Interview with John Evans, April 12, 2023

Partial Transcript: Always had some bluegrass somewhere in there, uh, mixed in I, you know, couldn't help it I was in the mountains...

Segment Synopsis: Evans remembers his early experiences with music and what he listened to in his youth. He explains that though country and bluegrass were common in his hometown, he loved rock and roll and began playing electric guitar at 12 years old, hoping to emulate the sound of Eddie Van Halen. He also talks about a band he and his friend formed and how they played grunge rock covers at school functions.

Keywords: Bass Guitar; Bluegrass; Country Music; Covers; Grunge Rock; Guitar; Kramer Guitars; Marshall Amplifier; Nirvana; Pearl Jam; Rock and Roll; Van Halen; Yamaha Guitars; Blairsville, Georgia

Partial Transcript: My dad was a racecar driver 'til I was about five...

Segment Synopsis: Evans remembers getting his friends together to play music in his dad's workshop and explains how he learned to play by ear rather. He then remembers some details from his first performances at school functions where he played grunge, rock covers, and some originals.

Keywords: Band; Covers; Ear Training; Funk; Grunge Rock; High School; Instrumentals; Listening; Van Halen; Dirt Track

Partial Transcript: I remember, uh, my senior year in high school of being able to play the Star Spangled Banner at the football game on my guitar...

Segment Synopsis: Evans tells the story of getting to perform the national anthem at a high school football game and subsequently playing his class' song at graduation. He then talks about what his music life was like while enrolled at Young Harris College, and shares some details about a cover band he formed.

Keywords: Acoustic Guitar; Bass; Cover Band; Graduation; High School; Pearl Jam; Rob Keller; The Beatles; The Welfare Liners; Tool; Van Halen; Young Harris College; Kramer Guitars

Partial Transcript: Hearing some Old & In the Way around that time and, you know, I honestly heard Old & In the Way before I did Grateful Dead...

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about his experiences with bluegrass and country music at Young Harris as he began to pick up his acoustic guitar more and explains the unique bluegrass scenes of Young Harris and Hiawassee. He then talks about some of the factors that led to him moving to Athens following graduation.

Keywords: Athens, Georgia; Bill Monroe; Bluegrass; Country Music; Hiawassee, Georgia; Mandolin; Old & In the Way; The Juilliard School; Trades; Young Harris College; Young Harris, Georgia; Acoustic Guitar

Partial Transcript: It was big enough for all four of us to live in, and have a practice space in that house...

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about what life was like during his first few years in Athens, from living with a band to breaking up to forming new bands.

Keywords: Acoustic Guitar; Acoustic Guitar; Blue Grasshopper; Bluegrass; Click Track; Drums; Martin D-1; Sandy Creek Park; Athens, Georgia

Partial Transcript: Tony Rice, I guess people don't think of him as like, a modern guy anymore...

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about learning Tony Rice's music and the impact it had on his playing and discusses soloing in bluegrass. He also shares about playing with his friend John Doster on a gig in Conyers, GA, and the formation of the Last Minute Miracle Band.

Keywords: Bluegrass; Blues; Chords; Fiddle Tunes; Jazz; John Doster; Last Minute Miracle Band; Licks; Lyrics; Soloing; Tony Rice

Partial Transcript: Seems like a lot of acoustic bands found a home at Tasty World around this time...

Segment Synopsis: Evans remembers the strength of the acoustic music community at Tasty World in downtown Athens during the early 2000s. He talks about the bands that formed there and how he received his nickname "Johnny Fabulous."

Keywords: Border Hop Trio; Dick Daniels; Grand Fury; Johnny Fabulous; Last Minute Miracle Band; Packway Handle Band; Real Nice Time Bluegrass Band; Tommy Jordan; Wedding Gigs; Bluegrass

Partial Transcript: And from playing with people and meeting people you find yourself in demand a little bit more...

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about some of his experiences with the Border Hop Trio through the mid-2000s and explains the origin of their name. He also shares more about Tasty World gigs and playing the opening night of The Melting Point.

Keywords: 16 Tons; Blairsville, Georgia; Border Hop Trio; Buddy Blackmon; David Blackmon; Last Minute Miracle Band; Little King's Shuffle Club; Repertoire; Richard Mullinax; Tasty World; The Dappled Grays; The Melting Point; Young Harris College; Bluegrass

Partial Transcript: They had the Tuesday night, I think it was the Terrapin Tuesday bluegrass...

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about some of the changes in the Athens music scene from the 90s and 2000s to now and tells the story of seeing his first live show in Athens. He then explains how he came to play guitar with The Welfare Liners and remembers playing multiple instruments with Joe Willey and the Movin' Men.

Keywords: 16 Tons; 40 Watt Club; Blairsville, Georgia; Dan Horowitz; David Blackmon; Dobro; Five Eight; Guitar; Joe Willey and the Movin' Men; Live Music; Mark Cunningham; The Melting Point; The Welfare Liners; Young Harris College; Holidays

Partial Transcript: Well Border Hop Trio did eventually move into Border Hop Five...

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about the Border Hop Trio developing into the Border Hop Five during the late 2000s and then returning to a trio. He remembers the bi-weekly gigs at Highwire Lounge that served as great practice for the group and gives some background on how the new members joined and where they are now.

Keywords: 40 Watt Club; Bluegrass; George Boggs; Highwire Lounge; Joe Willey; Rob Keller; Russ Hallauer; Russell McCumber; The Melting Point; WUGA; Wayne Wilson; Border Hop Trio

Partial Transcript: My dad had purchased a HD-28, a Martin HD-28 and he said, he told me he was like "you need to play this guitar since you're opening for the Del McCoury Band."

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about a switch in guitars before opening for the Del McCoury Band and then explains his preference for using microphones over pickups when playing acoustic guitar.

Keywords: Acoustic Guitar; Amplification; Antoon Speters; Gear; Martin Guitars; The Melting Point; Tony Rice; Del McCoury

Partial Transcript: Do you want to talk for just a couple minutes about the Movin' Men and how that got started for you?

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about his experiences playing and recording with Joe Willey and the Movin' Men. He takes time to share his experiences with the pedal steel guitar and remembers the fun he had with the band.

Keywords: Bluegrass; Christmas Parade; Claire Campbell; Dobro; Guitar; Pedal Steel; Ribbon Microphone; Tuning; YouTube; Joe Willey and the Movin' Men

Partial Transcript: The oldest has had several years at Nuçi's Space, the Camp Amped, um, got to open up for the Drive-By Truckers homecoming...

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about his step-children and children and their foundations in music. He explains the instruments they play and discusses the positive impacts being around music during childhood can have before closing the interview.

Keywords: Blairsville, Georgia; Children; Drive-By Truckers; Jazz Piano; Parents; Voice; Nuçi's Space