Culture runs at high standard across spectrum

Today's play-list is a mixed bag of local culture.

I had planned to write about keepsakes. But some pretty darnedfine events demanded attention first. (So, Gentle Reader, you stillhave time to tell me of your collections.)

- A recent Saturday night found folks marveling: "This is justlike being somewhere!" Salem's Mill Mountain Coffee scene could'vebeen plopped down into a trendy New York setting.

OK, diligent So Salem readers might recognize some namesrepeated. Guilty! But sometimes characters keep doing cool stuff.Like, I don't mind reading more stories of Salem High School'sacademic and athletic triumphs -- or even of pet antics and WestMain St.'s painted-pig-of-the-week.

So again here's SHS teacher extraordinaire/media darling/musician Fred Campbell. He and Jason Bailey teamed up for a freemusical performance both very cool AND hot -- the kind that had itsaudience-of-all-ages whooping, clapping and demanding more.

"Fifty Pounds Tall" brought it, man! And I don't mean they just"brought" family members -- although Fred joked that Jason's bigfamily and instant audience was a plus. The notion for teaming upwas hatched during Floyd Fest -- where Fred and a happy Salemcontingent camp yearly.

What the duo brought was high energy, plus deep respect for themusic. Acoustic guitars and vocals intertwined nicely.

All this on a play-list that could've come from my files. Thestrong opening number foreshadowed both a coffeehouse-caffeine anda powerful musical "buzz."

Fred and Jason shared solo-duty, and journeyed listeners throughan emotional landscape of the old and the new -- ranging fromwrench-your-heart songs to a rollicking rave-up trilogy.

Encore? For sure! They called JP Powell of "My Radio" over tosing his own "Turn Up the Radio." (Recently this paper noted theband's success; the gifted SHS grad was also featured in September2003 and October 2008 columns.) Charming "My Radio" drummer HunterJohnson stood among folks lining the wall; he's moving frommanaging the coffee-shop to opening his own Roanoke bar/restaurant.

"One night only," the flyer had proclaimed. Let's hope that Jasonand Fred change their minds on that. Heck -- and I don't say thislightly -- next time we might even pay 'em.

- A tip of my artsy bonnet to the Salem Fine Arts Commission forputting on the next day's Juried Art Show at the Salem Farmers'Market.

Folks strolled among creations from the tried-and-true (say,Harriett Stokes, Julie Hamilton and Pam Ogden) to the up-and-coming (SHS art students). Paintings, woodblock prints,photography, jewelry, stained glass, pottery and sculpture wereoffered for sale.

Jazz noodled from the stage on this quiet Sunday. And Salem againseemed a pretty cool place to be.

- But wait; there's more culture to come! Salem potter JessieRusinko reminds us that the Blue Ridge Potters Guild Show &Sale is Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 1 at Cave Spring High School. It'salways excellent -- and free!

Culture runs at high standard across spectrum

Today's play-list is a mixed bag of local culture.

I had planned to write about keepsakes. But some pretty darnedfine events demanded attention first. (So, Gentle Reader, you stillhave time to tell me of your collections.)

- A recent Saturday night found folks marveling: "This is justlike being somewhere!" Salem's Mill Mountain Coffee scene could'vebeen plopped down into a trendy New York setting.

OK, diligent So Salem readers might recognize some namesrepeated. Guilty! But sometimes characters keep doing cool stuff.Like, I don't mind reading more stories of Salem High School'sacademic and athletic triumphs -- or even of pet antics and WestMain St.'s painted-pig-of-the-week.

So again here's SHS teacher extraordinaire/media darling/musician Fred Campbell. He and Jason Bailey teamed up for a freemusical performance both very cool AND hot -- the kind that had itsaudience-of-all-ages whooping, clapping and demanding more.

"Fifty Pounds Tall" brought it, man! And I don't mean they just"brought" family members -- although Fred joked that Jason's bigfamily and instant audience was a plus. The notion for teaming upwas hatched during Floyd Fest -- where Fred and a happy Salemcontingent camp yearly.

What the duo brought was high energy, plus deep respect for themusic. Acoustic guitars and vocals intertwined nicely.

All this on a play-list that could've come from my files. Thestrong opening number foreshadowed both a coffeehouse-caffeine anda powerful musical "buzz."

Fred and Jason shared solo-duty, and journeyed listeners throughan emotional landscape of the old and the new -- ranging fromwrench-your-heart songs to a rollicking rave-up trilogy.

Encore? For sure! They called JP Powell of "My Radio" over tosing his own "Turn Up the Radio." (Recently this paper noted theband's success; the gifted SHS grad was also featured in September2003 and October 2008 columns.) Charming "My Radio" drummer HunterJohnson stood among folks lining the wall; he's moving frommanaging the coffee-shop to opening his own Roanoke bar/restaurant.

"One night only," the flyer had proclaimed. Let's hope that Jasonand Fred change their minds on that. Heck -- and I don't say thislightly -- next time we might even pay 'em.

- A tip of my artsy bonnet to the Salem Fine Arts Commission forputting on the next day's Juried Art Show at the Salem Farmers'Market.

Folks strolled among creations from the tried-and-true (say,Harriett Stokes, Julie Hamilton and Pam Ogden) to the up-and-coming (SHS art students). Paintings, woodblock prints,photography, jewelry, stained glass, pottery and sculpture wereoffered for sale.

Jazz noodled from the stage on this quiet Sunday. And Salem againseemed a pretty cool place to be.

- But wait; there's more culture to come! Salem potter JessieRusinko reminds us that the Blue Ridge Potters Guild Show &Sale is Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 1 at Cave Spring High School. It'salways excellent -- and free!