For a town of just over 40,000 people, Charlottesville’s music scene surpasses that of many cities two and three times its size.  Sure there have been a few setbacks over the past twelve months or so with the recent closings of Starr Hill Music Hall and Atomic Burrito in addition to the rumblings swirling around the fate of the Satellite Ballroom, but all in all, when you step back and take  look at it, if you’re a music fan living in or around C’ville life really isn’t all that bad.

I mean seriously, extend an ear and listen.  On any given night in Charlottesville you are guaranteed to find a venue playing host to either a local up-and-coming artist, a national touring act, or even the occasional music legend.  And let’s not forget that guy who’s always playing the flute on the Downtown Mall.  Eat your heart out Jethro Tull!

And yes, Charlottesville is both the birthplace of Presidents and the Dave Matthews Band.  But let’s not forget that Stephen Malkmus of Pavement and David Berman of the Silver Jews both at one time called our fair “velvet rut” home.

Why Charlottesville?  How about because it’s sometimes called the “velvet rut”.  I don’t know who coined the phrase but personally I kinda like it.  Hell, I’ve lived in a few places where there was no velvet, it was just ruts.  I have to admit that I don’t know if the term ever is used in everyday conversation, but I do know that Paul Curreri liked the phrase so much that he slapped it on his most recent album:

When all is said and done,there are worse things we could be called.  For example, this is how the Washington Post described Charlottesville in a November 2005 piece that centered around three Southern college towns known for their vibrant music scenes.  Charlottesville, along with Chapel Hill, NC and Athens, GA, were referred to as:

“…creative enclaves where music bubbles, swirls, and mutates into more infectious strains.” 

What exactly does that mean?  Seriously?  I’d like to see someone put that on a T-shirt!?!  (”I went to a creative enclave where music bubbles, swirls, and mutates into more infectious strains and all I got was this DUMB T-SHIRT”)  Or better yet, somebody please name your next record this.  Please!

But more importantly, why Charlottesville?  Because the world needs to hear more from Sarah White, the world needs to hear more from Eli Cook and Jim Waive and the Young Divorcees and Sons of Bill and Paul Currerri and Trees on Fire and Devon Sproule.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.

And while we’re at it, how about a big shout out to Rebel Records, purveyors of some of the finest bluegrass for over thirty years.  How about a big shout out to the Hackensaw Boys and King Wilkie.  How about a big shout out to Corey Harris who may be surprised to know that I’m living in the same little cabin in the woods that he used to call home.  My landlord remembers hearing his banjo in the evenings as he played here in the house.

Why Charlottesville?  In the next five weeks we’ve got Feist at the Pavilion, The Boss at John Paul Jones Arena, Greg Brown at the Gravity Lounge, the Handsome Furs, Mike Doughty, and Nick Lowe at Satelitte Ballroom, and Steve Earle at the Paramount.  That’s in addition to the fine local performances in the coming weeks featuring the Sons of Bill and Sparky’s Flaw co-bill, Sarah White with the Sam Wilson Band, Jim Waive and the Young Divorcees with the Acorn Sisters, a Six Day Bender cd release party, and many other various surprises along the way.

We’ve got great radio stations (WCNR, WTJU, and WNRN to name three), fully stocked and loaded music stores (Sidetracks and two Plan 9 locations), and a little taste of the music business as well (Red Light Management, Musictoday, and the roots and connections to ATO Records).  O yeah, and we’ve got that guy, you know…uh…Coran Capshaw…that’s it!  We’ve got him too.  Add it all up and our town could kick your town’s butt!  (Sit down Austin, Texas, I was just kidding)

Why is Charlottesville the perfect place for this little music website?  Why the hell not?  Plus the winters aren’t that bad and we all look so good in our tattered velvet robes.

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