Every great journey begins with just one step. And so began Blue Meridian and friend's 1200 mile expedition to the South by Southwest Music Conference 2000. We left from the headquarters on Bumby Avenue and stepped into a vehicle affectionately known as Big Red. The passengers: Donovan Lyman, lead singer/songwriter and occasional game-show host; Kevin Kirkwood, the drummer from Niceville, Florida with a street in Houston named after him; Kenny Beaumont, the bassist, who, because of his bass-nastics, has a whole town in Texas named after him; Dave Swuz, almost-famous filmmaker and part-time documentarian; Doug Maxwell, Director of Photography and proud papa of Big Red; and me, known either as the Blue Girl or the Lady from the Highway. We stopped in Lake City,
Florida, to pick up Manny Rivera, lead guitarist with a Louisiana casino/truckstop named after him and his beautiful wife, Jennifer, the proud mama of new kittens who is also fond of fresh fruit and juices.
It was the afternoon of March 17th and the eight of us were headed to Austin, Texas, or more precisely, the corner of Trinity and Sixth Street, home of the Andre the Giant's Posseand The Iron Cactus, the venue where Blue Meridian was slated to perform for SXSW 2000 on the night of the 18th. It seemed however, that we were doing the Rest-Stop and Convenience Store Tour of 2000. One rest-stop, somewhere deep in the heart of the Redneck Riviera was down a path so long and winding that we were sure that we must have been tricked.
The chances of sleeping in Big Red were slim to none. Kevin and Kenny snored on the floor between each of the seats and Manny dozed in a makeshift bed in the "attic," the crawl space on top of the band and camera crew equipment with his feet a full 24 inches higher than his head. Thanks to Doug with his No-Doz and non-stop house music, we somehow made it to Houston at around six a.m.. Donovan bought us all breakfast in an IHOP and
we wereserved by a waitress named May… (May, May, May, Thank you for the eggs…).
Once in Austin, we drove first to The Iron Cactus to get an idea of where it was and then went to stand in the parking lot of the Exel Inn until they would let us check in at 10:30 am. After taking care of business, unloading the gear at the Cactus, and registering for the conference, everyone napped for a while and then went back downtown to eat. After walking around and checking out all of the "rock-and-roll" chicks, we chose a café caddy-cornered
from the Iron Cactus who had a sandwich called the Sixth Street Hook-uh and elusive 2 dollar Tecates.
For those of you who have never been to Austin, there are no tumbleweeds there. There are, however, bats: A rumored 1.5 million of them under the Congress Avenue Bridge that crosses the Colorado River in the middle of downtown. After dinner we went to the bridge to see them all swoop out at dusk. Apparently it was not quite the right season to see actual swooping. What we saw is better defined as a dribbling of drunk-flying bats. Still interesting, but hardly the show that the crows were putting on in the trees surrounding the bridge.
Back at the Exel Inn, the band collaborated on some vocals, showered and dressed in their usual rock-star garb for the performance that night. The Iron Cactus is a clean, metallic, 3-leveled storefront, futuristic cowboy bar. The stage was relatively small and set up in the front corner surrounded by streetview windows. The piece was hopping when we arrived there at about 11 pm.
After
mingling with Ben Tapia and Chadwick Steinmetz, Blue Meridian veterans, as well as Ben's
expectant girl Peggy and Mark Jansen, the band began the first song of the set, Dream
Breathe Scream at 1 am to a growing crowd of eager listeners and two drunk girls
attempting to swing dance. I especially liked the DBS transition into Talliesen ( MAY!
MAY! MAY!)
Then there was Rockingbird, Ironsides, Even Now and Helly. The band became more enthusiastic and confident with each song as the crowd became bigger and more responsive. Donovan told a well-received story about the uniformed man with a child in every port as an intro to Sideways Silverjet. Complete strangers who just liked what they heard were snapping pictures and buying CDs. Dave and Doug filmed various portions of each song
for a documentary that will one day air on VH1's Before They Were Rock Stars. Plus there were scantily clad young women - most likely the famed "rock-and-roll" chicks - knocking on the glass windows behind the band during the performance.
By the end of the last song, Go Away, a group of people were even chanting "one more song!" An encore was out of the question, however, since the folks at the Iron Cactus were very strict about rules. Beers were removed from sipping lips at precisely 1:59 am. After the show, people stood in line to talk to Donovan and the boys and tell them how much they liked it.
The trip back to Orlando was surprisingly fun. After lunch at The Texas Grill - "We're not here to fool you - We're here to feed you," a diner somewhere between Austin and Houston, Donovan developed his own game of Jeopardy, which kept us all occupied for a good chunk of time. In Baton Rouge, we stopped to buy a television and some movies to keep us busy for the remaining 11 hours of the trip. We stepped out of Big Red at 10 am on Monday morning, exhausted.
Who knows what will come of Blue Meridian's fantastic performance in a national music festival so many miles from their comfortable Orlando venues? If nothing else, it was a chance to see how people who had never heard of the band reacted to the music, a chance to confuse drive-thru window cashiers all over the South with eight separate orders, and a chance to spend some quality time together. Let's do it again!
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| Weekend Music Director, Erik Dennison |
Since Mid May this year, Real Radio 104.1 has been playing Blue Meridian's "Sideways Silverjet" on their "Cutting Edge Music Weekends." The song has been averaging 8-10 spins a week. The song debuted at number 29 on their weekend playlist and as of September 24th the song was holding steady at number 8.
We urge you to give the station feedback on their support for the band. Just about all of the other songs on the playlist are by National artists. To the best of our knowledge Blue Meridian isn't receiving much National PR (MTV, VHI, Rolling Stone cover stories) at this time. The only way 104.1 can successfully gauge how well received the airplay actually is, is by calling in and requesting "Sideways Silverjet" or something off the new album. At least take a minute and pat these hard working DJs on the back (407) 916-1041. Another way is to post on their web board and initiate discussion. One person can always make a difference. 20 people can make this a whole lot easier.
Visit the 104 site and browse the web boards and the "weekends" page.
For more information on how you can effectively help support Blue Meridian and their goal to gain national exposure. Please contact Raggedstar@aol.com
On July 8th the cast and crew gathered at the Langford Hotel in Winter Park, Florida for the first of a 2 day shoot and quickly began getting footage. Day one consisted mostly of Nikki poolside in a Blue Bikini. She was in and out of the water all afternoon while the rest of us baked on the deck. The life of a model is tough work.
Later in the day the band was captured on the rooftop with Sideways Silverjets Taxiing in to Orlando International to the South and lightning flashing to the North. We got out of there just before the rain made it to Winter Park and Donovan had to be at Rollins College for an interview on WPRK. The rest of the evening consisted of another interview at WNZS and an impromptu performance by the band at Club LaVela and then back to the Langford at midnight for more footage. The piano shots and the crying Nikki were all committed to tape in the early morning hours.
Day two we were back on location at 10am and by 6pm got all the remaining footage. Mostly the lobby, elevators, rooms and hallways. By 7pm Blue Meridian was at the Sapphire doing soundcheck for their show that night. The show turned into a wrap party for the shoot with Director, Dave Swuz dancing onstage during "Silverjet." The next morning found most of us at the Enzian Theatre for the debut of the film D-Minus. Our song "Even Now" was featured over the closing credits. Over hearing a guy in the lobby after the film singing "long, long, day" was a nice ending to a long and draining week.
Look for the video available for sale in VHS format along with some concert footage and interviews, at any performance in the near future.
Cast and Crew:
Samantha Heller - Little Nikki
Donovan Lyman - Himself
Kevin Kirwood - Himself
Dave Swuz - Director
Doug Maxwell - Director of Photography
Jason Beard - Assistant Camera
Jessie Saint James - Make-up (Donovan didn't wear any)
Kenny Beaumont - Key Grip
Sarah Hayes - Senior PABig thanks to the lovely Langford Hotel!
actress/model Samantha Heller in the role of "Littlle Nikki"
NEW CD
The recording of the new CD was moved from March 24th to mid April because of a last minute showcase scheduled at Hard Rock Live on April 3rd. The show drew an incredible just over 1,100 people (a record attendance for a local showcase there)
On April 13th Blue Meridian returned to Phat Planet Recording Studios with producer Mark Mason and laid down the basic tracks to eight new songs over a three day period, finishing the week off with a late show at the Sapphire Supper Club on the 15th. The songs that will appear on the new recording (in no particular order) are; Sugarless, Helly, Starlite, Gravity, Rockingbird, Brave Angel, Glistening & Brave The Range.
Bassist, Dean Pachette performed on 4 of the 8 tracks with veteran member Gene Samero on the remaining 4. Local guitar great Brian Chordocoff is scheduled to appear for overdubs on Sugarless and Starlite in the next couple of weeks. A tentative release date for the disc has been set for the first week of July.
The bands first release is barely 6 months old, but requests from numerous record labels to hear more music has been overwhelming and the guys have plenty of great songs. It was actually very difficult to decide which tunes
were going make it on the follow up release.
The remainder of April, 1999 and the first part of May will be spent finishing the tracking for the new CD as well as preparing for the bands next showcase as the headlining act at the 1999 Jammy Awards Ceremony at the Hard Rock Live on May 15,1999.
Blue Meridian's Donovan Lyman with Art
Alexakis of Everclear
(Ken Charton from Cider in background)
On Sunday, March 21,1999, Ft. Myers rock station 99X put on an awesome rock festival.
Godsmack, D-Generation, Finger 11 and Orlando's own Alabama transplants; Virgos Merlot were there to warm the crowd up for Cracker and ultimately Everclear. Blue Meridian's front-man, Donovan was also there along with Ken Charton from Cider, but he wasn't there to perfom and he wasn't really there to watch the show among the other 17,000 rock n roll fans. He seemed to be working things from the other side of the stage. He was invited down to Fort Myers for the afternoon by Beasely Broadcasting Program Director Jeff Sanders. "There were quite a few record and radio people milling around backstage and eating free BBQ chicken in the tent. I was glad I remembered my business cards. I was surprised to hear how many of them were already aware of Blue Meridian and how many were actually interested in talking to me about the latest Blue News", said Donovan Lyman.
Things seem to be going well for Blue Meridian. On April 3rd they showcase at Hard Rock live with fellow Orlando hopefuls 2K Superstar, they've recently been nominated for a "Best Modern Rock Band" Jammy Award, and are reportedly working on a follow-up CD at Phat Planet Recording studios with producer Mark Mason. Also in the works is a video for their song "Sideways Silver Jet" with Springfield Films producer Dave Swuz.
When asked about the highlights of the 99X Festival, Donovan reported "hanging out with some of my favorite bands, watching the singer of Godsmack kick a security guy's ass on stage, the free BBQ and beer, and of course getting the chance to spread the word about my band.
Comming soon, production begins on a full length "MTV/VH1" quality video to be shot entirely on 35 and 16mm B&W. The song chosen for the project has been"Sideways SilverJet". After WSHE (She100.3) began lending support to the record early this year... requests for "more" have been coming in. Story board work began in early February. The Director and Co-Producer will be Dave Swuz or visual Gratuiity Productions also working the project will be ex-Blue Meridian Bassist, Jason (JAM) Miller. If you know of any ideal locations for the shooting of this video, please e-mail your suggestions/ideas. We'll soon be sending out a "blueMAIL" requesting extras for the film.
Orlando group Blue Meridian is getting some support from a somewhat unusual corner. The local branch of Best Buy, the national retail chain, is helping the band by stocking its self-titles CD in its stores statewide and by making tickets to shows available through its Central Florida Stores. Best Buy District Media Director Adam Sachs has even been placing some phone calls about the band to various industry people in and out of the state.
This isn't the first foray by Best Buy, which is possibly the state's largest recorded music retailer, into the Florida music scene. The company was among the first of the chain stores to stock selected local artists, and they were instrumental in helping some other Florida acts break into the mainstream. Best Buy currently carries the CD's of several other deserving
Florida indie acts as well as Blue Meridian's. Best Buy was also a sponsor of an original music showcase series held at Hard Rock Cafe Orlando in the mid 90's and is now actively involved in the production of the current Florida Jammy Awards. Sachs says he expects Best Buy's commitment to local music to expand as the company opens stores in more Florida Cities.
Blue Meridian has sold nearly 1,000 copies of its debut CD and is reportedly on the verge of signing a recording contract with a major label.
-Andy Burr
Jam Magazine 1/15-1/28 1999
Blue Meridian singer/songwriter Donovan Lyman, was approached after a show in early July by a representative of Jensen Music and was asked to help them with their upcoming ad campaign. After an audition, he was selected to be the lead player in the ad.
Jensens current campaign is to promote their new line of wireless microphones. The ad features a lead singer (Donovan), with a 3 piece back-up group. The 3 girls are entwined in Mic cables and struggling to perform while singer, Donovan with his wireless is "free" to do what he does best.
The caption reads: "Only The Audience Should Be Captive".
The full page color ad is currently running in the October issues of 4 National magazines including "Pro-Audio Advice" & "Electronic Musician". Upcoming ads that will feature Donovan include Jensens new speaker line as well as their wireless system for the guitar (should be a fun one).We knew these guys were going National, we just didn't think it would happen this quickly.
Click on the pic for the full version.
Blue Meridian's self-titled compact disc is now available at 11 area Best Buy locations from Daytona/Melbourne to Tampa/St. Pete. The CD is featured in the "listening stations" at several of these locations. Stop in, give it a listen... if you like what you hear, pick up a copy and help support local original music.
The CD is also currently available at The Virgin Megastore in Downtown Disney, Borders books and music, as well as Park Avenue Compact Discs on Park Ave, Winter Park.
from left: Donovan (blueMERIDIAN), Jake Jacobs (Shock
Lizard),
Rob Thomas (Matchbox20)
The hosts with the most did it again. July 4th not only was the 222 anniversary of our nations independence, it was a rockin good time. blueMERIDIAN & Average Joe played to a packed backyard crowd. Later in the night Shock Lizard reunited for the first time in over a year and the musical portion of the evening was capped off with an all star cast... members of Shock lizard, blueMERIDIAN and Matchbox20 crammed on the concrete slab and did some old covers including "Superfreak, Pass the Dutchie and more"...
Donovan & Manny
blueMERDIAN @ The Rock Station
Thursday May 28th, 1998 the band joined
Sideshow Dan in The WJRR Studios in Maitland for "Native Noise"... The guys went
on around 10:20 and did 2 songs live, the newly completed "Dream, Breathe,
Scream" followed by the catchy "Sideways SilverJet". The show was partly
scheduled to promote their Friday night gig at the Sapphire Supper Club which took place
the next night. We're pretty sure Dan enjoyed having the guys in there. Once he used the
word "excellent" 3 times in one sentence. Call WJRR @ (407) 916-1011 and request
blueMERIDIAN. Oh, and say hi to Sideshow Dan for us.
(check back here soon for a soundbite from the on-air performance)
Donovan (left), Jake (right) and the rest of the band rocked the go Lounge
in Downtown
Orlando for a Habitat for Humanity Benefit in February, 1998
A collaborative effort: Donovan (blueMERIDIAN), Chadwick (former B.M. guitarist), Jake (formerly of Shock Lizard), David (from Cluj on keys...not his best photo) and of course Rob Thomas frontman for Matchbox20 and friends jammed "Sweet Home Alabama" and Neil Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry" among others.
blueMERIDIANS' Christmas party on Dec 22 featured an unforgettable jam session that lasted all night until Orlando's finest yanked the plug. On hand for the holiday festivities were of course blueMERIDIAN as well as Cluj, Vonra, Crazy Amy, members of Gumwrapper curb, Lyme and Matchbox20.
Three nights later at the Sapphire Supper Club...
http://orlando.digitalcity.com/entertainment/music/news/contraption.htm
The Immaculate Contraption
The First Annual Orlando Music Awards Compilation CD, Sponsored by The Orlando Weekly featuring....KOW, Bughead, The Hate Bombs, Nature Kids, blueMERIDIAN of course and a dozen others. Was first available at The Sapphire Supper Club the night of the celebration and ceremony (October 19, 1997) any remaining discs will be available for sale at a number of local independent music stores.
The Music Awards were a big success, hosted effectively by Steavo Robertson of Atlantic Records. blueMERIDIAN performed "The Verge" live for a packed house to a very receptive audience.
As always, thank you for your support.
To Contact us just email: blueinfo@bluemeridian.net
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Revised: May 31, 2002
