Static Live Magazine February 2020

High in China 

Runway Chronicles 

Lift Every Voice and Sing 

Musical Innuendos: Wigs on Paper 

“LIL NAS X: 

BREAKING BOUNDARIES”

PRESENTS 

THURS 

MARCH 

5 

KEN BLOCK & DREW COPELAND 

from 

With special guest “Are Friends Electric” 

Come get your rock on with Sister Hazel LIVE at Ormond Garage! 

Full liquor bar the night of the concert! PATIO OPEN AT 5PMS DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM 

TICKETS: www.ormondgarage.beer/event-details/sister-hazel-live

“Live your life to its fullest potential 

and don’t really care too much about 

what other people think of you.” 

~ Lil Nas X 

5 

6 

8 

10 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

22 

24 

26 

32 

34 

36 

38 

Oh My Goddess 

Cupid Will Make You Stupid for the 

Love of Music 

Lil Nas X - Breaking Boundaries 

Behind the Mic: Riggs 


Musical Innuendos: Wigs on Paper 

Artist Feature: Corey Rivera 

High in China by Hank Harrison 

Static Live Event Calendar 

Rocktails 

A Day in the Life of a Gigging Musician 

Lift Every Voice and Sing 

The Krewe of NOLA 

The Acoustic Takeover 

Snap It 

Metal Compost 

Static Live Media Group, LLC 

927 S. Ridgewood Ave., Suite A5 

Edgewater, FL 32132 

386-847-2716 www.staticlivemag.com 

Sean Impara, Publisher 

Billy Chapin, Co-Publisher 

Jenny McLain, Editor 

Nicole Henry, Graphic Artist 

COVER ART BY GARY KROMAN 

© 2020, Static Live Media Group, LLC. All rights 

reserved. No part of this publication may be 

reproduced or transmitted in any form by any 

means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, 

recording or otherwise without the prior written 

permission of the authors. 

STUDIOS 

DREAM. CREATE. 

Making great music since 1999 

For scheduling, Contact Sean at (386) 847-2716 

Franceskah 

Hi, my name is Franceskah - Fran for short. I am the oldest of 5 and actually love it. 

I am from Brooklyn, New York but moved to Florida at the age of 16 with my family; 

now I’m practically a Floridian but still and always will be a New Yorker. My parents, 

on the other hand, are both Haitian and met each other in New York with the help of 

my granddad setting up his daughter. I have a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies 

and have used it a bit for 2 years to teach the youth but ended up going a different 

path. 

When it comes to (recent) music I have two favorites; Justin Timberlake and Sam 

Smith. I was extremely excited in 2018 when I got to see them both up close in concert 

in the same year. I enjoy the beach, sun, and kayaking when it comes to relaxing, 

but it has to be cold in the house in order for me to get some sleep. I’m the funny 

person as well as the mom in the group; at the end of the day, my goal is to always 

make sure I made at least one person smile/leave happy. 

Oh My...Goddess 

5

Because this is the 

month in which Cupid will 

make you stupid – you 

know, the Valentine’s 

Day thing – I will make a 

confession: I have been 

in love nine times in my 

life. Five of those loves 

are rock bands, and those 

love affairs all continue 

to this day. Four of those 

loves were women. Yes, I 

said “were.” Only my love 

for my late wife Cheryl 

endures. The other three 

relationships soared 

then crashed and burned 

like Icarus scorching his 

ass on the sun before 

plummeting to the earth in a fiery, wretched 

death. 

In case you needed reminding: Cupid is a tricky 

little bastard. He will whisper in your ear that your 

newfound love is going to last until Bob Dylan 

wins the Nobel Prize for literature. I mean, that’s 

pretty much forever, right? 

What does it say that my love affairs with the 

Beatles, Led Zeppelin, U2, Pearl Jam and the Irish 

pop-folk band Clannad have lasted longer than all 

my female relationships except Cheryl? 

Hell, what does it mean to “love” a band instead 

of merely liking one? You probably know even if 

you don’t realize it. 

My nine-year-old heart intuited that I loved the 

Beatles when my older brother Gary brought 

home “Sgt. Pepper” and we and our younger 

brother Rusty sat there gobsmacked. I felt like 

extraterrestrials had kidnapped me to a planet 

where everyone ate chocolate pie for breakfast 

and every day I could catch an up-skirt glimpse of 

the panties of Lisa, the cutest girl in fourth-grade 

class. 

I fell in love with Led Zeppelin in the early 1970s 

when deejay Albert W. Mason played 

this mysterious, magical slice of musical 

mana every evening just before radio 

6 

Make You 

Love of Music 

station WDIG in Dothan, 

Alabama, signed off the 

air at midnight. (Yes, radio 

stations used to do that 

sort of thing.) When I 

caught on that Albert was 

going to sign off every 

freakin’ night by playing 

this mystical Druid anthem 

about a stairway to heaven, 

and that I was going to be 

initiated into this secret 

magical society if I listened 

enough, well – I was in love 

with the mighty Zep. 

Yes, I like a lot of music: 

by Rick de Yampert the Doors, the Dave Clark 

Five, Hank Williams, 

Tears for Fears, Erykah Badu, Public Enemy, 

Radiohead, German-born sitar player Prem 

Joshua and on and on. 

But to love a music artist means that at some 

point in your life, you would have gone bat-shit 

insane or even died if you had not heard THAT 

song by THAT band at just the right moment, and 

you realized the secret cult of Music Druids (yes, 

those guys again) were guiding your love life – at 

least the sonic side of it. 

Falling in love with a music artist is like falling in 

romantic love with someone: It’s something you 

can’t force or plan on. It’s just something that 

kismet decrees: Whammo! You hear a song or 

an album and you realize that your DNA and your 

weltanschauung have been shape-shifted and 

you are a different person that you were an hour 

earlier. 

What does it mean that the great musical loves 

of my life outnumber my female loves, and 

have lasted longer than three-fourths of them? 

I’m not sure. If one of my band loves makes a 

shitty album, maybe I’m more forgiving than if a 

female lover commits the equivalent of a shitty 

album. After all, John Lennon’s “Yer Blues,” U2’s 

“Achtung Baby” and Pearl Jam’s “Given to Fly” 

are always there whenever I need them. They 

have never told me “Not tonight dear, I have a 

headache.”

to become musicians, no matter their 

backgrounds or preferences. 

The future looks bright for this young 

man and there’s little doubt that he will 

continue to inspire many who were 

afraid to be who they really, both inside 

and out. Here’s a little more about Lil 

Nas X and what makes special in the 

music world: 

Born Montero Hall in Atlanta, GA on April 

9, 1999, he disappointed his parents 

when he decided to drop out of college 

to pursue a music career; the decision 

caused him to stay at his sister’s house 

for a few days while his parents warmed 

up to the idea. He began his journey on 

Twitter and building his fan base there 

gave him the confidence to start posting 

his music online. 

LIL NAS X: 

Lil Nas X released his first hit, “Old Town 

Road” on SoundCloud in December 

of 2018. He released it as a country 

song to increase its visibility on both 

SoundCloud and iTunes. Users of the 

TikTok app gave it viral status, however, 

by uploading videos of themselves in 

cowboy gear drinking “Yee Yee Juice” 

with the tune playing in the background 

(taking from the line in the song, “I got 

my horses in the back”. 

BREAKING BOUNDARIES 

It’s not easy being a musician, much less a 

famous one. The odds are probably similar to 

(or even longer than) becoming a pro athlete. 

With one in a million odds, not only must one be 

talented; they must also be able to market their 

product and generate fans. 

Now, take all of that and add the fact that 

homophobia and rumors can quickly crush a 

career before it even begins. This month’s cover 

features a young man who has shown us that 

talent and drive trumps prejudice and hate. 

The rap game is a tough one; many artists in 

that genre fit the sterotype seen in videos and 

movies. But the times, they are a-changing as Lil 

Nas X has broken those boundaries by coming 

out as a gay man and proven to the world that 

not everything is as it seems. Imagine having a 

By The Reluctant Genius 

number one hit and being on top of the world and 

gathering the strength to tell the world that you’re 

gay; one would think that most of us would hide 

it and try to appeal to the masses. Not only that, 

but by working in both country and rap he has 

challenged two very difficult and not always 

open-minded fan bases and won. With his 

numerous hits at a very young age, he has 

become a symbol and an inspiration to others 

“Old Town Road” made the Billboard Hot 

Country chart in early 2019, reaching 

number 15; ;it was number 7 on the 

HipHop/R&B chart. Billboard later 

removed it from the country chart as not 

embracing enough key elements of the 

genre. Fans took to Twitter in protest 

and Lil Nas X got an encouraging 

message of support from Billy Ray 

Cyrus, which was followed by the remix 

collaboration. The remix reached 

number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

We can only hope this is just the 

beginning for Lil Nas X, as he and Billy 

Ray Cyrus were awarded the Grammy 

for Best Music Video on Sunday, 

January 26, 2020. 

9

Behind the Mic: Riggs 

95.7 the Hog, Daytona Beach 

“LOVE” 

SONGS 

Hello, friends! February 

is chock full of goodness 

for me. It’s my birthday 

month, lots of fun during 

Speedweeks and 

the Daytona 500, I’m 

forcing myself through 

another half marathon, 

the return of the XFL 

and it’s National Snack 

Food Month! Oh, and 

Valentine’s Day. Love 

it or hate it, an annual 

reminder of the existence 

of love or passion or 

whatever gets your motor 

started ain’t such a bad 

thing. 

And a lot of my 

enjoyment in this month 

of romance comes 

from music. Some are 

legit songs about love, 

some are bitter broken 

relationship tunes. So 

if you still do mixtapes 

or spotify playlists 

or ipod gym mixes, I 

thought I’d select some 

thematic songs for your 

indulgence. 

“Is This Love” - WHITESNAKE 

This track has a slow, silky burn that features David 

Coverdale’s awesome pipes and John Sykes’ soaring guitar 

work. I love this song and even though the lyrics ask a 

question unsure of the answer, I feel like it IS love. Play 

this one when you’re gettin’ in late on VDay night. 

“Love Bites” - HALESTORM 

This Grammy-winning song is a banger and warns 

the listener “Love bites but so do I” which is valuable 

information if you are on a first date or first bedroom 

encounter. Plan accordingly. 

“Love In An Elevator” - AEROSMITH 

This Grammy nominated Top 10 hit is self-explanatory. 

Proceed with caution though, as an indecent exposure 

charge will mess up your evening. 

“Some Shit About Love” - SALIVA 

This cut from their most recent record delights me and, 

while the message contained in the lyrics is that of antilove, 

Wayne & Brad and the gang have laid down a cool 

groove for you to enjoy while crapping on the the mere 

concept of Valentine’s Day. 

“You’re In Love” - RATT 

From the cellar dwellers who brought you “Lovin’ You Is A 

Dirty Job” and “Never Use Love” comes this rocker with an 

often misunderstood lyric. “Urine Love” is not a song; it’s a 

low budget porn. THIS song, however, puts the woman in 

charge of bringing the business, and the passion business 

is apparently damn good in the Ratt Camp. Drop this song 

on your sassy significant and just wait for the riding crop 

show up! 

“I Still Love You” - KISS 

Power ballad time for the Creatures Of The Night as Paul 

Stanley wails with the heartbroken emotion of a dude who 

may have banged someone’s bestie and now has to make 

good or lose his gravy train. If you are looking to reignite or 

mend fences, try this KISS on for size. 

“Love Gun” - KISS 

The opposite of the above. This is a song about gettin’ it 

on old school. Lyrical promises are made and based on 

Paul’s forest of chest hair and prominent abs, I’m guessing 

kept. (“No place for hidin’ baby, no place to run, you pull the 

trigger of my Love Gun”) I used to unwittingly sing these 

lyrics regularly as a kid and only WISH I had the swagger to 

sing it at a Sadie Hawkins mixer! 

Beast), Blackie Lawless and squad 

make another bold assertion about 

sex skills as the lyric tells... 

“And if you try to love me, You’ll not be 

the same!” 

Well WELL! Aren’t we proud of 

ourselves?!?! I do like this song, 

though, as it provides a positive 

lesson in spelling each the the chorus 

rolls around. Be careful not to pop 

this one out until you are SURE that 

she is the ONE as you may be on the 

receiving end of a restraining order. 

“Love’s A Bitch” - QUIET 

RIOT 

Who knew the late Kevin Dubrow had 

a tender side? 

“Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” - NIGHT 

RANGER 

The video for this track is staged 

almost entirely on a train. Draw your 

own conclusions. 

“Screaming For A Love Bite” 

- ACCEPT 

German metal pioneers who probably 

had no idea how close this song would 

tie in with legendary sportscaster Marv 

Albert’s 1997 arrest after a hotel tryst 

with his lady friend. Silly Germans! 

“This Love” - PANTERA 

I’m not sure Saint Valentine had this in 

mind when he started with the arrows 

and whatnot. 

“Love Is On The Way” - 

SAIGON KICK 

A beautiful song indeed though it was 

a departure for the band and, much 

to the chagrin of Floridian Jason 

Bieler who wrote the damn thing, it 

pigeonholed the band as hair ballad 

dealers. This song would work well 

in a candlelit boudoir as a seduction 

method. Also of note, the band’s 

drummer would later confess his sex 

addiciton on VH-1’s “Sex Rehab With 

Dr. Drew”. Sure hope this song didn’t 

trigger it! 

At this point, we need to address 

the differences in “LOVE” between 

Van HALEN and Van HAGAR. Very 

different interpretations indeed so let’s 

begin with the O.G. 

VAN HALEN - Heart-felt passion 

and warm feelings were NOT part of 

the David Lee Roth era, as in… 

“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love” 

“Outta Love Again” 

“Feel Your Love Tonight” 

“So This Is Love?” - Jesus Christ, they 

put punctuation in the damn title just 

to make SURE you don’t misread the 

vibe. 

And of course “Everybody Wants 

Some”. LOVE, I assume? 

VAN HAGAR - Sammy brought 

tenderness and feelings to the table in 

the lyrics of flacid classics like... 

“Love Walks In” 

“Why Can’t This Be Love” 

“When It’s Love” 

“Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” 

Another important note about the band 

we led off with, 

WHITESNAKE… they have a TON 

of “LOVE” songs that you can work 

interchangeably into a passion play, 

including 

“Give Me All Your Love” 

“Lookin’ For Love” 

“Victim Of Love” 

“Love Ain’t No Stranger” 

“You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again” 

“Slide It In” - OK, well maybe that one 

breaks the mold. But hell, they ARE 

named Whitesnake. 

HONORABLE MENTION 

These songs bring some worthy 

qualities to a Valentine’s romp or a 

drawn out February seduction… or 

just to rock out to. 

• “It’s Not Love” - DOKKEN - 

We know Don, we know. 

• “Ten Seconds To Love” - 

MOTLEY CRUE - Vince 

• confesses 

• Anything from BULLET FOR 

MY VALENTINE 

• And these “HEART” cuts... 

• “Broken Heart” - WHITE LION 

• “Another Heart” - TREMONTI 

• “Heart To The Flame” - 

• VAN ZANT 

• “Heart To Heart” - 

• ALDO NOVA 

• “Sacred Heart” & “Straight 

Through The Heart” - DIO 

And perhaps the most 

loving, sex-fueled band in 

the game delivers a beautiful 

ballad of love and 

relationship boundaries in 

these lyrics... 

“...’Cause my heart 

belongs to you 

There ain’t nothing that I 

wouldn’t do 

My heart belongs to you 

But my dong is community 

property” 

• “Community Property” - 

STEEL PANTHER 

Ahhhhh…. There we go. That 

should set ya up for the month, 

whether you are wifed up, looking 

for love, or just need some tunes 

to FEEL the love. I hope that 

helps and just know that I love you! 

Cheers! 

RIGGS 

10 

“L.O.V.E. Machine” - W.A.S.P. 

Preceded by the delicate single “Animal (Fuck Like A 

Catch RIGGS, GUY, & INTERN STEVE The Morning HOG / 95.7 The HOG 

Weekdays 5-10am & SATURDAY NIGHT LOUD 9-midnight 

@saturdayloud on Twitter | The Morning Hog on fb | riggs@957thehog.com 

11


Dreams of being in the modeling acting industry seem 

to start when we admire a TV character, movie star, 

magazine cover, or a social media Influencer. The idea 

runs through your head: Why can’t I be like them? 

And even the tiniest bit of inner confidence makes you 

believe, “If they can do it, why not me?” 

Well, unfortunately, many marketing moguls are 

counting on you to start searching for fame. The vanity 

business is viral. Watch out for the pitfalls and don’t 

fall prey to the predators. I am honored to have met 

and counseled by the legend Eileen Ford, co-founder 

with her husband, Jerry Ford, of the world renowned 

Ford Modeling Agency. We were in Los Angeles, at the 

incredibly famous and equally scandalous, Chateau 

Marmont hotel on Sunset Strip. The Ford Agency 

hosted an event each year called “The Ford Supermodel 

of the World Search”. They reviewed thousands of 

submissions and selected one model to represent each 

country. As it turns out, the US representative hailed 

from New Smyrna Beach—she was my own client. One 

evening, Eileen Ford offered invaluable advice to us, 

newbie agents. She told me, to my face, “Christine, 

never swim in murky waters. Only in the crystal clear.” 

I wondered whether she knew that I reside in the shark 

bite capital of the world. I didn’t dare mention that, 

but after listening to the grandmother of modeling 

ramble on about all the wolves in sheep’s clothing for 

the next hour, it all became clear. Her wise knowledge 

and experience have always stuck with me. 

A clear, lucid path, simple yet structured, 

will allow you to swim safely in a murky, 

dark watered business. You should be able 

to open your eyes in the crystal-clear water 

12 

and trust that you’re in safe seas. One thing I advise 

everyone who asks for guidance into this industry is 

that there are never, EVER any promises. Success often 

comes at random. I do not suggest idleness; idleness 

never got anyone to LA. Have a plan to stay in the safe 

waters, but when you feel a current leading you to a 

new opportunity, take it. 

Every new face that comes to me has an interesting 

story. Some are so starry-eyed about becoming a 

fashion model or actress; they would do anything. 

Others have done everything, “invested” thousands 

of dollars on trips to meet so-called “star-makers.” 

Others have hopes of unattainable goals that they are, 

quite unfairly, never able to reach for simply having 

the wrong body structure or height. They trust anyone 

who will make them an empty promise. Few come in 

having already done the research and understand that 

an agency and the model will win together, or not at all. 

That said, every model-hopeful deserves to be treated 

with respect, and discussions should be honest and 

find their positive qualities that lead them to goals 

within reach. 

Our local model, back at the Chateau Marmont, was 

the runner-up to the top contract offered, and surely 

surpassed her minimum guarantee of $100,000! She 

enjoyed a lucrative world career for 6 years with the 

Ford Agency, while getting the travel experience of a 

lifetime too! The crystal green-eyed beauty only swam 

in the clear waters, and that’s how we treat each new 

face. 

By Christine Harris

Musical Innuendos 

By Samantha Tribble 

WIGS 

O N P A P E R 

There are few people in the local 

music industry who are as well known 

as Jason Wigley. If you know Jason 

you know he normally goes by Wigs. 

Wigs is a man of many musical talents 

playing everything from guitar to 

Djembe to old-fashioned washboards. 

He also runs the soundboard at 

Beachside Tavern. And if you haven’t 

noticed yet, he has killer dreads. And 

yes ladies, they’re real. 

Wigley hails from Oklahoma and grew 

up listening to his dad play songs 

by John Prine, Neil Young, and many 

other Folk artists. He realized his love 

for music around the age of 5 which 

influenced him to pick up his first 

instrument, the guitar. When Wigs isn’t 

immersed in music he’s traveling the 

world as the Lead Utility/Cameraman 

for All Elite Wrestling. His favorite 

pastimes include fishing on his boat 

(even though he doesn’t eat fish…) and 

wakeskating. 

Wigs can be found at The Cabbage 

Patch in Samsula with his band Playin’ 

Possum on every second Friday. A 

few of his past bands include Burnin’ 

Smyrnans, Cut Offs, and Soul Taxi and 

he’s played with Beartoe. 

Keep your eyes out for Wigs anywhere 

live music is played, The Cabbage 

Patch during Bike Week, and with AEW 

on TNT every Wednesday at 8 pm. 

14 

BTW ladies, he’s single. Inside tip: The 

way to Wigs’ heart is through fried okra 

and bourbon. 

Photos credit: Stephen Holvik of Lunar Studio

The Art of Fantasy 

We all have fantasies. Some are dark and 

dreary; others are bright and happy. They really 

are limitless and can seemingly go on forever. 

When it comes to creating fantasy art, this 

month’s featured artist has it down pat. 

Whether it’s goblins or ghouls; dragons or 

mighty warriors, he definitely has 

a great imagination when it comes 

to creating his unique work. 

sketchbooks of all the encounters I had and 

did the same thing whenever I got the chance 

to go to the zoos or aquariums. My interest 

started as a kid, and only grew and developed 

as I got older. I eventually ended up going to 

get a degree in art. Along the way, my art was 

influenced by the games, movies and books I 

consumed and brought my attention to sci-fi 

and fantasy. 

We have all had visions of wild 

and crazy things, but being able 

to put them into something that 

others can see is not always easy. 

Corey seems to have no problem 

doing this and, in fact, thrives on 

working hard and coming up with 

new and exciting pictures at a 

pace that would make most of us 

dizzy. As you can see, he shares 

his own little fantasy world for others to see, 

with each of his works showing us that there’s 

unlimited potential for the future. The fun thing 

is - it’s just the beginning. 

Corey, according to Corey . . . 

Born, raised, and still based in Orlando, I 

grew up exploring my back yard watching the 

cranes and deer pass by and catching little 

critters hiding in our garden. I would make little 

When it comes to mediums, I always loved to 

sketch and draw with graphite and ballpoint 

pen, and for a long time I would avoid using 

any color because I am colorblind and would 

mix up my greens and browns and reds. 

But going to school, I was exposed to other 

mediums and programs to create, design, and 

edit my art with. Along with it, I came to find 

ways of getting around my colorblindness and 

incorporating it into my illustrations. 

Now I strive to learn more skills and incorporate 

the tools at my disposal so that I can keep 

growing and refining my craft. I have an interest 

in many industries to which I would like to 

apply my illustration and design skills such as 

publishing, music, animation, and video games 

and entertainment. 

By Bartholomew Betelguese III

HIGH IN 

CHINA 

By Hank Harrison 

paper manufacturing in China, so the chances that the 

plant was also used for its euphoric effects are more 

than just probable. Switches and branches of the 

Mulberry tree are still used worldwide to make strong 

and especially large wicker baskets and are often 

blended with hemp to make ropes and bumpers for 

old-style ships, known as Dhows, which are still in use 

on the Nile. 

Cannabis plants and seeds have been identified at 

other archaeological sites in the region. A thousand 

miles to the east - almost to Russia - in the Jiayi 

Cemetery of Turpa - a cannabis ‘burial shroud’ woven 

into a mat, was discovered during excavations in 

2016. These were the first complete cannabis plants 

found in a human burial in China, and date from 

the sixth to the eighth century BC. Turpan was an 

important stop on the Silk Road; inhabited in ancient 

times by the Subeixi culture, also known as the Gushi 

Kingdom. But again; the Subeixi, like the Tibetans, 

still exist as an ethnic minority and are currently being 

censored by Beijing so who knows exactly what will 

come of this research. 

Marijuana has become a big problem 

in China, especially in ethnic districts 

like Tibet and Mongolia, where pot 

has been used in folk remedies for 

centuries. The Beijing Government 

insists on using its “Reeducation” 

programs to brainwash the old ways out of the 

modern population; and therein lies a dilemma. The 

central government bans Cannabis on the assumption 

that any form of euphoria or self-cure is delinquent or 

irrational and anti-social and, by policy, often punishes 

users by fine or even with jail sentences. 

This makes it odd that an article would recently 

appear in a prestigious Chinese archaeology journal 

discussing the excavation of several graves containing 

cannabis and hashish incense burners buried with 

grave goods. This proves the history of cannabis 

cultivation goes back thousands of years in China - 

and possibly tens of thousands. 

Cannabis in all of its 

forms is an incredibly 

versatile plant and has 

been mixed in the Greek, 

Syrian and Chinese 

pharmacopeias with 

many other plants for 

human and veterinary 

medicines and to 

alleviate pain in humans 

and animals. In Europe and along Roman Imperial 

trade routes it was used with opium and fermented 

brews as well as mushrooms and rye-wort buffered 

with vinegar, (lysergic acid) to make a psychedelic 

compound, it is even speculated to have 

been used in the biblical Hysop mixed given 

to Jesus in a sponge on the cross. 

18 

In an even older and far more bizarre 

situation, the Egyptians used cannabis to compound 

mummia, which was employed as a preservation tar 

in the mummification process. The Ancient Greeks 

and Scythians used hash based compounds mixed 

with Wild Rue and Opium on the battlefield and sold 

it far and wide to their allies. Recent archaeology 

reveals that the hash plant was connected to a 

ritual compounding process in Latakia, Syria and in 

Northwestern China, at least 4000 years ago and 

probably much earlier. 

Although the current Chinese government does not 

want to brag about it, recent evidence was presented 

in an international journal demonstrating that weed 

was used long ago in China. The journal emphasizes 

its strong fibers were used to create burial mats and 

horse collars and even cart ropes well before 1100 

BC. But this is where modern censorship comes in. 

The journal article avoids mention of any euphoric 

quality; clearly, the government wants to stress a 

kind of puritanical conformity throughout the entire 

country. We know people got high on weed based on 

the artifacts they left behind in many graves! In fact, 

2000 years ago, China was known as “the land of 

mulberry and cannabis” because of the abundance of 

these plants seen along the various salt routes and 

silk trade roads. Mulberry and cannabis were used in 

The earliest direct evidence in Asia for the 

consumption of cannabis as a medicine has recently 

been discovered in a 2500-year-old cemetery in the 

far west of China. The practice of getting high on it 

goes back much further and still goes on in remote 

villages - but the government doesn’t want you to 

know that. 

An international team of researchers analyzed the 

contents of ten wooden bowls excavated from burials 

at the Jirzankal Cemetery, a site on the Pamir Plateau 

in China (see map). The bowls contained small stones 

that had been exposed to high heat, identifying them 

as incense burners. The research was published in 

Science Advances in June 2019 (open access). The 

Chinese government refused to allow the researchers 

to speculate on the uses of the compounds found; 

but it seems obvious that any ritual use of any herb, 

anywhere on earth, is ultimately going to be linked to 

healing and getting high, or expanding consciousness 

in some way. 

Remarkably, the recent Jirzankal cannabis samples 

featured the highest levels of THC; yet detected 

at an ancient site, suggesting that people were 

intentionally cultivating hybrid cannabis for its strength 

and euphoric properties. However, I repeat; the 

inhalation of cannabis smoke from a heat source was 

well known to the Greeks and Egyptians. The Greek 

historian Herodotus, in the fifth century BC, relates 

that the horse worshipping Scythian; a nomadic tribe 

from the Steppes, used cannabis in “Vapor Baths” and 

burial rituals. 

The Scythians prized the 

resin from the flowering 

plants above gold and 

transported the compound 

in decorated urns. Various 

ritual vessels discovered in 

2013 in the burial mound of 

a Scythian Queen buried 

with her horses and chariot, 

were found to contain traces 

of both opium and 

marijuana; suggesting that they inhaled the 

hashish along with opium or mixed them in a 

drink or both. 

19

Saturday, February 1 

31 Supper Club - Billy Dean Trio 

7pm 

Bounty Bar - Hannah Wilson 12pm 

Bounty Bar - Jeff Allen 7pm 

Chase’s - Drew Halverson 4pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Davey Leatherwood 

5pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Rasta Bayers 

12pm 

Crow’s Nest - JW Gilmore 6pm 

Crow’s Nest - Travis Rudd 1pm 

Flagler Tavern - Reed Foley 5pm 

Grind/Kona - Brent Clowers 7pm 

NSB Brewing - Sam Seas 6pm 

Outriggers - Jay Paski 6pm 

Tayton O’Brians - Strum Stick 9pm 

Traders - TBD 9pm 

Traders - Warren Beck 6pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Gina Cuchetti 

6pm 

Sunday, February 2 

Bounty Bar - The Evening Muze 

7pm 

Chase’s - Big Beat 10am 

Crabby’s Oceanside - The Vibe 

12pm 

Crow’s Nest - Relief 1pm 

Flagler Tavern - Jay Paski 9pm 

Outriggers - Billy Dean 2pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - The Transfers 

1pm 

Monday, February 3 

Grind/Kona - Jeff White 6pm 

Traders – Grindstone Sinners and 

Davis 7pm 

Tuesday, February 

Grind/Kona - The Transfers 6pm 

Wednesday, February 5 

31 Supper Club - Cesar Romero 

6pm 

Grind/Kona - Are Friends Electric 

6pm 

Outriggers - Laree App 5pm 

Traders - Sal & Ashley 7pm 

Thursday, February 6 

31 Supper Club - Billy Dean Trio 

6pm 

Bounty Bar - Bradford Buckley 7pm 


Grind/Kona - The Click 7:30pm 

Outriggers - Corey Shenk 5pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Davey Leatherwood 

6pm 

Friday, February 7 

31 Supper Club - Jim Young Jazz 

Trio 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Brent Clowers 

4pm 

Crow’s Nest - Stephanie Schaffer 

6pm 

Grind/Kona - Psycoustic 7pm 

NSB Brewing - Down River Duo 

6pm 

Outriggers - Dustin Stock 6pm 

The Garage - Adam’s Edge 8pm 

Traders - Billy Dean 6pm 

Traders - Boomers 9pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - The Evening 

Muze 6pm 


31 Supper Club - Kelly Jarrard 7pm 

Bounty Bar - Clint & Layla 7pm 

Chase’s - Dustin Stock 4pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Hall Brothers 

5pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Seth Pause 

12pm 

Crow’s Nest - Bret Messner 1pm 

Crow’s Nest - Joe Payne 6pm 


Grind/Kona - Brody Mullikin 7pm 

NSB Brewing - The Cyclones 6pm 

Outriggers - Bradford Buckley 6pm 

Traders - Boomers 9pm 

Traders - Etc 6pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Adam & Farley 

6pm 


Bounty Bar - Brody Mullikin 7pm 

Chase’s - Sean Holcomb 10am 

Crabby’s Oceanside - The Cyclones 

Duo 12pm 

Crow’s Nest - Smyrna Erb 1pm 

Flagler Tavern - Jeff Risinger 9pm 

Outriggers - The Vibe 2pm 

Tayton O’Brians - Casey Picou 8pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Claire Vandiver 

1pm 

February 

CALENDAR 


Grind/Kona - Bradford Buckley 

6pm 

Tuesday, February 11 

Grind/Kona - Hall Brothers 6pm 


31 Supper Club - Beartoe 6pm 

Grind/Kona - Warren Beck 6pm 


Traders - Marty McCarrick 7pm 


31 Supper Club - Leeza Stiles 

Bounty Bar - Seth Pause 7pm 


Grind/Kona - The Cyclones 7:30pm 

Outriggers - Brody Mullikin 5pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Beartoe 6pm 


31 Supper Club - Warren Beck 7pm 

Bounty Bar - Thom Blasberg 7pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Jimmy C 

4pm 

Crow’s Nest - Eddy Davis 6pm 

Grind/Kona - Mike Quick Band 7pm 

Outriggers - Smokin’ Torpedoes 

6pm 

The Garage - 5 Time Shag 8pm 

Traders - Acoustic Inferno 6pm 

Traders - Pop Culture Poets 9pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Evan Ahlswede 

6pm 

2020 


31 Supper Club - The Big Beat 7pm 

Bounty Bar - The Transfers 

Bounty Bar - Warren Beck 7pm 

Chase’s - Sean Holcomb 4pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Down River 

Duo 5pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - The Evening 

Muze 12pm 

Crow’s Nest - Thom Blasberg 1pm 

Crow’s Nest - Wild Flowers 6pm 

Flagler Tavern - Trees of Life Duo 

5pm 

Grind/Kona - The Vibe 7pm 

NSB Brewing - Eddy Davis 6pm 

Outriggers - The Evening Muze 

6pm 

Tayton O’Brians - James Ryan 9pm 

Traders - Jay Paski 6pm 

Traders - Pop Culture Poets 9pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Dustin Stock 

6pm 


Bounty Bar - Chuck Morel 7pm 

Chase’s - Sean Holcomb 10am 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Chuck Morel 

12pm 

Crow’s Nest - Rasta Bayers 1pm 

Flagler Tavern - Jonny Odis 9pm 

Outriggers - Warren Beck Duo 2pm 

Tayton O’Brians - Casey Picou 8pm 

Traders - Mike Quick 2pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Hannah Wilson 

1pm 


Grind/Kona - Rasta Bayers 6pm 


Grind/Kona - Jay Paski 6pm 


31 Supper Club - Russ & Russ 

Grind/Kona - Chuck Morel 6pm 


Traders - Bradford Buckley 7pm 


31 Supper Club - The Transfers 

6pm 

Bounty Bar - The Transfers 7pm 


Grind/Kona - Beartoe 7:30pm 

Outriggers - Corey Shenk 5pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Casey Picou 6pm 


31 Supper Club - The Evening Muze 

7pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Psycoustic 

4pm 

Crow’s Nest - Sam Seas 6pm 

Grind/Kona - Eddy Davis 7pm 

NSB Brewing - The Vibe 6pm 

Outriggers - Pot Likkers 6pm 

The Garage - Jay Paski 8pm 

Traders - Billy Dean 6pm 

Traders - B-Side 9pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Rasta Bayers 

6pm 


31 Supper Club - Wild Flower 7pm 

Bounty Bar - Warren Beck 7pm 

Chase’s - Eddy Davis 4pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Adam’s Edge 12pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Bradford 

Buckley 5pm 

Crow’s Nest - Big Beat 6pm 

Crow’s Nest - Tiki Band 1pm 


Grind/Kona - Savannah Savino 7pm 

NSB Brewing - The Evening Muze 

6pm 

Outriggers - The Transfers 6pm 

Tayton O’Brians - Cody & Kyle 9pm 

Traders - Etc 2pm 

Traders - Rock Candy 6:30pm 

Traders - The Vibe 9pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Seth Pause 6pm 


Bounty Bar - Bradford Buckley 7pm 

Chase’s - Rasta Bayers 10am 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Beartoe 

12pm 

Crow’s Nest - Danny Dread 1pm 

Flagler Tavern - Jeff Risinger 9pm 

Outriggers - The Vibe 2pm 

Tayton O’Brians - Pot Likkers 8pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Chuck Morel 1pm 


Grind/Kona - Sam Seas 6pm 


Grind/Kona - The Evening Muze 

6pm 


31 Supper Club - Beartoe 6pm 

Grind/Kona - Down River Duo 6pm 


The Garage - Are Friends Electric 

Traders - Hall Brothers 7pm 


31 Supper Club - Mark Raisch 6pm 

Bounty Bar - Chuck Wiggins 7pm 


Grind/Kona - 5 Time Shag 7:30pm 

Outriggers - The Cyclones 5pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Austin Miller 6pm 


31 Supper Club - Dana Kamide 

Band 7pm 

Bounty Bar - Austin Miller 7pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - The Vibe 

4pm 

Crow’s Nest - Mark Moore 6pm 

Grind/Kona - Cory Worsley 7pm 

NSB Brewing - Bradford Buckley 

6pm 

Outriggers - Mike Quick 6pm 

The Garage - Eddy Davis 8pm 

Traders - Drew Halverson 6pm 

Traders - Kings County 9pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Brent Clowers 

6pm 


31 Supper Club - Ricky Silvia 7pm 

Bounty Bar - Brody Mullikin 7pm 

Chase’s - The Cyclones 4pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Eddy Davis 

5pm 

Crabby’s Oceanside - Hannah Wilson 

12pm 

Crow’s Nest - Adam’s Edge 6pm 

Crow’s Nest - Laree App 1pm 


Grind/Kona - Bradford Buckley 

7pm 

NSB Brewing - Brent Clowers 6pm 

Outriggers - Down River Duo 2pm 

Tayton O’Brians - James Ryan 9pm 

Traders - Kings County 9pm 

Traders - The Vibe 9pm 

Yellow Dog Eats - Billy Dean 6pm 

20 

www.Staticlivemag.com 

21

Rocktails 

with Chez Rocker 

Did I hear right? John Frusciante, an American 

singer-songwriter and producer, is back with the Red 

Hot Chili Peppers! This will be his third stint with the 

band, spanning 3 decades and 5 albums with them. 

Also known as Trickfinger, Frusciante has had 12 

solo albums and has worked with the likes of Mars 

Volta, Josh Klighoffer and Joe Lally. He also produced 

albums with Wu Tang Clan and Duran Duran. When 

he talks about leaving the Chili Peppers, he explains 

that his reason for joining, to begin with, was because 

they treated the crowd like a part of the band. 

When success and fame came so quickly, he was 

overwhelmed; enough to almost not go on stage 

at a show in Japan, although he did say it would 

be his last show for a period of time with the band. 

According to Frusciante, he fell heavily into drug 

addiction and had to go to drug rehabilitation to get 

back to making his own music again. 

In 1999, he rejoined the Chili Peppers with their 

album “Californication”. They would record two more 

albums, by the way, and “Stadium Arcadium” (their 

9th studio album). In 2009, he left the band for a 

second time. 

Rolling Stone Magazine ranked John Frusciante 18th 

on their list of the top 100 guitarists. He is once again 

back with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and they are 

rumored to be working on a new album. 

He gave up drugs and alcohol, so I thought it would 

be relevant to create a “mocktail” for this issue: 

TRICKFINGER 

2 oz watermelon juice 

1 teaspoon lemon juice 

1 teaspoon sugar 

3 mint leaves, chopped 

22 

Fill with sparkling water over ice 

Serve in a tall glass or large wine glass

HUSTLE through traffic on my way to the gig? No 

need really since I’m early by 15 minutes as always. 

I once thought being busy meant being in a hurry but 

in some ways, it is quite the opposite. The working 

musicians I encountered in my youth seemed a bundle 

of energy, never standing still. It’s hard to tell if they were 

permanently harried or just nervous. When I entered the 

music profession at a young age, I’d get all worked up on 

how to make it. I need gigs, songs, bandmates, agents, 

managers - well, the list goes on. It seemed like getting it 

together for a career was all about speed. 

Later in my work, I got schooled by some veteran 

players. They let me know that being needy was a turnoff 

and limited my possibilities. This was quite a shock 

to my system and I reassessed my approach. How we 

treat our career in music is fundamental to how we get 

through life itself, and I had to ask the big questions. 

The BIG ones usually start with a ‘W’ and there is 

none bigger than ‘Why?’. Why did I choose a life as a 

player and singer? Was it to smash 24/7 like a used car 

salesman? Is the goal to be as efficient as a 

corporate meathead and pursue my career 

like a bond trader after a buck? My reflections 

showed me I had to be careful not to become 

24 enamored with the buzz of being busy. 

A Day 

in the 

Life 

of a 

Gigging 

Musician 

by Adam Floyd 

Instead, I try to be content while enjoying the journey. 

This cautionary tale is not to say I don’t need to apply 

enormous energy; it’s about how I focus that force. 

A less aware me used to call a venue excitedly on a 

Thursday about a gig for the weekend. The reformed 

version of myself calls on a Monday about engagements 

2 or 3 months out. I think it’s more about consistent daily 

effort and less about a giant push a couple of times a 

month when I get frustrated. I like to take it like a tortoise; 

one thing at a time regular as a clock. I’ve come to prefer 

success FOR SURE over success IN A HURRY. 

There are many things I do to help this along without 

pushing. I glad-hand the managers at venues, cultivate 

agents and bandmates. I keep my social media active 

and approach fans after concerts; while other musicians 

might disappear to the green room or van, I am 

relentless at improving my skills and refining my setlists. 

I work as a bandleader, composer and frontman for 

Coyotes and Towndogs, The Potlikkers, Adams Edge 

and The Hi Steppers. Four bands with all the lyrics and 

music to memorize and coordinate countless details 

for festivals, shows, and concerts. I love every minute 

of it and use the easy going gear in my hyper-speed 

HUSTLE. 

2/1 Warren Beck 6pm 

2/1 TBD 9pm 

2/3 Grindstone Sinners/Davis 7pm 

2/5 Sal & Ashley 7pm 

2/7 Billy Dean 6pm 

2/7 Boomers 9pm 

2/8 Etc 6pm 

2/8 Boomers 9pm 

2/12 Marty McCarrick 7pm 

2/14 Acoustic Inferno 6pm 

2/14 Pop Culture Poets 9pm 

2/15 Jay Paski 6pm 

2/15 Pop Culture Poets 9pm 

2/16 Mike Quick 2pm 

2/19 Bradford Buckley 7pm 

2/21 Billy Dean 6pm 

2/21 B-Side 9pm 

2/22 Etc 2pm 

2/22 Rock Candy 6:30pm 

2/22 The Vibe 9pm 

2/26 Hall Brothers 7pm 

2/28 Drew Halverson 6pm 

2/28 Kings County 9pm 

2/29 The Vibe 9pm 

2/29 Kings County 9pm 

*Music is subject to change 

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8 to 10

Lift 

Every Voice 

Known to many as the black national 

anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is one 

of the strongest examples of how music 

can influence and unify people. Two of the 

most recent soul stirring performances of 

this song made a major impact on me personally: 

“Amanda Seales: 

I Be Knowin” 

comedy special 

on HBO, where 

she rouses her 

audience into a 

heartfelt sing-along 

of this song 

and Beyonce’s 

gloriously 

uplifting and 

powerful marching band version sung at Coachella. 

Both of these opened my heart to the ways in which 

music and lyrics can emotionally engage an audience 

to feel deeply another’s struggle, to unite in a 

triumphant hope for the future and to help heal a great 

divide through the kind of empathetic experience 

that sometimes 

only music and 

artistry can stir in 

us. I’d like to take 

a moment here 

to delve into the 

lyrical content and 

political history 

surrounding a 

song that has had 

such amazing outreach and unification power. A song 

that has touched the hearts of so many in the black 

community as well as multiple races throughout its 

rich history. A song all of us should know by heart. 

First written as a 

poem in 1899 by 

NAACP leader, 

American author, 

educator, lawyer, 

diplomat, poet, 

songwriter, and 

activist James 

Weldon Johnson 

while he was 

the principal at 

the segregated 

Stanton School 

in his hometown of Jacksonville Florida, this piece 

was set to music by his brother, John Rosamond 

Johnson as they collaborated on the composition. It 

was performed 

in public for the 

first time as part 

of a celebration of 

Lincoln’s Birthday 

on February 12, 

1900 by a choir 

of 500 Stanton 

schoolchildren. 

This event 

was attended 

by Booker T. 

Washington who 

endorsed this 

song in 1905. 

By 1919 it was 

adopted as the 

official anthem of the NAACP. This familial duo 

created a transcendent song that hits so many 

varying emotional chords in its 3 verse structure. 

With its change in tone, both lyrically and melodically, 

it illustrates the hope, struggle and triumph of our 

fellow Americans who have suffered at the hands of 

power. This dynamic songwriting team demonstrated 

how the fusing of music and lyrics together can 

have more potency, sway and staying power than 

either on its own. As a stand alone poem it may 

not have become a piece that 

churches and schools recite all 

the time, but in song form it had 

the opportunity to reach anthem 

status, and it’s legacy passed on 

from generation to generation. 

Shana Redmond, a professor 

at UCLA and author of the book 

Anthem: Social Movements and 

the Sound of Solidarity in the 

African Diaspora, reminds us that 

this is ultimately a song about 

transcending difficulties, 

difficulties that have 

not yet abated. 

Redman says, “Black 

communities across 

the globe continue to 

be vulnerable in very 

unique and unsettling 

ways. To sing this song 

is to revive that past - 

but also to recognize, as the lyrics of the 

song reveal, that there is a hopeful future 

that might come of it.” The optimistic first 

verse starts as such: 

and Sing By Candice Beu 27

Lift every voice and sing 

Til earth and heaven ring 

Ring with the harmony of liberty 

Let our rejoicing rise 

High as the listening skies 

Let it resound, loud as the rolling sea 

Sing a song full of faith that the dark past has 

taught us 

Sing a song full of the hope that the present 

has brought us 

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun 

Let us march on till victory is won 

This 1st verse makes a request to sing loud and 

proud a joyful song of faith and of hope so that 

freedom and harmony may reign each new day, 

vibrating into the distant future. There is an old biblical 

belief that goes back to the story of Jericho and the 

crumbling of its walls with sound. Perhaps this verse 

is asking that all people sing in unison so that the 

walls built between us will fall. If we lift each other up 

and give everyone a voice while acknowledging each 

others pain then there may be hope for a harmonious 

future. 

Stony the road we trod 

Bitter the chast’ning rod 

Felt in the day that hope unborn had died 

Yet with a steady beat 

Have not our weary feet 

Come to the place on which our fathers 

sighed 

We have come over a way that with tears has 

been watered 

We have come, treading our path through the 

blood of the slaughtered 

Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at 

last 

Where the white gleam of our star is cast 

This second verse takes quite a turn and paints a 

picture full of stark imagery and poignant reminders 

of the dark horrors of slavery. To again quote Shana 

Redman from her interview on NPR’s morning edition 

of American Anthem, “It allows us to acknowledge all 

of the brutalities and inhumanities and dispossession 

that came with enslavement, that came with Jim 

Crow, that comes still today with disenfranchisement, 

police brutality, dispossession of education and 

resources. It continues to announce that we 

see this brighter future, that we believe that 

something will change.” 

28 

God of our weary years 

God of our silent tears 

Thou who has brought us thus far on the way 

Thou who has by thy might 

Led us into the light 

Keep us forever in the path, we pray 

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, 

where we met thee 

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the 

world, we forget thee 

Shadowed beneath the hand 

May we forever stand 

True to our God 

True to our native land 

Johnson leads us in yet another direction in this 

3rd verse. The lyrics now become a prayer, not 

to men but to God, to help those who have been 

through living hell stay on the road to glory. This 

prayer acknowledges that God has been with them 

through the darkest of times and it asks that God 

keep them on the lighted path. In 2009, Civil Rights 

leader Rev. Joseph Lowery used the lyrics of this 3rd 

verse as part of the benediction prayer at President 

Barack Obama’s inauguration. A bit of controversy 

surrounded the last lyric in the final verse of this 

song. It is said that the line, “true to our native land” 

is actually meant to mean the United States of 

America and not Africa as some might have thought. 

As James Weldon Johnson was widely known as 

an assimilationist rather than a black nationalist, this 

distinct interpretation of his lyric became of increasing 

importance to him with the unfolding of the 20th 

century. Johnson, a diplomatic poet of the Harlem 

Renaissance and a civil rights activist himself, truly 

believed that the goal of the civil rights movement 

should be integration while preserving the voice of his 

people. The intent of his original poem was to touch 

hearts and bring people together through empathetic 

awareness, especially the families and faculty at 

the segregated school in his care. That’s why the 

eventual song’s outreach grew and grew. Timothy 

Askew, a scholar of the song’s history says, “Even 

during the days of segregation there were Southern 

white churches who wrote to James Weldon Johnson 

and who said, ‘We are singing that song you called 

the black national anthem.’ People in Japan, South 

America, people around the world, particularly during 

the ‘30s and ‘40s, were singing this song.” 

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” obviously held wide 

appeal, although not everyone agreed with it being 

called “the black national anthem”. The song lost 

some popularity towards the end of the civil rights 

movement because of this particular debate. Askew 

says, “There were many African-Americans who were 

in conflict with that idea. They were saying, ‘Well, if 

we have marched, and we have attained what we 

hope to be equality, we can’t have a black anthem. 

We need an anthem that links us all together.” 

Similarly, not everyone in America agrees that “The 

Star Spangled Banner” fully achieves this goal either. 

The truth is that neither James Weldon Johnson nor 

Frances Scott Key actually wrote these songs with 

national anthem status in mind. Much like “Lift Every 

Voice”, “The Star Spangled Banner” was adopted as 

an anthem by those who felt it encapsulated a time 

and a place, while inspiring in people some deeply 

felt yearnings for freedom and patriotism. There is no 

doubt that both songs are beautifully and poetically 

written. They each carry an emotional charge that 

stirs within us an emotional reaction. But as many 

have expressed, these anthems still fall just a hair 

short of unifying a nation that has been inherently 

divided from the get go. 

So, maybe we can reframe this sensitive debate and 

see it as a call to action instead! A call to love, if you 

will. Without taking anything away from these beloved 

songs steeped in history and heart, perhaps we could 

consider that it may just be time for a new anthem. 

Perhaps we need a song that is purposefully intended 

to be our nation’s singular anthem of equality. Having 

separate anthems may inadvertently be assisting to 

keep us divided and so we must look for a heartfelt 

way to bring the two together. Could our modern day 

songwriters, poets and civil rights activists find this 

way by co-creating for our great nation a new kind 

of anthem of inclusivity, hope and harmony that still 

acknowledges the long held struggles of its people 

(age, race, and sex included)? Or is that pain filled 

gap that intrinsically links us as Americans too far 

to bridge? Is it possible that we could actually lift 

our voices together in song and raise our shared 

humanity to new heights of compassionate liberty? 

Let us stand on the shoulders of giants, as Isaac 

Newton once said, and write something fresh, 

together. Let’s show each other we are capable of 

change by actually changing not just singing of a 

proposed distant future where equality, freedom and 

healing reside. The future is now. We only have this 

moment in time together. This means we must not 

only acknowledge the pain and imbalances that still 

carry on today but make amends by making the policy 

changes necessary to be able to find homeostasis 

between all races and genders alike. Then we can 

truthfully sing about it together! Is anyone up for that 

challenge in this tumultuous climate? Is that poet, 

activist or policy maker you? Is that songwriter you, 

me…or Beyonce? I don’t know; but what I do know is 

that in order to make progress we must stop clinging 

to tradition, stop hiding behind screens spewing vitriol 

and be the change we want to see in the world. 

Sometimes the most beautiful music can arise from 

the cacophony of discordant sounds around us. I 

believe we will get there someday. We can start 

by walking in each other’s shoes but more so by 

feeling with each other’s hearts. Music is the fastest 

way I know to do so. As Beyonce said in her Vogue 

interview about her historic Coachella performance, 

“I know that most of the young people on the stage 

and in the audience did not know the history of the 

black national anthem before Coachella. But they 

understood the feeling it gave them.” Imagine if 

we truly did what the first verse of this emotionally 

evocative song invites us to do...lift EVERY voice and 

sing...sing with the HARMONY of liberty... what would 

that kind of unity sound like? Imagine the difference 

that true freedom from systemic oppression and 

injustices would do for our country. Only time will tell. 

Maybe we could start with a collaborative poem: 

Divided we fall, United we stand 

The fate of our country we hold in our hands... 

Now it’s your turn...Go.

CROSSWORDPUZZLE 

ACROSS 

4. What is the first name of the pop artist who wrote 

the 2014 hit song, Fight Song? 

6. What state was XXXTentacion born and raised 

in? 

7. What is the title of Selena Gomez’s newest 

album? 

9. What country was The Weeknd from? 

10. What is Lil Nas X’s first name? 

12. Which mathematical symbol has Ed Sheeran not 

used for an album title? 

15. What is the first name of female rapper featured 

on Maroon 5’s song “Girls Like You”? 

17. What is Kanye West’s middle name? 

19. What is the title of Brockhampton’s 

2019 hit song that is currently featured on 

Billboard’s top 100? 

30 

DOWN 

1. What is American DJ, Marshmello’s first name? 

2. What is the title of Juice Wrld’s hit song he is 

most known for: Lucid ____? 

3. What state is Lil Nas X originally from? 

5. After Camila Cabello split from Fifth Harmony, 

what song landed No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 

100? 

8. Which pop artist had a tour named 

“The Mrs Carter Show” in 2013 

11. What is the title of Justin Bieber’s newest single? 

13. What is the title of The Weeknd’s debut album? 

14. What is the title of Drake’s studio album released 

in 2016? 

16. What is the title of Lil Nas X’s breakout single: 

Old Town ___? 

18. What is the late American rapper Juice Wrld’s 

birth first name? 

1. What hip hop group was the American rapper, Ghostface Killah apart of? 

2. Which famous pop artist is Camilla Cabello currently in a relationship with? 

3. What is the title of Roddy Rich’s hit song off his new album, Please Excuse Me For Being Anti 

social? 

4. What artist was charted at number 1 on billboard hot 100 charts for 19 weeks? 

5. Which popular boy band broke up in 2015? 

6. What is the stage name of American rapper with the birth name, Jacques Bermon Webster ll? 

7. What was Lil Nas X’s inspiration behind writing “Old Town Road”? 

9. What is American rapper, Tyler, the Creator’s clothing brand name? 

10. What pop artist will be featured on the new James Bond’s theme song? 

11. What disease did Ozzy Osbourne recently revealed he is currently dealing with? 

Answers on Page 37 Answers on Page 37 

31

32 

The 

Krewe 

of 

NOLA 

By Jamie Lee 

Everyone has heard of New Orleans; the mention of the 

city itself makes you think of Mardi Gras, beads, beer and 

bourbon (the street or the drink). New Orleans boasts the 

Second Line and the French Quarter, plus Jazz, Art, and 

Music Festivals; and some of the best Creole cuisine in the 

land. Any of this ringing a bell? 

New Orleans is filled with traditions and NOLA flare; one 

such tradition is the quintessential art form known as the 

Second Line. There are two parts to a Second Line; first 

is the Grand Marshal, parade leader, and the band. In 

this part, if there are people being honored - whether a 

wedding or a funeral - these folks would also be included. 

The strutting 

precession that 

falls in behind with 

their bright colored 

suits and banners, 

big band sounds, 

are what is known 

as the Second 

Line. A Second 

Line invites 

people to join 

in, the more the 

merrier. You can 

see many Second 

Lines throughout the year, mostly in the French Quarter, 

the Vieux Carré (Old Square in French - the oldest 

neighborhood in New Orleans) and Tremé neighborhoods, 

most often on Sunday afternoons. 

The number of festivals that take place in this once French/ 

Victorian city is staggering. In one year, NOLA will host 

approximately 130 festivals ranging from art, music, food 

and drink, film, theatre and literary, multicultural, and the 

four seasons, just to name a few. Of course, I think we all 

can agree on the most well known is Mardi Gras. Mardi 

Gras translation, Fat Tuesday, can be traced back to The 

House of the Bourbons, (branch of the Capetian dynasty 

that descended from a younger son of King Louis IX of 

France.) When Bienville landed in a place 60 miles south of 

NOLA, he named it “Pointe du Mardi Gras” when his men 

realized it was festival season. They celebrated America’s 

first Mardi Gras in 1703 at the settlement of Fort Louis de 

la Mobile, which is the location of modern day Mobile, 

Alabama. That’s right folks; the first Mardi Gras was in 

Mobile, not New Orleans. Bienville established Mardi 

Gras in NOLA in 1718, but it was not until the 1740s 

that Louisiana’s governor established elegant society 

balls. In the 1830s they held street processions (modern 

parades) with flambeaux (gaslight torches) lighting the 

way for the Krewe’s (secret society) members. Going 

forward more Krewes were created and parades for 

each Krewe were thrown. The testament of riches in the 

societies were shown by the emerging colors of purple 

for justice, gold for power, and green for faith. Floats 

were integrated in 1873; exotic paper mache spectacles, 

the Krewes took the celebration even further to express 

their faith forward. Most people think that Mardi Gras is 

a huge party you can attend, which is true; however, this 

celebration was started because of the Christian religion. 

“Carnival” refers to the weeks before, starting January 

6th. Fat Tuesday is the end of Carnival and signals the 

beginning of the Lenten season, which promptly starts at 

midnight on Ash Wednesday. I have been to both Mobile 

and New Orleans 

for Carnival and 

Mardi Gras; 

either is worth 

every bit of your 

time and money 

… speaking of 

money - maybe 

make sure you 

have bail money. 

NOLA is an 

enchanting menagerie of culture, the Crescent City filled 

with the fire of the human spirit. I have made 9 visits 

(and counting). I recommend visiting this freewheelingfun 

city any and every chance you can. Be sure to visit 

Mardi Gras at least once (2020 Fat Tuesday date is 

February 25), Jazz Fest (April 23- May 3rd) at least 

once and then visit for no other reason than to feel the 

electricity that flows through its streets and 

experience the magic that floats through the air. 

New Orleans excites all your senses and you 

always leave wanting to return. 

33

THE ACOUSTIC 

TAKEOVER 

34 

By Randy Pepper 

The acoustic takeover is now in effect; more 

acoustics are sold than electrics and there 

doesn’t seem to be any slowdown in the 

near future. Part of the reason is; girls 

are now playing more guitar than ever before, 

and the other reason is - gigs available. Clubs 

and restaurants now have singles and duos just 

about every weekend. So, the sales of acoustic 

guitars have gone up. The days of having a stage 

for a band just don’t exist anymore. So, more 

acoustics are being sold to musicians looking to 

cash in on the acoustic craze. But the question 

remains; do you need an expensive guitar to do an 

acoustic gig? I wish I could say you did, but in all 

reality - no, you don’t. There are many musicians 

all across the country that use cheap guitars, 

and that’s probably the smart thing to do. Why 

would you want to take out a $3,000 Gibson Taylor 

Martin, or any other high-end guitar, to a gig when 

someone might steal it off the stage or out of the 

corner? Sure, there are players out there that still 

use high-end acoustics - and they sound great 

- but to the average ear, there is no difference. 

There are players in this area that I personally 

know who use cheaper acoustics, like my own duo 

partner Bill Hamilton in Psycoustic. He gigs with 

an Urban acoustic. These were guitars that were 

sold on QVC TV and, to me personally, aren’t very 

good. But you never have to worry about anyone 

wanting to steal it. Since we use a good PA, we 

can actually make it sound good. There are also 

acoustic preamp direct boxes made by Radial 

and Aphex that can make an ok-sounding guitar 

sound great; or at least a lot better. The downfall 

of playing these less expensive guitars is not 

knowing how long they will last. 

With a nice American made Gibson, Taylor or 

Martin; they are made from premium woods and 

we know they will last for many many years. I have 

seen quite a few less expensive guitars come in 

for repair after a year or so of gigging on the beach 

that are toast. In most cases, the person will say, 

“Oh well, I guess it’s time for another one.” So, 

if you’re planning on playing outdoors a lot, just 

remember; an acoustic is made out of wood and 

the cheaper the wood, the less likely it’s going to 

survive the elements. The best bet is to get a guitar 

made from solid wood that has good electronics 

and, that way, you will get years of use out of your 

new guitar. Happy guitar hunting; and be sure to 

ask the pros playing out what they use and that will 

give you a better idea of what to purchase. 

Randy Pepper is a Freelance Guitarist for hire and 

the owner of the Guitar Attic in Holly Hill. 

February 1 

Travis Rudd 1-5 

JW Gilmore 6-10 


Relief 1-5 


Stephanie Schaffer 6-10 


Brett Messner 1-5 

Joe Payne 6-10 


Relief 1-5 


Eddy Davis 6-10 


Thom Blasberg 1-5 

Wild Flowers 6-10 

Live Music Line-up for February 


Rasta Bayers 1-5 


Sam Seas 6-10 


Tiki Band 1-5 

Big Beat 6-10 

Live music Friday-Sunday 

204 Buenos Aires Street 

New Smyrna Beach, FL 

(386) 319-0000 


Danny Dread 1-5 


Mark Moore 6-10 


Laree App 1-5 

Adam’s Edge 6-10 

Thom Blasberg 

Rasta 

Bayers

CROSSWORD 

PUZZLE answers 

1 2 

3 

5 

36 

6 

8 

1. Photo Credit Reluctant Genius 2. Photo Credit Reluctant Genius 3. Photo Credit Reluctant Genius 

4. Photo Credit Reluctant Genius 5. Photo Credit Reluctant Genius 6. Photo Credit Nicole Henry 7. Photo Credit Nicole Henry 

8. Photo Credit Randy Pepper 9. Photo Credit Randy Pepper 10. Photo Credit Reluctant Genius 

4 

7 

9 10 

answers 

1. What hip hop group was the American rapper, Ghostface Killah apart of? Wu-Tang Clan 

2. Which famous pop artist is Camilla Cabello currently in a relationship with? Shawn Mendes 

3. What is the title of Roddy Rich’s hit song off his new album, Please Excuse Me For Being 

Anti social? The Box 

4. What artist was charted at number 1 on billboard hot 100 charts for 19 weeks? Lil Nas X 

5. Which popular boy band broke up in 2015? One Direction 

6. What is the stage name of American rapper with the birth name, Jacques Bermon Webster ll? 

Travis Scott 

7. What was Lil Nas X’s inspiration behind writing “Old Town Road”? 

Being kicked out of his sister’s house/being on his own 

9. What is American rapper, Tyler, the Creator’s clothing brand name? GOLF WANG 

10. What pop artist will be featured on the new James Bond’s theme song? Billie Eillish 

11. What disease did Ozzy Osbourne recently revealed he is currently dealing with? 

Parkinson’s Disease 

37

By Chris Rajotte, Andy Minor and Jeff Watson 

Metal Mania 2020 

TStretch thy neck muscles and prepare for banging of thy head as 2020 

looks to be a gracious year for metal mania abroad. The Haven hosts 

Vader, The Pantera Experience, and The Central Florida Metal Fest. The 

Soundbar bar is hosting Soulfly and Life of Agony. Queensryche is again at 

Plaza Live. House of Blues welcomes metal pioneers Overkill and Exhorder. 

Daytona International Speedway transforms itself into a weekend of metal 

and punk for the 2020 “Welcome Back To Rockville “ concert (previously 

held in Jacksonville), headlined by 2 nights with none other than thrash 

titans Metallica. Some of the notables for this show include Social Distortion, 

Anthrax, Mastodon, Deftones, Lamb of God, Rancid, Godsmack and 

hardcore legends Agnostic Front to name a few. I highly recommend taking 

Monday off for this one. The Tampa Bay area has a lot of tasty treats as well 

this year. Time to get your mosh on, kiddies! 

New School Album of the Month 

Oozing Wound’s “High Anxiety” was released by Thrill Jockey Records in 

2019, in follow up to their 2016 “Whatever Forever” with an aggressive 

thrash, sludge concoction that will get yer head a banging. This three-piece 

hails from the Windy City of Chicago and formed up in 2013. I suggest giving 

these guys a listen; your earholes will be blasted upon for sure. Tracks like 

“Riding the Universe” and “Die on Mars” showcase Oozing Wound’s ability 

to pound out some shredding riffs and driving percussions. I detect a hint of 

Down mixed with a tad of Dark Angel from this trio. 

Old School Album of the Month 

LIVE MUSIC 

Gotha Location 

2/1 Madison Shae 

2/6 Gabriel Collazo 

2/7 Diamond Dixie Duo 

2/8 Jordan Foley Band 

2/13 Erick Ruck Solo 

2/14 Joe Demko 

2/15 Jim Young Jazz Trio 

2/20 Kevin Hardy 

2/21 TBD 

2/22 Mornin Biscuits Duo 

2/27 Layla Brisbois 

2/28 Alejandre Garcia Duo 

2/29 Dave and the Waverlys 

New Smyrna Location 

2/1 - Gina Cuchetti 

2/2 - The Transfers 

2/6 - Davey Leatherwood 

2/7 - The Evening Muze 

2/8 - Adam & Farley 

2/9 - Claire Vandiver 

2/13 - Beartoe 

2/14 - Evan Ahlswede 

2/15 - Dustin Stock 

2/16 - Hannah Wilson 

2/20 - Casey Picou 

2/21 - Rasta Bayers 

2/22 - Seth Pause 

2/23 - Chuck Morel 

2/27 - Austin Miller 

2/28 - Brent Clowers 

2/29 - Billy Dean 

147 Canal St, 

New Smyrna Beach 

Was there a predecessor to Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell” sound? Let the 

controversy begin. Enter New Orleans’ own Exhorder with their debut album 

“Slaughter In The Vatican”. Released on Roadrunner Records in 1990, 

Exhorder was able to bridge the gap between groove and thrash metal and 

help invent the Louisiana metal scene at that time. The comparison with 

Pantera is primarily with the vocals and not so much the guitar sound. On 

“Slaughter In The Vatican “, Exhorder uses the dual guitar combo along with 

the double kick drum action for pure excellence, but it’s singer Kyle Thomas’ 

angry/vulgar, gruff vocals that give it that “ Phil “ sound. “Desecrator” is 

the highlight of the album, with its killer thrash intro and hilariously angry 

lyrics. But there are plenty of other gems to enjoy, including “Death in 

Vain”, “Exhorder” and “The Tragic Period”. One last thing to consider 

though; whereas Pantera released their epic in 1990 also, “Slaughter In The 

Vatican” was first self-released by Exhorder in 1988 thus making them the 

kings of the “Big Easy” sound. 

1236 Hempel Ave 

Windermere, Florida

Static Live Magazine February 2020

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