Sorry I've been away so long. I really plan to be more communicative this year with the Coastline Crazies. I wrote on our “myspace” blog yesterday about what a great week it’s been for me so I won’t rehash that here. Instead, I’ll just refer you to that writing. I would like to let everyone know that we have just booked the band this Thursday at the all new Carolina Lounge at the Ramada this Thursday so I need you street soldiers of the Wilmington area to spread the word like wildfire! This place is steadily becoming the bedrock to beach bums in New Hanover County. Every Tuesday they have shag lessons and Lee Pearson DJ’s into the night. Wow. It’s like being at the beach again in the original area that created the shag. Go figure. Anyway, we will see you Thursday night, come early and eat at the Banyan Café’…the best Asian cuisine in town. We start around 8:30pm. And yes, Tracy will be there. Miller will not.

4.5 Stars
Cool Carolina R&B From A Hard Working Band
This album is rockin' and danceable throughout. Great song selections, strong lead singing from Jim Quick, and catchy guitar and horn arrangements that will keep your toes tapping. For shaggers, it's definitive...for everyone else, it's a guaranteed musical bargain.

First let me say you gotta love these guys! Yes, I am biased there is no doubt about it but as we continue to witness first hand the ongoing evolution of a tremendous band, how can you not! Their last album, Sweet 'N' Ripe, contained the rough edge that many characterized as "well, they’ve left Beach Music behind". I don’t think that was the case and anyone saying that needs to listen to this latest CD. The key point regarding Sneakin’ Out Back – it contains a portion of that somewhat hard edged sound that Coastline has become famous for – emulating the soulful blues of artists such as Delbert, John Hiatt, Bonnie Raitt, Robbie Robertson, Paul Carrack, Subdudes, Kenny Wayne Shepherd etc. – while blending in the mellowness of Beach Music without relying on a bunch of worn out cover tunes to accomplish a strong overall lease.

The album encompasses thirteen tunes – nine of them are originals written or co-written by Jim Quick, several so imaginative that it leaves you to wonder “how does this guy think up this stuff?” The CD leads off with the Quick written Little Bit Of Money, a rousing, fast paced story about a one night stand that starts out as a ride on I-40 and turns into a high dollar spending spree that ends all too abruptly. Love can be fleeting! Another original, Don’t You Want to Come Too?, has a classic smoothie sound talking about the rat race of climbing the corporate ladder of work and life that pretty much entices one to seek another alternative!! Jim pays tribute to legendary beach music artist Buddy Skipper and his Jetty Jumpers with Jump That Jetty, which turns in to a great shag tune. Speaking of the corporate world (as I just did a few lines ago), I once worked in the same coat and tie organization as former Jetty Jumpers guitarist Bill (Sparky) Sparks, who was with them when the group disbanded in 1965 (I know, worthless trivia). Another original, Turn Me Over, is pure down home soul that recalls days gone by that we all can reminisce and remember. Sugar Cookies is a jump boogie number that you can visualize vintage Jim Quick on as you hear it – driving hard over the entire stage.

The CD contains two songs written by nationally renowned rockin’ blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis (Callin’ and Somebody) – not only did the band cover the tunes but they also got Tinsley to perform on them! Callin’ is one of my two favorites on the CD, a smooth groover with a great rhythm track behind it. Another outstanding cover is their rendition of Do It, a heavy duty Delbert McClinton written song from his first solo album in 1975 that has otherwise been long forgotten. Also on board is the Aaron and Naomi Neville written I’m Waiting At The Station. The piano intro sounds like it came straight out of the Allen Touissant / Marshall Sehorn New Orleans productions of the '60’s!

It’s classic Coastline – soul, funk, blues, boogie AND beach while maintaining their rhythmic rockin’ roots. Go see them sing these songs on stage every chance you get!

JUNE/JULY ISSUE

Sneakin’ Out Back (Landslide 1036), from North Carolina-based Jim Quick & Coastline, is chock full of the-whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts ensemble playing. Anchored by Sam Bryant (drums) and Albert Rogers (bass), Coastline relies on Glen Tippett’s keyboards and sax and Casey Meyer’s crisp guitar to back the warm vocals of Jim Quick (harp, trumpet, trombone). Original songs explore Meters-esque funk (“Out Of State Cash”), swampy roadhouse rock and soul (“Sugar Cookies,” “Mama Lou’s,” “Little Bit Of Money”), swinging blues (“Don’t You Want To Come Too?” and “Jumpin’ The Jetty”), mile-wide R&B grooves (“Mississippi Mud”), 60s rock raveups (guest guitarist Tinsley Ellis’ “Somebody”), and infectious beach music hybrids (Ellis’ sweet, Memphis soul inflected “Callin’”). Sneakin’ is a triumphant success and a surefire good time.

Bottom line: Fans of Delbert McClinton will (and perhaps do) love Jim Quick & Coastline. Quick possesses a rusty, expressive voice and lays down songs with that same earthy charm and wit. Favorites on the Carolina beach music scene (Cammy Award winners), Coastline covers all the bases on "Sneakin' Out Back" (*** 1/2) The group embodies that cross-genre blend of John Hiatt, Bonnie Raitt, the aforementioned McClinton, etc.- Blues, Soul, R & B, Rock and a sprinkle of Country. Quick originals "Little Bit Of Money", "Mississippi Mud" and Delbert's "Do It" fulfill that stompin' Roots Rock need, Tinsey Ellis' "Callin'" & Quick's "Turn Me Over" are two Soulful shaggers- which are truly Southern Soul at heart- sweet Sax and toe-tapping melody. Continuing with the impressive variety comes the swing boogie "Jumpin' The Jetty" & "Don't You Wanan Come Too?" (also originals). A very enjoyable record. Is crossover, McClinton-like success in their future? Time will tell. Blues/Rock titan Tinsely Ellis guests on "Callin'" and "Somebody".

This Thursday Night!!!!
Beach Music returns to one of it's original homes this Thursday night at THE PALM ROOM in Wrightsville Beach. Show will begin around 8:30pm or so. Get here early for limited seating. This is gonna be a party to remember at we jump back to atime when the shag was prevelant at Johnny Mercer's peir. Everyone is invited as Coastline hosts this special event with musical guests from Band of Oz, the infamous Buddy Skipper, and more. Be there.

Jim

They added a few new songs to JQ & Coastline's MySpace main page. Go check 'em out! (Link is at the bottom of every Coastline web page...including this one. YAY!)

Y'all get ready cuz tonight's gonna be a blast at Ray's Deck Party with Coastline. Get your dancin' shoes on for some new Coastline tunes and a new Christmas CD featuring our good friend King Tyrone and the Graveyard Ramblers. Pick one up tonight. New stuff all the time. Yay! Showtime is @ 8:30pm...be there. Longbranch in Raleigh, NC is the spot.

yes my friends it's that time of the year! where we men think of one thing and one thing only. our special team of uniballers... some of us have red ones with a white stripe! some of ours are royal blue, not because we got kicked in it, but because we're a pain in the royal arse! some of ours are even orange for no apparent reason.
but the best uniball is the color of the sky. some of you might call it carolina blue! i call it #1. so if you see some our uniballers out and about; all decked out and leaning to one side or another, you know we just kicked the ever living caca out of the other colors...
this is all for now!
don't go scratch'n before lifting the hatch...

I can't believe how fast this Summer has zipped by! I will say, "it's been crazy, stupid, fun". I'm really excited about this week because we get to play a lot of my favorite places. Tonight we are at the Commodore Room on Topsail island, NC then tomorrow (just added to the schedule) we play at the Official Home of Coastline...Fat Harold's. Then it's down to the swamps of the old Santee on Friday at LT's. Finally we wrap up the week of performances near Atlanta at the Chateu Elan in Brasleton, GA. And we'll have fun fun fun til my daddy...I'm gonna puke (wrong beach music). Hey hey hey, Sunday we head to the Studio to Cut our 2nd release from Landslide Records in Athens, GA. Yay...This week at Fat Harolds we are gonna feature some of the new tunes in our live show to give you a sneak peek at what's coming NEW from Coastline (probably slide some in at the other shows this week too...maybe). Come on out this week Ya'll!