Gauley Live Music Series 2011

Johnson's Crossroad

Johnson's Crossroad has taken their love of old time mountain music and bluegrass and the Texas singer/songwriters of the 1970's to create a sound they have coined "bent acoustic country." The band's original material is steep in traditional country themes of love lost, lost fortune, lost time and overcoming hardships. Their live performance has a real sense of intimacy between the band and the audience.

Keith Minguez sings harmonies and plays the mandolin. The New Jersey native is driven by the music philosophy "the deader the better." He has dedicated his life to music and art with practicality and passion.

Paul Johnson performs vocals and rhythm. He is a powerhouse songwriter that has embraced a "West Virginia moving slow" philosophy to enjoy the national treasure that is West Virginia. Combine his powerhouse songwriting of tough and tender lyrics with his visceral growl of a voice and be reminded of the broken majesty in us all.

Wild Rumpus

Mix the downhome lyrical stylings of Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, and Guy Clark and spice it up with some Uncle Tupelo and that is Wild Rumpus.

Hailing from Fayetteville, WV, the Wild Rumpus is an original string band led by singer and songwriter, Andrew Adkins. Forging a sound that has one foot stomping in the past and the other stomping in the present, their debut album "Love, Trains & Home" on WV label Mudbone Records rolls together bluegrass, swing, country, and rock & roll for a style that is uniquely their own. Their influences range from Leonard Cohen to Jimmy Martin and touch everything in between while managing to hold together a sound that is instantly recognizable and will start your legs to dancing on their own.

Vern's Pot of Chili

Formed in 2001 in the great state of West Virginia, Vern's Pot O' Chili has since become one of the states leading live acts. The band has performed in every major city in the state and has also made appearances at several festivals and state wide events including the Snowshoe Home Grown Music Festival, Fire on the Mountain Chili Cook-off, Pete Dye Classic (PGA Amateur Tour event), Old Timers Reunion Party, Culturefest, Annual Ridge Stock Festival, Annual WVU Sierra Swing Fundraiser, Annual West Virginia Wiffleball Tournament, Carnegie Hall Benefit Concert (Lewisburg, WV), and the Woodstock Reunion Party. VPOC also regularly performs at several of West Virginia's top music venues including 123 Pleasant St. (Morgantown, WV), V-Club (Huntington, WV) and the Empty Glass (Charleston, WV).

Ingredients in the Chili include:
Neil Jones: rhythm guitar, vocals
Dan Freeman: lead guitar, vocals
Jason Johans: ukulele, harmonica, vocals
Ian Lutz: drums, vocals
Charlie Hatcher: bass guitar
Josh Gesner: keyboards

Poor Taters

The Poor Taters is a four man band describes as "Rock-n-Roll with a banjo.' They are a ruckus romp, foot stompin', mind blowin', old time, new time, hoopin', hollerin' quartet from the heart of West Virginia's Appalachia.

With influences ranging from the Avett Brother, Black Flag, Neil Young, Doc Watson, Wilco, Social Distortion, Bob Dylan, Slayer and John Hartford , the Poor Taters are a West Virginia staple, placing 4th at the Appalachian Stringband Festival in the Neo-Traditional Band Category.

The Yetti

This four-man band hails from West Virginia and are self-described as "adorable and deplorable." These talented troubadors have rocked many crowds throughout the state during their nine years together. Their influences are interesting to say the least. Some of them include: car pools, pickle spears, Crystal Blue Persuasion, Chocolate Milk, witty banter and giving at least 87% (50% of the time).

Three Degrees of Hair

Three Degrees of Hair won their name during a name-the-band contest and reflects their styles – bald, blonde and pony-tailed. Their diverse styles combine relaxation and excitement like "yoga for the ears."

Danny Gum is known by some as a motorcycle-riding heavy-metal redneck, but his singing and bass playing make the ladies go crazy.

Detlef Ulfers' Cat Stevens singing quality is also and excellent guitarist. Engineer by day and a Rocker by night. Andrew Caldwell's flat-picking and vocal harmonies round out this trio.

Half Bad Bluegrass Band

The Half Bad Bluegrass Band formed in late 2005, out of a weekly jam session around the old coal stove in the loft of the Lively's barn. "We knew right away that we wanted to stay with the style of old school, driving bluegrass, such as Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin and regional favorite Richard Hefner and The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys.

Since their formation, they have been featured at many state and regional venues, including the inaugural Pickin’ in the Panhandle, The W.V. State Bluegrass & Barbeque Festival, which we have been invited back to for 2011.

The band has also played several performances along The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, which has included a few scheduled stops at the world famous Floyd Country Store in Floyd, Va. With that, we have shared the bill with many great names in bluegrass; such as Blue Highway, Cadillac Sky, The Lost & Found, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, The Lonesome River Band and Everett Lilly from The Lilly Brothers of early bluegrass fame, just to name a few.

Their live show is best described as a high energy, foot stomping, old school bluegrass good time.

Lewis Brothers

Few things are as enjoyable as family members harmonizing. As soon as brothers Russell, Richard, and Jeff grew out of the bickering stages of adolescence, they began making music together, even if it was at first limited to the confines of a garage. After individual stints in other regionally successful bands, the three joined drummer Dennis Foreman to form Lewis Brothers in the fall of 2008. Each member brings his own musical background and tosses it into the melting pot. Once distilled, it emerges quite organic and original.

The first unique aspect you might notice of Lewis Brothers is that they swap lead singers and songwriting duties nearly as often as they swap instruments with each other on stage. Each brother takes his turn in the limelight and serves his time on bass. When not singing melody, they are sure to fill in the gaps with 2- and 3-part harmony nearly all the time. This process keeps both audiences and sound engineers captivated and on their toes!

Boatmen

Inspired by rock, folk, motown, bluegrass and country, the Boatmen are hard to classify. This is what makes a Boatmen show such an organic, energizing, and constantly evolving experience. This 4-part harmony driven chameleon first formed in just 2009 but have have already shared the stage with notable acts such as Perpetual Groove, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Keller Williams and Afroman. Hailing from Beckley, WV, the group features Randy Gilkey, Nick Durm, Matt Mullins and Rob Gross and are currently recording their debut album. Previous recordings have including the talents of members of ALO, Jackie Greene, and Tim Bluhm of the Motherships. Four-time Grammy winner David Holt says "These guys are smokin'!" See for yourself this summer when the Boatmen leaves shore for their 2011 tour!