The Local Spin: The Mighty Henry

By GEORGE V. NOSTRAND

West Rutland’s own Phil Henry has once again put himself in another class of singer/songwriters.

Chosen out of 800 applicants, he will compete at the Kerrville New Folk concerts in Kerrville, Texas, on May 24.

In case you are not familiar with Phil, he was the 2005 first-prize winner of Solarfest’s singer/songwriter competition. That was probably the first time I saw him.

Phil teaches music in West Rutland and does a lot to inspire and motivate his students. In case you’ve never heard of the Kerrville New Folk concerts or the competition he is in, I bet you might recognize a few of the names of others who have gone before him to compete: Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Martin Sexton and John Gorka, as well as Vermonters Patti Casey, Rachel Bissex and Anais Mitchell.

I can only imagine that this is in many ways a dream come true for Phil and he is gearing up to make our state and our community proud.

We should be equally proud of him and show our support. And one way in which you can do this is by coming out to Ben & Jerry’s on South Main Street in Rutland at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 when he will be performing and raising money for his trip.

It isn’t cheap to travel all the way to Texas and back to play a few tunes, but it may well be worth it and we should help Phil in any way we can. Take a minute to check out his Web site at www.PhilHenryBand.com and drop him an e-mail wishing him good luck and safe travels.

So, the show goes on here in Rutland and it starts tonight with Brian Hobbs and Bruce White at the Munchies, Martinis and Music thing, (not necessarily in that order), at 5 p.m. at South Station restaurant.

Gail Gillam of South Station has done a nice job lining up class acts for this Thursday series, so go out and show your support.

But wait, you’re not done. It’s still early, the weather is getting nicer, and you really don’t have to race back to sit in front of that TV.

My good friend Gary Wade tells me that Blues Night at Sidelines is the most underrated (and sadly often under-attended) event in Rutland.

He was raving about Steve Audsley and the rest of the band, stating “Some of the hottest blues you will hear anywhere … Steve’s playing is fast and clean and it has personality. Ten people all night if that (outside of musicians) showed.”

Well maybe you could claim you didn’t know before, but now you do! Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just head down to Sidelines tonight and see what my man Gary is talking about.

Wind that Shakes the Barley first formed in the early ’80s but hasn’t played in the Rutland area in a few years, so they are looking at their upcoming show at Briggs Carriage Bookstore on Saturday as a homecoming of sorts.

I saw these fine musicians several times years ago and enjoyed checking out the tunes on their Web site while writing up this article (windthatshakesthebarley.net). The show starts at 7 p.m. and as an added sell Vermont poet David Cavangh will also be there, interweaving his poems with the tunes, (Kinda like when rock bands bring in a rapper to sit in, right?).

Right here in Rutland this Saturday you have A Fistful of Artists at Jilly’s and Carnival Hill at Chasers, and Sidelines will be hosting The Peace. I’d honestly recommend doing the rounds to hear all the bands, but also to harass Dennis, John and Bobby (in a nice way of course). These are three very different dudes, (and I mean different) who all share a common love for music and are out there for the love of it and at the same time performing professional quality music for your entertainment (and they are entertaining).

I tell you what — hit all three gigs and send me an e-mail at localspin@gmail.com telling me three songs from each bands song list and I’ll send you a copy of one of the band’s CDs.

Coming back around to the earlier part of the week, Open Mic at CJ’s Suds South on Tuesdays has really taken off according to “Rockin” Rick Urbani’s shameless e-mails to me.

Apparently there have been appearances by numerous local bands including Deadend Interstate, The Clear River Band, and Another Band from Vermont as well as solo appearances by some “notable” locals.

“It has turned into a phenomenon,” writes Rick. “If you are anywhere near Rutland on a Tuesday night and love live local music you have to check this out!”

Tip of the Week: I’ve been a fan of 35th Parallel’s for a while, so I was excited to see that Gabe and Mac generously offer free downloads of their music every month at www.35thparallel.com. If you’re in the mood for taking your head and the rest of your senses on a little musical trip, I highly recommend perusing the archives.

… and by George, keep supporting live, local music!

George Nostrand is a musician on a mission … he’s just not sure what it is yet.

Give me some Spin! What’s going on with your band, your venue, or your cousin’s uncle’s brother’s band? If it’s musical and it’s happening in the Rutland area I want to hear about it. Send me an e-mail at localspin@gmail.com.