FEBRUARY 2017
TROP ROCKER OF THE MONTH JEREMYJEREMY “JD”“JD” EDGEEDGE
PardiPardi--GrasGras 20172017 PhotosPhotos
1 Katy Waugh, Publisher Frank Bridges, Computer Guru Writers: Linda Hebert, “Diamond Dave” Bevens, Todd Alexander and Eric “EB” Babin. [email protected] PO Box 754, Gautier, MS 39553 Our Amazing Sponsors
Reggie Starrett 3 Articles & Such Panama City Beach Rendezvous 6
The Jake Sullivan Stories 7 PHiP News 4 Lloyd “Hurricane” Munn 9 Daisy Girl 8 Another Voyage to Paradise 13 Meeting of the Minds 2017 Update 10 Riddles In The Sand 15 Westin to Margaritaville Resort 12 Stars Fell On Alabama 16 PHiP Scholarship Essay Contest 14 Radio Trop Rock.com 17 Drinking With Diamond Dave 18 Laid Back Attack 20 Jeremy Edge -Trop Rocker of the Month 24 Rob Hill and Exit 104 Records 21 Calendar of Events 37 Leaning On The Lyrics 22 Randy Knight - PHlocker of the Month 38 Keyboard Advertising 23 A Listeners Take - Donny Brewer 46 Sail Windjammer 32 Pardi-Gras 2017 Scrapbook 56 The Buck Reilly Adventure Series 33 Introducing The Wheeland Brothers 68 The Tiki Man 34 Trop Rock On The Radio 76 Greg Dillard 35 Trop Rock’s Trop 40 for January 2017 77 Music On The Bay 36 Thank You to Jerry & Mary Diaz 78 Meet Me In The Keys 45 Radio A1A 54 Move Coastal/Re/Max 55
PUBLISHERS NOTE: Every advertiser has a link to their website and/or Facebook page. Just hover over their website and click. Please take time to visit them and let them know you found them in PHlockers Magazine! A special “Thank You” to everyone who sent in photos and articles too! Keep sending in your stories to share.
All submissions must be received by the 15th of each month by 5:00 p.m. Central time. Editing may be required and by submitting to this publication, you are implying express permission to do so. Email all advertising requests to the above email address. All rights reserved. The terms Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville, Parrot Heads, Parrotheads, Parrot Head Club, Parrothead Club and PHC are registered trademarks of Margaritaville, Inc. This site is not directly affiliated PHlockers Magazine December 2015 Page 2 2 with Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville.com or Radio Margaritaville. All photos have been submitted and used with permission of their respective submitters. BookingBooking NOWNOW forfor 20172017
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3 Sue Kermis, PHiP, Inc. Director of Membership
The PHIP National Team 2016 Final Totals & Teams YOU DID IT AGAIN!! THANK YOU!!!
The 2016 Alzheimer’s totals are in and once again you all went above & beyond the call to raise the most money ever for the PHIP National Alzheimer’s Team. Reports from the National Alzheimer’s Association confirm the TOTAL DOLLARS RAISED by 69 Chapters … $227,236 … well over our $100,000.00 goal!! WELL DONE PHIP National Team Members … WELL DONE!! CONGRATULATIONS to ALL of our 2016 participating PHIP Alzheimer’s Teams!! Fact: Alzheimer's is not just a disease of old age. Younger-onset (also known as early-onset) Alzhei- mer’s affects people younger than age 65. Up to 5 percent of the more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s have younger-onset. Parrot Head Club of Tidewater led the way and claimed First Place $71,796 Chicago Parrot Heads in 2nd Place, $12,847 Lake Shore Parrot Heads taking 3rd place, $11,100 $5,000.00 and above Teams were: Beaches A1A Parrot Head Club San Antonio Parrot Head Club Ozark Mountain Parrot Heads Space Coast Parrot Head Club Team False Echoes - Metro PHC ALL of our participating teams should be proud!! Even if your club raised less than $1,000, your club is just as important to our National Team totals!! It’s the amount of participation by our clubs that boost your totals each year. And every dollar adds up!! We could not have done it without YOU ALL!!!! We have already signed our 2017 National Team Participation Commitment form. SOON you will get an email about how to be involved for this year. We hope you join us as we all WALK TO END ALZ- HEIMERS in 2017!! 4 35 Teams raised $1,000 - $4,999.00 Colorado Parrot Head Club Lone Star Parrot Head Club Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club Low Country Parrothead Club Galveston Bay Parrot Head Club Purple Parrot Power Third Tier Up to $1,000.00 Des Moines Parrothead Club Heartland LakeSharks Parrot Head Club Phun Coast Parrot Heads Nautical Whalers Parrot Heads Arizona Parrot Head Club Buckeye Parrothead Club Palmetto Parrotheads Parrot Heads for the Palm Beaches Naples Parrot Head Club Desert Sharks PHC Parrott Heads in Rock Hill Area Steel City Fins Pirates on the Water Midwest IN Parrothead Club, Bubba's Lost Phlock Pickwick Parrot Head Club Southern Illinois Parrot Head Club Tulsa Parrot Heads PHINdy Parrot Head Club Los Angeles Parrot Head Club Virtual Parrot Head Club Pirates of the Red PHC Team Claire COPA Nuts Pirates of the Plains PHC Lakes Area Parrot Heads Team Parrotheads Western New York Parrot Head Club KC Parrothead Club Parrot Heads In Paradise-Barefoot Children Poptop Parrots The Cincinnati Parrot Head Club Corn Republic PHC Orange County Parrot Head Club Parrotheads/Support Blue Hen Parrot Head Club Chesapeake Parrot Head Club Central Illinois Parrot Head Club Central Texas Parrothead club Left Coast Parrot Heads Southern Idaho Parrot Head Club Parrot Heads of the Prairie Eastern IL Parrot Head Club Metro Parrot Heads Clinton County Parrothead Club St Louis Parrot Head Club Coastal Jersey Parrot Head Club Parrotheads in Bangor Treasure Coast Parrot Head Ocean State Parrothead Club Hillbilly Parrot Head Club Phlock of South Jersey Atlanta Parrot Head Club Ocala Parrothead Club Central Alabama Parrot Head Club Eastern New York Parrot Head Club Towns Around Biloxi Parrot Head Club 5 6 7 “Daisy“Daisy Girl”Girl” GetsGets TheThe GoldenGolden FlipFlip FlopFlop Award!Award!
Penny "Daisy Girl" Weimer personifies the Jimmy Buffett, laid-back lifestyle as well as any pirate, or wench, in this case. With a song in her heart and unfettered enthusiasm running through her veins, she always seems to bring a smile to everyone around her.
As an active member of the Tallahassee Parrot Head Club since 2004, Penny has served in many capacities, including Captain and First Mate. She has donated count- less volunteer hours to the local community and chaired numerous events, including the Parrot Head Phrenzy for eleven straight years, TPHC's largest annual fundraiser.
Penny, along with her husband Gregg and Penny “Daisy Girl” Weimer son Riley, have formed lasting friendships within the club. With any amount of luck, and a good wind at their backs, Penny and her crew will continue to play a vital role in the Tallahassee Parrot Head Club for a long time to come.
8 9 The 26th Annual Meeting of the Minds 2017 Update!
Hello Everyone! I wanted to give you an update as Meeting of the Minds 2017 registration and the Casa Marina MOTM reservations block opened back on December 27 just over two weeks ago! BE ADVISED!! The CASA MARINA IS SOLD OUT!!! As I told you when the Casa reservations opened on December 27th…the hotel will sell out very fast!! Well the record has been broken! Less than three weeks! Now what? The 2017 MOTM Wait List for the Casa Marina - Here are the 3 steps below: Register for Meeting of the Minds 2017. REMEMBER YOU MUST BE REGISTERED FOR MEETING OF THE MINDS 2017 TO STAY AT THE CASA MARINA OR BE ON THE WAIT LIST FOR THE CASA. Book your room at the Reach Resort. While our awesome Parrot Head rate is only valid at the Casa Marina the Reach is offering a discount to our group this year. This Reach Resort rate will not be as low as the Casa rate but it is a booking discount. There are some Casa Marina cancellations every year so booking early will put you up the list as we do go in order to move people over as vacancy happens through the year. This can happen right up to the event so give the hotel your cell number not your home number for contact! Here are the steps! Email our MOTM Director of Registration Rick Fyffe at [email protected] Put in the title of your email "MOTM Casa Marina Wait List." Tell Rick you are booked at the Reach and registered for MOTM. Rick will add you to the Casa Marina wait list in the order in which you contact him. We have to fill the Casa Marina so we will work very hard to move everyone we can as cancellations occur. We will be working down the order in which you reply to Rick Fyffe. Sorry for any confusion but it is best to manage this wait list through Rick vs. contacting the hotel. Here is the special link to the Reach Resort for our group discount – Again this is NOT the same rate as the Casa Marina. Simply copy and paste the URL below into your browser to access the exclu- sive Reach Resort rates available for Parrot Heads: https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/wa/reservation/book.htm? inputMod- ule=HOTEL&ctyhocn=EYWRRWA&spec_plan=ZZPAR9&arrival=20171029&departure=20171107&c id=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT The Call in link is: ZZPAR9 The Reach reservations line is: 305-296-5000. 10 2017 MEETING OF THE MINDS REGISTRATION
Andrew Talbert, PHIP, Inc. Director of Conventions
REGISTRATION FOR THE 26th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MINDS 2017 is OPEN and going very well! Don’t get left out as we stop registration at 3,500 or September 15th whichever comes first!! Here is the link: https://www.phip.com/meeting If you have ANY QUESTIONS about Meeting of the Minds registration questions are generally an- swered at this FAQ link: https://www.phip.com/meeting-faq 2017 Volunteer Registration Status – Gift Bag Stuffing Party Sold Out! I want to take a moment to tell you that you will have opportunities to register for volunteer activities when you register. Do not delay if you want to participate as there are NO EXCEPTIONS after we reach the limits for each cat- egory. Once the option disappears from the registration page you will know it has reached capacity! TWO DRAWINGS!! CHECK OUT THESE PRIZES!!! THANKS TO MARGARITAVILLE FOODS! IF you register FOR MOTM 2017 before April 1st, 2017YOU will be put in a drawing to WIN a pair of JIMMY BUFFETT and THE CORAL REEFER BAND concert tickets and access to a pre-show VIP party for any 2017 Live Nation tour date within the U.S. or Canada. Concert date must be selected at least 8 weeks prior to the show or as soon as possible, if concert is announced with less than 8 weeks notification. You can register for MOTM 2017 beginning Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 12:00 noon EST!! https://www.phip.com/meeting NEXT….Want to stay at the CASA MARINA RESORT during Meeting of the Minds? YOU should stay at the CASA MARINA! Why? Well it is the host hotel and an awesome place to be but…if you book your room by April 1st, 2017 you will be put in a drawing to win a FOUR NIGHT STAY DUR- ING MOTM 2017 IN A TWO BEDROOM OCEAN VIEW SUITE FREE!! Only the people who are on the Casa Marina reservations list and registered for MOTM 2017 by April 1 will be eligible for the drawing. This is the fifth year in a row this prize has been offered. Ask some of the previous winners how cool this is to have this awesome suite right on the water in Key West during Meeting of the Minds for FREE! Standby for more Meeting of the Minds News!! 2017 is gonna’ ROCK! Until next time, I’ll see you, down the road… Andrew Andrew Talbert Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc. PHiP Director of Conventions Meeting of the Minds Key West, Florida "We're Still Here" 11 Westin Hotel Key West To Become Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina
The man himself, Jimmy Buffett, was spotted on his bike in Key West late in December. Shortly after, the announcement was made that The Weston Hotel Key West, located at 245 Front Street, will be rebranded as Margaritaville Key West Resort and Marina. Watch for further details as they become available!
12 13 PHiP Scholarship Essay Contest
David Cohen, PHiP, Inc. Secretary, Scholarship Chair
It's that time of year again for the PHiP Scholarship Essay Contest. Please pass this information along to your club members. This is one of the ways that your members will know of this great opportunity and we need the club members to make sure that this information gets out to each and every member. This is a won- derful opportunity for the parrot heads and their families. This is a great opportunity that we want all eligible students to take advantage of. Thanks in advance for helping to get the word out and good luck to all the ap- plicants. We are proud to announce that the PHiP Scholarship Essay Contest for 2017 is NOW OPEN!!!!!! Summary of the PHiP Scholarship: The PHiP Scholarship is for current Parrot Head Club Members of an officially Chartered Chapter or their chil- dren or wards of Parrot Head Club Members, for post secondary education. This program was established in 2008. Three scholarships will be awarded in 2017. The funds may be used for tuition, books or living expenses, at an accredited four-year university or college of the student’s choice. The award will be paid to the winners’ school account, when a student account is established. PHiP awards 3 awards in the amounts of: First Place: $5,000 Second Place: $3,000 Third Place: $2,000 Eligibility: Parrot Head Club Members and members children (Sorry nieces, nephews or other extended family members beyond those mentioned are not considered eligible). The Scholarship instructions and application can be found on the PHiP Website at: http://www.phip.com/club-scholarship. It is VERY important the applicant follow ALL of the rules and instructions. Only typed, electronic submissions will be accepted. Incomplete applications will not be considered eligible. Make no references to your identity, your local parrot head club or your location in your essay entry OR your question and statement responses. All applications must be signed at the appropriate place. We accept electronic signatures. To Apply: Complete the Parrot Head Scholarship Application found on the PHiP website at www.phip.com. Please email your completed application and essay to: David Cohen, PHiP Secretary, [email protected]. DEADLINE FOR APPLICANTS is MARCH 31st, 2017, for enrollment for fall term (summer terms not applica- ble). Students may apply yearly; the awards will be given annually, based on a new application process. Good Luck to all applicants! David David Cohen Secretary - Parrot Heads in Paradise, Inc. 2012-2017 Scholarship Chair 14 15 NEWNEW LOCATION!!!LOCATION!!!
MarchMarch 1616 -- 19,19, 20172017 RENAISSANCERENAISSANCE Mobile,Mobile, AlabamaAlabama RIVERVIEWRIVERVIEW PLAZAPLAZA SouthernSouthern DrawlDrawl BandBand HOTELHOTEL DonnyDonny BrewerBrewer && 6464 S. S. WaterWater StreetStreet TheThe DockDock RockersRockers Mobile,Mobile, ALAL 3660236602 PhinPhin AddictsAddicts Look for the link in your email PHINSPHINS ReunionReunion withwith PaulPaul RoushRoush Trop-Rock Music with Don Middlebrook Don Middlebrook trop-rock bands… SunnySunny JimJim Saturday at Lulu’s & MattMatt HoggattHoggatt Late Night Jams… RhythmRhythm && RainRain SteveSteve HopperHopper Four days of PHUN JohnJohn FridayFriday with no worries on
www.StarsFellOnAlabama.orgwww.StarsFellOnAlabama.org [email protected]@gmail.com 16 17 DRINKING WITH DIAMOND DAVE
The Havana Club 423 Caroline Street, Key West, FL
Hello PHlockers!
I have a special treat for you this month. We are visiting a brand new bar in Key West called The Havana Club, located in 423 Caroline St. When I first moved to Key West this location was just a small liquor store. The owners recently transformed it into what it used to be, which was local hangout for years through the 80's (it was called The Brick House then). There is a lot of history that goes with this place starting with it being a morgue for the bodies of those who perished from the yellow fever outbreak in the early 1800's. The Key West Ghost tours actually stop through and tell the stories of the ghosts here. It has changed ownership over the years and in my research (via the coconut telegraph), it was turned into a bar in the 60's or 70's no one is really sure. The stories are nominal about this place from it being a hangout for mobsters and strip- pers to a hidden gambling room in the back. From my understanding it was shut down in the mid 90's as a bar and turned into a liquor store called Mr. Cheapee's Liquor and Stuff. When I was work- ing as a jet ski tour guide a few of us would get off work, go buy a six pack and sit out on the railing out front and drink. Let's get to the bartenders now. First up is Martha S., you may recognize her from a past article I wrote about the Bull, Whistle and Garden in the July 2016 issue. She is originally from Detroit Michi- gan. One of my favorite people on the island and one of the best bartenders as well. Anastasia says about Martha "If you're bored she'll entertain you, and if you wanna leave she won't let you." I have found that to be very true. The drink she made for me this time is called a Havana Banana. If you can say it 20 times fast you still have to buy your drink but it's fun trying after having a few drinks. It is made with Blue Chair Bay Banana Rum Cream, Havana Club anejo rum, and a splash of pineap- ple. It is absolutely delicious and can be served as a drink or shot. I prefer the shot. Next up is Anastasia M. originally from Detroit as well, she has been here for about a year and a half this go round and doesn't plan on leaving again. She never meant to leave when she was here be- fore but extenuating circumstances over ruled. Martha says about Anastasia that she is "witty, charming and easy on the eyes". Her favorite quote is "I like to have a martini, 2 at the most, after 3 I'm under the table, after 4 I'm under my host."
18 The drink she made for me is called a Dirty Daydream, made from Hangar One mandarin, Blue Chair Bay Vanilla cream, O.J., soda and her homemade clove tincture. You can only get this drink here because of her personally made tincture. What an amazing explosion of flavor in a drink I must say! It can be made into a martini or served over rocks. I had a great time hanging out at this bar and if you're on your Duval Krawl it is a must stop. Who knows! You might sit down next to me at the bar! Until next month, I'll be here living the life you wish you could. Dave
19 20 21 22 Serving Key West and the World For Over 25 Years!
Contact Marc Hollander for ALL your promotional needs! [email protected] 305.619.4414 "Promotional Products and Apparel" KeyboardAdvertising.com. 23 24 TROP ROCKER of the MONTH Jeremy “JD” Edge By Linda Hebert
This month PHlockers Magazine caught up with Jeremy Edge at his home in Nash- ville, TN. It was three days after his thirty second birthday; and he was very gracious to give us a glimpse into life on the road and at home with Trop Rock’s fiddle player extraordinaire.
Q. So JD, how did you spend your birthday?
“Well since I’m on the road so much, I spent it exactly as I preferred, at home hav- ing dinner with my wife and son.”
Q. Yes we’ve been following your jet setting schedule this past month and between your Pardi Gras appearances with the ladies of Drop Dead Dangerous, and your tour commitments with the Southern Drawl Band, it’s been hard to keep up! Can you give us some of the highlights of those recent trips?
“I rang in the new year playing a New Year’s Eve concert with the Southern Drawl Band in Ft. Myers, FL. And then Melanie Howe and Kitty Steadman and I played at Tropical Isle in New Orleans during Pardi Gras which was awesome. During the Street Festival that week, I actually got to play some with Jerry Diaz too.”
Q. Speaking of exciting artists you’ve played with/for, what was it like to play with the Southern Drawl Band when you all opened up for Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reef- ers during the 2015 MOTM?
“That was quite an honor for me and all of the guys. Jimmy Buffett has done a whole lot for music; and to open up for him and a crowd of that size was pretty in- credible.”
Q. Do you guys still get nervous before a show like that?
“Sure but once we start playing, it’s all good.” Continued on page 26
25 Jeremy “JD” Edge continued from page 25
Q. Since you play one of the more obscure instruments, being the fiddle, I bet you get asked to join all kinds of other acts from time to time, huh? Care to share any other of the most memorable ones for you?
“Well I did once get to play in a show with the Charlie Daniels Band in Oakridge, TN.”
Jeremy with Charlie Daniels Q. Was that band part of what got you interested in learning to play the fiddle?
“Yes being from Nashville, I’ve always leaned toward Country style music and been a big fan of artists like the Charlie Daniels Band and Marty Stewart. But it was ac- tually my grandmother, who gave me my first fiddle when I was three years old. She seemed to just have a hunch that I’d be good at it.”
Q. And when did you find your way into the Southern Drawl Band or did they find you?
“I also play the guitar and about five to six years ago, I began reaching out to other musicians to try and start my own band. One of those guys was David Crowe. He is the one that introduced me to Mike Nash. I was invited to join them to do a show in Knoxville and we really Continued on page 28
26 27 Jeremy “JD” Edge continued from page 27
gelled; so I’ve been touring with them since. I’ll always be grateful to David for that. Mike is a great band manager and I appreciate that when I’m with the band, I still feel like I can be an individual and be myself and entertain my style.”
Q. Yes, in this phan’s opinion, one of the highlights of a Southern Drawl show, is when Mike invites you to the front of the stage to spotlight you really doing your thing! Your fiddle mastery just seems to put the crowd in awe!! Do you ever perform solo or compose any original work?
“Yes, I put out a CD with a collection of songs in 2012, called “South Side.” And I am currently working on putting out a new album this year. I’ve also co-written sev- eral songs, including one with David Crowe, which actually came together after he passed.”
Southern Drawl Band with Mike Nash, Jeremy Edge and Dusty Barber
28 Q. How did that happen?
“The day we got the shocking news about his accident, I went over to my friend and songwriting partner, Mike Kuhl’s house. That’s when Mike mentioned, ‘Hey you know, I had been working with David on some lyrics for a new song, what do you think about adding a melody to it?’ So that’s what I did. It hasn’t been recorded yet but it’s good to be able to say that I did get to write a song with David.”
Q. Well JD, when we first got on the phone today, you told me that you were spend- ing the day at home with your son. Are you enjoying playing “Mr. Mom”?
“Yes, I love spending as much time as possible with him and my wife, Alicia. She works as a supervisor in a pathology lab so when I’m not in town, our two year old son, Able has to go to the babysitter. But when I’m not on the road, I get to hang out with him. He’s right here watching Mickey Mouse with me now. We think he’s going
Continued on page 30
Jeremy (center) performing with Marty Stuart
29 Jeremy “JD” Edge continued from page 29
to end up being a drummer because that’s what he imitates most at my shows. But one of his favorite toys is a ukulele so we’ll just have to see.”
Well regarding your “Little Mr. Magic,” we all just can’t wait to see!! And we appreciate you sharing your time with him with us today! Thanks JD
Phans, To get his music or to get in touch with JD, you can email him at: [email protected].
30 Jeremy Edge jamming with the late David Crowe.
31 32 33 34 35 36 Calendar of Upcoming Events
Lone Star Luau Music Festival, Marble Falls, TX, February 3-5, 2017 www.LoneStarLuau.com Low Country Mardi Crawl, Shem Creek, SC, Feb 25, 2017 www.lcparrotheads.org Berks County Cabin Fever, Reading, PA, Feb 25, 2017 berkscountyparrothead.club Music on the Bay, Tampa, FL, March 2-5, 2017 musiconthebay.org Christmas In The Caribbean, NE Parrot Head Convention, March 9-12, 2017 www.newenglandphc.com Stars Fell On Alabama, Orange Beach, AL, March 16-19, 2017 starsfellonalabama.org Quad City Havana Daydreaming, Davenport, IA, April 1, 2017 www.qcph.com Panama City Parrot Head Rendezvous, Panama City, FL, April 20-23, 2017 [email protected] PHINS Golf Tournament, Jacksonville, FL, April 29, 2017 www.phinsjax.org/golf-tournament One Particular Phlocking, Princeton, NJ, May 5-7, 2017 www.oneparticularphlocking.com Meet Me In The Keys, Key West and FL Keys, June 6-11, 2017 http://www.southernmostcoconutcastaways.com/MMITK Riddles In The Sand, Galveston, TX, July 27-30, 2017 Coming Soon! Meeting of the Minds, November 1-5, 2017, Key West, FL www.phip.com/meeting Please send in your events, complete with dates, locations and website to: [email protected] to be included each month.
To Advertise Your Business Contact Katy Waugh at [email protected] For Rates and Details!
All submissions must be received by the 15th of each month by 5:00 p.m. Central time. Editing may be required and by submitting to this publication, you are implying express permission to do so. Email all advertising requests to the above email address. All rights reserved. The terms Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville, Parrot Heads, Parrotheads, Parrot Head Club, Parrothead Club and PHC are registered trademarks of Margaritaville, Inc. This site is not directly affiliated with Jimmy Buf- fett, Margaritaville.com or Radio Margaritaville. All photos have been submitted and used with permission of their respective submitters. 37 A PHUN MAGAZINE FOR PHRIENDS WHO PARTY WITH A PURPOSE! Randy Knight, Buffett impersonator 38 PHlocker of the Month Randy Knight By Linda Hebert
Jimmy Buffett? - well not exactly!
But he has been mistaken for him and many phans say Randy Knight is the next best thing!
Q. So Randy, what got you into Buffett impersonating?
“Well I hadn’t performed since my twenties but after retiring from being a car dealer; I contemplated about what I wanted to do with the next chapter of my life. And the answer that came to me was, ‘I wanna be Jimmy Buffett!’ I mean I felt like, ‘Why couldn’t I be the guy he’s singing about?’ So I hooked up with my friend, Doug Cay- ton and his harmonica, dressed up in full stage attire and went out and had some phun!”
Q. Can you describe one of your shows?
“Our act is called ‘Parrot Party’ and we make it a mission to duplicate the experience of being at a Buffett concert. We don’t just do Buffett covers. We do our best to walk and talk like the real deal. Because the atmosphere is so important, we try to stick to outside venues. And the feedback we’ve been getting from phans is that when they close their eyes, they could swear that it’s really Jimmy on stage! I have the fortune of being similar in physical features and stature to Jimmy and it doesn’t take a lot to duplicate the dress code; and my partner, Dougy Fresh, ‘the Harpoon’ Cayton’s skills on the harmonica rival that of Fingers Taylor!”
Q. Wait a minute! Were you the one that I encountered roaming through the bar at Margaritaville a few MOTM’s ago?
Continued on page 40
39 Randy Knight continued from page 39
“Yep, that was me! I had a lot of fun strolling around Key West waiting for people to do a double-take and then agreed to pose in a selfie with them to torment their phriends back home! It was all in good phun. But I had a serious goal during that trip too. I had hoped to be able to play a venue here and there around town but soon re- alized that the people that most need a little dose of Buffett are those not already basking in the glory of so much original talent like the plethora presented at MOTM. So chalking it up to a learning experience, I decided to redirect my focus on bonding with those that just can’t get enough of this stuff, those in the Parrot Head Clubs and tiki bar type venues across the southeast.
Q. And who among them showed up to help you carry the “tiki torch”?
“Kenny and Lisa Burke of “What’s Going On-Live Music Promotions” were instru- mental in promoting my act. They jumped right in, assisting with flyers and posters and even accommodations when needed. Through theirs and other such fine or- ganizations, I’ve had the pleasure of performing for crowds from a few dozen to sev- eral thousand. This lead me to being the emcee of Pit Stop One in Port Richey, Fl last year. I also had two performances in that show. I’ve been so grateful for their support and encourage- ment, which has now in- spired me to take a stab at some original songs. Like I said, through this process, I’ve gained a better understanding and respect for the singer- songwriter aspect of Trop Rock and my goals have begun to change.”
40 Q. So tell us about your break-out song, “Phollow the Phlock” that since it’s recent re- lease, has been staying in strong standing on the Trop Rock charts-
“Well for that one, I aided the help of my friend and fellow Trop Rock artist, Darrell Clanton, a PHINtastic musician who had the distinction of being a CMA award nomi- nee back in the 80’s. He invited me to his home in Key Largo to assist me in the in- strumentals and recording of the song. So I arrived on his doorstep at 10:00 a.m. on a Wednesday morning and by that evening, Lyle Wilson of Radio A1A (whom I had met at that previous infamous MOTM trip), was airing and plugging it for us! I’ve been honored when he and General Manager, Harry Teaford describe me as being ‘just like Buffett!’ Anyway, this song is a little ditty about what this is all about and I’m so excited that phans are relating to it! Continued on page 42
41 Randy Knight continued from page 41
Q. So, what made you a Buffett fan to start with and have you ever met the man?
“I went to my first concert in Charlotte, NC when I was eighteen. I became sold on his old school stuff like, ‘Captain and the Kid’, “Door Number Three”, A Pirate Looks At Forty” and Tin Cup Chalice”. For me, his ballads are what I gravitate towards. I have met him once or twice briefly but really, just as a member of the crowd at events where he was visibly hanging around.”
Q. So who is “the Jane” in your life?
“Ah yes, my greatest and most appreciated phan is the love of my life, Renee Meier. As a matter of fact, I have just recently relocated back to the town where we first met to have more quality time with her. She was actually in the crowd during one of my shows at a venue called Mavericks Pointe in Sunset Beach, NC. The owners, Larry and Vicky Booth have become like phamily to us since they first invited me to play their regularly. They are as we say, ‘salt of the earth’ and Renee has even gone on to help them run the show at their wonderfully inviting establishment. Now we all feel like one big happy phamily in our ‘paradise no one knows about’ as we like to call it! In addition to inspiring me to write my own love songs to her, Renee also functions as a much needed agent, manager and marketing expert to this self described, ‘technopalegic!”
42 Q. So when will we all be hearing some of those love songs and where can we find more of your original work?
“Presently I’m working on two new singles: ‘Tales Beyond his Reach’ is the story of a pirate approaching the close of his life, and he’s expressing thoughts about the things he didn’t get done. ‘Five Little Words’ is a phrase that is a term of endearment between me and Renee. The second time she came to my show, I got up enough courage to say to her these five little words…’You look very pretty tonight,’ and the rest has been history. I have written and rewritten this one several times and keep feeling like it’ll just never be good enough for what she deserves. So I can’t exactly promise what the release date will be but my previously recorded work, the Parrot Party CD, ‘Stars on the Water’ and the “Phollow the Phlock’ single are available at all of my shows. As a matter of fact, we have a big one coming up at La Belle Amie Vineyard Winter Parrothead Festival, in Little River, SC hosted by the Coast of Car- olina Parrot Head Club. Otherwise, fans can message us on the Parrot Party Face- book pg., and I will gladly accommodate any order!
Fins UP!!! Continued on page 44
43 Randy Knight continued from page 43
PHollow The Phlock By Randy Knight
We’re gonna PHollow the PHlock all the way to the Keys Hit the Pit Stops with a tropical breeze Party with a purpose is what we all believe All the Parrotheads are PHlocking to the meeting in the Keys Pit Stop One, the Gill Dawg will be rockin’ Down in Port Richey where the party’s never stoppin’ A1A and all the guys are Trop Jockin’ The PHun never ends and the party is a poppin’ Never had a better time with family and PHriends Raising toasts to Jimmy and we’re swimmin’ with the Fins Margaritaville is where we all wanna be Paradise is waiting on a Gulf Coast breeze………… So bring your flip flops and your island state of mind Bring your beach chair and leave your worries behind What’s goin’ on knows where the PHlockers will be With all the Trop Rockers all the way to the Keys What’s goin’ on knows where the PHlockers will be With all the Trop Rockers all the way to the Keys
44 45 A Listener’s Take Donny Brewer - Winnebago Tapes Vol. 1 - By Todd Alexander
TMRA Horizon, Male Vocalist, and Song of the Year award winner Donny Brewer released his new CD, The Winnebago Tapes Vol. 1 in November. The new CD is stacked with duets with a variety of Trop Rock artists. As I’ve come to expect from Donny (even though this is only his second ‘official’ Trop Rock CD; third overall), there is a variety of styles and sounds. The CD is very listenable and just plain fun. Out-takes and dialog add to the fun vibes that this CD puts out. It seems like every day, a different song from the CD worms its way into my mind and stays there until I give it a listen. The Winnebago Tapes could add a TMRA Album of the Year award to Donny’s collection of awards. I caught up with Donny to discuss his new CD and other topics. How’s life in the Winnebago looking this far in? Life on the road was definitely a huge gamble, not just monetarily or practically, but relationship- wise. I wasn't sure if Michelle and I could go from 3000 sq. ft. to 300 and not kill each other. The an- swer is that we are truly closer than we've ever been. Once you have that, the rest is easy. I don't know how long we'll be able to make a living doing this, but I have a feeling we won't be leaving the RV life any time soon. We're having way too much fun. How did you decide on the concept of having guest performers for most song? Winnebago Tapes was definitely not an album I set out to make. I had a plan in place for an album called "Blues Lagoon" that would feature my bluesier, funkier side. It was to be recorded at three separate studios in different musical areas of the U.S. (Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee). Howev- er, as I was recording the first rhythm section sessions in Austin, I called Matt Hoggatt to finish lyrics on "Skinny Beer" with me. Near the same time, I met Brent Burns in Gulf Shores, AL and we co- wrote a song called "Easy Day" with Eric Babin. I had already had the Thom Shepherd written "Gimme The Keys" slated to go on the album, and a Dan Sullivan (the Detentions) co-write, "Professional Drinker". Once I saw how easy it appeared to be to get Matt to agree to come to the RV and record his rap part on "Skinny Beer", I started thinking maybe I could get more artists to put guest spots on the songs they co-wrote with me. And once that started happening, my wife Michelle asked why I didn't just do every song that way. Well I had the means, so why not! How does one go from being the new kid on the block a little over a year ago to recording with some of the icons of Trop Rock?
46 I get that question a lot and the answer is pret- ty easy. I think it's mainly because we went to the people. We brought my style of show to every house concert, Tiki bar, and festival we could possibly get to, regardless of how much money we were making. We just wanted to get the name out there, and if the TRMAs are any indication, it worked! The funny thing I tell eve- ryone is last year at MOTM, I was hoping to meet Thom Shepherd so that maybe one day we'd become friends or perhaps in a few years, actually write a song together. This year not only are he and Coley singing on my al- bum, they dressed up as me for Halloween! What?!? I think the readiness for "established" Trop Rockers to accept me traces back to MOTM last year. I spent a lot of time pillaging stages to get chances to show my musicianship with them and to hopefully gain some respect as a singer, songwriter and musician. I found that with the artists that made it to the Winnebago to record, there was a great mutual respect and, luckily for me, a trust - trust that I would not only make them sound good, but also put out a product they would be proud of. After hearing the result, they've each told me how great a job I did. That's probably the thing about this album that I'm most proud of. Was the recording process as much fun as it sounds on the CD?
Yes, it was more fun than you can imagine. Reggie Starrett with Donny Brewer The Matt session only took 15 minutes to get a perfect take on his rap part (which is really fast) but once we started recording banter for the end, it took 6 hours! Every take was funnier than the last and I wanted to keep every one. Therein lies the problem. When you only have one day or perhaps a few hours with an artist because you have to get to the next town, you take a lot of extra takes. You don't want to be 7 states away from an artist and realize you don't have a good take of a certain word or a funny thing to go in a certain spot. That leads to Continued on page 48 47 Donny Brewer - Winnebago Tapes Vol. 1 Continued from page 47 miles of "tape" you have to listen through to mix down to pick the takes to get that track to be its best. Was the recording process as much fun as it sounds on the CD? Yes, it was more fun than you can imagine. The Matt session only took 15 minutes to get a perfect take on his rap part (which is really fast) but once we started recording banter for the end, it took 6 hours! Every take was funnier than the last and I wanted to keep every one. Therein lies the prob- lem. When you only have one day or perhaps a few hours with an artist because you have to get to the next town, you take a lot of extra takes. You don't want to be 7 states away from an artist and realize you don't have a good take of a certain word or a funny thing to go in a certain spot. That leads to miles of "tape" you have to listen through to mix down to pick the takes to get that track to be its best. And of course, you need to drink a lot while recording drinking songs, of which I have quite a few! What songs did your guest artist write or co-write? If I had had my way, everyone on the album would have co-written the song they sang. Other co- writes on the album include: Reggie Starrett, "Rum and Somethin'" - a song we came up with on our cruise last year but that didn't get finished until the day of recording in Texas. Jerry Diaz, "Guys Like Us" - another that was barely finished in time to record. "Duct Tape This Heart", a song that John Reno had started. He showed me what he had of it on stage in the middle of a show at LuLu's in Gulf Shores one day and we completed it and recorded it later that year while parked in front of Jer- ry's house near Beaumont, TX. The Charlie Imes collaboration "Gypsy Soul" was an interesting co- write. We were searching through Donny Brewer with Jerry Diaz during production. his old book of lyrics and came across some that made me say "That's It!" Not only were the lyrics about both of us exactly, they also fit perfectly with a riff we were jamming on earlier. We mashed the two together and came up with a great tune that fits the whole album concept to a T. The last co-write is "Tsunami" which is actually from an album I did with my brother (Ric), father (Jim), and childhood friend (CW) called Train Wreck Coming. The band (Train Wreck) has co-writes on every song on that album (including the Beer Song from Zimzala).
48 What song are you most pleased with the results? I couldn't really show any favoritism to any one song; that would be like saying you had a favorite child! I love all of them. But I will say that I'm proud of being a part of the very first co-write with the Godfather of Gulf and Western, Jerry Diaz. Mary didn't think it was possible but somehow, he trust- ed me enough to let it happen. You seem to have a fondness for songs with quirky, non-traditional rhythm/instrumentation (Acapulco, No Working During Drinking Hours, The Doo Wop Song). Any reason or inspiration? You're right, I do have a great fondness for quirky rhythm parts and styles in general. The primary reason is to try and set songs apart from the millions that listeners have to choose from. If you use the same Nashville drummers for every session guess what, they sound the same. The other reason is just using the right tool for the job. I've always let the song show me what it wants and never put something there because that's what you're supposed to do. It's a luxury for me in particular be- cause having your own studio means you don't have to pay for time spent experimenting with sounds. It seems you have a knack at getting the most out of your guest vocalists. Any secrets you can di- vulge? There are many tools of wizardry in the studio but I think what's most important is to get an honest performance. I always tell anyone who steps in front of my mic, don't worry about pitch and timing, just give me character and honesty. I also try not to "punch in" parts. I'd rather have you take the songs all the way through as many times as you can stand it and then I'll go back and pick my favor- ite parts. This is almost a necessity when you're recording someone in a Winnebago. You can't bring Jeremy Edge, Thom Shepherd and Donny Brewer Continued on page 50
49 Donny Brewer - Winnebago Tapes Vol. 1 Continued from page 49
them back in for retakes because the studio will be in a different part of the country. That's the tech- nical end of it. The cool part for me is noticing that the artists showed their trust in me, not just as an engineer, but as a song crafter. When they were cutting their parts, there was only a skeleton track for them to sing to, so they had no idea what the final product would sound like. That amount of trust from my colleagues makes me prouder than anything. Who won the guitar battle with Sunny Jim on Tsunami?
Not sure who won the guitar battle, but if you're grading it on who had the most fun, it's definitely me. Since the first time we shared a stage together at MOTM 2015, James and I have had a magical connection that you can only get through music. The first time he called me up on stage for two songs, we had an improv jam that lasted over an hour. It's happened a few times since then, and I have to say that to be able to capture some of that on a song was a pure delight for me.
50 What’s coming up for you? Next is more of the same - the Winnebago Tour continues in 2017. We are hitting more festivals and house concerts across the US. Our goal is to get to every Zimzala in every corner of the nation. We're making sure to include parts of the north east this year, a first for us. You can see the sched- ule for 2017 so far at donnybrewer.com/tour. Readers should know that if I'm scheduled to be near their state, they are welcome to contact us about setting up a show any day of the week. I'm always excited to meet new people and see new places.
We're also very excited about being included on three kinds of tropical getaways this year: March 25 -April 1 - an Eastern Caribbean island hopper cruise with Jerry Diaz, April 23-30 - Another Voyage To Paradise, the Southern Drawl Band's cruise from Miami, and on June 14-18 - Pirates and Poets Songwriters In The Sand, an all-inclusive in Riviera Maya, Mexico featuring the Detentions.
You can always get details about the tour, merchandise online (including CD's, new shirts, and ear rings) at donnybrewer.com. Album and song downloads available at iTunes, Amazon, and every- where you get your digital music. donnybrewer.com Living Like Jimmy Buffett! donnybrewer.com
Donny with John Reno and Brent Burns Continued on page 52
51 Donny Brewer - Winnebago Tapes Vol. 1 Continued from page 51
The Songs
Rum and Somethin’ (with Reggie Starrett) - a smooth, easy song, classic drinking with a purpose song Guys Like Us (with Jerry Diaz) - fun song; a peak into the hearts of Trop Rock performers- people who simply love to entertain us and don’t overestimate their importance No Working During Drinkin’ Hours (with Thom Shepherd)- unique percussion (clapping), feel of a fun campfire song, a wake-up call (probably unanswered) for workaholics- stop working so much- get out and have some fun Gimme The Keys (with Coley McCabe Shepherd)- a beautiful duet; escapism – as winter is in full force in the Midwest as I write this, the idea sounds better as the temperature drops; I’ve always loved Coley’s voice and she sounds amazing on this song Duct Tape This Heart (with John Reno) – A classic broken heart country vibe; sounds weird but an amusing look at heartbreak Professional Drinker (with the Detentions) –a funny drinking song; hey, everybody is good at something; a very upbeat song Skinny Beer (with Matt Hoggatt)- super funny song too many of us can relate to; unique sound throughout including rap style sections.
Below left: Donny with Charlie Imes. Below right: Donny with Brent Burns at Tropical Isle. Page 53: Top right: Sunny Jim with Donny. Center right: The Detentions with Donny. Bottom right: Matt Hoggatt performs with Donny. Bottom left: Drop Dead Dangerous with Donny.
52 Easy Day (with Brent Burns) - just a smooth song; aren’t we all looking for easy days. The Sea (with Drop Dead Dangerous)- a beautiful song; the vocals are blended beautifully; this song says what so many of us feel about the beach/sea Gypsy Soul (with Charlie Imes)- Donny’s anthem about how much he’s enjoying his life on the road- the people, the travels, The Doo Wop Song (with Sunny Jim White) - another song with unique vocal percussion; this song lovingly takes you back to the Doo Wop style of the 50’s Tsunami (with Sunny Jim- guitar battle) - a very upbeat rocker with hints of the Beach Boys, “Wipe Out”, and the surfer music of the 60’s; Warning- this song is addictive Winnebago- Another song about how Donny is enjoying his lifestyle on the road; an upbeat song that you want to hear again and again Skinny Beer (extra Skinny Version with Matt Hoggatt) - A demo version that again leaves you laughing!
53 54
55 ”Here’s”Here’s ToTo You,You, Here’sHere’s ToTo Me!”Me!” Pardi Gras 2017
LetLet TheThe PicturesPictures TellTell TheThe Story…Story… Photos By R. O. Smith
56 Page 56: Left: Earl Bernhardt and Pam Fortner, owners of Tropical Isle, New Orleans. Top Right: Orleans Grapevine food tasting with Margaritaville Foods. Bottom Right: Pam Fortner and Earl Bernhardt receiving Proclamation of Parrot Head Day from the NO- LA City Council. This Page: Top Left: Greg Dillard. Top Right: Kelly Brown. Bottom: Top of the Trop, New Orleans.
57 ”Here’s”Here’s ToTo You,You, Here’sHere’s ToTo Me!”Me!” Continued from page 57
Top Left: Jim Hoehn. Top Right: Donny Brewer with a hula-girl fan. Bottom Left: Jeff Brewer. Bottom Right: Greg Dumas with Jerry Diaz Page 59: Top: Pardi Gras King and Queen Kelly and Anita Brown. Bottom: The Pink Flamingo Queens at Top of the Trop.
58 59 ”Here’s”Here’s ToTo You,You, Here’sHere’s ToTo Me!”Me!” Continued from page 59
Top Left: Sunny Jim at The Bourbon O Bar. Top Right: Cooler Dave and Sally Spenny. Bottom: Poets & Pirates radio broadcast with Greg Dumas, Jon Burns and Barry Terrell, owner of T-Bone Tom’s in Kemah, TX.
60 Top Left: Diane Duran and Sue Roberts. Top Right: Pam and Brent Burns. Bottom: The Detentions playing the street party.
61 ”Here’s”Here’s ToTo You,You, Here’sHere’s ToTo Me!”Me!” Continued from page 61
Top: Debbie Hess with Rain Jaudon. Bottom: Trop Rockers Jam at the street party on Bourbon Street. Page 63: Top: Partying on Bourbon Street. Bottom: Drop Dead Dangerous on stage with Donny Brewer.
62 63 ”Here’s”Here’s ToTo You,You, Here’sHere’s ToTo Me!”Me!” Continued from page 63
Top: Donny Brewer, Jack Moseley, Jerry Diaz and newcomer Donald “DJ” James. Bottom: The Boat Drunks. Page 65: The street party in full swing!
64 65 ”Here’s”Here’s ToTo You,You, Here’sHere’s ToTo Me!”Me!” Continued from page 65
Top Left: Reggie Starrett with fans. Top Right: Bob Karwin. Bottom: Carolyn McBride with The Pink Flamingo Queen. Page 67: King and Queen of Pardi-Gras, Kelly & Anita Brown. Bottom: The streets of The French Quarter at the parade.
66 Many thanks to R. O. Smith for sending his beautiful photos of Pardi-Gras 2017!
67 “Beach Rock Reggae to Flip Flop Hip Hop?”
Introducing The WHEELAND BROTHERS By Eric Babin
I had intended to be putting together an article about Tim Glancey, magician, showman, part circus performer, that toured with Jimmy Buffett managing the controlled chaos of the tailgate extrav- aganzas. More recently Tim is a local Key West celebrity, but most know him as the colorful tour guide for the Trails and Tales of Key West walking tour. Unfortunately, Tim has fallen ill recently pre- venting him from completing the interview. We send our thoughts and prayers to Tim and his family for a speedy recovery so we may complete the interview for a future issue. Just as I was getting the news Tim was ill, Lauren Boquette, the manager for the Wheeland Brothers, was reaching out to me asking if I’d like to play their music on Radio Trop Rock. I personal- ly review all music submissions and this time was no different. As I checked them out on social me- dia, YouTube, and everywhere else you may cyberstalk someone to find out about them, I realized these guys not only are very talented, but may fit right into this escapism we call trop rock. The more I researched the more interesting they got. I decided this may be the perfect time to introduce the Wheeland Brothers to trop rock fans. Trop rock fans, meet the Wheeland Brothers.
Who Are The Wheeland Brothers?
The Wheeland Brothers are two Southern California brothers who grew up in Orange County surfing, scarfing down hole-in-the wall Mexican food, and jamming around beach bonfires. They combine fun, catchy melody and lyrics with the cool attitude and positive energy of reggae, as well as the down-to-earth, organic honesty of acoustic rock, ukulele lullabies, and flip flop hip hop. Sunshine music inspired by waves, hangin' with friends, and dreaming of distant shores.
"We like to call our music Beach Rock Reggae. Basically, if you love the beach, you'll love our sound." The brothers (Nate "Frogg" and Travis Wheeland) officially began their musical journey dur- ing a backpacking trip to Kalalau on the island of Kauai, where they were inspired to create their first album "Toast to the Coast," which was released in May 2012 along with the music video for their first single "Sand in My Sheets" which was nominated for best music video at the Orange County Music Awards (up against No Doubt & the Dirty Heads) and received play at Hollister stores worldwide. The following year, in July 2013 their sophomore album "Muchos Mahalos" was released. In August 2016 they released their latest album, "Lost in the Key of Sea." Their fun, lively stage show has earned them a reputation for stoking crowds all over California, and the east coast with artists such as Slightly Stoopid, 311, The Wailers, Michael Franti, Donavon Frankenreiter, and Ziggy Marley.
Continued on page 70 68 69 Continued from page 69
Other than you two brothers there are other members of the band. Tell us about them.
When we were kids we bought guitars at the pawn shop on allowance money and future birth- day presents. Our bass player, Marcus Agundes, had just picked up the bass for the first time and we formed a rock band out of four high school friends. Fast forward to today and Marcus is still play- ing bass with us. Our drummer is Eric Bumb, who was in a boy band before Wheeland Brothers (He'll never live it down), has been playing with us for a few years now. A very talented dude who's about to graduate from music college. We affectionately call him Slugger. He hates it. Joey Smithwick is our newest edition. He's the wild card. Hand drums, slide whistle, kazoo—he does it all. I've never seen someone jump so high while playing bongos. When Joey gets down...he goes up. That foot tambourine is like a rocket pack! The beautiful and talented Kaitlyn Weathers sings with us occasionally. She's an outstanding performer, and has her own trop rock single out– "Just Like Islands" featuring me (Nate Wheeland). Are you full time musi- cians or do you still have a day job?
We're "full time" musi- cians, but sometimes the line between work and play is blurry...like when you're onto your third or fourth Painkiller touring the Caribbean. Other times it's a lot of phone calls and emails and editing music, and videos. But it wasn't always this way. Before taking the plunge, I got my degree in civil engineering from the University of Cali- fornia, Irvine. For five years I worked 40+ hours a week as a geotechnical engineer designing build- ing foundations, roadways, retaining walls
70 ... Lots of stress. Not much personal fulfillment or freedom. After a while the only thing that really got me stoked was getting off work. In 2009, I went on my first Caribbean adventure to explore the West Indies. A virgin to the Virgin Islands. The moment I booked my flight, inspiration persuaded me to purchase a small travel guitar. As I carried my guitar off the plane at the LAX airport, a fellow passenger asked me, "Were you playing shows in the islands?" The question really caught me off guard. I laughed and replied, "Ha. I wish!" That stayed with me. Me playing music for audiences?...in the Caribbean? That's crazy. Hm. Yeah. Crazy. ;)
You call your music "Beach Rock Reggae". Can you discuss what you mean by that?
Truth is, we don't know what to call it! And we aren't trying to be any particular genre. We're just two brothers who've always jumped fences, and trespassed down unpaved paths...our music isn't a manufactured product targeted at an end-user, it's designed by our lives, experiences, dreams, vic- tories, travels, by absorbing the music we love, by freestyle jamming at 2am around a beach bonfire, and especially by a constant hunger for inspired living. I challenge myself to describe our music dif- ferently in every conversation in order to figure out what to call it....Beach Rock Reggae is a start. But we're not real, pure reggae—we're just reggae-ish.
When deciding to get into a music career was "beach" music a given, or were other types of music considered?
There's a big reason why we didn't start a death metal band. Beachy bands tend to play more shows at the beach. It was a no brainer. :-P
How much of the music you record and perform is original "Wheeland Brothers" tunes?
Our songs are all original, written by us, except for a couple of parodies. Kenny Chesney has been a big supporter of our music and as a tribute to him and to all of our beach bum fans back in California, we recorded a parody of Kenny's "American Kids" and called it "California Kids." The California lifestyle is so unique that it needed its own parody of the song.....but here's the big se- cret: Those things that California dreamers dream about? Acoustic guitars around beach bonfires? Camping in hidden beaches with your surfboard stashed in the bushes? Jumping off the pier? Mid- night skinny dips? Drinking a cold beer under a grass shack?...very few people do those things. Many of the traditions celebrated as the foundation of California beach culture are now illegal. We hope that our music can inspire or revive that crazy voice in all our heads taunting us to go out and do something unforgettable. Continued on page 72
71 Continued from page 71
We always wonder if other bands do this...but every time we write a new song we have to se- cretly turn it into a Weird Al style parody. To everyone who's reading this, please, if you like to make fun of our songs, PLEASE send us a video of you singing it! We'd love to see it. Our song "Sand in my Sheets" has been sung as "Sand in my Cheeks" many a time.
In many of your videos you have surfing scenes. Is the surfing scene a big inspiration for your music?
We're third generation surfers who grew up in Southern California. Our grandpa was a life- guard and surfer in the 1960s—he shaped his own paddleboard in woodshop class. And our dad was the captain of the surf team at his high school. Surfing has always been a part of our lives. I can remember the first time my dad took me out on his longboard when I was little. We had barely pad- dled through three waves when a huge wave pulled my trunks clear down to my ankles. I was horri- fied, but the stoke still got me. It's in our blood. Bonding with family & friends, exercise, meditation, positive lifestyle, and of course having fun. Surfing has it all. The legendary surfer, Phil Edwards, is quoted for saying "The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun." Surfing, like music, is a great parallel for understanding life. It's a dance. It's a song. It's not about getting to the end of the wave, just like it's never about getting to the last note of the song. It's about the journey. Life is play.
72 How did you hear about "Trop Rock" and what made you decide you wanted to be part of it?
We've always had heroes like Jimmy Buffett & Jack Johnson, but didn't know there was a "scene." Our music has been inspired by beach lifestyle adventuring in California, the Caribbean, Hawaii,... so it just makes sense. We didn't suddenly "decide" to become a part of trop rock, it just happened naturally, as most good things do.
The Trop Rock community has historically been a Gulf Coast and Florida based genre. Do you guys see yourself touring more in the Gulf Coast and South Florida region or do you hope to be part of the "west coast expansion" of the genre?
Music is a vehicle and we love to travel. One of my all-time favorite songs says, "I have my ship and all her flags are a' flyin' She's all that I have left and music is her name." You probably rec- ognize that from "Southern Cross" by Crosby Stills & Nash. Lately the winds have been blowing us down to Florida and to the Caribbean. The gulf is virgin territory for us that we're dying to explore. I know I'm not the only one who gets onto Google Maps and switches it to satellite mode and goes on a digital expedition to far-off lands....that's how we are with music, always wanting to explore new places and visit all the great people we've met along the way. Continued on page 74
73 Continued from page 73
What type of airplay have you guys been seeing lately?
We get a lot of love on Kenny Chesney's No Shoes Radio. Every day fans from around the country send us photos of their SiriusXM dashboards with Wheeland Brothers songs playing. We're so grateful to Kenny for sharing our music on his station. It's an honor.
What does the future hold for the Wheeland Brothers?
Not long ago we released our third album, "Lost in the Key of Sea". A lot of what we're focus- ing on right now is spreading the new music and stoke however we can. We love putting videos to- gether so keep an eye out on our YouTube channel for "Rock Me Like the Ocean" and "Summer Stars" music videos, as well as live performances and vlogs chronicling our various escapades in the Virgin Islands. We have shows in the works for spring break in Florida, and summer shows in Cali- fornia on the shores of Catalina Island and Huntington Beach.
Where can folks find your mu- sic, booking information, tour schedule and merchandise?
Visit us on our website: www.wheelandbrothers.com Please follow us on Facebook, YouTube, & Instagram! Say hi at [email protected]
Contact Wheeland Brothers Lauren Boquette The Island Artist Management lau- [email protected]
Send surf wax and fan mail to: Wheeland Brothers P.O. Box 5271 San Clemente, CA 92674
74 75 Where to Find “Trop Rock” On The Radio -Satellite Radio- Radio A1A Sirius Satellite Radio/Radio Margaritaville
-Radio Programs- *Big Burrito Radio: Mad Marty and Dan *Island Time Radio Show: DK the DJ *Live from the Red Neck Riviera- Thom Shepherd *Radio A1A * Beachbar Radio * Beachlife Radio *Beachfront Radio Last.fm * Radio Trop Rock via Tunein.com * Permanent Vacation Radio * Radio Trop Rock * Songwriters-Island Summer Wind Radio Songwriters Island Radio * Southernmost Radio The Shore
The Tiki Man Radio
The Tiki Pod Tiki Island Radio * Party In Paradise
76 77 ThankThank YouYou JerryJerry && MaryMary Diaz!Diaz! ”Here’s”Here’s ToTo You,You, Here’sHere’s ToTo Me!”Me!”
Here’s to taking life easy! 78