I'll Be At Rosedale Plantation This Saturday, December 2nd

Hello all-

I'll be at Rosedale Plantation this Saturday, December 2nd from 11:30am to 4pm, selling books, prints and other great holiday gift ideas. Copies of There Was A Time will be available. Any requests for photos? The request line is open. Hope to see you there.
-Daniel
November 29, 2017

https://www.historicrosedale.org/events/82-Rosedale-Musical-Christmas 

The Young Ages Final Show, This Saturday, November 18, 2017

Hello all-

Just a reminder that The Young Ages will be playing their final show at the Charles Mack Auditorium in Mooresville, NC at 8pm on Saturday, November 18th. I hope to see you there,
-Daniel
November 17, 2017

Double Door Inn Anniversary Reunion Show, December 17, 2017

For over 43 years, the Double Door Inn was more than an old house on Charlottetowne Avenue. It was recognized as one of the oldest blues music venues in the United States, bringing in musicians of all genres to Charlotte, NC. It was the place that you went to hang out on Friday afternoon, or Saturday night. To meet old friends, and make new ones. What had once been the house built by the Wearn family, one of the prominent families in Charlotte during the early 20th centuries, become the home of the Charlotte music scene, and the place where owner Nick Karres oversaw countless nights of music and memories.

While we cannot bring it back, this show is a homecoming for the many that had the Double Door Inn pass through them, just as much as we passed through it. On the week that the venue would have celebrated its 44th anniversary, we bring together some of the musicians that made the Double Door their home. Lenny Federal Band, Crisis, and Woody Mitchell & Loafers Glory. We also will screen Live From The Double Door Inn, the documentary about the venue’s history and final days. We also welcome back Nick Karres and his family, who have been part of our own extended families for many years. 

Gather, return, and let the music play on.
-Daniel Coston

Double Door Inn 44th Anniversary Show
Neighborhood Theatre
Dec. 17th, 2017

Starring
Lenny Federal Band
Randy Franklin & Crisis
Woody Mitchell & Loafers Glory

and a screening of Live From The Double Door Inn
Admission: $10

Doors at 6pm, documentary at 7pm, Music at 8pm. 

We can release this once tickets go on sale. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Thank you,
-Daniel

Fantastic Article On 1960s NC Garage Scene

Hello-

Our friend Bill Kopp has published a great article on the Western NC garage rock scene, with loads of links to hear the records. Check out the article here-

http://wncmagazine.com/feature/bring_beat_back 

We'll be back soon with more news on the 1960s garage scene,
-Daniel
September 3, 2017

Ed Truman/Marke 5 Interview

Daniel Coston: What made you want to play music?

Ed Truman: Seeing my sister who was six years older play in folk groups got me thinking about learning an instrument, but when the Beatles came out and my mother one day ask if id like to play I said yes, buy me a set of drums mom, and it was on from there.

Coston: Describe the music scene in Fayetteville, and at your school.

Truman: Just about every neighborhood had an abundance of bands. Seems like everybody i knew was forming a band and playing if nowhere else, in their garages. We probably had at least six or seven good bands at the High School i went to, and it wasn’t a very big school.

Coston: How did the Marke 5 come together?

Truman: I came about joining the Marke 5 just by word of mouth going around. I was asked to join and help form this band.

Coston: What songs were in the Marke 5’s set? What were your favorite gigs to play?

Truman: I can’t remember all our songs but we did do several Rolling Stones songs, Under My Thumb, The Last Time. We had a driving sound and thats what won us the battle of the bands my sophmore year.

Coston: Talk about the single “Pay”, and recording that single. Where did you record it, and what do you remember about that session?

Truman: Our mentor band recorded a song so we wanted to record a 45 ourselves, we got together at practice one night and it was a group effort and we produced two songs. My mother who was very supportive put up three hundred dollars and we went to Raleigh, NC and recorded the songs at Jimmy Capps studio under the label JCP.

Coston: When did the Marke 5 break up, and why?

Truman:  we played for probably a little over a year but two of the members were seniors, and they graduated and went on to the army and other jobs, so it just came to an end like the way it started, just happened.

Coston: I understand that you played with a latter [post-Liar Liar] version of the Castaways. Tell me about that.

Truman: It really wasn’t a Castaways remake band. The guitar player and lead singer on the song “Liar Liar”, named Bob Laroy Folschow, was drafted and finishing up his military obligation when me and a bass player hooked up with him near the end of my senior year. We became the house band at a bar called the Longbranch Saloon, and later house band at a bar called The Red Garter. There we met an english chap who was in Fayetteville putting together one of the first shows and the recently built Cumberland County Arena. The show was Iron Butterfly and they had the big hit “In-a-gadda-devita” going on at that time. We were ask to open for that show and it was a big thrill. 

After graduation we became the house band at the first after hours club in Fayetteville, they only served set ups and technically did not sell alcohol so they could stay open all night if they wanted, we played there about a year and then went on the road playing holiday inns and other clubs and motels all up and down the east coast, usually playing about two weeks per gig. We did that for about two years and had a falling out with Bob Laroy Folschow and we broke up.

Coston: Tell me about The Symbols, who were your rivals at High School. And what other bands were around the area during that time?

Truman: The Symbols were one of our biggest idols, they were really a great band. Forty-five years later we merged members of the Symbols and the Marke Five and played a reunion gig that went over really great. Had big time fun playing with them.

Coston: Who else did you play with, after the Marke 5?

Truman: I’ve played with so many people and groups its hard to remember.

Coston: Do you still play today?

Truman: I still play today with a big band orchestra out of lumberton nc and also record, over 130 songs so far recorded and seven CDs out on the internet, with a partner in music named Paul Reichle.

Coston: What comes to mind, when you think about that time in your llfe?

Truman: it was so fun and exciting back then, we would play for some pretty large crowds sometimes and it felt like we were the Beatles or the Stones, great memories.

-Daniel 

August 20, 2017

Stay Tuned For News On a Big Double Door Inn-Related Show

More soon,
-Daniel
August 13, 2017

Book Co-Author Jake Berger Back Onstage This Saturday

Hello all-

The Mannish Boys are back at the Evening Muse on Saturday, August 5th, as part of this year's Crisis Assistance Ministry benefit, paying tribute this year to the Allman Brothers. Check out more info here-

http://www.eveningmuse.com/event/1511880-allman-brothers-tribute-charlotte/ 

See you again soon,
-Daniel
August 2, 2017

Here's Where You Can Purchase Home Of The Blues

Hello all-

You can purchase the book on Amazon here-

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0999101900/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1497492356&sr=8-5&keywords=daniel+coston 

The book will be available at Park Road Books, and other independent bookstore shortly. Stay tuned for news on book signing events, and more. Thank you, spread the word, and here's to the Double Door Inn.
-Daniel
June 14, 2017

The New Double Door Inn Book Is Now Available

Hello all-

The third and final edition of the Double Door Inn is now available. This new edition features the complete story of the fabled Charlotte, NC music venue, and features many of those who also starred in There Was A Time. Amazon link coming shortly. Thank you, email anytime, and stay tuned for more news.
-Daniel
June 14, 2017

News About The Release Of The Updated Double Door Inn Book

Home Of The Blues: A History Of The Double Door Inn, a comprehensive history of one of the fabled Charlotte music venue, is now available. After the Double Door’s closing in January, co-author Daniel Coston went to work on updating and re-working the book that he originally collaborated on in 2008 with the late Debby Wallace. This new edition brings the story of the Double Door Inn up to date, and features numerous new interviews with longtime owner Nick Karres, brother and original co-owner Matthew Karres, and numerous local and national musicians. The book also dives into the history of Charlotte, and the building that became one of the oldest music venues in the United States.

The book his being published through Fort Canoga Press. The book will be available at Park Road Books, in Charlotte, and other independent bookstores. For interviews, distribution questions, or media about the book, contact Daniel Coston at 704-841-9371, or danielcoston@aol.com.

RIP Barry Stacks Of The Grifs

Hello all-

Barry Stacks, singer and leader of the Grifs, passed away two weeks ago. Barry formed the Grifs in Charlotte, NC in 1964, and they went to record two of the best singles that ever came from the city, "Catch A Ride" and "Keep Dreaming". I interviewed Barry for both editions of my NC 1960s Rock & Roll book, and have recently come into a whole cache of Grifs photos, which I hope to share soon. Thanks for the ride, Barry,
-Daniel
March 13, 2017

Norman Blake Salutes The Paragons And "Abba"!

Hello all-

Imagine my surprise as I'm reading the new issue of Mojo Magazine 60s, as Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub is listing his favorite songs of the 1960s. The first song listed? "Abba", by the Paragons. A song, and a band that I featured in our book. Wow! Thank you, Norman. And how is it that I still haven't seen the Fannies live yet? I must remedy that, immediately.

And yes, the video of the Paragons playing "Abba" on The Village Sqaure TV show in 1967 is awesome. Let's play it now!
-Daniel
February 3, 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDxjm8BkGBU 

Jesse Brown's Outdoors Speaking Engagement On February 2nd

Hello all-

Just a reminder that I'll be speaking at Jesse Brown's Outdoors at 6pm on Thursday, February 2nd. It's a free event, and I'll be speaking for twenty minutes about my adventures in photography and music. All of my books, including the NC 1960 book, will be available. Come by and say hello, and hope to see you there.
-Daniel
January 31, 2017

RIP Dave Long

Hello all-

Dave Long, a longtime musician, photographer, booking agent, and all-around point person in Charlotte, passed away recently. Dave played tambourine on the Paragons' legendary "Abba" single, and took the cover photo of our book. Safe travels, Dave, and thank you for all that you did.
-Daniel
January 31, 2017