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Southeast Regional Report
Edited by Gil McLemore - gmclemore@mindspring.com Greetings once more -

Another set of reviews this month from across the sultry Southland - temperatures are rising as spring tours wind down and summer engagements gear up for the season, so be sure to get out there, enjoy the good music, and send us the best of those vibes!

Enjoy!

One Vinyl Dream

MerleFest '99 - Wilkesboro, NC

Day By The River - Gainesville, FL

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One Vinyl Dream

by Jimmie Vestal

There is a CD glut! CDs are everywhere. Everybody and their uncle are now recording a CD.

I feel that the prestige of this is somewhat diminishing its appeal. It's just something that the music industry expects from us in order to have our songs manufactured, released, distributed, and obtain airplay on CD-equipped radio stations. I even have a CD burner, but I decided to promote and release two of my best songs on 7" 45 RPM vinyl. I wanted to try something different and put a "spark" and some fun back into the songwriting, recording, and releasing aspect.

Vinyl can be distributed to some "record pools." DJs at these pools will take my vinyl into clubs and introduce it to another audience (in addition to radio). Many college radio stations and some commercial stations have turntables to spin vinyl, but they are difficult to find.

But why would any artist or band today record only 2 songs on a "45" instead of 10 or more songs on a CD? Here are a few reasons:

A vinyl recording is less expensive in studio and manufacturing costs.

Vinyl is still being released. (Examples: LeAnn Rimes, Clint Black, Shania Twain, The Backstreet Boys, Janet Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, Madonna, Mariah Carey, and others.)

Many club DJs prefer vinyl.

The public doesn't have to pay around $12 on up for a CD by an unknown artist (me).

Jukebox operators still need vinyl product.

Radio stations don't have the time to sort through a CD by an unknown artist on an unknown label to pick out the best song.

Even if they had the time, they would probably be sorting through a CD of a well-known artist or band.

I've even conducted a radio market test to see which of my songs WOULD be played by radio stations.

The two songs on my 45-RPM pressing are the songs that the stations will play, though not many of them still spin vinyl. The songs were listed on Atlantic Satellite Marketing's Buyers Guide and Radio Airplay Chart. Regardless of today's CD technology, I have a small mailing list of radio stations that still spin these antique 45s, and they have agreed to introduce it to their listening audience.

Here is the situation that might develop.

What if DJs, at this small group of stations, start receiving phone calls from listeners asking where the CD can be purchased? The stations tell them that it is only available as a vinyl release. They ask a station DJ, "Where can I buy the vinyl copy?" The DJ says, "I don't know, try your local music store." The local music stores receive requests for a vinyl record that they don't stock. A music store employee at Lancelot Music asks, "What radio station did you hear the song on?" The customer tells them it was on WTOP. This keeps going on for weeks.

The Lancelot Music store manager calls their main office and asks if they could be shipped a supply of 100 copies of the vinyl record, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT" by Jimmie R. Vestal. The main office says, "We don't stock 45s at all, only CDs. Who wants 45s these days?" The Lancelot manager says, "We keep getting people into the store wanting a song that is only available on vinyl." The main office checks out a record distributor and asks if they have heard of a certain vinyl rock-blues/rockabilly record called, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT." Mr. Greenbucks, President of Hit Records Distributors says, "Never heard of it." The distributor continues to receive requests from other music stores. Mr. Greenbucks keeps hearing that the name of the station playing the record is WTOP. He makes a personal visit to the radio station. To the station manager he says, "I'm Charles Greenbucks of Hit Record Distributors in Jackass Flatts. I believe your station has been playing the Jimmie Vestal record." The station manager answers, "Yes, and we've been getting a lot of requests to play both sides." "Could I see your copy of the record for just a minute so I could get an address? I want to get the record into stores instead of waiting for the CD."

The station manager leaves and returns with a copy and hands it to Mr. Greenbucks.

"I don't see a address anywhere on this record," Mr. Greenbucks proclaims. "Wait!" Looking over the record, he says to WTOP's manager, "Here's an e-mail address... Sand and Palms at Hotmail dot com." He writes it down, gives the record back, thanks the station manager, and then leaves.

Back at his office, Mr. Greenbucks writes an e-mail message:

"Dear Sirs: We are interested in purchasing 500 copies of release #SAPR001, "That's All Right", by Jimmie R. Vestal."

24 hours later Hit Records Distributors calls Lancelot's main office of the music store chain and says they will be receiving a supply of 45s of the song they wanted. Lancelot's main office ships 100 vinyl records to the local branch for the customers on the waiting list. A brand new DJ, just recently hired at WHAT, another radio station, learns about the excitement caused by this vinyl record on WTOP. Since the station only plays CDs, he decides to buy the vinyl record and take it into station. He sneaks in the pro turntable that he uses at a blues club during the weekends. During his first 3 A.M. morning shift at WHAT the listeners hear this:

"This is the Jumpin', and Jivin' Hot Blues Soulman... and it's 3 O'clock in the morning time here at WHAT. We have a first here, Kats! This is the first time we have played a vinyl record here at WHAT since we've switched to the all-CD format 12 years ago. I snuck this turntable into the station for you kids to hear this fantastic number. It's by a brand new artist on the Sand and Palms record label. The artist is Jimmie R. Vestal and the song is "THAT'S ALL RIGHT".

The record spins. The telephone lines light up! The DJ is flooded with requests to play the song again and the listeners want to know where they can buy the song.

Then Jimmie R. Vestal wakes up from his dream!

Listen in streaming Real Audio: http://www.musicwish.com/ra/That'sAllRight.ram

Read two reviews: Focus Magazine - http://www.eatmag.com/reviews/locrev1155.html

Robots & Electronic Brains

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Merlefest '99
Wilkesboro, NC

by Dave Wilson

Hey Now! Just got back from one of the best weekends ever after attending the Merle Watson Festival, held annually in Wilkesboro, NC. With 13 stages and around 60 performers, it's a tribute festival held every year for the late great Merle Watson, son of Doc Watson. Having never been to Telluride, I'd have to say that this is the greatest festival going today. It was 4 days full of non-stop picking and all around great music. People go to a festival like this to see some of the greats like Doc (of course), Sam Bush, Del McCoury, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Peter Rowan, and Earl Scruggs. But you can also go to find out the latest on up and coming stars of the bluegrass world and to see the many different collaborations of artists that play together throughout the weekend.

One of the highlights of the festival, Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band performed the first night of the festival in a constant drizzle, but despite this cold, wet weather they still had a good crowd for the show! Those of you who are unfamiliar, Del McCoury is one of bluegrass's finest musicians and with his family and friends backing him, they make for one of the tightest groups in the industry. Steve Earle is one of the best singer/songwriters performing today and when you put the 2 together, it makes for one hell of a show! Another odd, but fabulous collaboration was Sam Bush (great mandolin player and one of bluegrass' best personalities), Mark Schatz (stand up bass), Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane), Jeff Coffin (Flecktones), and Future Man (drums). These guys belted out some great tunes that were totally improv-ed, like "Sittin' on Top of the World" and "One Love" just to name a few.

An upcoming band on the bluegrass scene that everyone should keep an eye on is Nickel Creek. It consists of brother and sister Sean (guitar) and Sara (fiddle and vocals) Watkins, and father and son Scott (bass) and Chris Thile (mandolin). Chris, Sara, and Scott are all high school mates that have been playing together for a few years now, but you'd think it was 30! These "kids" are playing as if they are veterans of the industry. During the all-star jams, Chris had the other greats on stage double taking and coming over to him for a closer look as his fingers jumped up and down on the fret of the mandolin. Truly amazing! You will definitely hear that name in years to come, whether you are a bluegrass fan or not!

The Merle Watson Festival is a great weekend "jam", packed with countless acts and absolutely amazing music. Go to the festival and meet people from all over the world, and it's for kids as well. The "Little Pickers" stage brings in acts to entertain the children, while craft booths and a petting zoo are also available. So come one, come all to the east coast's largest and most happenin' festival... Guaranteed to have a good time!

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Day by the River
5/21/99 - Covered Dish - Gainesville, FL

by Jon Turick

Set I: Extraordinary Day (new tune played by Walt & Dave), 411, Easy Here, See You, Magic, Walrus > Drive Thru, My Song (dedicated to Liz Burn)

Set II: Japanese Motel, Tupelo, Fly > Superstition

Encore: Taking Over > OJ > Taking Over

Still flying from this stellar show at the dish on Friday. Walt played Extraordinary Day (actually Walt and Dave I guess) and then came 411. You can feel the tears already welling at this point as you start to realize what lies ahead of you on the river road, but the smiles are too big for any tears to flow. Before the show, Sherri told me she'd love to hear Magic and I said a Drive Thru would do me well. I suppose every song makes you feel something a little different, so how do you pick favorites? Anyway, between those, Walrus, and everything else, we had a pretty good (outstanding) first set ; ) I don't have the words for the second set, but as far as I'm concerned there is nothing NOT to "get" about DBR. The music moves you inside and out. If you can listen and not be affected, I actually feel sorry for you. You don't know what you're missing. I did really enjoy the slower Jap Motel, Tupelo was outstanding and SUPERFLY blew everyone's mind. Nova > OJ > Nova... forget about it. Great crowd screaming at all the right times (nonstop). We brought a guy who isn't too current on music to his 1st DBR show and he was dancing and cheering as crazy as anyone. Also saw Karl Denson there on Weds. and it was a funk fest! Very cool guys - Check them out.

If you're not already on the River Raft, come aboard... we're expecting you.