WV Sound Blog - WVLIVING.COM

10/24/12

Clarksburg Musician Wins ReverbNation Competition

Clarksburg’s Lydia Simons, of The Amorous, recently won first place in the Christian Division of ReverbNation’s International Unsigned Only 2012 music competition. ReverbNation is home to more than two million artists, labels, managers, and vendors. It attracts musicians from all over the world, with more than 30 million hits to reverbnation.com every month. Unsigned Only is a great opportunity for artists who haven’t signed a major label contract, and the competition is designed specifically for independent artists. The competition aims to find the most talented band or solo artist who desperately needs to be discovered, and Lydia was exactly what that contest was looking for. On August 29, 2012, with more than 7,000 entries worldwide, ReverbNation...

Posted at 06:26 AM Comments: 2

10/17/12

Sleepwalker Breaks the Indie Mold

Play a few songs on Sleepwalker’s debut EP The Dark One and you might be tempted to lump Morgantown-based Sleepwalker into the same category as a lot of other dark indie or post-hardcore bands from college towns—raging about disconnection from a suburban, consumerist culture with gritty lyrics and intense vocals. But that wouldn’t be quite right. “The last few songs we’ve been writing are in a pretty stereotypically pop style. It’s hard to recognize with the atmosphere of having three guitars, so it comes across as something a little more disconnected from pop, but at the same time, that’s essentially the types of songs we’re writing,” says lead singer and guitarist Tyler Grady. “In a lot of ways, you see that throughout...

Posted at 06:08 AM Comments

10/10/12

The Shawn Owen Band Blends Beach Cool with Mountain Chill

On the surface, Shawn Owen’s music is a tonic of one-part smooth acoustic instrumentals with a reggae-inspired vibe and one-part catchy, unpredictable lyrics. One minute you might be transported to a sunny beach party, the next you may find yourself rushing headlong down a cold mountain slope. Much like his life, Shawn Owen’s music lives in two worlds simultaneously. A West Virginia native who grew up chasing the dream of a professional snowboarding career and a musician currently captivating audiences from beach bars in Annapolis to Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, Shawn is both. His sound is daring and serene, graceful and edgy—something he likes to call “rock and soul.” “There are a lot of different emotions that come out in our songs,” Shawn...

Posted at 05:39 AM Comments

10/03/12

Bringing Music to Raleigh County

You might not guess it, but Beaver—population 1,308—might just be West Virginia’s newest live music destination, at least that’s the hope. “If you bring in musicians, people get a better idea of what’s out there, and they get excited about what we have to offer here in our state,” says Melanie Hicks, owner of Coffee Beans & Books. As part of the relatively new School of Harmony complex in Beaver, just outside of Beckley, the bookstore has been attracting regional bands and entertainers like Clinton Collins & The Creekboys to play in its intimate, coffeehouse atmosphere since opening in 2010. But organizers aren’t stopping there. Melanie and local magazine editor Ken Hays have been turning their attention to national names as...

Posted at 01:00 PM Comments

09/25/12

Morgantown Hosts the Best New Electronic Dance Music

Call it a renaissance. Call it a golden age. Whatever you call it, there’s no denying that electronic dance music (EDM) is the defining sound of 2012. For proof, look no further than GLOWfest, an all-day festival that features already well-known and up-and-coming practitioners of the genre. The festival has been tearing its way across U.S. college campuses, and this Friday, West Virginia University will become the latest host—just in time for homecoming. GLOWfest promises to be an all-thrills, no-pretense celebration of dance music and culture. I recently had a chance to speak with co-founders Deuce Thevenow and Jack Shannon, as well as GLOWfest coordinator Chris Kennedy, about the rising popularity of EDM and the challenge of putting on a festival of this...

Posted at 07:08 AM Comments

09/20/12

Ridin' Away with Sasha Colette & The Magnolias

Somewhere between Grace Potter and Bruce Springsteen, rock and roll, country, and soul come together in the sound of Sasha Colette & The Magnolias. This band has been stunning audiences from Huntington to Ohio, Kentucky to Nashville, with its killer songs and no holds barred attitude. Paste Magazine, a well-known source for what’s happening in the indie music scene, named Sasha Colette & The Magnolias as one of the 10 West Virginia Bands You Should Listen To Now. Even former Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant has taken note of these promising up-and-comers. Sasha got her start in music at an early age, and began playing in coffee shops around her hometown of Olive Hill, Kentucky, when she was 16. About a year and a half ago, she started playing gigs with The...

Posted at 08:37 AM Comments

09/14/12

Rock 'n' Roll Perspective

Since 2004, Danielle has performed in various local rock bands, including Grundeldrag, Ish, and The Sneakies. She currently plays drums, guitar, and sings in three-piece rock group Freudian Slap, who will perform September 24, 2012, at the U-92 FM Morgantown Sound radio show at 8 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre at the Mountainlair. Playing live rock ‘n’ roll music in Morgantown makes me feel alive. The community of musicians and music venues like 123 Pleasant Street give local artists their own little piece of living the dream. On 123’s stage, I’ve grown stronger as a songwriter and performer, singing lead vocals and playing guitar in local bands. Writing original songs and playing in bands has given me the creative outlet I’ve always wanted. From the...

Posted at 08:57 AM Comments

09/05/12

Wine and Jazz near Morgantown

Every year, with fall just around the corner, hundreds of people flock to the grass at Camp Muffly to relax with good friends, great wine and food, and live jazz. This year’s Wine & Jazz Fest is set to be another success, September 8 and 9, 2012. Festival hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. (no alcohol before 1 p.m.). Admission costs $20 per person each day and includes a wine glass and wine tasting for attendees 21 and over. Enjoy live music: Saturday, September 8, 2012 11 a.m., WVU Jazz Ensemble 12:30 p.m., Marty Knepp Trio 2 p.m., OPEK 3:30 p.m., Paul Scea & Sergio Alvares 5 p.m., Curtis Johnson Sunday, September 9, 2012 12:30 p.m., WV Wesleyan College Jazz Ensemble 2 p.m., James...

Posted at 05:34 AM Comments

08/29/12

Pink Moon Festival Returns to Rock Camp

The fourth annual Pink Moon Music & Arts Festival takes place September 15 to 16, 2012, in Rock Camp in Monroe County. The festival will take place on organizer Seth Abramson's family farm and is a tribute to Seth's mother, Pinky Testerman, who passed away in 2006. Festival-goers will enjoy beautiful mountain views in an intimate space. Enjoy music, art, live painting, massage therapy, exotic crafts, a black light mini-golf course, and more. Gates open at 4 p.m. with ample car and camping space. This year’s lineup features national and regional acts, including EOTO, Former Champions, Another Roadside Attraction, Galaxy Dynamite, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Silo Effect. Pre-sale tickets cost $20 online, or $30 at the gate. Pink Moon aims to celebrate the...

Posted at 06:34 AM Comments

08/22/12

Music & Arts Festival Offers Eclectic Sounds

Funk, indie, bluegrass, blues—you’ll find every style of music and more at the 9th Annual Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival in Pipestem, West Virginia, September 6 to 9, 2012, at the Appalachian South Folklife Center. Experience the culture and flavor of this growing event in southern West Virginia through the healing arts, a parade, kids village, workshops, and concerts. Artists will come from West Virginia as well as Kentucky, North Carolina, California, and New York. The festival aims to promote unity and respect for diversity through music and the arts. West Virginia acts in the lineup include: Option 22, Qiet, Cari Cohen, Kathleen Coffee, Melissa McKinney, The Captain Lazerblast Band, Chally Erb, Margo & The Bluegills, Miss Behavin’, The...

Posted at 06:52 AM Comments

	10/24/12 Clarksburg Musician Wins ReverbNation Competition Clarksburg’s Lydia Simons, of The Amorous, recently won first place in the Christian Division of ReverbNation’s International Unsigned Only 2012 music competition. ReverbNation is home to more than two million artists, labels, managers, and vendors. It attracts musicians from all over the world, with more than 30 million hits to reverbnation.com every month. Unsigned Only is a great opportunity for artists who haven’t signed a major label contract, and the competition is designed specifically for independent artists. The competition aims to find the most talented band or solo artist who desperately needs to be discovered, and Lydia was exactly what that contest was looking for. On August 29, 2012, with more than 7,000 entries worldwide, ReverbNation... Posted at 06:26 AM Comments: 2
	10/17/12 Sleepwalker Breaks the Indie Mold Play a few songs on Sleepwalker’s debut EP The Dark One and you might be tempted to lump Morgantown-based Sleepwalker into the same category as a lot of other dark indie or post-hardcore bands from college towns—raging about disconnection from a suburban, consumerist culture with gritty lyrics and intense vocals. But that wouldn’t be quite right. “The last few songs we’ve been writing are in a pretty stereotypically pop style. It’s hard to recognize with the atmosphere of having three guitars, so it comes across as something a little more disconnected from pop, but at the same time, that’s essentially the types of songs we’re writing,” says lead singer and guitarist Tyler Grady. “In a lot of ways, you see that throughout... Posted at 06:08 AM Comments
	10/10/12 The Shawn Owen Band Blends Beach Cool with Mountain Chill On the surface, Shawn Owen’s music is a tonic of one-part smooth acoustic instrumentals with a reggae-inspired vibe and one-part catchy, unpredictable lyrics. One minute you might be transported to a sunny beach party, the next you may find yourself rushing headlong down a cold mountain slope. Much like his life, Shawn Owen’s music lives in two worlds simultaneously. A West Virginia native who grew up chasing the dream of a professional snowboarding career and a musician currently captivating audiences from beach bars in Annapolis to Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, Shawn is both. His sound is daring and serene, graceful and edgy—something he likes to call “rock and soul.” “There are a lot of different emotions that come out in our songs,” Shawn... Posted at 05:39 AM Comments
	10/03/12 Bringing Music to Raleigh County You might not guess it, but Beaver—population 1,308—might just be West Virginia’s newest live music destination, at least that’s the hope. “If you bring in musicians, people get a better idea of what’s out there, and they get excited about what we have to offer here in our state,” says Melanie Hicks, owner of Coffee Beans & Books. As part of the relatively new School of Harmony complex in Beaver, just outside of Beckley, the bookstore has been attracting regional bands and entertainers like Clinton Collins & The Creekboys to play in its intimate, coffeehouse atmosphere since opening in 2010. But organizers aren’t stopping there. Melanie and local magazine editor Ken Hays have been turning their attention to national names as... Posted at 01:00 PM Comments
	09/25/12 Morgantown Hosts the Best New Electronic Dance Music Call it a renaissance. Call it a golden age. Whatever you call it, there’s no denying that electronic dance music (EDM) is the defining sound of 2012. For proof, look no further than GLOWfest, an all-day festival that features already well-known and up-and-coming practitioners of the genre. The festival has been tearing its way across U.S. college campuses, and this Friday, West Virginia University will become the latest host—just in time for homecoming. GLOWfest promises to be an all-thrills, no-pretense celebration of dance music and culture. I recently had a chance to speak with co-founders Deuce Thevenow and Jack Shannon, as well as GLOWfest coordinator Chris Kennedy, about the rising popularity of EDM and the challenge of putting on a festival of this... Posted at 07:08 AM Comments
	09/20/12 Ridin' Away with Sasha Colette & The Magnolias Somewhere between Grace Potter and Bruce Springsteen, rock and roll, country, and soul come together in the sound of Sasha Colette & The Magnolias. This band has been stunning audiences from Huntington to Ohio, Kentucky to Nashville, with its killer songs and no holds barred attitude. Paste Magazine, a well-known source for what’s happening in the indie music scene, named Sasha Colette & The Magnolias as one of the 10 West Virginia Bands You Should Listen To Now. Even former Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant has taken note of these promising up-and-comers. Sasha got her start in music at an early age, and began playing in coffee shops around her hometown of Olive Hill, Kentucky, when she was 16. About a year and a half ago, she started playing gigs with The... Posted at 08:37 AM Comments
	09/14/12 Rock 'n' Roll Perspective Since 2004, Danielle has performed in various local rock bands, including Grundeldrag, Ish, and The Sneakies. She currently plays drums, guitar, and sings in three-piece rock group Freudian Slap, who will perform September 24, 2012, at the U-92 FM Morgantown Sound radio show at 8 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre at the Mountainlair. Playing live rock ‘n’ roll music in Morgantown makes me feel alive. The community of musicians and music venues like 123 Pleasant Street give local artists their own little piece of living the dream. On 123’s stage, I’ve grown stronger as a songwriter and performer, singing lead vocals and playing guitar in local bands. Writing original songs and playing in bands has given me the creative outlet I’ve always wanted. From the... Posted at 08:57 AM Comments
	09/05/12 Wine and Jazz near Morgantown Every year, with fall just around the corner, hundreds of people flock to the grass at Camp Muffly to relax with good friends, great wine and food, and live jazz. This year’s Wine & Jazz Fest is set to be another success, September 8 and 9, 2012. Festival hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. (no alcohol before 1 p.m.). Admission costs $20 per person each day and includes a wine glass and wine tasting for attendees 21 and over. Enjoy live music: Saturday, September 8, 2012 11 a.m., WVU Jazz Ensemble 12:30 p.m., Marty Knepp Trio 2 p.m., OPEK 3:30 p.m., Paul Scea & Sergio Alvares 5 p.m., Curtis Johnson Sunday, September 9, 2012 12:30 p.m., WV Wesleyan College Jazz Ensemble 2 p.m., James... Posted at 05:34 AM Comments
	08/29/12 Pink Moon Festival Returns to Rock Camp The fourth annual Pink Moon Music & Arts Festival takes place September 15 to 16, 2012, in Rock Camp in Monroe County. The festival will take place on organizer Seth Abramson's family farm and is a tribute to Seth's mother, Pinky Testerman, who passed away in 2006. Festival-goers will enjoy beautiful mountain views in an intimate space. Enjoy music, art, live painting, massage therapy, exotic crafts, a black light mini-golf course, and more. Gates open at 4 p.m. with ample car and camping space. This year’s lineup features national and regional acts, including EOTO, Former Champions, Another Roadside Attraction, Galaxy Dynamite, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Silo Effect. Pre-sale tickets cost $20 online, or $30 at the gate. Pink Moon aims to celebrate the... Posted at 06:34 AM Comments
	08/22/12 Music & Arts Festival Offers Eclectic Sounds Funk, indie, bluegrass, blues—you’ll find every style of music and more at the 9th Annual Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival in Pipestem, West Virginia, September 6 to 9, 2012, at the Appalachian South Folklife Center. Experience the culture and flavor of this growing event in southern West Virginia through the healing arts, a parade, kids village, workshops, and concerts. Artists will come from West Virginia as well as Kentucky, North Carolina, California, and New York. The festival aims to promote unity and respect for diversity through music and the arts. West Virginia acts in the lineup include: Option 22, Qiet, Cari Cohen, Kathleen Coffee, Melissa McKinney, The Captain Lazerblast Band, Chally Erb, Margo & The Bluegills, Miss Behavin’, The... Posted at 06:52 AM Comments

WV Sound

Keeping a beat in the Mountain State