THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 22, 1995 TAG: 9506210152
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
The ``Sons of Beaches'' are bringing their ``Big Hair'' to Southampton County High School Friday.
A Bellamy Brothers concert will, hopefully, reduce the debt of the school's Athletic Department.
``Let Your Love Flow'' is expected to make the money flow. That, and ``If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me?'' and ``Redneck Girl'' are other familiar pieces by the duo.
Some of the other songs to be heard in Courtland will be from ``Sons of Beaches,'' including the first single from the album, ``Big Hair,'' which David Bellamy calls ``a trailer park love song.''
Their music is quite a mix - country, Jamaican, Haggard, Beatles - but it winds up in the distinctive Bellamy style.
You can hear it Friday in an auditorium that seats more than 2,500, fronted by a stage large enough to satisfy most touring groups.
The Bellamy Brothers tour schedule is heavy, 185 shows this year in the United States, Europe and Australia.
``In some ways, we get more respect overseas, especially in Europe,'' David Bellamy said, during a phone interview from West Palm Beach, Fla. ``They're not divided as much with demographics. If they like you, they play you.
``We still get a good amount of radio play here, but it's more difficult for the older acts,'' he said. ``Radio is so youth-oriented. And that's strange because demographics show most (country) listeners are from 30 to 55 years old.
``Radio is into imaging. Everything now is young country,'' Bellamy said, noting that many stations in the United States use that phrase. ``I think the stations should be called good country - play what's good.''
Their single, ``Big Hair'' is good and fitting. They used that as the first release from their album ``because,'' David said, ``it's straight-ahead country - very mainstream. The video is getting good play on The Nashville Network and Country Music Television.''
As any Bellamy fan could easily guess all the songs - except one - were penned by the brothers.
``They have good stories and real strong melodies,'' David said. ``Those are our guidelines.''
They have been since 1968 when the brothers made their first public appearance, with their father, Homer, at the Rattlesnake Round-Up in San Antonio.
``We spent more time on this album - worked on it for about 18 months,'' David said. ``One reason we had that long is that our boxed set (a collection of all their hits) was released so we had the opportunity to take enough time.''
Their non-performing time is spent on the family ranch in Florida.
``About four generations of our family live together there,'' David said. ``It's been in our family since the Civil War.''
That conflict is a Bellamy interest, along with conservation. They are currently working to help save Florida's panther habitat.
They do all their recordings there. So do their dogs.
The Bellamy pooches, Luke, Abbey, Ozzie and Ewald are featured in ``Pit Bulls and Chain Saws.''
``It took us forever to get them to bark,'' David said. ``Then, they wouldn't quit.''
The dogs get only one chance in ``Sons of Beaches.'' The brothers take over with such songs as the barn-burning ``Shine Them Buckles,'' the lush ``Blue Rodeo,'' the guitar blues ``Twang Town.''
Other songs from the album include ``Get a Little Crazy'' which, David said, ``is too fast to dance to'' and the acoustic, folksy tale of ``Elvis, Marilyn and James Dean.''
That song deals with the fact, David notes, ``that with all the accomplishments and all the issues in the world, what we really remember are these movie stars and singers.''
Another message song, ``Jesus Is Coming,'' is a Sunday morning country waltz chastising people for harming the environment.
``I wanted to get a bit of that Southern Baptist flavor in it,'' David said, ``the way a hellfire and brimstone preacher would.'' MEMO: AT A GLANCE
Who: The Bellamy Brothers.
When: 8 p.m., Friday.
Where: Southampton County High School.
Cost: $10 in advance, $12 at the gate. Reserved seating $15.
Tickets: in the school, from parents of some of the county's athletes
and at these locations: Flower's Store and Mitchell's Supermarket in
Courtland, Hair Station and Fred's Restaurant in Franklin, Cook's Store
and Commonwealth Propane in Boykins. Call 653-2751. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
David and Howard Bellamy perform Friday at Southampton County
School.
by CNB