Mother's Finest in Winston-Salem

Mother's Finest in Winston-Salem
Pic by Stiens Photography

  Mother’s Finest rolled into town this past Friday night along with some much needed rain. Amidst the threatening skies and aired filled with the aroma of smoked ribs and barbecue at the Texas Pete Twin City Rib Fest in Winston Salem, crew members and promoters for Mother’s Finest scurried around trying to protect the stage and band equipment from the elements. The opening band was unable to play due to the weather but everyone remained in anticipation of Mother’s Finest taking the stage.
  While waiting on the concert to start I had a chance to talk to several people in the crowd. There were people in attendance from three years old to over seventy. Many people that I talked to have been following Mother’s Finest since the 1970’s when they first burst onto the rock-n-roll scene with their self-titled debut album. I did spot a few fans clutching their old vinyl’s hoping to have them autographed by the band following the show.

Joyce "BabyJean" Kennedy
Pic by Stiens Photography

  Prior to their performance I was disappointed when promoters announced that fans should not go past a certain area in the grass in attempts to get close to the stage. Thankfully, I had arrived early and had my chair as close as you could get to the stage. I had a perfect vantage point for taking pictures. When the lights went down and band members started filtering onto the stage the crowd went wild.  I immediately knew that this nonsense about getting close to the stage was going to be ignored by all. When vocalist Doc Murdock walked to the front of the stage he motioned for the crowd to come forward. I abandoned my chair and umbrella and hurdled over the low lying hedge to get my spot up front as did everyone else.

  Guitarist John Hayes, a native of Winston Salem, was greeted with fans yelling welcome home.  Joyce Kennedy walked out onto the stage looking as vibrant and fit as she did in the 1970’s and the crowd screamed in approval.  When the performance started it really seemed as if you were listening to their album. They sound just as good in person and they sound just as good as they did thirty five years ago. Their trademark funky style of rock-n-roll had the crowd dancing and singing from the time they played the first note until the concert ended.
  Original guitarist, “Moses Mo” was a real crowd pleaser with his wild antics, and as always was a true showman with his guitar.  Leaning over the edge of the stage and almost falling into the crowd several times throughout the show, he took the time to pose for pictures while he was playing. He also performed his signature move by playing his guitar with his teeth.
  I think the crowd got the loudest when the band started to play the intro to their big hit, Mickey’s Monkey. At times during that song you couldn’t even hear the band members singing because the fans were singing louder than the band. Throughout the show Joyce Kennedy and Doc Murdock commanded the stage and provided outstanding vocals when performing their many hits, like Baby Love and The Truth Will Set You Free. For me one of the highlights was when they sang The Beatles classic hit, Strawberry Fields Forever.  It was the first time I heard them perform it and it was amazing.

Jerry "Wyzard" Seay
Pic by Stiens Photography

  Wyzard- Jerry Saey, also an original member of the band mesmerized the crowd with an incredible bass guitar solo at the end of the concert. Guitarist John Hayes and drummer, Deion Derrik, are not original band members but seemed to fit in perfectly with this outstanding funky rock band.
  After the concert was over the band members came out into the crowd and posed for pictures and signed autographs. Since Friday night I have become face book friends with people that I met at the concert and with most of the band members. I have emailed photographs to people all over the United States and Europe that I took while at this amazing show. I find the fans of Mother’s Finest to be as amazing as the band and I look forward to seeing Mother’s Finest and my new friends next month in Winston Salem at Ziggy’s.
Until next time……B.J. Stiens

And then there were four - Jive Mother Mary

  The Fat Frogg in Elon was at full capacity this past Friday night where Jive Mother Mary fans turned out in droves for their much anticipated return after the band broke up about a year ago. Mason Keck, lead guitarist and vocalist along with drummer Seth “Fluff” Aldridge are original members of JMM. Formerly a three man band, JMM now has four members.  New to the band is Tyler Schulz on guitar and vocals along with Will Sanders on bass.  Both of the new members have been on the Alamance County music scene for a while in local bands and their experience showed throughout their performance.

Seth "Fluff" Aldridge

  Two years ago, the original JMM, released the CD, All Fall Down with most of the music written by Keck.  Although the band had been playing together since 2006 it was the release of this CD that caused a JMM frenzy on the local bar scene.  With the release there seemed to come certain expectations for the band.  People just couldn’t believe these guys were still in high school because they sounded like seasoned professionals that had been playing together for decades. Every time I went to see JMM people were betting on how long it would take for a major record label to pick them up. I personally expected them to be on MTV within a year! But just about a year after the release the band broke up with Nathan Coe, bass guitarist, leaving to pursue other opportunities. This left many JMM fans disheartened and wondering about the fate of Keck and Aldridge.
  Mason Keck, the band’s front man, was kind enough to take the time to talk to me and here are a few things that I found out.  Keck’s musical interests developed at an early age while sitting in on practices for a band that his father was in back in the 1990’s. One of Mason’s biggest musical influences is a former Raleigh based band, Cry of Love.  I didn’t recognize the name when he mentioned it so I had to look them up.  While watching one of COL’s performances on youtube.com, I had some serious 80’s flashbacks.  Parachute pants, big hair, and the original rock-n-roll bar of Raleigh, The Switch, all came to mind. In the video of COL I saw their bass guitarist, and recognized him as PeeWee Watson, a former member of two of the greatest southern rock bands to ever come out of Raleigh, PKM and Nantucket.  Suddenly, I realized why I relate to this band and their style of music. Their fan base ranges from fans my age and older that are hanging on to their youth by listening to the style of music they grew up on, to teenagers that are discovering the sounds of classic southern rock.

Mason Keck

  Keck’s vocal tone is a sublime combination of blues and southern rock and his skills on the guitar are mind blowing.  It’s hard to wrap your mind around the fact that he is a veteran vocalist, guitarist and songwriter despite only being out of high school one year. He said the band is currently working together on writing new songs. They have a total of seven songs in the works and are hoping to have an EP out by the end of the year. I personally own their first CD and know every word to every song as do most JMM fans. I am looking forward to the release of their EP and feel certain that they will attain an even bigger following after it is released. 
  If you don’t know JMM, they have several songs posted on youtube.com.  I’m sure you will become an instant fan after you check them out.  They also have a page on Facebook where you will find upcoming tour dates, fan photos and contact information for booking the band.
Despite a change in “players”  their game remains the same.  JMM picked right back up where they left off and they are still on fire. I believe these young guys have a very promising future.
   Until next time….

Mr. Cat, a “Purrfect” Cover Band

     Mr. Cat gets 'em on their feet at Ground Zero in Mebane

  Recently, Mr. Cat, a Raleigh based band played at Groundzero in Mebane.  Having never heard of or seen this band I wasn’t sure what to expect. Wow, they blew my expectations out of the water!

  Groundzero was less than crowded and this gave Mr. Cat the opportunity to utilize the entire bar for their performance and it was a performance!  They played on the stage, the dance floor and even on the bar.  They covered a variety of music genres that spanned at least four decades including; Heavy Metal, Southern Rock, Classic rock, Country, R & B, and some funky Disco.   After their first set I met bass guitarist and vocalist, Sammy Brooks, and got a few details on the band.   They have an impressive resume and I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of them prior to this performance.  They have opened for some major musical talents like 38 Special, Travis Tritt and Molly Hatchet to name a few.
  Seasoned professionals that know how to keep a crowd entertained is something that a lot of Cover Bands are lacking these days but Mr. Cat was on spot.  Mr. Cat kept the crowd entertained and on the dance floor throughout the evening. 

Mr. Cat

  I give them two “paws” up and hope to see them again in the near future.  If you missed this performance you will have another opportunity to see them on July 22^nd at Groundzero so mark your calendars now!

Until next time……