verge january 2010

free resolve to discover your downtown january 2010

vergedowntown augusta

verge / january 2010 / 3

contents Three Men and a Design FirmKRUHU effuses creativity and non-traditional approach

Pole Dance Fitness Craze Hits AugustaTwo sisters open Velocity, putting fun back into exercise

The Agony (& Ecstasy) of PrintmakingThe Gertrude opens Casaletto exhibit on January

99 Bottles of Beer On the Run?Hashers combine love of the brew and running

chefspeak : Jonathan MarksRooster’s Beak chef / owner shares vision & recipe

Tradition of Bluegrass ContinuesBlue Highway celebrates fifteen years with new release

Just Who Is Mickey Raphael?Meet Willie Nelson’s harmonica player of 30 years

roundup : New Year’s ResolutionsLocal musicians make their annual vows

experience moresmatteringsquick clipsdiscover downtownmeet your d(a)2 : curt youngpipeline : january’s highlightsrecipe : guajillo pepper cashew peanut butterlive music : superclusterpast times : palace theatrecut the fat : part sixreverberations : dieAgnostic

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on the cover:Topographic Image by Lucy Weigle

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4 / january 2010 / verge


“…those who wish to be, must put aside the alienation, get on with the fascination, the real relation, the underlying theme …”

The next generation of thought? Hardly. The lyrics I am quoting are from 1980-81. Thirty years ago and still timeless, nevertheless, and very accurate even today.

We are on the eve of a new chapter in downtown Augusta. A chapter of change. Your downtown is changing. It is moving forward and bringing with it a brighter economic hope, an enhanced cultural activity calendar and even more ways for you to get involved. I speak not only of a change that you can touch, feel and see, but one that you can sense. Change. Many great projects are coming that are designed and planned to enhance the overall quality of life for our community and will better serve our needs. Some people like this change and others, well let’s just say they are not too comfortable with it. Change is afoot and underway. I recently did a quick poll of some students that are in their senior year in high school here in downtown Augusta and they have a pretty good take on change. They see a need for more community clean ups, new buildings, provision of more shelter for the homeless, a need for utilization of old buildings by bringing them back to life (done right) and unity. The upcoming generation is savvy, intelligent and forward thinking. They are preparing themselves for a future that is different from today and they have a keen sense of what positive change is and how to accomplish it. As adults we should be listening. If we fail to listen, our community will lose an extremely important resource for the future: our children.

Change can be a very good thing if it is prayed over, planned out and well thought through. Change can also be positive. Think about the first time you drank a Coca Cola or bought your first pair of Toms. Perhaps had a group dinner with friends or ate out at an independently owned restaurant. Maybe enjoyed a cup of coffee brewed fresh with beans of a Fair Trade grower in South America. Some of these changes were good, some great and some maybe not so good. Regardless, they were all changes in the way we looked at how we had always done things and how we purchased our goods and services. I challenge you all to rethink these simple things in life and the larger impact they have on your

community when making decisions. Where do you shop for gifts or where do you get your fashion? Where do you go out to eat? Do you try to find products or services in your local community first before going to a mega-mart or make a purchase online? Try your best to find it local first. I am not a local purest or a mega-mart hater. They do have their place in our society. I ask that you try not to be so reliant on them. I hope you know the math by now. If not, write me at [email protected] and I can point you in the right direction for a better understanding of the impact they have on your community. You are not just another sales number in your community. NEXT!

Speaking of change. We said the last goodbyes to our first Augusta business this month: blue magnolia. Although we understand the importance of being a part of the fabric of retail in downtown, we will now have the ability to bring you a more in-depth community focused newspaper in verge. We would like to thank each of you who supported the store over the past three years or made us a regular shopping destination downtown. We will remember your faces and your stories for many years to come and it was an absolute pleasure to serve you. We will keep you informed as to where you can find some of the product lines we carried that you came to know and love. Right now, chocolates from Vosges and Escazu, plus Sweet Surrender fudge, can be found at The Book Tavern at 1026 Broad Street – that’s if the Ugly Dolls have not eaten it all before you get there. Some more announcements will be coming next month as some product lines make the transition to retail destinations downtown.

Fortunately, we live in a country that allows us the freedom to make some great changes for the future for ourselves and or our local community. With all of the talk of going green, alternative energy sources, volunteering and community involvement, we look at it as a matter of priorities. How do you prioritize your time, your social and purchasing habits, the way you look at your community? What’s your underlying theme? Are you putting away the alienations and breaking through barriers? Are you a meaningful part of your community? Are you bringing unity and harmony to your community? Are your behaviors conducive to a better today and brighter tomorrow? Are you helping or hindering growth and change? Is it a comfort zone you are in – your own gilded cage? Join in helping to build a better future.

A future that is community focused. Smarter and wiser with its resources. Change that is dedicated to working in unity toward a common goal for the good of community. We have often felt that we were cast in a role that we were not ready to play. It was out of our comfort zone. Foreign territory. Downright scary at times. However, through prayer, hard work and belief in something that we truly love, we have made a lot of dynamic true friends, business partners and acquaintances that have the same vision of community: change for the better. We are bound together helping to build a sense of place and being. In the end we all want some sort of change. Hopefully yours is positive change. Maybe a more responsible community, it does start with you. A community that respects its surroundings and cares for its neighbors. One that tirelessly volunteers. A community that teaches how to fish and not just provide a meal. A community that is praying for its leaders. A community that is uniting to provide it’s children with a cleaner, safer friendlier tomorrow.

The choice is now yours. Is this something that you want to be a part of? It is exciting. It is challenging. It is rewarding. It is change. I will leave you with this: “If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice…”

See you downtown!Matt

“…all the world’s indeed a stage and we are merely player’s performers and portrayers each another’s audience outside the gilded cage…”

smatterings / notes from the publisher

publisherMatt Plocha

editorLara Plocha

pipeline editorsClaire Riche

web guysome guy we know

photographersKatie McGuireChris Selmek

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advertiser index 6 1102 Bar & Grill24 1102 Back Bar Events10 8th Street Tobacco18 A.B. Beverage - Budweiser32 Boll Weevil Cafe 4 The Book Tavern12 Cartridge Doctor 8 Casella Eye Center 8 Downtown Dental31 Downtown Development Association 2 DuJuor Fine Foods 8 Elduets Treasures of the World14 Halo Salon & Spa30 Healing Waters12 Health Central20 Le Chat Noir28 The Loft22 Manuel’s Bread Cafe20 Metro Coffeehouse & Pub12 Moon beans30 New Moon Café10 PeachMac27 Perry & Company26 PowerServe38 Quilt Shop on The Corner 2 Rock Bottom Music 8 Sanford, Bruker & Banks 26 Stillwater Taproom26 T-Boy’s Po’Boys24 the well27 Woodrow Wilson House 30 Zimmerman Gallery

cover artist: weigle’s abstracts glow with passion for god Lucy Hargrove Weigle is an established artist whose watercolor portraits hang in many an Augusta home. But it is her abstracts that grab at the soul and provide a glimpse into the spirit within. Weigle’s artist statement says it all: “I have been blessed with God given talent; therefore my works are committed to the glory of God.” Weigle’s abstracts are full of light, texture and movement. With a list of awards and exhibitions longer than most resumes, Weigle’s work can be seen on the 2005 film “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and the 2007 comedy “Who’s Your Caddy.” Or you can see them up close and personal at Art on Broad (1028 Broad Street). lucyweigle.com


quick clips

downtown showed its holiday spirit in style The Downtown Augusta Alliance hosted its third annual Winter Window Wonderland contest. The winning windows shown above (clockwise): Most Whimsical: Lofty Ideas; Best Use of Lights: Vintage Ooollee; Best of Show: Flowers XPress; People’s Choice: Shoppe 31:30; and Corporate Best of Show: Augusta Chronicle. Not pictured are Most Traditional: Ruben’s Department Store and Corporate Best Use of Lights: Lamar Building.

facebook can make a difference Claire Riche, organizer of the Facebook group “Support Downtown Augusta,” chose to use her downtown networks to help the homeless. She wanted to test the power of this 4600+ group and sent out a holiday message encouraging members to donate blankets and powerbars for the homeless. The response has been overwhelming with commitments: blankets and powerbars are pouring in; collection boxes can be found at Lexus of Augusta and MCG. One Evans supporter, currently overseas, shipped thirty blankets and six cases of bars. Riche will be accepting donations through January 10th. To donate, check out the Facebook page “Support Downtown Augusta” or email Riche at [email protected].

folks keep winning downtown The fourth quarter of 2009 bustled with downtown events sponsored by the Downtown Augusta Alliance. November’s Jingle Bell Jaunt brought over 800 people through 28 stores for a chance to win one of two $700 downtown gift certificate packages. Then, merchants joined forces to promote another successful Girls’ Night Out, which drew a hundred or so women out into the chilly evening air to shop, dine and just have a good time. The Alliance raised $300 for Hope House by raffling off a basket of downtown goods valued at over $400 and selling sprigs of mistletoe donated by Bartlett Tree Services. A downtown resident here on active military duty, Karen Hudzinski (on the left), was thrilled when her name was drawn as the raffle winner. Don’t miss the next great Alliance event - keep up to date at dasquared.com.

got news? we want to hear it Whether it’s a new product line or an addition to your menu, a new employee or a new title, an addition to the family or a request for help, verge wants to hear from you. Send your “quick clips” to [email protected] by the 20th of each month for inclusion in the next issue.

downtown development planned for 2010 Several new developments are planned for downtown Augusta throughout 2010, including the proposed addition of parking meters along Broad Street and a new Trade, Exhibition and Event Center. If the proposal is adopted, the meters would charge one dollar per hour for up to two hours of parking, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“This is the right thing to do, and it’s the right time,” said Sanford Loyd, chairman of the Downtown Development Authority’s restructuring committee. “It’s the right time because of the current status of businesses coming on-line; there is a great move toward urban life and there has been nothing done in Augusta in terms of urban development.”

The meters are designed to encourage turnover, thereby helping downtown businesses get more customers, as well as to oblige current regulations that may be “unenforceable”, according to DDA Executive Director Margaret Woodard. A traffic study done prior to the proposal noted that as many as 40 percent of downtown shoppers ignored the two hour parking limit and that 212 cars were parked for over six hours.

“We feel like it’s our job to protect the commerce when a parking spot doesn’t have turnover and the business owners lose 200-300 dollars a day,” said Woodard. “According to our calculations, the city may be losing over three million dollars in sales tax revenue alone because potential customers can’t find a place to park.”

The DDA hopes to have a proposal drafted by mid-January, after which the elected officials on the Augusta-Richmond County Commission will vote on whether or not to install the parking meters. Assuming the proposal is adopted, the parking meters will be installed over a three month period during which the city will launch a public education campaign to teach people how to use the meters.

Many downtown residents fear parking meters will turn potential customers away from downtown and have a negative effect on overall development.

“I’m not for it,” said Curt Young, vice-president of the Downtown Augusta Alliance. “I don’t think this will draw people to downtown, I think this will push people away. I think the problems we’re trying to solve can be solved just as easily without throwing a million dollars into the project.”

“If they have the meters they’ll have to have a computer to monitor them all, but the officers don’t enforce the parking laws we have now, so I don’t see how we can expect them to respect a meter,” said Miranda Fox, who lives and works downtown. “I don’t think we’re strong enough yet downtown for something like this, and I would hate to see it ruin the good thing we have.”

Members of the DDA disagree, citing surveys in which shoppers repeatedly list availability, proximity and convenience of parking ahead of price as a concern.

“This is going to be a little unsettling at first, because we’ve been free for 31 years,” said Woodard. “I think the problem is only going to get worse with the TEE center and other developments coming to downtown Augusta and drawing more and more people to the area. People will pay for the convenience of curbside parking.”

Plans have already been finalized to break ground for the new Trade, Exhibition and Event Center on Reynolds Street later this year. This $38 million dollar city project is essentially exhibit space which will enable Augusta to host larger meetings and events for both visitors and residents.

The new Center is expected to generate 630 new jobs, $1.4 million in new tax revenue and encourage the growth of new and existing businesses in the downtown area.

One example of this spurred economic activity is the proposed hotel on the Augusta Common. Several developers have already expressed interest. Cortland Dusseau, a managing partner for Alabama-based Legacy Hospitality LLC, said he wanted to build next to the Augusta Common and TEE Center in the “hospitality section of the city,” but feels it is too early to discuss any timetable.

“Augusta has been very good to us and I really enjoy working with the people when I visit,” said Dusseau. “Right now it’s too early to discuss any kind of fixed timetable because there are a lot of competing interests, but if all goes well we may be able to start planning in February.”

LEARN MORE: teecenter.org and myaugustadowntown.com.

story and photo by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK


shop dine play livediscover downtown

Quilt Shop on the Corner428 Fifth Street

Quilt Shop on the Corner celebrates their one year anniversary on January 6th and will serve cake as well as take ten to thirty percent off everything in the store that day. “We’re really happy with the work we’ve done,” said owner Kathy Mullis, “particularly for a new store opening up during a recession.” In addition, this quilters’ paradise starts their new monthly Breakfast Club program on January 2nd from 9 am to noon and will guide diners through a beautiful quilting design. For the non-early bird, classes will also be offered on the third Thursday each month from 5 to 8 pm. Anyone interested can sign up for six months for $60 or simply show up on a monthly basis for $15 a month. Quilt Shop on the Corner is open from 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 am to 8 pm on Thursday; and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday.

Whistlestop Café 573 Greene Street

The Whistlestop Café may not be large, but its location next to both the Municipal Building and the Department of Labor ensures a constant stream of customers. “We have everybody stop in here, from lawyers and judges to the people going before the lawyers and judges,” said owner Barry Hager. “Some of our customers have been coming here for 13 or 14 years.” Most customers stop in for Whistlestop’s breakfast special: an egg, two strips of bacon, grits, coffee and toast or biscuits for $2.99, but Hager also specializes in plate-sized pancakes. Lunch specials run Monday through Thursday for $5.95, though no menu is posted and Hager serves “whatever we happen to be making for lunch that day.” The Whistlestop Café is open from 6:30 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday and 7 am to 1 pm on Saturday.

Greene Street Spirits402 Eleventh Street

Greene Street Spirits, downtown Augusta’s premier karaoke bar, has over 10,000 songs to perform in front of a crowd that is friendly and inviting. “No booing is allowed,” said owner Maxine Laristy. “It’s a fun thing, and we don’t put up with that kind of foolishness here.” Multiple songbooks are available to browse though. The deejay also welcomes personal CD’s, so customers are almost guaranteed to find something they’re comfortable with. “We have a really wide mix of people, with everyone from 21 to 71 showing up regularly,” said Laristy. “It’s a really friendly group, and you won’t be a stranger after sitting down for several minutes because we’ll make you feel right at home.” Greene Street Spirits is open from 6 pm to 3 am Tuesday through Friday, and 6 pm to 2 am on Saturday. Must be over 21 to enter.

Headquarters Library902 Greene Street

With the chill of winter in the air, what better way to warm up then with a good book or a great film. The library continues their Monday night movie series with 500 Days of Summer on January 11th. The library will be closed on the 18th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and on the 25th they will play Moon. Each movie starts at 6:30 pm in the second floor opportunity and is a totally free opportunity for families to come out and get to know their library. Wireless internet and public computers are available at the Headquarters location Library cards are free and provide access to over a half million items including books and movies. The Headquarters Library is open from 9 am to 9 pm Mon thru Thurs; 9 am to 5:30 pm on Fri and Sat; and 2 pm to 5:30 pm on Sun.

The Downtown Augusta Alliance is a member-based non-profit group of downtown business owners and residents joining together to promote downtown Augusta as a destination and neighborhood. Members and volunteers create events, programs and business-to-business opportunities, such as Destination Downtown, Jingle Bell Jaunt, Discover Downtown, Girls’ Night Out, Downtown Connects and more. Over the next several months, verge will introduce you to each of the 2010 Board of Directors.

Name: Curt Young

Position: d(a)2 Vice-President

Day job: Insurance Agent for Sanford, Bruker and Banks

How long have you lived in Augusta? This company that I work for has been here since 1915, but I moved here from Atlanta in 2003 and began working for Sanford, Bruker and Banks in 2004.

What does the Downtown Augusta Alliance mean to you? It’s a group that’s been active for the last two and a half years and tries to represent the residents, businesses and retail owners as one voice so they can be heard. You can go a lot of places to hear bad news about the downtown area, but we believe there’s also a lot that’s good about it, and we’re hopeful we can get the word out.

Why did you decide to become a member? My desire was to be supportive of the efforts to grow a more exciting downtown and help those others who started this going. I don’t see myself as much of a pioneer, just one of the comers on who saw what potential this group had.

What do you see as your role on the board? My role on the board last year was membership, and I believe that will continue to be my

main focus as I get the word out and talk to people about the benefits of membership. I also hope to be the person who people can go to if they have any questions or concerns about anything that’s happening downtown, and I want to help in whatever way I can. When you’re trying to accomplish something for an area, the more people you have then the more of a voice your able to speak with. Right now we have enough of an influence that certain decision makers, like the mayor or city planners, like to get our opinion when deciding what’s going to be happening downtown and about our future.

What do you have planned for January? I’m not sure that we have any events going on in January, but we will be having a planning meeting early in the year which will allow us to come together and think about some of the things we want to put together for the rest of the year.

What is your favorite thing about the downtown area? I love the personalities, where when I leave here to go to lunch you meet so many friendly people who are invested here. It’s typical to see the business owners working in their stores and restaurants, and it’s obvious they really care about their customers. I’ve also been downtown for First Friday and several of the events we’ve put on over the years. I’ve even brought the kids down to see some of the First Friday shows, and we always have a good time.

What are some of your favorite places in downtown Augusta? I often go to lunch at the Cotton Patch or T’Boys, and Joe’s Underground is I think a hidden gem in this city. There’s a lot to see and do everywhere.

For more information on how to get involved in the Downtown Augusta Alliance, visit dasquared.com or catch Curt downtown.

interview and photo by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK

curt young, vice-president / meet your d(a)² boardarticle and photos by CHRISTOPHER SELMEK


Kruhu Creative Designs is a new firm located downtown on Greene Street that houses the talents of three young designers with a wealth of fresh ideas. Matt McMeans, Shane Thompson and Chris Rucker pooled their skills together in August to form Kruhu. It is the sheer ingenuity of this trio that makes people take notice.

The name of the firm is the phonetic pronunciation of the Gaelic word for ‘creative.’ Why Gaelic? Simple. “We’re Irish,” the guys laugh.

To the casual observer, the Kruhu offices resemble a bachelor pad – a college dorm housing three young entrepreneurs with a crazy sense of humor and their assorted collection of movie memorabilia, musical instruments, band photos, and sports posters. Upon closer inspection, Kruhu is a lot more than a crash pad where three friends spend time hanging out.

The art on the walls have mostly been created by McMeans, Thompson and Rucker. Each poster, book, business card and sign is a work of art in itself, meticulously created. There is some real time and intensity poured into each item the design team creates.

“We do it all,” Thompson says. From there, the trio explains some of the things they specialize in, including logo design and branding, website development, photo restoration and photography, animation, graphic design, event graphics, welding, and even 3-D foam carving. And this is only the tip of the iceberg. To say the Kruhu boys are “very busy,” as they describe themselves, seems like an understatement.

Having brought established clients with them from their past solo work, McMeans, Thompson, and Rucker have a history in the business, but are mostly self-taught. From this past work-related experience, whether it be understanding the worth of a dollar or the more complex knowledge of graphic design, Kruhu bring something new to the Augusta area: young, fresh minds with a business that has few contemporaries.

Already Kruhu are putting their work on display. They have done work for the White’s Building and Doctor’s Hospital, created the James Brown Arena logo as well as that of Destination Downtown, and have even done the website development for Windsor Jewelers, just to name a few. Kruhu also work with non-local organizations such as Amazon.com. They are also active in conjunction with the local music scene, having done work for Rock for Dough, Twelve Bands of Christmas, and the Augusta Symphony.

In order to be this successful, the guys of Kruhu have to work together as a tight knit group. Rucker explains how he concentrates a lot on the print portion of the work while Thompson is more of the web design guru. McMeans laughs and says he’s “good enough to be dangerous in both areas.” In reality though, all the guys contribute to the process. Perhaps that is where the real talent comes in: working with each other and turning out amazing work.

“We’ve grown more than any other design company,” Rucker says about Kruhu. Thompson elaborates on the group’s success as he explains how “we are better together” than apart, bringing passion that allows them to move further as a group than they ever could separately.

And while the three cut up and strum a few strings on a banjo now and then, they are professional designers. “We’re good at helping find solutions to fit customers’ needs,” Shane Thompson says. If there is a mission statement to Kruhu, this would be it.

When it comes to marketing needs, Kruhu are the ultimate problem solvers. There is very little they can’t do. “We have fun doing what we do,” the guys admit and that is the real core of the comfortable yet successful atmosphere of Kruhu Creative Designs.

by D.H.L photo and art courtesy of KRUHU

find them at kruhu.com

how many irishmen does it take?just three to create the genius behind the new design firm kruhu

“We’re good at helping find solutions to fit customers’ needs. We have fun

doing what we do.”


the detailswho VELOCITY SALON & DANCE STUDIO

where 830 BROAD STREET when MON to FRI 8:30 am to 9:30 pm

contact 706.504.4524 email [email protected]

twitter VelocityStudio facebook facebook.com/velocitystudio

Since relocating to Augusta from Tennessee, it has been Ave Maria Peoples’ dream to own a business on Broad Street. “I have always loved the downtown area,” she says. “I had owned a business on Eighth Street, and the traffic just wasn’t there to make it work the way it should have. My vision was to be in the heart of downtown, where people walk, look at the shops and have lunch. I think it’s such a beautiful place.” In November 2009, Peoples and her sister, Devon Drumgoole, turned fantasy into reality with the opening of Velocity Studio, where they offer a variety of dance classes as well as a full-service hair salon. Drumgoole has owned and operated salons for over 20 years, including the local Masters Connection. She is also certified in liturgical dance. Between her background and Peoples’ corporate managerial skills, it made sense for the sisters to combine their passions under one roof. Peoples’ daughter, Cyerra, is a graduate of Davidson Fine Arts School and a skilled choreographer; she, too, is involved in the business as an instructor in the master classes. Merging dance and salon makes perfect sense, says Peoples: “A lot of women like to get their hair done after a good workout. Now they can do both in one place.” Velocity is housed in a two-story, 9,000-square-foot building, with both salon and dance studio downstairs. “We only renovated the ground floor,” says Peoples, “and it took a good six weeks to get it done, from electrical to plumbing, hardwood floors — everything, front to back, wall to wall, getting it up to inspection codes. That was after probably three months to do the research and find a place. It takes a lot of research! But it was well worth it. We got the deal of a lifetime and we stepped out on faith.” Velocity Salon and Dance Studio currently houses four booths, with plans to expand. They offer hair styling and care for women, and are incorporating chair massage, manicure, pedicures, and even scalp massage and facials for men. At this time, there is no barber onsite. In the evenings, their eight instructors offer a wide range of dance classes, including modern jazz, ballet, hip-hop, African dance with live drummers, Detroit-style ballroom — which incorporates a “swing” feel to the steps, liturgical, salsa, hula-hoop fitness, abs, mini-trampoline, and the class that is gaining the most attention and attendance: pole-dance fitness. Peoples admits that even she was surprised by (a) the interest from local women and (b) the acceptance by the community. “Pole-dance fitness is new, it’s amazing, and we’ve had every type of woman you can imagine sign up for it,” she says. “Women in Augusta were driving to Columbia and Atlanta for classes. Now they come here. We’ve had young women, seniors, even pregnant women! All ages, shapes and sizes are signing up. It’s funny — sometimes they come in and say they’re interested in ballroom … and then they admit that what they really want is pole dance! Anyone can learn to do it. It takes time, but it’s fun, it’s a great workout, it’s tasteful and classy. It helps a lot of women feel better about themselves.” And for interested readers, she notes: “The dance studio is closed off in the evenings, so no one can see in and watch. That was my first concern. I do not want my ladies to feel insecure about being here.” Peoples and Drumgoole have also set a goal to help others. “We believe that when you are being blessed, you should give back,” says Peoples. “We want to reach out to the CSRA with a scholarship fund for students who want to take dance classes but cannot afford them.” The sisters have set up the Belindra Faye Scholarship Fund in memory of their beloved mother, who owned and operated a daycare for 15 years. “We want to be able to help at least one person be able to succeed in ballet, point, tap or jazz,” says Peoples. In addition to group classes, Velocity also offers drop-in trials, one-on-one instruction, and party packages for studio rental for events. These packages include a one-hour dance class of choice.

by ALISON RICHTER photos KATIE MCGUIRE

top Velocity Owners Ave Peoples and Devon Drumgoole

two sisters and a dream / velocity studiohair salon, dance classes and pole-dance fitness under one roof

“We believe that when you are being blessed,

you should give back. We want to reach out to

the CSRA.”


dates JANUARY 8 to MARCH 5

venue GERTRUDE HERBERT INSTITUTE OF ART: MAIN GALLERY

the exhibit KRISTIN CASALETTO: SELECTED WORKS

cost FREE (donations welcome) where 506 TELFAIR STREET

times 10 AM to 2 PM Tues to Fri contact 706.722.5495

more GHIA.ORG

plan to go

Printmaking emerged centuries ago, but recently it has caught on as a popular technique for artists to explore. The process is tedious. Choosing what image to produce, then carefully etching into a surface in exact mean and measure to attain the idea desired is a difficult and strenuous task. Kristin Casaletto, acting chair of the Department of Art at Augusta State University, first discovered printmaking in an undergraduate drawing class. “I did not like it at first,” she comments. “I came back to it some years later, realizing printmaking gives artists a unique range of marks, marks not achievable in drawing or painting.”

Casaletto speaks true of the form’s wondrous ability to bring out emphasis in lines. The effort behind carving and coloring wood by hand connects the audience to the medium. While paintings and drawings can give the illusion of thick, rough edges and the grain of timber, only a piece of art which has been produced from mere wood and blade can truly display those textures.

But the technique only touches the surface of her woodcuts’ meaning.

“I’m interested in art’s ability, though a visual medium, to convey something about invisible things, like states of mind,” Casaletto states. Her woodcuts delve into “issues of conscience,” such as war and globalization. “Pieces of my work have to do with longing for justice; some with grappling with decisions about belief; some with lack of personal power in a complicated, post-industrial world.” Her subject matter ranges from the movement of machine and animal to the mere torment and anguish in a man’s face. This combined with the sketchy grain of a woodcut easily invokes images of modern dystopia for her audience. “Most of what is most compelling about life does not lie completely within the sensory realm, and art has the ability to go there, anywhere.”

“Drawing is as important to me as words in my thinking process,” Casaletto avers. “Making art is an essential part of how I access and refine my thoughts.”

View the recent works of Kristin Casaletto at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. The exhibit opens January 8th at 6 pm with a reception and gallery talk, free to members and $5 for nonmembers.

by ASHLEY PLOCHA art APOCALYPSE FOR BRIDGET by KRISTIN CASALETTO

scratching the surfacecasaletto carves meaningful art

“I’m interested in arts ability to convey something about

invisible things.”


hounds and hares / the peach fuzz hashersa running group with a drinking problem

First and foremost, Hashing is about friendship.

The Peach Fuzz Hashers, the Augusta “kennel” or chapter of the world renowned Hash House Harriers, are a group of twenty or so men and women who gather on a weekly basis for some running, some exploring and, best of all, some friendly drinking.

Gathered in Augusta by hasher Puppy Cakes in June of 2000, the Peach Fuzz Hash House Harriers stomp through the mud, explore the hidden corners of Augusta and, in the process, stop long enough to catch a breather and chug some beer. The Hashers pick up their own trash and respect the law, yet have a great time chit chatting and simply enjoying each other’s company.

The heart behind the Hash House Harriers, an international group formed roughly seventy years ago in Malaysia, is a tight knit group with a common theme of acceptance. Class, social status and whatever goes on outside in the real world: none of it matters to the Hashers. All that matters is people with a similar interest in running, drinking beer, cracking jokes and having a good time.

Starting out in a desolate parking lot and taking off at a brisk pace through mud and grass, the Hashers slog through the environment, following chalk symbols to the next beer stop where everyone gathers and downs a few brewskis in good company.

On their six hundred forty seventh run, the Hashers don’t have a full group this night, not like the record number of fifty four in one recent run. But a stalwart group of ten to fifteen is ready, wearing whistles and dog tags. Bag Lady reminds new members “don’t wear new shoes” as there will be mud. But there will also be bathroom breaks and plastic bags full of beer; that is if a “hound” can follow the symbols laid out in chalk by the “hares.” Keeping with the English hunting tradition of using dogs to catch a rabbit, the Hashers organize each run with meticulous care. “I inform the police before every run,” Hashing MisManager Bozo says, making sure people know they are there and that the chalk they throw on the ground to help runners find their way is just chalk and not anthrax or cocaine.

During the first run, a “virgin” gets to carry a plunger the whole

route and tote the empty beer cans (or water bottles for the non-drinkers) to the nearest trash can between beer stops. Don’t ask what the plunger is for. After six runs, a Hasher gets to be the “hare” and is given a name by the group to replace their “nerd name.”

“Your name is given to you,” Comes With Mum says, who was given his name because he began hashing with his mother. “Your name is usually something about you or something you did,” Bag Lady explains. Everyone in the group looks over at a dark haired girl named Bites Y’all’s Balls and laughs.

While in many ways to the uninitiated, the Hashers may seem strange. The Peach Fuzz Hash House Harriers usually walk and talk, getting a little hiking in and even some kayaking during the summer, as well as benefit and themed walks. But membership is not given lightly. “Virgins” have to learn the ways and participate in the Circle at the end of the night, where they are made to drink large amounts of beer. That initiation right concluded, everyone is given the opportunity to join – this is not an exclusive group. Members of this international group come from all races, genders and ages (over 21, of course). Some people, like kennel creator Puppy Cakes, began hashing in Japan during the ‘80s when a friend told him, “come on, you gotta hash.” Others are from different kennels in different cities, virgins, or only nine runs in.

Every Wednesday evening, the Hashers meet for an energetic walk that can last anywhere from an hour to three hours, depending on the weather and the hare, including roughly three to five beer stops. Sometimes the terrain is a path through the woods or a winding run through downtown streets. Other times it may be a bit more harrowing. Every time it is a surprise.

The tradition of Hashing goes back to the 1930’s in Malaysia when British officers and expatriates wanted to find a way to get physically fit while drinking beer and now encompasses over 170 countries with 18,000 members spread over 1,700 kennels. While some Hash kennels focus more on the athletic aspect of Hashing, the Peach Fuzz Hashers view themselves as more of a social club that enjoys drinking, hanging out with friends, and getting back to nature. Comes With Mum advises that this combination gets the body working towards chasing out the phantoms of a hangover from the previous night’s drinking.

Seems logical enough.

In many ways, Hashing is a walking/running contradiction. It is very fun, very silly and full of very eighth grade bathroom humor. Yet, Hashing is also very serious, steeped in traditions and respectful to one another. It’s a paradox but it’s also just a great way to stay fit and get drunk.

In the end, the Hashers are a tight knit group, sure. Funny and ridiculous, definitely. But what sets them apart is camaraderie unlike anything the average person finds in common life. If that is something that appeals to you, get on the website, find the next Hashing location, and show up on time. But be prepared with a sense of humor because, after all the possible mistakes a person can make along the trail during a Hash, from not doing “virgin” business to cutting your hand jumping over a chain link fence, the worst offense is not having a good time.

For more information on the Peach Fuzz Hash House Harriers, including traditions and a calendar of when the next run will take place, their website provides all the necessary data for anyone who wants to join this drinking group with a running problem: www.pfh3.org

by D.H.L. photo courtesy of THE PEACH FUZZ HASHERS

“Thou shalt keep what happens in the hash in the hash and keep what happens

outside the hash outside the hash.”FROM PEACH FUZZ HASH HOUSE HARRIERS COMMANDMENT THREE

“Thou shalt lay trail of the highest quality and provide beverage suitable to quench the thirst of those who trail behind thee.”

FROM PEACH FUZZ HASH HOUSE HARRIERS COMMANDMENT FOUR


Fahrenheit 1026 january 9 • the book tavern sunset

The day after Christmas, the Book Tavern announced its shelves were burgeoning with too much overstock - since then, the entire stock of used, new and antiquarian books has been discounted. The bookstore will close the sale with a classic book burning on Saturday, January 9th, before temporarily closing to overhaul the store. Located at 1026 Broad Street. For up to the minute (almost) details visit booktavern.com visit www.vergelive.com for complete pipeline of january’s downtown events

The Wizard of Ozjanuary 8 • bell auditorium • 8 pm • $37.5 to $47.5

There truly is no place like home as the greatest family musical of all time, the wonderful Wizard of Oz, twists its way across the country! The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow in this lavish production, featuring breathtaking special effects, dazzling choreography and classic songs. A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz will blow you away from the moment the tornado touches down and transports you to a dazzling art deco Oz, complete with munchkins and flying monkeys. bellauditorium.com

8highlights from the pipeline

The OtherTubmansjanuary 9augusta museum of history11:30 am • 12:30 pm • 1:30 pm

Voices of the Past Museum Theater Series is a series of character monologues that brings to life the stories of ordinary and extraordinary people which is performed in museum theater format by actors. The character in The Other Tubmans tells a story that explains the connection between local Tubman slaves freed in the 1830’s and William Tubman, who served as Liberia, Africa’s longest running President from 1944-1971. Free with Museum admission. augustamuseum.org

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movies at mainmonday nights • 6:30 pm

augusta main library

JAN 11: 500 Days of SummerA bittersweet, off-beat romantic comedy about Summer (Zooey Deschanel) who doesn’t believe true love exists, and the young man who falls for her. PG-13, 95 min. (‘09)

JAN 18: Closed for MLK Day

January 25: MoonThis modern science fiction film packs action as Astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) serves a stint on the moon with only GERTY, his robotic assistant for company. R, 97 min. (‘09)

9Classic Movie Night: Happy Birthday Elvisjanuary 8 • paul simon theater at fort discovery • 7 pm • $15 to $25

Celebrate The King’s 75th Birthday with the classic movie Blue Hawaii and a live performance by renowned Elvis tribute artist Jason Sikes accompanied by the Sassy Brass Band. Blue Hawaii shows Elvis in his element - ecstatic romance, exotic dance and exciting music - and is best known for his song “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Dress in your best Hawaiian or Elvis attire and walk the red carpet to your seat. But first reserve your seats (which come with complimentary parking) online at augustaamusements.com

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Second Saturday Cabaretjanuary 9 • le chat noir • 7 pm • $10

Le Chat Noir is the setting for high-class unusual. From The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer to Bat Boy: The Musical, the people at Le Chat consistently put on performances which balance sophistication with absurdity. However, on January 9th, pure musical talent will be the feature as Le Chat Noir hosts its third Second Saturday Cabaret.

A new addition to Le Chat Noir’s repertoire this year, the Second Saturday Cabaret is held every two months and features local singers belting out show tunes, classic love standards and torch songs. With the singers accompanied by a single pianist on an upright, the Second Saturday Cabaret is low-key and casual, culminating in what Krys Bailey of Le Chat calls, “a perfect combination of classy & cool.”

This month’s show is meant to showcase up-and-coming singers in the area, such as Laura Butler, Katie Reagan, Melissa Canas, and Amy Miller—talented young artists, a few of whom are associated with local Augusta theater.

When asked what kind of audience Le Chat is looking for at this event, Mr. Bailey replied, “We’re hoping to build an audience that will come for an elegant evening out to hear folks they may or may not be familiar with, based on the caliber of talent and high production standard that Le Chat Noir is reputed for. The age range of our audience is usually 30-plus, but we’re expecting a younger demographic to show up at the January show.”

In addition, Mr. Bailey says the atmosphere of these events is very ‘come as you are’: “There will be doctors in jeans alongside students in business casual. A large portion of our audience is, and always has been, other artists and aspiring artists, which makes for a good room. There have been several occasions where someone just hopped on the piano or brought in their guitar and folks sang along.” lcnaugusta.com

by MARCUS PLUMLEE photo KATIE MCGUIRE

Hay Sugarjanuary 22 • stillwater taproom • 10 pm • $4

This budding quartet from Asheville makes tracks to Augusta bringing its modern twist on the blues, folk and bluegrass with them. Comprised of brothers Matt (guitar, banjo, vocals) and “Tall” Paul Leech (mandolin, vocals), Madison Flego (vocals, guitar) and Salley Williamson (bass), the quartet has been taking the Americana music scene by storm wowing audiences and music reviewers at the recent Movin’ On Festival.

Billboard Magazine’s UWire said: “Hay Sugar keeps knocking it out of the park. With Madison Flego’s sexy vocals and Matt Leech’s downright boastful guitar playing, they can jam an entire semester’s worth of concerts into one airtight performance.” Combine Hay Sugar’s “easy on the eyes, delightful to the ears” sets with Stillwater Taproom’s great selection of brewskis and the night just got perfect. haysugar.com

22more to see more to hear more to do

Beauty and The Beastjanuary 30 • imperial theatre • 3 pm • $5

A perfect way to introduce little ones to live entertainment and theatre etiquette. Storyland Theatre’s productions are designed specifically for children (and families) to enjoy. Beauty and the Beast will delight with original songs, clever antics and friendly characters. No reservations are required and tickets are $5 per person. All active duty military personnel and their families are free with valid military ID. knology.net/storyland

30 9

9

Tuesday Music Live: SOA String Quartetjanuary 12 • saint paul’s • noon

Tuesday’s Music Live, America’s largest luncheon concert series, resumes its 22nd season with a free concert featuring the Augusta Symphony String Quartet. Concerts are held in the nave of Saint Paul’s Church, 6th & Reynolds at the Riverwalk. Lunch following the concert is $10 per person, catered by Crums on Central. Advance reservations are required and can be made online or at 706.722.3463. tuesdaysmusiclive.com

12


chefspeak / meet jonathan marksthe genius behind the ever-evolving rooster’s beak menu


chefspeak / meet jonathan marksthe genius behind the ever-evolving rooster’s beak menu

Jonathan Marks graduated college with a degree in political science, yet always found his passion in food. “I realized that I prefer the satisfaction in cooking,” he states, “and I had to make a serious decision to make it a career.” Rooster’s Beak has been years in the making, but Marks’ mission is simple: “I want to serve the food I like, done the way I like it.”

“Growing up, I always worked part time as a waiter, banquet server, even at Krystals,” he confesses with a grin. Having already learned the ins and outs of the business, he moved to Florida and began studying at the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Orlando. “In all the jobs I had after that, the chefs became my mentors. I focused on cleanliness, quality of ingredients. I was always learning and absorbing.” After achieving an associate’s degree in the culinary arts, he returned to Augusta and became the food

and beverage manager of a golf club in Graniteville. This gave him experience with wine and the cost end of things. After years of work and studying, he decided to open up his own restaurant in downtown Augusta.

His tacoria lends itself to a very flexible fare. “It’s a good way to maintain a simple menu with lots of specials, but without being cheesy fusion.” Marks also comments that Rooster’s Beak is the perfect blend of food made well and affordably. He is quick to utilize fresh produce and ingredients; especially his favorites: cilantro, citrus and hot peppers. His answer to why he chooses Mexican cuisine? “It’s more natural, more organic.”

Rooster’s Beak is located at 215 Tenth Street and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm.

by ASHLEY PLOCHA photo KATIE MCGUIRE

INGREDIENTS: 2 guajillo peppers, dried 3 to 4 cups unsalted cashews Honey (Marks recommends Empire Honey from Garden City Organics) Salt (to taste) Vegetable oil (add to desired consistency)

PEPPER PREP: 1. Taking the stems off, cut open with scissors and remove seeds until the pepper is flat 2. In a skillet or toaster, toast the peppers for a few minutes on each side until crispy 3. Pulse peppers in a coffee grinder to make powder

STEP BY STEP: 1. In a food processor, blend cashews 2. While blending, slowly add oil until achieving thick consistency 3. Add guajillo powder 4. Add honey and salt to taste

STORE & USE: Keep in an airtight container and use anywhere peanut butter is required. Marks prepared a delicious sample of the peanut butter on a slice of cornbread, topped with homemade raspberry jam.

from jonathan’s kitchen : GUAJILLO PEPPER CASHEW PEANUT BUTTERA super easy variation on a common household staple


What is a virtuoso? The dictionary defines it as “a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit” — a simple explanation to define a level of talent that is in many ways indefinable. Listening to the musicians of Blue Highway, with their extraordinary mastery of multiple instruments and innate ability for crafting songs, the term virtuosos comes to mind. But it’s more than that. It’s the harmonies, the songwriting, the weaving in and out of a musical tapestry that makes Blue Highway unique. No wonder that, over the course of 15 years and eight albums, they’ve played to millions of fans and won armloads of awards. Their newest release for Rounder Records, Some Day: The Fifteenth Anniversary Collection, is being released on January 19 and showcases highlights from their Rounder years and several new songs.

Blue Highway is Jason Burleson - banjo, guitar, mandolin, Rob Ickes - Dobro and Weissenborn-style slide guitars, Shawn Lane - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, Tim Stafford - guitar, and Wayne Taylor – bass. Jason Burleson spoke with verge about the key to Blue Highway’s long-standing relationship, the creative process that results in such exquisite albums, and some of his surprising influences.

VERGE: Fifteen years – how do you make it last?

BURLESON: I’ve told people that it’s like being married to five people. One thing: we all have the same musical taste; no one is in left field in what we consider good. Also, we’ve never had a bus, so there’s no huge responsibility of playing to pay for the bus. We have a large van, but we’re so spread out geographically that it’s rare that we’re all traveling together at the same time. Some of us drive separately, or we fly if it’s a long trip. And honestly, we’re all good friends. I’ve known Tim since the late 1980s, and we’ve all been rehearsing as a band since November 1994.

VERGE: Is it harder to challenge people you know so well, both onstage and in the studio?

BURLESON: We all try to play as good as we can each night for each other. We’re picky about it. We pride ourselves on playing and singing, and if we satisfy ourselves, we believe the fans will like it too.

VERGE: Can you finish each other’s musical sentences?

BURLESON: A lot of times, yes, we sure do. We kind of know each other’s styles so well that we can anticipate what someone’s coming up with. We have a set list, but sometimes we change it

in the middle, or somebody hollers a request from the audience. We’ve recorded so many songs, and some we only worked up for the studio 10 years ago, so a lot of times someone will request something and we have no idea how to play it anymore! We’ve done eight or nine albums, and with 15 songs on an album, that’s over 100 songs, so there are some we just don’t remember.

VERGE: With so many albums in your repertoire, how did you choose from all of that material to assemble a “best of” collection?

BURLESON: It was kind of tough because there’s quite a bit of material. Tim came up with a list, and we changed it here and there and tried to make a good collection that fit well together.

VERGE: When you look back on all of those records, how do they represent different stages of your career?

BURLESON: The first record we did for Rebel Records in 1995, It’s A Long, Long Road, we had only played one show together and rehearsed three or four times as a band. In the studio we had a small budget, the whole thing was done in three or four days, and we were lucky enough that it won the IBMA [International Bluegrass Music Association] Album of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year and several other awards. It jumpstarted us for shows and festivals and helped us get started. Each album is a musical snapshot. One of my favorites is Still Climbing Mountains [Rounder Records, 2001]. I left the band in September 1998 and came back in July 2000, and maybe within a month of that we were in the studio with Jerry Douglas producing us. It was tough for me because I had not been playing much at that time, and it was all original material. I had to woodshed real hard. It’s my favorite record that we’ve done.

VERGE: Is it true that you’re also a jazz enthusiast? Where does that fit into your career? Do you have a side project?

BURLESON: Obviously, it doesn’t fit in this band! I have a side project in my head … if I ever get it on tape! I started out listening to Django Reinhardt years ago and I got into that gypsy jazz stuff. Bireli Lagrene started as a kid playing Django’s music in the early 1980s, and

I’ve followed his stuff since then. He’s the most incredible player on acoustic and electric. In rock and roll, Eddie Van Halen is an incredible player. He’s my guitar hero. I don’t consider myself a jazz player. I noodle around and get by, but I’m not a player.

VERGE: Banjo, guitar, mandolin — how is your approach to each instrument similar and how is it different, both in writing and performance?

BURLESON: I don’t do much songwriting. I do write instrumentals, and on the last studio album [Through The Window Of A Train, Rounder Records, 2008] I wrote “The North Cove.” I wrote it on guitar several years back, and when we were getting material together for the album I thought, maybe I could do this song. I had never done a minor key instrumental, and the guys liked it. I had to learn it on banjo. It lays out easy on guitar, but not on banjo, and it took a while to figure out.

With guitar you can figure out chords and melodies easier. I write on guitar, then [transpose] to banjo and mandolin. They’re three very different instruments and I approach all three from a different place. I try to play melody as much as possible on all three. In my younger days I was a hotshot, hot lick kind of player. These days, as I’m getting older, I try to play the song more, instead of some lick I learned on guitar five years ago. When I was younger, Tony Rice made me want to play guitar. I was a Tony Rice clone in my teen years, but there’s only one Tony and no one will ever be as good as him, so I started developing my own style on all the instruments.

by ALISON RICHTER photo BLUE HIGHWAY

“It’s like being married to five people.”

date FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

venue IMPERIAL THEATRE

the show SOUTHERN SOUL & SONG: BLUE

HIGHWAY + THE KENNY & AMANDA SMITH BAND

showtime 7:30 PM

tickets $12.50 to $35

buy tickets SOUTHERNSOULANDSONG.ORG

plan to go

JANUARY 22 : IMPERIAL THEATRE

blue highway / creating a musical tapestrynext in the morris’ southern soul and song series


You might say that harmonica player Mickey Raphael has the ultimate gig: for over 30 years, he has toured the world and recorded with Willie Nelson, sharing the stage with one of music’s greatest singers/songwriters/guitarists. For Raphael, being a part of the band is not only artistically fulfilling; it’s also an opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the legend that is Willie Nelson.

Raphael has recorded with a remarkable number of other artists; his discography is pages long and he remains in demand as a session and live player. Last year, he made his debut as an “unproducer” — taking classic early Nelson tracks and removing the strings and choruses that were ubiquitous in the so-called “Nashville Sound” when the songs were recorded 40 years ago. The resulting album, Naked Willie, puts a new slant on old favorites, and a spotlight on the man whose idea it was to strip the masters and bring Nelson’s unmistakable voice into the forefront.

Mickey Raphael spoke to verge about “unproduction,” working with tape, and the world according to Willie Nelson.

VERGE: How did you obtain the masters to “unproduce” these tracks? Who owns them?

RAPHAEL: RCA. I didn’t know anybody there, but I knew someone at Sony Legacy, the label that releases Willie’s catalogs and reissues at Columbia, and they mentioned the Sony/RCA merger. A light came on in my head and I said, “I have a great idea. Can I get my hands on the masters?” They said, “They’re in a vault.” I went to a studio in New York, did a test project with a couple of songs and submitted them.

VERGE: Were you working from the actual reels? How well were they preserved?

RAPHAEL: The reels were in cardboard boxes, falling apart. I didn’t actually touch them; the engineer did it. You can’t play them more than a couple of times because the magnetic surface disintegrates. A lot of times they bake the tapes to keep them intact, so I had one shot to load them to my hard drive. They sounded great. I assume the vault is temperature-controlled, but you never know. Now it’s all on hard drive. The next one will be the same, but with harmonica all over it! I can even take Beatles records, put them on my computer and put harmonica all over them …

VERGE: Too late. They did that themselves.

RAPHAEL: This is true!

VERGE: That album is like listening to an entirely different artist, not at all connected to what he is today.

RAPHAEL: It is. The first time I heard him, this is what he sounded like, so these songs have a special place in my heart. They piqued my interest in Willie. I didn’t grow up on country music. I grew up on the Stones, the Beatles and the Band.

VERGE: How long had it been since you worked with tape?

RAPHAEL: I recorded with Willis Alan Ramsey on tape in Austin, but it’s been a while. It’s interesting to see how they edit tape with a razor blade and cut the tape. It’s so much easier now with digital. I run into kids who are in engineering school, and they learn analog, but not with a lot of hands-on experience.

VERGE: Do you plan on doing more production, or “unproduction,” work?

RAPHAEL: I would do it in a minute! I was working with Buddy Cannon, who produced a string date for Willie and Kenny Chesney [Cannon and Chesney co-produced Nelson’s 2008 album, Moment of Forever], and I said, “In a year or two I’ll take this record and remove the strings. That will be my livelihood.” I would love to do more projects. Producing Willie — that’s not my world with him. I would not approach him. He has Daniel Lanois, T Bone Burnett; he doesn’t see me in that light, but I would love to produce somebody. I will work with anybody that asks. I’ve done some work with Calexico; they’re great guys. We booked a couple of days in the studio and wrote and recorded some stuff, and I co-produced with Joey Burns, their bandleader.

VERGE: Thirty years together — what have you learned from Willie Nelson?

RAPHAEL: Less is more. That’s his mantra. Keep it simple, slow down, don’t sweat the small stuff. He never lets anything bother him, which is something I haven’t learned how to do.

VERGE: The “Nashville Sound” is not so different from some of what we hear today, minus the schmaltzy background choruses, thank God. Still, there are strings at times, and there’s a certain radio-friendly sound that Nashville strives for. Willie Nelson didn’t fit then, and he doesn’t fit now. That said, being an “Outlaw” has served him well in both record and ticket sales.

RAPHAEL: Willie is not trying to get on the radio. Now, a young band needs airplay, and to be heard and to be on the radio, they have to play what radio wants them to play. The DJ no longer comes to work with a stack of his favorite records. It’s test-marketed on homogenized groups of people who represent

what the public wants to hear. It’s not art; it’s selling time and gaining sponsors. In that case, you’re not going to get eclectic artists. They have to fit into a niche and be what the majority rules that they want. I’m not taking anything away from them; it’s just the way the business is. If you don’t care, like Willie Nelson, who has a fan base and no end game, you can do what you want and not appeal to the largest demographic buying records. There are great artists, like Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, who sell millions of records and their music is what the public wants to hear. If you want to make great records that sell and get airplay, listen to how they make their records, because that’s what is commercial. They’re talented artists who invented and found a place where that sells.

VERGE: You once noted that every kid had a harmonica when you were growing up. How has that changed?

RAPHAEL: Every kid has a Wii now. It’s a different paradigm. They’re into Guitar Hero. But a lot of kids are also into retro and the ’70s, and the harmonica is associated more with the blues. That’s how beginning harmonica players hear it. I want to stretch out and use it in all kinds of music and applications.

VERGE: Do harmonica players get short shrift, with people thinking it’s so easy to play?

RAPHAEL: I guess so. It’s barely recognized as a real instrument because everyone can have one and it’s easy to learn “Oh Susannah.” It’s an affordable instrument, you can put it in your pocket and carry it around with you, but it takes work to master it. It’s not as glamorous as being a guitar player, so the numbers aren’t up there of people playing it. It’s a small, dedicated group that’s totally obsessed with it.

by ALISON RICHTER photo FRANK STEWART

JANUARY 23 : BELL AUDITORIUM

mickey raphael / onstage with willie nelson harmonica aficionado reflects on thirty years with willie

“Less is more. That’s [Willie Nelson’s] mantra.

Keep it simple, slow down, don’t sweat the small stuff.”

date SATURDAY, JANUARY 23

venue BELL AUDITORIUM

the show WILLIE NELSON

showtime 8:00 PM

tickets $40 to $55

buy tickets BELLAUDITORIUM.COM

plan to go


WILL McCRANIE: I resolve to record and release one new song a week online in 2010.

CHRIS WHITAKER | SUNS COLLIDE: I resolve to avoid the vacant, voided stares of the unremarkably unaware.

JOHN BERRET | REED BROWN BERET: I resolve to play more classical music and jazz... and maybe have a wedding!

FUJI | TWICE REMOVED: I resolve to learn how to DJ.

JOE COWART | DEW HICKIES, ETC: I resolve to keep getting ripped at Health Central... and stay away from caffeine!

DEB HEMINGWAY: I resolve to be more of an independent person in business and my personal life.

When future generations look back over the history of the Augusta music 2009 will stand out as one of, if not the, most prosperous years to date. With a renewed sense of enthusiasm and a desire to become more proactive, Augusta music artists charged out of the starting gates and as a result 2009 was filled with an above average amount of music releases and rising attendance figures at live music venues. Not content to rest on there giddy laurels, Augusta musicians will look to improve on last year’s momentum and, in the grand tradition of the season, that begins with those meaningful yet pesky New Year’s resolutions. So check out what a few of your favorite CSRA musicians hope to improve on or accomplish personally this year. compiled by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON

round up / a new yearlocal musicians resolve to...

SCOTT TERRY | SCOTT TERRY PROJECT:I resolve to take better care of my body in genera. You’re supposed to treat your body like a temple, but in the past I’ve treated mine more like a pool hall.

GEORGE CROFT | HEYBABY ALLSTARS:I resolve to play more and to play more benefits.


JANUARY 30 : SKY CITY

supercluster athens’ best show playful side

There is a supergroup coming out of Athens like a runaway train. This nine person experimental-indie group’s pedigree reaches into multiple bands from the Athens area, such as Pylon, New Sound of Numbers, Deerhunter and Of Montreal. Now with their considerable talent and forces combined, they are SUPERCLUSTER.

With a sound that spans age and genre, Supercluster singer Vanessa Hay sums it up with the simple phrase “there’s not just one thing going on. You name it, we’ve got it.” Take some experimental indie-college rock, throw in some ‘Sixties bubblegum pop and top it all off with a bit of the classical and you get the tip of the complex style iceberg Supercluster employs.

“Coming up with a band name is like naming a child,” Vanessa explains the roots of the band. She composed a list of possible band names and found herself fascinated with astronomical terms. “We’re not an outer space band,” she says, “but the name Supercluster just kept coming up.” Her desire to put together a who’s-who dream team of Athens musicians combined with a desire to “start writing songs again” led Vanessa to put the band together. She looked for people she could get along with and who had similar interests musically. “I liked what they are doing and liked them as people,” she says about the stipulations for picking the band members. From there, Supercluster formed. “We’re really a Democracy,” she says about the group and the role everyone plays.

With Supercluster being a team effort, plenty of other members add their own flavor to the mix in order to make the band what they are today. “Vanessa writes the vast majority of the songs,” Kay Stanton says, but explains that the band gets together and builds up the songs, sometimes just jamming and coming up with the next song in the process. Sometimes they “pull in older songs,” Kay Stanton goes on to say, or ones already written by the members. Everybody puts in their own opinion. “Everyone in the band is really receptive and open-minded,” Kay continues. “We haven’t had any band fights,” Kay laughs.

Since forming Supercluster has brought their signature sound to Atlanta, including a CD release show for their album Waves, which has already received critical acclaim. They have also opened for the B-52’s, the two bands complementing each other musically. Supercluster was scheduled to go on tour when band member and friend Randy Bewley passed away recently. After his death, the band took time off, regrouped, and eventually finished up the album, which includes cover art by Randy, inside graphics by Kay and back cover art by Hannah Jones. As for getting back out on tour, there are often scheduling conflicts since everybody is in other bands that tour too. This most recent outing will only be Supercluster’s third time playing a full show out of town.

But where some bands might be nervous, Vanessa exudes an air of positive confidence. “I have no expectations as to what will happen,” she says about playing out of town gigs. “I leave myself open,” but she admits she likes playing for an audience that has never heard the band before. Having played for crowds of two people as well as thousands in the past, Vanessa simply enjoys entertaining people.

Supercluster hope to record some more in the future, see Waves do decent, and maybe make their way to Europe. Vanessa says “it’s fun to see a little bit of the world,” and laughs when she explains how Supercluster would like to “get out there like a circus family,” taking their kids and pets along on tour too. Only time will tell where Supercluster is headed next.

by D.H.L. photo SUPERCLUSTER

date SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

venue SKY CITY

the show SUPERCLUSTER +

MADELINE

showtime 10:30 PM tickets $5

details SKYCITYAUGUSTA.COM

plan to go

WILL McCRANIE: I resolve to record and release one new song a week online in 2010.

CHRIS WHITAKER | SUNS COLLIDE: I resolve to avoid the vacant, voided stares of the unremarkably unaware.

JOHN BERRET | REED BROWN BERET: I resolve to play more classical music and jazz... and maybe have a wedding!

FUJI | TWICE REMOVED: I resolve to learn how to DJ.

JOE COWART | DEW HICKIES, ETC: I resolve to keep getting ripped at Health Central... and stay away from caffeine!

DEB HEMINGWAY: I resolve to be more of an independent person in business and my personal life.

When future generations look back over the history of the Augusta music 2009 will stand out as one of, if not the, most prosperous years to date. With a renewed sense of enthusiasm and a desire to become more proactive, Augusta music artists charged out of the starting gates and as a result 2009 was filled with an above average amount of music releases and rising attendance figures at live music venues. Not content to rest on there giddy laurels, Augusta musicians will look to improve on last year’s momentum and, in the grand tradition of the season, that begins with those meaningful yet pesky New Year’s resolutions. So check out what a few of your favorite CSRA musicians hope to improve on or accomplish personally this year. compiled by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON

round up / a new yearlocal musicians resolve to...

SCOTT TERRY | SCOTT TERRY PROJECT:I resolve to take better care of my body in genera. You’re supposed to treat your body like a temple, but in the past I’ve treated mine more like a pool hall.

GEORGE CROFT | HEYBABY ALLSTARS:I resolve to play more and to play more benefits.


Located at 531-533 Ninth Street is the historic Palace Theatre/Red Star Café, a significant landmark of local African-American history. The 500 block of Ninth Street is located across the street from the former site of the Union Passenger Station and the numerous nearby businesses catered to the traveling public. The Palace Theatre was a silent movie theatre for an African American audience and the Red Star Café was known for its fried chicken and the notable clientele. In addition to the restaurant, the Red Star had rooms upstairs for African Americans since they were not welcomed at the James Hotel which was located across the street during the days of racial segregation. Listed as an Endangered Property by Historic Augusta in 2007, the property has been purchased by preservation-minded buyers and is currently undergoing a certified rehabilitation. New construction of both the Augusta Public Library and the new judicial center is currently underway, and increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic is anticipated. It is hoped that rehabilitation of the Red Star will encourage investment in other vacant and deteriorated buildings in the area, preserving the infrastructure of the Augusta Downtown Historic District.

past timespalace theatre/red star café

by ROBYN MAINOR photo HISTORIC AUGUSTA ad courtesy of AUGUSTA AMUSEMENTS Robyn Mainor is the Preservation Services Director at Historic Augusta, Inc., a non-profit organization whose

mission is to preserve historically or architecturally significant structures and sites in Augusta and Richmond County.

the palace theatre and red star café a brief history

1920 The Palace Theatre is built at 531-533 Ninth Street.

1923 The Palace Theatre closes due to financial issues.

1949 The Swanee Quintet performs in Augusta. Tickets are sold at the Red Star Lunch.

1953 The Central of Georgia Railway offers an excursion to Savannah for $3.00 roundtrip with tickets for sale at the Red Star Lunch.

1969 Mr. Dynamite, James Brown, performs at the Bell Auditorium and tickets are sold at the Red Star Restaurant

1973 Red Star Lunch sponsors the graduating senior class at Lucy Laney High School along with other civic-minded citizens.

1982 An electrical fire breaks out in the Red Star Café and causes nearly $4,000 worth of damage, causing the building to be abandoned.

2007 Historic Augusta lists the Red Star Café and the other buildings on the 500 block of Ninth Street to their Endangered Properties list. The Red Star’s roof had slowly deteriorated to the point of a full collapse into the interior of the building.

Today Purchased by preservation minded buyers, a certified rehabilitation is ongoing. State and federal tax credits have encouraged the owners to invest in this significant property and preserve one of Augusta’s most unique landmarks.


When considering the benefits of weight loss and exercise, a bunch of things come to mind – you feel better, you get around better and, in most cases, you look better. Overall proper eating and exercise just plain makes you better.

Since I’ve started this “journey” ten months ago, my life has changed. Aside from the soreness of working out and being sick for a short while, I find myself happier, more energetic, and much more confident. I still get tickled when someone tells me “WOW! I can REALLY see it in your face!” Recently my wife Jeannie was amazed when I spent a large amount of time on the dance floor during a family wedding. At first I thought her surprise was due to the fact that I don’t dance. It turns out she was astounded at my energy and stamina. Looking back I’ve had to say to myself, “Man, I really was getting down on the dance floor wasn’t I?” Although the weight loss and energy is great, about all I could think at the time was “Darn, I sure wish these jeans would stop trying to fall down!”

So here lies possibly the one major con of weight loss – keeping your clothes from falling off especially in public. Now sure, dropping trou amongst friends while drunk at a party may be funny, but losing your britches while just strolling around can be embarrassing. But, there are ways around it without raiding your bank account every couple of months.

After I lost my first thirty or so pounds, I noticed that my jeans were beginning to form a relationship with gravity. At first I started

wearing shorts (in addition to the regular tighty whiteys) to fill up the space between myself and my pants. After a few more pounds, I found myself not putting things in my pockets like my wallet, cell phone, etc. After a while, and a few more pounds lost, even those attempts became pointless.

One afternoon, I found myself at the counter of downtown’s Augusta Minit Print picking up posters for one of my upcoming events. As I started to turn away from the counter, posters in hand, my jeans decided to get acquainted with the floor. I slowly smiled at the person behind the counter, put my posters down and pulled up my pants. I hardly think she noticed and, with the counter blocking the way, she was probably just wondering why I suddenly disappeared from view. Either way I was safe, I had those shorts on underneath my jeans.

So what does a person do to solve this problem without going out every couple of months and spending money on new clothes? Well I’ve had to take this in consideration. After all, who wants to risk finding some cool comfy pants only to have to get rid of them? These are my options:

My wife wants me to get some suspenders. For some weird reason, she thinks they’re sexy. But, I’m not a “tuck your shirt in kind of guy.” I guess I could wear some UNDER my shirt but how weird would that feel? It has even been suggested to me that I pin my pants on the inside AND wear a belt. That sounds good but, if you’re gonna wear a belt, why bother with pinning your pants in the first place? I’ve heard everything from getting the waist tightened to using elastic and even a trying a chord through the belt loops sort of like a reverse sweatpants kind of thing. In conclusion I have decided that there are only two really workable options.

Buy a new pair of pants… or just buy a belt.

cut the fati’m a loser baby part VI

the big pictureFirst weigh-in date: April 14Starting weight: 405Biggest Loser Final Weigh In 354As of 1/1 321

twit stoney’s progress & cheer him on: www.twitter.com/stoneycannon

by JOHN CANNON photos KATIE MCGUIRE

editor’s note: John “Stoney” Cannon will continue to chronicle his attempt to “Cut the Fat.” To keep track of Stoney’s mission check out his blog page at http://fatkatfitness.blogspot.com

here’s the skinny


If funk and gospel music are the grandfathers of the Augusta music scene and rock & roll the second generation, then metal, true metal, is the angry child, still trying to find its way in the scene. It has only been during the past few years that metal has started to gain respect among the elders of the music community.

While metal still flourishes in young bands such as By the Sins Fell Angels and Virulence, metal maniacs from the first family of metal have resurfaced in acts like Chairleg, Shotgun Opera, and L.i.E. to also invade the spots where the over 21 fans hang out with tremendous success. This success can be traced back to an Augusta band that paved the way for metal in Augusta and created a monster that helped launch many an Augusta metal fan – dieAgnostic.

In the early nineties, teen music shows were far and few between but well attended and, in time, venues such as the Coffee Shoppe and the Ranch popped up to present a mixed bag of exciting punk and metal shows. From this seed sprang new Augusta bands with a need for speed and aggression. Out of this uprising, dieAgnostic was born.

“We were just a bunch of metal-heads from the same age group who listened to the same kind of stuff and happened to play different instruments or sing,” said Mark Greubel, drummer and co-founder of dieAgnostic. “We just kind of screwed around at first, jamming here and there and playing birthday parties. After we felt the energy and adrenaline from a live crowd, we just kind of got hooked.”

That energy coalesced on August 27, 1993, at the Cotton Row Meeting Place. Greubel, with guitarist Blaine Prescott and bassist Tim Bargeron, began the set as one band and finished it out as dieAgnostic with new singer Chris Whitaker, formerly of Augusta band Split Decision.

“Our original singer actually sang the first half of our set as Anguish,” recalls Greubel. “Then we announced that we would now be dieAgnostic and did the rest of the set with Chris.”

Shortly after that fateful night, the young band recorded 4th Degree, a demo of mostly material written by the group’s pre-dieAgnostic incarnation Anguish. 4th Degree revealed the first brutal sounds that would grab area metal fans on the band’s first official release just a few years later.

“In 1995 we released You Asked for It,” said Greubel. “I guess that was the album where we decided that we wanted to prove to ourselves and other musicians that we could play our instruments, so we tried to put a lot of technical metal as well as the heavy aspects of it into that album and it turned out pretty good. I still enjoy listening to a lot of the songs on that album.”

While working on You Asked for It, Greubel and Prescott had a conversation that would not only change the future of the band, but the future of Augusta metal as well.

“Bloodfest started the year after dieAgnostic was formed,” said Greubel. “We were just kids with similar tastes and we really didn’t have a scene in Augusta. Blaine and I wanted to make a really awesome show and have a lot of people enjoy it and the whole Bloodfest idea came up. We wanted to get bands on Bloodfest that were in the genre of music that we enjoyed; so it was basically a show for us.”

That first Bloodfest drew a crowd of 100 kids, good attendance

during that period. Over the next few years, Bloodfest would evolve into arguably the single most independently run annual music festival ever presented in the area. Some of the success can be attributed to Greubel’s tireless promotion which included jaunts to nearby cities such as Columbia, Athens, Charlotte, and Atlanta to put up flyers and posters. In the end, Greubel feels that the gas and man hours were well worth it.

“I thought if I could get one or two kids from surrounding cities to come to Bloodfest that they would tell their friends and the event would grow and it actually worked,” said Greubel. “The very last Bloodfest that we promoted was at the National Guard armory and about a thousand people showed up. It went from a show with a crowd of about one hundred to over a thousand over the course of seven or eight years.”

dieAgnostic spent 1996 behind closed doors feeding an urge to explore different musical avenues. The band that stormed out of the door with all the speed and aggression of a runaway train were growing and maturing musically and, a year later, came out of hiding with the appropriately titled CD Emerge.

“We didn’t play a show for a long time, said Greubel. “We started putting together these songs that didn’t sound like anything on You Asked for It, so we took our time and we created a new album that was released October 1997 at Julian Smith Casino during Bloodfest. I think our absence created a street buzz where people were wanting to know what we sounded like.”

Highly popular, Emerge took the band’s metal sound to the next level. Though chock full of aggression, the release showed that the band could play with tempo and melody and still create music worthy of a head banging mosh pit good time. Not only did fans of the band’s earlier work eat it up, but Emerge introduced the band to a whole new audience as well.

“When our CD came out, our following grew even more,” said Greubel. “I don’t know if it was just more palatable or marketable but, to be honest, there’s not a large portion of the planet that are just into death metal. Even as a metal fan myself, I like other music and I wanted to incorporate that into our musical style. When we did that, I think it opened doors to other people that didn’t just listen to straight death metal.”

As the nineties wound down, just as both band and festival were hitting their peaks, dieAgnostic was approached with an offer that seemed too good to be true. A Northern promoter sent the band $3000 to do a showcase in Augusta in order to see what the band could do. Billed the “Final Show” in an effort to draw as many people as possible, the showcase interested the promoter. All of a sudden Augusta’s biggest metal band found themselves packing up to head to the Big Apple, New York City.

“This guy paid for us to have a $4000 a month apartment in the middle of Manhattan,” Greubel said. “We were just a bunch of broke ass musicians and artists so we thought it was awesome. We figured the worst that could happen was a free trip to New York and that’s what happened.”

To finance the band’s housing and storage, the promoter began embezzling money and, once opportunities ran dry, skipped town only to be tracked down by the FBI and arrested.

“He (the promoter) told us to go home over spring break and, at the end of spring break, he was no where to be found,” said Greubel. “We had to save

up money to get all our equipment out of storage and back to Augusta. That was the beginning of the end for dieAgnostic.”

Back in Augusta, Greubel and Prescott attempted to work on music together but the drive that had once pushed the band forward had begun to diminish; their experience in New York being the final straw.

The members of dieAgnostic would go to tackle different challenges: music, college and self-employment. With a family and business, Greubel’s Martial Arts, Greubel would end up distancing himself from Bloodfest leading to the event’s slow nosedive and eventual disappearance in 2008.

Older and wiser, the members of dieAgnostic have continued their separate paths musically and personally, but 2009 saw the band perform together once again to a packed house at Sky City for the return of Bloodfest on October 24th. The reaction from Augusta music fans from the day the show was announced to the ringing of the final note of the bands’ set makes it clear that, sixteen years after their debut, dieAgnostic have left a legacy in area music history that few can come close to matching. As for what made dieAgnostic so popular during their run in Augusta? Greubel attributes it up to two simple things.

“None of us were the most talented people on the planet but we made up for it with creativity and energy.”

dieAgnostic members 1993 - 201Chris Whitaker – VocalsBlaine Prescott – GuitarMark Greubel – DrumsTim Bargeron – Bass Guitar

dieAgnostic discography1993 4th Degree1995 You Asked for It1997 Emerge

reverberations / dieAgnostic 1993 – 2001augusta music history 201

by JOHN “STONEY” CANNON

“None of us were the most talented people on the planet but we made up for

it with creativity and energy.”

verge january 2010

Documents

chapter of change

positive change

new buildings

new chapter

new releasejust

generation of thought

good thing

community clean ups