Visitors to Florida tend to overlook Gainesville, the small city that is home to the big state university. We don’t get the tourist trade up here, despite some efforts to brand the city as a place “where nature and culture meet.” The slogan sounds swell, but it doesn’t tell you much. Nature is more easily defined than culture is; the city is surrounded by woodlands (a boon for tree connoisseurs) and with woodlands come birds (surely bird-watching must be more popular in Florida than anywhere else). There are also swamps, farm land, acres of planted pine for the lumber industry, lakes, ponds, and those snakey hiking trails I am always going on about.
Culture is harder to define. You could put the label on anything from a kindergarten art exhibit to a bus-and-truck tour of “Hairspray.” Culture has a broad definition, but on Friday night the Hogtown Music Heroes played a history lesson in Gainesville’s musical culture.
Hogtown Music Heroes are a showcase group that existed for one night. Assembled by local legend and vintage guitar expert Mike Boulware, they played the opening night of the Free Fridays Concert Series at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza.
There are some real “Hogtown Music Heroes” of whom you are probably aware: Tom Petty and Bo Diddley. Don Felder and Bernie Leadon. And if we extend the tag a bit to Jacksonville and to people who played the Northern Florida circuit, we get the Allman Brothers.
Friday night, Mike Boulware brought along Duane Allman’s 1957 Goldtop Les Paul as he and his crew paid tribute to Gainesville’s musical past. The Goldtop is the guitar that “Skydog” played on the first two Allman Brothers Band albums (“Whipping Post,” “Midnight Rider”). It was also the instrument Allman played on most of “Layla,” Eric Clapton’s seminal rock romance with its soaring, keening guitar solo.
The guitar’s for sale and you can read about its history here.
Mike Boulware is one of Gainesville’s finest musicians, and the show he put together brought nearly 800 music-lovers downtown despite heat, and, in my case, flu. After the break, Mike did a solo acoustic turn on “Little Martha,” the only Allman Brothers song authored solely by Duane Allman. As Mike played, the crowd went silent. I remarked at that time that I had never seen a Plaza concert that mellow.
Mike has a strong emotional connection to the Goldtop. ” I think the best part for me is, you can hear Duane breathe as he plays…wish he was still breathing!”
We left the concert with the echo of Duane’s guitar soaring in the humid night air. The crowd split, the vendor packed up his cart, the lights went off, and the music never died.
Mike and friends play a regular Wednesday night gig at Sandy’s Place, 5001 NW 34th St., Gainesville, FL.
Free Fridays concert schedule is here.
The Goldtop.
Busted. Mr. B. is the concert series coordinator. Here, he introduces the band.
From the left: Pat Jarnigan, Don David, Dino Campbell, Ron Thomas, Mike Boulware.
Dino Campbell and Mike Boulware
Mike Boulware playing Duane Allman’s Goldtop.
Pat Jarnigan drum solo.
Mike Boulware acoustic. Duane Allman’s Goldtop in the background.
The concert photographer. What a week. Hit by a bad flu on Tuesday. Then worked at the Sinbad show on Thursday with a 102-degree fever. Friday night concert, completely soaked from fever and humidity. That is the official excuse for this photo.
rick said:
Hope you are on the mend.
I saw Bo Diddley play at the Community Plaza and celebrated the Bicentennial there as a kid. It’ll always be special to me.
deb said:
nice write-up and photos… but there are also three other members of the band plus another guest from this concert who all deserve recognition.
it was an awesome musical event!
gainesville365 said:
Rick, that’s so cool!
We were down in Orlando one day and noticed that shell over by the lake. Mr. B. immediately started “booking” it. What goes on there?
Jack Riepe said:
Derar Freshly Squeezed:
Sorry you were sick… As a young child, my mom would try and cheer me up when I had a fever by saying, “Sure beats leprosy.”
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
gainesville365 said:
Debby, my intention with this post was to talk about the guitar and also the concert in general, not to go into a full-service review. I enjoyed the playing of each and every member of the assembled group. Unfortunately, I was not able to obtain quality pictures of every person due to various factors like stage position, my position, and issues with poor lighting stage right.
Jack, thanks!
The Florida Blogger said:
Don David is looking a little like Billy Bob Thorton, just a little neater.
Patti said:
One of the things I miss most about Gainesville is the summer concert series. Even if I didn’t go to each concert I never missed going to hear Quartermoon. It was like old home week with people coming that we hadn’t seen in years! The Gram Parsons tribute is another favorite of mine to see all the old faces. I moved to Gainesville in 1973 and know a lot of the musicians from years past. I wish I had checked the schedule for last weekend. I would have loved to come over.
If you’re interested in going waayyy back in Gainesville music history check out Gainesville Bands:
http://www.garygordonproductions.com/great_gainesville_bands.html
Old pictures of Don and Mike, Barry Sides and Quartermoon when they were the Grits.
I need to make a point of coming “home” this year. It will nice to see old friends.
By the way, congrats to Mr. B for doing a great job putting this series together! If I still lived over there I would beg for a job with the Division of Cultural Affairs!!!
Patti
gainesville365 said:
Patti, Quartermoon is one of my fave local bands. Raven has such a wonderfully clear and bell-like voice.
There are a lot of great shows this summer. The Fillmore show, the replay of the Woodstock concert, and so many more.
A relatively new band to the Plaza is Lions of Jah from Jax. They are an incredible reggae band that just blew me away last year. And I adore Morningbell!
If you are going to come out, be sure to say “hi” to Mr. B. and me. We are always visible!
Hope to see you there!
bobskoot said:
Freshly squeezed:
I just love typing the words “Freshly Squeezed” (there I did it again) it must give you a lot of satisfaction as you see the audience enjoying the music and show. Sorry about your flu, get better fast. That’s an order !
bob
Wet Coast Scootin
gainesville365 said:
Thanks, Bob, you’re a pal!
Dave said:
An answer, and a question.
By the “shell over by the lake” in Orlando, I assume you mean Lake Eola.
http://www.cityoforlando.net/fpr/Html/Parks/lakeeola.htm
Lots goes on, Concerts, plays, farmers market, festivals.
Now my question. Is Mike Boulware any relation to the Boulwares of Boulware Springs ?
gainesville365 said:
Dave, I did mean Lake Eola. I was too lazy to look it up. Mr. B. envisioned it as an outdoor theatre similar to what he runs up here.
I have no idea if Mike is connected to Boulware Springs, but it would seem logical to make that connection.
Steve said:
Hi Suzanna:
Thank you for covering this event. Great pic of the Gold Top! Great meeting you in person too. Keep up the good work! Hope your feelin better too.