ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607260019
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Out & About
SOURCE: DONNA ALIVIS-BANKS
College towns are notorious breeding grounds for fugacious (look it up!) bands with funky names.
Restless Planet may qualify for the latter, but this is one local band that'll never say die.
Formed in 1988, the band just keeps going and going and ...
"There have been several incarnations of the group," noted founder Peter Golladay. "Basically, I'm the one original member who's left."
Golladay, the band's guitarist, got his master's degree in music from the Peabody Conservatory. He's a local guy who now teaches music at New River Community College.
"I really like teaching," he noted, "but I got into music to play it. That's why I've stayed with the band."
Golladay's wife, Leslie, joined Restless Planet as the keyboardist in 1993. The two met in the mid-'80s while they were both at Radford University and tied the knot in 1990.
The couple says making music together is one of the strong points of their marriage. They both understand the added demands that playing in a band places on a relationship.
There's only one drawback to being married members of the same band.
"The other band members try to get us to take just one cut of the pay," complained Peter Golladay.
The Golladays are both 34. The other Restless Planet musicians are all in their 20s.
"These young guys keep us on our toes," Golladay admitted.
Bass player Jaimie Ousley, vocalist Jonathan Eastwood and drummer Evan Jacobson round out Restless Planet.
How to describe the band's sound?
Imagine a range of tunes stretching from Bruce Hornsby to Alice in Chains. You'll get the picture.
"We like to say we play something for everybody," said Golladay. "We don't cover one band. We do a lot of different covers, so it's a diverse mixture. We can go from one mood to another pretty quickly."
In addition to the blues, funk and rock covers, Restless Planet also plays some original material. The group's repertoire includes such songs as "Assembly Line" and "Itchy Feet," a tune Golladay describes as "a shuffling groove to make your feet move a little bit."
Golladay said the group's musicians are hoping to go into the studio and record some of their originals this fall. It will be their first recording.
Restless Planet is one of the bands scheduled to play at next weekend's Steppin' Out festival in Blacksburg. But you don't have to wait until then to hear these earthlings.
You can catch the band Saturday night at the Top of the Stairs on College Avenue in Blacksburg. The music starts at 10:30, and you can get in for a measly $2 cover charge.
TEEN MAESTRO: Tim Nelson is a 16-year-old with a mighty mission.
"I would love to have several musicals on Broadway one of these days," he says with great affirmation.
Nelson, a rising junior at Christiansburg High School, has spent his summer working toward fulfilling his mission. The result is a new musical, "Birds Fly Free," a composition based on the life of Saint Francis of Assisi who willingly traded his wealth for a life of poverty and service to the poor.
"I thought he had such a great creed to live by that it made an effective musical story," Nelson explained.
Composing music is nothing new to Nelson. He's been doing it since he was 7 years old.
"My first composition was a rag," he recalled.
He also has written works for the complete orchestra. This latest piece features music for three vocalists.
Brandon Miller, a Christiansburg High School graduate who will be entering Radford University this fall, will perform with Alicia Sable of Narrows High School and Katie Sina of Blacksburg High School. The three, along with Nelson, will present "Birds Fly Free" at 6:30 tonight at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Christiansburg.
Nelson describes his musical as "spiritually inspirational."
"It's a sad ending, but it's uplifting," he noted. "It allows one to reflect on God and on life."
Song titles in the musical include "Free," "Fly" and "Where Did He Go?"
Tonight's performance is open to everyone and admission is free. This is a great chance to see some of the best young talent the New River Valley has to offer - and maybe catch a future Broadway musical.
TROPICAL BREEZES: They'll blow through Blacksburg tonight when the cast from "South Pacific" gathers on Virginia Tech's Henderson Hall lawn.
Members of the Summer Musical Enterprise will provide a sneak preview of the upcoming production. They'll sing some of your favorites from the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.
Remember "Bali Ha'i," "Bloody Mary" and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair"?
The music runs from 6 to 7:30 tonight. Admission is free, and you're welcome to make an evening of it by bringing a picnic dinner.
The show is part of the Summer Arts Festival sponsored by Virginia Tech and Blacksburg.
In case you miss tonight's preview, you'll get a second shot at it Aug. 2. Songs from "South Pacific" will be presented at the Jackson Park Summer Concert Series in Pulaski.
AND THE GOOD BLUES IS...Alex Gomez, slide guitarist extraordinaire, will bring his brand of blues to the Cafe at Champs in Blacksburg tonight. He's joined by percussionist "Miss Dixie."
A reviewer for Magpie magazine once described Gomez's playing as being so hot "...you can barbecue on this man's guitar after he plays it."
The duo is on a tour to promote their latest release, "Live at the Double Door." After stopping in Blacksburg, they'll be heading for gigs in Memphis and New Orleans.
The cover charge tonight is $2. Gomez will take the stage around 10.
LENGTH: Long : 110 linesby CNB