The Roanoke Times | File 1983

Greystone Tavern was the Top Rail when Cimmaron played there in 1983.

IO Jukebox

Poe Mack

• My Dreams (With Jane L. Powell)

My Radio

• Angel In the Choir

About a quarter-century of music memories went up in smoke last week when Greystone Tavern in Salem caught fire.

The early Dec. 11 fire destroyed the Greystone, also known during its lifetime as Top Rail, Shooter’s and Howler’s.

Cimarron, the stalwart country music band with a history reaching back to the 1980s heyday of Top Rail, was scheduled to play there today and Saturday. Corned Beef & Co.’s Tara McAllister e-mailed us this week to say they hired Cimarron to play those dates instead. If you go, look for Mountain Heart singer Josh Shilling, a former member of Cimarron. He said he had planned to sit in at Greystone.

Our blog post on the 11th at blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/cutnscratch brought a lot of responses from people who seemed to have genuinely cared about the place. The words “good memories” and “good times” came up an awful lot that day and the day after.

Here’s a sampling of the comments:

> Crissy Gentry wrote that she met her husband there: “I’ve spent a lot of birthdays and special occasions there listening to The Worx and Burning Bridges. I hope they rebuild, bigger and better than before.”

> Meagan Iwaniszek wrote: “Most recently, I was very excited and looking forward to Madrone playing with Taproot there. Greystone was one of the more accomodating venues around here for local music and it will be greatly missed.”

> Krystie Robertson wrote: “I just wanted to say that growing up ... Just looking at the place used to make me want to run in the opposite direction. But I received an invite from one of my good friends to come and see the Worx play. And as a black female and one of the only black females that ventured to this place ... I was welcomed with open arms ... They made sure that I knew that I always had a friend at Greystone.”

> Wayne Sowder, who has worked more than a few Greystone shows as a soundman, wrote: “People who made their judgments without entering the building will now never know the joy that many shared within her walls. Plain, windowless buildings inspire curiosity in some people and apprehension and fear in others.”

Of course, there are always folks who exercise their First Amendment right to post comments that rile up the rest. Daine Vineyard, former producer of the late and (sort of) lamented Roanoke.com TimesCast didn’t let me down, writing: “... the bar was a joke and the booking was even worse. It just went downhill after opening as Greystone — and that’s coming from both a performer and audience member point of view. Sad to see it go, but hopefully in its wake will spring the new life of a better club.”

That comment brought retorts from several people who mistakenly spelled Daine’s name “Diane” or “Dianne.” By the way, that’s what I’ll be calling him from now on.

Read all the comments at blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/cutnscratch/2008/12/11/post-your-greystone-tavern-thoughts-here.

Even as demolition crews surely prepare to clear the space — the building’s owner had no insurance and no plans to rebuild — we receive word of new clubs bringing in the live music. Southside 220 is open at 7963 Franklin Road (U.S. 220 South) between Boones Mill and Clearbrook. Go to myspace.com/1nightstandbooking to see a schedule including mucho metal act The Breathing Process and local rockers The Venus Transit and Heevahava. Just a look at the listings made my ears bleed.

Find another loaded music calendar at myspace.com/marketstpub, the online home of the new Market Street Pub in downtown Roanoke. The pub is booking lots of local music, and some observers are saying the vibe is reminiscent of the old Green Dolphin. Barefoot West and Corey Hunley hit the room on Friday night, joined by Austin-Texas-by-way-of-Franklin-County troubadour Matt Powell. Tonight is an open microphone session.

Blogging holiday tunes

At the blog’s question of the week section, I’ve been asking people to list their favorite holiday tunes, as well as their most-hated. I guess the season is bringing out the positivity, because the love overwhelms the hate on these entries. Favorites include King Diamond’s “No Presents for Christmas” and Clarence Carter’s “Backdoor Santa.” The despised include “Hey Santa” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Katie Grace posted this comment: “My Radio from here in Roanoke recently recorded a Christmas song with Jake Dempsey called, ‘Angel in the Choir’. It is pretty saucy and fun.”

She’s right! Go to this column at roanoke.com/entertainment, or to the blog, to stream “Angel in the Choir.”

Bonus track

The prolific Poe Mack recently released another CD, “November Reign.” As always, it’s quality stuff, featuring one unique collaboration. Poe teams up with his aunt, jazz and blues singer Jane L. Powell, on track eight, “My Dreams.”
Powell, originally from Roanoke, is a true music traveler, singing on cruise ships, at high-dollar resorts and elsewhere, with an occasional stop in Roanoke. We’ll also stream “My Dreams” from the Web version of this column.
Hear more of Poe Mack’s TrueNoke music at myspace.com/poemack.