Caught Chapel Hill’s best export playing at home outside on a beautiful autumn day at the Johnson Center for Undergraduate Excellence terrace at lunch today. Southern Culture on the Skids was always a trio when I heard them over the past nearly 20 years, but they had an additional guitar today. Bill Ferris, appropriately dressed in his good ole boy outfit, did the introductions and gave out fried chicken when told to do so. Not only was Bill dressed appropriately but as one of the creators/editors of the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture and former head of the National Endowment for the Humanities, he was the exact right person to be introducing S.C.O.T.S. The band has long combined humor, musicianship, wild antic rock and roll, and over the top costuming in their quest to elevate and at the same time destroy Southern stereotypes while making the crowds laugh and dance. Wonderful hillbilly surf music. Inspired bosa nova (on House of Bamboo). Smart silliness.
I need to make more of the Thursdays on the Terrace. Next Thursday is Bluesman Cool John Ferguson!
Was good to see our Provost Robert Shelton there among the many good people out. Also got a chance to catch up a little with former local rock drummer and internationally famous William Blake scholar Joe Viscomi.