S.O.S. Spring Safari 2011

The ten-day adults-gone-wild party better known as  S.O.S. Spring Safari has just wound down, leaving thousands of shaggers, musicians, club owners, servers and workers exhausted … but already gearing up for the next one. Here are a few highlights of Spring S.O.S. 2011.

Birthday boy Mike Taylor and the Holiday Band kicked off S.O.S. at Duck’s. (Photo Jim Allen)

The Surf is back! Did you catch Ted Bell and the Surf van out on Main Street? (Photo Jim Allen)

Rickey Godfey put in an appearance at Papa’s Pizza on the road to Calabash!

Rhonda McDaniel ridin’ in style at the infamous S.O.S. parade. (Photo Jim Allen)

Dolly McDermott struttin’ her stuff at the Two Blondes on the Beach Fashion Show. (Photo Jim Allen)

Steve Bassett brought his immense talent and sound to the Spanish Galleon.

Some folks left O.D. long enough to catch Donny Trexler at Poos Tuesday night.

Mark Roberts with Mandy and the little Lima Bean. (Photo Jim Allen)

Hip Pocket was a big hit at Deckerz on Saturday. (Photo Jim Allen)

It’s Just Another Day In Paradise for Calabash Flash!

CWB on the Boom Dock. YEAH!

Boom Boom’s Raw Bar, another reason to leave O.D. once in a while.

Deejay Joey Warren at Boom Boom’s KHP party.

Godfrey Performs, Talks About Music at Sunset River Marketplace

Through story and song, Rickey Godfrey told the audience about his own introduction to music.

Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, N.C. featured Nashville musician Rickey Godfrey at its monthly Creative Exchange event last Wednesday, April 13.

The talented multi-instrumentalist played guitar, sang and spoke about songwriting, his introduction to music and his experiences at the School For the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg, S.C. Blind since birth, Godfrey suffers from Leber Congenital Amaurosis. His older brother, also a musician, has the same inherited retinal degenerative disorder.

Despite the challenges of being blind, Godfrey is considered one of Nashville’s premier blues guitarists and  has been nominated for both Music City Blues Society Guitarist and Keyboard Player of the Year.

During the presentation, Godfrey demonstrated different genres of music, including blues, soul, R&B and performed music from his latest blues CD titled Nasty Man (Serenity Hill/2010). Godfrey’s previous recordings include Once In a Lifetime Love (Mossland/ 2006), Soul Sensations (Mossland/ 2003), and Let the Big Dog Eat (Aartvark Records/1983).

Since opening its doors in 2002, Sunset River Marketplace has actively supported visual, literary and performing arts through its charity events and community presentations such as the Creative Exchange lecture series. For more information or to join the gallery’s contact list for future events, call 910-575-5999 or send an email to lassiter@sunsetrivermarketplace. com. Both Sunset River Marketplace and Rickey Godfrey maintain Facebook pages.

Road Trip With Coastline!

The multi-talented Jim Quick during his live DVD recording at Papa Mojos Roadhouse.

Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse in Durham, N.C. was the place to be last Sunday night when Jim Quick & Coastline took  the stage to record their first ever DVD.The cozy little club slash restaurant was packed with friends and fans hungry to hear their favorite band cookin’ up a hot, soulful concoction of classic Coastline and some tasty new material.

Once everyone had their drinks and Papa Mojo’s signature lip-rippin’ Cajun offerings – and the Tarheels had succumbed to the Wildcats – deejay Joey Warren introduced the band. From there it was more than three hours of rock and soul, swamp funk blues and just enough country thrown in to explain Quick’s choice of shirts.

They rocked from the onset with “Down South,” the title track from Quick’s latest album, produced by Nashville honcho Gary Nicholson, who was also the songwriter/co-songwriter for this and every other tune on the disc.

With lyrics like this, you could almost swear Quick wrote it hisself:

I met a runway model in New York City
Said she love to hear me talk
I said that suits me fine I’m from Carolina
And I’ll say anything to watch you walk

And, by the time, Quick got to singing about skinny dipping in the Waccamaw River by the light of the Tar Heel Moon, the crowd was singing along like a roomful o’ Coastline Crazies.
“Late At Night” from the Contents Under Pressure CD (Ripete/1998) was next, another big hit with the crowd.

Of course, we don’t know what’s going to make the cut to the final DVD, but they rocked out one hit after another, including (from the band’s Sneakin’ Out Back CD (Landslide/2007) “Mississippi Mud,” “Callin’, ”and the Cape Fear’s best one-night stand song, “A Little Bit of Money.”

“We basically wanted to do this DVD for the fans,” Quick told me. “They’ve been asking for years, so we wanted to give them their favorites along with some of the newer stuff.”

Other tunes included Albert Rogers taking lead vocals on “It’s Gonna Rain” and Glen Tippett on “The Hardest Thing I Ever Do.” Coastline has become a vocal powerhouse.

Jim Quick & Coastline record their live DVD at Papa Mojos Roadhouse in Durham, N.C. Sunday, March 27, 2011. (Deejay Joey Warren introduces them)

I’ve always considered Coastline one of the most innovative, talented bands in the area, but ever since Jim Quick cut Down South, it seems that, as a band, they’ve gotten even tighter. Casey Meyer’s guitar playing has become more aggressive, The harmonies are smooth and confident, and Quick’s vocals just keep getting stronger.

The second set  opened with more classic Coastline, “Sweat,” and also included a killer’ version of the honky tonk tune, “What’s Wrong With You?” from the self-titled King Tyrone & the Graveyard Ramblers (KHP/2008) CD. For anyone new to the world of Jim Quick, King Tyrone is his alter ego who doesn’t get to leave the swamp all that often. We’re never sure what he’s going to do.

“The Tiki Bar Is Open,” the once obscure John Hiatt song that’s become signature Coastline, featured  especially sweet slide guitar work from Casey.

The show was almost over by the time we finally got to hear “Mama’s Drinking Liquor Again,” the infamous tune originally recorded on the King Tyrone CD.

Encore performances were “Take It All” from Coastline Band Live Bait 2 featuring Jim on keyboard and then a no-holds-barred performance of “Strongest Weakness,” a rocker penned by Gary Nicholson and Bekka Bramlett.

The show was a blast, and Papa Mojos was the perfect spot for it – a cozy intimate venue with cajun art all over the place and friendly

Albert Rogers brings soulful vocals and a driving bass to the band.

efficient servers always on the ready. Randall Bramblett Band was there  the night before, and owner Mel Melton and his Wicked Mojos band often provide the entertainment. Definitely worth a road trip!

I was able to talk to Jim  a few days after the recording. I wanted to know what’s in store for him and the band.

“Well, you know I have this Sony deal now,” he said. “It’s with Red, Sony’s artist development and distribution leg. They’re handling digital distribution for “Down South” and “No Good Place To Cry” from the new CD. Hit Brothers Records is the label. May 17 is the release date for Down South (the physical CD) throughout the southeastern U.S. in Wal-Mart and other media outlets.”

Music City Media will be generating publicity for Jim and the band, and Jerry Duncan Promotions will handle radio play. Not easy to pigeonhole, Quick says they’re treating him as sort of “soulful country.”

A music video is also in the works for Jim Quick & Coastline. Recording takes place later this month, so stay tuned for more about that. Look for a new website design to be unveiled shortly, too.

“I really hope everyone got the Coastline vibe,” Jim says as he brings the conversation back to the DVD. “I’m excited. I liked the atmosphere. We turned Papa Mojo’s into a little studio. So people there got an idea of what it’s like to be in a band and recording.

“My guys are not just great live, but they’re stupid killer studio musicians.

“I think this DVD is as close as you’ll get to taking Coastline home with you.”

Wait for it folks, here’s the pitch.
“And I think everyone should have Coastline Crazies DVD parties!” Quick adds, laughing his head off.

The DVD, which will be called Jim Quick & Coastline Live At Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse, will be out before summer and priced at $25.
Jim Quick & Coastline are made up of the multi-talented Jim Quick on lead vocals and some time keys, guitar  and horn; Glenn Tippett on sax, keyboard and vocals; Casey Meyer on guitar; Albert Rogers on electric bass and vocals; and Sam Bryant on drums. Live sound engineers are Ken “K-Dogg” Holland and Eddie Cogle.