Tag: clemson sc

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Debut: The Drovers release WCCP radio show collection

Three decades after initially airing on Clemson’s WCCP radio, The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show are set to release over 30 songs from their original program.

Spanning throughout a period of almost five years, this collection is perhaps the most comprehensive selection of early-era Drover recordings ever made available.

Several bluegrass standards from Monroe, Carter & Tanner are all present as well as several outstanding originals by Drover’s front-man, Ed Campbell (AKA: Dr. Trundell, AKA: Grandpa) and these include “Autumn Time (In Caroline)”, “That Low Down Damp & Dusty Trail” & charming closer “The Mailbox Song”.

Following their last studio album (2004’s Dreamland) the group tragically lost the master tapes for another album and began to slowly fade back into the dimly lit corners of juke joints, creek beds, and cow pastures.

Then in 2017, a box containing nearly every episode of their long-cancelled radio show was unearthed.

These cherished recordings, captured by original bassist Rob Keller, document The Drovers in their youth and during an extremely creative time for the punk rock-turned-bluegrass band, hailing from Prater’s Creek, SC.

The Drovers took their name a few years prior to the Irish-rock band by the same name, the latter even opting to send Dr. Trundell and the gang a “cease & desist” letter thus prompting the original (and first) Drovers to address the situation by writing it into a 2-part skit feature episode of their show:

As time ticks on, for the better part of almost 40 years, the band continues to live up to their name, herding cattle and droving their way through trials, tribulations, Alzheimer’s and death.

The Drovers’ WCCP-AM collection is avaliable now on Gypsy Farm Records via youtube & bandcamp.

“The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show blows everything else away” – Creative Loafing

“They are to bluegrass what Neil Armstrong is to the moon” – Flagpole

“Speed bluegrass and church waltzes lovingly and brilliantly played” – MOJO

The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show with their “Hillbilly Doppler” (patent pending)

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Listen: “Requiem For A Linthead” by Pine Tar Rage

According to the South Carolina Encyclopedia, the nickname Linthead “likely came into common usage early in the twentieth century, when the growing number of cotton mills and mill workers began to alter the landscape of South Carolina life.” – Tom Terrill

While upstate singer songwriter, Ed Campbell (Pine Tar Rage, The Drovers) is no stranger to the late-night lint life, he has also spent the better part of 40 years documenting the Palmetto area through song, and proudly exclaims:

“I’ve stayed past my prime, I’ve stayed past my time – should have quit – yes I know – but I’m paying debts to the bets made a long time ago”

This release marks the first new material from the group since last year’s track “Perfect Day”, a softer-song structure when compared to the rest of PTR’s discography, it should come as no sudden surprise to long time fans of The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show, also fronted by Campbell.

Stream and share “Requiem For A Linthead” by Pine Tar Rage, and enjoy this excerpt of an interview Campbell gave back in 2019 on the hallucinate forming of The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show.

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GFR label celebrates 10 years

As we’ve found ourselves nearing the end of an amazingly bazaar year, the realization came upon a windy night at Gypsy Farm that our label division is now (unbelievably) a decade old.

Ten years of records, cds, tapes, streams, dreams, clips and trips with still one more release slated for 2018 – Uncle Goo’s follow-up crooner titled  “Mallory” due out on December 3rd.

The following day (Dec 4th) you will find the Ice Creams performing one of two Athens, GA concerts in support of their self-titled EP at the Go Bar with an additional show commencing on December 20th at Flicker Theatre and Bar.

GF contributor WJAY has expressed a strong hope that we’ll see you all in another decade going on to toast :

Here’s to a continuation of releasing music and visuals we find interesting and a huge thank you to all that have supported GFR and it’s artists through-out the decade whether it be by recording in our studio, spinning our records or going out to see the live shows.  Thank you!

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The Drovers play Spittoono Fest

GF corespondents tell us they had a great time this past weekend at the 38th annual Spittoono music festival in Central, SC.  The free event lasted all weekend and benefited several local charity organizations.

The whole shebang was kicked off by local upstate legends known as The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show and their original tune “I Had A Bad Day Today And Tomorrow Won’t Be No Better”

Watch and share below :

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F.N.C.F to release EP on GFR

fncf cover ep 1.jpg

Comprised with members of Carolina’s “Kill Geddy Lee” the now defunct F.N.C.F (an abbreviation for Friday Night Cat Fights) were a post-90’s alternative rock group that resided in the upstate somewhere between Anderson and Belton, South Carolina.

Beginning in July of 2015, the band tracked several songs at Gypsy Farm studio with anticipation of self-releasing their first LP album.  After mixing was completed in early 2016 the group of course dis-banded due to unfortunate circumstances and the untitled album was shelved indefinitely.  By late 2017 talks had began between Gypsy Farm and the band’s original label Guttersville Records in order to secure a proper posthumous release containing select songs from the original 2015 recording sessions.

Through several days of hostage negotiations, resulting in a stand off with an untold amount of coffee brewed, the green light was finally handed down by the top-executives over at Guttersville.  The deal permits the release of a four song EP titled “Rinse And Repeat” and also features a cover illustration by local artist TINY inc.

Among the extended player’s track listing includes the chronicle “House Built By Love” pinned by Evan Biondo (vocals/guitar) and Nate Combs (vocals/guitar).  The song is an ode to ‘long gone but not forgotten’ memories of the band’s one-time rental house and the activity that took place there.

The slightly disturbing imagery brought forth by lyrics “Of all the things that I have seen off the neighbor’s porch huffing gasoline” seems oddly enough right at home in between distorted guitars draped over a solid rhythm section provided by Jason Hannold (bass) and Nick Lawson (drums).

Although F.N.C.F is no more, founding members have since gone on to form a similar, albeit more acoustically driven music project known as “Mosquito Rodeo” that is currently active and releasing music via their bandcamp.

GFR staff writer and frequent contributor WJAY was noted saying  “This band [F.N.C.F] brilliantly executed a heavy glimpse into modern day folklore that blends rural tradition within an expanding urban area”

Download or stream the “Rinse and Repeat” EP by F.N.C.F on Gypsy Farm Records out April 16th!

https://soundcloud.com/gypsy-farm-records/house-built-by-love-fncf

 

 

 

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Oh my, July

Silvertone Bone by WJAY

Gypsy correspondents confirmed that numerous assemblies have been taking place within the studio sector during this month and seem to entertain a slight promise of some strange (and exciting) projects that will finally be coming-to-light as time allows through out this year and next.

The remaining GF happenin’s for JULY (and early AUG) include :

The Rodney Kings at Little Kings / Athens, Ga / 10:45pm / July 30th

Old Smokey at 40 Watt / Athens, GA / 9:00pm / July 30th

Shoal Creek Stranglers at NICK’s / Clemson, SC / 10:00pm / July 31st

All City Cannonballers at Little Kings / Athens, GA / 7:30pm / Aug 1st

The Cryptides at Hi Lo Lounge / Athens, Ga / 10:15pm / Aug 2nd

The Cryptides at Kavarna / Decatur, GA / 8:00pm / Aug 15th

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HAPPENINS for MAY

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May 1st – Shoal Creek Stranglers Square in  Hartwell, GA    (RSVP)
May 2nd – SCS at COBB’s Annual Derby Social in Atlanta, GA (Private)
May 2nd – The Subsonics at Hi-Lo Lounge – Athens, GA (RSVP)
May 2nd – Jacob Morris at Flicker Theatre and Bar – Athens, GA (RVSP)
May 9th – The Cryptides at Creature Comforts – Athens, GA (RSVP)
May 10th – Neutral Milk Hotel  at Orange Twin – Athens, GA (RSVP)
May 16th – Parkertown Pickers at PUMC – Lavonia, GA (Directions)
May 17th – SCS at Burgess Historic Cemetery in Lavonia GA (RSVP)
May 23rd – SCS at Nick’s Tavern in Clemson, SC  (RSVP)
May 27th – MTC on the Roof-Top at Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA (RSVP)
May 30th – Shoal Creek Stranglers at The Den – Anderson, SC (RSVP)

*SCS = Shoal Creek Stranglers – Swamp String Country Jazz
*MTC = Mother The Car – Guitar based blues granite

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