Scott Boyer and the Decoys with Donnie Fritts- Garage Cafe, Birmingham 4/18/2010

Scott Boyer
David Hood
Kelvin Holly
Donnie Fritts and NC Thurman

David Hood, Scott Boyer, N.C Thurman, Mike Dillon and Kelvin Holly are The Decoys.

The Decoys are a five-man powerhouse rock n' roll band, featuring five of the most seasoned musicians anywhere.

David Hood, bass guitarist, was a member of the world famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, better known as "The Swampers", made famous in the song "Sweet Home Alabama". David has played on a list of albums that reads like a who's who of the music industry, such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger, Rod Stewart, The Staple Singers, Paul Simon, Traffic, and many more. David was recently inducted, along with the rest of "the swampers", into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville,Tn. Congrats, and well deserved.

Guitarist and vocalist, Scott Boyer, is renowned for his work with the band "Cowboy", who was on Capricorn Records out of Macon, Ga. That band, along with others, became the Capricorn Rhythm Section that played on a host of records that came out of Macon at that time. Scott also wrote the song "Please Be With Me", that was featured on Eric Clapton's 461 Ocean Boulevard album.

Kelvin Holly has long been recognized as one of the South's premier guitarists. A long time member of Little Richard's touring band, and Grammy Award winning band "The Amazing Rhythm Aces", Kelvin has also appeared on numerous recordings and soundtracks with artists like, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Hall, Little Richard, and many more.

N.C Thurman plays keyboards, harmonica, guitar, and vocals. He has recorded or played with artists such as Percy Sledge, Gregg Allman, Hank Williams Jr., Little Richard, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, and is currently touring with country music newcomer Gary Nichols.

Mike Dillon completes the band with timing and showmanship on the drums. Mike was a member of "The Dickey Betts Band" for two years. and was also a member of the Country Pop group "The Shooters" that was featured on CBS records from 87 to 91.

The Decoys was formed almost twenty years ago by veteran record producer, Johnny Sandlin (The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Delbert McClinton). The band has grown to gain wide respect and recognition. "They're kinda like Muscle Shoals own house band, backing up anyone who comes thru town", to quote one record industry vip. The band recently recorded their debut CD, entitled "Shot From The Saddle", at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals and is avaliable at the given website. You can also hear The Decoys on the bonus disc of the DVD,"Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid", on a song penned by Donnie Fritts and Tony Joe White, entitled "One Foot In The Groove".




Wayne is NOT Canadian
How to properly eat a cupcake

"Glitter And Doom" in Birmingham- July 3, 2009

Here are a few random images I captured around the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham when Tom Waits brought his "Glitter And Doom" show to town.

It was an interesting show. I guess it could be described as "Musical Performance Art", in which Tom Waits assumes a persona and rarely breaks character. He's assumed a number of personas, or maybe just evolved a single one, it's hard to tell.

While visually interesting, he's at his best when he breaks character, banters with the audience and breaks out a couple of his older lovely ballads.

Since he closely guards his privacy, it's not easy to figure him out. His fans take this as an opportunity to assign him many great human qualities which he may or may not possess.

I'm certainly not trying to, but I wonder if this will stir them up?

Brush with Greatness: Kevin Welch

I met Kevin Welch and his lovely daughter Savannah at Threadgill's in Austin when Savannah's band "The Trishas" was opening for Willis Alan Ramsay.

Kevin Welch is our friends favorite singer and will be performing at the new Moonlight Music Cafe- "Moonlight on the Mountain" (just a few blocks from my house in Bluff Park) on April 8th 2010. (corrected-I initially said the 7th)

See Kevin Welch website HERE


Take time to watch this video, amazingly good!

Kevin Welch grew up in Oklahoma. He already toured as a teenager with several bands, before he moved to Nashville in 1978 to work as a songwriter. Singers like Ricky Skaggs, Waylon Jennings and Don Williams were using his material. At the same time he was very active in local clubs with his band - The Overtones. His popularity grew and in 1988 he signed a record contract with Warner Brothers.

In 1990 the album Kevin Welch was recorded and 2 years later Western Beat. Both albums received rave reviews, but did not sell very well. Warner Brothers discharged Welch from the contract.

In 1994 he founded with his partner Kieran Kane and Tammy Rogers, Mike Henderson and Harry Stinson the record label Dead Reckoning Records. The following year Life Down Here on Earth was published and in 1999 Beneath My Wheels. The majority of songs are Welch's originals. In 2002 the album Millionaire was recorded with several Danish musicians.

In Europe he is known mainly for his hit "Something About You" (contained in Western Beat) which was used as background music in Tuborg's commercials.

In 2004 Welch teamed up with fellow Dead Reckoning artists Kieran Kane and Fats Kaplin to produce You Can't Save Everybody. The trio followed this up with Lost John Dean in 2006, to general acclaim. Lost John Dean reached number one on the Americana charts, and resulted in nominations for several awards including Duo/Group of the year at the 2006 Americana Honors and Awards. (WIKI)



Savannah Welch is very nice young lady and a multi-talented singer, actress and model.

NOTE NOTE NOTE! see below-It appears Kevin Welch commented on my humble, sketchy little blog.

Snow is still a novelty at my house

This has been one hell of a long, cold winter. I'm ready for it to be over.

Snow in Bluff Park-Cardinal

There's a vivid contrast with the bright red of this cardinal against the snow.
Taken from the comfort of my den.

Dawes: That Western Skyline

I like the passion in the performance. (and the Birmingham reference)

As seen in Birmingham

A few random images.

"The Boulder Field" Moss Rock Preserve, Hoover AL

 

A perfect balance of nature and community, Moss Rock Preserve is a beautiful 250 acre nature preserve abundant with trees and plants, rock outcroppings, streams, waterfalls, wildlife and other unique natural features. Currently Moss Rock Preserve is home to four rare species of plants and a rare variant of Little River Canyon Sandstone Glade - one of only 35 occurrences known around the world!

Moss Rock Preserve's Boulder Field is a favorite among rock climbers. With numerous technical formations, these boulders appeal to climbers of all skill levels. The City of Hoover is fortunate that these and other natural features exist in Moss Rock. As such, Moss Rock Preserve has been dedicated as a nature preserve in order to insure its long-term survivability.

 

 

 

Random Images: Birmingham Folk Festival 2009

 

Homewood Musical Instrument Company displayed inventory

 

Dobro and Washboard players

 

 

Jon Black: Very good!

 

Kate Morris

 

 

"Some Dude"

 

 

Palo Pallas

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham

A couple of photos I took the other night, the iconic 16th Street Church and a couple of other random images for good measure.

 

 

 

While I was driving around looking for photo ops, I distractedly rolled through a red light at Five Points South and got my first traffic ticket in 5 or 6 years. Of course I didn't have my most recent proof of insurance card, so I got ticketed for that as well.

Irritating.