Down On The Corner
•Greg Martin of theKentucky HeadHunters sent an advance copy of their new tape, recorded withJohnnie Johnson, former piano player forChuck Berry. Greg noted that the album will be released in mid-August, with plans for a tour in the fall. Greg also sent his regards to all HeadHunter friends and fans.
•David Yates, local singer/songwriter, took second place in the Ernest Tubb Record Shop talent search on June 13. He got some studio time for his prize.
Yates is also waiting to see if he is going to be on the "Be a Star" program, for which he auditioned recently.
•Jesse Garon dropped a note saying that he had become the Bargain Bazaar's 1993 Country Music Talent Contest Grand Champion.
• The Velcro Pygmies have managed to get their tune "Mona Lisa" into rotation on WQMF. Way to go, guys.
•Hard to Believe Dept. The word is that WDJX AM (1080) will be programming alternative music every night from 7:00 to midnight, beginning on August 1. Kudos to whoever made that decision.
• On August 1, there will be a benefit forMichelle Schmitt, the two-year-old in need of a new liver.Pete Stamper, Susan Tomes and comedian Bum Wilson of Renfro Valley fame, plus others, will perform at the Bargain Bazaar Flea Market, located in the Picadilly Plaza at the corner of Hurstbourne Lane and Bardstown Road. There'll be a car show in the parking lot as well. The event starts at 2:00 p.m. and goes until late. Call Bill Duke at 491-9979 for information.
On the rock side, on August 23, there will be a "Charity Fest" for Michelle at the Toy Tiger. Scheduled to perform areDodge City, Rathbone andVan Fleet. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. The tickets are $3.
•Misha Feigin called to report on his adventures in West Virginia, where he appeared on the "Mountain Stage" radio program. He admitted that he was nervous but settled down and made no serious errors. Sharing the bill with Feigin wasPeter Himmelman and the Cincinnati-based bandOver the Rhine, plus an avant garde Celtic band. The show will be broadcast locally on WFPL FM 89 either on August 15 or August 22.
Feigin will be playing at the Rudyard Kipling on August 26.
•Erica Bricking had a fine time playing several open stages in London, England, on a recent trip. Bricking is the guitarist for the riot grrl bandDrinking Woman. The group, which includesHeather Cantrell, vocals;Tara O'Neil, bass; andGreta Ritcher, drums, is scheduled for a mini-tour in August. One stop on the road is a show withAntietam, at the Knitting Factory in New York.
• Singer/songwriter Rusty Bladen has a new band and a new CD to promote. The CD is titled Are You Happy Now? and is getting airplay on a dozen or so stations around the area, including WTTS in Bloomington. Bladen's new band includes Clarksville residentRob Johnson on guitar and saxophonistRick DeBow, who is well-known to Louisville music fans.
•Foree Wells is recording an album at Audiovisions. The release is tentatively set for August. Read Keith Clements' column on page 10 for more details.
• Kyana Blues Society stalwart and blues fingerpickerPen Bogert was married on July 16 toBrenda Jones, also a Kyana member. Congrats and best wishes to Pen and Brenda.
• The Louisville Ballet is looking for a horse and a burro for their production of "Don Quixote," scheduled for September 30 - October 2. Don Quixote's horse historically has been a white, sway-backed old cart horse. The burro has not been so closely described. If you and your horse or burro are interested, callAnn Stewart at 502-456-4520.
• The Louisville Gardens has elected new officers for the Board of Directors for the 1993-94 fiscal year. Elected wereWilliam C. Stone, President,Larry Hayes, Vice-President, andGregory E. Dearing, Secretary-Treasurer.
• The Kentucky Opera is looking for books for their 20th Annual Kentucky Opera Book Sale. Call 502-584-4500 for more information and free pick-up.
• The Louisville Youth Orchestra has announced audition slots for interested students through the age of 21. Auditions will take place during the last week of August and the first week of September. For more information, call Melody Welsh at 502-582-0135.
•Maggie Brummett is looking for entertainers to fill several slots for a Cherry River Grand New Opry Music show that she is organizing. Beside a house band and vocalists, the show will have a songwriter and a featured artist. Brummett, who returned to the Louisville area after spending some time in Nashville, is looking for professional musicians for the Opry. The first show is set for September 3, at the Fern Creek Community Center, so there is no time to waste. Call 502-375-1330 for more information.
•Lovesauce and soulbones' Sam Anderson called to tell us aboutThomas Kane's Urban Business Conference, set for October 15-16 at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville. Kane then phoned to say that the conference will cover the usual music biz stuff, with publishers and A&R people in attendance and showcases for the players. Thomas Kane, who works for BMI in Nashville, can be reached at BMI's Nashville office.
• Speaking of Sam Anderson, he managed to attract the attention of the men in blue recently. Anderson was singing at a cookout held to celebrate the marriage ofBob Bahr andSusan Kiely. Bahr, who is involved with lovesauce and soulbones as publicist (at least), married his longtime girlfriend Kiely in San Francisco on April 8, as previously reported in LMN. Her family held the cookout on the grounds of their home off Hubbards Lane, and Anderson was performing outside. Amplified. The gendarmes suggested that perhaps he might like to take a permanent break, as the neighbors were less than enthralled.
Ah, critics.