Saturday, May 13, 2000

Music Review

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Raisins reunion highlights Jammin'

By Larry Nager
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        Jammin' on Main 2000 got off to a strong start Friday with a reunion by one of the best local bands of the last century.

The Raisins performed Friday. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        The Raisins, the top area group of the '80s, highlighted a varied night that included such new local bands as FACE and seasoned veterans like the Ass Ponys, as well as up-and-coming nationals Vertical Horizon and the North Mississippi All Stars.

        While Vertical Horizon's closing Main Stage set boasted Friday's biggest crowd, the Raisins drew the most loyal.

        “I used to clean up Ship- ley's (the band's regular club), and every quarter I picked up went into the jukebox to play that song, "Quarters,'” said Ginny Snyder, 44, who 20 years ago took cover charges for the band.

        Like others in front of the Verizon Stage, she spent the entire 55-minute performance mouthing the words to the songs, including “The Bottom Line” and the local radio hit, “Fear is Never Boring.” And though the audience was predominantly middle-aged, many of the mouthers looked too young to have seen the band in its heyday.

        It was an expanded Raisins — two drummers, Bam Powell and Chris Arduser, along with guitarist Rob Fetters, bassist Bob Nyswonger and keyboardist Ricky Nye. Everyone sang, adding strong vocal harmonies to the potent pop-rock sound that hasn't diminished with time.

        The Raisins set helped focus the seventh annual fest back on the local scene, in a night, unlike past Jammin's, that wasn't dominated by any single national act.

        Vertical Horizon was the biggest name, but has had just one major hit. Cowboy Mouth is a world-class bar band, not an arena headliner.

        The newest of Friday's nationals was the North Mississippi All Stars. The band's set, closing the City Beat Stage, bolstered its roots by adding Gary Burnside, son of legendary bluesman R.L. Burnside, on second guitar.

        The result was a unique hybrid, sounding a bit like the Allman Brothers jamming with the Grateful Dead at a Delta juke joint.

       

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