First published in  Lonely Goat Print Magazine Volume III - #1

January 2000 Goat Notes

Welcome to the first issue of Volume III of Lonely Goat Magazine. According to custom, it must be very late...and it is.

I guess the big news is the Dark Star Special Edition I released last week. Just as promised, with the customary aforementioned lateness of course, I've published the road notes from the 'Furthur Adventures' of the Lonely Goat road crew as we trekked across North Carolina for four shows with DSO last November. It was a first time attempt for Lonely Goat at some more in depth reports on an event or a band and I'm very pleased with our initial results. Hopefully, we'll be doing more Special Editions(SE) in the future. If you have an idea for an event or tour to cover, send Mama K an email to start the wheels rolling. Another huge thank you goes out to Bob Robertson for putting words to the madness. Also, another mega thank you to DSO and Webmaster Ed for the support. DSO has added a link to www.lonelygoat.com and has mentioned the SE and the website in their printed mailer this month. Very kind indeed.

And just to cover all the bases...Dennis Humphries has contributed a review of the DSO show at The Cat's Cradle for the issue you now hold. Check it out for a slightly different voice on the matter of DSO. Thanks, Dennis, for your contribution.

Due to space constraints this month, I'm not able to run a Homegrown Music Network Catalog Spotlight page, but I do want to encourage you to check out The Big Wu as they come through North Carolina late Jan. and early Feb.

News of note includes the new CD from The Low Country Boil Bluegrass Band on Knot Known Records in Los Angeles. I've received an advance copy and hopefully Mama K will have a review in the February Lonely Goat. In the meantime, you may want to check out one of their release parties. Did I mention that the new CD, entitled Break Me Off Some Bluegrass, features legendary fiddler Vassar Clements on a few tracks? Vassar, in fact, will be playing at three of the release parties. Unfortunately, those are all three in South Carolina.

Another release of note is Gran Torino Two. They are currently in their CD release swing through our area, so get thee to a show and grab one. I have yet to hear the CD, but reviews have been favorable.

 String Cheese Incident will be releasing Carnival 99 on February 1st. The double disc live CD features some the finest moments from several Incidents that took place during the band's 1999 Winter Carnival Tour.

I did not have space for it in the Special Events page this month, but I want to let everyone know about the Lee Laurence Memorial Jam being held January 27th at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA. Ticket cost is $15. Proceeds will benefit Day By the River to help offset financial losses and expenses resulting form the tragic accident which took Lee's life on August 15th. There will be a silent auction at 7PM and bands will start performing at 10PM. Bands scheduled to appear include Barbara Cue and Bloodkin. A rumor is also floating around that members of a very popular Athen's band of national stature will be there.

If you haven't heard yet, change has arrived at the Folkswaggin' camp. Singer Jason Blalock and drummer Andy Mrozkowski have officially left the band. The New Year's show may be the last time you hear that particular formation play under the Folkswaggin' moniker. So what happens now? Your guess is as good as mine. I have heard encouraging reports about a few jams with some promising new potential members, but nothing is confirmed yet. I'll let you know when I do.

More breakups. The Disco Biscuits have parted musical ways with bassist Marc Brownstein. The statement from the band and from Marc suggest that this was a personal matter and that the decision was made to maintain a mutual respect for each other. For many, it is hard to understand this decision from a group of four guys who just kept improving together and had a banner year in 1999. Some answers we may never know. Best wishes to the band and to Marc with your 'Furthur Adventures.' Like a lot of the reports I've read on the discussbiscuits email list during the past two weeks, my first exposure to TDB was via Marc. He was the one who actively sought the participation of Lonely Goat in promoting TDB. I can't help but wonder how they will do without him.

Finally, a big thanks to J.D. Edwards for two more fine articles for this issue and to Seth Broadstreet for his annual New Year's Cover. Seth has promised a new comic for February after taking January off. Looking forward to it.

Be seeing you...