THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 30, 1996 TAG: 9607300034
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 73 lines
WHAT DOES the name Smokin' Armadillos mean?
``I don't know.''
How do you describe your music?
``I don't know.''
How do you explain so many country artists coming from Bakersfield, Calif.?
``I don't know.''
This much is known: Tonight at the Norfolk Naval Station, Josh Graham and his mates in the Smokin' Armadillos will have a lot to say - musically. Some songs will be from their self-titled, mostly self-penned debut album; some might be on their next, due later this year.
``The second one could wind up being a lot different than the first,'' Graham said from Grand Island, Neb. ``We had no idea where we were going with the first one till we got there.
``In real general terms, it is more rock and kind of country. That's real general. We don't really describe the music. Different people describe it different ways. I don't hear the same thing twice.
``We're doing very well in secondary markets, but we're almost non-existent on major charts. I have no idea why. It's a wonderful album.''
Critics agreed. New Country praised the band's ``pile-driving energy.'' Country Weekly cited its ``abundance of musical talent.''
The Armadillos are young enough - the average age is 23 - to still be filled with what poets call the promise of youth. Likewise, their album is filled with hometown influences.
``Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Rick Vincent and a ton of songwriters are from Bakersfield,'' Graham said. ``Buck influenced us, but we didn't idolize him. Who knows what it is that breeds all that talent from there?''
Another question mark is the group's name.
``There's no story behind it. Aaron Casida, our bass player, popped it out and we held onto it. We spent months on end trying to make up stories about it.''
The best story is the complicated one about how the band got started. It began when Graham's sister kicked him out of the car when he was 13 years old.
``We were arguing about something,'' he recalled. ``I was bored walkin' down the road, so I wrote, `I'm a Cowboy.' Me and a friend put it on tape. My friend told me about a fiddle player, Jason Theiste. Several years later, I hooked up with him. He started making up the music for the song.
``At this time - I was 19 - I was going out with the bass player's sister, Amy. That's how I met Aaron. Me and Aaron and Jason got together in Aaron's garage. Aaron had been playing football with Rick Russell in junior college. He came with us.
``The other two - Darrin Kirkindoll and Scott Meeks - we kinda picked up. Darrin knew Scott. They were both in Christian rock bands.''
Put them all together and they are the Smokin' Armadillos, described in their PR material as ``good-looking, clean cut and courteous.''
Graham takes some issue with that, saying : ``Jeez. Anyway, we're wild on stage, and we expect the audience to go right along with us. It's a big party for us and for them.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
RANDEE ST. NICHOLAS
The Smokin' Armadillos, who will play Wednesday night at Norfolk
Live at Norfolk Naval Station, are, from left, Jason Theiste, Josh
Graham, Scott Meeks, Aaron Casida, Rick Russell Darrin Kirkindoll.
Graphic
CONCERT FACTS
Who: Smokin' Armadillos and the Mann Sisters
When: 8 tonight, doors open at 7
Where: Norfolk Live, Norfolk Naval Station
Tickets: $10
Information: 440-5483
Directions: I-64 west to I-564; take a right on Hampton Boulevard
and follow through Gate 2. Norfolk Live is three blocks on the left. by CNB