Fabulous Knobs - Don't Stop Now - 1981
from the Moonlight Records album - Hugs and Kisses

from Matt Barrett's Golden Age of North Carolina Music

In the early eighties The Fabulous Knobs were the Rolling Stones and The Dads were the Beatles.

The Fabulous Knobs were actually better than the Stones. This may raise some eyebrows. How can a band that had maybe one album, playing in bars in North Carolina be better than the Stones? First of all you have to take into consideration that the Stones themselves though musically competent, in their live performances rarely rise above the level of a good high-school rock band playing Stones covers. So musicianship alone puts the Knobs over the Stones hump which in baseball would be the equivalent of the Mendoza line. Where the Knobs left Mick and company in the dust was in the category of lead singer. Debra Demilo was like Mick with the voice of Aretha Franklin. So what happened to the Fabulous Knobs? Debra got married and moved to Indiana. Terry Anderson, David Enloe and Jack Cornell formed The Woods who became an area favorite and were imortalized when the Georgia Satellites were signed on the strength of Terry's song Battleship Chains which somehow found its way onto that band's demo. Terry still shows up with a band at the occasional Sparkle Fest where he thunders through his style of redneck pop with balls and humor.

Band Members:
Debra Demilo - Vocals
Terry Anderson - Drums, Vocals
Keith Taylor - Guitar, Vocals
David Enloe - Guitar, Vocals
Jack Cornell - Bass, Vocals

Southern Culture on the Skids - Nashville Toupee - 1992
from the Plan 9/Caroline cd - For Lovers Only

from the SCOTS.com web site:

Southern Culture on the Skids, the NC-based swamp-rock, trashabilly rock & roll trio whose odyssey started out with tiny clubs and DIY releases two decades back, just get better with age. Frontman Rick Miller is recognized as one of the finest players in the swamp/surf/rockabilly tradition, just ask any guitar geek, and on these nights he was playing like his soul was on the line. Bassist Mary Huff (she of the hi-style wighats) and stand-up drummer Dave Hartman (he of the “Mama Tried” t-shirt) are as solid and intuitive as any rhythm section in rock. With Doublewide and Live, SCOTS deliver a sweaty rock & roll party that fires on all cylinders, takes it into high gear and damn near jumps outta the speakers. This is what a live album is all about – capturing a band at the top of their game doing what they love in a place they call home.

Now with that in mind, pop a top and put on SCOTS’ latest, Doublewide and Live, and throw a party. That’s what SCOTS did - they threw one for 3 days in November 2004 at Chapel Hill’s Local 506. To record the revelry for posterity the band hauled in longtime co-producer Mark Williams and locked him up upstairs in a closet (aka "control room") and made him pay hi-fi attention to the lo-fi sounds blasting away downstairs. Each night had a different set list and a different crowd. The band played songs from each of their records going back to 1991's Too Much Pork through Ditch Diggin,' Dirt Track Date, Plastic Seat Sweat, Liquored Up and Lacquered Down and their latest, Mojo Box. All the spices and fine ingredients that make up the band’s musical stew are represented on Doublewide. When Rick yells out, "Come and get it!" at the top of the set, get ready to chow down on a heapin’ helping of the guitar-driven, swamp-rockin’, toe-suckin' geek-rock sounds that have made SCOTS a unique taste treat.

So there you have it, gentle reader, Doublewide and Live: the licks are sick, the crowd is wound and the band is tighter than Dick’s hatband. Instant dance party, all you gotta bring is your own drinks and cheese puffs …

Band Members:
Rick Miller - Guitar, Vocals
Mary Huff - Bass, Vocals
Dave Hartman - Drums, Vocals

Queen Sarah Saturday - Zoom - 1994
from the Thirsty Ear cd "Weave"

Formed in 1990 while its all members attended Northern High School, in Durham NC. Queen Sarah Saturday went on to release 2 EPs and the full-length "Weave". Since breaking up in the late 90s Johnny Irion married Sarah Lee Guthrie (daughter to Woody and grandaughter to Arlo) and tours with her. Zeke Hutchins was last seen drumming for Tift Merritt.

Band Members:
Johnny Irion - vocals, guitar
Ryan Pickett - guitar
Chris Hollaway - bass
Zeke Hutchins - drums

Big Kids - Facing Out - 1989
from the cassette "Happy Kick & RIP"

It was Fall 1987 and all were students at UNC Greensboro. Britt 'Snuzz' Uzzell was playing guitar in the Sociopaths, and Jeff Carroll was playing guitar in Notes From a Strange Mailbag. With Notes on indefinite hiatus Uzzell & Carroll began cowriting. After a handful of songs emerged they recruited Mike Fowler (Sociopaths drummer) to start Big Kids. Shows and recordings followed. Eventually Fowler was replaced by former Notes drummer Eddie Walker. Walker left and the group dissolved after difficulty nailing down a suitable drummer. In late 1990 Big Kids reformed with Carroll, Uzzell & Walker only to break up again in 1991.

Snuzz and Eddie Walker went onto to form Bus Stop with Evan Olson (Notes From a Strange Mailbag and Majosha) and Chuck Folds (brother of Ben Folds). Snuzz is still recording as a solo artist.

Jeff went onto to form Jeff Carroll and The Desmonds. He is now a mastering engineer.

Band Members:
Snuzz: Bass, Vocals
Jeff Carroll: Guitar, Vocals
Eddie Walker: Drums

Johnny Quest - The Heisman - 1992
from the Blue Dude cd "10 Million Summers"

Johnny Quest was a fun funk metal band from Raleigh, NC. They played a lot of shows in the late 80's/early 90's. They released "10 Million Summers" in 1992. Anyone who saw Johnny Quest will admit that they were a great live band.

Band Members:

Joe Farmer: Vocals
Jack Campbell: Bass, Backing Vocals
Bill Ladd: Guitar, Vocals
Steve Hill: Drums

Butchwax - I'm Dangerous & Saturation Point - 1981
recorded live @ Silver Bullett Saloon February 8th 1981


Butchwax was formed in 1977. They made their stage debut in '79 and then suddenly fizzled in '83. They reformed in 2000 and recorded 32 demos. They played 5 shows and fizzled again. So endeth the lesson.

Band Members:

Mike Burnette - drums
Michael Dupree - guitar/vocals
Richard Martin - bass/vocals
Ron Taylor - vocals

AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION

I got an email from a former NC native who suggested doing a similar site referring to show posters. One of the best I've seen so far is here:

http://www.northcarolinatravels.com/music/goldenage/scrapbook.htm

If anyone has any others that they can scan in and send to me I'd be happy to create a gallery on the site to showcase these long lost artworks.

Thanks,
Michael