this one
Paul Moffett

Down On The Corner
By Paul Moffett

Days of the New's "Touch, Peel and Stand" now stands at the top of Billboard's Rock/Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Yep, as in Numero Uno, a genuine Number One hit for a Louisville band. Todd Smith, engineer at Allen Martin Productions, is thrilled to death, as he was the engineer on the project.

DotN leader Travis Meeks' father Gary Meeks has already acted to put more acts in the pipeline by setting up a showcase series at the Toy Tiger for the next fifteen Wednesdays or so. Three bands from that series will wind up with management contracts with DotN's company, Wild Justice Management.

The Garvin Gate Blues Festival on Theatre Square was blessed with three days of beautiful fall weather, with good crowds. According to Letha Hall, head of marketing for the Palace, the turnout was the equal to crowds at the old site at 4th and Oak. Overall, a real good weekend. The downtown folks were real pleased. The event is already set for next year, on same weekend.

The IBMA Trade Show and Fest was also a tremendous show and will return to Louisville in 1998. Bluegrass music fans should lobby their local politicos about making serious efforts to snag the IBMA show permanently, instead of letting Nashville grab it. According to Dan Hays, the Awards Show audience was up considerably, thanks to the larger space provided by the Galt House.

The Louisville Mandolin Orchestra is celebrating its 10th anniversary by bringing the Classical Mandolin Society of America's 11th Annual Convention to town on November 5-9. While this is not as large a convention as the IBMA, it's an important one in this field and ensembles from around the the country and the planet will be here. The event will feature concerts, workshops and demonstrations and, of course, the chance to meet and greet. The Louisville Mandolin Orchestra is conducted by Jim Bates.

Mike Schroeder, the organizer of the LMO and mandolin picker with the bluegrass band New Horizon, also notes that the LMO will be featured on three recordings this year. Besides a CD of folk songs, the orchestra has recorded Sinfonietta for Mandolin Orchestra, by National Endowment for the Arts Composer A. Paul Johnson, for the Apollo label. They will also appear as part of the American Brass Band recording series, playing five newspaper marches from the 1890s.

For more information, check their website at www.iglou.com/dba/LMN/cmsa97.html.

Winston Hardy says he has the only band in town with two winners of the Sylvester Weaver Award and still finds it hard to get work at established blues venues. However, he's found some guys down in his old neighborhood who'll put him to work and now WH and the Roadmasters will be at Marmaduke's every other weekend, indefinitely.

Big Band fans have a reason to celebrate. Drummer John Roy called and said that his big band, June Kelley-Roy and the Ovation Orchestra, have landed a regular Tuesday gig at Rick's Square Piano on Theater Square. Showtime is 7:30-10:30 p.m.

New Albany, Indiana singer/songwriter Dr. Patrick Moore got picked as the "Band of the Week" by the Internet Underground Music Archives (IUMA). Patrick says that anyone interested in voting for him for IUMA Band of the Year can contact the IUMA at http://iuma.com. Also click to http://mooresongs.com for info on Patrick.

Tommy Seward, drummer for the Devonshires, has taken over the drum department at Far Out Music in Clarksville, according to Rob Johnson at Far Out. Johnson also noted that Wayne Carver is the guitar guy there now. Carver plays bass with the Mudcats.

The Louisville Yourth Orchestra has openings for interested students through the age of 21. In addition, there is a new Louisville Area Big Band for students interested in big band and jazz. Contact Melody Welsh at 502-582-0135.

LMN writer Wally Stewart sends word of a musical event/benefit, set for November 28 in Scottsburg. The 9th annual Kids First Auction will feature Delaney Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie; Greg Martin of the Kentucky Headhunters; Bekka Bramlett and Billy Burnett, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, now Bekka & Billy; Jeff Guernsey, of the Vince Gill Band; and Memphis artist Bobby Whitlock. Also scheduled are Marvin Maxwell, Rusty Bladen, Bill Ede, Earl Meyers, and Rachel Coogle. The GUitar Emporium's Jimmy Brown will also be there and wil donate some merchandise to be auctioned off.

The event is free and will be held at the Knights of Columbus hall on U.S. 31 N in Scottsburg from 9:00 a.m. until midnight. An auction of donated merchandise, including celebrity items from around the country will be held. The musicians will perform during each hour and a concluding all-star jam is planned.

Proceeds will buy coats and shoes for local children. For more information call 812-752-6464, 812-752-2052, or e-mail wstewart@seidata.com.

Musician Magazine is currently accepting entries for the 1998 Best Unsigned Band Competition. All unsigned band and artists of every genre are welcome to enter. There are lots of prizes but the Grand Prize winner will get about $10k worth of Yamaha and Fostex gear and as good a look by some major labels as you likely to get on your own.

Get you entry forms by calling 1-888-SONGS98 (1-888-766-4798) or on the Net at http://www.musicianmag.com/bub.

Look for "Anything Boys Can Do" at the Louisville Film & Video Festival in November. The documentary is about the underground female music scene of NYC's lower east side.