Giving the Gift of Music
Area musicians make 2007 a banner year for homegrown CDs

By Jeff Eason

Giving the gift of music is a tradition for many people at Christmas. If you are still looking for that perfect CD to give to family and friends, consider purchasing one of the many fine titles released this year by local musicians.

It is no exaggeration to say that 2007 was a standout year for local musicians and many of them took their talents to the recording studio. The result is a banner year for lovers of local music.

Grapevine Music, Fat Cats Music and Video, The Appalachian Music Shop and Rydell Music all carry CDs by local artists. Here’s a brief description of just a few of the fine albums created in the High Country this year:


The Bloomin’ Yermaniums

A true veteran of the local music scene, guitarist and vocalist Brian Yerman joins The Lazybirds for the wonderful new disc The Bloomin’ Yermaniums. The disc kicks off with a rousing rendition of “Alabama Jubilee” and picks its way through classic country, blues and old time tunes such as “Keep on the Sunny Side,” “Prairie Lullaby” “Whistlin’ Rufus” and “Broken Hearted Lover.” There’s even a great version of John Hartford’s “Turn Your Radio On.” In addition to contributions from Yerman and the Lazybirds, the album features the inimitable old-time fiddling from Alfred Michels.

In This Life

It’s no secret that Jay Brown is one of the premiere guitarists in North Carolina. What some people are just now finding out is what a talented songwriter he is. Brown puts all doubts to rest with his stellar 2007 recording In This Life. From the psychedelic grooves of “Are You Gonna Be the One?” to the Caribbean-esque title track, Brown puts music and words together like a master. With his experimental yet old-time songwriting sensibility, Brown takes the listener on a musical trip with many, many highlights. To find out more, visit www.jaybrownmusic.com.

Boone Music Scene

For a sampler platter of the High Country’s musical diversity, it would be hard to beat the album Boone Music Scene Vol. 1. The album features tracks by Wise Apple, Banana Da Terra, Uncle Mountain, Melissa Reaves, Hope Massive, Sack Lunch and the Karloffs, to name a few. Recorded in part and mastered at the new Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio at Appalachian State, the album features hard rock, Americana, World Beat, funk, jazz, bluegrass and singer-songwriter fare.

Amantha Mill

Bluegrass quartet Amantha Mill just keeps on getting better with each passing year. The band’s 2007 disc Still No Place Like Home cements its position as one of the best such outfits in the Southeast. Vocalist Becca Eggers-Gryder has written some of the best tunes of her career and her uptempo songs like “Billy Joe” and “Another Bridge” allow the other members of the band peel the paint of the walls of the barn with their picking while ballads like the title track are sure to become fan favorites. The band also takes on some interesting covers such as Fred Neil’s “Everybody’s Talkin’.” To find out more, visit www.amanthamill.com.

Amy Steinberg

With all of the bluegrass, Americana and jazz acts in our area, it’s easy to forget that we still have some rockers in our midst. Boone’s Amy Steinberg hasn’t forgotten and her new album Fall Down to Fly is a powerful reminder for the rest of us. With a dynamic voice and unique songwriting style, Steinberg gets to the heart of the matter with anthems such “Wonder” and “Just In Time” while “Love Me Anyway” and “Keep On” show that Miss Amy can take the listener to Motown or Jamaica when she wants to. To find out more, visit www.amysteinberg.net.

Kally Price

Recorded several years ago but finally released this past fall, Kally Price’s album If You Like Good Cookin’ is a timeless marvel. I little bit country blues, a little bit jazzy, the album features Price on vocals backed by the Lazybirds. With her languid, Billie Holiday-esque singing style, Price keeps the feel intimate and loose on tracks like “Blues Are Brewin’” and “I’m Gonna Put You Down” while “Precious Memories” sounds like an old gospel rave-up. And don’t miss her sweet interpretation of Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” To find out more, visit www.myspace.com/kallyprice.




Possum Jenkins

For lovers of rip-roaring Americana music, it doesn’t get much better than local quartet Possum Jenkins. The band’s latest disc is the short but sweet CD On Time. The album cranks it right up with the hi-test honky tonk opener “Strangers Heart” and doesn’t take its foot off the accelerator until the last few notes of the closing track, “Carrboro Nights.” Highlights include the soulful southern rocker “December 304:th” and the Boone-via-Bakersfield twang-fest “Greasy Spoon.” To find out more, visit www.possumjenkinsband.com.

Instruments of Peace

If you like modern jazz-fusion, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Instruments of Peace: A Musical Compilation to Benefit NC Peace Action. The album features western North Carolina acts such as keyboardist Steve Davidowski, Green Light and Ruby Slippers as well as national acts such as Bruce Hornsby, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Tyler Ramsey and Jeff Sipe. The fantastic Eastern jazz instrumental “Mahavishnuing” by the Acoustic Vibration Appreciation Society (AVAS) is worth the price of admission alone. To find out more, visit www.myspace.com/instrumentsofpeace or www.ncpeaceaction.org.