WV Sound
Keeping a beat in the Mountain State
Winter 2011
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02/29/12Dancing with The Soul MinersAfter a long week, sometimes you just need to kick back with friends and listen to some good tunes. Morgantown band The Soul Miners knows that all too well. The band prides itself on getting everyone out on the dance floor with its unique style of Motown soul. You can see the band live on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at 123 Pleasant Street. From playing covers like “I Feel Good” and “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” to performing their own originals, The Soul Miners make it all look easy. “We’re really excited to play at 123,” says lead vocalist Adrian Michaelz. “It’s going to be a ton of fun and we plan on putting on a great show.” Motown soul has not always been performed much in the Morgantown area, and Adrian says he... Posted at 08:59 AM Comments |
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02/15/12Larry Keel & Natural BridgeLarry Keel & Natural Bridge are reviving bluegrass. With upbeat rhythms and rumbling vocals, Larry and the band make the dance floor a lively place. “The only label I want to have is being a band that has a really, really good time,” Larry says. Larry grew up with bluegrass—he’s no stranger to that sweet, mountain music. “It’s a feel good type of music that’s upbeat. It’s usually something you can dance to. People can relate to it, especially if they’re from the mountains.” Larry’s brother and father both played bluegrass with friends, and when Larry turned eight, he got his first guitar. He hasn’t put it down since. He says the band plays a lot of original music influenced by all types of music, from... Posted at 08:47 AM Comments |
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02/08/12Rocking at The IcehouseA cylinder-shaped, stone building that stored ice in the olden days is now a music venue and pub for Davis and Elkins College students. Built in the late 1800s by Senator Stephen B. Elkins, The Icehouse is a unique, three-level venue that has been hosting live bands, DJs, and open mics, and serving beer, soda, and popcorn to students and their guests since 1969. “The Icehouse is convenient. It’s right on campus and students know their friends are going to be there,” says Manager Spinner O’Flaherty. Inside The Icehouse is a spiral stairway, a bar on the first level, and room for live performances on the middle level, where there is also an upright piano that students can play. Students watch performances from behind railings on the third level where... Posted at 08:29 AM Comments |
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02/01/12Recording with Blues Alley StudiosHidden beneath the overpass in Osage in Monongalia County, Blues Alley Studios goes unnoticed by speeding motorists of Interstate 79. Inside an old department store on a quiet street, the sounds of rock ’n’ roll, hip-hop, gospel, country, or bluegrass can be heard on any given night of the week. Whether the artists are recording for their latest EP to take on the road, or cutting a demo hoping to make it big, Blues Alley plays host to the aspirations of many musicians from around West Virginia. “Name a style and we’ve done it,” says Josh Swiger, Blues Alley co-owner and house engineer. “In one week, I did rock, then the next night I was doing country. The third night I was doing hardcore rap, and the fourth night I was doing contemporary... Posted at 07:24 AM Comments |
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01/24/12The Many Sounds of Michael IafrateFrom sci-fi-tinged metal to riff-centered, ’70s-inspired rock, electronic space-pop to country-slanted folk, Michael Iafrate has had his hand in a little bit of everything. As a teenager in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he was first inspired to write songs after hearing R.E.M. for the first time. Today, the 35-year-old is not only working toward his Ph.D. in theology, but also toward the second full-length for his country/folk-rock act, M Iafrate & The Priesthood. It was in 2005 that the group released its first album, O Happy Marriage. Two EPs and a Christmas album later, the group is recording the tentatively-titled Christian Burial, due for release in 2012. “People change a lot over the time span of about six years,” Michael says, alluding to what... Posted at 09:03 AM Comments |
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01/11/12Cold Country Comfort in Randolph CountyOn Saturday, January 21, the Randolph County Community Arts Center (RCCAC) in Elkins will be filled with the traditional country sounds of John Lilly. A Charleston resident, Lilly specializes in writing and performing “new songs that sound as old as the hills” and “older songs like they were made yesterday.” He’s released six albums since coming onto the scene as a solo artist with the 2005 release of Broken Moon. Most notably, 2007’s Haunted Honky Tonk topped both the Freeform American Root (FAR) chart and the Euro Americana Chart. Lilly’s latest album, Cold Comfort, also premiered at number one on the FAR chart in November 2011. Tickets to the January 21 concert are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $5 for students. They may... Posted at 08:21 AM Comments |
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01/04/12Logan Venderlic Reaches New HeightsOnce described as “Tom Petty meets Appalachia,” 22-year-old Logan Venderlic doesn’t quite fit into musical categories. From the classic rock of his parents’ generation to the punk and emo he embodied as a defiant teenager to the folk and bluegrass of Appalachia, Logan creates his own style from disparate genres. Logan’s music and lyrics hint at his far-reaching musical influence—developed during his upbringing near the Ohio River in the small, unincorporated town of Arvilla, West Virginia. Back then he felt the alienation and disaffection of growing up rural in an increasingly urban culture. His first single, “Jerkwater Town,” from his upcoming self-titled album, reflects his struggle with his West Virginia upbringing as well... Posted at 09:06 AM Comments: 1 |
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12/28/11Warm by the BonfireIndie pop four-piece Bonfire may be one of the happiest sounding bands in Morgantown. At a Bonfire show, you dance, smile, tap your feet, and sing along to catchy songs about picking yourself up after life’s disappointments make you feel like throwing in the towel. “It's important for me that our music is about how good life is, even when it's terrible,” says Bonfire’s Jodi Hollingshead. “Our sound is happy. That’s not to say that we're all bubble gum because we're not. We're upbeat with substance. Throw in some shoegaze and ’60s pop, and you've got Bonfire.” The band formed in fall 2010—initially with Amanda Burris on bass, Jodi on keyboards, percussion and vocals, Chris Quattro on guitar and... Posted at 08:59 AM Comments |
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12/21/11Listen to QietThe talk surrounding the Huntington-based band Qiet has been on the rise since they first took the stage in 2009. What started out as an eclectic arrangement of musicians and instruments has recently grown into a focused arts collective, incorporating everything from music to illustrations to the written word. Qiet performs at Athens' brew pub, Jackie O's. As a group, Qiet challenges how people see West Virginia’s music and arts scene. With a sound that is both eclectic and contagious, the band’s mix of gypsy jazz and modern rock pleases crowds again and again. A wide range of instrumentation accompanies front man Christopher Harris’s guitar and vocals, including accordion, musical saw, bass, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, cello, violin, piano,... Posted at 08:28 AM Comments |
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12/14/11Wheeling’s Christmas JamboreeIf you’re looking to satisfy your country music fix over the holidays, the Wheeling Christmas Jamboree is the place for you. The fun begins December 17 at The Strand Theatre in Moundsville. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 or for $25 at the door. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Wheeling Jamboree is second only to the Grand Ole Opry as the oldest country music broadcast. Since its start in 1933, the Wheeling Jamboree has hosted singers like Johnny Cash, Brad Paisley, Doc Williams, and many more. Country music legend “Whispering” Bill Anderson will headlining this year’s Christmas Jamboree. Bill Anderson’s first hit to reach number one on the music charts was “Mama Sang a Song” in 1962. Since then, he has had seven number ones on... Posted at 09:41 AM Comments |
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12/07/11Pickin’ an’ Grinnin’ with The Hillbilly GypsiesCrowding around their sole vintage diaphragm microphone, the members of The Hillbilly Gypsies rouse their audience with lively, old-fashioned barn-party music. Dave Asti picks furiously on his banjo strings, while Joey Damiano tugs away at his upright bass. Ty breaks in with his fast fiddle. Trae Buckner strums his guitar while his wife, Jamie-Lynn, sings. The crowd responds by jumping to its feet. Hoots and hollers are in abundance. “We have a certain reputation. We’re a crowd favorite,” says frontman Trae. “It’s hard driving music would be the best description. It is old-time Appalachian mountain music, with our twist.” The band celebrated its 10th year together in 2011. Its origins trace back to when the members attended Wednesday night... Posted at 08:00 AM Comments |
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11/30/11Greg Harrison: A Man and His GuitarGreg Harrison was born and raised in West Virginia. He’s always had a love for music—since the days when his mother taught him songs and he wore headphones around the house, singing as a little boy. After dabbling in music since he was young, he’s spent the last few years taking it from a hobby to a way of life. This man with a guitar has a sound that blends genres—from rock and country to soul and classic rock. His music takes him on the road as far as Raleigh, North Carolina, to perform, but Greg says it’s always special to play in front of thousands of WVU students in Morgantown. He’s played his fair share of block parties. “They don’t stop dancing or singing along with me during every song and all night long.”... Posted at 06:10 AM Comments: 3 |
