THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9610310185
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: BEACH BEAT
TYPE: MUSIC REVIEW
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: 71 lines
MOLASSES CREEK creates mesmerizing music that's contemporary, but still honors the traditions of folk and old-timey bluegrass.
And the Ocracoke musical trio that takes its name from one of the five creeks between the ferry dock and the village just released a third album, ``Wildheart,'' that showcases the musical mix.
``Wildheart'' is a 14-track collection that mixes original tunes by band members Gary Mitchell, Kitty Mitchell and David Streicher Tweedie with songs by Stevie Nicks, John Prine and John Hall.
``Our first two albums were only our songs,'' says guitarist/vocalist Gary Mitchell, a former school teacher who moved to Ocracoke in 1980. ``We picked more of the stuff we like to play for this album.''
The Mitchells, Tweedie and guests (guitarist Martin Garrish, banjo/mandolin player Wes Lassiter, piano player Libby Hicks and percussionist Eric Booth) spent a week last spring recording the album. Most of the work was done in the former 3/4 Time Saloon, which now serves as the Ocracoke Community Center.
``We had a lot of good memories from that building,'' Mitchell says.
Among the album's standout tracks is John Prine's 20-year-old song, ``Paradise.'' As Mitchell gently strums his 1956 Gibson Southern Jumbo guitar, he quietly sings about the cold war between commercial developers and preservationists. Although not written about the tiny island off Hatteras, Mitchell makes you believe it was.
One of Stevie Nicks' best songs, ``Gold Dust Woman,'' which appeared on Fleetwood Mac's classic 1977 album ``Rumours,'' is given a fresh treatment that features Kitty Mitchell's husky vocal and Tweedie's fiery playing on his 1919 Vuillaume fiddle.
Tweedie proves himself a songwriter of the first rank with ``Venom of the Road.'' The fiddler, who played on the first Molasses Creek album before spending a year in London studying music, wrote the song while backpacking alone through the English countryside. Tweedie's trembling tenor proves just right for the tune's exploration of the darker side of the wanderer.
Another Tweedie song, ``Exploding Flounder,'' is a playful instrumental that gives Garrish a chance to showcase his muscular lead guitar.
Among the album's old-timey bluegrass tunes are ``Wild Bill Jones,'' ``This Heart of Mine,'' ``Forget Me Not,'' ``High Mountain Road'' and ``Old Train.'' Mitchell is a generous boss, giving his guest players Lassiter, Garrish, Hicks and Booth wide-open spaces in which to work.
The album's closer is John Hall's ``Reach,'' which Hall recorded with his group, Orleans. Mitchell said he knew he had to perform the song the first time he heard it.
``The song speaks for itself in a very powerful way,'' Mitchell says.
``Reach'' is all about growth and the strength that it takes to get to the next level. With this wonderful recording, ``Wildheart,'' Molasses Creek practices what it sings.
And Gary, one question: Ocracoke is a pretty small place. After listening to all the masterly musicians on this homegrown album, I'm wondering what's in the water down there on Ocracoke?
``Wildheart'' by Molasses Creek is available on cassette or CD at several locations on Ocracoke. Outer Banks Music in the Croatan Center in Nags Head also stocks the album. For bookings, newsletters, tapes, CDs or information about Molasses Creek, call (919) 928-4280. MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks entertainment for The Carolina
Coast. Send comments and questions to P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Molasses Creek's ``Wildheart'' mixes original tunes by band members
Gary Mitchell, Kitty Mitchell and David Streicher Tweedie with songs
by Stevie Nicks, John Prine and John Hall. by CNB