Trop Rock Artist Spotlight: Jeff Pike and A1A

1984 began with the introduction of the Apple Mac and ended with Band Aid's “Do You Know It’s Christmas” single. In between, Michael Jackson found out hair spray and pyrotechnics don’t mix, the Tigers beat the Padres in the World Series, Ronald Reagan beat Walter Mondale for President of the US and the Space Shuttle Challenger made its first landing at Kennedy Space Center. George Orwell wrote about it, David Bowie sang about it. An interesting year, to say the least. And, on October 24th of that year, another little piece of history – at least as far as Parrot Heads are concerned - was taking place at a small barbecue joint called Jilly's Ribs in Atlanta, GA. That's the night a 22 year old guitarist, keyboard player, and one-time award winning barbershop quartet singer named Jeff Pike stepped up to the mic and launched a solo career that would lead to the founding of A1A – “The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show” - putting the young musician squarely in the middle of Parrothead history.

From a musical family (his mother played piano and organ) Jeff’s first musical memories go back to hearing Harry Belafonte records being played around the house in the early 60’s. Music continued to be a large part of his life through the late 70’s, from singing in grade school glee club and choir, to playing guitar in a high school rock band. In 1978, Jeff and one of his high school buddies formed an acoustic duo, performing material from the top singer/songwriters of the day, like Jackson Browne, Don McLean and – Jeff’s personal favorite at the time - Dan Fogelberg. His life would change forever when he first heard the Buffett live album “You Had To Be There”, recorded earlier that same year at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. Jeff dropped the needle on the song “Captain and the Kid” and the rest, as they say, is history. Ironically, Jeff had given up his tickets to see the show to go see a girl.

College and a series of bands followed until 1984, when Jeff decided to strike out solo. The Jilly’s gig only paid $35 a night but the experience was priceless. Not only was it his  first “professional” solo performance, but it also found him starting to add Jimmy Buffett tunes to his repertoire – including some of those songs he had heard on that live concert album six years earlier.

Cut to 1988. Returning from the road following another stint with a cover band, Jeff once again decided to go the solo route. For the next year, he performed around the Atlanta area as a one-man band, using recently acquired drum programming skills for backing percussion and incorporating more and more of Jimmy Buffett’s music in his show. He also started seeing larger and larger crowds come out to hear Jimmy’s tall tales of sailing ships and sandy beaches. It was during one of those shows that he came across a newspaper ad calling Buffett fans in the Atlanta area to come together to “Party with a Purpose”. The ad, it turned out, had been placed by Scott Nickerson, a fellow musician and major Buffett fan in Atlanta. The two got together, became fast friends, and before you can say “Pencil Thin Moustache”, Jeff’s one man Buffett show became a two man tribute to Jimmy -  arguably the first “Trop Rock” act ever. It also began the worldwide phenomenon known as the Parrot Head Nation, as Scott went on to form the Atlanta Parrot Head Club - the first club of it's kind in the world. In 1991 Scott and Jeff picked up the name A1A (details on the exact date and who came up with the name are still fuzzy). and the next year won a Margaritaville Records-sponsored Jimmy Buffett sound-alike contest.

Scott called it quits in 2002, but Jeff and A1A continued on and, since then, have released a number of CDs. “Ship Happens” came out in 2003, followed by 2008's “Beachwrecked” – along with a pair of live cds: "A1A - Live" (featuring long time Coral Reefer Greg "Fingers" Taylor and produced by current CR bass player “Uncle” Jim Mayer), and “A1A and Friends - Live at Hemingways”. In 2002, Jeff and friends, going by the name Vertical Smile, released another rowdy and raucous live cd. Recorded at The Keys Bar in Montgomery, Alabama, the disc includes both original material and hilarious parody versions of Jimmy Buffett songs ("Tuck It In Second Chin", "Parrothead Saturday Night") and classic rock hits ("Don't Stop Drinking Until Tomorrow"). Through the years, Jeff has also appeared on stage with Jimmy Buffett, in Jimmy's video for "Fruitcakes", and was a featured soloist on Jimmy's "Barometer Soup Radio Special CD".

More recently, A1A sold out several nights at the Strand Theatre in Marietta, Georgia in 2010. One of those nights was recorded and is being mixed down for release as a live cd. The final disc will include an hour of all-original Jeff Pike/A1A material, plus a cover of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" and is expected to hit the streets in April or May of this year. And, last but not least, Referettee Nadirah Shakoor enlisted Jeff and the band to provide back up music for some of her solo dates back in 2009 and, rumor has it, that Jeff and Nadirah have been in talks recently to do some more co-headling dates in 2011. Keep an eye on this site for more details soon. 

 For a full discography, including Jeff's solo cds, and more info on Jeff or A1A you can check out any of the following websites… www.a1a-live.com, www.jeffpikemusic.com, www.jeffpike.com, or www.facebook.com/TheJeffPike

Mi Casa es Su Casa: The ABC's of House Concerts

House: "A structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons, especially for a family."  Concert: "A performance given by one or more singers or instrumentalists or both."
Definitions courtesy of American Heritage Dictionary...

When it comes to places to catch a live show, most folks are familiar with the usual venues: bars, cafes, theatres, concert halls, festival stages, and stadiums - both indoor and outdoor. But, what if you could sit with a small group of dedicated fans and hear one of your favorite artists perform in a really intimate setting - say some one's living room? That's the idea behind "House Concerts", a concept that has been catching on with both audiences and artists, especially in the area of Trop Rock. So, what are they, how do they work, what are the advantages and disadvantages, and how does one go about booking a house concert for themselves?

Unlike, say, miracle weight loss products and most people in singles chat rooms, a House Concert is exactly as advertised: A concert in (usually) a house. I say "usually" because it is often literally held in some one's living room, den, basement rec room, or backyard. But, a house concert can be held in any open space. All you need is a relatively quiet area (more on this later) with enough room to hold a small "audience" of anywhere from 20-100 people. Wilmington, NC's Hugo Duarte, one of the most ardent proponents of house concerts, tells of performing in a Yoga studio after hours and the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance (full disclosure: I'm one of the founders) is hosting a number of them in an apartment complex's clubhouse this Summer. The other key is that the space be FREE, to assure the minimum cost to the organizers and, in turn, that the maximum amount go to the artist.

The set up is simple: The performer(s) are given a designated "stage" area - usually just a corner and a couple of stools, if available - and the rest of the room is left for seating, which can be anything from carefully pre-arranged folding chairs to pillows on the floor. Sound and power requirements are minimal, since both the crowd and the space are usually (and purposely) limited. For a small enough setting, shows can be all-acoustic - with no amplification at all - or, if some sound reinforcement is desired, most performers travel with their own portable PA's, plenty of power to fill the room. The goal is that everyone can hear, but no one is blown away.

Cost: Unless they recently won the lottery and have no further need for something as frivolous as money, performers want - and deserve - to be paid for their time. But, unlike other venues, at a house concert there is no promoter or bar owner to pick up the tab. So, what the artist makes at a house concert is determined by two factors: how much you, as the host, feel you can charge, and how many people come out to see them. Prices for shows can range from "passing the hat" and hoping folks are generous, to $10-$20 per person - usually collected as people come in the door (although, you can sell "tickets" in advance if you expect a sell out...the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance utilizes Pay Pal for this). Entrance fees aside, there is usually no other cost to the attendees. If the show takes place around lunch or dinner time, food can be individually "byo" or in a pot luck style. As for adult beverages, being that we're talking about events involving Parrot Heads and Trop Rock fans, it would be difficult to do a house concert without them. But, unless the space you're using has it's own liquor license (such as a VFW hall) and you want to allow guests to purchase their own, providing or selling alcohol on your own is inadvisable, for legal and tax reasons way above my pay grade. Whether you, as the host or organizer, get any reimbursement for your time and efforts is a sticky situation and one that is, again, governed by those pesky business and tax laws. In any case, the general idea is that the performers get all the proceeds. Using the ATRA as an example again, our rule is that ALL money goes to the performers. Oh, to further cut down on expenses, it's customary for someone to put the performer up if they're coming from outside the area...A guest bedroom or pull out sofa and a couple of square meals is usually sufficient.

Pros and Cons: Let me go on record as saying I love live music - in any setting. I've been on the working end of the concert business and involved in the ownership/management of several bars that featured live music. So, I understand and respect the service those places perform. House Concerts aren't meant to REPLACE other venues by any means, just an additional way to see your favorite performers. So, you may ask, "Why would I pay $15 to see someone I can see for free at places like the Bull or Hog's Breath in Key West, or the Nav-a-Gator in Arcadia?" Go ahead, ask, you know you wanna. My answer? While it's true that many of the places that Trop rock acts play don't charge a cover, at how many of those can you sit with a completely attentive audience of real fans and actually HEAR the stories your favorite artist has to tell? Not only that, but ask questions - and get an answer?! That's one of the other great things about a house concert; besides being intimate, it's also interactive. And, think about it, even if you pay nothing to see an artist in a "live venue", you still have the added costs of drinks and/or food. As I mentioned above, except in special circumstances, you bring your own to a house concert - no $5 beers, $10 hamburgers, or bartender/waitress tips to budget for. Face it, a "free" concert can easily cost you upwards of $30-$40 (more if you've paid a festival fee or convention registration). So, paying $15-$20 for a house concert is often a bargain. Performers also seem to love the concept. And why not? One of the main "rules" of a good house concert is that the audience be respectful - of the artist performing, as well as everyone around them. That doesn't mean the event has to be church quiet or that you have to hang a "no fun" sign, just that everyone who comes should be prepared to LISTEN. So, you've got a cozy, (usually) smoke-free environment, where the artist doesn't have to fight to be heard over the sound of people talking, plates banging, and glasses rattling. And, best of all, they're playing to a fully receptive audience, one that is there just to see them perform. That means they can play their own material, as opposed to all the covers they would have to have for a barroom set list. And, they can take the time to tell the stories behind the songs. A win-win, any way you look at it.  

Ready to host a house concert but not sure how to get started? It helps to have a receptive audience you know you can draw from...a Parrot Head Club or a group of Trop Rock fans in your area. To make a house concert work, you're going to need at least 20-30 people. Then, find a venue; some one's home or suitable substitute, like the ATRA's clubhouse. Next, reach out to one of your favorite Trop Rock artists. All have websites and/or Facebook pages. In addition, there are several top notch artist management companies - like Deb Grisham Entertainment in Nashville (debgrishamentertainment.com) and Gates Music Management in Tampa (gatesmusicmanagement.com) - that will be happy to help. Find a date that works, email all your friends, then sit back and enjoy a truly unique musical experience. For more tips and info, you can always contact us at the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance. Find us on Facebook at AtlantaTRA@groups.facebook.com or email us at atlantatra@yahoo.com. Good luck!

What the heck is "Trop Rock"?

When you think of the soundtrack for a sunny day - whether you're driving to the beach or blending up Margaritas in your own backyard, who would be on your cd player or Ipod? Jimmy Buffett? Kenny Chesney? Bob Marley...maybe some Carolina Beach Music or Jack Johnson? All great choices. But what do you call the type of music they  - and the literally hundreds more guys (and gals) writing and performing similar songs on bar stages and restaurant patios all across the country - perform? There's a variety of genres represented and, let's face it, "Singer/songwriter/classicrock/reggae/island/folk/funk/steeldrum/shagdancing/country/calypso" would be hell to fit on a business card. So somewhere, somebody came up with the title "Trop Rock" (short for Tropical Rock) - a broad umbrella that covers all of the above and more. Basically, any music about sun and surf, beaches, bars, and boats. If it makes you want to drop a lime in a beer, chances are it's Trop Rock. Sound interesting? My hope is that, through this blog, those of you reading who had never heard the term will get turned on to artists that will become new favorites. John Frinzi, Brent Burns, Hugo Duarte, John Reno, Jim Morris, Swim Skinny, Bankie Banx, Jim Asbell, Kelly McGuire, and "Sunny Jim" White to bands like A1A, Howard Livingston & Mile Marker 24, Hanna's Reef, Phins,Young Rebel Goombas, Latitude, Captain Quint, Tsunami Wave Riders, and Hana & Satchwell. And, for those who have been Trop Rockin' for years, I hope to be a reliable source of up to date information - from tours to album releases and more - as well as provide intimate portraits of the artists and their music. If you have a personal favorite, someone that you would like to see showcased and/or interviewed here on BB&B let me know!

Blame it on Buffett (with a nod to Kelly McGuire)

I have always loved the water. I was born near the Southern coast of Spain (military dad) less than twenty miles from the Atlantic Ocean. From there, we moved to Long Island, New York - a fish shaped spit of land surrounded by water, and later to NJ, with its miles of coast line. Summers were spent at places like Long Beach, Long Island and Ocean City, MD. Over the years I have moved around the country for school, jobs, and other reasons but have always gravitated toward H2O, including stops in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Corpus Christi, Texas. I'm far more comfortable in a pair of shorts than a suit (which may partly explain why none of my careers - and I've had a few - have ever involved the word "corporate"). My lovely wife is the same. Which in no way explains why, for the last twenty years, we have lived landlocked in the Southern city of Atlanta...miles from even a boat worthy body of water, let alone sand and surf. The fact is we got here, set down roots, had kids and, two decades later, are still here. Early on, when I was doing record promotion, I was able to travel all up and down both the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts: St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Miami, Key West, Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Apalachicola - staying ocean front whenever possible. We found lots of great restaurants, tiki bars and hotels along the way. Now, while I don't travel any more for business, as often as possible we still escape to "where the map turns blue", places like Ft. Walton or Fernandina Beach, FL.

So, what does all that have to do with Jimmy Buffett? Jimmy's music has been the soundtrack for both my wife and I for as long as we can remember. When we can't physically be at the beach, we put on a Buffett song and instantly get transported to "One Particular Harbour", with a "Cheeseburger in Paradise" in one hand, and a "Tin Cup Chalice" in the other. ThroughJimmy's music we have been introduced to the world of Parrot Heads, loud Aloha shirts, and the "frozen concoctions that help us hang on" (Hang on! Hang on!). As if all that wasn't enough, several years ago a member of the Atlanta Parrot Head Club turned me on to "Trop Rock" (thanks, Cathy!). What is Trop rock? That's for a whole 'nother post. Suffice to say that it has become a large part of my life. Our love of beaches, boats, bars, and bands that sing about all of the above. Blame it on Buffett....

Getting started; Why?

Why do a blog about Beaches, Bands, and Bars? The answer is simple: because - after my wife and kids - those are three of my favorite subjects. And, short of driving around the country with my car windows rolled down and a bullhorn in my hand, I figured a blog would be the easiest way to share my enthusiasm about them. So, what kind of experience do I have for writing a blog? I have written - for a couple of newspapers and magazines - but I'm certainly no "writer" (as will be obvious as you read my posts). I have also spent many years in and around bands - as an amateur musician, promoter, manager, and even session producer, and bars - as a customer, owner and manager - although I'm no expert in either of those areas, either. I'm just a guy who loves the beach life style and all the things go with it; from flip flops to fish sandwiches, tiki bars to trop rock. And, it doesn't matter whether you have sand at your back door or you live 600 miles away from the nearest blue water. "Life's a beach". Read my blog then go out and enjoy it!