Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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m i .1 rj I SA3B_S -*- ^?? "* -*^ ?" "-^ -^ -M^V irucRh in uic ojp By JanetGibson Gamecock Staff Wrlt*r Beer drinking, foot-stomping and hand-clapping music prevailed Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Golden Spur as Butch Trucks, former Allman Brothers dummer, and his five-man band played to a packed house. Their unusual style combined jazz, blues, classical, country and a rich blend of good ol' Southern rock-'n-roll. The entire theme of the concert was naturalism and originality. Clad in jeans and T-shirts, there was no glitter or flash. But then again, no fanfare was needed. Pat Ramsey, a recent addition to the group, thrilled the audience with his talents on the harp and his vocals. His raspy voice singing, "I've got a sweet little angel; I just love the way she spreads her wings" was very effective. Buzzy Meekins, on bass and vocals, and lead guitarist Jim Graves added to the group's quality. The keyboard mastery of Ron Sciabarasi became apparent during the many jazz compositions. At times, his music exemplified an almost spiritual quality. The climax came when the two drummers, Butch Trucks and Jimmy Charles, displayed their talents in solos. Much of the audience seemed in awe. Butch Trucks appeared to be in a trance during his performance. His eyes and face remained almost motionless during the second set, and he was more electrifying than the first. Regarding the concentration he exhibits, Trucks said, "I finish a tune and then wonder what the hell I just did." "There's nothing there but the music and I love it." The fast-paced action of "Nobody's Perfect" an original piece by the See Band, page 13 Butch Truck; Trucks seems to have a talem By Janet Gibson not only for music, but for making oamecock st??? writer himself at home wherever h< He sits in a booth at the travels. "Bluebird" is printec Gamecock Snackbar. At first across his sky-blue T-shirt. giance, me man appears to De just "it's a club in Bloomington, 111. another USC student, or possibly a says Truckks. faculty member. However, In April, 1977, Trucks and Jin something about him stands out. Is Graves, now the group's lea< it his air of confidence, or perhaps guitarist, visited about 100 club! his friendly smile? for new talent to form a band. ,4W< This man is Butch Trucks, guest traveled everywhere, from AtlanU performer at the Golden Spur, to Miami to New Orleans, but w< organizer of the band which bears found everyone in Jacksonvilh his last name and former drummer (Fla.) for the legendary Allman Brothers Band. A NATIVE of Jacksonville ?ur ? rockin; < nrni^MW'' .:^|ijl^^P^?^L .^: lttk,!^M^><> ' Hkdf?^j'i?- US llSPi fSmS^ v w m dutch Trucks (on drums) and ban< "Hell, I just want to k S m usic. If we get succe us because we '11 knoi t Trucks said the band first jammed year career ; on Aug. 11, 1977, Buzzy's (the Brothers Ban ; group's bassist) 25th birthday. A "We were s i mixture of jazz, blues, classical able to har 51 n H ^niintr^F inflliannac tiraxn Tw.inljn u..u >.uuiiLi j iiiiiuviikbo **ti c 11 ui.ivo oaiu. , combined. Trucks' comments on the band's DUANE AL 1 unique style, "Musicians love it, as a total sho< 1 but the audience wonders what the Duane, we lo 5 hell we just did." Trucks co 2 The 31-year-old drummer going to take < i describes the group's music with after three 3 one word ? "Fun." He continued, working agai 3 "What can I say? I hate labels." get it out of Trucks began playing drums at A number c age 14. Performing in his high occurred whi school hand first snarkpH hie ir?. TTv< , ... ?- - ..x/v. aaAM ill LV^VUIVI 4J/VI terest. He also took piano lessons Duane died, for six years. amount of op The young drummer soon began fingers were to play in local bands. The Vikings he was going and the Echoes, two projections of Another b the Beatlemania era, were initial Oakley, walk attempts. "Please giv Then came the Bitter Ind, a folk- year," accor rock group which included Duane Duane sur and Gregg Allman as sidemen. cident, but I "We played mostly the Birds, year later i Dylan and the Loving Spoonful," cident. Trucks said. "About on In 1969, Trucks began his seven- later, Berr; g the rowdies I Brill Andr?w ? OAMEC^^ ? 1. . . two encores were hard to argue with. eep playing and enjoying I ?csfj// til o m nn o\r iimn V bill s kjxjj /? lll'l/IHy^ t/V/ KS f 1/ 1/ B1/ WL> w how to handle it." 1 with the Allman motorcycle accident," Trucks d. said. The incident occurred two o naive ? we weren't blocks from where Duane had been idle the success," killed. Trucks said he enjoyed making "Live at the Fillmore East" the ,LMAN'S death came most with Allman Brothers Band. ck to the band. "With However, he believes "Brothers st a leader." and Sisters" is the most wellntinued, "We were constructed of the band's 10 off for six months, but albums. weeks we were out n because we had to HE COMMENTS on his years our system." with the band. "We lived like >f "freak happenings" millionaires and I have no tie the Brothers were regrets." actly one year before Trucks added that Gregg Allman he had eaten a large has been in contact with the former ium. "His mouth and Allmans and a new album by the all blue and we knew original members will be cut on the 4^ n m ?: J ^ iu uic, li ucns saiu. nrsi 01 uctooer. and member, Berry When the Allman Brothers ofed outside and yelled, ficially disbanded in 1976, Butch e him just another Trucks decided to return to college ding to Trucks. "to learn how to think again." He vived the opium in- enrolled at Florida State fell to his death one University to major in classical in a motorcycle ac- composition. "I listen to classical music and jazz, and I love to play e year and one week rock and roll, but I hate to listen to y was killed in Butch Trucks, page 13 ' SsHK Mk oj .. i^nv^ ' > 288^1 Jpyy' #? "' ' <Wr i - ^ jj?