The Hackensaw Boys

Sky City - September 16

Six gentlemen travel in a passenger van crammed to the gills with stringed instruments on their way to a festival in northeastern West Virginia. Ferd, Justin, Jesse, Robert, Shawn and Ward make up what they call an “excitable roots string band.” The Hackensaw Boys originally began in Charlottesville with four members growing to as many as twelve in what is now home in central Virginia, and have since then downsized to touring with the current line-up for about two years.

Despite the recent resurgence of bluegrass music, being a roots rock/Americana/bluegrass band in today’s world still poses some difficulty when finding an amicable bill to play. Even still, the band is always up to the challenge and willing to match energy levels with any and all bands they have been paired with. The Boys have shared the stage with De La Soul, The Flaming Lips, Camper van Beethoven, Cake, and even lost a member to Modest Mouse. With their own personal musical tastes running the gamut, they find it easy to discover pieces that fit the puzzle. 

The Hackensaw Boys have kicked some bluegrass in the CSRA in the not too dusty past. The Boys have crowded the stage of Stillwater Taproom, Augusta’s home for great touring bluegrass and Americana bands, in addition to Aiken’s Bluegrass Festival. Both venues, they say, exceeded their expectations, citing the large size of the younger crowd in attendance. 

With this show at Sky City on September 16th being coupled with Augusta’s cowpunk band, Hogslobber, The Hackensaw Boys and any who brave the night will most certainly have a grin from ear to ear as they witness the energy between both bands build upon each other. Behold this bluegrass bonfire at Augusta’s newest live music venue, Sky City.

Tuesday 9.16 at 9 pm -  $8 to $10

Sky City - 1157 Broad Street

skycity.com - myspace.com/hackensawboys

friday night live / a different music experience

september 5 & 19 -  the well

The Well, an interdenominational church at 716 Broad Street, is hosting Friday Night Live on the first and third Friday of every month from 7 to 9 pm. Beginning September 5th, The Well will bring quality music in a smoke free, alcohol free, family-friendly environment, with regional and local artists ranging from bare-bones acoustic setups to full on electrified bands.

September 5 - Hannah Miller: Fans of artists like Jennifer Daniels will find the sounds of Hannah Miller, from Columbia, SC, a bit more bluesy and raw. With sultry, possibly even smoky, vocals and introspective lyrics, you will be quickly drawn into Miller’s world as she strums her guitar, her husband plucking away at his mandolin beside her. This will be Hannah’s fifth return to Augusta (you may have caught her at The Mission or 1102).  Check out her music at hannahmillermusic.com.

September 19 - Jacob Beltz: A veteran of Augusta’s music scene, Jacob Beltz consistently pleases audiences. I can honestly say that this is a man that truly enjoys being a part of the music that it is so much a part of him. In his junior year of high school, Jacob picked up a guitar. Six months later he wrote his first song. Listening to Eric Clapton, Jeff Buckley, John Denver, and Dave Matthews, Jacob found his direction musically as well as his voice. Beltz realized it was time to decide if his life was going in the direction of music, rowing, or competitive skateboarding. Music took over. Hear Jacob at myspace.com/jacobbeltz.

Visit thewellaugusta.org for more info and a list of upcoming performers.

Augusta Music Scorches in September

It’s a well known fact that summers in the south come with many traditions.  We southerners like to enjoy the summer splendor with a tall glass of iced tea, family trips to the beach, city festivals, and (in some cases) NASCAR.  For Augustans, summer has its own “hot” take on these traditions:  Long Island Iced Tea at Metro A Coffee House, a stroll by the river on the Augusta Riverwalk, the monthly First Friday celebration, and of course, the boat races.  

But, as the heat of summer drifts into fall, getting us all giddy for football season and the annual Border Bash, Augusta is continually surrounded by music no matter the activity.  You can hear it everywhere, pouring out of music venues as well as outdoor speakers from businesses up and down Broad Street.  September in Augusta has always been hot for music, and when the first annual Westobou Festival kicks off in a few weeks…it will get even hotter! 

First, as always, let’s celebrate special moments in a scorching September music history that has led us to where we are today. 

September 15, 1945 

Opera legend Jessye Mae Norman is born on September 15, 1945, at the old University Hospital.  Growing up, Norman would listen to Saturday afternoon broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera, which would lead her to win her first talent contest by singing at Mount Calvary Baptist Church.  Since that day, Norman has performed on many special occasions including the 60th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, President Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration, the funeral of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day.  Norman was honored in 1991 with Augusta’s Jessye Norman Amphitheatre on the River Walk, and in 1999 she was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. 

September 20, 1989 

Eighties hair rockers Bon Jovi performed to a packed house at the Richmond County Civic Center a month after headlining the Moscow Music Peace Festival.  Sixteen years later, the band would release Have a Nice Day featuring the duet “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” with Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles (who has performed on many occasions in Augusta with her previous band Soul Minder’s Daughter). 

September 18, 1998 

B.B. King performed at the Augusta Richmond County Civic Center a few days after his 73rd birthday in September of 1998.   The legendary blues artist, named by Rolling Stone Magazine as the third greatest blues guitarist of all time, gave what is to this day considered one of the top performances ever presented at the venue now dubbed the James Brown Arena.  

September 11, 2001 

Augusta band Impulse Ride released Residue, the follow-up album to their popular 1998 release Corn Dog Money on J-Bird Records.  Despite months of planning in preparation for the album’s release, the band put all promotion on hold in light of the events that occurred on the fateful early morning hours of the CDs planned release. 

John “Stoney” Cannon is the creator of Augusta music resource Lokal Loudness and has been covering area music since 1992.  For more information visit www.lokalloudness.com. 

Alexis All-Star Picks: Various - Grand Slam Jam

When I think back to Augusta releases that were not only impactful on Alexis’ introduction to area music, but also on the Augusta music scene, the Grand Slam Jam compilation released by David Bradberry on his Haunted Pillar Records labels has to rank near the top of the list.  Released in 1998 and the third of three great Haunted Pillar compilations released in the nineties, this great collection of songs featured not only artists that paved the way for a big shift in original area music over the following year, but also proved to be a stepping stone for artists that have since made influential marks on the Augusta music scene.  With many releases in 1998, including this great one, it is no accident that Lokal Loudness was able to step out of the underground with such great music to cover.  Featuring Augusta artists such as Gearbox, featuring The Cubists’ Noel Brown, long-time faves Impulse Ride, future Horsepower frontman Grady Nickel, Kingthursday with 48Volt vocalist Brian Panowich, and national major label rockers Billionaire featuring former members of Hundred Year Sun, it is no wonder why Grand Slam Jam is a vital piece of Augusta music history.

Welcome to Sky City: Downtown’s Newest Live Music Venue

The sky is the limit for one local business family. Coco Rubio, owner of downtown Augusta staple, Soul Bar, and his brother Jayson are strapping in and blasting skyward towards their next endeavor, Sky City.

Coco and co-owner Jayson will be converting the recently defunct bar, The Mission, into an upscale music venue with the potential to garner the attention of local, regional, and national acts. With the Soul Bar steadily gaining momentum, Rubio admits he has “had to turn away bands from playing the Soul Bar, because it’s just too small.” Thanks to the larger stage, improved sound system, and capacity to legally hold twice as many people as Soul Bar, Coco says, with Sky City he “won’t have to do that anymore.” This larger space could mean patrons will find shorter lines to get drinks and go to the bathroom. “Sky City is perfect to accommodate large crowds,” Coco says, “which is why I am excited about the possibilities.”

The Rubio boys plan to have Sky City host bands like The Drive By Truckers, Jason Isbell & 4oo Unit, G-Love and Special Sauce, Band Of Horses, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Dinosaur Jr., and “just about any band that would play venues like the 40 Watt Club, Georgia Theatre in Athens or the Music Farm in Charleston.” With a lighting and sound system that will be comparable to these clubs, Coco and Jayson will undoubtedly render Sky City one of the best venues in the region.

With a nice bar up front and a nice bar in the back, Coco plans to keep the two areas separate but equal. “I’d like to keep the front of Sky City strictly bar and pool tables and some video games with some booths along the wall,” Coco says. “The back will be strictly for the music; no live music in the front room.” This binary bar will more effectively meet the needs of those who want to rock out while simultaneously satisfying those who simply want to get blacked out.

In addition to bands, Coco and Jayson have many other treats lined up to keep their customers satisfied. “A good happy hour is a must,” Coco says. He also plans to move many of his infamous Friday night events, (including the always-crowded ’80s nights) to Sky City. “I think we’ll have some ’80s nights still at the Soul Bar, but I’m interested to see how it might work in a bigger venue like Sky City; give the people a little more room to dance around.” When Sky City opens in early to mid May, Coco insists that, “a good opening party will also be a must with some live music, and also some good dj’s in the mix.” He plans on hiring a few new faces as well as rotating many of the same bartenders from Soul Bar.

Speaking of the Soul Bar, it is far from finished. Coco is not worried about his eldest child in the least. It is just time to teach his new one how to walk. “I think the Soul Bar will be fine. It is what it is, and we’ll continue to do things there, no doubt, but I just like the option of choosing which venue, Sky City or Soul Bar, will work depending on the bands we book.”
A tip of the hat to an old friend, Sky City draws its name from an old department store that used to be downtown. “I really missed seeing the words ‘Sky City.’ It’s such a piece of downtown history. I thought it would be a good name to keep alive,” Coco says. The new Sky City will be located at 1157 Broad Street and will be yet another voice encouraging downtown Augusta to, “Say it loud! I’m back and I’m proud!”

by Jamie McGaw

catching up with Christa DeCiccio of Cristabel and the Jons

an interview…

verge: how did it all begin for you?

CD: Ive been playing the piano since about seven, sang in my church and school choirs. Around fourteen, I taught myself guitar using a Beatles songbook. It wasnt until I was sixteen or so that I began playing open mics. Then I stopped; basically I became a hermit. I wrote songs and just played them in my living room. About three years ago, I decided it was time to start playing out, to share my music with people.

verge: and then the Jons came in

CD: Jon Whitlock, the original Jon, was my first drummer and changed my writing style and musical direction. I was just performing solo, girl-with-guitar folk songs. He swayed me to write more jazzy pieces. We added an upright bass, and decided we needed a fourth member. We found this guy who played violin and trumpet. We were like, �It�s folky and jazzy, it�s perfect.� We started playing around our hometown, Knoxville, working up a strong following, and then started branching out. We tend to tour all the states bordering Tennessee, though there is an occasional wild hare.

verge: what process do you go through when writing your songs?

CD: It usually starts with a line of poetry I get in my head. A lot of the times, I�ll be listening to the radio while driving home, which reminds me of something. Then in my head will be a line of poetry to a melody, and I�ll write it on the back of a stray receipt, go home, pick up my guitar and figure out the chords. The rest of it falls into place.

verge: so would you consider yourself a poet?

CD: I guess so. I rarely publish my poetry, but I definitely write it and keep a blog on myspace. I write haikus and little poems when I�m traveling around or chilling at home. I�m more of a songwriter; most of my poems turn into songs.

verge: name some biggest influences:

CD: That�s kind of tough. It�s a mix of different genres. Definitely the great female jazz singers. But I also listen to Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, that kind of thing. Really, it�s the songwriting that is almost more important than the voice. You can have kind of a rough sound, but if the lyrics get to you the right way? That makes up for it.

verge: what are some of your most memorable experiences, performance-wise?

CD: Bonnaroo 2007 was great. We got to go for free, were treated like real artists, camped out with famous people. It was amazing. Then there was the time we opened for the Brazilian Girls in Knoxville. That was in front of thousands of people, it was scary and weird but our first huge show.

verge: do you prefer the more intimate settings?

CD: Definitely. It�s easier to connect with the audience and gauge their response.

verge: what do you see yourself doing in the next year?

CD: We�ve got a slew of new songs. It was a rollercoaster of a winter, which is good for writing. Dramatic things make for good songs. Hopefully we�ll get into the studio this spring, have a new album out in early summer of �08. Play festivals, build audiences. I�d love to have a base strong enough to expand and play New York and Boston.

verge: last comments?

CD: We’re just a really fun, goofy foursome traveling around in a crappy van stopping in tons of thrift stores. We’re always looking for good breakfast restaurant recommendations. Wherever we can get the best eggs and bacon the morning after the show.

Christabel and the Jons, a well-stirred blend of southern blues, swing, and folk, play Stillwater Taproom, April 11th at 10pm.

by Ashley Plocha