Meeting Of The Minds: Getting There is Half The Fun, Part 2

After feeding the tarpon at Robbie's we made a stop at the next Walgreens we spotted to stock up on supplies for our hotel room, including adult beverages. Yes, I said Walgreens. In addition to the usual aisles of hair care products and incontinence medicine, this one had an attached liquor store. Hard to pass up sale priced Sailor Jerry Rum and Jose Cuervo, especially when you know you may be paying $8 to $10 for a good drink when you get to Key West. But, more on that later. By then, it was already 4:00 and we made the executive decision to do the rest of the trip non-stop, make a beeline to our hotel. That is, until I spotted the Looe Key Tiki Bar. Trop Rock fans may recognize the spot from the Howard Livingston song of the same name. It has always been one of my favorite Trop Rock tunes, so we had to stop in.

That is where we met the Most Organized Man In The World. Like Lor-E-Lei's, the LKTB was full of Parrot Heads heading for Key West. One group seemed especially animated, so I approached them and asked if I could get a picture for this blog. They cheerily obliged then, through the course of introductions, we discovered they were all members of the Ft. Myers, Florida Parrot Head Club. More than that, their defacto leader, Brett Baker, offered to show us "the book" if we would follow them to their next stop, which happened to be almost right across the street at Boondocks.

Running late, we agreed to make the unscheduled visit after being told by his travel mates, Jimbo and Tracy, that this was not just any book. This was THE BOOK.

They weren't kidding. This was the most thoroughly researched, anally organized and painstakingly cross referenced organizational plan I had ever seen. Not just a color coded schedule of bands playing MOTM, but a complete list of bars between Miami and Mile Marker 0, the daily specials offered at those bars, and even the best food choices. Then, there was the schedule. Not only which bars were to be visited, but at what specific times, and for how long - along the proscribed route. This was a man on a mission, and that mission was to make sure he - and anyone travelling with him - squeezed every last drop of fun out of the 4 or 5 days they would be in Southernmost Florida. After basking in the glow of "the book" for a while, and talking to a recently transplanted Cape Cod-ian at the Boondocks bar (Me: "Why did you move down the Keys?" Him: "Why not?") we also discovered that Brett had an interesting business, selling "beer beads". That is, New Orleans style Mardi Gras beads, with bottle tops from your favorite brew crimped all along their length. before I could say "I'd love one of those!" Brett had his tailgate open and was handing me a set of Corona beer beads.

Next: Night number one in Key West.

Meeting Of The Minds: Getting There Is Half The Fun

Meeting Of The Minds, the annual gathering of the Phaithful, is taking place right now in Key West, Florida. What started as a Fall migration of Jimmy Buffet fans, aka Parrot Heads, has turned into a celebration of Trop Rock - with dozens of bands playing in just about every Cayo Hueso bar and alley that can put up a sound system. After talking about it for close to ten years, we finally decided to take the plunge this year, booked a room, flights, and rental car and told the kids they were on their own for a week.

We're not novices to Key West, having been there a number of times - including our honeymoon. And one thing we've learned over the years: Getting there is half the fun. You can fly directly into the loftily named Key West "International" airport (really not much more than a small private airport that handles larger planes). But, we prefer to fly into Ft. Lauderdale and drive the 190 miles.  That way, we can enjoy the beautiful scenery, appreciate the quaint little towns and keys, see local color...and, oh, by the way, there might be a watering hole or three to stop in along the way.

Wed morning
After landing in Ft. Lauderdale, we jumped in to our rented convertible and headed South. Our first stop on US 1 is always Lor-E-Lei's in Islamorada. Sitting right on the water, their "Boss" Margarita and Catch of the Day sandwich is just what the doctor ordered after a grueling hour and a half flight from Atlanta (feel free to make up your own excuses for needing food and/or drink). Sitting on their beach, enjoying the Gulf breeze and watching the boats go by immediately gets your mind off whatever you left behind.

Of course, we're not the only ones who think driving down to Key West is the only way to make the trip and, with the largest congregation of fin friendly folks in the world getting ready to begin later that day, it didn't take long to find others who were making the same trek. You could hear the collective sound of heels clicking and people saying, "We're not in Kansas (or Minneapolis, New Jersey, Oklahoma - insert your home state here) anymore!"

Hunger sated and thirst quenched, it was back into the convertible and off to the next stop: Robbie's Marina. More of a flea market with a small bar, Robbie's has something for everyone. Cheap souvenirs, hand produced art, clothing, and - of course - food and drink.

But, what really makes Robbie's a must see stop, especially for people making the trip with kids, is their Tarpon. Schools of the large, dangerous looking sport fish hang around Robbie's, waiting for hand outs from willing visitors. Grab a cold beer from the cooler, a bucket of bait fish, walk out onto the dock and let the fun begin.

Next: We take the Howard Livingston Tour and meet some Ft. Myers phlockers, including the Most Organized Man in the World... And Night One at MOTM.

To be continued....

Step into "The Yard"

The 2011 Trop Rock Awards are happening on Friday, November 4^th at the Casa Marina in Key West, Florida. One of the most recent categories to be added is “House Concert Venue Of The Year”. I’ve covered The Bat Cave and the home of Terry and Marianne Higgins in earlier posts. Now, meet Mark and Sharon Leverett, long time Trop Rock fans and proud owners of 2010 winner, “The Yard” in Tampa, Florida, nominated again this year.

Mark – who has lived in the area all his life - and wife, Sharon, (she moved there in 1976) are members of not one, but TWO Parrot Head Clubs in their little corner of the Gulf Coast, Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. When asked how long they have been into songs about sand and sea, they answer “All our lives,” and point to Jim Morris as the first Trop Rock artist they ever saw perform live. Like many fans, the Leveretts say it’s more than just steel drums and lyrical escapism that draws them to Trop Rock, saying, “If you don’t feel it in your heart, you won’t understand the love of music.”

As to how they got started hosting House Concerts, it all goes back to Mark’s talents with a hammer and saw. A retired General Contractor, Mark began by building a large tiki hut in their back yard.

Shortly after it was finished, they were approached by Texas troubadour, Kelly McGuire, about hosting a concert in their backyard. They agreed, Kelly played. That was in 2008 and they haven’t looked back, hosting a veritable who’s who of Trop Rock artists over the last three years, some of whom have played the venue more than once: Jim Morris, Jack Mosely, Hugo Duarte, Brent Burns, John Frinzi, Latitude, The Trop Rock Junkies, John Friday, Jimmy Parrish, Captain Josh, the late Troy Allen, Doyle Grisham, Jerry Diaz, Loren Davidson, Rob Mehl, and Mike Miller, to name just a few. By the end of 2011, they will have hosted nineteen concerts just this year (Scott Kirby is scheduled for December 3^rd). Mark’s building bug didn’t stop at the Tiki Hut. The Leveretts have added outdoor bathrooms and are in the process of putting in a bunk house, so visiting artists have a place to crash after they perform.

 

With plenty of space – there is room for up to 100 people in their one acre backyard – and comfortable accommodations for both audience and artists, it’s easy to see why the Yard has become such a popular spot. “We started with mostly Parrot Heads from the two clubs we belong to”, say Mark and Sharon. “We would send emails out” to the membership. Club members would bring friends, who enjoyed the music and atmosphere. Then, they added a Facebook page and started getting people from there. “Plus, the artists have their own fans. Now, we have about 50/50, friends of the Yard and Parrot Heads coming to the shows.” The have never had a problem with the “open door” policy – “The type of people who come just want to have a good time listening to the music.”. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food and beverage of choice, with a $15 donation to the artist collected at the door.

“Artists love House Concerts,” the couple says. So, it’s not hard to find Trop rockers willing to play. If you’re thinking about hosting one, they suggest you start by inviting local Parrot Head friends, as they did. They also believe you should, “find something unique about your place” and name it after that. “People like to associate a name with a place.”

One of the other unique things about a show at the Yard, is your chance to take home some handcrafted artwork or jewelry. “Mark makes a wooden sign for each show, with lyrics from one of that specific artist’s songs,” Sharon told me recently. “I make jewelry. During a break in the performance, we’ll do a raffle and the winner gets what we have made.” For a long time, proceeds from the raffle also went to whoever was performing but, recently – with encouragement from the artists – the Leveretts began using that extra money to help offset the costs of putting on their shows, as well as for the extra construction. “Although it’s a lot of work, we love the music and musicians. That is what makes it all worthwhile.”

House Concert Of The Year Nominees: The Higgins

Meeting of the Minds, the annual pilgrimage of Parrot Heads and the Trop Rock phaithful to Key West, is just around the corner. In addition to tons of parties and performances from many of the best known artists of the genre (many of whom you can read about on this very blog) the event calendar includes the 2011 Trop Rock Awards. This year, a category has been added for “House Concert Venue of the Year”. House Concerts have become an integral part of Trop Rock – in some cases the ONLY way people in some geographical regions of the country would get to see their favorite artists without travelling to a festival or phlocking. One of the five nominees for HCVOTY is the Bat Cave, which I wrote about a couple months back. I thought it would be a good idea to also feature some of the other nominees, for those who might not be familiar with all of them. For those not going to MOTM, I also hope the venue owners might share some of their insights into hosting House Concerts – to encourage others to do the same (and maybe make it onto next year’s ballot! First up is Terry & Marianne Higgins, of Parrish Florida.

The Higgins moved to the Sunshine State from the Midwest back in 1996, following Terry’s love for sun, sand, and tropical tunes. They joined their local Parrot Head Club as soon as they settled in and are currently members of the Charlotte Harbor club. Terry claims the first artist he liked that played what might be considered island music was Bertie “Key Largo” Higgins (no relation), but says he didn’t really get into what would currently be called Trop Rock until about 2005. Jim Morris was the first Trop Rocker he saw perform live. When I asked Terry why he and his wife started hosting House Concerts, he replied simply “We like to host gatherings and share the love of the music”. And share the music they have, hosting shows over the last six years by Sunny Jim and John Frinzi, Rob Mehl, Matt Wahl, Kelly McGuire, Mark Mulligan, Hugo Duarte, Keith Sykes, Jerry Diaz, Leo Dean, Gary and Kerri, Jimmy Parrish, John Reno, Brent Burns, Island Bill Haughey, Don Middlebrook, John Patti, and Scotty Bryan and Dan Hower (aka The Drunkin’ Monkeys).

The two Gulf Coastal Parrot Heads generally host their shows outside. Terry notes that they can seat about 30 people in their lanai and around their backyard pool. One of the things their events are noted for is the great food. Marianne offers up a full spread inside the house and guests are also encouraged to bring dishes to share. Unlike some House Concert venues, the Higgins have a top notch sound system on site, so all performers need to bring is their instruments and mics.

One of the questions that always comes up when I get asked about hosting a House Concert is who to invite and how to get them there. In the Higgins case, they draw most of their guests from local Parrot Head Club members in the surrounding Bradenton/Sarasota area – and as far away as from Tampa. But, Terry is quick to point out that, while they do send out emails to clubs in the area, word often spreads by mouth and the invitation is always open. If someone knows someone else who might be interested in seeing and hearing an artist, they are welcome to come. Quoting Rob Mehl, Terry says “It’s all about the music”. Unlike most House Concert venues, Terry and Marianne don’t charge a cover. They pay the performers from their own pocket (Terry is in the Horticultural business and works full time as the VP and GM for a company).

As for suggestions to others who might be thinking about hosting House Concerts, the Higgins offer two tips: First, make sure you have the space to hold 30-50 people or more comfortably and secondly, be sure you have a large enough network of friends and Trop Rock fans to pull from if you are going to try to cover the entertainer’s expense with a cover charge.

New Hot Spot in Key West: They're Smokin' Tuna...And it's Legal!

You can’t swing a rubber chicken in Key West without hitting a world class watering hole. Captain Tony’s, Sloppy Joe’s, Hog’s Breath, Louie’s Backyard, Schooner Wharf, The Green Parrot, Blue Heaven, The Bull (and, for the more adventurous, Garden of Eden upstairs) and, of course, Jimmy Buffett’s  Margaritaville on Duval Street. Now, you can add one more to the long list of “must visit” places the next time you’re getting your Southernmost drink on: The Smokin' Tuna Saloon.

Owned and operated by a partnership of five individuals, including well known Trop Rock singer/songwriter, Scott Kirby, Smokin Tuna is located just off Duval. Scott and some friends were on stage for the Grand Opening party on June 17^th and the group have big plans for the future. I got a phone call from  “Mr. Lucky Enough” while he was enjoying some down time in Washington State and talked to him about the new venture…

Thanks for the call, Scott – have you got a few minutes to talk about your new place in Key West?

“No problem, Fred.  And, yes, I can definitely talk now. I’ve got three shows up here - including a house concert on Thursday, but I’ve got a couple days off and I’m going to spend them in the San Juan Islands. So, I’m just sitting here right now waiting for the ferry.”

 

A lot of buzz about your new bar, The Smokin' Tuna Saloon. Did you have any prior restaurant or bar experience?

“Only from the standpoint of having spent a lot of time in both of those – especially the latter! But, no, I’ve never run or owned one before.”

So what made you want to do it now?

“Do you know Charlie Bauer?”

I know the name but don’t think we’ve ever met….

“If you have ever been into Hogs Breath in Key West, chances are you ran into Charlie. He was the founding Manager  – ran that place for about 20 years. He is also the founder of the Key West Songwriters’ Festival, which is the largest festival of its kind in the world.  He approached me about, maybe, opening a place in Key West – someplace that would be set up specifically to showcase live, original music. We looked for over a year, until we found what we felt was just the right spot."

An existing bar?

“It was called The Alamo. It’s got a great open air layout – two bars and an elevated stage, all of it outdoors. But, the bars are covered, there is a brick floor, and it’s all surrounded by three historical buildings, which cut off any wind or noises from the street. So you sort of feel like you’re inside, until you look up and see the sky.”

Did you have to do any major work to get it the way you wanted it?

“No major renovations, if that’s what you mean. We re-did the two bars, gave them more of a tiki bar feel, and put in a Mackie sound system for the stage, to fit the kind of music we’re going to be doing  – speakers, subwoofers, and a sound board. Other than that, it was mostly some cleaning, painting, sprucing up."

Count your blessings. I spent almost ten years in the bar and restaurant business - was an owner/manager of a couple places here in Atlanta - and it seems there is always at least one big unexpected problem when you’re trying to get a place open!

“Yeah, we were lucky, I guess. No ‘horror stories’. Of course, we had been looking for a while, checked the place out pretty thoroughly."

What was it that you liked about this particular spot?

“As I said, we wanted a music room and this place is perfect. It’s got an intimate feel – with the brick floor, surrounding buildings, and a big tree to provide some shade – but can hold a few hundred people, and the acoustics and sight lines to the stage are great. It’s got a great vibe, right in the heart of Key West on Charles Street but a little off the beaten path, about 150 feet off Duval…”

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a chance to get away from the crowds. What’s in the three buildings?

“One holds our offices, another we’ll use for private parties, and the last one is our merch shop.  Before we even found the bar, Charlie has an idea for the logo and we knew we were going to want to have t shirts. So far, the merch has been doing great. People love it…”

What about food?

“Right now we’ve got a temporary menu but our plan is to be a good, casual dining place with a lot of fresh, local fish. One of the partners is a chef. He owns another place in Somers Point, at the New Jersey shore, has had it for almost thirty years, and he’s working on a permanent menu. We will have it up and running in September. We have already implemented some of his recipes – like Smoked Tuna. “

What can people expect at the bar?

“It’s full service. You can get cheap tequila if you want, all the way up to single Malt Scotch. We also have a good wine selection, several drafts, and a good selection of bottled beer – including our own ‘Smokin Tuna Ale.’ ”

So, you have food and drink covered. But, you said the place is primarily a live music venue. What are your plans in that direction?

“I’m really excited about the music. The stage will hold a six piece band comfortably, and – as I said, the sound system, acoustics, and sight lines are all excellent. We’ll have music seven nights a week, from local songwriters, to well-known trop rockers like Hugo Duarte, John Frinzi, and James White, to national touring acts like Robert Earle Keen. Deblois Milledge and Mass Acoustic are two more shows I’m looking forward to.”

Cover charge?

“There won’t be any cover charge except for the bigger shows, which will be ticketed. On November 2^nd, during MOTM, we’ve got Peter Mayer coming in. I’ll be opening that show, with Dave Edmisten and some other friends. We expect to have about 400 people here that night.”

Can you buy tickets in advance for that?

“Yes. Tickets for Peter Mayer are $25. They go on sale August 1 through keystix.com”

How often will you be playing there?

“I’m planning to be there at least one week a month from October through the Songwriters’ Festival, which is in May – including the whole week of Meeting of The Minds.”

You’re on the road six months a year. Who is going to be running “The Tuna” when you’re not there?

“Charlie is the Managing Partner, he’ll be handling the day to day. My responsibility will be more the music and marketing. I’ll be doing a monthly newsletter, doing interviews like this, that sort of thing. As you said, I’m on the road at least half the year, so can’t be there all the time. Two of the other partners own Fury Water Sports, they’re successful Key West businessmen, so they will also be very involved.”

The place sounds awesome, Scott. I think I found my new favorite hang out in Key West! I can’t wait to check it out when my wife and I are down there in November…

“Please do come by, let me buy you a couple of beers!”

It’s a deal. Good luck with it and thanks again for calling, Scott.

“No problem. Always good talking to you, Fred.”

http://smokintunasaloon.com/index.php

http://www.scottkirby.com/

http://www.petermayer.com/

Wanna host a House Concert? Take a peek inside the Bat Cave

Move over Gotham City. There's a new Caped Crusader in town and he's made Shiloh, Illinois his home. Only this "Batman" is more likely to be found flipping burgers than bad guys, and his "trusty sidekick" is...his wife, Jill. Tom Melendez originally earned the moniker a few years back when he donned the Dark Knight's costume for a Halloween party. His "crime fighting" antics that night are the stuff of local legend, but the nickname stuck. So, when Tom and Jill started hosting parties in their renovated basement, it was only natural that the space be christened "The Bat Cave". Now, the Bat Cave is also earning accolades for being one of the busiest House Concert venues in the country.


"We bought this house about seven years ago," explains Tom. "A buddy had turned us on to Jimmy Buffett, and we had a boat that we would take out on the local lakes, but we didn't consider ourselves 'Parrot Heads'. Then, one day, Jill and I were out in front of our house cleaning our boat. Well, in all honesty, we were doing more talking and beer drinking than cleaning - I think it probably looked worse when we were done than better. But, in any case, we were ATTEMPTING to wash our boat, and we were listening to Jimmy Buffett while we were doing it. A neighbor saw us out there and - I guess because we had all the right stuff; beer, a boat, and Buffett - said 'You guys should join the Parrot Head Club!' So we did."


The closest Parrot Head Club was located in St. Louis, about fifteen minutes from Shiloh. The Melendezes started attending meetings and events and, as often happens, were introduced to the world of "Trop Rock" through other club members. "We started hearing all these other artists and thought, 'wow, this is pretty cool!', says Jill. "Next thing you know, we're buying new cds and listening to them on our boat. The first Trop Rock show we went to was at Table Rock Lake with Eric Stone and John Reno." And, as I often hear from people around the country I talk Trop Rock with, it was a trip to Key West and Meeting Of The Minds that turned them into full fledged Trop Rock fans. "MOTM changes you forever," adds Tom.


How did you guys get started hosting House Concerts?

Tom: "We went to see Paul Roush and Troy Allen at a St. Louis Parrot Head Club event. After it was over, we were talking to Troy and telling him about this big 4th of July party we throw at our house every year. We asked him, 'Why don't you come to our next one and play?' That 4th of July - 2010 - Troy came up from Texas. In addition to our usual group of friends, we invited the Parrot Head Club and anyone else who wanted to hear him play, and that was our first 'House Concert'!""

Jill: "Hearing the stories behind his songs was really cool. That November, we went to Meeting of The Minds and first heard about DJ Jeff Allen and BeachFront Radio. We started listening to it when we got back home and got introduced to a lot more artists there."

Tom: "We had a great time with Troy at the 4th of July party - he wound up hanging out with us for three days - but, Jill and I never really said to each other, 'Let's do another one!' But, then we were in Key West, meeting people like Hugo Duarte, and I thought - 'I'd really like to get some of these artists up to our area, so people who don't get to go to the events we do can see and hear them' Gee, if we could just find a place for them to play...".


So, how did it go from "Wish we had a place for them to play in our area"..to "We HAVE a place for them to play!"?

Tom: "Our house is on a lake and we have a big back yard. Plus, the basement - the 'Bat Cave' - is already set up for entertaining. Pretty much as soon as we started thinking about places for Trop Rock artists to play in the area, we thought of our place. We never really looked anywhere else. Honestly, it's partly selfish. Part of the reason for bringing the artists to our area is so that WE - Jill and I - get to hear them play. We love having people over and love seeing them have a good time, and the artists get their music and stories heard. Everybody wins this way."

Jill: "All of a sudden, we've become a venue!"


How many House Concerts have you hosted now?

Tom: "We've done six so far. We did three just this month. We didn't really plan on having so many in one month, it just worked out that way. "


Tell me a little about House Concerts at the Bat Cave, for others who might be interested in hosting their own...

Tom: "We generally do shows on Friday or Saturdays, so most people don't have to worry about going to work the next day. But, it depends on when the artist is available. Our basement - the Bat Cave - holds about 30-35 people with the seating we set up, couches, etc. But, we prefer to do shows in the back yard, weather permitting. I will get the grill going after work and invite people to come over about 6. We provide burgers, hot dogs, that sort of thing and ask people to bring side dishes, chairs to sit on, and whatever they want to drink. Shows usually start around 7pm, go until about 10 or so. Then, we have a 'meet and greet' after the performance so people in the audience can talk to the artist, get their cds signed, pictures taken."


What about "production", sound and stage?

Tom: "The artists usually bring their own sound equipment. Outside, we have a small 'stage' - pretty much some plywood covered with old carpet - but it works. We even did one show on the boat dock, with the lake for a back ground. We'll string some lights up and that's it. Nadirah was another story!"


Tell me about that one.

Tom: "It was Paul Roush, then Nadirah Shakoor. We rented a big tent - like a circus tent - to hold all the people and got one of the Parrot Head Club members who has a sound company to bring a P.A. and lights. It was like a professional show! (laughs)."


You said you do your shows outside whenver possible. Have you ever had any problem with neighbors complaining about noise?

Jill: "Only once, and that was Nadirah's show. The cops came - they were very nice - asked us to shut it down by 10:00, which we did."

Tom: "Nadirah was on a Tuesday night, too. Like I said, our back yard is big, and behind us is a lake. Plus, we live on a cul de sac. So, there aren't alot of neighbors to bother. And we make sure to invite everyone around us - at least let them know we're going to be doing a show. And we finish early enough so it's usually not a big problem."


Do you have any rules for the audience?

Tom: "We generally let the artists tell us what they want. Each one is different. Some prefer quiet during the show, others don't mind a little talking. Some prefer to have the time during their break, if they take one, to themselves. Others don't mind talking to people between their 'sets'. We ask them, then I'll get up before the show and let the audience know what's up for that night."


How do you let people know about the shows?

Jill: "I'll put something on Facebook and ask people to RSVP.The rest are neighbors, and people that we meet through work. Tom is an accountant and he tells his customers, people we know will bring co-workers to introduce them to Trop Rock. So, it's mostly all friends and friends of friends."

Tom: "If it were up to me, I'd invite EVERYONE!"


How involved is the St. Louis Parrot Head Club?

Tom: "We keep the House Concerts separate - they're not officially a club function -although, most of the people who come to the shows are club members. We couldn't do it without them."


You've got anywhere from 35-65 people coming in to your home every couple of weeks - ever have any problems?

Tom: "We're sort of used to it - having hosted big parties for years. And the people who like this music aren't looking to cause trouble. Also, we have set it up so we don't have many people going through the main part of the house most of the time. If it's indoors, we have a separate entrance to the Bat Cave and a bathroom down there. If it's outdoors and a bigger event, we'll rent a couple of port a potties."

Jill: "The place can get messy. But, I'm lucky. We have some great friends who help us keep an eye on things during the event, then help clean up after."


You mentioned earlier that you provide some food, and had sound and lights for Nadirah. Now you say port-a-potties. So, there is some cost to you for hosting these?

Tom: "Some. Burgers, hot dogs. Some times we'll get a tent to put so the performer has something over his equipment, in case it rains. For Nadirah and Paul we did it up big... Overall, it's not really that much of an expense and we think it's worth it, to have people we like and admire coming to our house."


What do you charge?

Tom: "Generally, it's $15. We collect it at the door and every bit of that money goes directly to the artist. We don't take a dime. The peformers also sell their cds, t shirts, whatever they bring, and they get all that money, too."


So, what's next at the Bat Cave?

Tom: "We plan to keep doing these as long as we can."

Jill: "Although this month was a little hectic!"

Tom: (laughs) "Yeah, we may start spacing them out a little more. Ideally, one or two a month. But, we don't get to see these guys alot so it's a big deal for us when we can host them here. We're really excited about our next one. It's August 5th. John Patti is coming with Scott Bryant and some other guys. It will be John's first 'headlining event'. You should come, Fred!"


Thanks for the invitation! If I was independently wealthy, Georgia and I would do nothing but run around the country every week going to Parrot Head events and House Concerts. Unfortunately, there are those annoying bills. Maybe one day when this blog takes off...


And with that dream still in my head, we'll leave the Bat Cave and the home of Tom and Jill Melendez. If you are interested in hosting your own House Concerts, you can look them up on Facebook or contact the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance, a group that was formed largely to host House Concerts - specifically in the Atlanta area - and help spread the word about them around the country, at atlantatra@yahoo.com.




http://stlphc.org/

http://www.beachfrontradio.com/home.cfm

http://www.nadirahshakoor.com/fr_home.cfm

http://www.paulroush.com/

http://www.johnpatti.com/

http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp

Meet the Beckers. They have an "Offer You Can't Refuse"

You often hear of people moving to the beach to escape the corporate rat race. But, it's not often you hear of someone packing up the wagon and heading for blue water to escape a musical one. That's basically the story behind Tom and Michelle Becker, the award winning musical duo known as Latitude, and the force behind the Margarita Mafia and annual Trop Rock Music Awards in Key West.


Pedigreed musicians in their own right - Tom was once a member of the New Christy Minstrels and an established solo artist and Michelle was making a good living as a songwriter and singer in mid 90's Nashville when they got an offer from a resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to come spend the Summer performing there. While, for many, playing as many as eleven shows a week might not be called a "break from the daily grind", for the Beckers it was the down time in between working shifts that offered them a new perspective on life. "We were away from Nashville for an extended period of time...and found we didn't miss it!" That's how Michelle put it in a recent phone conversation I had with the dynamic duo. "We were really looking to make a change, we just didn't know it," she continues. "Coming here to the beach gave us some time to look at our lives, what we were doing, and decide that we needed to make the break." In the following interview, I spoke to them about their music, the Margarita Mafia, and the future of Trop Rock. You should know that, when you talk to the Beckers, their combined enthusiasm and energy means it's often difficult to separate the point at which one stops talking and the other starts. It's more like "layers of conversations"! That explains why many of their answers below are attributed to both Tom & Michelle.




At the time, it wasn't being called "Trop Rock". But, were you two playing that type of music back in the 90's and early 2000's?


Michelle" "Being in Nashville I was writing mostly for country artists. Some of the songs would now be called Trop Rock, I just didn't realize it at the time. I knew that the artists weren't 'getting' some of my material, and those songs I kept for myself".


Tom: "Later, when we moved to Myrtle Beach, we discovered Carolina Beach Music (Tams, Drifters, Chairmen of the Board, etc). I knew the artists, just didn't know all of their songs."


T&M: "After living here for a little while, we started writing new material. And, as I'm sure many artists who write and perform the type of music we do will tell you, we were influenced by the surroundings - the water, boats, beaches, etc. It wasn't long before we started attracting local Parrot Heads, who encouraged us to write even more of our own original songs. Then, a couple years later, we went down to Meeting of The Minds in Key West - not with any plans to play, just to see what it was all about - and that changed everything for us. We were introduced to a whole world of people and other musicians. So, it wasn't like BAM, we're now Trop Rock artists! It was more gradual. But, definitely a direction we moved in naturally. We find things work out if you'll just get out of your own way."




The term "Trop Rock" didn't come into popular use until just a few years a go, and you two were instrumental in coining that term...


T&M: "We were in Put-In-Bay, Ohio, at the Phlocking of the Phaithful a couple years ago. It was Sunday, the event was over, and a few of us were sitting around with some boat drinks talking about the music and how we could help it grow. Jerry Diaz was there, DK the DJ, and some others. We decided that one of the first things we needed was to come up with what to call the type of music we play - beyond just 'it's like Jimmy Buffett'. There were terms like 'Caribean Country' being used, but no one way to describe it. Nashville artists like Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, and others had the 'Muzic Mafia' ("Big & Rich termed the creative collective 'music without prejudice' - a place where saxophones and conga drums can peacefully coexist with fiddles and steel guitars", according to CMT.com - Fred) so we came up with 'Margarita M.A.F.I.A. MAFIA being an acronym for 'Musicians Artists Fans In Alliance'. That's really how that got started. It was a way to get everyone who does original music in this style on the same page, an umbrella. A high tide raises all ships."





From there came the Trop Rock Awards. When did you decide to start those?


T&M: "People had been pushing for some type of Trop Rock awards for years, to show people that there is such a large universe of this kind of music, lots of different people involved - and reward those people for their efforts and hard work. But, if you're going to do something like that, you need the people there who are going to receive the awards. Being that many of the people involved don't do this full time - they have other jobs and responsibilities - they can't just pack up and fly off to an awards show. Meeting Of The Minds in Key West was the one place that we knew we could have most of the artists and other important players in one place. We held the first one at Durty Harry's in Key West during MOTM and we've kept it going since."




And it keeps growing...


T&M: "Yes, it does. Because this is a song driven format, we added a category for "Songwriter of the Year" last year. With the popularity of house concerts, we added a "Best House Concert Venue" And, this year, we will have categories for small, medium, and large market radio stations - to recognize commercial stations like Southernmost Radio and Steven Youngblood's station in Panama City Beach (Trop Rock 1290 - Fred) that devote at least some of their weekly programming to this type of music. As Trop Rock expands, so will the Trop Rock Awards"




Are you still looking for sponsors to help with the costs of the awards show?


Tom: "Yes, we are. Anyone who is interested can go to the Margarita Mafia website (see below - Fred) and they'll find a link for sponsorship there."




You mentioned house concerts. There is no doubt they are growing in popularity, with new venues popping up all the time. Does Latitude do alot of house concerts?


T&M: "We're doing more all the time. As songwriters, we love doing them. It's a chance for people to hear the stories behind the songs. And, as far as the Margarita Mafia goes, any time we can help find new places for artists to play and get their music heard, that's a good thing. One thing we want to get across to people is that 'house concerts' don't have to be only in houses. They can be held in an apartment complex's club house (many of the Atlanta Trop Rock Alliance's shows are - Fred), any relatively quiet place where you can host a group of people. The Truman Shows in Northern Virginia started in the back room of a Mexican restaurant!"




Back to your band, Latitude, which has won a number of Trop Rock Awards for Duo Of The Year and, Michelle, for Female Vocalist Of The Year. Any new music you're working on?


T&M: "We are working on a new cd. In a perfect world, we'd have it ready for this year's MOTM. But, it's tough. We're so busy in the Summer - with at least one long road trip a month - and, in the Winter, we spend most of our time down in Southwest Florida. But, our studio is here. We already have some songs written and recorded, are working on some more and would like to have some guest artists play on them."




The name of this blog is "Beaches, Bands and BARS" so I always like to ask people about some of their favorite  beach side places to hang out and/or play. What are some of yours?


T&M: "Around here (Pawley's Island/Myrtle Beach, SC), we play most Thursday nights at a place called Creek Ratz. It's in Murrell's Inlet, on the Marsh Walk - in the middle of alot of restaurants and bars. It's a great place. And down near our Winter home, the Nav-A-Gator is one of our all time favorites. We bet you hear that from alot of Trop Rockers. It's just a quirky, fun place. We're professional musicians and we do this for a living. We play places that want to hear Jimmy Buffett and other covers and we're happy to do that. But, as songwriters, we also like any place that really support the artists - that encourages original music. We also feel as though we're ambassadors for Trop Rock and we have a responsibility to help introduce it to new people. Like here in Myrtle Beach. We play a place at Boardwalk on the Beach, a Buffett night. People who come there expect to hear Jimmy Buffett and we give them that. But, then we also slip in some of our own songs. Sort of an 'if you like that, you'll also like this.'"




And you do a yearly cruise...


"This will be the fourth one we have hosted - in February of 2012. The 'Aloha Cruise' and this year we're going to another one of our favorite places in the world - Hawaii. Sunny Jim is coming with us and will also be performing. There are only about nineteen cabins left. One of them has your name on it, Fred!"




What about "Back Home Again" - the John Denver Tribute show you do?


T&M: "We do about seven or eight John Denver Tribute shows a year - including one in September up your way, in Covington, Georgia! We have a great band - Jimi Pappas and some guys from Sunny Jim's band - and have alot of fun doing that. We actually just signed with a management company out of Nashville to help us promote that show."




I have this conversation all the time with people who live and love Trop Rock - just earlier this week talked to Jimi Papas and "DJ Jeff" about it...What is next for Trop Rock in general?


T&M: I think some times we get caught up in the big picture and long term goals, and that's important. But, at the same time, we have to look at what is right in front of us. I'd like to know that, twenty years from now, Trop Rock has grown and we're still part of it. But, the immediate goals need to be smaller. Production has got to get better for all the music - and we include ours. A professionally done, quality, syndicated radio show that could get on commercial radio stations around the country would be the next logical step. More commercial radio stations playing it - and then a weekly or monthly chart. But, for that, we as artists would have to be in the 'singles' mindset and we're not. We all release cds to outlets and say 'play whatever you want'. We talked about Beach Music and you know it - you lived here on the Carolina Coast and play it now as a dj. They have radio stations playing it, charts, magazines and newsletters devoted to it. We look at that as a model, as what Trop Rock could be. We also have to expand it outside of the Parrot Head world. We know Parrot Heads like Trop Rock, now we need to introduce it to other people  - people who like the beach, flip flops, etc - but don't even know this music exists, other than Jimmy Buffett or Kenny Chesney. That's why it's great when, at house concerts, people will bring friends and co workers out. And, then there is the question of age. We need to make sure we're cultivating the next generation of Trop Rockers - fans and musicians."






Thanks guys, and I'll see you in Georgia in September - and then in November in Key West!

For more information on booking Latitude or Back Home Again - A Tribute to John Denver, joining the Margarita Mafia, or on any of the people or places mentioned in this interview, please see the links below.


http://latitudemusic.net/

http://johndenvertribute.net/index.htm

http://margaritamafia.com/margaritamafia/

http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp

http://southernmostradio.net/

http://www.troprock1290.com/troprock%20home.html

http://thetrumanshows.com/

http://www.creekratz.com/

http://s213659397.onlinehome.us/nav-a-gator.com/