THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 4, 1996 TAG: 9601030137
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: NIGHT LINE
LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
BURDETTE STATION is (A) an old railroad depot, (B) a country band or (C) five wild and crazy guys.
What an easy test! Any way you vote, you're right.
The five-member group, performing non-traditional, upbeat, top-40 country, takes its name from an old train depot in Burdette, a Southampton County crossroads that is home to one of its members.
``If you come to hear us, you're coming to have a good time,'' promised Win Winslow. ``The more fun you have, the more fun we have.''
These guys are not out for fame and fortune at any cost; killing schedules are a no-no. They're content to play two or three gigs a month. Their next, about three weeks away, is only a few miles away - at Tailgates on Turnpike Road in Portsmouth.
Then, it's rest and rehearse until Feb. 23 and 24, and March 29 and 30, when they perform at Deb's Roadhouse, U.S. Route 460, in Ivor.
The band has played those clubs before, as well as Sports Emporium in Franklin and Green Wheel Inn in Norfolk.
The Station-ers are also talking to some people in and around Petersburg for some possible dates in that area.
Burdette Station has been around for five years. The band has had changes in personnel, but the current five seem to get along well and expect to stay together.
``All of us have been playing with bands since we were teenagers,'' said Jessie Moore, produce manager at Mitchell's Supermarket in Courtland. ``Our biggest goal is to enjoy ourselves. Entertainment's the big thing.''
If it's on the charts, this group will give it a try.
``We used to do all originals,'' said Albert Atkin, a self-employed painter. ``But the demands are for cover tunes.''
Burdette Station is talking and playing country now, but in their past lives, the members seem to have played everything but classical.
Win Winslow has played acoustic, Keith Helms has played beach music, top pop 40, Southern rock, rock 'n' roll. Rick Jenison's past included Southern rock and hard rock; Moore played hard rock and heavy metal.
``This is my first and only,'' Atkin said. ``I've been here since dirt.''
He and Helms, a bench technician at Nestle's, are the original Burdette Station masters. Jenison, a maintenance supervisor at Carroll's Foods in Waverly, stopped at the Station almost four years ago.
Winslow, who works at Allied Colloids in Suffokl, came in a year ago - Moore, six months ago.
The band named itself after an old railroad depot in the Southampton County crossroads community of Burdette, near Walters.
It's Atkins' hometown. The others are from Suffok, Windsor and Franklin - the latter, their place of practice.
The guys first got together in Burdette, adopting the name of the station because, Helms said, ``it has historical significance.''
You can see it on their classy T-shirts - an old-timey choo-choo slowly chugging its way into Burdette Station.
It's a laid-back scene. The band is not. It is high-powered ``especially,'' said Helms, ``compared to a lot of country bands.''
It's not that the other guys loll about onstage - it's just that Burdette Station's music is, probably, a little wilder.
``It's not the traditional country sound. It's the new sound - rock, driving country,'' said Winslow, who shares lead vocal duties with Helms and Jenison.
Instrumentally, here's the way they look: Helms, keyboards and lead guitar; Jenison, bass; Atkin, rhythm guitar; Moore, drums; and Winslow, acoustic guitar and a tad of harmonica.
All except Atkin are married. ``The other guys look at me and hate it,'' he said kiddingly.
Two of the band members have children who, as Moore puts it, ``are not really into country.''
As long as the paying customers are into country, as long as Burdette Station shows them a good time, they will keep playing.
They have one demonstration tape under their collective belts and expect to return to Microstar Recording in Virginia Beach for another.
The energetic Burdette Station is on the right track. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Burdette Station members are, top row, left to right, Albert Atkin
and Rick Jenison; bottom row, left to right, Keith Helms, Jessie
Moore and Win Winslow. The group performs Top 40 country.
TELL US
The new year brings a new feature to the Sun - Night Life.
Twice a month, we'll take closeup looks at local nightclubs and
performers.
It will be fun, and we want you to join in with ideas. Just call
Frank Roberts at 934-7556.
AT A GLANCE
What: Burdette Station
When: 9:30 p.m. Jan. 26 and 27
Where: Tailgates, 3960 Turnpike Road, Portsmouth
Cost: No cover.
Call: 397-4681
[For a copy of the INFOLINE box, see microfilm.]
by CNB