All Dispatch Archives

Southern Gospel Icon Dottie Rambo Dies in Crash

Southern Gospel singer-songwriter Joyce "Dottie" Rambo died early this morning (May 11, 2008) when the bus she was in ran off a road in southwest Missouri and struck an embankment.

Buffalo's Non-Southern Pick of the Week: Zappa Plays Zappa

Yes, I know it comes as a shock. Ol’ Buffalo actually listens to music other than Southern Rock and Outlaw Country. I’m afraid it is true. I like a whole lot of different styles, and because of that, I have decided to start recommending a “Non-Southern” Pick read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Speed Racer Finishes Last; What Happens in Vegas; Made of Honor

SPEED RACER Well there was certainly enough hype for this one going in. After all, it’s legacy as a classic Japanimation cartoon and read more...

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 Tribute to Capricorn Records Page, which features links to all of the articles and interviews related to the Southern read more...

Eddy Arnold Dead at 89

Eddy Arnold died this morning (May 8, 2008) in Tennessee. The Country Music Hall of Famer was 89 years old. Growing up in Spartanburg, SC, I recall Eddy read more...

New Allman Brothers Documentary Premiere May 16

New Allman Brothers Documentary Premieres May 16 5/7/08 This afternoon Allman Brothers Tour Mystic

Tom Waits Glitter And Doom Tour Dates (Mostly Southern)

Tom Waits Glitter And Doom Tour Dates Mostly Southern 5/6/08 “Well they call me William the pleaser/I sold opium read more...

Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters Premier New Music Video Today

Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters' video "The Poor House" will premiere on GAC - TV today. "The Poor House" is the lead track from The Boxmasters self-titled 2-CD set to be read more...

Charlie and Hazel Daniels Honored by Cumberland University

Nashville, Tennessee - May 5th, 2008 Cumberland University recently honored Wilson County resident and country music icon Charlie Daniels read more...

Mavis Staples To Headline Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival

Mavis Staples To Headline Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival 5/5/08 “I know no one can sing the blues

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 Barnhart. (For those of you just finding out about Ron, please

The Legends of Southern Rock, a Guide

Greetings from Carolina. We are happy to present our new index page for our Legends of Southern Rock series. From here, you can always surf over to your favorite Southern Rock band's Swampland read more...

...The Kentucky Derby In Athens, Georgia...

Athens, Georgia…May 3, 2008…The Kentucky Derby… “When you’re sitting back In your rose pink read more...

Music Maker Relief Foundation & Dust-To-Digital

Music Maker Relief Foundation & Dust-To-Digital Preserve The Oldest Traditions 5/2/08 The North Carolina-based

Mystery And Manners Honorary Southern Artist(s) Part Six: Clarence White

Mystery And Manners Honorary Southern Artist(s)—PART SIX Clarence White By James Calemine “Tempted and tried

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Iron Man is a Heavy Metal Hit

IRON MAN Iron Man may well be the smartest and coolest super hero movie to date, and that is hard to say, considering how big a Batman fan I read more...

Too Much Fun

When Deryle Perryman contacted me last week to say that he and fellow filmmaker Moises Gonzales were coming to Alabama and would I like to read more...

Between Texas and Hawaii

It's been a busy week here in the land of GRITZ and SWAMPLAND... We are very happy to share the latest feature in our Legends of Southern Rock series, that "lil' ol' band from Texas," ZZ Top.

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 reaching a new level. It all started when University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams announced a proposal for

Billy Bob and Buffalo Talk About Boxmasters

I dreamed I was a teenage Boxmaster... Billy Bob Thornton's ultra cool hillbilly-mod band The Boxmasters will release their debut album, a double disc set, on June 10th, just prior to embarking on their highly anticipated summer tour. The CD features one disc full of all read more...

Post - NFL Draft Newspaper Wrap Up

We found this article from a week or so back that is about NFL Network being the tail the wags the dog for that league. Swampland Sports has long written now about the ways 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, so... I hope you will check out our three new CD reviews just posted today. All three are really good discs. Singer songwriter

Emmylou Harris Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame

Emmylou Inducted Into The Country Music Hall of Fame 4/29/08 Last Sunday, April 27,

Mudcrutch & Gram Parsons' Florida Roots

Mudcrutch & Gram Parsons’ Florida Roots 4/27/08 This

New Orleans Jazzfest: In Wake Of The Flood

Randy Newman’s “Louisiana 1927” Becomes Un-official Anthem For New Orleans Jazzfest 4/27/08 In the wake of Katrina, many read more...

The Midnight Hour

A Backward Glance During The Midnight Hour 4/27/08 At this midnight hour preparations are being made for upcoming Mystery read more...

For The Record: Haunting the Local Indie Record Stores

To me there is nothing more fun than spending a few hours thumbing through LPs and CDs at a used record store. I have always loved doing it, searching for buried treasure and riding the old nostalgia train. Back during the seventies and eighties I made a lot of trips read more...

SPF's NFL Draft First Round Log (Live All Day!!)

Rick Godfrey Returning to Upstate South Carolina

Former Garfeel Ruff guitarist Rick Godfrey returns to Upstate South Carolina this weekend to perform at a benefit for read more...

Merlefest Streaming Live Online Right Now

The South's premier country-bluegrass-Americana get together Merlefest, kicked off last night in North Carolina. Swampland's own Derek Halsey is front and center and reports that the weather so far is read more...

The Return of Mudcrutch

Tom Petty Resurrects His Old Florida Band Mudcrutch 4/24/05 Tom Petty and Tom Leadon (brother of Eagle Bernie) formed Mudcrutch with Randall read more...

Remembering Phil Walden

It was two years ago today that the Southern Rock world lost one of our true pioneers. Phil Walden, who was born in my home town of Greenville, SC, was the co-founder of

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 Alabama Studio Weekend in the

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Sarah Marshall, 88 Minutes, Prom Night and Forbidden Kingdom

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL From the same wacky folks that brought us the hilarious Superbad and Knocked Up, comes the read more...

Snowflakes: Jake Long Goes #1 (and Other 2008 NFL Draft Thoughts)

The NFL Draft is this Saturday, and some of our Southern teams appear to hold the key to the most important non-gameday of the year. The Miami Dolphins have the #1 pick, and the Miami Herald reports that OT read more...

Development in Macon Will Include a Capricorn Records Museum

Wow. Looks like great minds do indeed run along the same track. According to this news story, the new development in downtown Macon will indeed house a Capricorn Records read more...

Why I Love Bonnie Bramlett

I remember reading about Delaney and Bonnie a lot back in high school, during those days when I was constantly read more...

Swampland Celebrates National Record Store Day

Today, April 19 2008, is Record Store Day. There are so many great independent record stores across the Swampland Footprint. They are owned and staffed by the people that help to keep music alive across read more...

Widespread Panic In Orange Beach, Alabama

Widespread Panic On The Beach 4/19/08 Morning Folks, Last night proved a fine night. The weather here in Orange Beach, Alabama, is read more...

Capricorn Controversy in Downtown Macon

Interesting news story I found regarding the old Capricorn Records Studio building in downtown Macon, Georgia. Be sureto watch the video of the news story with footage of the old studios.

...Night Before Widespread Panic On The Beach...

A Prelude To The Spectacle 4/17/08 Before I take off for the three

Chuck Leavell Holds His Own in Stones Movie

The jury has returned the verdict. The Stones have officially beat out The Beatles. When I was a kid back in the ‘60’s, there was an ongoing battle over who were the true

Charlie Daniels' GRITZ Guest Blog; Memories of Toy Caldwell

We are happy to present our second Guest Blog, this one written by our good buddy the legendary Godfather of Southern Rock himself, Charlie Daniels. Charlie writes about his dear old friend Toy read more...

The Blessing of Mavis Staples

The Blessing of Mavis Staples 4/14/08 Mavis Staples serves as a beacon of light in the sinister music business. Her golden voice appears on read more...

Jackson Crossing and Other Great Bands of Spartanburg, SC

My old hometown of Spartanburg, SC is turning into the new Athens, with an array of great new bands all over town. In the coming weeks we will look into several of them, including Southern rockers Silver Travis, The Southern Boys (actually from Tennessee, but

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 the past." Added today is one of our first interviews from 1999 with

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Street Kings, Nim's Island, The Ruins

STREET KINGS Keanu Reeves stars as Detective Tom Ludlow, a man with a lot of personal pain that he is always trying to drown with Vodka 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 times on the ongoing theme of the SEC “arms race” in America’s toughest conference schedule to navigate. With Florida and LSU read more...

Ex-Trick Pony Singer Heidi is Back to Rock Your World

I always loved Trick Pony, and had the chance to see them up close and personal several times during the annual Angelus concerts in Tampa, Florida. One night during the 2006 show, somewhere after read more...

Outward Bound

“The eye and mind would be functioning as a camera. The writing would be selective and necessarily interpretive—but once the image was written the words would be final.” --Hunter read more...

More Southern Rock Lists: Billy Bob Thornton

I am happy to present another list of Favorite Southern Rock Albums for your approval. This list comes from none other than Billy Bob Thornton, who is a true lover of Southern Rock if ever there was read more...

The Delaney Bramlett Interviews: Delaney On Janis, George, Eric and Duane

Well, I have been burning the midnight oil again, putting together and publishing Part Two of my interview with the iconic Delaney Bramlett. It's weird how sometimes the material excites me so much that I read more...

Billy Bob Thornton's Boxmasters Signed to Vanguard

Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters have signed a deal with Vanguard with a 2-CD set due out June 10. The Boxmasters, who we first wrote about after attending their

Season Summary: Houston Texans

Quick Summary: The Houston Texans finished last in their division again. The good news is that they also had a non-losing season for the first time in the team's history finishing 8-8. Coach Gary Kubiak's team looked much better than in his first read more...

Delaney Bramlett Sits Down with Gritz: Part One

I have been a fan of Delaney and Bonnie since my early high school days, and of all the hundreds (thousands?) of celebrities I have interviewed thus far, none have gotten me more excited with anticipation than the prospect of

Alabama: Places to Be and People to See

The Alabama Book Festival held in Montgomery, Alabama, is only in its third season and already it offers a unique opportunity for participants to meet and listen to over seventy authors, among them read more...

Dickinson's Eats & Dylan's Prize

Bob Dylan Wins Pulitzer Prize & Jim Dickinson's Best On The Road Eating 4/7/08 Evening Folks, I hope all is well on this read more...

Next Skynyrd Album Will Have Nashville Influence

Gary Rossington says that Lynyrd Skynyrd plans to include the long bootleged song "Cottonmouth Country" read more...

Skynyrd Will Cruise Again in 2009 with Frynds

I just got word that Lynyd Skynyrd will again host their southern rock cruise called the Simple Man Cruise in January of 2009. This will be the band's third cruise, and will be the first to feature three of southern rock's read more...

Football Film "Leatherheads" Brings Hollywood to Carolina

There’s been quite a lot of anticipation here in Greenville, SC over the past few months. I mean, everywhere you go you run into someone who was either an extra in Leatherheads, or helped with something or another on the set. And then there are

A Shot of the Blues

A Daily Dose of Authenticity...Keith Richards...James Burton...MLK...Widespread Panic...The Black Crowes...Jim Dickinson... 4/4/08 As Spring read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Stop Loss, 21, Meet The Browns, more

STOP LOSS Of the plethora of Iraqi War movies that have hit the silver screen over the past couple of years, Stop Loss may very read more...

Contacting Swampland: via MySpace and by email

Dear Swampland readers, Swampland now has its MySpace page up and running. You can find it here at http://www.myspace.com/swamplanddotcom. If you are a Swampland reader and MySpace member, we read more...

The Legacy of Ardent Records

The Legacy of Ardent Records 4/2/08 In light of my recent interview with the great

Jimmy Farrar: "This Ain't Molly Hatchet !"

I spoke with our buddy Jimmy Farrar today about his band Gator Country. As most of you know, Gator Country is one hot rockin' Florida band that features several past members of

Montgomery Gentry Have a Hot New Album On the Way

"Back When I Knew It All" has been Montgomery Gentry's fastest rising single to date, and on June 10th, they will release the album of the same name. This will be their seventh read more...

Time To Panic

A Journey To The Classic City For A Meeting With Seasoned Professionals 3/29/08

Shooter Jennings Rocking On Video

I just spent an hour on YouTube listening to some mighty great music. In keeping with my recent post about the remarkable Shooter read more...

Allmans Postpone Beacon Run as Gregg Allman Heals

The Allman Brothers Band have announced that they are postponing their annual run of 15 shows at New York City’s Beacon Theatre set for May 5-24, with rescheduled dates TBA. In addition, they have read more...

The Lost Shooter Jennings Interview

Shooter Jennings rocks. There's no doubt about it. Shooter represents everything GRITZ is about, blending classic Southern read more...

Southern Rock Lists - Swampland Wants Your Feedback

Dear Swampland readers, We invite you to visit this dispatch from Michael Buffalo Smith of GRITZ to log in and give us your favorite Southern Rock records. Buffalo posted

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 Natasha Trethewey (published by permission of the author). Trethewey won read more...

The Road To Hell Is Paved with Good Intentions

A Few Insights For The Faithful On A Thursday Evening 3/27/08 Pollen read more...

Snowflakes: Southern Sweet 16

Here a quick primer for our teams in this weekend’s NCAA Tournament. East – This is definitely the Heavyweight bracket for our Swampland region. With #1 overall seed North Carolina playing near home in Charlotte, the Tar Heels have to be read more...

The Best of Southern Rock

I have made lists for as long as I can remember. In fact, somewhere around here I have a spiral notebook I started in 1976 with lisitings of my favorite LPs, singles and bands that year and in years to come. The one thing that blows my mind is that the Allman Brothers read more...

Bound For Glory

“I was thirteen when I went to live with a family of thirteen people in a two-room house. I was going on fifteen when I got me a job shining shoes, read more...

Lady Antebellum Rocks Their Country with Free Download

In keeping with our mission to bring together the best of Southern rock and the best of the new country music, I want to highly recommend a new country act by the name of

Looking for Some Real Southern Recipes

I wanted to make sure y'all didn't miss the call from the Southern Foodways Alliance for good Southern recipes. Check out the information here. But don't send your recipe for fried possum fritters with read more...

The Southern Foodways Alliance Needs Your Recipes!

Swampland has the utmost respect for the Southern Foodways Alliance so we thought we would share this recent request for recipes that they have sent out to folks around the Footprint. Help them out if you read more...

More Back Home Memories of Marshall Tucker

I woke up at three in the morning last night thinking about The Marshall Tucker Band. No, I don’t make it a habit of losing sleep reminiscing over the glory days of Southern read more...

Mudcrutch: Tom Petty's Florida Roots

The surprise announcement of Mudcrutch's reunion is welcome news to the Swampland Footprint. Mudcrutch is an essential chapter in Tom Petty's career. Mudcrutch evolved out of an early Gainesville, FL band of Petty's called the Epics. The Epics also featured a read more...

Merlefest is Coming Back Home in April

One of our favorite music festivals returns in April. The massive Merlefest hits Wilkes Community College once again, bringing with it more good music than you can shake a stick at. In the early read more...

Season Summary: New Orleans Saints

Quick Summary: The Saints bombed out after their near-Super Bowl run in 2007. People can point to injuries, but SPF warned before the season started about the Saints and the team's read more...

Season Summary: Charlotte Panthers

Quick Summary: The Carolina Panthers entered the 2007 season as a Super Bowl contender. They started out strong, but the team could not overcome the loss of QB

Season Summary: Cincinnati Bengals

Quick Summary: The Bengals were SPF's most disappointing team from this past season. They have all the tools on paper to be a perennial contender starting with a great QB in Carson Palmer, who has all kinds of skill position help. Unfortunately, read more...

Snowflakes: Tar Heels are the Tourney's Favorite

The best postseason in sports is upon us with the NCAA Tournament beginning. Brackets will soon be ruined as productivity takes a break for a couple of days in offices across the country. College football will seemingly always be king in our Swampland region (with a few exceptions read more...

Up Close and Personal with Chris Hicks

We are pleased as punch to present our brand spanking new interview with the great Chris Hicks. Read Chris' comments on playing with The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, Deep South and his own band, as read more...

Alabama's Going Green: "Let's Get Dirty"

Huntsville, Alabama, has chosen “Let’s Get Dirty” by the Huntsville country music band

Brother To Jackals & the Jukebox Chronicles

A Few Notes From The Underground 3/18/08 "Art is the perpetual motion of illusion. The highest purpose of art is to inspire. What read more...

Just What is GRITZ ?

This year GRITZ celebrates our tenth year online. Over the past decade we have gone through a lot of changes, and enjoyed the contributions of a lot of great writers, photographers and artists. A little over a year ago, GRITZ became a part of Swampland Media, and went from being a read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Horton, Doomsday, Bank Job, and More

HORTON HEARS A WHO This was one of the first books I remember reading back in first grade. Like most kids, I was fascinated by the rhyming read more...

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. The powerhouse drummer and songwriter behind Blackfoot and The read more...

Chris Hicks CD Winners Announced

Congratulations to the following five winners. All of the entries were great, and we really enjoyed reading them. Please continue to enter our various contests. Everyone will most likely win eventually. Dewayne Fields, La Grange, NC Chris Horn, read more...

Snowflakes: Big 12 Tourney as Expected, but Change on the Horizon

The least surprising of all conference tournaments this March has been the Big 12 Tourney in Kansas City. Both Texas and Kansas have been Top 10 teams for most of the season, and they have maneuvered their way to Sunday’s Championship game with a probable #1 seed on the line read more...

Chris Robinson's "Inhale! Inhale! Rock N Roll" Article

Chris Robinson's 1993 Article "Inhale! Inhale! Rock N Roll" 3/15/08 In light of the Black Crowes' new release,

Alabama's Going Green: A Delicate Balance

Yes, I read the article in the New York Times this past Monday about the biodiesel spill near

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 damages the roof.

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 to be set at five (TN, UK, VU, Ark., MSU). While there’s an outside chance the Rebels could get an at-large berth, the rest of the weekend will read more...

Getting to Know The Crowes

Somehow I missed the first coming of The Black Crowes. The Atlanta boys hit the scene during a time when I was knee deep in

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 become an extension of the NCAA Tourney as winning the automatic bid fulfills their dream of having a shot at the big boys. Many pundits feel it would read more...

Racing Drag and Dirt Track with The Marshall Tucker Band

During the early ‘70’s you could find a dirt track racer running the round track at Greenville Pickens Speedway on Saturday nights emblazoned with the sponsor name - The Marshall Tucker read more...

Snowflakes: Conference USA's Mediocrity is True Source of Calipari's Frustration

Memphis has their sights set on the Big Dance and the Final Four as they cruise through another C-USA Tournament at home. When the Tigers beat UAB, John Calipari became the only coach besides Adolph Rupp to win

Snowflakes: UNC vs. Duke defines ACC Hoops

* Is there any better theater in college basketball than North Carolina at Duke? It was another great scene at Cameron Indoor Stadium last Saturday night with former players like Christian Laettner, Jason Williams, and Chris Duhon in the house for Senior Night. Heck, new Duke 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 ralaxation tea that tasted as good as it smelled. My wife had brewed it up for me before she headed off to bed. She's good that way. What would I do read more...

The Dickinson's Mojo & The Black Crowes' Voodoo

Mystery & Manners Investigates The Mojo of The Dickinson Family & The Black Crowes' Voodoo 3/11/02 "Don't bring down the 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 more fun than a barrel of Goobers. The year I attended, I met George read more...

Chris Hicks is Red Hot & Smokin', Win His New CD for Free

Chris Hicks was chosen as the pic of the week by Zig Zag Live, The well known company rewarded Hicks with cases of cigarette rolling papers, rolling machines, a Zig Zag t-shirt, and an awesome Zig Zag Les Paul guitar, read more...

Volunteer Jam to Feature 38 Special, Shooter Jennings, with Hosts CDB

On April 11th, The Volunteer Jam 2008 Tour kicks off. This year's dates will feature our friends The Charlie Daniels Band, 38 Special and Shooter Jennings.

The Southern Rock of SwampdaWamp

Say you love Southern rock? Well, you’re gonna love SwampdaWamp. The Charlotte, NC based band that is on their way to very top of the genre.

John Rich is Recording a Big Solo Album

I am really intrigued with John Rich. I just finished watching the finale of his CMT reality show Gone Country, and while I disagree with his choice of winner (Julio Iglasias, Jr., whereas I was just sure Bobby Brown was going to win) I am read more...

Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops

* The Big 12 is looking quite solid as the postseason approaches. There is a strong possibility that half of the league gets an invitation to the Big Dance, with both Kansas and Texas still having a shot at a #1 seed. If either the Longhorns or Jayhawks win the Big 12 Tournament, read more...

Snowflakes: SEC Hoops

* What a great night of hoops SEC fans witnessed on Wednesday night. We’ll start in Gainesville where Tennessee came from 16 back to beat the Gators 89-86, and wrapped up the SEC Title in the process. It’s the first outright conference title for the Vols in 41 years, and read more...

Season Summary: Miami Dolphins

Quick Summary: The Dolphins are one of the NFL's proudest franchises, but the 2007 season became its collective undoing. Within this one season, the Dolphins were only a Patriots Super Bowl win from losing all their records of distinction. Brett read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: The Other Boleyn Girl, Semi Pro

THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL After watching the first season of The Tudors on HBO last year, I was locked and loaded for this one. The read more...

"Mamo" Bramlett Has Passed Away; Delaney Interview Coming

I was on the phone with Delaney Bramlett this afternoon, conducting the first in a series for Swampland called "The Delaney Chronicles," which will delve into the many great stories and memories of this remarkable musical icon. Part one will be posted soon, so be sure to read more...

Alabama's Going Green

Holden Caulfield wanted to know where all the ducks go in winter. Ann (Andie MacDowell) in Sex, Lies, and Videotape was read more...

Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops

* It will be quite a battle this weekend in the Big South for the coveted automatic berth to the Big Dance. North Carolina-Asheville and Winthrop both finished at 10-4 in the Big

Chris Hicks Rocks

I spoke to Doug Gray this afternoon. He was in the airport in Cinncinatti, flying back to Carolina from last night’s show in San Diego, California. We were talking about

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 solid play of late is that post man Joe Campbell has averaged 25.5 points a game in the last 4 contests, including 32 in the Mountaineers’ huge read more...

Snowflakes: ACC Hoops

* Mike Krzyzewski got his 800th career win Saturday in a game that Duke trailed most of the way. The obvious question becomes: Can he get to 902-the record number of victories set by his read more...

When Nantucket Ruled The Earth

I was talking to my friend Dewayne “aka: Rebyll” this afternoon when the conversation shifted to his first live concert experience. It was Molly Hatchet and Nantucket. This got me to read more...

Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops

* Texas’ stellar play throughout the season has put them into great position for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Winners of read more...

Chris Cagle Debuts at Number One on Country Charts

My LIife's Been a Country Song, the fourth album from Capitol Records Nashville artist Chris Cagle, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s “Current Country” chart, with 36,600 in

Snowflakes: SEC Hoops

* I’ve written all season about the banner year for basketball in the state of Tennessee. The two best teams in the league appear to be from the Volunteer State in Tennessee and Vanderbilt (although detractors would qualify the Commodores inclusion as long as they are playing read more...

Buddy Miles Dies at Home in Texas

GRITZ has lost another good friend. The legendary drummer Buddy Miles passed on this past Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at the age of 60 from congestive heart failure at his home in Austin, Texas.

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 Big Dance worthy. Many bracket

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 when Tennessee defeated them, 66-62, in the raucous FedEx Forum. Surprisingly, the Tigers were outhustled and outrebounded by the smaller Vols who made read more...

Dylan Organizes Recordings of Unfinished Hank Williams Songs

Bob Dylan Discovers Unfinished Hank Williams Songs 2/28/08 "Odds and ends, odds and ends, Lost time is not found read more...

38 Years Ago Tonight: The Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band played at Mercer University on this dare, February 27, back in 1970. That’s thirty-eight years ago for those of you keeping score at home. One of my read more...

Snowflakes: ACC Hoops

* Miami seems to have played themselves back in to the NCAA Tournament picture. Just two weeks ago, the Hurricanes were 2-6 in ACC play and seemed to be drifting off to another subpar season. However, Frank Haith’s club has righted the ship by winning four in a row including read more...

Black History Month: Look Back, but Move Forward

“Look back but move forward” was the credo of civil rights activist Johnnie Carr who died Friday at the age of 97.

Latest Releases From James McMurtry & Otis Redding

Latest Releases From James McMurtry and Otis Redding 2/27/08

Down In the Groove with Widespread Panic's Todd Nance (PART TWO)

Down In The Groove with Widespread Panic's Todd Nance (Part Two) 2/26/08 I'd like to announce the second part of Mystery And Manners' read more...

GRITZ Talks to Grits Grisham of The Ghost Riders

One of the greatest things about my annual trek down to Tampa for the Angelus benefit is that I get to meet so many wonderful read more...

Down In The Groove with Widespread Panic's Todd Nance (Part One)

Mystery & Manners Interview with Widespread Panic's Todd Nance (Part One) 2/25/08 I'd like to mention Mystery And read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Vantage Point; Definitely Maybe; Roscoe Jenkins

VANTAGE POINT The President of the United States is shot during an anti-terrorist summit in Spain, and we get to relive the event read more...

Poetic Felony

MAXIM Magazine Reviews Black Crowes' Warpaint Without Hearing The Album 2/23/08 For some folks it's easy to hate the Black Crowes. Everyone read more...

Snowflakes: #1 vs #2

With all due respect.to the other games this weekend, there’s only one mammoth matchup read more...

My 2008 Oscar Predictions

The 80th Academy Awards comes to the boob tube this Sunday night, February 24, 2008. Those of you who read GRITZ on a regular basis know that the only thing that even comes close to my love of music are movies and books. This may be the first year I have actually seen all of read more...

Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop To Drink

Today the New York Times ran an article entitled “Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River.” The quarrel is not just about boundaries. It is about water, read more...

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 Greenville, SC. We had a lot of good times during those years, interviewing national and local music heroes and writing reviews and editorial 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 beyond... 2/19/08 “In the time I was with read more...

Snowflakes: ACC Hoops

* What a great win for Wake Forest Sunday night. The Demon Deacons topped #2 Duke 86-73 to provide the fans in Winston-Salem and first-year coach Dino Gaudio with their best moment of the season. Of course, last summer turned tragic for the entire Wake family after the untimely 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 a cross between Tom Waits and Elvis Costello (more in mood than in actual vocal comparison.). The voice was that of

Little Richard Gets Standing Ovation at Ryman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- It's a standing ovation for rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard -- and he didn't even perform. He was seated at the rear of the Ryman Auditorium Sunday night attending a concert by 1960s Motown stalwarts The 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 bring to mind the fierce, four man attack of Blackfoot - wildman Rick Medlocke out front, Charlie Hargrett on lead guitar, Greg T. Walker on bass and read more...

Chris Hicks to Host CD Release Party in Macon

The Cox Theater in Macon, Georgia is gonna rock on Wednesday, February 27 when The Chris Hicks Band and Special Guests will be performing in a CD release party, celebrating Hicks' new Sony release, Dog Eat Dog.

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Jumper, Spiderwick & Fool's Gold

JUMPER Hayden Christensen is quickly becoming a sci-fi staple, having rocketed to fame in the role of a lifetime as the young Darth Vader in read more...

Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops

* What a great game Monday night between Texas and Kansas. In my opinion, it was ‘highest quality’ contest I have seen all year. While some other games had crazier finishes, KU-Texas looked like a Final 4 matchup with two heavyweights slugging it out. Although the read more...

"Howard the Duck" Creator Steve Gerber Dies

St. Louis native Steve Gerber, creator of the "Howard the Duck" comic book series, died Feb. 11 in Las Vegas while awaiting a lung transplant. He was 60. The wise-quacking, cigar-smoking duck first appeared in a "Man-Thing" comic in 1973. Gerber read more...

Snowflakes: SEC Hoops

* After attending the Vanderbilt-Kentucky game Tuesday night in Nashville, all I can say is ‘Wow’. The Commodores are always tough at home (15-0 this season), and they handed the Wildcats the worst loss in their SEC history, 93-52. Vandy scorched the nets at over 55% for read more...

Preservation Hall's John Brunious Dead at 67

Trumpeter John Brunious, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's leader and senior member, died Tuesday, February 12, 2008 in Orlando, Fla., after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 67.

Snowflakes: Small Conference Hoops

We often focus on teams that reach the dream of an NCAA tournament or special players who make the NBA, but sometimes it’s just about playing for the love of the game. That thought takes us to tiny Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. The Blue Hose

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 reviews, you'll see that our three latest reviews have a common thread. The artists were all members of the legendary Delaney Bonnie read more...

The Love Box

I have a little ceramic box that sits on my dresser in the bed room. It’s red and has a multi-color lid with the word “Love” on top in very sixities-style lettering. It’s a cool box that Jill gave me for Valentine’s day some ten years ago.

Guilty Pleasures

A wise man once said, “Man does not live by Southern Rock alone.” Well, there have been times when I would argue that point, but the truth is, as much as I love my Southern Rock and Outlaw country music, I have a wide variety of interests, many of which may come as a read more...

Snowflakes: Big East Hoops

Louisville got a monster win last Saturday night when they knocked off first place Georgetown. The Cardinals are playing much better ball of late, having won 5 of 6, and looking solid for a good run in the postseason. However, I’ve got to give at least an assist to Rick read more...

Levon Helm's Dirt Farmer Wins GRAMMY

Dirt Farmer Wins GRAMMY 2/11/08 Levon Helm's latest album,

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 until I sat in an darkened room in a warehouse in Huntsville, Alabama, on Friday afternoon and listened to independent filmmaker

My Top 15 Moments from the 50th Grammy Awards

I was pleasantly surprised by last night's Grammy Awards show. Celebrating 50 years of Grammy’s, they seemed to pull out all the stops to create a spectacle that would appeal to not only the You Tube generation, but also to us more “mature” viewers.

Snowflakes: ACC Hoops

* What a game in Chapel Hill on Sunday. Still without star point guard Ty Lawson, North Carolina rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half and finally put away Clemson in double overtime, 103-93. Tyler Hansbrough may have wrapped up the National Player of the Year in read more...

Artist of the Week: Paul Thorn

Let me just cut to the chase. I am a huge fan pf Mississippi singer songwriter Paul Thorn. I have seen him live onstage half a dozen times, both acoustic solo and read more...

A Night to Remember at The Bluebird in Nashville

It was a night to remember at Nashville's famed Bluebird Cafe on February 1st as Tim Krekel performed songs from his acclaimed new release, Soul Season, at the famed Bluebird Cafe in Nashville recently with noted songwriter / artists Bill Lloyd,

Video: Jimmy Johnson and Alan Walden from Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary

I have been aware of the Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary being filmed by Rick Broyles and Tony Beazley for a few years now, and by all accounts it looks like it will be just the documentary we have all read more...

Jim Dickinson On The Line

Mystery & Manners Interview With Memphis Legend Jim Dickinson 2/9/08 "She shivers just like jelly in the bowl."

Ryan Bingham Gets Help From Ford

Marc Ford & Son Join Texas Songwriter Ryan Bingham In the South 2/9/08

Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops (Bobby Knight Retires)

There are many good stories in the conference, but one of those stands out this week and that is the resignation of Bobby Knight from Texas Tech. One of the most polarizing figures in the history of sports, Knight said he was tired and that it seemed like the right time to hand over 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 have worked really hard for months on the redesign, and I for one am very pleased with the results. I hope you feel the same. We at read more...

John Rich to Release Big Solo Album

John Rich, who along with Big Kenny Alphin makes up genre-bending duo Big & Rich, will release a solo album later this year on Warner Bros. There's no read more...

Widespread Soul

“When after all, it was read more...

Picture of the Day: Allen Collins with Rossington Collins Band

The late great Allen Collins. This photo from Kent Griffith shows Collins during the first ever concert by Rossington Collins Band.

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 new coach Billy Gillispie (and his gameday practices), but now the ‘Cats are sitting only one game behind SEC East leader Tennessee. In a recent read more...

Season Summary: Atlanta Falcons

Quick Summary: The Falcons endured a year of endless upheaval. Problems brewed last season when the team sank into a string of losses creating situations where star QB Michael Vick made obscene gestures to the Georgia Dome crowd. This led to the 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 Saturday, June 5 - 7, 2008 at Boy Scout Road and Highway #167. An all-encompassing community and creative arts experience, the 2-day/3-night extravaganza read more...

Delaney's Coming Soon to Swampland

I am very happy to report that GRITZ will soon present an all new interview with Southern music legend Delaney Bramlett. Delaney was one of the most important individuals in rock and roll during the sixties and seventies, working with everyone from

Snowflakes: Smaller Conference Hoops

One mid-major club that higher seeded teams will not want to see in the Big Dance is Davidson from the Southern Conference. The Wildcats are perfect 13-0 in league play

South Carolina Designates "Nappy Brown Day" February 15th

The State of South Carolina will honor Rhythm & Blues pioneer Nappy Brown with an official state proclamation declaring February 15, 2008 as "Nappy Brown Day" throughout the state. Nappy will visit Chapin High School in Chapin, SC to receive the proclamation and will read more...

Season Summary: St. Louis Rams

Quick Summary: This was the first year SPF covered the Rams, and it wasn't an auspicious beginning. It shouldn't have been so considering the Rams finished the previous season at 8-8 and signed their franchise QB Marc Bulger (a West Virginia alum) to a 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 league this season. Even though John Calipari has tried to talk up C-USA, the conference is just not performing up to the “right below the BCS read more...

Snowflakes: ACC Hoops

* The best rivalry in college hoops takes place Wednesday night when #2 ranked Duke invades Chapel Hill to battle #3 North Carolina. This game is always a barnburner on Tobacco Road, and the winner will have sole possession of first place in the conference. The biggest story read more...

Like a Rolling Stone

I simply could not believe my luck. I was at Barnes and Noble, drinking a cup of coffee and reading various periodicals and surfing the web via the WI-FI. When I was leaving, I strolled past the sale tables at the front of the store and happened to glance down to see read more...

Petty & Eli: Underdogs Triumphant!

I sat back Sunday ready to enjoy a Super Bowl without a "horse in the race," so to speak. All of our SPF teams had been summarily dismissed in what was a down year for the Footprint on a pro football level. My thoughts were only on watching the Super Bowl as a read more...

New Design Up and Running!

Hello Swampland Readers! Our new design is up now. (You might need to hit your refresh button to clear out the old page.) Enjoy our front page video with the Allmans read more...

Gritz Movie Reviews: The Eye, Rambo, Untraceable and More

THE EYE Jessica Alba stars as a girl who was accidentally blinded by her sister (Parker Posey) as a child. In her early twenties, she is given read more...

Adventures In The (Pig) Skin Trade On Super Bowl Sunday

Roving Notes On Super Bowl Sunday 2/3/08 "There is some kind of back-door connection in my head between Super Bowls and The Allman read more...

Cold Beer, Tom Petty & Superbowl Sunday

Greetings fellow babies. It's Superbowl Sunday and I am chilling on the sofa with a cold brewskie waiting to see New England and New York play, wishing it was my Panthers... I am really looking forward to Tom Petty performing at the halftime show. I was talking to James read more...

The Day The Music Died

The day was February 3, 1959. At approximately 12:55 AM, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, the “Big Bopper,” and their twenty-one year old pilot boarded a small plane near Clear Lake,

Florida's Latest Southern Rock Super Group

It's been a while since I was this excited over an indie release. Winter Park, Florida's Galloway & Kelliher have released one fine Southern Rock album, and we are extremely pleased to offer up our read more...

Snowflakes: Big 12 Hoops

by Patrick Snow * The best storyline in the conference this season has easily been the Baylor Bears. At 16-3 overall and 4-1 in league play, Scott Drew’s team has a legitimate chance to be in the Big Dance. His team has five scorers averaging in double figures, and read more...

Snowflakes: SEC Hoops

by Patrick Snow * Someone forgot to tell 2-time National Champion Florida that they were supposed to struggle this season. After winning their second NCAA title in a row, the Gators lost the top six players off their depth chart and lost their coach for a day or two. read more...

Lest We Forget: Four Spirits

January 30, 2008, marked the 60th anniversary of the assassination of India’s political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi. It was Gandhi whose name was most invoked

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 our Swampland footprint, but there are some great races happening as these teams position themselves for the postseason run. We’ll try each week read more...

From The Archives: Our Interview with Lonnie Mack

It's time for another new post from our interviews archives. We are happy to present the interview I conducted back in 2000 with blues rock guitar legend Lonnie Mack. Stevie Ray Vaughan's old buddy opened up for us about his Flying V guitar, his career and future 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 last time that happened was at UAB on March 2nd, 2006. On Wednesday night, the undefeated Tigers travel to Houston to battle the 15-3 Cougars. After read more...

Snowflakes: ACC Hoops

by Patrick Snow * As Duke put the finishing touches on their 93-84 victory at Maryland Sunday night, it became increasingly clear that the ACC will be a two-horse race this season. Duke and North Carolina are definitely the class of the league and are probably the only two read more...

Picture of the Day: Gary & Dale On Simple Man Cruise

Gary Rossington and his wife Dale Krantz Rossington take a break during January's Simple Man Cruise that brought fans up close and personal with Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as Marshall Tucker, Cowboy Mouth and others.

John Rich Hosts "Gone Country" On CMT

Nashville star John Rich (Big & Rich) hosts Gone Country, a new show on CMT that brings musicians from the world of rock and r&b to Nashville to have a go at becoming country performers. The show is quite a lot of fun. Read a Blog about the show by

Swampland.com Re-design Coming Soon!

The long-awaited re-design of Swampland.com should be hitting the web within the next day or so. We at Swampland hope you will enjoy the updated format that will allow all our reader to better see the depth of content on our site.

Allen Collins Band Singer Jimmy Dougherty Has Died

Jimmy Dougherty Sr., 56, passed away on January 20, 2008. He was the singer/song writer of the Allen Collins Band and Alias. He is survived by his read more...

Skynyrd and Hank Return with Rowdy Frynds Tour 2008

(Nashville, TN)- Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy some of the best music imaginable when Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members, Lynyrd Skynyrd join country music icon, Hank Williams, Jr. for another round of their Rowdy Frynds Tour hitting cities nationwide beginning April read more...

Toy Caldwell Article Added to Swampland Archives

I was going through my files today and ran across an article I wrote back in 1999 about Toy Caldwell. Parts of the article were published in Hittin The Note magazine as well as in read more...

Video is Uniquely George McCorkle

On January 29th it will be seven months. Seven months since we lost one of Southern Rock's true greats. A man I was lucky enough to call my friend. A man I was lucky enough to share stages with and 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 stations, and then one day satellite TV and DSL changed my life. This week, thanks to a relatively new channel called

A True Jewel of Country Music

I have been a Jewel fan since her first video. I love her voice, her songwriting and her cuteness. That is why I was thrilled to get word from her people today that Jewel's next album will be a country record.

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 and Shoals drummer Bebop Evans. The piece was written by Dick Cooper, a man who has been there, done that in the music industry, From working with read more...

Charlie is in The Opry, and the Ryman was Rockin' !!

It’s 9:45 PM on Saturday night January 19th, 2008. I just dropped an e-mail to our friend Charlie Daniels telling him how proud I was watching him on

Garfeel Ruff Guitarist Ready to Return to Southern Rock Roots

I was talking to my old friend Ricky Godfrey on the telephone yesterday. Rick is living in Nashville, but he still returns home to Greenville, SC very often to play gigs. Rick was telling me that after many years as a succesful beach music guitarist and singer, he is read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Cloverfield, The Bucket List and Atonement

CLOVERFIELD Remember the buzz when The Blair Witch Project first came out? There was a reason for it. A scary idea, shot in a read more...

Picture of the Day: Rossington Jam

Today's photo was taken in 1987 during the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour. The Rossington Band was opening. On this night, Steve Morse of The Dixie Dreggs caught a jam with Gary Rossington and

Luther Dickinson: Night Before theTour...

Luther Dickinson Talks Present, Past & Future 1/16/08 Things have been quite busy as of late. I've just about completed my interview read more...

The Outlaws are Our Latest Legends

We are happy to poresent the latest in our Legends of Southern Rock series, The Outlaws. The Outlaws are one of the South's all time best loved bands, delivering a rock and roll sound via the "Florida Guitar Army" unlike any other. Check out the article by

1981: Marshall Tucker Conquers New York, Video Blog

In 1981 The Marshall Tucker Band played Madison Square Garden in New York City. While they were in the Big Apple, they appeared on several radio and TV shows promoting the album Dedicated, a 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 reliving the first time we heard this song or that song, and how much particular songs meant to us.

Charlie Daniels Grand Ole Opry Induction Airs Friday

On Friday, January 19th, the Opry Live broadcast on GAC will feature the induction of it's newest member, the legendary Charlie Daniels. Charlie and his band along with

Dickey Betts Will Tour With Kid Rock in February

According to his website, Dickey Betts will be joining Kid Rock on tour this February and March. In addition to performing Dickey's own hits, Dickey will be joining Kid Rock and his band on stage to perform.

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 possibility of finding an old friend—not to mention discovering a new one. Such was the case this week when I was working on a feature about read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 4): Down By The River

12. Cincinnati Bengals and 13. St. Louis Rams - Our final Poll spots are held by two teams that have a connection via the river culture from which they arose. Like railroad tracks in towns across the south, rivers often appear to be a cultural divide, but they read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 3): Teams at the Crossroads (aka the NFC South)

We've now gone through the first 7 teams in the T.I. Poll. So far, the entire AFC South has been covered as well as the traditional big market teams in Dallas, DC, and Miami. This leaves us with a group that the NFL has neatly placed in a division they call the NFC read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 2): Teams "On the Verge"

This is SPF's group of teams that are "On The Verge" of reaching elite status. They all have challenges, but they are clearly heading in the right direction. 4. Washington Redskins - A lot can happen in a week. The Redskins' read more...

SPF's Divisional Playoffs Pre-Pregame Show (or T.I. Poll Week 19)

There are three SPF teams left in the Super Bowl hunt, but the news doesn't stop with them. Of the 4 current coaching vacancies, SPF has three of them (Miami, Atlanta, and Washington). Signs point to a year of great transition. The SPF footprint has some of the read more...

...A Rising Tide of Georgia Rock And Roll...

A Rising Tide of Georgia Rock And Roll: David Barbe, The Drive By Truckers, Bloodkin & The Black Crowes 1/10/08 "Every read more...

Second Annual Big House Benefit Coming January 19th

The Second Annual Big House Museum Benefit will be held in Macon, Georgia on January 19th, 2008. Perfomers will include Tommy Talton, Jimmy Hall,

How I Gave Up on Going to the Moon and Became a Writer Instead

Oddly enough, I would have never even dreamed of becoming a writer during my days in grade school and high school. I really wanted to work for NASA, or be a rock star, or both. But I did create my own music magazines and comic books as far back as tenth grade. My first real thoughts read more...

Doc Holliday Rocked The Holidays in Georgia

A reader reports that Doc Holliday Band played a great show at Yesterdaze a club in Warner Robbins on December 22, 2007. Apparently

2008 Year of The Crowe

...Atlanta's Black Crowes Prepare for the Warpath... 1/7/08 Today the Black 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 showcase original films and present cash awards to the best new films. Others bring classic, hard to find, topical, or thematic films to the 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 the recording of their new Cowboy reunion album. This session includes members of the band that joined after the third album. Previously, Boyer and read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Pregnant Teens, Aliens and Rock Star Parodies

JUNO What a great film to see as my first movie of 2008. This one had me laughing from start to finish, with a great script, great read more...

Cowboy in Studio Again This Weekend

Cowboy is back in the studio at Duck Tape Studios with Johnny Sandlin this weekend, recording more material for their upcoming new album. In the studio for round two are

SPF's Take: Yes, Cam Cameron deserved to be fired!

The year of suffering for Dolfans is finally over. Both Randy Mueller and Cam Cameron are out courtesy of Bill Parcells. (Watch Chris Mortenson on ESPN below)

SPF T.I. Poll (Wild Card Weekend Edition)

We're mixing it up again going into the playoffs. In an up and down year, six of the 13 SPF teams made the playoffs. Two, Washington and Tennessee, made it in the final weekend. SPF is rooting for an all-Footprint Super Bowl, and this isn't out of the realm of read more...

Happy New Year : Farewell to 2007

Happy New Year to all of our readers, and once again, allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support of GRITZ and our mother ship, SWAMPLAND.COM.

Criteria Studios: 50 Years Later

Legendary Miami Studio 50 Years Later 12/30/07 Jazz fanatic Mack Emerman started the Miami, Florida, Criteria Studio 50 years ago. The read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: National Treasure; I Am Legend; No Country for Old Men

NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS Nick Cage returns in the sequel to National Treasure. This time, in order to clear read more...

Lead Belly: A Life In Pictures

A New Lead Belly Book Hits The Streets 12/29/07 A new 250 page book on blues great

Dr. John Voices Frustration At Friday New Orleans Show

Dr. John Expresses Frustration With Katrina Fallout 12/29/07 Dr. John informed the audience--at his first of two shows in his hometown last read more...

Country's Top 100 Heartbreaks

A List of Country Music's Greatest Hurtin' Songs 12/28/07 Here's an interesting

SPF's Week Seventeen Pre-Pregame Show

Playoffs and draft slots. It's all on the line in a strange season-ending weekend in the Footprint. EARLY GAMES Jacksonville (11-4, 5-2 away) Houston (7-8, 5-2 home)

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 river called to say that a dozen White Pelicans were winging our way in the midst of a flock of cormorants. I had despaired of ever sighting pelicans read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Seventeen)

It's the last week of the NFL season. There isn't much left to be decided. Two SPF teams (Washington and Tennessee) can get in the postseason fun if they win. We expect them to do so if only because they are playing two other SPF teams (Dallas and Indy) who are 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 know if you agree or disagree. read more...

Outlaws to Tour in 2008; Picture of the Day, Classic Outlaws

The Outlaws, who had just finished recording a new album when founding member Hughie Thomasson passed away, have announced that they will tour early in 2008. The lineup will include original members Henry Paul and Monte Yoho. Dates for the tour are expected to be posted soon at

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR from Swampland!

Happy Holidays to all in the Footprint!! As the year comes to an end and you celebrate with family and friends, please keep your thoughts and prayers with our own Michael Buffalo Smith who has been battling health issues since before Thanksgiving. You can read his post

Merry Christmas from GRITZ

Greetings from South Carolina... Since I have received so many e-mails and calls, I thought I would post this. I know many of you have already gotten word that I have been suffering some serious health problems which sent me into the hospital over Thanksgiving read more...

Full Moon Fever With Stanley Booth

Full Moon Fever With Stanley Booth 12/24/07 Full moon on the Little Satilla River...I return to my homesoil for the holidays, and it ain't the 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 problems (my three year old monitor died). But now all is well, and I am looking forward to an exciting 2008 on Swampland. Today I am posting a read more...

Growing Up in Spartanburg with The Marshall Tucker Band

My association with The Marshall Tucker Band has been in the words of Robert Hunter, “a long, strange trip.” It has also been a trip I wouldn’t have missed for the read more...

SPF's Take: Parcells to Miami

SPF has been listing franchises all season that needed one of the Bills, Parcells or Cowher. Miami was top on that list. Owner Wayne Huizenga didn't disappoint beating Atlanta's Arthur Blank to the punch. The only interesting wrinkle is that Parcells will read more...

SPF's Week Sixteen Pre-Pregame Show

SATURDAY NIGHT Dallas (12-2, 6-0 away) Carolina (6-8, 2-5 home) NFL Films Video Preview This is a much better read more...

Picture of the Day: Grinderswitch

A classic photo of Capricorn Records recording artists, Grinderswitch, Dedicated to the memories of Dru Lombar, Joe Dan Petty and Stephen Miller.

Honeydripper Star Plays Hometown

Gary Clark Jr. Plays Austin 12/21/07 Musician Gary Clark, Jr.

George Porter Celebrates 60th Birthday

New Orleans Musician Celebrates 60th Birthday 12/21/07 The great George Porter Jr. will celebrate his 60th birthday next week at The read more...

Charlie Daniels Grand Ole Opry Induction Set for January 19th

Charlie Daniels will be inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on January 19, 2008 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Daniels was surprised with the invitation from Opry member Martina McBride during his annual Christmas For Kids benefit show in November. read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Sixteen)

SPF laid down the gauntlet before last weekend's games. Many teams answered the bell. With two games left in the regular season, teams out of the playoff picture may have as much to play for as those that are in. Don't sleep SPF fans, there is still much to be read more...

Blues Trail Marker For "Nighthawk" McCollum

A New Blues Marker Tribute 12/19/07 In Friar's Point, Mississippi, a

New Willie Nelson Album Out January 29, 2008

New Nelson CD, Moment of Forever, Hits Streets Early 08 12/19/07 Great American read more...

Mama Hill of H&H in Macon Passes Away at 94

Mama Inez Hill, the co-owner of Macon's H&H Restaurant has passed away at 94. Inez Hill, 94, died early this morning (Tuesday, December 18th) of natural causes at The Medical Center of Central Georgia. Hill, and her sister "Mama Louise" 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 "The eeriest thing I ever had to do in my life was at Hank's funeral when read more...

SPF's Week Fifteen Pre-Pregame Show

It has been a largely disappointing season for SPF, but these final weeks can redeem or further decimate a team's momentum for 2008. There are three shoe-in playoff teams in the Footprint - Dallas, Indy, and Tampa. Two others (Jacksonville and Tennessee) have to keep read more...

In defense of Bobby Petrino (and Arkansas)

Tribal Fever prides itself about being on the pulse of college sports in the Footprint. We aren't here to sugarcoat it in any way. College football is king down here. Everything else runs a distant second. In that light, we want to set the record read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Fifteen)

SPF will say it - this has been a very tough year for pro football in the Swampland Footprint. Of our 13 teams, more than half of them have been in serious disarray. At best only 5 or 6 teams will have a clear direction heading into 2008. Most will be going back to read more...

Ike Turner Dead at 76

Ike Turner Dead at 76 12/12/07 The story of guitarist/songwriter

Buffalo's Best Films of 2007

Well, 2007 wasn’t the best year ever for movies, but we did hit on a few real winners. It seemed the theme of the year was war, with an unusual amount of war films, but we still got a dose here and there of comedy and a small handful of Oscar caliber performances, like Tommy read more...

Southern Greats Play Post Led Zeppelin London Gig

Sam Moore, Ben E. King, Percy Sledge and Solomon Burke Perform Post Led Zep Gig 12/11/07 Ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman's band, the

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 Download is available exclusively thru www.SouthernAlliance.org

Jimmy Hall Launches New Web Site, Features Exclusive Video and Audio

Jimmy Hall's website has been given a face lift, this according to Mike read more...

SPF's Week Fourteen Pre-Pregame Show

SPF has been beating a few drums this year, but one is about letting players play. Coaches coach systems. GMs find players to fit into these systems (or in the case of special players, systems are designed for their talents). Except for read more...

John Sayles Interview

Mystery & Manners John Sayles Interview 12/8/07 On Thursday I interviewed John Sayles. Sayles' new movie Honeydripper was filmed in Alabama. Honeydripper read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Fourteen)

SPF has looked at the coach/QB relationship. Now, it's time to look at the owner/coach relationship. When this relationship is good, everything clicks for the fans. The fans want to see the coach as an extension of the owner, an extension that helps build a bridge read more...

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 to the old Capricorn Records as a Southern specialty label, and read more...

Video: "Painting Her Toenails," Michael Buffalo Smith

One of my songs that seems to be going over well these days is called "Painting Her Toenails." It's just a simple tune inspired by seeing my wife doing her nails one night. The following performance features my pal Donnie Winters from The Winters Brothers Band. We played read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Awake, The Mist, Hitman, Beowulf

AWAKE I had this dream. In it, a young Darth Vader was sleeping around with Sue Storm from The Fantastic read more...

Picture of the Day: Jammin' with Charlie Daniels at Angelus

The jam following the banquet at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel last Friday night during the annual Angelus Benefit found our own Buffalo singing along with Charlie Daniels, Tommy Crain and the Crosstown Allstars and cartoonist Guy Gilchrist! Only at Angelus! (Photos © by read more...

Gibson's Robot Guitar

Gibson's Robot Guitar On Sale 12/6/07 This Monday, Gibson's

No Country For Old Men Voted Best Film

Joel & Ethan Cohen's Film Earns High Praise 12/06/07 Southern writer

Picture of the Day: Guy and Towson at Charliepalooza!

Picture of the day. Cartoonist Guy Gilchrist ("Nancy," "The Muppetts") and drummer Towson Engsberg (Tommy Crain and The Crosstown Allstars) enjoy the music of Charliepalooza from the side of the stage. (Photo by Michael Buffalo Smith) Read all about last read more...

Billy Bob Thornton Christmas Song Exclusive On iTunes

Billy Bob Thornton's band (his hillbilly band) The Boxmasters have a special Christmas

...Into The Deep...

Mystery & Manners Dispatch 12/05/07 Today marks the birthday of southern writer

Like Father, Like Son: John Carter Cash Speaks with GRITZ

John Carter Cash, son of famed country music couple Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, took some time out of his extremely busy schedule to speak with us about the new Johnny Cast TV Show DVD set, the Cash Cabin Recording Studio and of course, his legendary parents. For me, read more...

Dixie Chicks Want Convictions Overturned

The Dixie Chicks have a new controversy on their hands. Lead singer Natalie Maines is urging people to contribute money to a defense fund for three Arkansas men that she (and many others) believe were wrongly convicted of killing three children in 1993. Maines writes read more...

Artimus Pyle Arrested a Second Time On Same Charges

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle has been arrested a second time after failing to properly register as a sex offender, sheriff's officials said.

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, Florida.

The Angelus Benefit: Day Three, The Big Concert

SATURDAY Well today was the last big hurrah for this year’s Angelus event, the all day outdoor country concert at Ford Amphitheater. The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful, and the music never stopped all day, thanks to some well read more...

SPF's Week Thirteen Pre-Pregame Show

While Tribal Fever nation witnessed their conference championships this weekend, SPF has found a few of their own. There are four key head to head matchups in the SPF footprint this week - two of which will probably decide the winner of the AFC and NFC South. Our other read more...

Angelus Day Two: The Music Continued Into The Night

FRIDAY We started off the day downstairs on the banquet room for breakfast, hanging out with friends and enjoying conversation. Then at 3 PM it was once again time for me the hit the stage of the Lobby Bar. Unfortunately, Tommy

TF Conference Championship Preview

Today is the day we find out whether it will be an all-Swampland matchup in the BCS Championship Game. If all goes according to plan it should be Missouri vs. West Virginia. Still, there are a few other game worth watching. It has been a great year for college read more...

Charlie Daniels Rocks The Angelus: Day One

It was a beautiful day for a drive to Florida, and my old buddy Scott Greene and I set sail for the annual Angelus weekend down in Tampa. It’s one of my favorite events and I always look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones, listening to some old school Southern read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Thirteen)

Coaching changes. They happen every year even though it seems as though jobs are more than safe. Changes are usually made because the coach no longer has the confidence of the fans. Once that occurs, the owner is left with little choice. As long term, one read more...

The Black Crowes Put On Warpaint

The Black Crowes New Album Warpaint Set For Release 11/27/07

Enter to Win, Marshall Tucker Band Live 1977 DVD!!

There's still time for you to win a copy of the new DVD/CD package The Carolina Dreams Tour by The Marshall Tucker Band! Just register, comment and win. Click here for the 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. (Buffalo photo)

Another Side of Tommy Talton

Tommy Talton is no doubt best known for his work with the 1970's Capricorn Records recording group

SPF's Week Twelve Pre-Pregame Show

Leadership. Is it there? The leader(s) of each SPF team define that team to their fans. Already, Thanksgiving solidified a sense of leadership between coach and QB with both the Colts and their Manning/Dungy duo and the Cowboys with their Wade/Romo combination read more...

John Hammond "Southern Fried;" Old & Heavy Gold

Southern Fried John Hammond This true “lost treasure” is now available on CD at Amazon and for download at iTunes. Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios back in 1969, blues rocker

Willie Nelson: Dogs Best Friend

Dogs Best Friend: Willie Nelson 11/24/07 Willie read more...

Ex-Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Artimus Pyle Jailed

Artimus Pyle, a former drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, has been jailed in Florida on charges that he failed to properly register as a sex offender. Pyle had pleaded guilty in 1993 to charges of attempted capital sexual battery by an adult on a victim younger than 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 bragging rights for a year. That is why this weekend's game can often be the hardest to call. A team with a losing record can suddenly make read more...

Swampland Salutes Great Southern Writer Paul Hemphill

Mystery & Manners Highlights Writer Paul Hemphill 11/21/07 I'd like to take this opportunity to direct everyone's attention to the read more...

Win Marshall Tucker's New Live in 1977 DVD/CD FREE!

The Marshall Tucker Band was at their peak in the summer of 1977, and now you can relive the magic of the original lineup of Toy and Tommy Caldwell, George McCorkle, Paul Riddle, Doug Gray and Jerry Eubanks on a fabulous live DVD that comes complete with a 2-CD set of the same read more...

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 years. In part one of our journal, we meet all of the original members of Cowboy, and hear music that is sure to turn the Southern music world on it's read more...

Charlie Daniels to Join the Grand Ole Opry

Our friend Charlie Daniels has been asked to become a member of the legendary Grand Ole Opry. GRITZ correspondent Rick Broyles was in attendence last night, November 20, during Daniels’ read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Twelve)

SPF often talks a team's style when it comes to identity. Style, though, is kind of a catch all. Dig a little deeper and it comes down to coaching and, of course, a team's QB. This week seems like a good one to put the QB position under the read more...

Johnny Cash's First Wife's New Book

New Book From the Late Vivian Cash 11/19/07 Vivian Cash,

Confessions Redux

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Auburn’s 1957 National Championship. Not only did the Tigers go undefeated that season, but they also held Alabama scoreless in the Iron Bowl while running up an astounding forty points. Saturday, November 24, is the golden read more...

Picture of the Day: Cowboy Reunion

The entire original lineup of Cowboy reunite in Decatur, Alabama to record an all-new album. Look for the complete story here in GRITZ on Tuesday. Pictured read more...

SPF's Week Eleven Pre-Pregame Show

This week, more than any other this NFL season, the fan will find out who their teams are. Are teams going to the playoffs? Will they be Super Bowl contenders? Are they on the rise even if playoffs aren't likely? We shall see.

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 new Cowboy reunion album is going great. The new songs are top drawer, and it has been very cool meeting the guys who recorded such classic Capricorn 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 experienced. In some ways, it shouldn't be as surprising as it has been. Nick Saban's arrival lit a fire under everyone. The ante was read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Eleven)

Week Ten was a very weird football weekend. Many of the SPF teams lost games. Few had important wins. It just seems like this was a week to stumble. Desperation might be the biggest factor in any NFL game. The teams that are desperate have an edge read more...

Jerry Wexler Talks Bob Dylan, Doug Sahm and Muscle Shoals

Jerry Wexler Talks Dylan, Doug Sahm and Muscle Shoals 11/15/07 In these interview clips, the great Jerry Wexler discusses recording

The Word Returns

The Word Returns In December 11/14/07 Robert Randolph (The Robert Randolph Family Band), Cody &

Picture Of The Day: Jam 4 George

Cooking onstage during the recent Jam 4 George Memorial Concert are George's son Justin McCorkle, founding Marshall Tucker Band member Jerry Eubanks, current MTB bassist Pat Ellwood and Mark Emerick from The Commander Cody Band. (Photo by Mandy Merck)

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Lions for Lambs, American Gangster, Martian Child and P2

Lions for Lambs Robert Redford directs and stars in this movie about the war in Iraq seen from various angles, including his read more...

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s) PART FIVE: The Band

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s) PART FIVE: The Band “Hail is beatin’ on the roof The bourbon is a hundred proof read more...

Music Maker Relief Foundation's Latest Project

Music Maker's Built For The Blues 11/13/07 Music Maker Relief Foundation operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting poor read more...

New Marshall Tucker Band 1977 DVD is On The Way

A three-CD set of the Marshall Tucker Band collection entitled Carolina Dreams Tour '77 that features the group's original lineup in concert is due out December 4th on the Shout! Factory read more...

Another James Brown Lawsuit

Latest Legal Distraction For James Brown Estate 11/12/07 All is not well among members of James Brown's family. Since his death on December read more...

Loretta Lynn Returns To The Ryman

Loretta Lynn Returns To The Ryman 11/12/07 On Thursday, November 15, Loretta Lynn returns to perform at the fabled Ryman Auditorium. The read more...

Back to The High Lonesome with Tom Hambridge & The Rattlesnakes

I made my way down to Rome, Georgia for my third ever visit to the High Lonesome Saloon, a place that is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to play. I had been fortunate enough to attend a rehearsal by

Former Allman Brothers Band Employee Scooter Herring Has Died

MACON, GA - John C. "Scooter" Herring, 67, of Macon, died Saturday, November 10, 2007. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 2:00PM at Harvest Cathedral, 2254 Rocky Creek Road, with Larry Howard officiating. The family may be contacted at read more...

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 early bands in Florida with members of The Allman Brothers Band, to his highly successful Capricorn Records band with Tommy Talton, Cowboy, Scott gives read more...

Picture of the Day: Jimmie Van Zant at CMA Awards

Jimmie Van Zant and his wfe Zohra at CMAs talking about his new upcoming CD My Name is Jimmie.

Coen Brothers Adapt Cormac McCarthy's Book No Country For Old Men Into Film

Coen Brothers Adapt Cormac McCarthy's Book No Country For Old Men Into Film 11/11/07 A new Coen Brothers movie, based read more...

SPF's Week Ten Pre-Pregame Show

SPF will stick by this point - no team set the NFL back more than the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. This "champion" brought the worst part of hip-hop's "thug" culture to NFL through the real life violence of Ray Lewis, whose murder acquittal and read more...

TF Saturday Preview: Everything's Still To Be Decided

Patrick Snow has it right. This year's season of college football has shown that it is one of the most compelling sports to follow as a fan, especially in the Footprint.

Still More Scenes from The Jam 4 George!!

If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, how much are a thousand pictures worth? Due to popular demand, we happily present "Still More Scenes from The Jam 4 George." All Photos by Mandy Merck, City of Spartanburg gal and J4G Planning Committee read more...

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s) PART FOUR: The Rolling Stones

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s)PART FOUR: The Rolling Stones 11/8/07 "Will all your money Keep you from read more...

Blind Boys of Alabama 70 Years Young

Blind Boys of Alabama: 70 Years Young The Blind Boys of Alabama read more...

More Scenes from The Jam 4 George!

The photographs just keep coming into the GRITZ offices! Here are some more great scenes from The Jam 4 George. Photos contributed by Mark Coburn, Rebyll, Ms. Rebyll and Buffalo.

Jam 4 George Was a Major Success

Swampland.com was happy to participate as a media sponsor in The Jam 4 George, an all-day concert in Spartanburg, S.C. honoring the memory of the late George McCorkle, a founding member of The Marshall Tucker Band. Read a complete review of the event inside

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Ten)

Everyone knows that football is the dominant sport in the Footprint, but it has always been college dominating the pro variety. The goal of SPF's "Team Identity Poll" is to gauge the connection of each team to their fans. This week, two different studies were read more...

Jam 4 George Brings Out The Best of Southern Rockers and Fans

Wofford College weren’t the only ones having a homecoming in Spartanburg, SC last Saturday, November 3. Barnett Park downtown was ground zero for one of the finest gatherings of Southern Rock fans and musicians this writer has witnessed in quite some time. Everyone was there read more...

Picture of the Day: Jam 4 George

Buffalo is seen here with founding Marshall Tucker Band member, flute and sax player Jerry Eubanks, moments before the finale jam at The Jam for George McCorkle on Saturday, November 3, 2007. A complete review with loads of photos will be posted here by late Tuesday read more...

Warren Haynes Xmas Jam to Feature Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby

Warren Haynes Presents: The 19th Annual Christmas Jam will take place this year on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at the Asheville Civic Center in Asheville, NC. A list of performers for this year has just been announced, with moe to be added. Gov't Mule Jackson Browne read more...

A Day In The Life of A Great American Guitarist (Marc Ford) PART THREE

A Day In the Life of A Great American Guitar Player: PART THREE Marc Ford In San Francisco 11/05/07 "Featherweight read more...

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 had to hold on for dear life to beat Northwestern State 38-31 on Saturday. The non-Division 1 Demons went into the game with a 2-3 record in the read more...

SPF's Week Nine Pre-Pregame Show

It's it the "Clash of the Titans!" The Colts-Pats game deserves the hype that it is getting. Both teams have built long term consistently excellent football teams in the "salary cap era " - something that is supposedly impossible. This read more...

Mystery & Manners Dispatch From San Francisco

Dispatch From San Francisco 11/3/07 Notes written on a back porch facing Mt. Tamalpais, known to locals as "Mt. Tam". I arrived read more...

TF Saturday Preview: The Saban Bowl

While the pro football world is waiting for the Colts-Patriots showdown, the Tribal Fever Footprint has a game that means something more in our Footprint - the Saban Bowl. By now, everyone knows the story, but it is the 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 football, and in Alabama there is only Auburn and

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Eight)

Things continue to settle out in the SPF Footprint. This week's big question is whether the South's best is the NFL's best. The Colts were just that last season, but their old New England nemesis seems to have stolen their thunder again. Here's last week's read more...

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s) PART THREE--Tom Waits

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s) PART THREE 10/31/07 "The quill from a buzzard The blood writes the word

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s) PART TWO--Jerry Garcia

Mystery & Manners Honorary Southern Artist(s) Part Two 10/30/07 "I love the Dead. As far as Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia could walk read more...

Porter Wagoner Dead at 80

Porter Wagoner died Sunday in Nashville. He was 80 and lived in Nashville. He had been hospitalized with lung cancer earlier this month. Mr. Wagoner had 81 singles on the country charts, including read more...

Halloween Movie Reviews from GRITZ

Film Reviews by Michael Buffalo Smith SAW IV You really can’t keep a bad man down. At the opening of the film, read more...

October 27 & 28 Bridge School Benefit

21st Bridge School Benefit Hosts Various Musicians 10/27/07 In light of a

SPF's Week Eight Pre-Pregame Show

Much like yesterday's college slate, this week's SPF schedule features teams looking towards the season's end and where they want to be at that point. Teams know that the season is half over at this point and they need to be making their final pushes. The best teams read more...

Tommy Talton Band Takes it to the Melting Point

Both The New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine recently named Athens, Georgia as the number one music scene in 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 for good games in the Footprint. That's why Athlon's college football preview spends most of its time previewing games outside our read more...

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Seven)

SPF's season previews are looking pretty good so far. The teams we singled out like the Jags, the Texans, and the Dolphins have shown themselves to be in hot water with their fan base. The Jags and the Texans suffered "must win" losses that neither could read more...

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Wednesday night’s opening game of the 2007 World Series at Fenway Park was a heartbreaker for Colorado Rockies fans. I have always read more...

SWAMPLAND Goin' Out West...Frisco Bound...

Mystery & Manners Goin' Out West To San Francisco 10/25/07

Athens Rocks Tonight (Georgia, Not Greece)

Well, here I am back in Athens, Georgia at The Foundry Inn and Spa, a really cool and historical hotel that also features one of the nicest listening rooms I have seen lately, The Melting Point. Jill and I made the trip down from Greenville his morning under sunny skies, all read more...

One of My Heroes, Porter Wagoner Has Lung Cancer

October 24, 2007 I was really taken aback to hear Country Music Hall of Famer Porter Wagoner has been diagnosed with lung cancer. To me, Porter is one of the last of the true country music superstars. He hangs right in the same category as Merle Haggard, read more...

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 a gentle “female” rain, and I pray it continues all week. I especially hope it rains profusely on Atlanta, Georgia, where they are having read more...

Weirdness Way Down South

Weirdness Down South 10/22/07 People do crazy things, and every now and then I'd like to highlight their singular accomplishments. Recently, read more...

Photo of the Day: Marc Ford and Swampland's Own James Calemine

Photo of the day features famed guitarist Marc Ford (left) and our own James Calemine (right). Be sure to read about James' latest adventures with the former Black Crowe in the Mystery & Manner read more...

Win Free Tickets To Jam 4 George

Here's your chance to win a pair of tickets to the Jam for George memorial concert in Spartanburg, SC. We have a few pairs of tickets to give away. All you have to do is comment below and tell us why you want to be at the big event or your memories of George read more...

Birthday Cheers To Tom Petty

Mystery & Manners Cheers To Tom Petty 10/20/07 ...Raise a glass to Thomas Earl Petty, born October 20, 1950, in Gainesville, read more...

SPF's Week Seven Pre-Pregame Show

Getting on the same page. Coaches and players that have the same sense of urgency signify teams that are winning. The NFL is a business, and like all business deals - interests must align. This is the reason that ownership, the front office, and the coaching 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 hold true to some of our Footprint's winning neophytes. When programs are new to winning, they don't know how to handle themselves. That's read more...

It Was 30 Years Ago Today: Last Flight of The Free Bird

I only saw Lynyrd Skynyrd, the original Lynyrd Skynyrd, in concert one time. It was October 19, 1977, and sadly, it was to be the very last concert for Ronnie Van Zant. I was backstage the 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 Ryan Bingham and the

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Six)

Here we are again for SPF's weekly Team Identity Poll. Things have shaken up a bit. We are much closer to how we saw things at the beginning of the season. Let's start with a look at last week's Poll: 1. Dallas Cowboys 2. Indianapolis read more...

George McCorkle To Be Honored by Memorial Concert November 3rd

Spartanburg, SC - George McCorkle, an original member of The Marshall Tucker Band, will be memorialized read more...

Online Radio Station Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd October 20th

Next Saturday, October 20th at 4pm EST tune into

A Day In The Life of A Great American Guitarist (Marc Ford) PART TWO

A Day In the Life of A Great American Guitarist Part Two 10/15/07

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 mountain. Carl Weaver’s pet camel, Akbar, that is. Carl wanted Dave Peck to shoot video of the camel for a new logo he is working on. Since we 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 North Alabama. Speaking of fall, this weekend my sister, her husband, and two of our friends made a road trip to the hills of middle Tennessee read more...

Dick, a Duck and a Decoy : Part One

Shootin’ The Camel on the Top of the Mountain Part One The primary goal for the weekend was to shoot the camel on the top of the mountain. Well, that, and to hand deliver finished read more...

SPF's Week Six Pre-Pregame Show

It's week 6 for the SPF teams. Four teams are basically done, but the rest have critical games that will go a long way to determining how the rest of the season will play out for them. Here's this week's slate (video links courtesy of 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 ESPN.com about the SEC. Which leads us to this week's focus - the historical read more...

Thelonious Monk's North Carolina Roots

Thelonious Monk's North Carolina Roots 10/11/07 Yesterday marked 90 years since the birth of

Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s) PART ONE--Bob Dylan

...Mystery & Manners' Honorary Southern Artist(s)...PART ONE... 10/11/07 "Beat a path of retreat

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Five)

The rich seem to be getting richer (and the poor, poorer) in the SPF Footprint. There is happiness at the top, confusion in the middle, and desperation at the bottom. Let's start with last week's T.I. Poll 1. Dallas Cowboys 2. Indianapolis read more...

Billy Bob Thornton Debuts at #33 On Americana Charts

“BEAUTIFUL DOOR” AMONG THE HIGHEST ALBUM DEBUTS THIS WEEK (October 9, 2007) “Each track is like mini story…. While the singing is simple, the well-written lyrics will inevitably draw read more...

Haggard's Horizon

Merle Haggard Gives Insight To Future In Billboard Q & A 10/9/07

Philip Morris: Corporate Charities, the Arts, and Virginia's future?

In today's NY Times, there is a piece about a problem in the local arts scene. It seems read more...

James Calemine Hangs Out with Marc Ford

I'd like to take a minute to make sure that all "friends of GRITZ" drop by all of the other sections of SWAMPLAND for some very cool reading. Case in point, brother James Calemine, a long time writer for GRITZ as well read more...

A Pearl in the Heart of South Carolina

Down the road from me in Bishopville, South Carolina, there lives a man named Pearl. Pearl Fryar, a sixty-six year old African American who literally defines the term “self made man.”

Marc Ford Burns Through Atlanta

A Day In The Life of a Great American Guitarist: Marc Ford Burns Through Atlanta 10/7/07

SPF's Week Five Pre-Pregame Show

It's week five in the NFL season. Overall, the SPF Footprint is shaping up to be a year of the haves and have-nots. The Footprint contains two of the NFL's winless teams (Dolphins and Rams) and several other struggling squads. However, we also have two of the best read more...

Skynyrd Tribute Weekend October 19-20

A "Skynyrd Tribute Weekend" will be held Oct. 19 and 20 at Sharky's Place in the Quality Inn & Conference Center, 300 Park Ave., Orange Park, Florida. The tribute will kick off at 6 p.m. both Friday and Saturday read more...

Warren Haynes Christmas Jam Returns in December

News just in from mule.net. Warren Haynes Presents: The 19th Annual Christmas Jam will take place on December 15, 2007 at The Asheville Civic Center. More information, including Pre-Sale and Public On-Sale will be announced read more...

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 week. (Read Patrick's new column on the state of baseball in read more...

Widespread Panic Fall Tour Underway with New Member Jimmy Herring

Jimmy Herring may be the king of all "hired guns" in Southern rock. He jumped in and filled the Dickey Betts vacancy in

William Eggleston: The Father of Color Photography

The Photography of William Eggleston 10/4/07 Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1939,

Check Out a Dickey Betts, Bonnie Bramlett, Charlie Daniels Jam from 1970's

Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again - YouTube rocks. Whoever came up with that idea is a genius, and I feel very lucky to be able to share some of the very best Southern Rock from YouTube right here at GRITZ. When I was in my late teens, I was quite the read more...

Ray McKinnon Randy and the Mob Blog

Ray McKinnon's Recent Blogs About His Latest Film, Randy and the Mob 10/3/07 As posted

SPF T.I. Poll (Week Four)

Just like in the college ranks, it was a bit of a crazy week in the SPF Footprint. Right now, there are more bad teams than good, but the good teams are pretty darn good so we guess that evens things out a little. Here's last week's "Team Identity" read more...

The Paintings of Woodie Long

The Paintings of Woodie Long 10/2/07 Today I'd like to bring the reader's attention to the work of Woodie Long. Born in 1942, Long 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 Allman Brothers Band. (1997-1999) The lineup soon changed, but there are some magnificent board tapes out there with read more...

Otis Redding Film Premier October 8

Dreams To Remember Premier October 8 10/1/07 The new Otis Redding documentary, Dreams To Remember: The Legacy of Otis read more...

Buffalo's Book Club: "Dixie Lullaby"

Welcome to the first installment of Buffalo's Book Club. I figured, if Oprah can have one, so can I. The only thing is, I don't believe "O" and I will be recommending the same books. But then again, who knows? Our first book is called Dixie read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: The Kingdom, Elah and Game Plan

THE KINGDOM Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman star as four FBI agents who take it upon read more...

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 with me. I am somewhat jet-lagged, and I am preparing to leave for Jackson, MS, on Wednesday to participate in the

Upset Saturday, or not?

Patrick Snow mentioned in his last column that he was looking ahead to next week's games. Based on yesterday's game result, so were too many top 25 teams in the Footprint. TF Upsets read more...

SPF's Week Four Pre-Pregame Show

Welcome SPF fans! Here's today's slate. (SPF teams in BOLD) Early Games Dolphins v. Raiders preview Rams @ read more...

People Take Warning! Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs 1913-1938

Tompkins Square Releases Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs This Week 9/29/07 This week Tompkins Square released this

Afternoon Tea with Billy Bob and Me

Well, we didn't actually sit down together this time, but I was drinking tea and speaking with my buddy Billy Bob Thornton on the phone this afternoon. It was our eagerly awaited second interview with the Southern icon, and I was ready to talk about music and read more...

Blues Great Memphis Minnie Honored

Blues Great Memphis Minnie Honored 9/28/07 In Walls, Mississippi, the female guitarist and songwriter Memphis Minnie was honored with a read more...

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 Fever, Swampland.com's dispatch dedicated to college sports in the South. We have new features up including Patrick Snow's latest read more...

GRITZ Movie Reviews: Sydney White, Eastern Promises, Good Luck Chuck

Sydney White Amanda Bynes, the cutest young actress I’ve seen in years, stars as Sydney White, a girl who has been raised by a read more...

An Urgent Message from John McEuen about George Grantham

We here at Swampland want to let everyone know about a message that John McEuen is trying to get out to the public at large regarding Oklahoma native and Poco drummer George read more...

Nuke Fallout Shelter For Alabama

Alabama City Reopening Nuke Fallout Shelter 9/27/07 In Huntsville, Alabama, they are planning to build a state of the art nuclear fallout read more...

Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino

GOIN' HOME: A TRIBUTE TO FATS DOMINO 9/26/07 Yesterday Vanguard released

Jam for George McCorkle Shaping Up to Be a Must See Event

The Jam for George Concert is scheduled for Saturday, November 3, 2007 beginning at 1 PM at Barnett Park in downtown Spartanburg, SC. I attended another meeting of the planning group last night, and the show is shaping up to be the must see event of the year. The musical read more...

Picture of the Day: Otis Redding Family

Here's a great shot of Otis Redding's family: Zelma Redding, Rodgers Redding, Karla Redding Andrews, Dexter Redding, and other family members in a photo taken at The Douglass Theatre Walk of Fame dedication during the recent Otis Redding Tribute ceremonies in read more...