Friday, October 23, 2009
Culture runs at high standard across spectrum
Singers / musicians Jason Bailey and Fred Campbell. — Courtesy of Fred Campbell
Emily Paine Carter is columnist So Salem. You can contact her at 981-3430 or via e-mail.
Emily Paine Carter
Recent columns from Salem, Glenvar and western Roanoke County
Today's play-list is a mixed bag of local culture.
I had planned to write about keepsakes. But some pretty darned fine events demanded attention first. (So, Gentle Reader, you still have time to tell me of your collections.)
A recent Saturday night found folks marveling: "This is just like being somewhere!" Salem's Mill Mountain Coffee scene could've been plopped down into a trendy New York setting.
OK, diligent So Salem readers might recognize some names repeated. Guilty! But sometimes characters keep doing cool stuff. Like, I don't mind reading more stories of Salem High School's academic and athletic triumphs -- or even of pet antics and West Main St.'s painted-pig-of-the-week.
So again here's SHS teacher extraordinaire/media darling/musician Fred Campbell. He and Jason Bailey teamed up for a free musical performance both very cool AND hot -- the kind that had its audience-of-all-ages whooping, clapping and demanding more.
"Fifty Pounds Tall" brought it, man! And I don't mean they just "brought" family members -- although Fred joked that Jason's big family and instant audience was a plus. The notion for teaming up was hatched during Floyd Fest -- where Fred and a happy Salem contingent camp yearly.
What the duo brought was high energy, plus deep respect for the music. Acoustic guitars and vocals intertwined nicely.
All this on a play-list that could've come from my files. The strong opening number foreshadowed both a coffeehouse-caffeine and a powerful musical "buzz."
Fred and Jason shared solo-duty, and journeyed listeners through an emotional landscape of the old and the new -- ranging from wrench-your-heart songs to a rollicking rave-up trilogy.
Encore? For sure! They called JP Powell of "My Radio" over to sing his own "Turn Up the Radio." (Recently this paper noted the band's success; the gifted SHS grad was also featured in September 2003 and October 2008 columns.) Charming "My Radio" drummer Hunter Johnson stood among folks lining the wall; he's moving from managing the coffee-shop to opening his own Roanoke bar/restaurant.
"One night only," the flyer had proclaimed. Let's hope that Jason and Fred change their minds on that. Heck -- and I don't say this lightly -- next time we might even pay 'em.
A tip of my artsy bonnet to the Salem Fine Arts Commission for putting on the next day's Juried Art Show at the Salem Farmers' Market.
Folks strolled among creations from the tried-and-true (say, Harriett Stokes, Julie Hamilton and Pam Ogden) to the up-and-coming (SHS art students). Paintings, woodblock prints, photography, jewelry, stained glass, pottery and sculpture were offered for sale.
Jazz noodled from the stage on this quiet Sunday. And Salem again seemed a pretty cool place to be.
But wait; there's more culture to come! Salem potter Jessie Rusinko reminds us that the Blue Ridge Potters Guild Show & Sale is Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 1 at Cave Spring High School. It's always excellent -- and free!
