Stratton Lawrence

Great Press for my Folly Book

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:02:26 -0400

It’s been a thrill to get my book out to the world over the last month. My favorite moment, apart from each time I put the book in someone’s hands or drop one in the mail, may be reading this story in the James Island Messenger and WestOf newspapers this week. Thanks to Kristin Hackler and the publishers of the papers for the ink! It’s a bit surreal to see my name in print, but not as a byline. If you don’t have a copy and want one, order it here and I’ll sign it and send it to you.

"Fluker" for Chagar Music

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:45:00 -0400

Last December, I flew to New York with a pocket full of cash and a mission to bring home a new Larrivee. The experience could not have gone better. I made a new friend, Gary, who was in the process of opening a Larrivee dealership in Queens. We drank good whiskey and I played an array of beautiful instruments as I whittled it down and fell in love with my DV-03, Italian Spruce top. Gary asked me to record a video with the guitar when I got home. Here it is:

Stratton Lawrence - Chagar Music from Chagar Music on Vimeo.

Face First Kayaking

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:53:41 -0400

Yesterday, I went kayaking face-first down the French Broad River. It wasn’t anything too intense, and I’m ready for bigger and better, but that first taste of dropping into a rapid on your belly is quite the rush.

My Bellyaking career on Folly Beach has not gone as smoothly. I took my new boat out this evening in what looked like small waves from the porch, only to find myself not quite making it to the peak of a shoulder-high wave.

But instead of wiping out as it crashed on top of me, I caught it. Backwards.

I’d forgotten to put the fin on the boat, and I slid down the face, feet first, watching the curl just inches from my nose. I made it out of the wave, and then washed it collapse and churn in front of me (really, what should have been behind me, but I was still moving backwards). And then I wiped out.

So I’ll have to keep practicing. For the record, the picture below was taken on a much smaller day.

Here’s my City Paper piece on what could be the next craze in watersports.

Requiem for a Beer Bong

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:45:14 -0400

There will be no (legal) booze in the sand on Folly Beach this summer. But that could change by the fall. Here’s my update on Folly’s alcohol ban and the ongoing efforts for a compromise, from City Paper’s Beach Guide.

That Ain't Country

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:32:27 -0400

Disclaimer: I like ’90s country.
I liked Garth Brooks and Clint Black and even Lorrie Morgan. I recognize that these acts paved the way for today’s even more polished ‘country’ acts, some of which I don’t mind. Earlier this year I wrote about Eric Church. He even got a few plays after the story was done. But I can say that I will never, ever again listen to Little Big Town. See if you can tell how I really feel in my Charleston Scene piece here.

The Future Started Yesterday

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:22:12 -0400

If you haven’t heard Stereo Reform’s new album yet, click here and listen now. Start with the track “Fire.”

And if the link doesn’t work for you because you aren’t using Spotify, download it, because you’re behind the times and the future started yesterday. Streaming is now.

This is the most exciting album by a local band that I’ve heard in years, and I’m easily excited. But this got me going, and I haven’t stopped.

By the way, I didn’t know what Maroon 5 sounded like until I pulled them up on Spotify after reading in my City Paper article about Stereo Reform that they sounded like Maroon 5. Chalk that one up to the editors, and don’t believe that everything with my name on it is mine. For the record, I recognize a few of these Maroon 5 songs, and I’d rather be listening to Stereo Reform.

Teach Your Parents Well

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:12:12 -0400

If you grew up in a family that regularly sat down to home cooked meals together, it’s easy to take for granted that it’s not the norm for countless families across the country. Even in families that do cook, if they’re whipping up Hamburger Helper it may not be any healthier than grabbing Chinese food on the way home. That’s why the Cooking Matters classes at Pinehurst and Angel Oak Elementary Schools impressed me so much — they are not only teaching students and their families how to cook real meals together, they’re also offered in conjunction with a school farmer’s market that lets kids bring home fresh veggies on the bus.

Since this City Paper cover story came out last week, it’s been pointed out to me that Walmart and ConAgra are the primary financial backers of Cooking Matters. That’s worth noting, and I can’t speak to the effectiveness of other Cooking Matters classes in promoting truly responsible eating and buying habits. They could, theoretically, even be steering families away from farmer’s markets and into Walmart — although anyone that could be true about was probably more likely to shop at Wally World than the farmer’s market already.

But the Cooking Matters class I attended, partnered with the hyperlocal Children’s Garden Project and the Lowcountry Food Bank, is a cause worth celebrating. My story about the program is an uplifting and quick read - check it out here.

From the Other Side of the Page

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:02:32 -0400

Over the last eight years, I’ve written about hundreds of books, albums, projects, charities, trips and initiatives created by people I’ve come to admire. Even as I regularly performed with Po’Ridge for five years, we never got any media coverage of our own, while I sort through emails every single day from bands hoping for a shout out.

That’s why Anna Evans’ piece about my book, Images of America - Folly Beach, in the May issue of Charleston Magazine made me so happy. It’s short and sweet, it has my name on it, and I didn’t write it.

Spring! Spotify Playlist - The Weather Is Here

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:26:00 -0400

I’m well overdue to post a new playlist, but I think the five months spent amassing this one will pay off. Nothing here got thrown in. This is what I’ve been obsessing over in 2013. It starts off big, like spring did here in Charleston a month ago. Then it slows down, mirroring the last few weeks of wet relative warmth. Today, the sun is out full force over the ocean here on Folly Beach, the wetsuit is back in the closet, and it’s time to turn up the volume and get outside. Enjoy this and let me know your favorites!

If you use Spotify already, you can click into the playlist here.

Bard Rock

Sat, 04 May 2013 14:23:16 -0400

During my senior year of high school in 1999, I wrote my ‘extended essay’ (yes, in the IB program you have to write a thesis in high school) about how Bob Dylan changed music by creating poetry that could be related to world events and then used to influence public opinion and policy, because the words sounded good put to music and could thus be spread en masse. Dylan then took that power and electrified it, turning rock and roll into something that could actually be meaningful instead of just fun.

It’s impossible to imagine where music would be today without Bob Dylan. He’s at the core, and is the single most influential living musician in the world.

That said, for my taste in 2013, I’d rather listen to Dawes (although Dylan’s new disc, Tempest, is definitely enjoyable). Here’s my story about both Dawes and Dylan from the Post and Courier.

J. Roddy's Shaky Hands

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:47:02 -0400

It took me a few listens to warm up to J. Roddy Walson and the Business’ self-titled disc, but once it hooked me it held on tight. That’s the cover of it in the picture above. Pretty badass, but hard to know what you’re getting at face value. Music to ass out to?

Rod turned out to be a very cool and casual interviewee, and I kept him on the phone for way too long because the conversation flowed so naturally. He’s already a rock star, but he might be a big rock star soon, and I’m pretty sure he’ll still be a down to earth guy. With shaky hands. I’m pretty happy with how this City Paper piece turned out.

300,000 Little Birds

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:58:11 -0400

I’m hooked on quail. Chicken is boring. Can’t decide between the dark and the light meat? Just go with quail. It’s rich, it’s flavorful, and when wrapped in bacon it’s one hell of a sexy bird.

Before touring Manchester Farms, I’d never seen the inside of an industrial meat processing facility. I’m sure I’d have been squeamish at a cow slaughterhouse, but I took no issue with the assembly-line style of defeathering and cleaning these little birds. The workers were happy, the birds were happy (right up to the moment of their demise), and the whole operation was run by a friendly, down-home S.C. family. They even sent me home with a few birds, which made for an incredible feast on our patio grill. And these S.C.-raised quail are the same ones being served at 5-star restaurants from Vegas to New York.

Here’s my story about Manchester Farms in the latest issue of City Paper’s Dirt. It’s worth reading for the poop story.

And here’s the Frank O. Hill quail poop appearance with Johnny Carson.

Dead Mule. Live Mule.

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:10:28 -0400

When I was 17, I got fired from my job at an Episcopal summer family camp. It was a Friday, and there were some bands I’d heard were good playing just across the mountains in Knoxville. Rather than worry, I took full advantage of the unexpected weekend off. Although the two friends who accompanied me opted to embellish their experience with fungal fun, I was scared. But for some reason, the little tab of paper I was offered didn’t seem like such a big deal.

And thus began the rest of my life. That day, for the first time each, I saw moe., Galactic and the String Cheese Incident. Some long hair named Keller Williams played between the sets. About 9 o’clock, the last band of the day took the stage. I had to sit down. This was heavy. Talk-to-God heavy. The bassist absolutely thundered. I was afraid, but I was locked into a hard rock trance.

I had the chance to see Allen Woody play bass two or three more times after that, and I consider myself better off for it. He coaxed every inch of tone out of a four string, and nobody’s done it like him since. Fortunately, Gov’t Mule haven’t lost their edge. They still make it thunder, no embellishment required.

Here’s my City Paper interview with Warren Haynes, catching up on what’s new for Gov’t Mule.

HappYness

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:55:38 -0400

Among Will Smith movies, The Pursuit of Happyness is one I can actually stomach and appreciate. A far cry from fighting aliens and saving the world, its a feel-good film with a strong message about how homelessness can strike even the hardest workers among us. Before talking to the real life man that Smith portrays in the film, Chris Gardner, I watched a handful of videos, including one where Gardner is casually interviewed in the backseat of a Chicago cab. He talks nonchalantly about his wealth, his Ferrari and having a quarter-million dollars in his pocket. Although Smith’s portrayal may have been a slightly more lovable and subdued version of the real thing, Gardner is still a down-to-earth guy. Despite the millions he’s made, he’s still willing to fly to Charleston for free, speak to raise money for Crisis Ministries, and then donate $10,000 to the cause before returning home. Here’s my brief interview with him in Charleston Magazine.

The Thrill is Still Going Strong

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:57:05 -0400

At 87-years-old, I didn’t expect that B.B. King would be granting interviews to a small town newspaper reporter. It’s beyond impressive that he’s still out there gigging. When I couldn’t confirm an interview with a band member, however, I wondered how I’d make this cover piece for Charleston Scene hold together. So I turned to Facebook, and sure enough, six musicians who have been directly or profoundly influenced by King’s playing emerged. It turned out to be one of my favorite music stories I’ve worked on in awhile. Read it here.

The Folly Beach book has arrived!

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:34:00 -0400

My love affair with Folly Beach began the first time I saw this photograph of the Morris Island Lighthouse on the wall of my friend Daniel’s dorm room at Davidson. Folly and I courted for years before I gave into the commute and moved out here six years ago. It only took another two years to work things out so that I could work from home and leave as little as possible. I’m writing this now from the Washout, staring out across the Atlantic on a cloudy but warm April Sunday.

This book is not my story. It is not a feature-style piece of writing where I use my own experiences in this amazing place to give a portrait of Folly today. Instead, it’s a look back into a world well before my time. What this book is meant to be — at least it’s my hope — is a picture of a community and how it came to be. There are 230 photographs dating back to 1863 and continuing to 2012. There are pictures from the Civil War, from the Roaring ’20s and from the devastation of Hurricane Hugo.

I’d love for you to have a copy. They are $23 if you get them from me, $1 of which is the sales tax I paid for each one. I bought 1000 copies. Maybe that was too ambitious? The publisher, Arcadia, was great to work with, but it can be tough for the writer to make a profit on the books. For any book that sells at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or even Bert’s, I get just $1. Now, that adds up, since this will be a bestseller, of course, but if I can personally sell the copies I bought then this project will have been worth it for me, financially. But even if I don’t, it was already well worth it for the deeper connection that writing it gave me with my neighbors on this wonderful island that I love so much.

Come get a copy from me and I’ll sign it for you. Email me or call. Strattonlawrence@gmail.com and 843.452.7429. I live right at the Washout if you want to come pick one up and hang for a minute. Also, you can buy them now at StrattonLawrence.com for $23 plus $2.50 shipping and I’ll mail it to you. Or, if you’d like to buy one now but
1. want me to bring it to you,
2. pick it up later, or
3. just give it to you when I see you, then select the option for “Will pick up at store location” instead of putting in your address and it won’t charge you for shipping. Then just contact me and let me know how you want to meet up.

Finally, so many of my friends and family made this possible, in addition to all the wonderful Folly folks who contributed photos and stories. This was truly a community project and it’s a complete joy to see it come to fruition. Thank you!

My Favorite Band

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:27:18 -0400

Seriously, if I could have only one, it would be Tedeschi Trucks. I know, I know. I have a lot of favorites. But seriously. They make me really, really happy every time I see them. I want to send text messages to my friends saying I love them. I want to hug strangers. It’s kind of like being 20 again and taking those pills with funny names and going dancing to techno music in Rome, except this time the music is much better and I feel great the next day. We headed to the Savannah Music Festival last week and it was well worth the journey. Here’s my review for Metronome Charleston, but click the link for the awesome pictures by Hunter.

LSD - The Uncut Edition

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:39:29 -0400

Yesterday, City Paper ran a little version of an already little piece I wrote on Lake Street Dive. I didn’t even realize when I was interviewing bassist Bridget Kearney (and writing the piece) that she’d just hopped over from Joy Kills Sorrow to make LSD her full-time gig (that came through reading the Savannah Music Festival program - I’m down here now in the rain, soaking in our swampier sister city). And Kearney is just a quarter of a group that’s 100 percent infectious. They’re under my skin and I love it. Now that I’m done gushing, is this an appropriate forum to ask you guys to play our wedding?

Here’s the full version of my soundcheck in the paper this week. Don’t miss them Sunday at the Pour House:

After nearly a decade-long gestation period, Lake Street Dive is growing up fast. The quartet came together in 2004 as freshmen at Boston’s New England Conservatory, with their two-guys, two-girls layout of upright bass, drums, guitar, trumpet and lead vocals by jazz singer Rachael Price. Their smooth, rolling originals and funky covers of tunes like Hall & Oates “Rich Girl”, George Michael’s “Faith” and the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back,” (each of which appear on their new EP, Fun Machine) earned them a loyal following in New England but never became a career, until in 2012 the group finally decided to make LSD their full-time pursuit. “Stuff immediately picked up really fast for us,” says bassist Bridget Kearney, citing recent tours opening for Josh Ritter and an appearance on A Prairie Home Companion. “There’s been a real sense of momentum. We’re definitely still in our honeymoon period.” Was their forethought behind their name’s amusing acronym? “That was a happy accident,” laughs Kearney. “We don’t intend to promote LSD use in any way, but it is the only thing that’s memorable about our name.” Fortunately, after ten years to prepare for the moment they’re living right now, their sound is impossible to forget.

Cajun Queens

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:24:00 -0400

I’ll admit, I’m a bit hesitant about a Cajun Festival lineup that 1. Includes only one musician from Louisiana, who happens to be a chick playing pop music that’s backed by Charleston bluesman Shrimp City Slim and 2. Includes two all-white zydeco bands from North Carolina and New Jersey. I gave each band a good listen, however, and Unknown Tongues can spit a groove. I can’t speak much for the others. Anyhow, I’ll be there for the crawfish. Here’s my Post and Courier piece on the Lowcountry Cajun Fest.

Rhinestone Cowboy

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:18:59 -0400

Before I knew any of his backstory, I remembered Jim Lauderdale as the guy at MerleFest with the incredible shirts. He’ll make his first trip to the Lowcountry in awhile for the Charleston Bluegrass Festival at Awendaw Green. Count on Eddie White and Mayor of Bluegrass Perry Darby to make it happen. They booked Town Mountain to headline, and the Asheville boys brought in a ringer. Here’s my Charleston City Paper piece on the show.