too much - act like you've been there before. This rules seems to also read more...
Ryan Bingham And The Drive By Truckers Hit the Road
Ryan Bingham and The Drive By Truckers Hit The Road 10/17/07
Online Radio Station Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd October 20th
Rockin' On The Top of The Mountain
Our primary goal of the trip, besides handing out the videos, was to shoot the camel on top of the read more...
On the Road Again
Sorry I have been incommunicado lately. I am still struggling with allergies that seem to get worse rather than better. Ah, fall in read more...
Dick, a Duck and a Decoy : Part One
Shootin’ The Camel on the Top of the Mountain Part read more...
TF's Saturday Preview: The History Behind SEC Dominance
Tribal Fever would like to start this weekend's festivities by directing everyone to a fantastic series on
Tribal Fever's Weekend Slate (10/6/2007)
Let's start with this week's College Football Preview from Athlon. Swampland's own Patrick Snow hosts each read more...
Picture of the Day: An Allman Brothers Band Flashback
This GRITZ file photo was taken during the time when Jack Pearson was playing in The
Arrivederci Roma, Ciao Athens (Alabama)
I have just returned from ten days in Italy (Venice, Florence/Tuscany, and Rome) and am way behind on my blog, so please bear read more...
Upset Saturday, or not?
Patrick Snow mentioned in his last column read more...
People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs 1913-1938
Tompkins Square Releases Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs This Week 9/29/07
Swampland welcomes Tribal Fever!
It was only a matter of time before Swampland Sports starting covering the colleges in earnest. Today marks the start of Tribal read more...
Nuke Fallout Shelter For Alabama
Alabama City Reopening Nuke Fallout Shelter 9/27/07
Autumnal Traditions and Emotional Rescue in Tuscaloosa
Autumnal Traditions and Emotional Rescue in Tuscaloosa 9/23/07
Ray McKinnon's Randy and the Mob
Ray McKinnon's New Film Randy and the Mob 9/22/07 From Capricorn Pictures...Here's the trailer for read more...
"Sweet Home Alabama" To Become Alabama's Tourism Theme
Well, the news is out.
Swampland Sports Thursday Links
Just a few quick hits here on Thursday.... Snowman's Latest Column Patrick Snow's
CD and DVD releases for week of September 18, 2007
New Releases Doyle Bramhall
The Shadow And the Truth
9/19/07 ...THE SHADOW AND THE TRUTH...
Emmylou Harris Retrospective "Songbird" Hits Streets Today
Songbird: Rare Tracks & Forgotten Gems Out Today 9/18/07
More Alabama Authors: Eric Smith
Eric Smith is assistant professor of English at the University of Alabama-Huntsville where his speciality is Post Colonial read more...
Patterson Hood Song In New Ray McKinnon Film
Patterson Hood Song In New Ray McKinnon Film 9/12/07
Danny Brooks is Alabamy Bound
I'll never forget the first time I heard the music of Danny Brooks. It was a few years ago, and my friend and staff member Mitch read more...
"When I die, the brush dies": Remembering Jimmie Lee Sudduth
CD and DVD releases for week of September 11, 2007
New Releases Billy Joe Shaver
Charlie Louvin Continues Touring into Fall with Lucinda
Spotlighting Alabama Authors
During the next few weeks I will be featuring the poetry of several Alabama writers whose poems were published in the recent read more...
CD and DVD releases for week of August 21, 2007
New Releases Galactic
Hot and Wet or Hot and Dry?
The state of Alabama made the national news on two consecutive days this week: first regarding the referendum that could read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 8/12/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. Well the inevitable happened last week when read more...
Turtle Tracks
In the fall of 2005, my sister Peggy bought a 1985 Toyota Dolphin RV from her son in Seaside, CA, and in late October Peggy, our read more...
CD and DVD releases for week of August 7, 2007
New Releases Bruce Hornsby/Christian McBride/Jack DeJohnette
CD and DVD releases for week of July 31, 2007
New Releases 10 Mile Crossing
CD and DVD releases for week of July 24, 2007
New Releases Billy Bob Thornton
West "by God" Virginia and The Free State of Winston
Is West Virginia really a part of the south? Jason Headley in an article entitled "A State of Confusion" pleads the case read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 7/15/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. The college sports “arms race" read more...
CD and DVD releases for week of July 17, 2007
New Releases Raul Malo
In The Studio: New Southern Rock & Country Releases On The Way
TOMMY TALTON says that he and SCOTT BOYER have been writing new material for a read more...
Look Homeward, Angel: In Memoriam Doug Marlette
On Tuesday, July 10, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Doug read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 7/8/07
1. Ed Hinton read more...
07-07-07
Isn't seven the most powerfully magical number? -- Tom Marvolo Riddle to Horace Slughorn Harry read more...
A Quiet Fourth of July
It is a strangely quiet Fourth of July on the river. Due to the devastating
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 7/1/07
1. The NBA Draft was this week’s big sports story. The Draft is all about hope for the future. Despite recent expansion in the read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 6/24/07
Swampland’s Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 6/24/07 Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the read more...
CD and DVD releases for week of June 26, 2007
CDs New Releases Charlie Daniels
Fire On The Mountain
6/25/07
Dysfunction Junction
There is a interchange in Birmingham, Alabama, that is so infamous it has been dubbed Dysfunction Junction. After the last deadly read more...
Ninety is the New Forty-five
I hope each of you read the newspaper article by James Lewis of Newhouse News Service published on May 26th. Lewis wrote about four read more...
Jimmy Hall to Sing Anthem in Rome, Marshall Tucker to Perform
Rome, GA - The Rome Braves announce today that Southern rock legend Jimmy Hall will perform the National Anthem at the 48th South read more...
Uneasy Rider
Last weekend I traveled to Austin, Texas, for the 90th birthday celebration of Dr. Elva Mclin, my mentor, friend, and longtime read more...
Celebrations On The River
Today marks the 28th annual Cotton Row Run , a 10K race through read more...
A Long, Hot Summer?
I don’t think it has rained in the Tennessee Valley since the day
More On the Untimely Death of Topper Price
Terry O'Neil "Topper" Price, one of the most recognizable figures on Birmingham's music scene, died read more...
Southern Musician Topper Price Dead
Topper Price, a well loved and respected singer and harp player from Alabama, was found dead today. No details are available as of read more...
Friends Come Out For Boyer in Birmingham: Gregg Allman Headlines
The second of two benefit concerts for ailing Southern Rock icon Scott Boyer was held on Wednesday, April 18th in Birmingham, read more...
Tipping My Hat To Kirk West
What a day. It was a beautiful day for a drive from my home in Greenville, SC to the big city of Birmingham, Alabama. About five and a read more...
A Benefit for Boyer: Southern Rockers Will Jam to Help Pay Medical Bills
Muscle Shoals musician Scott Boyer has always been one of the first to pitch in when one of his fellow players needed a hand.
On The Road at The Scott Boyer Benefit in Muscle Shoals
After a fun day with the Lopates (see my previous blog) we found ourselves at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence, Alabama for what read more...
Drive-By Truckers split with Jason Isbell
After more than five years, Jason Isbell and the Drive-By read more...
From The Stone Pony To The Rockin’ Camel
(Toto, I Don’t Think We’re in Long Branch Any More) Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007
All-Star Scott Boyer Benefit Coming Wednesday
The first of two benefit shows for former Cowboy member Scott Boyer will take place this coming Wednesday, April 4th, at the Shoals read more...
Former Alabama Member Jeff Cook Signs Record Deal
Former Alabama member and Country Music Hall of Famer Jeff Cook and newcomer Mitch Glenn inked with Lofton Creek Records. Cook and read more...
Jimmy Hall Records Eddie Hinton Tribute
The South has given birth to some of America's greatest unsung heroes- hardworking , soul baring singers, writers and musicians. Rarely read more...
The Best Radio On The Internet, The Mighty Field of Vision
Whatever happened to radio anyhow? I mean, radio today just plain sucks. Sure, you can find some interesting programming here and there read more...
Two Benefit Concerts Scheduled For Scott Boyer
SHOALS & BIRMINGHAM BENEFIT CONCERTS SET FOR FORMER CAPRICORN ARTIST SCOTT BOYER
Collector May Be Allowed to Keep Hank Williams' Notebook
Collector could keep Hank's notebook Theft case brought by Sony thrown out A notebook read more...
Rodney Davis of Sailcat Dies
Rodney Reeves Davis, age 54, died February 28, 2007. He was born in read more...
Folkstreams-The Land Where The Blues Began
2/20/07 Folkstreams.net encapsulates many great films based read more...
Hank Williams Site Torn Down
12/28/06 Newsreel... A Hank Williams Tribute Site Torn Down...Plans To Resurrect New Monument Afoot in 2007...James read more...
Alabama Reviews
American Hearts
A.A. Bondy American Hearts Fat Possum Records The South is one of the last places as far as I know where read more...
Five Moons
(beatdaddys.com) Larry Grisham and his band have been burning read more...
The Very Best of Outlaw Country
(Legacy) The thing that sets this compilation apart from the plethora of others that are always being flooded into the read more...
See You In A Hundred Years
See You In A Hundred Years by Logan Ward Benbella Books Has the stess of today's world with read more...
Do What's Right
(Candlefly) jackpearson.com Jack Pearson is one of our read more...
Street Survivors - Deluxe Edition
Street Survivors - Deluxe Edition 30th Anniversary (Geffen/UMe) Mere days read more...
Brothers of the Southland
Brothers of The Southland is one of the best of the plethora of “all star” bands playing today, and their debut CD is a read more...
Being Dead Is No Excuse
Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting The Perfect Funeral Hyperion Press, 2005
Beautiful
(Rockin' Camel) With the music business in a state of flux, it is indeed refreshing to come across an artist who isn’t read more...
Lovers
(www.bobbywhitlock.com) Joined by a stellar group of musicians, music icon, Bobby Whitlock and wife, CoCo Carmel, have read more...
Brighter Than Creation's Dark
(New West) Athens, Georgia's Drive-By Truckers are the undisputed torch bearers of Southern Rock in the 21st century. They read more...
Just A Little Lovin'
After an early career spent bucking against the Nashville system, Alabamian Shelby Lynne has emerged as one of our Footprint's read more...
Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Brighter Than Creation’s Dark Drive By Truckers New West Records By James Calemine
Darius Goes West
“Something’s gonna happen like…Just spark the whole world,” exclaims Darius, the star of the read more...
Lonely Just Like Me: The Final Chapter
(Hacktone) In 1993 Arthur Alexander cut one of the most important records of his career, Lonely Just Like read more...
Source Point/I’m Satisfied
(Raven) Blues man John Hammond has recorded some fine albums during his long and varied career, including the Muscle read more...
How Low Can You Go?
How Low Can You Go? Anthology of the String Bass Various Artists Dust-To-Digital By James read more...
Salvation On Sand Mountain
Salvation On Sand Mountain Dennis Covington Penguin Books By James Calemine
Desperate Man Blues
Desperate Man Blues: Discovering The Roots of American Music The Story of Joe Bussard
I Belong To This Band
I Belong To This Band: Eighty-Five Years of Sacred Harp Recordings Various Artists Dust-To-Digital By read more...
Blues Sweet Blues
Blues Sweet Blues Various Music Maker Artists Music Maker Series #91 & #92 By James Calemine
Song of America
Song of America Various Artists 31 Tigers Records By James Calemine This 50-song, 3 CD read more...
KELBRN
Killers From Space
Killers From Space James Luther Dickinson Memphis International Records By James read more...
The Scene of the Crime
Bettye LaVette
The Bluegrass Sessions
The Bluegrass Sessions Merle Haggard McCoury Music By James Calemine Merle Haggard's new read more...
Howl at the Blues
(White Horse) Stephen Foster is a major Southern talent. A super pianist and vocalist, Foster is also gifted with an read more...
Whatever Remembers Us: An Anthology
Whatever Remembers Us: An Anthology of Alabama Poetry edited by Sue Brannan Walker and J. read more...
I Will Obey
(jojobillingsley.com) JoJo Billingsley, best known as one read more...
Sirens Of The Ditch
(New West Records) Recorded several years ago at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Sirens of the read more...
Build Your Own Fire
(Zoho Roots) Jimmy Hall is one of the finest singers working today. I don’t say that just because he is the read more...
Dub's Burgers
Dub's Burgers 204 South Jefferson Street Athens, AL 35611 256-232-6135
Driving With The Devil
Whitt's Barbecue
Whitt's #1 1397 East Elm Street Athens, Alabama 35611 256-232-7928 My sister had a read more...
40 Greatest Hits
Blue to the Bone
(Blues Avenue) Louisiana guitar man Bob Hart has been ripping it up for years, going all the way back to the read more...
Dear Y'all - The Songwriter Sessions Vol. 1
Dear Y'all: The Songwriting Sessions Vol 1 Eddie Hinton Zane Records By James Calemine
The Bar-B-Q Smoke House
The Bar-B-Q Smoke House 3231 Point Mallard Parkway Decatur, Alabama (256) 350-0131
Portraits and Songs From the Roots of America
Enclosed within the new Music Maker book titled Portraits and Songs From the Roots of America rests a CD featuring 22 read more...
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues - The Handlebar
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues The Handlebar Greenville, S.C. May 6, 2006
David Allan Coe - The Handlebar, Greenville, S.C.
DAVID ALLAN COE The Handlebar, Greenville, SC July 22, 2006 David Allan Coe took over that audience read more...
Between Rock And A Hard Place: Chuck Leavell
Between Rock And A Hard Place Chuck Leavell with J. Marshall Craig (Mercer University Press) read more...
Lovesick Blues: The Life of Hank Williams
Lovesick Blues: The Life Of Hank Williams by Paul Hemphill (Viking) So much has been read more...
John D. Wyker & Eddie Hinton - Johnny Wyker Video
(MFOV) Once in a very blue moon, something crosses my desk that is absolutely, without a doubt, totally unique. Well read more...
Tom Dowd & The Language of Music
(Palm Pictures) thelanguageofmusic.com The read more...
The Dirty South
Drive By Truckers The Dirty South (New West) Southern rock is alive and well read more...
What's Wrong With Right
Hacienda Brothers What’s Wrong With Right (Proper) The Hacienda Brothers, led by read more...
That's How They Do It In Dixie
Hank Williams, Jr. That’s How They Do It In Dixie (Curb) Bocephus is back with read more...
It's Never Too Late
Donna Hall It’s Never Too Late (donnahall.net) For those of us who have followed read more...
King Karma
King Karma (Centurion) King Karma rocks, ladys and gentlemen.They embody everything we read more...
There Will Be A Light
Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama There Will Be A Light (Virgin Records) Ben Harper produced read more...
Playing Around - The Songwriter Sessions Vol. 2
(Zane) When the word went around that there was another volume of unreleased Hinton material about to hit that read more...
Southscape
Chuck Leavell commands respect in the music world. He’s played piano with the Rolling Stones (for half the band’s read more...
Lee Gates and the Alabama Cotton Kings
Born in Pontotoc, Mississippi in 1937, Lee Gates moved to Milwaukee as a teenager where he’s been playing juke joints for over read more...
Hard Luck Guy
Eddie Hinton, the Muscle Shoals singer/songwriter, did not live to complete the 1999 Capricorn release Hard Luck Guy. In read more...
Year Of The Cock
Fiddleworms Year Of The Cock (Heart of Gold) Alabama’s own Fiddleworms read more...
Killers and Stars
"When they thaw out Uncle Disney, gonna be some changes made/Pointing fingers, asking questions/forty years of decisions read more...
Alabama ArticlesThe Top Ten Guitarists of the Southern Rock Era
The Greatest Guitar Slingers of The Southern Rock Era by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Duane Allman
GRITZ Southern Rock Lists
SWAMPLAND'S SOUTHERN ROCK LISTS We love lists! This is your one-stop index page for all of our lists. 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 nationally for our college football crowds and pageantry, but the spring read more...
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 every proposal for a college playoff is a horrible idea for college football at large and especially 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...
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, Billy Reid, in his boutique housed in the historic and elegantly appointed Pickett Place read more...
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 Sound Warehouse Fayetteville 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 monuments in words for those whom history has forgotten. Relying on photographs, personal memory, read more...
Poems by Natasha Trethewey
Miscegenation In 1965 my parents broke two laws of Mississippi; they went to Ohio to marry, returned to Mississippi. They crossed the river into Cincinnati, a city whose name begins with a sound like sin, the sound of wrong, mis in Mississippi. A year later they moved to Canada, followed a route the 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 their Top Ten all time favorite read more...
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 remains, The Allman Brothers Band Fillmore East album has a heck of a lot of fans read more...
Billy Bob Thornton in Florence, Alabama
by Penne J. Laubenthal Severe weather warnings had been issued for North Alabama when I made my way to Florence for the Friday afternoon session of the 11th Annual George Lindsey Film Festival featuring Billy Bob Thornton. But apparently neither sleet nor snow read more...
Patterson Hood and The Drive By Truckers
by Michael Buffalo Smith Patterson Hood grew up in Florence Alabama, across the Tennessee River from Muscle Shoals. Patterson began writing songs when he was in third grade and began playing guitar in bands at about 14. His father is David Hood of the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, who played with Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Cliff, read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: Blackfoot
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1969, Jacksonville, Florida: Charlie Hargrett, Rick Medlocke and Greg T. Walker form the band read more...
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 as a theatrical production at the University of Alabama--Huntsville this past weekend. The stage play read more...
Deryle Perryman and Dangerous Highway, a Film About Eddie Hinton
by Penne J. Laubenthal Dangerous Highway is an amazing documentary about the life and music of the incredibly talented and tragically fated Eddie Hinton, called the "greatest unknown musician you have ever heard." The film was made by 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 McClinton often needed a drummer. He had a pretty high turn over in that position.
The Sounds of David Barbe
THE SOUNDS OF DAVID BARBE
Logan Smalley: Creator and Director of Darius Goes West
In 2005 Logan Smalley, a special education major at the University of Georgia-Athens, undertook a venture that would change his life, not to mention the lives of those who view his amazing film. Smalley rented a handicapped accessible RV, recruited ten
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 your world around. For me, that something was seeing a feature length documentary read more...
Fifth Annual Oxford Film Festival
The Fifth Annual Oxford Film Festival (OFF) will open Wednesday evening, February 6, in Oxford, 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 league strength across college football, but it is basically all we have. Here’s my opinion 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, wins are going to be harder and harder to come by in the nation’s toughest gridiron league. Each 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 on the music circuit. Billy C has been out there for over forty years making his music, writing 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. Instead of that, I thought I would look at some problems facing our Region. I hate to not be in the 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 Football debacle against New Orleans, Petrino made the move. Today, the SEC stands as the read more...
Way Down South With John Sayles
Way Down South with John Sayles By James Calemine John Sayles’ films command respect. His latest film, Honeydripper, takes place in Alabama during the 1950s. Honeydripper counts as Sayles’16th film which 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. While under 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 I heard that lonesome whistle blow."
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 have increasingly voted for Republican candidates at the federal level, especially in Presidential read more...
Scott Boyer On Cowboy, The Decoys and a Lifetime of Southern Music
by Michael Buffalo Smith We met up with Scott Boyer at his home in Killen, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals. His puppy dog Rusty was running around playing and having a high old time, while Scott sat behind a keyboard in his home studio to open up about Cowboy, The Decoys and a lifetime of good music. Tell me about where you were born and read more...
Interview with Charles Ghigna
by Penne J. Laubenthal Charles Ghigna (aka Father Goose) is the author of more than 5,000 poems and 30 award-winning books of poetry. His books have been featured on ABC-TV’s "Good Morning America" and NPR, selected by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Parents' Choice Book Award. He is a poet, read more...
The Alabama Wiregrassers
by Charles Ghigna Dry rooted in penny coated clay, the wiregrassers come suntan tamed in drawl through the mire faster. Machetes high aimed for home, they carry the clues of day across their open, flying clothes. Blade for blade, steel for grass, they flog the wire with a hungry denim run.
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 profiles of the best sportswriters our Footprint has to offer. You've already probably read them read more...
Baseball Dreams
by Charles Ghigna In memory of Jack Marsh, second baseman, Yale University, 1943 Before the bayonet replaced the bat, Jack Marsh played second base for Yale; his spikes anchored into the August clay, his eyes set deep against the setting sun. The scouts all knew his numbers well, had studied read more...
Shacks on Highway 231, Along the High Red Clay Embankments
By Bonnie Roberts These words are for those who never wrote a word, or sang a song, or thought a great thought, or invented something, or made something lasting. These words are for those who lived extraordinary non-extraordinary lives, of getting up each day, and walking through the day,
Truck Driving Man (An American Roadsong)
Truck Driving Man (An American Roadsong)
Troy Johnson, (Columbus, GA) Ledger-Enquirer
Writing as a sports columnist for the Columbus 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 ‘BCS’. Enough already. If all that you’re worried about is how January turns out, you’re read more...
Ron Higgins, (Memphis) Commerical Appeal
Ron Higgins grew up around sports during his youth in Louisiana. He has spent 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, coaches have moved from the Amateurs to the ‘Pros’ mainly for monetary reasons, but you 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, and Washington Nationals) I do want to sound too negative about a game that I absolutely 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 Footprint has become downright confusing. It used to be that there were three main conferences, 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 remember that their job entails being one of the most visible leaders in their State, and they must act 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 up, your team will be left behind. We’re witnessing a changing of the guard when it comes to read more...
Auger and Old Shoes
by Eric Smith I. On her rocker’s each forward pitch she glimpses the scuffed toes of shoes down the hall, unlaced, empty, still at the foot of the bed, a very old cliché, like the 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 you’ll even hear a touch of raw, chilling, Ralph Stanley style mountain music, too. In addition, Danny read more...
My South
By Doris Gabel Welch My South is Hot Humid Sultry Just like its women. My South is
Phillip Quinn Morris
Phillip Quinn Morris, author of Mussels and
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 living in Memphis in 1916. It had been a long road from Florence, Alabama, to Memphis, Tennessee, read more...
The Bayou Sideshow
The Bayou Sideshow By James Calemine read more...
Cassandra King
Alabama native Cassandra King is not only the wife of author Pat Conroy, but she is also a celebrated novelist in her own right. She is currently touring the South to promote her most recent novel
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, soaking the parched cotton fields and drenching the freshly turned gardens.
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 Alabama Adventure Weekend, a two-day banquet of art and culture, fun read more...
Charlie Louvin
CHARLIE LOUVIN INSURED BEYOND THE GRAVE by James Calemine February 2007 The Louvin Brothers legendary songs transcend time. Born Ira (April 21, 1924) and Charlie (July 7, 1927) Loudermilk, the brothers were raised poor in Henagar, Alabama, and began singing gospel music early in their lives. A few years later read more...
John Hammond
by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2007 After three decades, John Hammond proves he's still a vital performer in American music. One of the very few white blues musicians performing at the beginning of the first blues renaissance of the mid-'60s, he found himself onstage alongside artists such as Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis and Skip James. read more...
Claire Lynch
ONE NEW DAY AT A TIME Claire Lynch Has Something For Everyone By Sonny Edwards July 2006 To the careful observer, there are all manner of days. No one can count them all, but they include, in part, good days, bad days, great days in the morning, hot days, cool days, perfect days, better days read more...
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 Use: for 3 N 1 Stuff Barbeque Sauce is: “Shake Me Not & I’ll Be Cool, Shake Me 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 and I mean it with no disrespect: three men looked down from the Big Music Studio Room in the Sky read more...
The Fiddleworms
AS THE WORMS TURN GETTIN' DOWN AND DIGGIN' IN WITH THE Fiddleworms by Sonny Edwards (Photos by Dick Cooper) November 2005 Have you ever had a favorite cup or a beautiful vase or figurine or sculpture, or maybe a model ship or airplane that slipped suddenly from your hands and became 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 rock 'n' roll wars behind him, John D. Wyker of Decatur has settled into a sedate life of overseeing 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 and bad attitude...and a bad body odor that was a mixture of human sweat built up in layers until 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 mighty special one. I was headed back to the Rocket City to take part in a memorial concert and benefit read more...
In Memory of Ray Brand
A TRIBUTE TO RAY BRAND GRITZ Archangel Benefit, May 7, 2005. (Dick Cooper Photo) RAY OF LIGHT 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 songwriter! I was lucky enough to have been at Spar Music above City Drug Store in 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 that I would try to give the readers a feel for what the mood and atmosphere was like during those 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 spirit on, toughen it. Artists do; I don’t mean you need to live in a rat hole or read more...
John Townsend
By Michael Buffalo Smith April 2004 This issue, we have located one of the true great voices of rock and roll, John Townsend, who struck gold during the 1970s with the hit “Smoke from a Distant Fire.” The Alabama native speaks candidly about The Rubber Band, The Sanford Townsend Band and read more...
Johnny Sandlin
Johnny Sandlin Southern Producer, Engineer and Musician by Michael Buffalo Smith Spring 2004 You can find his name in the credits of most any Capricorn Records release from the 1970s. Johnny Sandlin, the remarkable producer, engineer and musician who worked read more...
Patterson Hood
PATTERSON HOOD of THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2003 The Drive-By Truckers are taking the music world by the short hairs, rocking hard and doing it their own way. Their successful Southern Rock Opera CD set, based around the modern day read more...
Tom Dowd
From The Manhattan Project to the Allman Brothers Band An Interview with Tom Dowd by Michael Buffalo Smith Fall 2002 Okay. We know that he has produced some of the greatest records in the history of rock and roll, from The Allman Brothers Band’s Fillmore album to Layla by read more...
Charlie Hayward (The Charlie Daniels Band)
CHARLIE HAYWARD Playing in The Charlie Daniels Band by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2002 Since 1975, Charlie Hayward has held down the bottom for the Charlie Daniels Band playing bass guitar touring and recording with Daniels. We caught up with Hayward at read more...
George Lindsey
GEORGE LINDSEY A Chat with Mayberry’s Goober Pyle by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2002 There’s no doubt about it. George Lindsey will always been remembered first and foremost as the loveable goof known as Goober Pyle, whom he made famous read more...
Peanutt Montgomery
Peanutt & The Possum A Visit with Songwriter/Musician Peanutt Montgomery by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2002 When we made our way back down to Alabama for the George Lindsey Film & TV Festival, we really had no idea we'd be meeting one of country music's most prolific songwriters, but thanks read more...
Clarence Fountain (Blind Boys of Alabama)
Clarence Fountain Interview Higher Ground by James Calemine Spring 2002 On September 3, 2002, Real World Records released the new Blind Boys of Alabama album titled Higher Ground, featuring Robert Randolph & the Family Band as the backing musicians. This gospel collection covers read more...
Billy C. Farlow
Still Having "Too Much Fun." by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2002 The former lead vocalist of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen is still rocking and singing the blues with heart and soul. His latest cd, Southern Moon (on Zane Records) made our Gritz "Best Releases of read more...
Ray Brand
Our Favorite Brand Alabama Guitar Slinger Ray Brand is Still Rockin' November 2001 In Memory of Ray Brand, who Passed Over in August, 2005, We have established a Memorial Page HERE. This is a tag-team effort. 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?" read more...
Drive-By Truckers
KEEP ON TRUCKIN' The Drive-By Truckers Contribute to the New Mythology by Dick Cooper October 2001 BELOW: The building where "Southern Rock Opera" was recorded.
Stephen Foster
Music, Muscle Shoals and The Mighty Field of Vision by Mitch Lopate August 2001 Warning, reader! The following story is laden with hair-pin turns, dangerous escapes, party-till-you-drop indulgences, and - a leetle bit of madness, supported by renegade musical comrades-in-arms. This is the read more...
Charles Hart (Southern Rock Allstars)
Somewhere Between Tokyo and Muscle Shoals Southern Rock Allstars Bassist Charles Hart Speaks by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2001 Where were you born and raised? I was born in Brewton,Alabama. Brewton is a small town on the Florida border. I was raised about 10 miles north of there in read more...
Jay Johnson
You Doesn’t Have To Call Me Johnson! Jay Johnson ponders the state of rock and roll and traces his footsteps from Radio Tokyo to The Rossington Band to The Southern Rock Allstars by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2001 He’s guitarist in a band of gypsy madmen and he fits in just read more...
Paul Hornsby
An Ear for Southern Rock Paul Hornsby On Hourglass, Capricorn Records and A Life in Music by Michael Buffalo Smith January, 2001 Paul Hornsby's name is synonymous with Southern Rock, as both musician and producer. The following is a real treat. A nice, casual interview with a man who was a band mate of Duane and Gregg Allman read more...
Bernard Allison
Across the Water, and Back Again An Interview with Bernard Allison by Michael Buffalo Smith January, 2001 Bernard Allison was born the son of a blues legend, the late Luther Allison, and with eight big-brothers and big-sisters surrounding him, the young Allison was weaned on everything from rock and read more...
Larry Byrom (Steppenwolf)
Looking for Adventure In Whatever Comes Our Way by Mitch Lopate November, 2000 Before becoming one of Nashville's finest session guitarists, Larry Byrom rocked it hard as the axe man for one of rock and roll's hardest working bands, Steppenwolf. Gritz writer Mitch Lopate gets the low down on the band, John read more...
Pete Carr
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE ARE ROCK AND ROLL, AND A HOT CARR... An Interview with Muscle Shoals Guitar Legend, Pete Carr by Michael B. Smith /with Roxanne Crutcher May 2000 Pete Carr, recognized as one of the most versatile studio guitarists of the past three decades, has contributed to hit recordings by Bob 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. And like any jewel the light shinning on it enhanced its beauty. Eddie was a musician's read more...
Jerry Carrigan
Bama-Lam! Alabama's Drumming Legend by Allen Smith, July 2000 What do Leon Russell, Delbert McClinton, Ronnie Hawkins, and Willie Nelson have in common? How about Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and John Denver? Other than being great musicians, they've all utilized the drumming sounds of Jerry Carrigan on their read more...
Chuck Leavell
POUNDING KEYS & HUGGING TREES A Conversation with Chuck Leavell By Michael B. Smith June 2000 What can you say about Chuck Leavell? He is and has been one of the most sought-after keyboard players in rock and roll, from his classic work with The Allman Brothers Band- remember "Jessica?" - to his band Sea read more...
John D. Wyker
Hallucination Verification John Wyker and Mighty Field of Vision by Mitch Lopate 2000 Hallucination verification, John D. "WildCat" Wyker's back on the loose! Actually, it's hard to keep him tied down - he's a writin', talkin', music-loving-and-playing power station of ideas. A read more...
Dick Cooper
On and Off the Road with Dick Cooper by Mitch Lopate 2000 Dick Cooper wears many hats: music museum curator, band road manager, free-lance writer and photographer, motorcycle racer, traveler, martial arts disciple and all-around wellspring of rock-solid advice and counsel. He's been there with Lynryd Skynryd, especially at 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 added to the overall legacy, the strength of its music is rooted firmly in the northwest Alabama read more...
Wayne Perkins
THE ULTIMATE ROCK AND ROLL SIDE MAN Wayne Perkins: A Lifetime on Six Strings by Roxane Crutcher December 1999 Wayne, could you give the readers of the interview a brief review of your music background? I guess you could say that I came by it "Honestly." Both my parents played guitar before read more...
Jimmy Hall
JUST AS WET AS EVER WET WILLIE FRONTMAN JIMMY HALL by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 1998 When the stage is his, Jimmy Hall, the dynamic, Mobile, Alabama -born singer transforms himself into one righteous medium who melds the blues, rock and R&B into a steaming exorcism that can cleanse any listener’s read more...