Static Live Magazine May 2019

Vol. 2
Issue 3 - May 2019
“The Last” Goodbye
YELLOW BRICK ROAD
THE
HERo’S JouRNEY
Behind the Mic: Riggs

BEACHSIDE TAVERN
NEW SMYRNA BEACH’S BEST ORIGINAL LIVE MUSIC VENUE
Ballyhoo
with Special Guest:
summerlong
FRIDAY MAY 3RD
8PM/$10
with Special Guest:
PACIFIC DUB
THURSDAY MAY 16TH
G-Love
with Special Guest:
The Ries Brothers
WEDNESDAY MAY 15TH 8PM/$20
SERENATION
8PM/FREE
www.BeachsideTavern.com-690 E. 3rd St. NSB-FB.com/BeachsideTavernNSB
Barbara
Barbara is from New York and is currently attending Florida Gulf Coast University
in Ft. Meyers. As much as she loves being in the sun and going to the
beach, she enjoys figure skating and works at the local rink back home. She
also loves shopping, spending time with friends and going to the movies.
Barbara’s favorite way to travel is going on cruises; her ultimate goal is to
charter a yacht and take a trip to Bora Bora with her friends.
She likes all different types of music, including pop and rap, but country
steals her heart.
Barbara recently started modeling with Premiere Model Management and
says she can’t wait to see what the future holds for her in the industry.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mandy Lynn
Oh My...Goddess
3

“I think performers are all show-offs
anyway, especially musicians. Unless you
show off, you’re not going to get noticed.”
~ Elton John
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Oh My Goddess
The Boss - By Les Kippel
A Day in the Life of a Gigging Musician
“The Last” Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Original Music Manifesto
A Hero’s Journey
Kurt Cobain and the Death Clause -
by Hank Harrison
Static Live Calendar
Artist Feature: Sheri Zanosky
The Farmers Market and the Music Market
Swamp Sistas Profile: Amy Robbins
Rocktails
It’s Hip-Hop’s World - We Just Live In It
Phantom Foodie
Behind the Mic with Riggs
Metal Compost
PARTY 4 PARKINSON’S
__________
SUNDAY MAY 26TH
4-8PM
KONA TIKI BAR
__________
49 W. Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach
www.StaticLiveMag.com
To To be part of our next next issue, issue,
contact contact Jamie Jamie Lee Lee at at 386-603-2050
386-414-3367
Static Live Media Group, LLC
927 S. Ridgewood Ave., Suite A5
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386-847-2716 www.staticlivemag.com
Billy Chapin, Owner/Publisher
Sean Impara, Co-Owner/Writer
Jenny McLain, Editor/Dir Operations
Jamie Lee, Director of Sales
Nicole Henry, Graphic Artist
Blake Abbey, Staff Photographer
COVER ART BY GARY KROMAN
© All Rights Reserved 2019
SILENT AUCTION & RAFFLES
LIVE MUSIC FEATURING
JESSIE ABBEY/FAITH HANNON
WARREN BECK/BRADFORD BUCKLEY
5 TIME SHAG __________
__________
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST PARKINSON’S
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT ROCK STEADY BOXING
WWW.GRINDGASTROPUB.COM

THE
BOSS
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS © Les Kippel
6
BROOOOOOOOOSSSSSEEEEEEEEE - -
THE AUDIENCE STARTS TO SCREAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m hearing “BOOOOO” I’m thinking how rude....
Oops - Its “The Boss” - BRRUUUCCCE!!!!!!
I think the first time Bruce Springsteen came into my
awareness was when he played 5 nights at The Bottom
Line in New York City, August, 1975. Bruce seemed to
come out of nowhere, but he sang our kind of music!
Working man’s music! And when he performed, the songs
he played hit home for working class families struggling
to make ends meet.
Wikipedia has it as:
“On August 13, 1975, Springsteen and the E Street Band
began a five-night, 10-show stand at New York’s The
Bottom Line club. This attracted major media attention
and was broadcast live on WNEW-FM. (Decades later,
Rolling Stone magazine would name the stand as one of
the 50 Moments That Changed Rock and Roll.)”
Springsteen appeared on the covers of both Time and
Newsweek in the same week. But, how can I relay to you
the energy of those shows? I think some of my pictures
of Bruce from that era show it!
7

y Adam Floyd
I’m Super Psyched because I’ve just memorized
a new classical concerto for violin. I recently performed it a few
times impromptu. It’s ready for the concert stage and I’m wondering
who the best accompanist will be. I will likely perform the piece as
a duet with piano and so the collaborative artist I choose is crucial.
The piece is in the key of A minor which is great for the violin and I
can really dig in, but there’s also a lot of artistic depth and therefore
choices to make as far as shading, color and interpretation. I’ve
been thinking of programming it with some other material in a
modern version of a Victor Borge act. Maybe I’m just fantasizing
but I think it could go over well. It’s always good to add material to
your recital repertoire.
Meanwhile I’m preparing for some shows in a bunch of honky
tonks and dance halls. I’m a bandleader and singer for a couple
of bands. The Coyotes and Towndogs blast off large with some
super-funky psychedelic swing. We rock it hard to the max with
trombone, electric guitars and a full band. The mix is about half
originals and we’ve been playing long enough that everyone knows
and sings along with our songs. It’s nice that we play enough pop
covers to keep everyone dancing and coming back for more. Next
year makes 20 years together!
The Potlikkers play a more traditional style with stand-up bass and
I play fiddle. We do “old timey” jug band music with a dance beat.
People love hearing the old songs and we get a real kick out of
it too. I perform in character as Plum Tucker and we usually
dress the part in overalls or as Country Gentleman. You’ve
never heard Old Joe Clark played with such enthusiasm.
I’ve been touring a good bit in the Appalachian
Mountains so I’ll be adding a lot of new repertoire
from influences I pick up along the way.
8
Lately lots of friends and acquaintances
are building various musical instruments.
Everything from fine classical guitars to
steel drums and real nice electric guitars
I’ve made a slew of drums and a couple
batches of dulcimers but have been
looking for a new project. Maybe a nice
line of cigar box fiddles? I’ve got some
new ideas and I am so
Super Psyched!

“The Last” Goodbye
By The Reluctant GeniusYELLOW BRICK ROAD
We all remember different types of events in
history - where we were when this happened
or what we were doing when that happened.
It’s funny how music, especially great songs, can be like
a life-changing event when it comes to our memories.
The brain works in mysterious ways; after all, we all
can remember where we were when the first plane hit
on 911 but the memory can be just as strong when you
think about where you were or what you were doing the
first time you heard a certain type of song.
When hearing those songs, consider all the different
kinds of memories and emotions that pop up, especially
with songs over the years that were written from the
heart or that have become instant classics. Each one
brings up emotions from our past that are stored within
the brain waiting to be triggered again and again.
When it comes to hit songs, this month’s feature artist
had more than most and chances are you will have
memories of where you were or what you were doing
the first time you heard some of his songs. Think
about hits like “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, Crocodile
Rock”, “Daniel”, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”,
“Your Song”, Candle in the Wind”, “Tiny Dancer” - just
a few of the many hits by Sir Elton John. There’s no
doubt that at least one of these songs will take you
back to a place and time and perhaps even bring on a
tear or create a smile, for so many of his songs were
iconic and near perfect and obviously will go down in
history. There’s no doubt that his flamboyant lifestyle
and creative genius is something of legend, yet there’s
so much more about Elton that cannot be shared in just
a few pages. This year marks the final time that
Mr. John will perform live in a worldwide concert series.
Throughout the years his costumes and stage presence
show what legends are made of and there’s
no denying that his concerts are considered
some of the best ever.
10
As we all grow older it’s sad to see our heroes slow
down but the one thing that we will always have are
the memories and music of such a wonderful artist.
Here’s just a little bit more about what made Elton John
so very special: Sir Elton Hercules John CBE was born on
March 25, 1947 as Reginald Kenneth Dwight. He is
an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer.
He and his songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, have
worked together since 1967 and have collaborated on
more than 30 albums. John has sold more than 300
million records, making him one of the best-selling
music artists in the world. He has more than fifty Top 40
hits, including seven consecutive number-one albums
in the United States, 58 Billboard Top 40 singles, 27
Top 10 singles, four which reached number two and
nine which reached number one. His tribute single
“Candle in the Wind 1997”, rewritten in dedication to
Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies
worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of
the UK and US singles charts.
John was raised in the Pinner area of London and
learned to play piano at an early age, and by 1962
had formed Bluesology (a 1960s English R&B popular
music group). He met his songwriting partner, Bernie
Taupin, in 1967 when they both answered an ad for
songwriters. For two years, they wrote songs for other
artists, including Lulu, and John also worked as a
session musician for artists, such as the Hollies and the
Scaffold. His debut album, Empty Sky, was released.
In 1970. John’s first hit single “Your Song”, from his
second album, Elton John, reached the top ten in the
UK and the US. Along with decades of chart success,
John has also achieved success in musical films and
theatre, composing the music for The Lion King and its
stage adaptation, Aida and Billy Elliot the Musical.
He has received five Grammy Awards, and several
other life long accolades. A list too long for this article
indeed. It will be sad to see him go but the legend and
the music will live on forevermore and there’s no doubt
that next time you hear one of his classics it will take
you back to a time and place of your younger days.
11

Original Music Manifesto
Musicians, have you ever had
yourself written up in the
local newspaper, or had your
band’s show in the events
calendar, or even had an article written
on you or your act in the local or regional
magazine? It’s a great feeling and does
wonders for your confidence and your
morale. It gets your name out there to
the general public that may not have
heard of you yet, and your existing fans
love to say, “Hey, I know these guys!”
It is the music columnist that makes this
moment of fame happen. The person
that has a passion for the local music
scene. They take the time to come to
your shows, listen to your new album,
and give you that glowing review.
They have a way with words and often
describe your music in such amazing
metaphors, soliloquies, and alliterations
that you yourself could never have
come up with.
Having a write-up of your band is one of
those benchmarks; it really ligitamizes
your existence and is an important
aspect of your band’s bio and resume.
Having that great quote from the local
music columnist is also essential for
your electronic press kit.
Being that the columnist is also a
critic in a fashion, they may be falsely
assumed to be snobbish, elitist, and
unapproachable. I, however, have
found that if you take the time to write
a show of respect and are gracious
and appreciative of what they do for the
local music scene, they are
very receptive and happy
to set their talents toward
showcasing your band as
well.
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The Music Columnist
By C. August Wenger
In my scene of East Florida, one music columnist in particular, immediately comes
to mind. Rick de Yampert is a name known not only locally, but throughout the
country. As well as being a freelance writer, Rick de Yampert was also the Arts
and Entertainment writer for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for 23 years. Over
his career he has written over 22,000 articles, interviewing such legends as Peter
Frampton, Yoko Ono, and Ray Manzarek of The Doors.
Being a musician himself, a sitar player in fact, he really knows what questions to
ask-those that frame the artist in an interesting light, and reveal a side of artists
that a reading audience would be intrigued by. I asked Rick what it is about
the local original music scene
that has inspired him to write
about it all these years, and
what advice he might have for
original artists and aspiring
music columnists.
He told me, “Local scenes have
far more fascinating music than
I imagine even hardcore music
fans in each and every city may
know. There’s more quantity in
bigger cities, but not necessarily
better quality; that’s why I love
writing about the local original
music scene. As for a bit of advice:
Whether it’s making music or
writing about music (if one is so
motivated), the key is to just do it.
There are outlets for your creative
expression, even if it’s posting on
Facebook. Remember that you are your primary audience. Do it because it fulfills
something in you. If someone else connects to your creativity, that’s a bonus.”
Artists, bands, look into your local music columnist, read some of their articles,
reach out to them and offer them up your bio and music; it’s an important step
in your musical journey. If your town does not have a music columnist of note,
maybe it’s time they had one. If writing about music and uplifting your local music
scene seems like something that would fulfill something in you, give it a try. You
may just find you have the knack for it, and your music scene needs you.
Next month, I will continue my Original Music Manifesto with an article on the
Radio DJ who supports local original music. In the meantime, please keep
supporting local original music. Thanks for reading.
Love Kills
The assassination of
About Love Kills:
Love Kills offers the most insightful
explanation as yet offered for the
mysterious death of Kurt Cobain, the
great radical poet, rock star and
alternative social leader.
It does not solve the crime, but
Harrison opens the door to the inner
chamber. The reader is forced to
make the Þnal decision, almost like a
member of a jury.
Hank Harrison’s touching account of
Cobain’s life and death includes
many revealing photographs plus
anecdotes and pictures from his
family archives. 380 Pages, over 100
illustrations.
Paperback: $24.95. Bulk discounts to
libraries and independent bookstores.
Kurt Cobain
NOT AVAILABLE IN BOOKSTORES AT THIS TIME!
Buy your signed copy directly from the publisher:
Arkives Press, P.O.B. 1221, Galt, California, 95632
Email and PayPal: lovekillsbook@gmail.com
Also available from AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Kills-Assassination-Kurt-Cobain/dp/0918501024/
ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543000889&sr=8-1&keywords=love+kills+the+assassination+of+kurt+cobain

THE
HERo’S JouRNEY
We are all the stars
of the movie of our own life.
By Candice Beu
Whether we like it or not we thrive on the ups and downs of
the drama that plays out before us and within us. In every
good story, the protagonist has quests to go on, victories
to win and a massive transformation to undergo along
the way. Joseph Campbell, author of “The Hero with A
Thousand Faces” (to which the Stars Wars anthology was
based) coined this template “The Hero’s Journey”. You can
see this common mythical device often play out in the lives
of artists and entertainers alike.
As a prerequisite to any kind of fame and fortune, every
world weary musical warrior has to have the experience
of being sent out into the world, on many adventures that
will cause them to face multiple antagonists, confront the
greater shadow, give to something bigger than themselves,
and return home transformed through their artistic journey.
Anyone can be a “guitar hero” behind the four walls of their
living room but to become a genuine hero in the story of
life, it takes a courageous person with a strong willingness
to commit, over the long haul, to the hard work it takes to
become so. It can be a long and arduous evolution but
it’s the path of fundamental maturation that we strive to
achieve as humans who want to give back, not just take,
from the world around us. As Campbell’s book “The Power
of Myth” states, “We have not even to risk the adventure
alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The
labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the
thread of the hero’s path. And where we had thought to
find an abomination, we shall find a god. And where we
had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves. And
where we had thought to travel outward, we
shall come to the center of our own existence.
And where we had thought to be alone, we shall
be with all the world.”
14
To be “with all the world” means we have touched
on greatness, unity and wholeness. We have found
compassion for ourselves and others which essentially
is the key that links all our stories together. This final
illumination of the hero’s journey is the awakening, the
healing sought through artistic expression. To have the
awareness that each one of us is on this path of self
discovery, each seeing ourselves as stars in our own
galaxy, the hero of our own story and the lead character in
our own movie, will only help us to find deeper compassion
within ourselves and our world. It will assist us to not take
personally when someone isn’t as interested in our life’s
movie as they are in their own.
Everybody wants creative control of their production and
nobody wants others dictating or controlling the script. If
we can remember this, and the fact that everyone is facing
their own personal awakenings along the way, then we can
harness a greater compassion and respect for all. This will
only enhance our ability to express ourselves creatively
and connect, through our art, with the collective of souls
who are doing the same. To thrive and survive the hero’s
journey means we are commonly rewarded with insights,
inspirations and a broader perspective of knowledge than
we could ever have reached by just staying home, locked
away in our fortress of solitude, watching others live life.
These personal rewards are not the end of the story however,
for there is no finish line for the hero, only a continued
sharing of wisdom and an extended understanding through
experience gained. In honor of “Star Wars Month”, may the
force be with us all on our respective journeys to the stars
and back again.

A recording contract can be a box of snakes, but one
clause, known as the “Death Clause” also known as a
non-performance or failure of performance clause, has
always been a big problem. I first saw this clause in a
contract from Warner Brothers when I was connected
to the Grateful Dead. I saw it again when I got a smell
of Janis Joplin being usurped away from Big Brother
and the Holding Company and it has a distinct stench
to it. In addition to the legal headaches that arise for
anyone negotiating something like this, the “Death
Clause” can literally be lethal. This clause is a way of
assuring the recording company will collect all of their
money (and yours) if you die, no matter how you die.
Examples:
1) Company shall have the right to secure insurance
equivalent to ten times the estimated value of the
Artists earnings (from any source of revenue) for
Company’s sole benefit. In Cobain’s case that
amounted to several BILLION, with a B
2) Company shall be allowed to employ ANY
insurance carrier or combination of same to assure
this benefit and need not consult or require signature
compliance from artist.
3) Company shall keep such information confidential,
except that Company may disclose such information
to the applicable insurance carrier(s) or as required
by law.
4) Artist or Artist’s estate shall have “NO” right to
review or claim the benefit of any such policy obtained
by Company.
In short, the company (i.e., record label) will take
out a life insurance policy on the artist and reap any
benefit if the Artist cannot comply with production
requirements, becomes ill or “DIES”.
The clause in question was invented back in the days
when the MOB ran Chicago, New York and Hollywood,
(and who says they still don’t?). In short, here is what
a Death Clause does in my humble opinion: “If an
artist fails to perform or pay back advances, the artist
becomes more profitable dead.”
Today, the hit clause still exists, but it is more subtle
and whereas it used to be worth thousands it’s now
potentially worth Billions. Labels invest millions in
new talent and the insurance policy is a protection
against loss or a way of collecting projected profits for
music, t-shirts, books, foreign rights and everything
else in all forms.
In the event of death, a musician can’t earn anything
so a non-performance policy provides insurance to
protect the investment. This is one of the many topics
I didn’t include in my book on Cobain, but I hinted at
it. This clause is why I knew what happened in the
Cobain case from the first day, way back on Easter
Sunday, 1994. Cobain did not kill himself, but it really
didn’t matter to the policyholders. The “Death Clause”
is why all those people got paid off and are still being
paid off. No Names please.
This is a dangerous topic, the last person who wrote
a book about it was a young and healthy lawyer and
she died suddenly.
Geffen Yoko
Chester Bennington
Buddy
Holly
Big
Bopper
Ritchie
Valens
17

C ROSS
W
ORDACROSS
18
4. Last name of the singer who sings the hit 80s song
titles “Never Gonna Give You Up”?
6. What is the first name of the artist who sang, “We
Belong Together” that was the most played son in the
2000s?
8. What is the first name of the “Forget You” singer
appeared as a judge on the first season of the Voice?
9. The first music video to play on MTV ever was “Video
Killed The Radio Star” by the ________.
11. What is the title of the horror movie that legendary
rock band, Pennywise got their band name from?
12. What is the title of the upcoming Elton John biopic
coming out May 31st, 2019?
13. What was the title of Rihanna’s hit 2007 song
featuring Jay-Z?
14. What is the name of the Spice Girls’ hit song that
came out in 1996 that gave them global success?
15. When U2 first came out, their lead singer called
himself Bono ________.
17. What is the title of Fleetwood Mac’s only song to hit
#1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart?
18. What is the last name of the band member from
Aerosmith who appeared as one of the judges on
American Idol?
PUZZLE
DOWN
1. What was the original band name of the rock band,
Black Sabbath?
2. The drama movie, 8 mile featuring rapper Eminem is
based in what US city?
3. Who was the most streamed male artist on Spotify in
2018?
5. What was Elton John’s first name prior to changing it
in 1972?
7. What was the keyboard player, Mike Score’s job
before being in A Flock of Seagulls?
9. Bruce Springsteen’s nickname is “The ________?
10. Folk rock duo, Simon & Garfunkel’s most well-known
song is called “Sounds of ________”.
16. What is the last name of the former President who
awarded Bruce Springsteen with the Presidental Medal
of Freedom?
17. What instrument does Neil Peart play in the rock
band, Rush?

Sheri Zanosky
By Bartholomew Betelgeuse III
This month features art from Sheri
Zanosky. Sheri was raised in upstate
New York and the ‘70s were a
pivotal and inspirational time in her
youth. The music known today as
“Classic Rock” was the fuel for some
of her earliest artwork and her first
commissions were jean jackets and
album covers for friends. “Classic
Rock” plays in her studio today as
she continues painting all the WILD
things of this earth. Her current studio
is located @ The Hub on Canal in
Studio9 UPSTAIRS.
Sheri is a self-taught and she
expresses her art through a variety of
mediums including acrylic, charcoal
and watercolor. The Rock and Roll
“wildlife” featured here is done by
private commission only. You can find
her animal wildlife at The Hub and in
shops around Florida as well as at
her website, www.yinyangspirit.com,
and on FaceBook and Instagram.
22
23

Emma, Bill, Ruth and Annie Wharton
It’s better to pay the source than to pay the machine. Do you realize that due to
streaming services, songwriters/performers have been cut out of a major part of their
paycheck? Peter Frampton was talking to Congress about the fact that after 55 million
plays of one of his tunes he received $1700. This has put a hurting on us road dogs.
But if you buy a CD, t-shirt, or vinyl from the artist, that’s 100 miles worth of gas to get
to the next gig. I am all about good music, good food, and good times! Let’s keep it
happening. I’m always looking for new flavors, and I’m always trying to get as close
to the artist or farmer as possible. Farmers markets provide fresh, quality, hard to find
provisions, and also great deals by eliminating a lot of middlemen between farmer
and consumer. Here’s three generations of farmers market connoisseurs at the Los
Angeles Farmers Market, along with three more “not to miss” food destinations.
24
Robert Is Here
19200 SW 34th St. Homestead, FL 33034
fresh@robertishere.com 305-246-1592
8 AM to 7 PM
When Robert was six years old, his father set him down with
some cucumbers to sell by the side of the road. Nobody bought.
So the next day he put a sign on the table that said, “Robert is
Here”. Within a few hours, the cukes were gone. Fast forward to
2019 and Robert is still selling cucumbers at the roadside stand
in Homestead, Florida. However since that time way back when,
Robert Is Here has blossomed into an incredible fruit market. On
yer way to Key West you’d do yourself a favor by stopping and
loading up on papayas, passion fruit, mangos, jackfruit, sapodilla,
bananas, oranges, guavas, and sapote, to name a few of the
tasty treats found among this plethora of tropical fruit not found
in Key West. They have cold coconuts that they drill a hole and
stick a straw in for a refreshing healthful beverage. These guys
just love sharing good food with folks. So when I’m in the Keys, I
stop to see what’s up at Robert Is Here.
Turkey Hill Farm
Saturday 8:00am - noonish
Tallahassee Farmers Market
Market Square Shopping Center
1415 Timberlane Road near US319 and I10
These guys have been supplying the Tallahassee area
with healthy, delicious food for half a century.
Your Dekalb Farmers Market
5000 East Ponce De Leon Avenue,
Decatur, Georgia 30030
When I walked into Your Dekalb Farmers
Market, I felt like I was coming home.
There’s a lot of knowledge about food in
this three and a quarter acre cornucopia.
The workers have come to Atlanta from
over 40 countries. They bake their own
organic bread in house. Live catfish, crabs,
and lobsters swim in tanks. Butcher shop
has it all. The beer and wine section is
stocked. The buffet ranges from BBQ to
tabouli, around the world and back again.
Yeah, lunch has beaucoup, mucho mas,
bunch o’ stuff.
The positioning statement:
“We declare that the world is designed to
work. We are responsible for what does not
work. We make the difference. No matter
how technologically advanced we become,
we cannot escape our fundamental
relationships with food and each other. The
possibility of these relationships is the world
market. In this context, the world works for
everyone free of scarcity and suffering.
We commit ourselves to the possibility this
world market is for the future generations
of this planet.”
Our haul: Colombian coffee, imported
Marzano tomatoes, pink and white
grapefruit, plums, pluots, walnuts, peppers,
fresh tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe,
oatmeal bread, strawberries, raspberries,
pitty pat squash, eggplant, cinnamon, fig
biscotti, Lingonberry sauce, maple syrup,
a 12 pack of Bitburger German beer, and
a Chilean cabernet. Most of it organic. All
of it for $60.
Keep up with the Sauce Boss on the Blog:
www.sauceboss.com/blog | sauceboss.com | planetgumbo.com

Amy Robbins grew up in Lady Lake and now lives in Mount Dora,
Florida. The 32 year old singer songwriter and guitarist has been
playing professionally for eight years and her circuit spans all of
Central Florida. Meanwhile, she has firmly established herself in
the Orlando music scene, opening shows for notable Americana
acts like Sarah Shook, Scott Biram and The Curries. Amy also
performs as a member of the Swamp Sistas ensemble, a group of
songwriting women l assembled to serve as musical ambassadors
for our grassroots movement. In my home recording studio, I’ve
been helping Ms. Robbins add finishing touches to her solo artist
debut “Maple Sparrow” which she plans to release at the Swamp
Sistas La La at Orlando Fringe Festival on Saturday, May 18. After
a recent session, I asked her to tell us about growing up in rural
Central Florida, as well as her musical influences and aspirations.
Amy Robbins
By Beth McKee
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You’re a native Floridian!
Yes, my family has been in Central Florida for several generations
and relatives say we were some of the original settlers in this area,
but I’m not sure exactly how accurate that is, ha ha.
What was it like, growing up in Lake County in the 1990s?
Pretty rural! I spent lots of time outside, swimming, playing various
sports and participating in competitive horseback riding. Country
music was always the sonic backdrop at competitions, I think that
dictated my love for the genre.
I hear the country influence in your songs but there’s more,
how would you describe your sound?
Some of my favorite memories are riding in the car with my mom,
listening to the “Saturday Night Gold Rush” on local Country radio, but
MTV reigned supreme during that time too, so I got a healthy dose of
other styles and found appreciation for most of them. I think my sound
is folk, with an indie rock and country vibe and a little blues influence.
What kind of musical experiences were available to you, on
a local level, growing up?
Locally, there were only a few places to see live music, outside of
church and family reunions, but sometimes we would drive into
Orlando for shows. I started playing trombone in middle school, my
first real instrument outside of piano lessons as a small child. I played
trombone in my high school jazz band and church orchestra, then
eventually picked up mountain dulcimer and guitar.
What led you to start writing your own songs and
follow music as a career path?
I made up songs as a kid, funny little rhymes that I would
turn into tunes. I remember one about my hamster Dusty,
and the water he was drinking. There was another about
adopting a whale. As a teenager, I started writing poetry and
one day it occurred to me that I could combine my poetry
with playing guitar. I didn’t take it seriously until a few years
later, when I collaborated with a musically inclined friend.
That opened up the possibilities and growth, and I haven’t
stopped. I don’t think I could if I wanted to. I feel lucky to be
able to pursue music as a career. It’s not always easy, but I
have a great support system and work hard at it every day.
What is your songwriting process?
I typically start with a melody and chord progression, then
try to come up with a lyric that fits. Sometimes I have words
already written that are perfect, other times it’s a whole new
thing that strikes like lightning. From there, it’s all about
putting it together in a relatable way.
You perform in lots of configurations from solo to
full band, do you find it helpful to have options for
different gigs?
Having various options for live performances allows me to
be more flexible to the needs of any event or venue and I’m
able to take more bookings, so yes!
You’ve been involved with the Swamp Sistas for
a little over a year now, and you’re a member
of the Swamp Sistas ensemble, too. What’s that
been like?
Swamp Sistas has been a career changing opportunity
for me. I have grown so much since I joined in January,
2018. From the beginning, it offered a musical family
vibe and a safe place to workshop new songs. I love
being involved in our community efforts and have always
been in awe of the way you bring together music and
community, Beth. It has been a constant learning
experience in every aspect, from singing the right notes
to the business side of things. This group is very special
and has offered me friendship and guidance when I
needed it most.
Finally, you’re planning to release your new
album “Maple Sparrow” at the Swamp Sistas La
La on May 18, are you excited?
I am super excited to release this album! It has been in
the works for awhile. I recorded with my full band and
invited special guests Brian Goodpaster on pedal steel
guitar and Gailanne Amundsen on fiddle. I’m eager to
get it released, first of all so folks can hear
it, and secondly I’m ready to start my next
project with all new songs and ideas. Gotta
keep moving!
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1. Billie Eilish’s debut album released in late March is titled what?
2. How tall was Prince?
3. Which popular country star featured in Billboard Top 100’s hit song “Old
Town Road” alongside rapper, Lil Nas X?
4. Beyonce and Jay-Z’s first dance at their wedding was to which song?
5. What famous actress directed Belinda Carlisle’s music video for “Heaven is
Place on Earth”?
6. What 70s band wrote a large portion of the soundtrack for popular movie,
Saturday Night Fever?
7. Who is the famous producer behind “Apologize” featuring OneRepublic?
8. Who is the founder of Bad Boy Records?
9. How many siblings does Celine Dion have?
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10. What is the name of the oldest rock band that started in 1962?
11. What country is the music record company, AWAL located in?

Rocktails with
Katie
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Let’s rock and roll into the month of May with this Royal Ginger Rocktail
in honor of the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, Ed Sheeran.
A young Englishman that found his passion during his teen years,
strumming his six strings and pouring emotions into lyrical poetry.
It was in London on his pursuit to make music, his outpouring of
creativity lead to his power to play hundreds of live shows. Fascinating
and a prime example of the potential of an online platform for artists,
Sheeran hit No. 1 on the iTunes Charts before he ever signed with a
record label. Now as a part of Atlantic Records, he has sold millions of
albums. His album “Divide” (2017) broke a Spotify record for first-day
album streams with 56.7 million listens in 24 hours. No denying that
this handsome ginger is on fire in the industry. I’m looking forward for
what he comes up with next. In the wise words of Ed: “If someone tells
you to change yourself, tell them to go f**** themselves.”
As Mr. Sheeran plays over the radio stations and Game of Thrones
blows my mind over the next coming weeks, it made total sense to
talk about how my man Ed was on an actual episode of GOT, the
true inspiration behind this Royal Ginger Rocktail. Ed Sheeran was
brought on for a cameo as a Lannister Soldier in Season 7. Why would
that even happen you may wonder. Actress Maisie Williams (aka Arya
Stark) is a huge fan and the GOT crew brought on the musical legend
to surprise her. They shared a scene over a open flame on different
sides of a violent war. Epic.
Introducing the Royal Ginger:
2 oz Johnny Walker White Walker Scotch
1 thin slice of fresh ginger
¾ oz lemon juice
½ oz agave
Splash ginger beer and soda
In your favorite cocktail shaker muddle thin slice of ginger then
pour over agave, lemon juice and White Walker Scotch. Then
shake your tin like it owes you money. Pour over ice in a Rocktail
Glass the splash over ginger beer and soda water. Then garnish
with the peel because you can be fancy like that. Sip, savor, repeat
and keep on rockin’.
XOXO CocktailswithKatie
Follow me on instagram @cocktailswithkatie
Check out on page on facebook or some of my work on
Cocktailswithkatie.com
Gotha Location
May 2 - Brandon “Twitch” Wilson
May 4 - Moonlight Drive-In Band
May 9 - Chuck McGid
May 10 - Claire Vandiver
May 11 - CC Trio
May 13 - Open Mic
May 16 - Bryan Hayes
May 17 - Ancient Sun Band
May 18 - JY Trio
May 23 - Ben Torres
May 24 - Swamp Donkeys Band
May 25 - Eric Ruck - “Grateful Dead Night’
May 27 - Open Mic
May 30 - Paul Smith
May 31 - Madison Shae Trio
1236 Hempel Ave.
Windermere 34786
(407) 296-0609
DOG FRIENDLY
LIVE MUSIC
YellowDogEats.com
New Smyrna Location
May 2 - Layla Brisbois
May 3 - The Evening Muze
May 4 - Hair of the Beast
May 9 - Bradford Buckley
May 10 - Billy Dean
May 11 - Stealing Vanity
May 16 - The Transfers
May 17 - Gina Cuchetti
May 18 - Seth Pause
May 23 - Colt Hall
May 24 - Adam & Farley
May 25 - Casey Picou
May 30 - Jay Paski
May 31 - David Julia
147 Canal St.
New Smyrna Beach 32168
(386) 410-4824
Open every day at 11am

y Rick de Yampert
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In hip-hop’s ongoing march to dominate the planet, two recent
setbacks made huge headlines.
Pablo Dylan – yes, he’s the son of Bob “The God” Dylan – decided
to switch teams and ditch his burgeoning rap career to become, get
this, a folk rocker!
Meanwhile, Billboard told rapper Lil Nas X to get the hell of Dodge:
Three weeks after his song “Old Town Road” debuted at No. 19
on Billboard’s Hot Country chart in mid-March, the chart-meisters
decided it wasn’t country enough and gave it the boot -- presumably
one of those pointy-toed, shit-kickin’ boots that Porter Wagoner would
pair with his Nudie suits. (You Millennials who believe rappers have
a monopoly on bling, just google “Porter Wagoner and Nudie Cohn”).
Both the Pablo and Lil Nas X incidents point to this self-apparent
truth: It’s hip-hop’s world – we just live it.
Pundits were quick to tell Pablo that, just like Flounder in “Animal
House”, he fucked up: “Pablo! You dumb-ass! Now you’re going to
have to compete with your Granddaddy!” But Pablo’s a shrewd dude
who made the right choice. Yep, Bob wrote some cool tunes a few
thousand years ago – about the same time as that Shakespeare dude
– and yes, Bob recently got one of those Nobel Prize thingies in the
literature category for his song lyrics.
Yet we all know, as white-boy quasi-rapper Beck pontificated way
back in 1996, hip-hop is “where it’s at.” It’s no news flash that this
is still true 23 years later: In just the time it’s taken you to read this
column so far, there have been 63,477 folks – Tibetan rickshaw
drivers, Madagascar lemur herders, Norwegian ski jumpers,
Mayan shamans and three sexagenarian Wall Street bankers –
who have downloaded some beats, picked up a microphone
and entered the rap game. During that same time, 18 more
septuagenarian folk-rockers have passed away, bringing
their endangered species down to just 123 left in the world.
Pablo Dylan faces far less competition to get his music
heard in the folk-rock genre.
And how was I able to compile such accurate statistics
on the popularity of today’s music genres? I’ve been
conducting a scientific poll for the past few decades:
Whenever I’m driving and stop at a red light, I roll
down my windows and check out whatever sounds
are spewing from the cars around me. The last time
I heard an ass-ripping rock guitar riff was Oct. 23,
2003 – Led Zep’s “Out on the Tiles” it was, blasted
by a 1970s hippie (as opposed to the ’60s variety).
I’m not saying that Cage the Elephant, the Black
Keys and other modern rock bands are not
creating worthy music. I’m just saying hip-hop is
the 800-pound gorilla – yes, that gorilla that sits
anywhere he damn well pleases.
Which is why the country powers shit their pants when they heard
Lil Nas X – a black guy, by the way -- drawlin’ about saddling up
his horse and then proclaiming “Can’t nobody tell me nothin’ ” over
a molasses-like banjo and beats. It’s one thing to have white-guy
hick-hop artists such as Colt Ford and Bubba Sparxxx sniff around
the fringes – the outer, outer fringes – of Garth Brooks-ian country.
It’s one thing to allow tame quasi-rapper Cowboy Troy, an
African-American, closer to the fold --
after all, even old-school country had its
Charley Pride. It’s one thing for Nelly to
“Cruise” with Florida Georgia Line.
Meanwhile, underground, West Virginia
redneck rapper Mini Thin and his video
“City Bitch,” with its white girls twerkin’
in Confederate-flag bikinis, will never
be allowed within a thousand miles of
Nashville’s country club.
But Lil Nas X had the audacity to craft a catchy
track that name-checks tractors, cowboy hats
and Wrangler jeans over a slow-brewed, downhome,
sittin’-on-the-back-porch groove – a chill hiphop
successor to Charlie Daniels’ “Long-Haired Country
Boy.” Both Charlie and Nas X have the same philosophy: “You
don’t like the way I’m livin’, just leave this country boy alone.”
Yet the country music mafia, Billboard and-or some other deepstate
Nashville operative booted Lil Nas X and his hit ditty off the
country charts.
The go-to theory is that country music – a staunchly conservative,
traditionalist genre that’s still even a bit leery about the bombast
of white-boy “bro country” – can tolerate only so much outsider
incursions: “OK, we’ll let Nelly hop on the bus to Nashville this
time.” But you can just hear those Nashville fat cats thinking:
“However, if we allow the virus of hip-hop in the door too often,
soon it’ll infect the entire industry! Look at the pop charts! It’s
all rap!”
Still, you gotta wonder if all the melanin in the skin of Lil Nas
X had something to do with it – if this incident is a racial
matter because, well, race matters, in a negative way, to
some folks.
There’s a grim joke somewhere in the Lil Nas X saga,
and its punchline is Public Enemy’s “Leave This Off
Your Fuckin’ Charts” from their 1990 masterpiece,
“Fear of a Black Planet.” As soon as I find that joke,
I’ll get back.
33

CROSSWORD ANSWERS
Phantom Foodie
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1. Billie Eilish’s debut album released in late March is titled what? When We All Fall
Asleep, Where Do We Go?
2. How tall was Prince? 5’ 2”
ANSWERS
3. Which popular country star featured in Billboard Top 100’s hit song “Old Town Road”
alongside rapper, Lil Nas X? Billy Ray Cyrus
4. Beyonce and Jay-Z’s first dance at their wedding was to which song? Crazy in Love
5. What famous actress directed Belinda Carlisle’s music video for “Heaven is Place on
Earth”? Diane Keaton
6. What ‘70s band wrote a large portion of the soundtrack for popular movie, Saturday
Night Fever? The Bee Gees
7. Who is the famous producer behind “Apologize” featuring OneRepublic? Timbaland
8. Who is the founder of Bad Boy Records? Sean Combs aka P Diddy aka Puff
Daddy aka Puffy
9. How many siblings does Celine Dion have? 13
10. What is the name of the oldest rock band that started in 1962? The Rolling Stones
12. What country is the music record company, AWAL located in? United Kingdom
This month, we are taking you to a place that is probably
familiar to many of you – Clancy’s Cantina in New Smyrna
Beach. They have been around for 30+ years, so chances
are, you have been there. They are self-described on their
website as “Beach-Inspired Tex Mex”.
My first visit was on a Saturday night. Because Clancy’s is
on Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach, parking is always
interesting and can even be challenging on a Saturday night.
I got lucky and found a spot where I could walk to Clancy’s
and then do a Flagler Avenue bar crawl after I had eaten.
I was by myself that evening so even though it was busy, I
was able to score a seat at the bar. I go out by myself often
and have experienced more than a few frustrating attempts
to be served, but I was greeted promptly and served a drink,
accompanied by a menu.
I ordered the flautitas as an appetizer while I perused the
menu. The people sitting around me and the bartender
were friendly and I did not feel as “out of place” as I have
at other restaurants when dining alone. The flautitas were
good – I am one of “those” people who taste cilantro and
think I am biting a bar of soap, but these did not offend my
taste buds at all. People who like cilantro may disagree.
For my entrée, I ordered ground beef enchiladas – YUM!!
The sauce was amazing, and the meal was delightful. I had
to ask for a “to go” box, and I can assure you, that even
though I do not eat leftovers in general, they did not go to
waste.
My second visit was on a weeknight. I called ahead and
ordered take-out but showed up fairly quickly with a friend
after placing the order. We sat at the bar while our order was
being prepared and had a chat with one of the employees
who, imagine this - is in a band.
We feasted on Cantina Poppers, a Black Bean and Chicken
Burrito and Shrimp Fajitas. I enjoyed the previous visit’s
enchiladas more than the burrito, but my friend assured me
that he really enjoyed the fajitas.
My encounters at Clancy’s were positive although there
was no live music on either of my visits, which was a
disappointment. The food and the service were good
and the location speaks for itself. If you are looking for an
authentic Mexican restaurant, this probably isn’t where you
would go. If you are like me and want a more “Tex” than
“Mex” then you will probably be happy with the menu.
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Behind the Mic: Riggs
95.7 the Hog, Daytona Beach
Hello again, friends. The Welcome To Rockville Festival
is always the highlight of May for me each year. The
Danny Wimmer Presents team always puts on a
raucous, entertaining and eclectic weekend of music
and fun in Jacksonville. And Kristine Ashton-Magnuson
and her media relations team do a great job of helping
media dudes like me secure interviews, photo access
and generally make the press area a pleasant place to
work during the hot, long days and evenings. The lineups
speak for themselves … Heavys like last year with Ozzy,
Foo Fighters, Godsmack, Stone Sour, Billy Idol, Stone
Temple Pilots and more. And over the past few years
this event may have been your last chance to see the
live artistry of Chris Cornell with Soundgarden or Scott
Weiland with his Wildabouts. Florida’s own Shinedown,
Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers Def Leppard, Rob Zombie,
Marilyn Manson and the thrill of discovering new sounds
from bands you didn’t know before are some of what
make Rockville so damn cool and worth your musicbudget
investment.
This year, Rockville delivers big shots like Tool, Judas
Priest, Korn, Incubus, The Cult and guitar heroes like
Zakk Wylde, Mark Tremonti & Zakk Wylde. As I look
forward to bringing you coverage of the event once
again, here’s a few views from my lens over the last 5
years.
Cheers!
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RIGGS GUY, & INTERN STEVE
The Morning HOG / 95.7 The HOG
Weekdays 5-10am
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