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Articles by Jason Irvin
Victims of the Dance
“We stick out like a sore thumb, for people who like sore thumbs,” says Josh Cannon, one-half of the electronic rock group Dancing with Ghosts. Along with Stephanie Conner, Cannon has worked hard to stick that thumb out as far as possible in the Jacksonville music scene. The group itself is relatively new, but both Cannon and Conner have been performing locally for many years. Cannon founded Dancing with Ghosts as a solo project after being fed up with other musical ventures.
Make Yourselves at Home
Local indie-rock group Loretto could not be a more welcoming group of gentlemen. Zach Elliott, Ryan Ferrell and Austin Boller welcomed Folio Weekly into their abode to discuss music (and stuff) over the cracking of beers and the quiet drone of a stereo. The boys have been playing together for many years, albeit under different guises. Their previous band was called Honey Chamber, which released five albums over 10 years and had its stickers plastered all over Five Points.
Tailor-Made Tapes
"Rock-and-roll is a bummer.” That’s Kevin Lee Newberry’s mantra. And he should know. The performer and recording artist has spent years in the local music scene. From his early career as a true Riverside punk-rock party dude, to his current role as an older, wiser (and, yes, slightly spent) sage, the man has been through a lot. Now Newberry is seeking positivity, both personally and artistically.
Angels Sing - Folio Weekly
Lo! Jazz has flexed its spiritual wings and married the hymn. Pianist Deanna Witkowski, leader of the eponymous Deanna Witkowski Trio, fused the two integrating liturgical music with several other styles, including Brazilian music and jazz improvisation. For those of us familiar with the Northeast Florida music scene and its laurels, the Great American Jazz Competition is a BFD. Witkowski won it in 2002.
Kuumba Yeah - Folio Weekly
Tired of the same old? Want some variety in your life? Then get ready for Kuumba Fest, which promises to be one of the most diverse events in NEFla. Organized by Jax concert promoter David Kennedy and musician E.J. Hervey, the unique shindig features more than a dozen musicians and visual artists. The concept is an extension of the Bughouse, Kennedy’s now-defunct DIY venue and home.
Final Form - Folio Weekly
Band members come and go but, once in a while, there’s a combination of players who are so in-sync with each other that the resultant sound is a true meeting of the minds. Meet Sea Cycles: Brian Squillace, Landon Paul, Josh Wessolowski and Colin Adkins. These seasoned Jacksonville players have been working hard to create original, electronic-inflected music that bucks the trends heard in the local scene. This isn’t the first iteration of Sea Cycles, however. The band dates back to 2012.
Beeps & Boops - Folio Weekly
People love to claim that they gravitate toward the weird, but rarely do they really take things to the next level. Most are content to kick back, drink a couple of cool, Coors 16-ouncers, and enjoy an evening of television in which a famous singer dons a mask and we plebs have the pleasure of guessing his/her identity. (While this description may sound weird, the show itself is banal.) Fortunately, Sun-Ray Cinema does weird right.
Solid Ground - Folio Weekly
"There is no compromise when it comes to my creative vision.” Indie-rock guitarist Randall Mentzos, who performs under the name Terrain, is deeply passionate about his work. Determined to bring something different to the table, Mentzos is not shy about letting his audience know about his DIY drive and singular vision. It all started–where else?–in his youth. Mentzos grew up in a musical household. “Music has always been a part of my life,” he says.
State of the Scene
The year is finally winding down, and many of us couldn’t be happier. It was a complete pile of burning garbage for many reasons, but there were plenty of positive developments on the local music scene. Perhaps you enjoy slam-dancing to the strains of metal. Maybe you love to get an earful of meditative synth jams. Or you might be looking for that rare group that can turn a live show into a transcendent experience.
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