Where the bluegrass grows

Rockers share thoughts, talents at TDU late night

Taylor Down Under came alive Friday night with the music of Mark McKay, a bluegrass and roots-rock artist with a taste for mellow tunes and Tootsie Pops.

McKay, who usually performs with a full band bearing his name, was accompanied by Andrew Grimm of the bluegrass band Junestar in front of an audience of approximately 20. Both musicians played mostly on acoustic guitar, with other instruments such as the banjo and harmonica adding to the mix. A rainbow of different-colored and multitoned foot pedals in front of each artist made for good diversity in their sound. Their songs ranged from topics such as long-distance love to spending a night at the "Memory Hotel."

McKay describes his style of music as "roots-rock with a surreal twist," inspired by artists such as John Fogerty and Bob Dylan and the Band. McKay said he likes playing at small clubs best for their good sound and good lighting, but that colleges are very "fun" venues and good places to reach out to his growing fan base. He put a visible amount of effort and energy into his TDU show, just as he puts the same into making each song for his albums; his intention is to enjoy the process of songwriting and make "more than just stupid rock songs."

Both musicians displayed impressive guitar and harmonica harmonies throughout the set. Many of the songs they showcased, which were classified by a folk-rock sound, pertained to relationships.

McKay and Grimm displayed their resourcefulness through their ability to preserve the variety and depth of their sound sans-bass. The performers discovered one of their amplifiers was problematic during the sound check, forcing Grimm to abandon the bass guitar for the entire show.

The performance began with "Home Tonight," the most technically advanced piece in their repertoire for the evening. The song was characterized by fast-paced, upbeat guitar riffs. The mellow-sounding "Constantine Gardens," a more emotionally charged ballad than the other selections, spoke of loving someone from afar.

The duo closed the concert with a cover of John Fogerty's "Who'll Stop the Rain," which was softer than the original version, exemplifying the duo's keen ability to convey various moods through their strumming.

In between songs, McKay advised students to get a good grounding in philosophy and critical thinking — he said it would enable them to go further in the business world. "Forget that [Karl] Marx stuff," McKay said. "It's the Nietzsche that'll teach you how to live."

This came as a surprise to Melissa Clarke, a philosophy professor who offered her GPHIL 120 students extra credit to attend the concert. Unaware that her subject matter would be touted from the stage, Clarke said her intention was to give students a look at "ways meaning is conveyed, other than just through logic. Sometimes art conveys meaning differently."

The students who came out to see the pair enjoyed the music. Freshman Anne Layman said the style was a change of pace for her because McKay and Grimm's sound was different from mainstream music.

Freshman Jennifer Schmitz likened the music to that of James Taylor or Neil Young.

Though McKay's shows tend to be focused north of Harrisonburg, and Grimm's to the south, both musicians expressed interest in returning to JMU sometime in the future. Information on future shows can be found at www.markmckaylive.com and www.junestar.com.