Madrone: Rockers Trying to Make It.

During May, I am talking to two bands who are trying to "make it" in show business.  This blog is dedicated to the Roanoke based rock band Madrone.  The segment on May 15th will focus on the all-female band After Jack.

John "JD" Sutphin

I don't have a musical bone in my body, but I have always appreciated those who do.  Like many of you I watch American Idol and I see an enormous amount of talent.  When it's down to the final groupings, it's really hard to say who should stay and who should go.

But then even the winners don't often stick around for long.  Why?  Why do some people make it and some not?

Before American Idol and the other shows that have attempted to capitalize on the concept, people had to make it the the old fashioned way.
They had to earn their way to the top.  I thought it would be interesting to look at two local bands who have created a following to see what it takes.

Guitars stashed near the Tide.

I keep thinking of the Frank Zappa song, Joe's Garage, that we played on the college radio station: 

It wasn't very large
There was just enough room to cram the drums
In the corner over by the Dodge
It was a fifty-four
With a mashed up door
And à cheesy little amp
With a sign on the front said
"Fender Champ"
And a second-hand guitar
It was a Stratocaster with a whammy bar

Local rockers Madrone, made up of JD Sutphin, Joey Coleman, Blaine Davis and Tanner Dogan seemed the perfect people to ask.  They have had a top 50 hit on the rock charts.  (Daybreak) They play 150 gigs a year and they have opened for some bands that have already made it to the next tier.

They don't play in Joe's garage.  They play in JD's basement.  They have cool stuff all around their half of the cellar.  The other half has washing machines and lawnmowers.  They are living the dream.

Blaine

We could jam in Joe's Garage
His mama was screamin'
His dad was mad
We was playin' the same old song
In the afternoon 'n' sometimes we would
Play it all night long
It was all we knew, 'n' easy too
So we wouldn't get it wrong


Madrone let me sit in on a practice session, and they answered my questions with enthusiasm.  They are as anxious to tell their story as they are for their next gig.  They love what they are doing.  Each band member said plainly that he would rather play music than do anything else.

Joey on drums

I push on the "making it" part.  How hard are you willing to work?  How long are you willing to be a short order cook by day so you can play at night?  (Blaine) Or in Joey's case -- how long are you willing to paint explosives trucks on 3rd shift so you can replace sleep with the drums?

For now -- they are all willing to do whatever it takes.  I expected that.  What I didn't expect was the definition of "making it."

While JD says it would be "awesome" to tour in the band's own bus, "pulling an suv," for the most part the consensus was that they would be happy to always be improving.  To hone their sound so that it is in fact their sound.  You hear the music and you say, "Oh, that's Madrone."

And they are working hard, in JD's basement to do just that.  "We'll never be Metallica" I heard during the interviews.

Well, maybe not.  I'm not qualified to say who has what talent.  But I think it's an interesting question, and in the meantime Madrone is on a roll to who knows where.

Here's a link to Madrone on Reverbnation:   http://www.reverbnation.com/madrone
The My Space Page:   http://www.myspace.com/madrone

Mokuchi Woodworking with Yann Giguere

Yann uses his foot to steady his work.

When you first see Yann Giguere, you notice his long beard.  Then he speaks and you notice his French Canadian accent.  You think, "Ok, this is not the typical guy you see at a Salem ball game."  And he's not.

Then, when you see what he can do with piece of wood, you realize he's not like other handymen either.

As I detailed in the TV story, where you can actually see what Yann does, as he does it, Yann uses uber sharp blades to slice through the fibers, creating a smoothness that cannot be had any other way.

When a friend first told me about Yann, I asked what made him so different.  The best my friend could offer was to say, "He doesn't use any sandpaper."

Well, sure enough, he doesn't.   But that's just the tip of the iceberg.  Yann has nothing against sandpaper.  It's just that he doesn't need it.  Why would you sand something that is already so smooth it glistens?

 Yann is to other woodworkers, what Yoga is to basketball.

And there's much more.  Yann is to other woodworkers, what Yoga is to basketball.  Both Yoga and hoops are exercise, but they work the body very differently.  He works with an inner calm.  The Chi in his word, Mokuchi comes through in a big way.

Fox photographer Curt Schruth shoots video of Yann

He sits on his work instead of using clamps.  Or he might put a stocking foot on the wood to hold it in place.  The sharpening of his tools is a ritual in itself.  He squats like a baseball catcher, rubbing hardened Japanese steel on stones with fine grit.  It takes hours and hours -- and dedication beyond any suburban existence to accomplish this literal oneness with the project.

It's funny.  Because Yann understands how it looked to me and to others who have seen him do his thing.  But he's very upfront about things like deadlines, and the need to make money and make the customer happy. 

Shavings from Yann's plane

"It’s always an exercise in balance.  How much time do I have.  How much time to I need to spend for this tool vs. that tool? What is the deadline on this project?" 

Sounds more like the business people I deal with every day.   Hurried.  Rushed.  Yann is none of those.  You get the impression that he would never sacrifice anything just to meet someone else's deadlines.

He became philosophical during our on-camera interview.  (Or maybe he always is, and I just looked past it for while.)

Simple wooden blocks hold  the sharp blades

"For some reason people often think this work is meditation and yess, it can be, but a meditation doesn’t mean, you know slooow... looking off into the clouds," he said.  Then he paused and his eyes showed he had arrived at  an aha moment.  He looked at me and said, "It's focus. Yes, focus."

 I doubt I'll ever feel the inner peace that seems to dominate Yann's existence.  Too much hurry in my life.  I'm betting that's true for most of us.

But it sure is something to watch him use those blades to create his masterpieces.  I think it's a heck of a story. 

Open Studios Botetourt

Drive the back roads surrounding Roanoke and you see a lot of lovely countryside. Forgive the cliche, but especially this time of year it's as pretty as a picture.

What you likely have not seen are the actual pictures.

Ok -- technically, I believe a "picture" is a photograph, and I'm talking about paintings, and woodworking and pottery. And as it turns out, there are a number of highly talented artists who create this work in Botetourt County.

Open Studios Botetourt, subtitled, Art in the Country is an opportunity for people to visit these artists where they work -- and often live -- in order to better understand the art and the artist. I should throw in that the art is for sale.

For my story on Fox 21/27 we had time to interview two of the artists: Ed Bordett, and Dreama Kattenbraker. We visited Dreama's home, where her garage has become a cozy studio. Ed is located in an old car dealership in Fincastle, where he paints and creates hand-crafted prints amidst a collection of cool antiques, and his own gallery.

Art is like wine. You know what you like -- though I'm no expert, I can say that there is quality there. I liked a lot of what I saw. These are not amateurs or hobbyists. They take their art and their space personally. So it's a big deal that you are invited into that space.

Both Ed and Dreama felt that if people got to know the artists, learned their motivation and had a glimpse of their psyches, they might see beyond the images on the canvas.

It's no secret that arts sales have been lagging in current economy. Credit this group who decided to do something about it. they created this tour. Botetourt County Tourism is helping them, along with the Bank of Fincastle. They have a marketing plan, a brochure with a map and Ed is printing lots of signs in his shop. They even have a Facebook page.
I have spent quite a lot to time with a third artist in this group. Mark Young is a long-time running buddy. We've logged hundreds of miles training for marathons, and I've had the privilege of spending time in his studio, and adjacent home, in which much of his work is displayed. When I see one of his oils, I see Mark.

I encourage you to take advantage of where we live. Enjoy the countryside. Take a drive, see the scenery and see the art.