The Clayton News-Star, April 17, 2002, Page 12A
The Coffee Mill on South Lombard Street has always been known for bringing in musically diverse artists. That trend continues this month at the local coffeehouse.
Damion Wolfe brought his thought-provoking music to the venue on Friday, April 12. On Saturday, the eclectic acoustic duo Kid Sister played along with violinist Gina Forsyth.
Next weekend, Jeffery Hyde Thompson, a singer/songwriter from Asheville, plays The Coffee Mill on Friday, April 19. The next night, Japanese/American pianist Lisa Ray showcases her personal tunes with a special performance.
Damion Wolfe
Damion Wolfe, a Richmond, Va., native now living in Baltimore, has been touring the past five years promoting his energetic, innovative and thought-provoking music, which has been received in such diversified environments as colleges and acoustic listening rooms, bars, bookstores, festivals, and coffeehouses. Friday, he appeared here in support of his recently released CD, Here There and That Way.
His music has been described as eclectic, high energy, cerebral and just plain good.
He has had the privilege of sharing the stage with the likes of Cindy Bullen, John Eddie, Mike Errico, Erin McKeown and Ellis Paul.
The songs on his newest CD focus more on what Wolfe calls "just vocals and guitar."
"I wanted the focus of this CD to be less on production and more on the bare bone essentials of the song &8211; voice and guitar," he said. "This is more in common with what you will get at a live show, and I think people really want to hear that."
Not only do you get the song, listeners can also enjoy Wolfe's art of live improvisation, which changes the songs on a nightly basis. During Friday's performance, he stood on a chair in front of one of the tables and performed.
"I describe what I do as wacky," Wolfe said. "I would describe my music as eclectic acoustic. I think I draw on a lot of styles, and my original material seems to range from pop to folk."
Kid Sister
Kid Sister is an acoustic, eclectic singer-songwriting duo based out of Durham that has been performing since 1991. Their shows are always interesting, outrageous and most of all, heartfelt.
Saturday night, the group &8211; which could be favorably compared to the likes of the Indigo Girls &8211; played their brand of acoustic music, rich with harmonies and their own brand of humor.
Gina Forsyth, an accomplished violinist and guitarist, opened the show.
Friday, April 19
Jeffery Hyde Thompson
New Orleans native Jeffery Hyde Thompson achieves a unique style that sets him apart from the traditional acoustic genre. Many of his songs showcase his New Orleans roots through his use of jazz and blues as well as scat singing.
She also said, "One thing I love about yoga is that it's noncompetitive. Everyone ranges in different ability. Not everyone can do everything. It (yoga) is nonjudgmental. You don't compare yourself to others. You're comparing yourself and recognizing that every day you are at a different place."
Thompson brings his "ethereal and earthy" vocal range, which spans more than three octaves, to The Coffee Mill on Friday.
Thompson moved to Asheville in 1996 to finish work on a degree at Warren Wilson College. Now that he has that degree in integrating technology, philosophy, and religion, he wants to write songs and play them for people.
A first-place finish in the Eddie's Attic bi-annual "Shoot Out" has served as a springboard for Thompson, who is considered as much a poet and storyteller as a songwriter. His lyrics, which run the gamut of emotions, range from profoundly tragic to goofy and comedic.
Thompson will be playing material from his first CD, stillsmallvoices. He also does a killer Michael Jackson impersonation.
Saturday, April 20
Lisa Ray
Her Japanese father was in a Hawaiian blues band and her American mother played a different classical or folk record every day. Her grandfather sang Japanese folk tunes, and her grandmother played Beethoven sonatas.
So, it's no wonder that musical influence would rub off on Lisa Furukawa Ray.
Ray composed piano pieces and songs at a young age and has studied the piano since the age of 3. She started taking composing seriously in college.
Her songs are based on personal moments, the sound and words take on a cultural significance. Many of Ray's songs explore feelings of being in between Eastern and Western cultures.
Her first CD, This Moment Is The Show, features songs about preserving innocence, overcoming heartbreak, and achieving happiness.