Charlotte ELVISFEST 5/8/2010

Charlotte ELVISFEST was this past Saturday Night at Puckett's Farm Equipment. Enjoyed some good music,... Ritchie Mars & the Big Dipper, Kelley and the Cowboys, Diamond Jem and the Ace, The Defilers, The Tremors and JT and the Dragpipes. The usual rockabilly crowd was there all greased up and tattooed. Some of Puckett's regulars were there and THANKFULLY the Mayor of Derita kept his shirt on. Many other familiar AND new faces also attended and danced and laughed and sang along and drank and cussed and listened and smoked and enjoyed themselves. A good number of tickets sold- Hopefully enough that there WILL BE a SECOND ANNUAL Charlotte ELVISFEST and it will SELL OUT!

"Fire & Water" by Brian K Raynor

Painted "Fire & Water" a few years ago. Really a spiritual painting. Trial by fire on Earth and rebirth/resurrection by the Water. The physical beauty and body of woman perishes but the beauty of the soul is triumphant in the afterlife and in the memory of those who love her.

Sold it this year at the 6th Annual Rockabilly BBQ in Charlotte, NC. I think the purchaser's name was Adkins. A big guy that looked like he probably rides a Harley and could put your lights out with one punch. The kind of guy I'd like to be but I don't have the ability to intimidate with a glance nor the muscle to back the glance up.

I actually sold 10 paintings this year at the Rockabilly BBQ. That's down by 10 or 12 from last year. We can blame the slump on the economy. Yeah, that makes me feel better. ;)

"Dirty Martini" by Brian K Raynor

I had my first martini in Las Vegas at the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino. It was dirty - the martini. I don't like mine dirty - my martini.

I sold "Dirty Martini" to,... the most cheerful woman I've ever met at Puckett's Farm Equipment. Now I can't remember her name. Not remembering has nothing to do with a martini.

"Rockabilly Two Tone" by Biran K Raynor

I painted "Rockabilly Two Tone" this past week or the week before. ??? I try to do a couple of this style every year for the Rockabilly BBQ. It will be priced to sell on June 6th!

"Sexy Valentine" by BRIAN K RAYNOR

Happy Cinco de Mayo! To all of you of Mexican heritage. Posting this mamacita I painted in February of this year. A little abstract. Hoping it will sell at this years 6th Annual ROCKABILLY BBQ on June 6th at Pucketts in Charlotte.

Rockabilly Music in Charlotte

Last weekend I was out Friday and Saturday night for ROCKABILLY Music in Charlotte.

Friday (3/13), Jem Crossland played at Puckett's Farm Equipment in Charlotte without the Hypertonics (Chipps Baker & John Marlow). He had a friend Jason from Spindale playing bass for him. No drummer. It was a good show. Jem played to the crowd. Sometimes with the band he seems more...reserved(?) but always gives a good night of singin' and guitarin'. He has an excellent voice and his memory for lyrics makes him seem like a walking JUKEBOX. Jason has improved greatly since I last heard him play. Jason's confidence level has quadrupled. He's been playing with Kitty King.
There wasn't much, if any advertisement about the show because Jem was stepping in to play for a band that canceled at the last minute. I think everyone that showed up got their money's worth times four!

Saturday (3/14) I was at Tremont Music Hall. Kelly and The Cowboys opened the night. She is a a real cutie with a voice that rivals the one she emulates: Patsy Cline.


The Straight 8's followed. Robert is a good singer. He writes excellent songs that capture that rockabilly rawness. Their bassist and drummer do a great job as back up singers. Bernie bangs the drum like a lunatic and is great to watch.


The Tremors finished the night. Jimmy belted out their tunes with his hiccup lilt,... a sound I've grown to like. Slim on bass and Stretch on drums.


Unfortunately the crowd was not much from the start to finish throughout the night. Blame it on the rain, blame it on the St Patricks celebration in uptown Charlotte, blame it on the economy but a lot of good music was missed by far too many people this past weekend.

Jem Crossland will be playing Saturday (3/21) at Puckett's. He and Jason on bass. The Defilers are the HEADLINER that night! Be there or be square!