New Post FINALLY!!!

Hi Everyone.

Wow I cannot believe its been since September that I posted a blog. Before that, it was sparse at best. That being said, I could sit here and give you a laundry list of excuses why I haven't added anything new lately. Bottom line is I don't have anything else to say. I busy from time to time and I things like that but I could find time to add stuff to the site. Problem is I don't know what to add. I asked in the past for people to send info which I will post, but now all I am asking is for people to send suggestions. I will make it my mission for the rest of the year to post one new band each month till 2009.

I am really proud of what has been is available already on this site and I want to keep it that way. Your comments are invaluable and I look forward to hearing from everyone. Just because I don't post, doesn't mean I am not here.


Your Fearless Leader...

Penny Royalty - Static
from the cd Static - 2002

Back in 2001 Penny Royalty was blazing a new path through the then stale W-S music scene. They were a part of a handful of bands that were drawing attention to the W-S music scene once again. The band played blistering show even being voted Band of The Year in 2001 by the Winston-Salem Journal. Led by mastermind Ed Kinser, Penny Royalty recorded their one and only cd at Electromagnetic Radiation Recorders. Captured on that tape (yes tape, its an ADAT machine) was some of the roughest music W-S has seen in decades. Capturing the spirit of the MC5 and channeling it through the Nirvana generation Kinser, along with Shannon Murphy - drums and Eric Heinzman - bass, Penny Royalty seemed primed to make huge waves, sadly internal turmoil ripped the band apart. On a more recent note just weeks after the suicide of Sam Moss, Ed Kinser (a close friend of Sam's) now living in Texas decided to take his own life.

This cd is still in stock at CDbaby. Order it today!!!

Band Members:
Ed Kinser: Guitar, Vocals
Shannon Murphy: Drums
Eric Heinzman - Bass

I am fairly new to the world of Wikipedia. I found this article which I thought was relevent to this blog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_North_Carolina

The Mgmt

Sam Moss - Losin' Susan
previously unreleased

Today, a very sad thing was discovered. Sam Moss, a local presence in Winston-Salem took his own life. I, like everyone else who knew him, am a bit stunned. He was a big part of why I LOVE music. Sam owned THE guitar store in the triad. Sam Moss Guitars was in business for over 20 years. I bought my first guitar from him at the age of 14, and even spent some time working in the shop not to mention endless hours just hanging out and shooting the bull. I know that there are LOTS of folks that could say the same thing. Not only was Sam a great guitar store owner he was always a great guy and one helluva' player. As witnessed on this rare demo included with this post. Seeing Sam playing live was always a moment you didn't soon forget. A feeling that you were in the presence of greatness.

So to Sam I say KOTJ-MF!!! Thanks for all the wisdom you bestowed on me. You are missed already!

To see what Sam was up to most recently go here.

Mike Greer - All I Need - 1973
from the Sugarbush lp - Between Two Worlds

As the story goes, Winston-Salem native Greer met South Carolina native Don Dixon their freshman year at UNC Chapel Hill. With the help of Greer's hometown pal Robert Kirkland and drummer Jimmy Glasgow they started Arrogance. Their first single released at the end of '69 "Black Death/An Estimation" was one of the first DIY releases and set the stage for such bands as Sneakers, H-Bombs, and later the dB's and Let's Active.

I'm not exactly sure of how it all went down but somehow Greer released this solo album in '73 with the help of his fellow Arrogance buddies along with Wes Locke and David Niblock.

Band Members:

Mike Greer - Guitars, Moog, Organ, Background Vocal
Robert Kirkland - Vocal
Wesley (Bobby) Locke - Drums
David Niblock - Bass
Don A. Dixon - Background Vocal

mystery post of the week IV

Gravity's Pull - Haven't Done A Thing - 1994
from Screaming Goddess Records cd "Motorama"

mystery post of the week III

Vertigo Joyride - You and Me Girl - 1994

mystery post of the week II

Reverb-a-Ray - Don't Ask - 1994

mystery post of week I

June - Bees in a Jar - 1994

June were a Chapel Hill band from ~1992 until 1996. Released 3 singles, the first two on Friction Media, a label founded by longtime WXYC staffer Bob Boster. The third single was on Squealer, the then-Virginia label run by Butch Lazorchak.

They were the subject of a minor major-label bidding war during 1994 & 1995, and wound up signing to Beggar's Banquet after a semi-successful trip to SXSW in 1995. They recorded their debut, "I Am Beautiful," over a period of several weeks in Nashville, released it in spring 1996, and broke up around a month later.

Original drummer Mathew Gross left the band before they signed to Beggar's Banquet. After grad school & travel, he reappeared on the national stage as the man who persuaded the Howard Dean campaign to start a blog. He's currently working as internet guru for the John Edwards campaign.

Replacement drummer John Howie Jr. currently leads his long-running country band the $2 Pistols in Chapel Hill.

Guitarist John Price is married & lives in Durham, I think. Guitarist Tricia Tuttle moved to London, where she is a journalist, film critic & festival programmer.

Bassist Andy Magowan is chef & co-owner of Piedmont restaurant (http://www.piedmontrestaurant.com ) in Durham. He can occasionally still be seen playing in local bands Malt Swagger & Erie Choir, though the restaurant is open 6 days a week & he seems to always be there.

Singer Kat Cook moved to LA, and last I heard she was in a pop band called Cucalorus.

This song, "Bees in a Jar," was from one of the 7" recording sessions, IIRC. I'm not at home & thus don't have access to my record collection, but I don't think it was on any of the singles. Was it on a compilation, like maybe one of those Record Exchange comps? Perhaps Michael will tell us where he got it.

Band Members:
Kat Cook - Vocals
John Price - Guitar
Tricia Tuttle - Guitar
Andy Magowan - Bass Guitar
Mathew Gross - Drummer