Penny Royalty - Static
from the cd Static - 2002

Back in 2001 Penny Royalty was blazing a new path through the then stale W-S music scene. They were a part of a handful of bands that were drawing attention to the W-S music scene once again. The band played blistering show even being voted Band of The Year in 2001 by the Winston-Salem Journal. Led by mastermind Ed Kinser, Penny Royalty recorded their one and only cd at Electromagnetic Radiation Recorders. Captured on that tape (yes tape, its an ADAT machine) was some of the roughest music W-S has seen in decades. Capturing the spirit of the MC5 and channeling it through the Nirvana generation Kinser, along with Shannon Murphy - drums and Eric Heinzman - bass, Penny Royalty seemed primed to make huge waves, sadly internal turmoil ripped the band apart. On a more recent note just weeks after the suicide of Sam Moss, Ed Kinser (a close friend of Sam's) now living in Texas decided to take his own life.

This cd is still in stock at CDbaby. Order it today!!!

Band Members:
Ed Kinser: Guitar, Vocals
Shannon Murphy: Drums
Eric Heinzman - Bass

Sam Moss - Losin' Susan
previously unreleased

Today, a very sad thing was discovered. Sam Moss, a local presence in Winston-Salem took his own life. I, like everyone else who knew him, am a bit stunned. He was a big part of why I LOVE music. Sam owned THE guitar store in the triad. Sam Moss Guitars was in business for over 20 years. I bought my first guitar from him at the age of 14, and even spent some time working in the shop not to mention endless hours just hanging out and shooting the bull. I know that there are LOTS of folks that could say the same thing. Not only was Sam a great guitar store owner he was always a great guy and one helluva' player. As witnessed on this rare demo included with this post. Seeing Sam playing live was always a moment you didn't soon forget. A feeling that you were in the presence of greatness.

So to Sam I say KOTJ-MF!!! Thanks for all the wisdom you bestowed on me. You are missed already!

To see what Sam was up to most recently go here.

Mike Greer - All I Need - 1973
from the Sugarbush lp - Between Two Worlds

As the story goes, Winston-Salem native Greer met South Carolina native Don Dixon their freshman year at UNC Chapel Hill. With the help of Greer's hometown pal Robert Kirkland and drummer Jimmy Glasgow they started Arrogance. Their first single released at the end of '69 "Black Death/An Estimation" was one of the first DIY releases and set the stage for such bands as Sneakers, H-Bombs, and later the dB's and Let's Active.

I'm not exactly sure of how it all went down but somehow Greer released this solo album in '73 with the help of his fellow Arrogance buddies along with Wes Locke and David Niblock.

Band Members:

Mike Greer - Guitars, Moog, Organ, Background Vocal
Robert Kirkland - Vocal
Wesley (Bobby) Locke - Drums
David Niblock - Bass
Don A. Dixon - Background Vocal

mystery post of the week IV

Gravity's Pull - Haven't Done A Thing - 1994
from Screaming Goddess Records cd "Motorama"

mystery post of the week III

Vertigo Joyride - You and Me Girl - 1994

mystery post of the week II

Reverb-a-Ray - Don't Ask - 1994

mystery post of week I

June - Bees in a Jar - 1994

June were a Chapel Hill band from ~1992 until 1996. Released 3 singles, the first two on Friction Media, a label founded by longtime WXYC staffer Bob Boster. The third single was on Squealer, the then-Virginia label run by Butch Lazorchak.

They were the subject of a minor major-label bidding war during 1994 & 1995, and wound up signing to Beggar's Banquet after a semi-successful trip to SXSW in 1995. They recorded their debut, "I Am Beautiful," over a period of several weeks in Nashville, released it in spring 1996, and broke up around a month later.

Original drummer Mathew Gross left the band before they signed to Beggar's Banquet. After grad school & travel, he reappeared on the national stage as the man who persuaded the Howard Dean campaign to start a blog. He's currently working as internet guru for the John Edwards campaign.

Replacement drummer John Howie Jr. currently leads his long-running country band the $2 Pistols in Chapel Hill.

Guitarist John Price is married & lives in Durham, I think. Guitarist Tricia Tuttle moved to London, where she is a journalist, film critic & festival programmer.

Bassist Andy Magowan is chef & co-owner of Piedmont restaurant (http://www.piedmontrestaurant.com ) in Durham. He can occasionally still be seen playing in local bands Malt Swagger & Erie Choir, though the restaurant is open 6 days a week & he seems to always be there.

Singer Kat Cook moved to LA, and last I heard she was in a pop band called Cucalorus.

This song, "Bees in a Jar," was from one of the 7" recording sessions, IIRC. I'm not at home & thus don't have access to my record collection, but I don't think it was on any of the singles. Was it on a compilation, like maybe one of those Record Exchange comps? Perhaps Michael will tell us where he got it.

Band Members:
Kat Cook - Vocals
John Price - Guitar
Tricia Tuttle - Guitar
Andy Magowan - Bass Guitar
Mathew Gross - Drummer

The Soul Brothers - Wooly Bully Again
1965 –1966
(Continued beyond 1966 with A new group of musicians)

As with most Winston-Salem bands, when a musician leaves a band, a substitute was found. In some cases, the name of the band is changed.

All the members of The Soul Brothers came from previous bands. Who called who is not recorded in the annals of North Carolina band history.

The Soul Brothers recorded a 7” 33 1/3 RPM vinyl record with 6 songs on it.
Copies of that recording are still in existence.

At appearances they performed songs made famous by Junior Walker & The All Stars, The Seekers, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and other groups. If a song was playing on the radio, then it was most likely performed by The Soul Brothers.

Bookings:
Carolina Theater Saturday Morning Kiddie Show, Downtown A’ Go Go, Hennis Motor Company (Mt. Airy), Hill Junior High School, Moose Lodge (Mocksville), Parkway Chalet, Polo Grill, Salvation Army Kiddie Camp, The Gaslight

Band Members:
Sax & Manager - Frank Coleman
Guitars - Don Wishon, Frank Aldridge Jr., Bob Stewart
Bass – Jimmie Vestal, Richard Hege
Drums – Gene Berrier

New Band Members (1966-?)
Singer – Don Lane
Organ, Guitar – Dean Sykes
Lead Guitar – Doug Sealy
Sax _ Frank Coleman
Randy Lane – Bass
Drums – Gene Berrier

The Tu-Pairs (The Phil Blythe Combo) - no mp3 yet.

Phil Blythe was a well-known fabulous guitar player. For my part, I (Jimmie Vestal) performed with him in the 1963 to 1965 period. After I left, it can be assumed that he continued to perform until his death (Feb 2, 1983)

Bookings (1963-1965):
Frontier Supper Club, Hillcrest Supper Club, Le Chateau Restaurant, MooseLodge, National Guard Armory (Asheboro), Peppermint Junior, Sigma Phi Fraternity (East Carolina College, Greenville), Southwest School (Clemmons), The Tire Center, Winston-Salem Business College, WSJS TV – The Bob Gordon Show

Band Members:
Guitarist, Singer, and Manager - Phil Blythe
Sax – Danny Williams
Piano – Jim Smith, Ed Vernon
Bass – Jimmie Vestal
Drummer – Don McGee, Gene Berrier

Tommy Hailey and The Monotones - Olive Do The Popeye
1960 – 1964

On July 25, 1960, Reynolds High School 10th grader, Jimmie Vestal, meets singer, Tommy Hailey, at a Granville High School talent show.

Tommy visits Jimmie’s house on July 30 and he listens to some tapes of Tommy singing.

Tommy calls some musicians and they audition to form the band, Tommy Hailey & The Monotones.

Their first appearance was on September 10, at the Carolina Theater’s Saturday Morning Kiddie Show. They were booked every fourth Saturday thereafter. Payment was in the form of a monthly movie pass to attend movies at either the Carolina or Winston Theater.

The Twin City Sentinel, on Saturday evening, February 25, 1961 featured an article about the Carolina Theatre, and the bands performing there. It included two pictures of the band.

They did receive radio airplay through WTOB’s DJ, Dick Bennick. Recordings do exist of the band, but there were no vinyl 45 RPM records pressed and distributed for sale.

During their years together, they appeared at a number of venues, as catalogued below:

American Legion, Bill Ogburn’s Restaurant, The Babcock Mansion, Carolina Theater Saturday Morning Kiddie Show, Center Theater (High Point), Children’s Home, Churches, Civic Club, Cooleemee School, Dick Bennick’s (a WTOB DJ) Hi Fi Club dances In Winston-Salem and Kernersville, Dixie Classic Fair, Elk’s Club (Lexington), Forsyth Country Club, Frontier Supper Club, Glenn High School Hi-Y Dance, Grey High School, Hillcrest Supper Club, Jay’s Dance Land (Walnut Cove), Kernersville Community Center, Kernersville Dance Land, La Chateau Restaurant, Mountain Springs Restaurant, Navy Armory, North Elementary School, Northwest High School, Old Town Country Club, Pleasant Hill High School, Reynolds Building restaurant, Rock N’ Roll Review (Thomasville), Rudy’s Wooden Rail, Summit School, Tanglewood Barn Theater, Thunderbird Club, Tom Tom Supper Club (Greensboro), Wake Forest fraternity houses, Winston-Salem Business College, Y.M.C.A.

Band Members:
Manager: Frank Foy
Lead Singer – Tommy Hailey
Guitar – Billy Wilson
Sax – Jimmy Mandakis
Bass – Jimmie Vestal
Drummer – Ted Foy

Little Diesel - Kissy Boys - 1974
from the cd "No Lie"

Quite possibly THE most important reissue (if you can call it that) with serious NC roots. This album is a must have. Word on the street is, there might be some a reunion show in the near future. Play this LOUD!!!!

Below is a VERY brief paragraph taken from the band's web site. Go here and get the full story.

The Iceberg Theory of music history goes like this: the most potent stuff is always hidden below the surface, and if only we’d heard the music of J. S. Bach’s second cousin twice removed, all would be different. In the Winston-Salem, NC, rock scene of the early 1970s, Little Diesel was the stealth missile in the silo, the band that had the courage to play exactly how they wanted and what they wanted. The dB’s and Let’s Active were to hog history’s footnotes of the period, but Little Diesel are the ones who kick-started it all.

Band Members:

BOB NORTHCOTT
CHRIS STAMEY
CHRIS CHAMIS
PETER HOLSAPPLE
MITCH EASTER
PHIL THOMAS
TOMMY ESHELMAN
WILL RIGBY