First published in  The Goatee E-Mail

September 2001 Goat Notes

09.28.01
I've been looking to lyrics for inspiration lately. Songs come forward in my head that seem to have a strange new meaning since September 11, 2001. I typically avoid using lyrics in reference to particular events because I don't like to assign meaning to another artist's work. So I emphasize that I present this in an effort to encourage a thoughtful reflection about our lives at this moment and not to make any specific statements. I've always had an appreciation for the depth of ekoostik hookah's lyrics and I had planned to offer up verses of Dave Katz's UTOPIA, but this lyric just pounced on me.
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FREEDOM FLYING (Mullins, Cheeseman)

Tell me have you ever touched the clouds?
See the eagle straight and proud.
Tell me have you seen our freedom die?
Tell me that it's still alive.

Freedom flying, flying right out of our hands.
He knows the answers, you can bet he knows the plans.
So who are we kidding with our weapons and our fires.
Like children screaming from the funeral pyres.

Love has now been lost.
Truth will be the cost.
Love is lost in the hands of men.

from ekoostik hookah's 1995 studio release 'Under Full Sail'
<http://www.ekoostik.com>
You won't hear ekoostik hookah play this live anymore though. The songwriter credit is to John Mullins who split with ekoostik hookah around 1996 and now has The John Mullins Band.
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Just in case it's missed you so far....this weekend is the Harvest Festival in Atlanta and it's going to be something special.
September 28-30, 2001
T-DAWG'S FOURTH ANNUAL HARVESTFEST
Atlanta's Back Porch - Fairburn, GA
LEFTOVER SALMON, THE FUNKY METERS, Peter Rowan's Texas Trio w/ Tony Rice & Vassar Clements, Blueground Undergrass, John Cowan Band and Donna the Buffalo are among the many highlights for Saturday, while PRESTON FRANK w/ Donna the Buffalo and the Gospel Hour featuring Blueground Undergrass w/ Vassar Clements are two of the wonderful highlights for Sunday. Click on the link below for an updated schedule including the D'Addario Pickin' Pad: <http://www.harvestfest.com>.

I heard about one more festival in the works for this late festival season. I have not talked directly with the promoters, but cruise by their website and see what you think: The Festival of Friends - FRI-SUN - October 13, 2001 - Twin Rivers Campground - Ashe County - NC - 828-265-3233 <http://www.dancingbearfamilyfarm.com>

I added a few more bands to the Kind Bands page at Lonely Goat Central:
Neptune's Buffalo - Wilmington - A Rock-n-Roll Band
Flux - Chapel Hill - Jazz funk
Deep River - Greensboro - Rock Funk Jazz
Kevin Van Sant - Greensboro - Jazz Guitar <http://www.onestopjazz.com/kvansant>
CodaPoe - Wilmington - Roots Rock - http://www.codapoe.com/
Gravity Project - Boone - Funky Latin Groove Rock
Toast - Charlotte - Funky-Groove Bluegrass <http://www.toastbandinfo.com>
Groove Diggler - Winston Salem - Rock Trio

09.21.01
It's been a difficult week for us all. I know that I felt a lot better when I finally made it out to see some live music. I rely on live music to keep me going on the regular days and I've found it's even more important to my healthy state of mind during horrific times such as these. Thank you to the musicians, the venues, the promoters, and the fans for spreading the healing vibrations.

There are some great shows on the calendar this week or if you're looking for the big vibe, check out these festivals:

September 21-23, 2001
THE 2001 MOUNTAIN OASIS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Van Hoy Farms - Union Grove, NC
THE WORD, Medeski Martin and Wood, G Love and Special Sauce, the Wailers, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, the North Mississippi Allstars, the Del McCoury Band, the Dan Tyminski Band (aka The Soggy Bottom Boys), Donna the Buffalo, Acoustic Syndicate, Left Foot Down, Scott Miller and the Commonwealth, and several others.<http://www.mountainoasisfest.com>

September 28-30, 2001
T-DAWG'S FOURTH ANNUAL HARVESTFEST
Atlanta's Back Porch - Fairburn, GA
I don't usually list a lot of events outside of NC, but HarvestFest is practically the fall Smilefest and it is consistently one of the best values in the festival scene. Top quality entertainment at a reasonable price.
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We're only one week out now from the biggest and best HarvestFest yet, and
with the addition of THE FUNKY METERS to the lineup, Friday night is sure
to be one helluva start-up to the weekend. LEFTOVER SALMON, Peter Rowan's
Texas Trio w/ Tony Rice & Vassar Clements, Blueground Undergrass, John
Cowan Band and Donna the Buffalo are among the many highlights for
Saturday, while PRESTON FRANK w/ Donna the Buffalo and the Gospel Hour
featuring Blueground Undergrass w/ Vassar Clements are two of the wonderful
highlights for Sunday. Click on the link below for an updated schedule
including the D'Addario Pickin' Pad: <http://www.harvestfest.com>.

09.14.01
My heart is full of compassion for the friends and families of the victims of the terrorist attacks which took place in our country on Tuesday morning. A great evil has descended upon us, but our humanity is stronger than the devils which brought this destruction to our world. Our common conscience demands no interference with a person's life or liberty. Our individual souls pursue validity and recognition of our existence and identity. These principles are world-wide. These values are inherent to ManKind. As human beings, we must honor this code. As a country, we must express this code. As a planet, we must enforce this code. Terrorism is an attack on the very nature of what it is to be human - a love for life itself.

A grass roots campaign is currently underway for a national display of American unity in the aftermath of Tuesday's attacks. On Friday Night at 7pm, you are asked to step out your door, stop your car, or step out of your establishment and light a candle to show the world that Americans are strong and united together against terrorism.

Many bands have cancelled shows during the past few days in memorial to the victims of Tuesday's attacks. I recommend even more than usual that you call the venue before making any plans this weekend. I personally feel that it is time for some healing music with some positive vibrations to help me cope with this tragedy so I'll be at Artistika Cafe in Greensboro on Friday for MD3, Braco, and the leela fiasco. Pick a show for yourself. There is plenty of good music on the schedule.

09.06.01
I failed to send out an email last week and I want to apologize to everyone for that. I hope you all found something to fix that craving for live music. I want to remind everyone that the dates I include in this email are always available at http://www.jambase.com so if you don't hear from me you can always check there for the listings.

Speaking of Jambase, they are on the lookout for North Carolina news to feature in their HeadsUp area. Visit http://www.jambase.com/headsup/guidelines for more information.

Be sure to stop by Lonely Goat Central to check out the two new Feature items I posted for September. Seth Broadstreet has provided a new editon of the Lonely Goat Comic - "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide." I'm also pleased to post a kind goat illustration by Nicky Seay. We're starting to amass a pretty good collection of goat images.

I have two new weekly events to tell you about. They have both been added to the What's Happening? page at Lonely Goat Central too:

*The first Sunday of every month at College Hill Sundries in Greensboro, NC features 'Musician Free Play.' It's an open mic event for acoustic and small amp acts (no drum kits) and it's hosted by singer/ songwriter Rob Seals. Visit http://www.robseals.com for more information.

*Charlotte's Visulite Theatre is now hosting the 'Queen City Invitational Jam Session.' It will take place on the first and third Thursday every month and will be hosted by the new all-star group The Visulites. The band is comprised of Jonathan Phillips(Vine) on keyboards and vocals, John Dimier(Wavy Train) on bass and vocals, Marcus Cheek(Bessie Mae's Dream) on guitar and vocals, and Curtis Wingfield(Bellyfull) on drums and vocals. The evening will feature three local and regional acts followed by the Visulites at 1AM. For the Acoustic Syndicate date at the Visulite Theatre on September 20th, The Visulites will open. That ought to be something to check out!

Finally, I have a last minute addition to the listings:
Les Jamehlo presents the "Social Flop" with local jazz band, The Royal Oui, and Piedmont Charisma Thursday September 6th at the Asheville Music Zone. Show starts at 9:00 P.M. Cost is $5