Charlottesville - On April 9, Magazine33 hosted the Charlottesville Launch Party to celebrate our introduction into the local music scene!  It was held at the 12^th Street Tap House and featured Book of Job, Travis Elliott, and Tucker Rogers.  The performing acts present were spectacular, and it was special for every privileged fan present.  They are the heroes in this story.  Their talent astounded everyone in the crowd, and they made me proud to witness musicians of outstanding moral caliber and endless musical prowess.  This review is specifically dedicated to those fine individuals, along with the 12^th Street Tap House for being so gracious and accommodating.  I want to affirm that everyone from Magazine33 respects this handful of individuals and deeply thanks them for performing the music for our Launch Party, providing the location, and acting admirably to our staff.  I am proud to have witnessed this act of goodwill, along with the array of skill that the musicians allowed everyone to enjoy.

When Eli Cook and Ryan Underhill kicked off the evening by playing an acoustic set, I was surprised at their ability as a two-man band.  The entire band members of Book of Job include Ryan Underhill (lead vocals), Eli Cook (guitar, vocals), Brian "Boogie" Thomas (bass), and Torrey Patterson (drums).  However, on this specific occasion, just the two members mixed it up!  Eli Cook and Ryan performed an excellent acoustic set that displayed their versatility as a rock band.  Since the first time I saw them in Richmond at Emilio's to the other times I saw them in Crozet at Fardowners, in Charlottesville at the Fry Springs Beach Club, and in Staunton at the Baja Bean Co., I continue to be awed and overwhelmed at how they can bring out anyone's rockin' side.  Their music grabs you deeply, hitting you hard and fast like a freight train roaring past.  I have never attended one of their shows without enjoying myself and leaving energized, ready for more from whatever the night might bring.

Ryan Underhill and Eli Cook complimented each other beautifully that evening.  Ryan has an amazing voice that offers a soulful presence of grit and pain, which comes through in his animated mannerism during his performance.  Since this was the first time I saw him play the guitar, it blew me away to see his ability as a guitarist as well.  Accompanied with Eli Cook's expressive chops on his guitar and resonating deep-water voice, the two talents offered a memorable pairing for a night filled with deep, soulful, acoustic rock and roll.  Eli Cook plays his guitar as if he's been playing his entire life.  When I watched him play with Book of Job in Staunton recently, I saw him slide a beer bottle on the fret of his guitar, using that in place of his fingers.  The sound was raw, untouched, and gorgeous.  I especially liked "Wichita Star", which takes me to a place remembered where certain experiences inevitably mark your life.  I will always attend their shows and speak highly of Book of Job.  I have always had great moments watching them, and I never tire of how their music moves me.  They can spike the energy of a room in just one song and accentuate each other's excellent abilities nicely, thus establishing themselves as one of the stronger bands I have seen in this area for a while.

Travis Elliott and Tucker Rogers performed a gorgeous acoustic set as well when they took to their performance of the night, further substantiating their musical expertise upon their dueling guitars.  Offering more of an indie influence, they performed with

extreme emotion and vitality.  Even from across the bar at the 12^th Street Tap House, I saw their personalities and natural talent swim across the room in waves to where I was standing, which interrupted my conversation and drew my attention straight toward their direction.  I was very impressed by the lyrical composition I found within the songs I heard that evening.  The lyrics mixed emotion and truth which in turn produced songs that were easily relatable to the crowd.  I had also heard many good things from different people around Charlottesville that Travis Elliott and Tucker Rogers were fantastic - staple musicians in the Charlottesville music scene.  I concluded after speaking to different sources and from my own association that this was a true representation for both artists.  I very much enjoyed my interaction with them, and I left with a lasting, good opinion of Travis and Tucker, and I plan to see them play again, no doubt, in the future.  I was also impressed by the cohesiveness that Travis and Tucker wove together to produce intricate layers of vision and color through their guitars, through their motions, and through those harmonious sounds that penetrated my senses.  Every song told a story, where the lyrics matched emotive understanding, but in little increments at a time, like droplets of rain before a storm. 

 

Travis and Tucker actually play quite often together around the Charlottesville area.  Travis can be found playing every Tuesday at The Box, and every other Thursday at Ventana.  Travis has also recorded a second album that is projected for release in mid-May.  The album includes a guest appearance with cellist Mike Meadows and is produced and recorded by Shep Stacy and

Lance Brenner.  Tucker and Travis are both quite the seasoned musicians that lend their talents to an assortment of musical endeavors in this beautiful town among the Blue Ridge Mountains.  As Tucker affirms, "All music moves me and I've tried to hear and study all of it, but the blues is home.  I'm influenced by all good music, especially the kind that floats around in the air when there's no other noise."  Other bands that he has played with include MAN MOUNTAiN jr, Beetnix, William Walter & Co., PEEN, Ziggy Stardust, Space Cadet 7, You, and of course our very own Travis Elliott.  His blues influence and that sweet voice accompanied by Travis takes us on a rhythmic journey, almost like a spiral staircase rising to a pinnacle point.  This is also true of Book of Job, and it is spectacular that both sets of musicians possessed diversity and the ability to arrange sound, lyrics, and rhythm in tightly spun compositions while still maintaining consistent song structure.

Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, "Music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs.  There's also a negative side."  While I believe this to be true sometimes, I adhere mostly to the divine side of the music scene, especially concerning my positive experience with Book of Job, Travis Elliott, and Tucker Rogers.  As it was obvious to many, the young musicians have a very bright future.  As Graham Nash stated, "Wealth and fame can only be so important in the face of musical magic."  I am hopeful there are more musicians like them, and I am proud that Charlottesville could provide the setting.  You can contact Book of Job at BookOfJobMusic.com, Travis Elliott at MySpace.com/TravisElliott and Tucker Rogers at tuquois@gmail.com.  You can also find them on Facebook for further information.  You can also contact the 12^th Street Tap House for other music, hours of operation, and dining information at 12-street.com.  Again, I would like to give my warmest gratitude to Ryan, Eli, Travis, Tucker, and to the 12^th Street Tap House.  Magazine33 and your fans are extremely grateful and would not have been able to enjoy themselves without you.  We will definitely be seeing you around town!

Interview with Book of Job

33: What are some of your reflections, good and/or bad, with music that you have experienced?
Book of Job: Playing out is ambivalent.  You do it because you love it.  That has to be the only reason.  It's a lot of hard work.  The toughest part is trying to branch out and play other towns.  Leaving Charlotte at 2 AM knowing you have to be at your day job at 8:30 sucks!  That is the worst feeling in the world!

33: How would describe your musical style, how did you come to your musical style?
BOJ: The musical style Book of Job brings is rock and roll filtered through the blues.  Nothing new stylistically, but I know what I know, and we write in a style that is familiar to us.  It's what we know how to do, and we try to do it as well as possible.

33: What has music done for you?
BOJ: At times, it was the only thing that kept me going, and other times, it has almost killed me.

33: What are some of your influences, and how did those influences have an effect on what music you were drawn to?  Those influences may be other artists, experiences, people, or anything that had an impact on you becoming a musician.
BOJ: My dad and my brothers were essential in developing what I would appreciate about music.  When I was young, my dad and I would sit in the floor of our living room in the dark and listen to records.  Mostly Waylon, Willie, Kris Kristofferson, and Cash.  But we would also listen to big band and swing, Al Jolson.  My dad was a huge fan of Roger Miller, too.  That definitely added a sense of quirk to my tastes.  My bros had every 70s rock album on the planet, and I have rocked out to them countless times.  That is the strongest influence and the most recognizable one.  So don't blame me - that is all I heard until I was 12.  I thought that was the only kind of music for a while.  My first personal music choice was the grunge era, an era I'm proud to have come up in, and reggae, but that doesn't show up in Book of Job.

33: How did Book of Job form?
BOJ: I put together Book of Job initially with some friends who were in a band called Fletcher Bridge.  Jamie Dean played guitar and Gre Brier played drums.  We had a backup singer and a harp player with us all the time.  We wrote well, but we went into the studio and it all fell apart quickly, and I knew it wasn't the right fit.  So we disbanded, and I almost quit altogether.  Once Eli and I started hanging, I had to get back in, so Boogie and I decided to pick it back up with him.

33: I believe you said that you have some religious influence in your musical history, such as perhaps having a gospel influence through "Baptist singing."  Could you elaborate on that?
BOJ: I was brought up to be a preacher.  I was raised in an evangelical Baptist church.  So there was that passionate, insane style of worship with the foot stomping, hand-clapping, and loud singing.  It was a bit of a free for all.  We used to all sing and you would get this euphoric feeling.  I used to idolize the preachers that were backed by big choirs and a great band.  As General Stonewall Jackson once said, "Southern women like their men a little religious and a little crazy."  Women were really into the preachers and so I wanted to be like them.  By the time I was sixteen I began to challenge all those beliefs.  I had a tough time balancing that part of my life.  Book of Job is the manifestation of that struggle.  Sometimes I still lose it at shows.  You kind of just surrender yourself at some point, and the music moves you involuntarily.  That release makes it all worth it, and it doesn't matter who gets it or who doesn't.  That is my moment.

Interview with Travis Elliot

33: What are some of your musical influences, inspirations, and aspirations?
Travis Elliot:  Musically, a lot of my influences draw from any genre of music that either tells a good story or makes you really feel the songwriters' message.  I also like Tiny Tim a lot.

33: What is it like to be a part of the music scene in Charlottesville?
TE: I feel it's a pretty close knit family for the most part - more so than I've seen in other cities.  We borrow a lot of each other's equipment!

33: What events are you going to be involved with in the future?
TE: I have a few gigs coming up this year at FloydFest in late July with a stellar backup band!

33: What do you feel when you are singing and playing for your fans?
TE: I still feel like I'm working on getting the fans part down.  But, even when a few people really enjoy themselves at a show, it really makes this all worthwhile.

33: Do you ever get nervous?  Did you ever get nervous, and how did you overcome that?
TE: I get nervous a lot, especially out of town, but it's a good nervous, and when it pays off it makes it easier each time.  Also, the Demerol helps.

33: What are a few of your favorite songs?
TE: Any song that's fairly new is always gonna be my favorite.  I always thought of new songs like newborn babies - the parents will usually have to give them extra care and attention.  While the older children are still important, they may have to pack their own lunch once in a while, if that makes any sense...But two new songs I love are titled ''Born Without Bodies'' and another called ''Waiting in Line.''

33: How hard is it to pursue music?  What are the advantages and disadvantages?
TE: Charottesville has always been a great place to stand out if you're good at what you do...bigger cities maybe not so much, but this town can be a great launching pad for building confidence and getting out there.

By Director and Correspondent: Helen Brown

Although originally from Marion Junction, Alabama, Helen has been living in Virginia for the last three years because she absolutely loves the Blue Ridge Mountains.  She attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia, gaining a degree in Philosophy and Psychology.  Helen moved to Charlottesville on a whim because of the unique music scene, interest in the food and wine Industry, and the desire to incorporate music into her professional aspirations.  She is looking forward to listening to an array of eclectic music, observing the local talent, and meeting some interesting people while working with the Magazine33 team!  See you around town ...

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