The music I most associate with North Carolina comes from my time living in the mountains and an event known as the Reunion. The Reunion was started by my Uncle Dave. He and his merry band of good-timers organized a keg party 50 years ago that’s still going strong.
Each year we gather for music, food and fellowship. Camping out in the fields and trees. Late nights, early mornings and lots of hugs in between. Acoustic and electric bands vibing from day to night. And the musicians there are amazing. Also cool, most of them are homegrown North Carolina artists.
If you go to the Reunion enough times, the music works its way into your soul. The list of greats to play there is long. Blues, rock, witty folk Americana. Strumming mandolins. In the woods or up on stage, music permeates the air. And it all goes along with the creative, hard working people camping out in summer sun.
Of all the Reunion creatives I’ve heard over the years, none compare to a musician known as Tommy G. I first heard Tommy on a dubbed cassette my Dad had. He played it often. We listened at home or in his yellow VW bus that doubled as a clubhouse. In fact, the tracks shared below are a digitization from that very tape, Above the Blue Ridge. Any time I’m feeling down, I play the album. Once I hear my favorite tracks, I’m lifted up again. One thing that makes it special and forever healing is the music is hard to come by. The link below to Reverbnation is the only place I know it’s legitimately shared. Please visit the site and listen. The music is worth it.
Additionally, my Dad, brother and I cherish Tommy G’s music because it’s communal. If I want to feel closer to them I press play. It’s perfect next to a fire or echoing out from a tarp covered, wooded encampment. It also pairs nicely with a cook’s heart. Every year my brother and I play the entire double album when we grill and bullshit about at the beach. Good times. Needless to say, the music is family music.
Many years after my first tape listen, I heard Tommy G live at the Reunion itself. An epic return. It’s the best show I’ve ever been to. The anticipation of the crowd was electric. He was a local legend that hadn’t been heard from for some time. The familiarity of the songs elevated the moment. Then Tommy G and the band’s playing took it into the stratosphere. Blessed by the tape, I knew all the words as the crowd became one in the feel. The very best of the peace, love, music tradition that was started so long ago alive again. 50 years of annual rebirth. Still going strong. Thanks to the love and music of so many. Thanks to creatives like Tommy G.
Three of my favorite Tommy G tracks:
More Songs on Reverbnation below.
