no'ala huntsville july/august 2013

Chelsea and Chance’s Perfect Alabama Wedding Album | Sam & Greg’s: More Than Just Gelato

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SHAWNA PROCKS“THEVOICE”PLUS 33 MORE MUSICIANS WHO ARE REALLY GOING PLACES

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4 » July/August 2013

18UPPING THE COOL FACTORSam and Greg make somuch more than just thebest gelato in Huntsville.

BY LAURA ANDERS LEEPORTRAITS BY PATRICK HOOD

52Chelsea and Chance have their perfectwedding, and we were there!

PHOTOS BY ARMOSA STUDIOSTEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON

© PAT

RICK

HO

OD

46Shawna P bares her soul infront of millions of viewerson NBC’s “The Voice.”

BY LAURA ANDERS LEEPORTRAITS BY PATRICK HOOD

22Take a trip with our annualroundup of North Alabama’smost promising musicians.

BY CLAIRE STEWARTMUSIC REVIEWS BY WILL WHALEYPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOODAND DANNY MITCHELL

90Giving thanks the old-fashioned way with pen and paper.

BY MICHELLE RUPEEUBANKS

78Driving the stars with Senators Coaches.

BY LAURA ANDERS LEEPHOTOS BY GOODE DETHERO

MaryJustice Lucason Monte Sano

JULY/AUGUST 2013 | NOAL APRESS.COM | 5JULY/AUGUST 2013 | NOAL APRESS.COM | 5

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6 » contents

8 CalendarEvents for July-August 2013

14 The Vine“Un-Corked”BY AMY COLLINS

42 MarketSummer StyleBY CLAIRE STEWART

88 Bless Their HeartsPart of the ClubBY DAVID SIMS

92 Food for Thought“Bon Appétit!”BY SARAH GAEDE

94 LoweDown“What Was Your First Live Concert?”BY CLAIRE STEWART

98 Parting ShotBY ARMOSA STUDIOS

July/August 2013Volume 2: Issue 4

• • •

C. Allen TomlinsonEditor-In-Chief

David SimsCreative Director

Contributing WritersAmy Collins, Michelle Rupe Eubanks,

Sarah Gaede, Laura Anders Lee,David Sims, Claire Stewart,

Allen Tomlinson, Will Whaley

Contributing PhotographersArmosa Studios, Patrick Hood, Ian McCalister, Danny Mitchell

Marketing Coordinator/Advertising SalesHeidi King

Features ManagerClaire Stewart

Business ManagerRoy Hall

Graphic DesignerRowan Finnegan

InternsMack Cornwell, Ryan Paine, Will Whaley

• • •

No’Ala Huntsville is published six times annuallyby No’Ala Press

PO Box 2530, Florence, AL 35630 Phone: 800-779-4222 | Fax: 256-766-4106

Web: www.noalapress.com

Standard postage paid at Huntsville, AL.A one-year subscription is $19.95for delivery in the United States.

Signed articles reflect only the views of the authorsand do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors.

Advertisers are solely responsible forthe content of their advertisements.

© 2008-2013 No’Ala Press, All rights reserved.

Send all correspondence toAllen Tomlinson, Editor,

at the postal address above, or by e-mail [email protected].

Letters may be edited for space and style.

To advertise, contact us at:256-766-4222, or [email protected].

The editor will provide writer’s guidelines uponrequest. Prospective authors should not

submit unsolicited manuscripts; please query theeditor first.

No’Ala Huntsville is printed with vegetable-based inkson 100% recycled paper.

Join us on Facebook: No’Ala Huntsville

N O ’A L A H U N T S V I L L EA D V I S O R Y B O A R D

Jennifer DossHuntsville Symphony Orchestra

Leslie EcklundBurritt on the Mountain

Dan HalcombHuntsville Symphony Orchestra

Jeff JohnsonTerramé Day Spa & Salon

Elizabeth JonesBurritt on the Mountain

Ginger Penney Liles

Matthew LilesAIDS Action Coalition

Patrick RobbinsAlabama Pain Center

Charles VaughnVaughn Lumber Company

Anna Baker WarrenAnna Baker Warren Interiors

18

What could be better than a late spring wedding? On May 19th,No’Ala Huntsville and a host of presenting partners put together the Alabama Per-fect Wedding at the Baron Bluff event center at Burritt on the Mountain. The daywas beautiful, the gown was stunning, the flowers and details were perfect, the foodwas delicious, and the couple was radiant. Every piece seemed to fall in place, andfor those who attended, it truly was perfect in every way. We’ll give you a look inthis issue, and we think you’ll agree!

Welcome to our annual Entertainment issue. This is our chance to presentthe bright, young, up-and-coming musicians who are beginning to makenames for themselves. We want to introduce you to them, and so that youcan really fall in love with their music, subscribers will find a bonus CD witha track from each act enclosed with your magazine. (If you are not a sub-scriber, there is a limited number of CDs available at our office at LoweMill—drop by and ask for one, for free.) Singer Shawna P, a competitor on thepopular television show The Voice, is also featured, and was generous enoughto give us one of her tracks as well. Enjoy!

This time, the issue is not just about entertainment—we decided to make itabout entertaining as well. Our retail buyer’s guide features art and accessories fromthe artists at Lowe Mill, and we’ll introduce you to Senators Coaches, the peoplewho are responsible for transporting some of the biggest names in show business ontheir nationwide tours. We’ll introduce you to some of the most delicious ice creamin the Valley, too; there’s a lot to entertain you in this Entertainment issue!

You may have noticed a design change in our masthead, beginning with this issue.We produce a sister publication in the Shoals, also known as No’Ala Magazine, andmany of our readers like each one so much that they subscribe to both. That createsa little confusion; in addition, we felt that our name needed to emphasize the largestand most vibrant metropolis in North Alabama, as well as the other cities—Athens,Decatur, and Madison—to name just three—that make up this unique place to live.Nothing else is changing; we’ll continue to bring you the best stories, in words andpictures, about all of North Alabama. Our name will just anchor us more firmly righthere at home!

Summer in the Valley is fun, partly because of the long, hot and humid days that areperfect for outdoor concerts, special events and spontaneous front-porch parties. Wehope yours is a safe and happy one—and we thank you for patronizing our advertis-ers. Now grab a cold glass of sweet tea and enjoy this issue!

editor’s letter « Allen Tomlinson « 7

We felt that our name needed to emphasize the largest and most vibrant metropolis in North Alabama, as well as the other cities—Decatur, Athens,and Madison—to name just three—that make up this unique place to live.

Now through July 31Special Exhibit: Black Holes: Space Warps & Time TwistsDaily from 9:00am-5:00pm; U.S. Space and Rocket Center; One Tranquility Base; $25 adults, $20 children, and free under 5years old; (256) 837-3400; rocketcenter.com

Now through August 3Memories of World War II/Photography from the Archives ofthe Associated Press & Heritage Quilters Members ExhibitionTues-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm and until 8:00pm on Thurs, andSun1:00pm-4:00pm; $10 admission for adults, $8 for military, stu-dents, teachers, and students, and $5 for children 6-11; HuntsvilleMuseum of Art; 300 Church St.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org

Now through August 31Alabama Inventors & The Whimsical Woods Tues-Sat 9:00am-5:00pm; Sun noon-5:00pm; $8 adults, $7 seniorsand military, $5 students, $4 children; Burritt on the Mountain;3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com

Now through September 22Connections: Gary Chapman/Carolyn ShererTues-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm and until 8:00pm on Thurs, andSun1:00pm-4:00pm; $10 for adults, $8 for military, students, teach-ers, and students, and $5 for children 6-11; Huntsville Museum ofArt; 300 Church St.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org

Now through FallWade Wharton Exhibit & Little Garden Little Me8:00am-2:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Botanical Garden;4747 Bob Wallace Ave.; (256) 582-5259; hsvbg.org

July 1-21Psychedelic Mania: Stephen Rolfe Powell’s Dance with GlassTues-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm and until 8:00pm on Thurs, andSun1:00pm-4:00pm; $10 admission for adults, $8 for military, stu-dents, teachers, and students, and $5 for children 6-11; HuntsvilleMuseum of Art; 300 Church St.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org

July 1Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park; Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org

Concerts in the Park: Strings of Pearl and Olde Town Brass6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; Arts Council and City ofHuntsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation; artshuntsville.org

July 4Spirit of America FestivalDaytime festivities ending in fireworks; Free; Point Mallard Park;Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org

Greene Street Market4:00pm-8:00pm; Free; 208 Eustis Ave. at Greene St.; (256) 682-4429;greenestreetmarket.com

July 5Sci-Quest Parents’ Night Out6:00pm-10:00pm; $20 for first child, $15 for additional childrenages 4-12; 102 D Wynn Dr.; (256) 837-0606; sci-quest.org

City Lights Concert Series at Burritt on the Mountain7:30pm; $10/members; $12/in advance or $15/non-members;3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com

Monkey Speak Open Mic Night8:00pm; $5; Flying Monkey at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; flyingmonkeyarts.org

July 6Artist Market Noon-4:00pm; Free; Flying Monkey at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

July 8Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park; Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org

Concerts in the Park: Jimmy Henderson& Bourbon and Shamrocks6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; Arts Council and City ofHuntsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation; artshuntsville.org

July 11Greene Street Market4:00pm-8:00pm; Free; 208 Eustis Ave. at Greene St.; reenestreetmarket.com

Dine and Dash Trolley Tour 6:00pm; $30; Various locations; (256) 683-0966; homegrownhuntsville.com

Thursday Night Concerts at the Library6:00pm; Free; 915 Monroe St.; (256) 532-5940; hmcpl.org

Beloved Book Club7:30pm; Free; Beloved Books and Gallery at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

July 12-14Theatre Huntsville Presents 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeFri and Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2:00pm; $20 adults and $18 students;Von Braun Center Playhouse; 700 Monroe St.; (256) 536-0807;yourseatiswaiting.org

July 12-13Greater Tennessee Valley Car ShowPoint Mallard Park; decaturcvb.org

July 13Madison City Farmers Market8:00am-noon; Free; Discovery Middle School; 1282 Hughes Rd.;(256) 656-7841; huntsville.org

Train Excursion: Freedom Express10:00am; Admission charged; North Alabama Railroad Museum;694 Chase Rd.; (256) 683-7953; huntsville.org

Artist Market Noon-4:00pm; Free; Flying Monkey at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

Spring Concert at Three Caves7:00pm-10:00pm; Admission charged; Historic Three Caves; (256) 534-5265; huntsville.org

1818 Farms Presents its Farm to Table Dinner6:30pm; $120; 1818 Farms; 24889 Lauderdale St., Mooresville; (256) 714-3220; 1818farms.com

8 » calendar

JULY/AUGUST 2013 | NOALAPRESS.COM | 9Continued

July 13-14Huckfest8:00am-4:00pm; Free; Jack Allen Recreational Complex; (256) 341-4934; decaturcvb.org

July 15Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park, Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org

Concerts in the Park: The Ben Parker Project & Disc Oasis6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; Arts Council and City ofHuntsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation; artshuntsville.org

July 15-19Camp Princess Theatre on StageDaily; Admission charged; Princess Theatre, 112 2nd Ave.; Decatur;(256) 350-1745; princesstheatre.org

July 18Greene Street Market4:00pm-8:00pm; Free; 208 Eustis Ave. at Greene St.; greenestreet-market.com

Sidewalk Arts Stroll: A Downtown Marketplace4:30pm; Free; Courthouse Square, Huntsville; (256) 534-8376; sidewalkartsstroll.com

Space Exploration Celebration5:00pm-9:00pm; Admission charged; U.S. Space & Rocket Center;One Tranquility Base; (256) 721-5409; rocketcenter.com

July 18-20Theatre Huntsville Presents 25th Annual Putnam CountySpelling BeeFri and Sat 7:30pm and Sun 2:00pm; $20 adults and $18 students;Von Braun Center Playhouse; 700 Monroe St.; (256) 536-0807;yourseatiswaiting.org

July 19Third Fridays Downtown4:30pm; Free; Bank St. and 2nd Ave., Decatur; (256) 350-2028;decaturcvb.org

Movies in the Park: Rise of the GuardiansDusk; Free; Founder’s Park; Decatur; (256) 341-4930;decaturcvb.org


Wet Dog Triathlon7:00am; From $50; Point Mallard Park; (256) 353-0157; decaturcvb.org


Drop In and CreateNoon; Free; Huntsville Museum of Art; 300 Church St.; (256) 535-4350; hsvmuseum.org

Sci-Quest Parents’ Night Out6:00pm-10:00pm; $20 for first child, $15 for additional childrenages 4-12; 102 D Wynn Dr.; (256) 837-0606; sci-quest.org

Huntsville Swing Dance7:00pm-11:00pm; $10 general and $7 students; Flying Monkey atLowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

An Evening with Yes8:00pm; from $36; Von Braun Center Concert Hall; 700 N. MonroeSt.; (800) 745-3000; ticketmaster.com

Alabama Occupational Therapy Association Social4:00pm-6:00pm; Admission charged; Pin Palace; 2006 CountryClub Ave NW; (256) 509-4398

July 20-Aug. 4Greater Huntsville Humane Society’s Pet Photo Calendar ContestFree to vote or $10 to enter; Parkway Place Mall; 2801 MemorialPkwy SW; (256) 881-8081; calendarcontest.org

July 22Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park; Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decatur-cvb.org

Concerts in the Park: U.S. Army Materiel Command Bands6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; Arts Council and City ofHuntsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation; artshuntsville.org

July 24Art Critique6:00pm; $7; Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399;lowemill.net

July 25Greene Street Market4:00pm-8:00pm; Free; 208 Eustis Ave. at Greene St.; greenestreet-market.com


July 26City Lights Concert Series at Burritt on the Mountain7:30pm; $10/members; $12/in advance or $15/non-members;3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com

Epic Comedy Hour8:00pm; $7; Flying Monkey at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

10 » calendar July 26-28The Huntsville Community Chorus Presents The Music ManFri 7:30pm; Sat 2:00pm and 7:30pm; Sun 2:00pm; Admissioncharged; Von Braun Center Playhouse; 700 Monroe St.; (256) 533-6606; thechorus.org

Drum Corp International CompetitionFri 7:30pm; Sat 2:00pm and 7:30pm; Sun 2:00pm; Admissioncharged; Louis Crews Stadium at Alabama A&M; (256) 372-5654;aamu.edu


Train Excursion: The Patriot10:00am; Admission charged; North Alabama Railroad Museum;694 Chase Rd.; (256) 683-7953; huntsville.org

Artist Market Noon-4:00pm; Free; Flying Monkey at Lowe Mill; 2211 SeminoleDr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

July 29Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park; Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decatur-cvb.org

Step Heavy & Jeff Whitlow and the Old Barn Band6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; Arts Council and City ofHuntsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation; artshuntsville.org

August 1Greene Street Market4:00pm-8:00pm; Free; 208 Eustis Ave. at Greene St.; greenestreet-market.com

Cocktails and Dogtails5:00pm-8:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Botanical Garden;4747 Bob Wallace Ave.; (256) 830-4447; hsvbg.org

August 2Story Time at Riverwild1:00pm; Free; Delano Park; Decatur; (256) 341-4930;delanopark.org


Monkey Speak Open Mic Night8:00pm; $5; Flying Monkey at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; flyingmonkeyarts.org

August 2-3The Huntsville Community Chorus Presents The Music ManFri 7:30pm; Sat 2:00pm and 7:00pm; Admission charged; Von BraunCenter Playhouse; 700 Monroe St.; (256) 533-6606; thechorus.org

August 3Madison City Farmers Market8:00am-noon; Free; Discovery Middle School; 1282 Hughes Rd.;(256) 656-7841; huntsville.org


Movies in the Park: The Odd Life of Timothy GreenDusk; Free; Delano Park; Decatur; (256) 341-4930; delanopark.org

Concerts by the RiverDecatur

JULY/AUGUST 2013 | NOAL APRESS.COM | 11

August 4WZYP Bridal Fair1:00pm-5:00pm; Free for brides; Von Braun Center North Hall; 700 N. Monroe St.; (256) 830-8300; huntsville.org

August 5Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park, Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org

Concerts in the Park: Winslow Davis & Mambo Gris Gris6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; Arts Council and City ofHuntsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation; artshuntsville.org

August 7Kathy Griffin7:30pm; from $45; Von Braun Center Concert Hall; 700 N. Monroe St.; (800) 745-3000; ticketmaster.com

August 8Greene Street Market4:00pm-8:00pm; Free; 208 Eustis Ave. at Greene St.; greenestreetmarket.com


Dine and Dash Trolley Tour 6:00pm; $30; Various locations; (256) 683-0966; homegrownhuntsville.com


Beloved Book Club7:30pm; Free; Beloved Books and Gallery at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

August 9Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series6:30pm; From $25; Von Braun Center Playhouse, 700 Monroe St.;(256) 533-1953; jimparkermusic.com


Dog Days Express10:00am; Admission charged; North Alabama Railroad Museum;694 Chase Rd.; (256) 683-7953; huntsville.org


August 12Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park; Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org

Concerts in the Park: Ashley Smith and the Rocket City JazzOrchestra6:30pm-8:00pm; Free; Big Spring Park; Arts Council and City ofHuntsville’s Department of Parks and Recreation; artshuntsville.org

August 13-September 21Carnegie Visual Arts Center Presents Embracing Art: A ComingTogether of Area Amateur and Professional Artists

Continued

Tues-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm and Sat 10:00am-2:00pm; Free admission; Carnegie Visual Arts Center; 207 Church St.,Decatur; (256) 341-0562; carnegiearts.org

August 15Arts Stroll by Arts & Entertainment District and Greene Street Market4:30pm-Dark; Free; 109 Gates Ave.; (256) 534-8376; sidewalkartstroll.com


August 16Third Fridays Downtown4:30pm; Free; Bank St. and 2nd Ave., Decatur; (256) 350-2028;decaturcvb.org

City Lights Concert Series at Burritt on the Mountain7:30pm; $10/members; $12/in advance or $15/non-members;3101 Burritt Dr.; (256) 536-2882; burrittonthemountain.com




The American Cancer Society Presents: A Summer Lights Celebration6:30pm; From $125; Von Braun Center; 700 N. Monroe St.; (256) 536-1863; summerlightscelebration.org

Rocket City Jazz Orchestra7:00pm; Admission charged; Flying Monkey at Lowe Mill; 2211 Seminole Dr.; (256) 533-0399; lowemill.net

August 19Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; Rhodes Ferry Park, Decatur; (256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org



August 23Fantasia Barrino8:30pm; From $59.50; Von Braun Center Concert Hall; 700 N. Monroe St.; (800) 745-3000; ticketmaster.com


12 » calendar Green U Environmental Festival9:00am-3:00pm; Free with five recycled products; Huntsville Botan-ical Gardens; 4747 Bob Wallace Ave.; (256) 830-4447; hsvbg.org

Dog Days Express10:00am; Admission charged; North Alabama Railroad Museum;694 Chase Rd.; (256) 683-7953; huntsville.org


Elvis Remembered2:00pm and 8:00pm; Admission charged; 112 2nd Ave.; Decatur;(256) 350-1745;princesstheatre.org

August 25Kitchens for CASA1:00pm-5:00pm;Admission charged;(256) 533-7775; casamadison-county.com

August 26Concerts by the River6:00pm; Free; RhodesFerry Park, Decatur;(256) 350-2028; decaturcvb.org

August 28Art Critique6:00pm; $7; LoweMill; 2211 SeminoleDr.; (256) 533-0399;lowemill.net

August 29Cocktails and Dogtails5:00pm-8:00pm; Admission charged; Huntsville Botanical Garden;4747 Bob Wallace Ave.; (256) 830-4447; hsvbg.org


Greater Huntsville Humane Society’s Book Release Party for“Second Chances: Rescue Dogs of Madison County”6:30pm-9:30pm; Admission charged; Baron’s Bluff at the BurrittMuseum; (256) 426-2183

August 29-31Northeast Alabama State FairThurs 6:00pm-11:00pm; Fri 6:00pm-1:00am; Sat 2:00pm-11:00pm;Admission charged; John Hunt Park; (256) 883-5252; huntsville.org



Every ThursdayGreene Street Market


• Robert McDuffierenowned violinist – Friday, October 47:30 p.m.

• La Bohémein concert – Friday, November 157:30 p.m.

• Tiempo LibreCuban jazz for New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 317:30 p.m.

• Béla Fleckthe world’s greatest banjo player – Saturday, January 117:30 p.m.

• Disney’s Pixarfilms and music – Saturday, January 187:00 p.m.

….and that’s just thefirst half of our season!

Season tickets now on sale - for more information, visitwww.hso.org or call 256-539-4818

Presenting our 59th Season:

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THE INFLUX OF SCREW CAPS ON WINE BOTTLESOVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. For many of us, initial reaction was a subtle recoilwith a touch of snobbery. Screw caps on wine bottles meant it had to be cheap. Therestaurant experience lost its romance when, instead of witnessing the twist of afresh-hewn cork, the waiter or sommelier simply popped the top like the cap of avinegar bottle. Fortunately, we humans are an adaptable lot, and the industry-wideswitch to screw cap and synthetic closures has saved bottles upon bottles of pre-cious vino.

Cork taint, corky, corkiness, or corked, is the most common flaw thatcan occur in wine, making it a disappointing drink when mildlyaffected, and absolutely unpalatable at high levels. When veryminor, cork taint will suppress aromatics and flatten any fruitqualities, making the wine insipid and boring. At its worst,cork taint will make a wine smell of musty basement, wetcardboard, or even wet dog. It won’t hurt you to imbibe,but it’s an unpleasant experience and best avoided.

TCA, (2,4,6-trichloroanisole) or cork taint, is a bacteria thatgrows from a fungi living in the bark of cork trees, the source ofreal cork closures. The bark and cork closures are porous, like allwood, which makes them ideal stoppers for wines meant to be cellaredand aged a few years, as the slow exchange of oxygen in the wine allows itto develop secondary and tertiary characteristics. In other words, the wine getsmore interesting with a little age. The risk lies with those little holes and the fungithat live in them, most of which will never develop into the undesirable TCA bacte-ria. But for short-lived wines, young sippers intended for consumption within a yearor two, the risk is much higher because you want the wine to be fresh and vibrantand devoid of oxygen’s influence, thus the gamble is greater. In the early 2000s an esti-mated 8 to 10 percent of all wines with cork closures were affected with TCA. That’sa sizable profit loss for the wine producer.

Detecting cork taint requires practice, especially when it occurs in low levels. Not allnoses are the same and some of us are better at picking up corkiness than others. Itcan start slow and subtle, but grow to a distinct offensive mustiness as the bottledrains and the oxygen to surface ration changes, enhancing the flaw. I’ve openedbottles my guests don’t mind at all, but which I can’t tolerate because I smell andtaste the taint while they cannot. I’ve had bottles that reeked from the moment thecork was lifted, wafting across the room where trained noses declared “corked!” asif it were a game of bingo. And I’ve argued, nearly brawled, with other wine profes-sionals over whether a bottle is or isn’t. But given new standards in cork processingand the consumer’s willingness to accept Stelvin (screw cap) closures on their bot-tles, the cork taint numbers are down, hovering around one to two percent.

Detecting cork taint requires practice, especially when itoccurs in low levels. Not all noses are the same, and some ofus are better at picking up corkiness than others.

“Un-Corked”

14 » the vine » Amy Collins

It’s important to understand cork taint. If you open a bottle athome you think might be flawed—maybe it’s the first timeyou’ve tasted the wine, or maybe it’s an old favorite that nolonger has the juicy fruit flavors you remember—it’s not a totalloss. The bad bottle can be returned to the store for credit, ora replacement bottle. Flawed wine will eventually be billedback to the producer, who takes full responsibility for theundrinkable product.

When eating in nice restaurants, if you order a bottle, thewaiter or sommelier will present the wine, pointing out thename of the wine, the type, and the vintage, then pour a tastefor the person who ordered the bottle. This is not to ask if youlike the wine, but to deem it “clean” and unflawed. If the winesmells musty, it’s likely corked, and should be denied. Usually,the next bottle will be fine. Occasionally, several bottles of thesame wine might be tainted, which is probably a larger prob-lem within the winery, as certain chlorine based cleaners canagitate TCA and infect an entire barrel or container. But thisis a rare case.

So as you practice detecting cork taint while wanderingthrough your neighbor’s basement or exploring that wet pile ofcardboard on the side of the road, remember, it takes time todevelop a sense memory. Meanwhile, embrace the screw capand rest assured your wine will be absent of wet dog. Here area few of my favorite screw-capped cuvées:

Beginner’s Sipper (under $20)Petit Chapeau Macon-Villages 2011—100% unoakedChardonnay. Medium body with good acidity and a natural richness. Classic (affordable) white Burgundy.

Knows Just Enough to Make Trouble ($20-$35)Walnut City Wine Works Pinot Noir 2010—super lightWillamette Valley cuvée with cherry fruit, good acidity,and soft tannins.

High Roller’s Cuveé ($50+)Palie Wine Co. ‘Windsor Oaks’ Pinot Noir 2010—classic Russian Rivery Valley Pinot, rich and powerful.A big wine for big drinkers.

Follow Amy, a North Alabamian, at

www.pigandvine.com for more stories

and wine suggestions.


16 » scene

Above: Carillon Club Afternoon Party The social service organization’s annual social event

for club members and friends

MAY 9, 2013 HOME OF JOANNE HORN, HUNTSVILLE

Below: Huntsville Derby Benefitting the Harris Home

MAY 8, 2013

Gwyn Potterand Joanne Horn

Amelia Summerville, and Brenda Milberger

Robin Jennings, Linda Powell,and Tomalyn Dombrowski

Sara Brock

Tabby Ragland

Diana Finley, Martha Collins,and Cathy Lee

Cindi Peters, Mary Ellen Peters,and Melinda Hamilton

John HearneMegan Fulton, Craig Paulus,and Cindi Peters

Everett & Melanie Brooks, and Pat & Bob Brooks

Bobsy Ingram, Kathy Ludwig

Michele Campbell, and Cathy Lee

Cindi Peters, Rebecca Rogers,and Carrie Burke

Leedy Aboudonia, Bonita Greene, and Pam Rhodes

Sid Pugh

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Lauren Battle and Carolyn Lankford

Photos Courtesy of Martha Collins


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Alexandra Parker (left) and Holly Rush dole out summer’s sweetest treat.

IT’S SUMMERTIME. School’s out. Schedules relax. Warm dayslinger. And if life weren’t sweet enough already, July is nationalice cream month. It’s the perfect excuse to celebrate with abowl (or two) of America’s favorite treat.

Sam and Greg’s on Huntsville’s Courthouse Square doesn’t makeice cream, they make gelato, and the very best of the best at that.

“Gelato has less air so it’s creamier, it has less butter fat, so it’shealthier, and it’s made with all natural ingredients,” says Samand Greg’s Holly Rush, the resident “gelato artist” who handselects ingredients from local farmers, Greene Street Market,and even her aunt’s pear tree.

“Right now we have honey goat cheese, lavender, fig walnut,peach Sriracha, blueberry sorbet…” Holly rattles off. “Of coursethere are traditional flavors like chocolate, vanilla, birthdaycake, and pistachio, but a lot of people get excited about try-ing something new and exotic. It’s like traveling to a differentcountry.”

The café was the dream of Sam Hathorn’s, who lived in Italyher senior year in high school as a military daughter and fell inlove with the gelato there. She eventually ended up inHuntsville as a graphic artist at Sirsi, where she met her hus-band Greg, a software engineer and company vice president.

“One day we just decided we’d had enough of the softwarebusiness,” says Greg. “This place came up for lease, and wedecided to go for it.”

TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEEPHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD


UPPINGTHECOOLFACTOR

SAM AND GREG HATHORN AREMAKING MORE THAN GELATOFOR DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE—THEY’RE MAKING AN IMPACT.

“We loved the square, and we wanted toopen an eatery, with pizza, coffee, and ofcourse gelato,” Sam adds.

That was in 2007, before downtown hadreally taken off. Many office buildingsremained vacant, and the few restau-rants that were open really only servedthe business crowd. But Sam and Greg,who live just five blocks away from theshop, put their faith and their pocket-book in the neighborhood. The couplelaunched a campaign to better down-town, even building a website to garnersupport. Their ideas generated front-page coverage in the Huntsville Times.

“For the first few years, we were keptopen by our neighborhood, by greatpeople who appreciate DowntownHuntsville,” says Sam. “Now we havepeople from all over.”

“Today, downtown is more vibrant,” addsGreg. “There’s more feet on the street.We have a really good following, andnow we’re open seven days a week. Wecouldn’t be more pleased.”

Sam and Greg have not just opened arestaurant, but have created a greatersense of community. On any given week,couples come in for date night, familiesstroll up from Big Spring Park, collegestudents hover over books, dogs stretchout on the patio, and children decoratethe front stoop with sidewalk chalk,while Holly and her co-worker Alexan-dra Parker dole out 36 gallons of gelato.

Holly, who is a philosophy and psychol-ogy student at UAH, understands thehealing power of the frozen treat and thelove that goes into making it.

“Gelato is very comforting,” she says. “It’sa bonding experience for families andcouples. It brings people together.”

Look for Sam and Greg’s new Madison

location opening soon.


The couple launcheda campaign to better

downtown, even building a website to

garner support.


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TEXT BY CLAIRE STEWART » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD & DANNY MITCHELLMUSIC COMMENTARY BY WILL WHALEY

Road trips and great music go hand-in-hand. So, when you hit the road this summer, we recommend you let these North Alabama musicians take you home. Read about ninenew acts who are well on their journey to the big time.

Grace & Tony · The Local Saints · MaryJustice Lucas · Cold Cold Sweats · The PolliesSaints Don’t Grieve · Matt Morrow · The Wildwood Ruminators · The Pyles

24 |

Grace &

Ton

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Because of their varied backgrounds, you would probably think Grace Shultzand Tony White’s paths would never cross, much less produce the musical marriageit did. After all, he was playing in a punk band out of Columbia, Tennessee and shewas playing in bluegrass bands in the same area. Tony admits to his admiration ofher music: “I had seen Grace play years ago, and I was not only impressed, I devel-oped a serious secret crush. When I noticed on Facebook that she was learningmandolin and banjo, I took a shot and asked her to come jam. We fell in love, andthe music just followed.”

Because they are from such different backgrounds, it is hard to believe how easily themusic comes to them, and even more remarkable to hear the unforced blending ofthe genres in each of their songs. They call this fusion “Punkgrass,” and it seems tofit appropriately. While Tony brings the rough melodies and riffs to the songwritingtable, Grace is able to fill in the rest with her narrative lyrics and foot-stomping banjopicking. “We think our sound definitely sets us apart—it is dark, yet happy; silly, yetserious; and it is a whole lot of fun to play,” Tony says.

Though they are from smaller towns in southern Tennessee, the duo started busk-ing together (playing for tips in public places) on the streets of downtown Nashville.They really had no idea where, if anywhere, their music career was going to go. “Itis a very unpredictable way to perform,” she says. “There were times when peoplewould pass by without even a glance, and other times a small group would gather,and we would play our hearts out hoping they would stay!”

One of those nights, a man asked them to play a song for him. Thirty seconds intothe song, he started messing with his phone. This peeved Grace and Tony a bit, untilhe admitted he was with Balcony TV, and he was texting his boss about how muchhe liked their music. “We were shocked! At this point in our career we weren’t evenable to book a concert in our own small town, but this TV producer wanted to fea-ture us on his show,” Tony says with a smile. From then on, things have only gone upfor the two. They received positive press last year when The Country Network inNashville began playing the video for their song, “Let You Down.” They later shottheir video for “November” in downtown Florence. The two wanted to make sure toget some shots inside Rivertown Coffee Company, where they were allowed to playbefore they were known in the Shoals music scene.

The songs on their first EP, Inside a 7 Track Mind, seem to tell stories, which Tonysays you can blame on Grace’s writing background. “She loves to read, especiallymurder mysteries. I think that is where the storybook style of our songs comes from.”The songs tell stories of murder, unrequited love, family shame, and infidelity. ThisMarch, they released their album November in their hometown and were finallyreceived with the sold-out concert they deserved.

With their music on the rise, they also have some great news in their personal lives—the two are set to be married on July 27 of this year.

“November”

This song gets its rootsfrom country pop, but asTony explains, the duo hasstarted a new genre:Punkgrass. Paying homageto artists such as LadyAntebellum, The BandPerry, and Little Big Town,Grace and Tony deliverwell-crafted song lyrics and a driving, upbeattempo with “November.”Grace and Tony’s harmonyalso pays tribute toanother Shoals band, The Civil Wars. Maybethere’s a reason? Tony andJohn Paul White, from TheCivil Wars, are brothers.


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Growing up in an area so rich with Muscle Shoals music definitely helpedThe Local Saints find their niche in the Shoals. Though it took each of the mem-bers a little time to travel and play with a few other bands, Jamie McFarlane, RobMcFarlane, Justin Holder, Chad Burdine, and Zach Walton seem to have found theirperfect rhythm in The Local Saints.

After graduating from high schools around the Shoals, each of these members wenttheir own way in the music world. Justin, Rob, and Jamie played in bands through-out Alabama and North Carolina, usually backing up other musicians. Chad playedfor three years with the band Eyes Around and even went on a USO Tour throughJapan and South Korea with the band Halo Stereo. Zach grew up in Rogersville andstarted playing keyboard for bands like The Late Blumers and Pine Street Jams in theShoals. But early last year, the homegrown Shoals boys came together to create whatthey now agree is their main project, as well as their favorite.

The inspiration for the band’s unusual name comes from the members’ parents, allof whom are pastors or active members in their church. Rob says, “Growing up in theBible Belt will make you feel like you need to be little saints all the time.” Though theyadmit they may not carry the same ‘saintly’ qualities as their parents, they can’t denytheir upbringing made them the musicians they are now. “Muscle Shoals musiciansDavid Hood and Roger Hawkins have played a big part in my musical development,”Jamie says. “Being able to watch them record during my younger years influenced megreatly.” The two McFarlane brothers come by their talent pretty naturally though:their father, Will, is one of the original members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Sec-tion. Both Rob and Jamie credit him as one of their biggest influences.

The Local Saints pride themselves on incorporating some of that Muscle Shoalssound into their music—with a twist. Chad tries to sum it up as “Muscle Shoalsmeets indie rock with a love ballad or two.” They also attribute much of their sub-ject matter to their upbringing in the Shoals. “We sing about life and love, andsometimes whiskey, and we might throw in a dog or a train, or an angry girl, becausewe are from the South and that is how we live,” they joke.

Earlier this year, The Local Saints were able to perform at The Stage On Sixth Patio inAustin, Texas, as part of The Muscle Shoals Showcase at the South by Southwest Fes-tival, along with other artists from the area. They agreed it was a great experienceprofessionally and personally because it was an amazing way to represent their home-town.

Their latest EP, released this April, was met with huge support at their album releaseparty, which featured music from Dillon Hodges and The Bear, as well. Now thatthey are back in the studio, drummer Justin Holder says that is where the bandshines. “I love our sessions in the studio. Performing live is a momentary thing, buta recording is forever, and I love that.” They are back in the studio for a while andrecording music for their next project at Noiseblock Studio with the help of ChrisBethea and Matt Johnson.

“Our goal is to get out there and let the music do what it does,” Jamie says. “We def-initely don’t want to hold back, and we hope to create something special. This projectis all or nothing for us.” While these guys have ventured through many musicalendeavors in the past, all of the members agree that being able to play with theirbest friends is a pretty sweet gig.

The Local Saints, from left to right: Chad Burdine, Jamie McFarlane, Justin Holder (in back),Zach Walton (in front), and Rob McFarlane

“Don’t Stop Now”

This upbeat song conveys a positive message and ispresented with a Southernrock flair. In fact, the vocalsremind you of Aaron Lewis,from Staind, on more of acountry rock level. It’s acatchy piece and the lis-tener won’t want tostop…listening to TheLocal Saints.


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You could say MaryJustice Lucas started at a young age—but because she’sonly 18 now, it wasn’t all that long ago. You could also say she came by her talent nat-urally: she remembers going to see plays from the Broadway Theatre League whenshe was as young as three, and she heard Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Patty Griffin,Etta James, Elvis Presley, and Journey being played throughout her childhood. Shewrote her first song when she was five. Her mother would pick her up from daycare,and as she belted out some of her own lyrics in the backseat, her mom started towrite them down. Eventually, she started to sing them into a pocket stereo recorder.It was no surprise when she started performing her music for live audiences in cof-feehouses when she was 11…but after all, that was only seven years ago.

Though she just turned 18, don’t be fooled by her age; she has accomplished a lot inher few years on the music scene. She won first place for songwriting at the Moun-tain Valley Arts competition, placed in the top ten in the 2010 iSing! Competition inLos Angeles when she was just 14, and most recently won multiple awards at theNorth American Country Music Association competition in Pigeon Forge last year.She was named 2012 Rising Star CD of the Year, 2012 Songwriter of the Year, and2012 Female Entertainer of the Year. “Every time my name was called, I thought I wasdreaming,” she confesses, “and that is something I will never forget!” One of herbiggest honors was being invited to open for Jim Parker’s Songwriter Showcase at theVBC Playhouse last year—which she reveals she did with a 102 degree fever. “I wasNOT going to cancel opening this show,” she says. “I don’t remember anything fromwhen I performed, but I was told I did well!”

She recently finished up an EP of original songs, and she had some good companyto help—another one of our featured artists, Matt Morrow. She brags a little on herfriend: “My oh-so-talented singer/songwriter friend Matt Morrow was so kind todo a little arranging, recording, and engineering, as well as adding some instru-mentals and a couple harmonies to the tracks.” Matt and MaryJustice have donemultiple shows together around North Alabama and seem to have perfectly blendedvocals when they team up on songs. “Matt hears my songs the way I do,” she admits“so he just adds a little ‘kick’ to them.”

MaryJustice has had a big start to her career at such an early age, but her goal is justto stay on the path she is on now. “I write and I sing because I can’t stop. It’s part ofme. It’s like oxygen for me. Even if I only sing in coffee shops for the rest of my life,as long as I continue to write songs that make people feel something, then I amhappy.” We can hardly wait to see what the next 18 years will bring.

“So Much More”

MaryJustice Lucas’s voice is sweet and pure and sounds a little likeartists Priscilla Ahn, NorahJones, Missy Higgins, andAlison Krauss. MaryJusticepulls inspiration from theacoustic and vocal soundsthat portray an intimate,personal setting and especially with “So Much More.”


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Cold Cold Sweats, front row: Quinn Stanphill, Siler Head, and Rhyal Knight; Back row: Davis Sandlin and Luke Wright

You may have heard this group of guys perform under the name RhyalKnight Band, or you may recognize them from a performance under their currentmoniker, Cold Cold Sweats. The group that began life as the Rhyal Knight Band hasreinvented itself with a couple of new members. But if the names are tough to keeptrack of, just close your eyes and concentrate on the music—there is a distinct dif-ference in the Cold Cold Sweats.

In late June of 2010, as RKB, three of these band members shared the stage for thefirst time together at the Spirit of Freedom Celebration at McFarland Park. After animpressive show that received copious praise, the group hit the studio at the end ofthe year and recorded their debut LP, In Transit. The group gigged around the South-east for a year, in between going to classes at their respective colleges, and soonbegan writing new material with a fresh vibe. They put out a 4-track EP, Good Vibes,and decided on the name Cold Cold Sweats. The official members of the currentband are Rhyal Knight, Siler Head, Davis Sandlin, Quinn Stanphill, and Luke Wright.

The Cold Cold Sweats say they thrive on their distinctiveness. “We dig up inspira-tion from our passion for creating groovy, never-before-heard sounds,” says Quinn.Though the group says they are influenced by groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers,John Mayer, and Radiohead, the group is looking to bring something completely dif-ferent to this area. “I would say we fall into the AAA [adult album alternative] genre,because of our indie rock and alternative influences,” guitarist Siler Head explains.“While our sound originated with Americana influences, it has since evolved into amore rock format.” As for the new name, it was chosen to better represent the newsound the band has. “It reflects the new edge AAA, with an ambient electric soundand soulful lyrics” says Siler.

However you define their sound, fans seem to love it. Last year, the group was askedto play at the Sowega Georgia Throwdown, where they brushed elbows with otherbig-name acts like Drive-By Truckers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Earlier this year, the groupplayed at Birmingham-Southern’s SOCO Music Fest before country star Jerrod Nie-mann. Another exciting moment for the Cold Cold Sweats was when their song“Whisper” began circulating on well-read music blogs around the Nashville area.

Right now, the group is recording a full-length album at Gary Baker’s NoiseblockStudio, courtesy of Singing River Records, with the engineering help of Chris Bethea.Rhyal says this is a really great time for the group and things can only get better. “Weare sitting on a pile of new material with fresh sounds that will be a bit of a depar-ture from our previous releases; we’re incorporating bigger, more ambient soundsinto our tunes,” he says. “We are really excited to be operating under our new bandname and plan on using the name change as a chance to experiment with newsounds in the studio and redefine our musical image.”

“Whisper”

The driving acoustics andSouthern rock undertoneswill make you want to singalong to “Whisper.” ColdCold Sweats really show offtheir guitarist’s skills in thispiece and showcase ablend of different genres:funk, Southern rock, andsoul—all from a singer whowill remind you of artistslike John Mayer and AdamDuritz of Counting Crows.


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There are a lot of words you could use to describe Where the Lies Begin, ThePollies’ debut album. Brooding. Daring. Haunting. Bold. All of these would work.But two things you can’t say about it is that it was hasty or thoughtless—this albumis the culmination of years of musical introspection.

Where the Lies Begin slowly evolved in the back of the minds of Jay Burgess andChris James for years as they played together in bands throughout the area. Theywere so familiar with one another’s creative process, the music just seemed to flowthrough them when they wrote together. And although Jay and Chris loved the songstheir writing sessions produced, the songs didn’t feel appropriate for the bands theywere playing with at the time. So when their respective bands decided to take a break,Jay and Chris used their free time to perfect their side work. Where the Lies Begin isthe result. It runs the gamut of emotions and life experiences of youth—everythingfrom melancholy love ballads to upbeat tunes about coming home from a longabsence. Chris sums up the long process of writing the album in just a few words:“After that break, we spent a couple years refining the songs and recordings, startedplaying shows, went through a few line-up changes, and ended with a solid group oftalented friends.” All of that labor developed into what we now know as The Pollies.

Those talented friends Chris mentions are Matt Green, Reed Watson, and DanielStoddard, and though their first album was released in 2012, the group has alreadyreceived rave reviews from fans, critics, and fellow musicians. Brittany Howard of theAlabama Shakes says The Pollies’ album is one of her favorites. “They sound like aclassic band living in their own time zone,” she says. And recently, Relix magazinesaid Where the Lies Begin “blends seamlessly into a jaded, almost traditional coun-try sound of fear and loathing in the South.” All of the great press also allowed themto get an invitation to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in 2012 and2013, as well as book multiple shows across the country.

Now, the band is playing music fests throughout the Southeast. Drummer Reed Wat-son said the group is “writing material for a second record, tentatively scheduled tobe released in early 2014, and daily trying to think of some cool ways to make NorthAlabama a more creative and fun place to live.”

Plans for the future of the group? Chris says all they can do is stay consistent withthe work they have been doing. “I know what I would like to see for our group, butas far as what will actually happen, I have no idea. The music business is unpre-dictable. As long as we are moving in a forward direction, and we are, I think we aredoing okay.”

The Pollies, from left to right: Chris James, Daniel Stoddard, Jay Burgess, Reed Watson, and Matt Green

“Something New”

The Pollies have a newalternative country rocksound that reminds you ofartists like Glossary, DocDailey and Magnolia Devil,and Patterson Hood. The Pollies bring a certaincountry rocker edge totheir music and vocals, and “Something New”brings just what the titlepromises.


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Saints Don’t Grieve may be the youngest group featured this year, but theyare definitely not to be overlooked.

For the last year and a half, Joshua Hill, Noah Fowler, Samuel Sharples, and DanielNeely have been playing their music anywhere and everywhere they can. At somepoints they even said they would play anywhere that was providing free food. Butafter showing off their musical talent around North Alabama, people began to takethem seriously, and now, Noah says, they have one of the best followings of any localband in Huntsville.

Saints Don’t Grieve began with Daniel and Josh playing together at local coffee shops,festivals, and fundraisers. They were approached about recording a demo CD at oneof the gigs, and slowly the wheels began to turn on their path toward a real career inmusic. After this encounter, they stayed up all night to write two original songs andbegan to book more shows to get their name out. The duo then invited Noah andSam to be in their stage band and eventually brought them into the group that isnow Saints Don’t Grieve. Just last year, Josh entered the Alabama Talent Hunt com-petition as a solo act and asked the rest of the members to perform with him as hisband. Josh won the grand prize—thanks to a little help from his friends.

Though none of the members are over the age of 18, they make up in musical expe-rience what they may lack in age. The group has studied music theory together forthe last couple of years and attended numerous all-state band competitions together,as well as a few all-state choir competitions and festivals. Whenever possible, thegroup says they are working on their music. “All clichés aside, we live and breathemusic. It is how we think.” Daniel says, “There was one time that we tried to write apiece while listening to a tornado siren, just because we couldn’t stop obsessing overthe question, ‘What note is that siren blaring right now?’”

Their ages are reflected in their musical influences as well. The group says they aremost inspired by, and aspire to be like, Coldplay, Mumford and Sons, Mae, and JohnMayer, simply because those are the musicians they grew up hearing. The groupagrees they have been very fortunate for the help they have been given from theirfans and families during their short time in the music scene. Recently, they werelucky enough to work with Grammy-nominated producer Tony Wachter, which theysay was a really exciting experience. The group just re-released their debut EP, At

Least For Now, and they are currently working on a full-length album, tentativelytitled Day of Redemption.

This May, three of the four Saints graduated from high school and are now gearingup for their freshman year of college. And don’t worry, they won’t lose the musicbug too soon—Sam will be majoring in music technology, Josh will be studying vocalperformance and commercial music, and Daniel will be studying electrical engi-neering with a focus in studio work.

Saints Don’t Grieve, from left to right: Sam Sharples, Joshua Hill, Daniel Neely, and Noah Fowler

“Breathe in Deep”

This song has an inspiringtone, with its upliftinglyrics and driving acoustics,and has a country pop feelbehind it. The harmoniesare well-crafted and addjust the right touch for themessage that the song isconveying. Saints Don’tGrieve sound a lot likeother folk and alternativeartists, including a MuscleShoals hit-maker fromanother generation: BobDylan.


36 |

Matt M

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Every artist probably says their beginnings in music were a little awkwardand strange, but we don’t think anyone can touch Matt Morrow’s first introductionto music: in the funeral home owned by his great aunt. When he was eight years old,he was running around the funeral home when he decided to play the pianos andorgans that were scattered through the building. He played some chords and madeup songs until he realized he really liked to sing. Matt admits it was a strange sightto see. “I was this little solemn child making up music on the funeral home organ. Iam sure it seemed kinda creepy.”

But ever since the banging and clanging on the organs, he seems to have found hisvoice through other artists, events in the news, and the perspectives of the peoplearound him. “I was first inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen,” hesays. “I tried to write like them, but I was never good at that grand, poetic style—andI definitely couldn’t do it when I was 15 and 16,” he says. Instead, he discovered artistslike Patty Griffin, Bruce Springsteen, and Tom Waits and learned from their ways ofstorytelling through music. “Those three in particular write a lot from the perspec-tives of other people, which is something I really like to do,” he says. “It’s not personalconfessional, autobiographical stuff for me 100% of the time.”

“Anyone who has heard my music can tell you I am much more inspired by tragedythan by happiness. I don’t make music for fun, light-hearted times.”

But Antje Duvekot, a fellow singer/songwriter who has played a few shows withMatt, says this quality is something unique and beautiful. “While ‘heartfelt’ is a sadlyoverused word, Matt’s music is truly that. Matt’s songs and vocals are utterly heart-felt and heart-breaking and will move you and just generally set your heartaching—in that good, yearning kind of way. There is an incredibly authentic, vul-nerable, and simultaneously passionate edge to Matt’s music,” according to Antje.

Right now, Matt is still playing shows behind his current album Burlap and Gold

which he says is a “Southern Gothic” collection of stories told from the perspectivesof the ordinary men and women of his small Southern town. While this album isstill in keeping with his tried-and-true darker folk melodies, he says his newer workhas been a little lighter and very different to write because it deals with more inter-personal relationships. He says, “I write music that I would listen to, and so I hopethat other people will like it as well. That is the point of music to me—a connectionwith others through art.”

Matt is also working on a song cycle about the ghosts that live in his house. “Whetherthat will ever see the light of day, I don’t know,” he jokes.

Whether he is strumming sad stories on the guitar or talking about the angry wid-owed spirit in his attic, we know his audience will be hanging on every word.

“Things You Can’tGet Back”

Matt Morrow has the sadcountry pop song down.“Things You Can’t GetBack” consists of simplevocals with a small hint ofbackground harmoniesand acoustic guitar, theperfect combination forMatt’s melancholy lyrics.


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The Wildwood Ruminators say they met pretty organically—Drummer Mal-colm Singleton knew vocalist Eddie Martin for 11 years before he introduced Eddieto guitarist Tony Lee. Eddie then brought electric guitarist John Jackson into themix, and Tony brought in bass player Bill Williams. They met just like any group offriends with common interests, but they all agree that what happened from thatpoint on was anything but ordinary.

“There is an amazing creative energy that surrounds us when we write music,” saysMalcolm. “Every time we work on a song together, it blows my mind.” This kind ofenergy surrounding them is what keeps The Wildwood Ruminators going. All of themembers say they find their creativity through their bandmates. “I find inspirationto write songs by just wanting to hear Tony, John, Malcolm, and Bill play them,” saysEddie. “It always keeps me motivated to keep writing.”

Maybe you can blame all that creative energy on their varied musical backgrounds.Eddie and Malcolm have worked together in the past on pop and rock solo albums.John Jackson was the leader in the pop/punk band Jessica’s Mistake, and Tony hasworked with and performed with some of the best in the bluegrass and Celtic musicrealms. “Multifarious,” Tony says, describes their sound in one word. “Fortunately,each of our backgrounds provides enough talent and ability among us to feign dif-ferent musical styles while staying true to each of our own roots.” With little dashesof funk, pop, rock, jazz, and folk, the group likes to say they would classify themselvesas “roots-y Americana.” Eddie says they are eclectic mainly because they are so song-oriented, “The song is king with The Wildwood Ruminators.”

Though Eddie writes most of the songs, the members say the effort in the creativeprocess is split evenly among the whole group. Everyone is excited and enthusiasticabout the songwriting process. It’s an incredibly unique and supportive creative envi-ronment. When the group sits down to write, one thing is for sure—there is a constantcommitment from each member to put their all into each song.

Right now, the Ruminators are working on their newest album, which they say willbe more intimate with ample amounts of acoustic tracks. The group has actuallyhad to remove songs from the list of potential tracks because each day they makenew music they love even more than the music they made the day before. They allagree that is a pretty good problem to have.

Because of all the music that pours out of these five gentlemen, it doesn’t look likethey will be slowing down anytime soon. But staying together and writing musicseems to be the best thing they can do. Eddie says the band is everything to him: “Insome very tangible way, I feel as though this band saved my life. If it seems we aregenuinely happy to be on stage together, it is because it is the honest truth. Webelieve in this truth, and it is a powerful thing!”

The Wildwood Ruminators, from left to right: Tony Lee, Malcolm Singleton, Eddie Martin,John Jackson, and Bill Williams (not pictured)

“Reckless Lies”

It's not a country song if itdoesn't tell a story about alost love or the wrong love.In "Reckless Lies," EddieMartin's doleful lyrics provide all that and more,and when paired with The Wildwood Ruminators’rock-flavored melodies,you have a recipe for theperfect country ballad.


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Hair and Makeup for Kimi Samson and Jessica Rothstein by Tabitha Creekmore Hanson

“Neo-Traditional Future-Primitive Folk” is kind of a mouthful, especially whenit comes to classifying the simple and poignant melodies created by The Pyles. Eventhose without a keen ear for musicality will recognize the talent on display in ThePyles’ beautiful mix of smooth voices, cello, and violin—with a little ukulele thrownin for fun.

Though this group identifies as Shoals artists and are current residents, their band’sbeginnings happened about 900 miles north. W. Cullen Stewart, from Killen, was liv-ing in Philadelphia in 2009 when he met and began dating Jessica Rothstein. Thetwo immediately started playing together and called themselves The Pyles—a nod toGoober and Gomer Pyle, who were formative characters in Cullen’s childhood. Atthat point, they were only using ukulele, guitar, and vocals to make their fun andupbeat songs (which can be found across Youtube.com). Soon, Jessica’s cousin,Albert Rothstein, who was also living in Philadelphia, took an interest in the duo’smusic. Coincidentally, he played drums—and planted the seed in their head toexpand the group. Cullen and Jessica moved back to the Shoals and got in touchwith Kimi Samson and Danley Murner, who had played with Machinery of theNight, and Doc Daily and Magnolia Devils. Kimi taught Danley to play cello and thetwo seemed like the perfect addition to the new sound of The Pyles. After manytrips back and forth, cousin Albert moved to the Shoals this past January to playdrums for the group.

Though many of the members have been playing music in other realms for a while,the group admits they are still a “baby band,” especially when it comes to the richmusical talent in North Alabama. The group’s inspiration come from all over, butthey attribute a lot to the artists that surround them here. “Our peers inspire us,”Stewart says. “We have the privilege of being surrounded by amazing songwritersand musicians who really drive us and inspire us.”

The group is in the studio right now. The song “When You Were Mine” wasrecorded, cut, and mixed especially for the No’Ala album, so you will have to waituntil later this year for more of The Pyles’ music. The group plans to release an EPthis summer and hopefully follow it with a full-length album by the fall.

We anticipate the group to begin the fall with more foot-stomping, rhythm-driventunes that are fun to watch and fun to listen to. No matter if the songs are abouthappy days or setbacks, relationship nostalgia or the joy of meeting someone new,The Pyles agree their work always begins with the story. “Sometimes the chord pro-gressions create the beginnings of a song, and sometimes it is a few lines for thechorus, but no matter where we start, everything with The Pyles takes a backseat tothe story,” Stewart says. “Everyone brings their contributions to editing and arrange-ment and the raw product gets turned in a way that extols that story. If the words getin the way, we take them out. If the guitar gets in the way, we get rid of it. Tell thestory. That’s it.”

The Pyles, from left to right: Danley Murner, Kimi Samson, Albert Rothstein, Jessica Rothstein, and W. Cullen Stewart

“When You Were Mine”

There’s nothing like an old-time bluegrass ballad,and “When You Were Mine”starts off just that way. The vocals also keep thistheme and sound going,especially when they sur-prise you with their tightharmony. The Pyles makemusic that reminds you ofgroups such as The CivilWars and Little Big Town.


42 » market » Claire Stewart » Photos by Ian McCalister

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SHAWNA P HAS A VOICE. A BIG, SOULFULVOICE—WITH A PERSONALITY TO MATCH.

“I was born in Alabama, just outside of Muscle Shoals,” shebelts in her song “Sister Soul.” “Same day Aretha was down theroad laying down the soul. Something jumped off on me; I gotBaptized in the groove; tapped in time to nursery rhymes; themusic made me move.”

North Alabama native Shawna P, as she’s known to fans, is thekind of person who opens up immediately, winning peopleover with her unforgettable sound and infectious spirit. Thisspring, she had the opportunity to share a little of her soul withmillions of viewers on NBC’s The Voice, Season 4, where shemade it to the top 32 out of 50,000 talented hopefuls.

The Voice is different from other reality music shows becausesingers are selected based on their talent alone; celebritycoaches cannot see them perform, only hear them. If thejudges like the voice, they press a button which turns theirchair around, indicating they want the artist on their team. Ifmore than one judge presses their button and turns around,the artist has the power to decide. When Shawna P sang “SheTalks to Angels,” at the blind auditions, both Adam Levine andShakira turned their chairs around. Shawna P chose TeamShakira and went on to perform Janis Joplin’s “Piece of MyHeart” in the Battle Round and Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’mAmazed” in the Knock Out Round.

During her performances, Usher compared Shawna P’s voiceto fine wine; Blake Shelton said it was smoky, raspy and fun tolisten to; Adam Levine called it “bad ass,” Shakira said she hasperfect pitch and control; and Carson Daily said the queen offunk has been found. So even though she lost to contestantSasha Allen in the Knock Out Round just before the live shows,Shawna P came back to her Alabama home on cloud nine.

TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY PATRICK HOOD

Shawna P’s album, EarthFunk Muzik


“I never dreamed in a thousand years that I would make it asfar as I did,” says Shawna P. “Things have catapulted since then.”

Shawna P’s album has sold out on cdbaby.com; some of herold friends in Nashville have reached out to her again; she’sgotten offers from Signature Smiles and others for free serv-ices; she’s a guest news correspondent for Mobile’s NBCaffiliate station; and her recording of “She Talks to Angels”made it to the top 200 on iTunes.

“I don’t think there’s a 45-year-old singer out there with a top200 song on iTunes,” Shawna P says.

Most performers who make it in the music industry are intheir 20s, if not younger, i.e., Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. SoShawna P’s age was definitely a factor in the competition,where she was twice as old as most of the contestants. And itwas one of the reasons she picked Shakira as her coach.

“The only country where age matters is the U.S.,” says ShawnaP. “The other countries like music for music. Shakira has aworldwide fan base, she’s sold more albums worldwide thanany other judge, and I wanted to tap into that.”

One of Shawna P’s biggest goals for being on the show waspromoting her album, Earth Funk Muzik, produced in MuscleShoals with Mojo Filter at FAME in 2011.

“I started it in Nashville, but I had to come to Muscle Shoals toget the sound right,” she says.

Shawna P has been singing her entire life, and she’s had a longroad of ups and downs, promises and heartbreaks that comewith pursuing a career in one of the toughest industries.

“I was born in Florence and moved to Lawrence County andthen Decatur,” says Shawna P. “The music heritage up here isso unbelievably rich. I was born around the time they wererecording all the music here, ‘Mustang Sally,’ ‘When a ManLoves a Woman.’ My mom and dad always took me to con-certs and shows when I was little. When I was eight years old,they took me to see Elvis in Huntsville. When I saw Elvis, itwas crazy, it totally changed my life. I knew I had to go intomusic.”

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Shawna Pcame home and produced a gospel album and moved to

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“I STARTED [MY ALBUM] IN NASHVILLE, BUT I HAD TO COME TOMUSCLE SHOALS TO GET THE SOUND RIGHT.” SHAWNA P

During the blind auditions, both AdamLevine and Shakira expressed interest inShawna P, below. Shawna eventually choseShakira to be her coach.

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“I WANT TO DO FESTIVALS,AND I WANT TO COACHYOUNG ARTISTS ON HOWTO AUDITION ON SHOWSLIKE THE VOICE ANDAMERICAN IDOL.”


Nashville to promote it. She got a recorddeal, but it fell through, so she left herdream for more than a decade for asteady IT job.

“But then my next-door neighbor, whowas a country rapper named Chan,asked me to sing back up in the MuzikMafia,” Shawna P recalls. “That’s where Icame alive again. I realized I was a goodwriter.”

The Muzik Mafia was a collection ofartists in Nashville who helped supporteach other through writing and per-forming.

“They kind of gave the finger to themusic industry,” says Shawna P, “andsaid, ‘we’re gonna do this on our own.’”

It was in the Muzik Mafia that Shawna Pgot to share a stage with George Clinton,Kid Rock, Gretchen Wilson, and Big andRich, and what led to a publishing dealas a salaried staff writer.

Shawna P developed partnerships withSESAC Songwriter of the Year RegieHamm and songwriter and keyboardistTim Akers, who has recorded with Ras-cal Flatts, Faith Hill, and Keith Urban.The trio wrote “Sister Soul,” “AlabamaTears,” and “Broken” which are on hernew album.

“As a staff songwriter, you have to getyourself in the mindset that you have towrite every day,” says Shawna P. “I preferto write fresh and in the moment. Itmakes for more powerful songs. You’revery fortunate as a writer if you can findsomeone you write with well. I had somemagical collaborations.”

Shawna P left Nashville in 2006 for Mis-sissippi for another record deal, but thatlater fell through. But Shawna P, who is avery spiritual person, always sees theblessings through the disappointments.

“The record company ran out of money,but I found my husband there, which isa beautiful thing,” she says.

Shawna P and her husband opted for afresh start in Orange Beach, where theyplay together in their band Shawna P

and the Earth Funk Tribe. They gained a name for themselvesalong the Gulf Coast, mostly playing popular bars like theFlora-Bama and Seville Quarter. It was in Orange Beach wherea friend called to tell her The Voice was hosting private audi-tions at a studio in Memphis.

“My friend videoed me singing on a boat dock on Ono Islandand sent it to the studio,” says Shawna P. “They called me foran audition, and the rest is history.”

So in September, Shawna was off to Los Angeles for tapings ofThe Voice.

“I pulled up and there were over 50 people in the lobby withguitars, violins, singing harmony,” says Shawna P. “It felt likehome.”

From September through April, Shawna P was in LA off andon. The show paid for her airfare, room and board, and gaveher a stipend for each recording. She endured 15-hour days,

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with band rehearsals and local coaching, all to prepare for a90-second song on air.

“When I sang, it was 90 seconds of normal for me,” saysShawna P. “I loved the energy that was there in LA. I feel likeI’m 20 years old again. I’m so energized.”

Now that she’s back at home, Shawna P, the eternal optimistand believer, is doing some soul-searching, contemplating hernext move.

“I want to do festivals, and I want to coach young artists onhow to audition on shows like The Voice and American Idol,”says Shawna P.

And above all, she just wants to keep making music.

“I want to bring people together through music,” says Shawna P.“I want to Earth Funk the world, to spread peace and unity. Mymusic is its own genre. It’s just what comes out of my soul.”

“WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, [MY PARENTS] TOOK ME TO SEEELVIS IN HUNTSVILLE. WHEN I SAW ELVIS, IT WAS CRAZY, IT TOTALLYCHANGED MY LIFE. I KNEW I HAD TO GO INTO MUSIC.” SHAWNA P

During the battle round, Shawna P andfellow competitor Brandon Roush, far left, lis-ten the judges’ feedback with host CarsonDaily. Shawna went on to win this match.


PHOTOS BY ARMOSA STUDIOSTEXT BY ALLEN TOMLINSON


The ceremony tookplace on the steps ofthe Burritt Mansion,a beautiful spot witha spectacular viewof the city ofHuntsville.

ON A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN MAY, friends and family of Chelsea Turner andChance Mitchell gathered at Burritt on the Mountain for one of the most talked-about weddings in NorthAlabama. It was the end of a long and sometimes hectic journey to get everything ready for this perfectday; it was also the beginning of a beautiful and happy life together.

Chelsea was radiant; Chance was beaming. There was fabulous food, wonderful music, stunning florals,laughter, and tears of joy. The couple worked so hard to get ready for this day, with the help of some veryspecial friends, beginning with the preparation of their winning Inspiration Board, which started them onthis whirlwind; they had blogged about the process at every step. This was the day it all led up to; this wastheir Perfect Wedding.

You are cordially invited to take a look at all of the details that came together to create Alabama’s PerfectWedding. There was magic on the mountain that day…

PreparationUnless you’ve been through this, it’s hard to appreciate all of the hundreds of details that go into puttingtogether a wedding. Chance and Chelsea had an idea of the type of wedding they wanted, and the groundsof the Burritt Mansion provided the backdrop of their dreams. Baron Bluff, the newest addition to theBurritt property, is an expansive event center that was designed with the bridal party in mind, and Chelseaand her bridesmaids had plenty of room to get ready. The groom and his groomsmen, along with theassembled families and friends, could walk the grounds and take in the spectacular views of the city of


Beautiful flowers, beautiful music, beautiful couple…for the assembled guests, it seemed as if everything flowed effortlessly. No one knew how much work was involved to make the day so perfect, but wedding stylist Jordyn Deanand the Perfect Wedding Partners worked for months to make it so.

The Perfect Wedding


Musicians from the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra provided the music for the bridal ceremony. Wes and TeraWages, from Armosa Studios, and Chris Anderson, a videographer from Up Down Studios, captured the specialmoments for eternity.

58 | NOALAPRESS.COM | JULY/AUGUST 2013

Huntsville, down below. There was bright sunshine, a relief after a day that hadthreatened rain; the afternoon could not have been better for an outdoor event.

The days leading up to this Sunday had been a whirlwind. There were so many deci-sions to make, but wedding stylist Jordyn Dean has helped brides do this before. (Infact, Jordyn and her husband, Bradley, were married at Burritt on the Mountain fouryears earlier, so she was very familiar with this ideal location.) Save-the-date cardsand invitations, designed and printed by Magpie Photo/Design were created andmailed weeks earlier. Chelsea and one of her bridesmaids, Savannah Smith, hand-sewed all of the groomsmen’s bowties, using a pattern Savannah had and workinginto the wee hours of the morning. It hadn’t been all hard work, though: Artz Stu-dios hosted a wine and painting class for Chelsea and her bridesmaids a week beforethe wedding day, and the girls had time to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and pre-pare for the big day. The night before, all seven bridesmaids spent the night atChelsea’s house and had attended a bridesmaid brunch at Chelsea’s aunt’s house thatmorning. Those special time-outs helped prepare everyone for the day of primpingand preparation for the wedding itself.

Chelsea could hear the crowd gathering as she and her bridal party dressed and gotready. Natalie Faggioni went to work, designing the bride and bridesmaids’ makeup,and Jeff Johnson, of Terramé Day Spa and Salon, styled their hair. Chelsea has beau-tiful natural coloring, and Natalie enhanced it with subtle brushstrokes and carefullyapplied makeup, while Jeff styled her long blonde hair and arranged the veil. Severaldays earlier, both Chelsea and Chance had received Kör Teeth Whitening Systemsfrom Signature Smile, and every bridesmaid and groomsman received Sheer Whitekits.

“At one point, I was in the Bridal Room and I could hear Chance and some of theguys outside chatting,” Chelsea later wrote. “I got so excited that he was there. Fromthat moment on, it was a whirlwind of emotions.”

As the guests continued to arrive, caterers and the florists from In Bloom were put-ting the finishing touches on the food and decor. It was almost time; the PerfectWedding was about to begin.

The CeremonyThe guests were in place, and it was time for the ceremony to start. To the sounds ofa harp and wooden flute, played by Huntsville Symphony Orchestra musiciansKatherine Newman and Evelyn Loehrlein, Chelsea began the walk toward the stepsof the Burritt Mansion on her father’s arm. This was the audience’s first time to seethe bride that day, and she was stunning in her dress from Finery, a strapless gownwith a long, layered, ruffled train and a simple belt embellished with beads and pearls.In Bloom designed a bouquet made of beautiful flowers, including peonies from hergrandmother’s garden and selections from their own private garden, in pink tones,bright yellows, and creams, and all of the bridesmaids carried smaller versions of thebride’s. The floral theme was repeated on a lattice behind the musicians.

“The ceremony was a dream,” said Chelsea. “I can remember the happy looks on ourfriends’ and families’ faces. Our preacher kept things Gospel-focused and talkedabout the commitment we were making and what it really meant. We said our vows

The Perfect Wedding


The Perfect Wedding


Magpie Studio/Design created the save-the-date-cards and wedding invitations. Aboveright: Chelsea and her mother hand paintedtiny pots and planted succulent plants, givento each guest as a keepsake. Bottom right:Instead of a guest book, those attending thewedding signed a globe, a symbol of the couple’s love of travel.


The Perfect Wedding


The bridal party shares a happy moment for the camera.

The Perfect Wedding


Left: Chelsea’s wedding gown, from Finery,featured a strapless design and a flowingtrain. Above: Wedding bands from Grogan’sJewelers. Above right: Chelsea’s jewelry andhair pieces. Below, right: Chelsea and herfriend, Savannah, hand made the bowties forthe groom and groomsmen, and In Bloomcreated the boutonnieres.


Even though every member of the bridalparty was beautiful, they were made evenmore so by Natalie Faggioni (above), whodesigned their makeup, and Jeff Johnson, ofTerramé (right), who styled their hair.

The Perfect Wedding

The Perfect Wedding

JULY/AUGUST 2013 | NOALAPRESS.COM | 69

Above: The weddingcake, from Belle FleurCatering & Floral, wasas delicious as it wasbeautiful. Above right:Vintage dinnerwarewas provided by Decorous Dishes, andthe linens and glass-ware came from AllNeedz. Below right:The groom’s cake,from Tastebuds, was ared velvet cake with achocolate ganacheicing, covered withchocolate fondant.

Betty Lankfordwith Catering Events

MENU(facing page)

Herb-Encrusted Pork TenderloinCrostini with Boursin Cheese

and Caramelized Onion

Gourmet Cheese and Seasonal Fruit

Sweet Potato Barwith Maple Syrup, Brown Sugar,

Marshmallows, and Nuts

Brie Chutney Tartlets

Roasted Corn Salsa Tartlets

Open Face Tomato Sandwicheswith Herb Mayo

Spring Tea Punch

The Perfect Wedding

What’s for Supper?MENU

Sautéed Shrimp Cupswith Pureed Eggplant and Sweet

Carrot/Anise Reduction

Beef Bourguignon Crepes

Shrimp and Mushroom Crepes

Chopped Arugula Saladin Balsamic Vinaigrette

Fresh Fruit and Cheeses

Herb Cheese Lyonnaise Dip

Goat Cheese and Basil Dip

Mint Citrus Punch


Chefs to GoMENU

Spinach Micro-Green Saladwith Strawberries, Avocado,

Salted Bacon, Blue Cheese, Pecans,and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Caprese Chicken Pesto Pastawith Fresh Cherry Tomatoes, FreshMozzarella, and House-made Pesto

Lobster Chipotle Shrimp and Stone Ground Goat Cheese Grits

Fruit Tea

The Perfect Wedding

Flowers make a wedding, and In Bloom’sbeautiful arrangements provided both afocal point and the perfect backdrop at everyturn. In Bloom used peonies from Chelsea’sgrandmother’s garden, and even took green-ery from their own private garden to makethe arrangements not only stunning, butespecially meaningful to the bridal party.


The Perfect Wedding

Left: A highlight of the reception was thephoto booth, provided by Awaken Produc-tions. Guests could choose from a variety ofprops and costumes, and prints were madeon the spot. Above: Artz Studios gaveChelsea and her bridal party a special paint-ing party a week before the wedding, achance for the ladies to relax and have somefun before the big day. Right: An Acura RDXsport utility vehicle provided by DamsonAutomotive was used as the getaway car, tosweep the bride and groom away from thereception and take them down the mountain.The next morning, the couple departed forParis, France, for their honeymoon.


The Perfect Wedding


and took communion. The I-do’s were said and it was official.” The couple exchangedwedding bands from Grogan’s Jewelers, and kissed; they were officially Mr. and Mrs.Chance Mitchell. “Walking back down the aisle with Chance was literally the hap-piest I think I have ever been,” Chelsea said.

The ReceptionNot only is Baron Bluff designed to accommodate weddings and special events, it hasthe best view of Huntsville anywhere. As the guests entered the hall, their first lookwas the beautiful flower arrangements on every table and around the food tables.Servers with platters of hors d’oeuvres from the caterers, including brie tartlets andshrimp pastries, circulated among the guests. In Bloom repeated the color themefrom the bridal bouquet in the large room, and the tasteful arrangements and beau-tiful colors were breathtaking. Linens from All Needz were a soft pink and grey thatcomplimented the flowers. But then, the guests spied the food piled on serving tablesand consisting of a varied and delicious menu that included everything from crepesfrom What’s For Supper, to a bountiful salad from Chefs To Go, to a sweet potato barfrom Betty Lankford Catering Events. The food was served on vintage plates fromDecorous Dishes, and guests mingled, laughed, and ate until they were full. ArmosaStudios took photos that the couple will cherish forever, as they danced to the musicof the Dillon Hodges Trio, and while Chris Anderson, of Up Down Media, capturedthe moments on video. Besides the food, one of the most popular items was a photobooth at the reception, from Awaken Productions; there was a constant line of peo-ple who wanted to use the props and costumes and mug for the camera so they couldtake a keepsake of this beautiful event home for themselves.

The wedding cake, from Belle Fleur Catering & Floral, was four layers high, theirsignature vanilla cake with gold accents, and the groom’s cake from Tastebuds wasred velvet with chocolate icing, covered in chocolate fondant. Although both cakeslooked too good to eat, no one seemed to have a problem tasting them.

As the reception drew to a close, guests chose their gifts from a cart of tiny succu-lent plants in painted pots, hand decorated and planted by the bride and her mother.The bouquet and garter were tossed; the guests were given sparklers, and the brideand groom ran down the path to a brand new Acura SUV, their escape vehicle forthe evening, courtesy of Jerry Damson Automotive. Once inside, they were sweptaway off the mountain, to prepare for their honeymoon in Paris. The magic of thewedding was complete; the magic of their lives together was about to begin.

The EndWhat started almost a year earlier, with Chelsea and Chance working to put togetheran Inspiration Board to show a panel of jurists their dreams for their big event, hadcome to a close. Chelsea had faithfully recorded the process on her blog atalabamaperfectwedding.com, in hopes that other couples planning their big eventscould derive inspiration and ideas. Legions of workers had come forward to help,tending to the smallest of details so that this wedding would be memorable. Every-thing fell into place, and the day went so smoothly that Chelsea described it as beinglike living in a dream. For those who were in attendance, there is just one word to usefor Chelsea and Chance’s big day: perfect.

“The life I love is making music with my friends. And I can’t wait to get on the road again.” Willie Nelson

The original buses (top) are quitedifferent from the sleek Prevostcoaches used today. From the exterior, it’s hard to know thatsomeone very famous—or the traveling crew that supports thestar—is headed to the next gig.


Behind every musician is their crew. And on the road, this isliterally the case. Each night when the last note has beenplayed, the last autograph signed, the last fan filed out of thearena, the crew begins to take down the stage. Then, they loadthe bus, get some sleep, and wake up at their next location todo it all again. But these days being on the road doesn’t meanroughing it. In fact, it’s more like luxury living on the highway.

The largest upscale tour bus fleet in the country is based inNorth Alabama, at Senators Coaches in Florence. “I boughtthe company when it was in Memphis back in the 80s,” saysOwner George Pillow. “We had five tour buses. Then in 2004we consolidated three companies in Alabama, Mississippi, andFlorida to the Florence office.”

Today, the company has grown from a handful of buses andemployees to a workforce of more than 140 who is responsiblefor designing, building, servicing, leasing, and driving thecountry’s largest fleet of tour buses for the biggest names inmusic and television.

“I’ve been in manufacturing my whole life, and we’re building thebest coaches,” says George. “We have really good people, reallygood craftsmen. Our success is built on the people we have.Because of them, we’ve won best coach company for six years ina row. We are well established; anyone in the business knows who

TEXT BY LAURA ANDERS LEE » PHOTOS BY GOODE DETHERO


we are. Anytime if it’s a pretty big tour, theycome to us.”

Right now Senators Coaches is cleaning Jil-lian Michaels’ bus from The Biggest Losertour, gearing up for John Mayer’s “Born andRaised” tour, and leasing a fleet of buses forPaul McCartney’s “Out There” tour.

“Paul McCartney doesn’t ride the bus,”George jokes, “but his crew, including thesound guys, food staff, and support teamride on the bus.”

Senators’ rock-n-roll roster includes everyone from U2, EltonJohn, Rod Stewart, Journey, and The Rolling Stones toRihanna, Alicia Keys, and Pitbull. And they have personally-signed memorabilia throughout their offices to prove it.

“We do have a few star buses with private suites,” George says,“and we’ve had chefs, bodyguards, and even nannies and kidsride the bus, for people like Amy Grant and Sheryl Crow.”

“We have really good people, really good craftsmen. Oursuccess is built on the people we have.” GEORGE PILLOW

Above: Senators Coaches line up in front of Carnegie Hall in NewYork City. Below: Senators’ state-of-the-art headquarters in Florence.

Senators begins with an empty shell, purchasingPrevost buses that have unfinished interiors. In theFlorence plant, craftsmen design and build thecoaches to become luxurious homes for people whotravel for a living. The transformation is amazing.



The road crew can consist of four to six buses for an averagetour, to up to 16 for larger tours like The Rolling Stones.

Senators Coaches also leases its buses to sports broadcasters,including ESPN Game Day, ESPN Monday Night Football,ABC’s Saturday Night Football, and DIRECTV. During the off-season, the buses are leased to other organizations; in thespring the Monday Night Football bus was used at George’salma mater, Mississippi State, for their annual alumni RoadDawgs tour.

“Those buses are custom-made,” says George, “but everythingelse we do is our design. We build a coach to our standards,and our clients know what to expect from the interior, quality,and features.”

Senators Coaches buys premium passenger buses from Pre-vost in Quebec, and then they come to the Florence facilitycompletely bare except for the driver’s seat. Senators’ team ofemployees outfits the bus, building the cabinets and up to 12bunk beds and installing the generator, one to two bathrooms,granite flooring, a large stainless steel refrigerator, and up to 16televisions, including one for each bunk. When they arethrough, the 45-foot bus is transformed into a roadie’s livingroom, a private hotel suite, or even a studio ready for live TV.

“Our ESPN Game Day bus serves as their studio on Saturdaymornings,” says George. “There are eight TVs in the back roomso they can watch every ballgame that’s on. We’re installing an80-inch TV in one of our new buses now; we’re constantlyupgrading our equipment.”

It does, afterall, have to meet the standards of musicians andtheir sound technicians.

George admits at first being nervous about putting the keys tohis business in the hands of a rock band, but he says they’venever had a problem with a bus being trashed. He says, “it’stheir way of life; they take good care of them because it’s theirhome on the road.”

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Senators’ rock-n-roll rosterincludes everyone from U2, EltonJohn, Rod Stewart, Journey, andThe Rolling Stones to Rihanna,Alicia Keys, and Pitbull. And they have personally-signedmemorabilia throughout theiroffices to prove it.


84 » scene

* Names for photos are provided by the organization or business featured.

Above: Belk 125th Anniversary Media Breakfastand Ribbon Cutting

MAY 29, 2013 BELK, PARKWAY PLACE

Below: Ali MacGraw’s Visit to HuntsvilleMAY 79, 2013 VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Ron Poteat

Chip Cherry, Janet Brown, Ron Poteat,and Mark Russell

Janet Brown andJill Driscoll

Cathy Wilhite and Kathleen Patterson Kathy Hornbuckle, Lilly Smith,

Cathy Wilhite, and Meg Carstens

Susan Moore and Abby Grace Brown

Mark Russell and Kelly Schrimsher

Belk Employees

Kathi and Norm Tew with Ali MacGraw

Kelli Markwalter, Ali MacGraw,Richard Markwalter, and Mark Jackson

Sara and Mike Ahearn, Ali MacGraw, Carland Lauren Lowe, and Julie Lowe

Linda Maccubbin, Ali MacGraw, Dot Ward,and Edna Kendall

Ali MacGraw and Mayor Tommy BattleRichard Crunkleton, Ali Mac-

Graw, and Nancy Crunkleton

Pam Jennings and Middie Thompson

Judy Ryals, Christopher J. Madkour, and Ali MacGraw

© David Phillips Photography

© Jeff White Photographer

85 » scene

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Announces 50th Symphony Ball Debutantes MAY 21, 2013 AFTERNOON TEA AT THE LEDGES COUNTRY CLUB

BelowSeated, left to right: Olivia Hargrove, Jacqueline Heard, Kaitlyn Janssen.

Standing, left to right: Catherine Kelly, McLaine Kent, Anna Knowling, Katherine McEwen.

BelowSeated, left to right: Sarah Russell, Alli Schutzenhofer, Sarah Corinne Shotts.

Standing, left to right: Abbey Steed, Lily Teague, Caitlyn Tepool,Riley Thornton, Katherine Walker, Kristyn Wilson, Marley Woody.

Not Pictured: Hannah Brock, Hannah Holloway, Janie Jackson,Alexandra Martin, Mary Kathryn Martinson, Sabol Rodgers.

AboveSeated, left to right: Katie Beck, Maggie Buell, Betsy Byrom.

Standing, left to right: Blanton Calvert, Carlie Chapman, Shelbie Cole, Katie Darden, Emma Louise Ennis, Katherine Grace, Lauren Hagood.

AboveSeated, left to right: Allison Moody, Elizabeth Moody, Sarah Katherine Ordway.

Standing, left to right: Meg Pepper, JoAnna Propst, Bradley Pullen,Lexie Gates Rasco, Anna Wynn Rodgers, Bailey Russell.

MY PARENTS DID NOT BELONG TO A SUPPER CLUB WHEN I WAS YOUNG. Theiridea of socializing meant gathering the immediate family after mass for Sunday lunch(Morrison’s Cafeteria), or Sunday evening supper at my great aunt’s house (biscuitswith honey or maple syrup, barbecue, smoked sausage, cole slaw, and sweet tea). Itwasn’t until I moved to North Alabama almost 17 years ago that I came to know thetradition, allure, and importance of the supper club.

In the South, food is entertainment. We’re lucky in North Alabama to have an end-less array of great musicians to entertain us, and some of us are lucky enough to liveon the water. Heck, some of us are lucky enough to know musicians who live on thewater. If you don’t fall into any of those categories, you eat out for fun. If you don’tbelieve me, just try to get into a new restaurant during its first month of operation.It’s like a cross between a Red Cross disaster relief effort and a Justin Bieber concerton the Today show plaza. Food is the core of our culture. And it’s one thing thatSoutherners do better than anyone in any other part of the country. I mean, when isthe last time anyone craved Pennsylvania scrapple? And don’t even get me startedabout gravy or vinegar on French fries—that’s just icky. And if food is entertainment,then the supper club is its theatre.

I read somewhere that the first supper club originated in Beverly Hills—which wouldsupport one of my mother’s crazy, but most repeated axioms. “All trends originatein California, eventually making their way to the South.” She first made this pro-nouncement after my brother and I ignited mass hysteria at Sacred Heart CathedralSchool with our new View-Masters, purchased in Anaheim where my dad wasattending a six-week trade school. Incidentally, that was the first and only time I wasconsidered cool by anyone’s standards.

Now that I live in North Alabama, I belong to a supper club. Unlike sewing clubs, wherewomen do not really sew (think drinking and gossiping), we actually do eat at our sup-per club, and to be quite honest it’s become a bit of a competitive sport (more on thislater). Although our supper club was borne of common interests (the ability to talk pol-itics being one), we actually do like each other very much. After all, we’ve been togetherthrough some of the happiest and most tragic of times. I certainly love these people, andI know they love me. But let’s be real—these people can cook, and I love to eat.

Part of the club

We’ve beentogether through

some of thehappiest and

most tragic oftimes. I certainly

love these peo-ple, and I know

they love me.But let’s be real—these people can

cook, and I love to eat.


88 » bless their hearts » David Sims

I think like most supper clubs, we take turns hosting. If it’s yourturn to host, you make the main dish, provide the drinks, andinvite the “wild cards.” The wild cards can be an additional cou-ple or guests who the hosts think will be an interesting additionto our group. It’s a wonderful way to keep the conversation andevening fresh, and it’s the perfect opportunity to meet and getto know new people, or welcome a newcomer. Our newestmembers, Alyson and J.T., were once wild cards. The wild cardsare not allowed to make anything, because their job is to be thecenter of attention—to be fascinating.

The remaining members are responsible for appetizers, sidedishes, and desserts, all assigned through e-mail exchanges, ona first-come, first-serve basis. It’s a casual affair, and most of ourdinners have revolved around a type of food (comfort food,Indian, Italian) or a theme (“Thanksgiving Leftovers Night” isDebra’s idea and one of my favorites). And we’re a pretty cre-ative and competitive bunch, so we tend to pull out all the stopswhen it comes to food preparation.

Everyone seems to have something they do very well. Sandee(of Sandee and Jim) makes a pretty mean lasagna. In fact,Sandee’s Italian heritage has almost made up for the fact thatshe is a Connecticut Yankee, and unlike Giada De Laurentiis,she doesn’t insist on suddenly alternating between her lovelyregional accent and a dramatic Italian accent. Carolyn (of Car-olyn and Dan) has mastered Indian cuisine—due in part totheir years of living and working abroad. Their home is filledwith beautiful artifacts of exotic travels and we almost alwaysget to hear one of Dan’s stories about 24-hour dinners withArab sheiks (or something equally decadent). Carolyn’s Tan-doori chicken, Saag Paneer, and homemade nan have achievedhall-of-fame status in our club and nirvana in our stomachs.Debra (of Debra and Jackie) can make just about anything withIna Garten precision—she’s just that talented, and Jackie hasbeen known to grill up a feast. Our new members Alyson andJ.T. are known for their Tex-Mex (Alyson is from Beaumont)and an occasional New Albany chocolate pie from J.T.’s neck ofthe woods (Mississippi). Plus, they have the coolest screened-in porch and a pool. Allen and I always rush to get dessert,because it’s the only course in which I can participate on ahighly competitive level. I may not be able to properly grill asteak, or make the perfect rice, but I can art direct the heckout of a cake, provided that Allen makes everything else.

So, if you don’t yet belong to a supper club, I encourage you tostart one with your friends. Be creative, try new foods, butdon’t stress over what to make. Because supper club is ulti-mately not about competition, or even the food. It’s aboutconnecting. It’s about sharing our gifts with good friends. Butmostly, it’s all about love.


ners, Leas offers suggestions on when a thank-you card isappropriate, how to encourage children to get in the habit ofwriting thank-you cards, and if e-mail is ever an appropriateform to express gratitude (more on that later).

Unlike Miss Manners, Leas, a technical writer by trade, “cameat the thank-you note from the research standpoint,” she said.“I sent off a wedding gift and never received an acknowledge-ment, so I’m left wondering, ‘Did she receive it? Did she like it?Did she not know how to write a note?’”

Many of us have been in the same situation as Leas. We’ve senta gift, perhaps wedding, maybe graduation, quite possibly evena birthday gift, and not received a note in reply.

“This leaves something of a black mark,” she said. “I hate to say,but this is something you just don’t forget. Years later, youalways seem to remember the lovely note you received as wellas the note that never came at all.”

Let’s be honest. Expressing gratitude through words doesn’tcome naturally for everyone. It takes practice. If you’ve neverbeen in the habit before, being faced with a mountain of cardsto complete and mail after getting home from a week-longCaribbean honeymoon, it can seem daunting to say the least.

“People see it as a chore, especially if they’ve not been schooledin the niceties as a child,” Leas said. “When there are a lot to bedone, set a goal to write 10 a day. I was compulsive about it; Ieven did some thank-yous while I was on my honeymoon. Andeven I think that may be a bit extreme.”

Gifts are just one reason to send a note of gratitude. Leas saida personal experience can also inspire you to put pen to paper.

“Doctors, ministers, nurses, when they get these notes, theykeep them, put them away and get them out to read over andover again,” she said. “It’s a simple way to make someone’s day.”

I have desk drawers full of note cards. They litter virtuallyevery part of my desk at home and at the office. Some, my hus-band in particular, might say I have an addiction to them.

I’ll wander into a stationery store; no, not wander. I’m called tothem. I seek out paper goods stores and aisles. I can spendhours pouring over designs, textures, and the words containedwithin. I’ve even been known to purchase multiple sets of thesame design because I loved it so much. Another quirk of mineis that I don’t send the last card in the box. I want to keep it toremember how much the cards meant to me and the joy I hopethey brought to others. Save the judgment. I already knowthat’s a bit over the top.

There’s no question, then, that when it’s a note I need towrite—thank-you, sympathy, get well, thinking of you . . . well,you get the idea—I’m never at a loss for something upon whichto write.

Like everyone, however, when faced with a blank card (I rarelypurchase those with the words “Thank you” on the outside, bythe way), I get a little tied up when it comes to the words thatshould fill the space. I’ve tossed more than a few in the trashwhen searching for just the right turn of phrase or appropriatesentiment to express my gratitude.

In finding my way through this bit of writers’ block, I foundthe best advice comes from Connie Leas, author of “The Artof Thank You: Crafting Notes of Gratitude.” Like Miss Man-

Let’s be honest. Expressing gratitude through words doesn’tcome naturally for everyone. It takes practice.

The Value of theThank You Card

TEXT BY MICHELLE RUPE EUBANKS



DoDo have your supplies ready. If you’re geared up to shareyour gratitude with those who have gifted you, the last thingyou want is to be out of stamps. Or cards. Or pens. Have whatyou need on hand.

Do think through what you want to write. Take a momentto consider each gift. How will you use the gift? What makesthis gift special to you? The recipient of the card will love tohear that you not only enjoy the gift but how you plan to useit as well.

Do act quickly. You’ll feel more genuine in your response ifyou send your thanks sooner rather than later, but, I’m also ofthe opinion that a thank-you card, even one that’s a monthafter the fact, is better than no card at all.

Do use good stationery. Speaking of supplies, invest in some monogrammed cards. Consider using a nice pen, one that writes well. You might even want to go so far as toget an embossed stamp for your stationery. After all, writing your return address more than a dozen times can become monotonous.

Don’tDon’t use a template. Even the shortest note that gets rightto the point is more effective than a generic note. ConsiderMarilyn Monroe’s note to a gentleman who gifted her with abottle of champagne: “It arrived, I drank it, and I was gayer.” It really doesn’t get any more to the point than that.

Don’t rely on technology to convey your message. While anin-person thanks is a lovely gesture, an e-mail note doesn’treflect the same effort of the giver. If you really want to letsomeone know you’re sincerely grateful for their gesture ofkindness, a hand-written note is the best means to accom-plish the task.

Don’t get hung up on formalities. The thank-you note follows the same rules as basic letter writing: Dear Aunt Jane,followed by the body of the note, and the closing, such as Sincerely, All best, or Thanks again. Choose phrasing suited tothe occasion.

Don’t be afraid. They’re just words, after all. Use them. It’s fun.

Of course, I had to ask Leas if it’s ever acceptable to write anote of thanks via e-mail.

“You know, I’m getting more lax about it,” she said. “For morecasual experiences, an e-mail is becoming more acceptable.But for bigger things, for the overnight stay, you really want todo something that reflects the effort someone put into the gift.”

Feeling inspired? Write out a note of thanks for the couple thathosted you for a dinner party. Thank your grandparents forgiving you a place to crash over the weekend. Pop a note in themailbox for your postman for delivering the package to yourdoorstep. And, please, please, please, don’t forget the note tothe prospective employer after the interview. It can land youthe job, and, for that, who wouldn’t be grateful?


92 » food for thought » Sarah Gaede

THE ORIGINAL CELEBRITY CHEFSCAME UP THE HARD WAY. Theyweren’t plucked out of obscurity andgiven their own shows on the FoodNetwork because of their over-the-toppersonalities (coughPaulaDeencough.)In the beginning, of course, there wasJulia Child. She was the one fromwhom all others proceeded, some wor-thy of the title, some not so much. I fellin love with Julia when I was in juniorhigh school and watched her on “TheFrench Chef.” With Mastering the Art

of French Cooking in hand, my friendLaurie and I, who would have beenhard-pressed to scramble an egg, madepetit fours, consisting of genoise cake, apricot filling, and rum-flavored fondant icingthat my father still remembers as having adhered to every surface in the kitchen. Wealso made croquembouche for French club. Wikipedia defines it nicely: A Frenchdessert consisting of choux pastry balls piled into a cone and bound with threads ofcaramel. (And no, we were not on crack cocaine—it hadn’t been invented in the1960s.) I still marvel that we managed to pull it off. I have way more sense these daysthan to attempt that kind of project. That’s why God gave us bakeries—somethingthe French know very well.

Another seminal celebrity chef who remains one of my favorites is Jacques Pépin. Inthe 1970s, before cable television, if you were going to see a big name chef you hadto go see him (they were mostly hims back then) in the flesh. Jacques gave a demon-stration in Atlanta that I still remember, and not just for the fabulous food. As oneof my cooking school comrades observed: “He’s so attractive—all five seven of him.”

If you count 8th-grade home economics as my introduction to cooking, I’ve been atit for 50 years. I know how to read recipes and how to write them, so my standardsare high. Mark Bittman is the one I usually turn to first. His recipes are clear, well-written, and simple. Even if you think you know it all, I recommend his How to Cook

Everything as a reference. For contemporary recipes à la française, I love Ina Garten,even though she does have a show on the Food Network. Sometimes I double-checkwith Mark or Julia to make sure Ina is steering me the right way, but mostly I’mdelighted with her creations.

To celebrate summer and celebrities, here are two of my all-time favorites, one old andone new. The two dishes together would be perfect for a light summer supper, servedwith a dry rosé. Ina Garten’s Vegetable Tian, from Barefoot in Paris, is amazingly fla-

Bon Appétit!

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If you count 8th-grade homeeconomics as myintroduction tocooking, I’ve beenat it for 50 years.


Ina Garten’s Vegetable Tian

The prettiest presentation will result from potatoes,zucchini, and tomatoes that are about the same circumference, but don’t make yourself crazy.

• Good olive oil• 2 large onions, cut in half and sliced

(I like to use Vidalia)• 2 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced• 1 pound small Yukon Gold or red potatoes, unpeeled• 3/4 pound zucchini• 1 1/4 pounds small tomatoes• 1 teaspoon kosher salt• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves,

plus 5 or 6 extra sprigs • 2 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush a 9 x 13 x 2-inch(or oval equivalent) glass or ceramic baking dish witholive oil. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skilletand cook the onions over medium-low heat for 8-10minutes, until translucent but not brown. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Spread the onionmixture on the bottom of the baking dish.

Meanwhile, slice the potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoesin 1/4-inch thick slices. Layer them alternately in thedish on top of the onions, fitting them tightly in a singlelayer. (Depending on how obsessive you are, this can beeither a random pattern or an artistic masterpiece.)Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme leaves, and thymesprigs and drizzle with 1 more tablespoon olive oil.Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 to 40minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Uncover thedish, remove the thyme sprigs, sprinkle the cheese ontop, and bake for another 30 minutes, or until browned.Serve warm.

Jacques Pépin’s Peach Gratin

• 3 ripe unpeeled peaches (about 1 pound) or other soft fruit

• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed• 1 large egg• 1/2 cup heavy cream• 2 tablespoons chopped almonds or pecans• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Slice the peaches directlyoff the pit and arrange in a circular pattern in a round,shallow glass or ceramic quiche or pie pan. Place a fewslices in the center in a decorative pattern to simulatethe center of a flower. Sprinkle peaches with the brownsugar. Whisk the egg with the cream and pour the mix-ture over the fruit. Sprinkle with the nuts and bake for35 to 40 minutes, until browned and slightlycaramelized.

vorful. It could serve as a main dish for two with salad and breador as a side with grilled meat or fish. I can’t count how manytimes I’ve made the Peach Gratin from Everyday Cooking with

Jacques Pépin, though not always with peaches. Plums and nec-tarines are wonderful as well. It’s a great last-minute dessert tomake with ingredients I usually have on hand.

88.7 FM Muscle Shoals • 100.7 FM Huntsvillewww.apr.org

News, classicalmusic and more

Jill

“I saw Neil Youngwhen I was in college.

It was the same night as amandatory sorority event.I just quit the sorority and

went to the concert.”—Jill Stewart

Donna

“I saw Chicago atRoosevelt Stadium

in New Jersey.I still love them.”

—Donna Brown

94 » lowedown » Claire Stewart

Victoria

“Underoath’slast show in Tampa. It was incredible!”

—Victoria Witt

What was your first live concert?

Jared

“I went to N’Syncwhen I was 8. Ehh…

It was all right I guess”—Jared Hanel

Ian

“I went to see KISSwhen I was seven.

It was definitely an eyeopening experience…

It was different.”—Ian McCalister


T.J.

“My dad was a musician so I went to a lot of concerts as a

kid. I don’t know what myfirst was, but I remember him

playing with Stevie RayVaughan in a bar in Kansasand wearing big headphones

because it was so loud.”—T.J. Wyatt

Dan

“My first concert wasThe Eagles in the Oakland Coliseum.

I can’t stand them nowbut I thought they

were pretty good atthe time.”

—Dan Sanders

Jessica

“I went to see Santanawith my mom and slammedmy finger in the door on theway in. I didn’t want to leave

so we got some ice fromsomeone’s beer cooler and

enjoyed the show.”—Jessica Ramsay

Drew

“I saw Damien Riceat the Civic OperaHouse in Chicago.It was absolutely

amazing.”—Drew Bernd

Clyde

“I saw the GratefulDead in Louisville in

the 1970s. It was killer!It was the best show.”

—Clyde Smith


David

“It was either Roxette or the

Eurythmics. The onlybad concert I ever saw

was Stevie Nicks.”—David Nuttall

Miles

“My first concert wasVEISHEA on Iowa State’scampus. I didn’t pay. I justsat outside the fence and

listened to some greatartists. It was a prettyawesome experience!”

—Miles Conlan

96 » lowedown » What was your first live concert?

All respondents were interviewed atLowe Mill Arts & Entertainment

Willette

“It was 1978 in San Diegowith my mother, and

I was about 12. We saw Rose Royce and we werein the front row and I wasalready much taller than

my mom. I just rememberthat big snake!”—Willette Battle

Marcia

“I saw Def Leppardin the 80s in El Paso.

It was awesome!”—Marcia Freeland

97 » scene

Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Debutante Tea and Service DayMAY 2123, 2013 THE LEDGES COUNTRY CLUB

Sarah Frances Shotts, Sarah Corinne Shotts,Ivy Albert, and Stacey Gardner

Pennie Keene, Sandy Knowling, Anna Knowling, and Pam Honkanen

Pam Honkanen, Karen Kimbrough, and Pam Gann

Mary Ena Heath, Brenda Milberger, and Frances Huffman Kat McEwen, Tracy McEwen, Mackie Bethay

Katie Darden, McLaine Kent, Betsy Byrum,and Abbey Steed

Emma Louise Ennis, Katherine Walker, Blanton Calvert, and Jacqueline Heard

Donna Rush, Stacey Gardner, Ivy Albert, and Suzanne Byrum

Celie and Katie Darden, JoAnna Propst, and Thonda Thompson

Blanton Calvert, Lexie Gates Rasco, Katherine Walker, and Emma Louise Ennis

Alli Schutzenhofer, Sarah Katherine Ordway,Marley Woody, and Lisa Ordway

Alexandra Martin, Meg Pepper, AllisonMoody, Maggie Buell, and Lily Teague

98 » parting shot » Armosa Studios

Chance and Chelsea make their getaway.


2CELLOSFriday, October 25, 2013 • 7:30 p.m.

Dea

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From Vegas with Elton John . . . 2CELLOS!

• Friday, October 25, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. • Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, VBC • Tickets only $25 - $50

These classically-trained musicians really rock, performing the greatest hits of U2, Coldplay, The Police, Muse, Michael Jackson, Sting,Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses, Rihanna, AC/DC, Kings of Leon and more! Get a sample of their energetic talent at www.2cellos.com.

On sale Monday, July 22, 9:00 a.m.Tickets: 256-539-4818 or www.hso.org Performed without orchestraAn HSO Special Presentation

no'ala huntsville july/august 2013

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