Our Kumbaya Moments

We’re hero-worshippers in The Flood, and we’ve got a BUNCH of musical heroes. Often our tributes to them come on the spur of the moment. For instance, about a month ago, we were wrapping up a rehearsal — at the start of this track, you can hear us saying our goodbyes — but, in fact, Doug, Sam, Randy and I just didn’t want the evening to end yet, so we launched into one last tune, an old spiritual that we learned from a Lightnin’ Hopkins recording. Now, Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins recorded "Jesus, Will Come By Here" back in 1952, but the song went largely unnoticed for, well, 20 years. Then in 1972, the Cicely Tyson/Paul Winfield movie, "Sounder," used the old recording in the film’s soundtrack, calling it "Needed Time," and that's the first time we heard it. Sure, our version is a bit more raucous than Lightnin's original, but it does capture the joy of those weekly Kumbaya moments with the Family Flood.

The Taylor Books Homework Assignment

This Saturday night we’re heading to Charleston for a show at one of our all-time favorite venues in the capital city, the wonderful Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., and we’re bringing with us our latest experiment in sing-alongs. Now, The Flood doesn’t usually assign homework, but in this case, we’ll make an exception. If you are planning to join us for the fun at Taylor Books this Saturday night, you might want to study this audio track. It comes from our set at last weekend’s Route 60 Saturday Night show, and it will help you get your hey-lawdy-mama-mama, hey-lawdy papa-papa’s in order for the evening! Hey, whaddaya know! It’s our first Flood study guide! Remember, we’re at Taylor Books this Saturday night. The good times start at 7:30.

It Don't Work Like That

As we gear up for the latest edition of the monthly Route 60 Saturday Night show this weekend (at Route 60 Music Co., 60 Peyton St. in Barboursville), we have to prepare to go on stage without our regular harmonicat. Sam St. Clair is heading north to Alaska for a memory quest with his parents, and we wish them bon voyage. Meanwhile, The Flood’s good buddy Jim Rumbaugh has graciously agreed to sit in with us on harps for Saturday’s show. At last night’s Flood rehearsal, Jim rocked us with one of his original compositions, which we expect to bring to Saturday night’s show. Here’s Jim’s “It Don’t Work Like That!” By the way, our guest artists for this month’s show are singers Emmy Davis and Paula Davis Stewart. The fun starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $5, and this month, all proceeds go to the Tri-State Aids Task Force. Come on out — good times for a good cause.

Getting a Handle on our Water Music

We’re dredging up all our good water music — and a band called The Flood oughta have a bunch of river songs, right? — for a show we’re doing Friday night in Point Pleasant, WV, at a fundraiser for the good folks at one of our favorite places, the Point Pleasant River Museum. If you’re in the area, come on out for a great dinner at 6:30, then stay for our show at 7:30. The event will be at the First Church of God Ministry Center, 2401 Jefferson Avenue in beautiful Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

Someone's Always Leaving Here...

For some of us, this time of year is a little bittersweet. For instance, Pamela and Charlie spend a lot of time at Marshall University nowadays, so they get to know many bright young adults throughout their college careers. And then each spring, the Bowens watch their young friends graduate and head out into the world to start the next chapter of their lives. For the West Virginia natives among them, that diploma often comes with a challenge and a choice. Do I leave for higher mountains and wider skies, or do I stay in the green hills and the dark valleys that nurtured me? Here’s a tune from Michelle at last night’s rehearsal, a lovely Colleen Anderson composition that comes with a catch in its throat.