THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503160189
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
It was 20 years ago today that I first heard the Brice Street band play, in Richmond's legendary downtown club, The Pass.
The Pass was one of those clubs that was low in decor but high in hipness. Only the hippest bands played there.
Brice Street was, and is, hip.
1975 was a difficult time to be hip. The AM radio hits of the day were decidedly square, led by the Captain and Tennille, Donny and Marie and the Starland Vocal Band.
But the music on FM radio was cool, featuring Steely Dan, Santana and Little Feat. That's where Jack Atchison found Brice Street's music.
Atchison is Brice Street's leader. Always has been, since he formed the band in 1974 in Greensboro. He's also Brice Street's drummer and main vocalist.
Almost as soon as the group got together, they were getting calls about jobs. But the first order of business was to get a name.
``All the guys in the band came up with cool names,'' says Atchison. ``But nobody liked the other guys' cool name.''
The band finally decided on Brice Street, which is an actual place in Greensboro, the home of the original keyboard player. The band often practiced there.
After the name was set, the band went to work on a songlist. Heading up the list were some usual rock 'n' roll suspects - Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys - as well as the more adventurous FM-radio-style music of Steely Dan and Little Feat.
Brice Street rehearsed for a couple of months and then hit the road, playing at area fraternity parties and in the large-club circuit that included The Pass in Richmond, Town Hall in Chapel Hill, the Pier in Raleigh and the Attic in Greenville.
In the late '70s, the band began playing some original material, which led to a recording contract with North Carolina-based Dolphin Records. ``Rise Up in the Night,'' their first album, was released in 1981. A second album, ``Imagination,'' was released in 1983.
Both albums sold well, but not well enough to keep the label from folding in the mid '80s. Several of the band members, disappointed in the label's failure, left the group. Atchison recruited new members to keep the band alive. And that wasn't always easy.
``We do a lot of four- and five-part harmony,'' Atchison says. ``Not too many rock 'n' roll groups do that.''
But Atchison has that ability to find musicians who share his passion for music. He says the current Brice Street is the best it's been in years.
``We were a four-piece for about 10 years,'' he says. ``But now we're back to a five-piece group, and it sounds more like the original Brice Street.''
The current lineup of the band is David Stewart on lead guitar and vocals, Scott Marvill on guitar and vocals, Mark Wilkinson on bass and Jaxsyn Gray on keyboards and vocals.
Brice Street is still doing the good stuff. Atchison says the Beatles and Beach Boys music gives the band a chance to showcase harmony singing - something he says few new bands attempt.
``Brian Wilson is so amazing,'' Atchison says. ``He completely revolutionized rock 'n' roll music by adding harmony singing.''
But four- and five-part harmony is not for the faint of heart. Brice Street often rehearses only the vocals for hours at a time.
``It's really a big part of our sound,'' Atchison says. ``Most of the newer bands don't have the discipline to learn all the parts.''
Brice Street plays about 100 dates a year now. During the week, Atchison works a regular day gig. He's also a 40-year-old man with a wife and kids: daughter Jordan, 9, and son Max, 3.
Does he ever think about giving up rock 'n' roll?
``Sure, I miss my family,'' Atchison says. ``But ever since I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, I've wanted to be in a band.''
And he's in a band, a very good band, called Brice Street. MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks entertainment for The Carolina Coast.
Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C.
27959.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The Brice Street band is still doing the good stuff - Beatles and
Beach Boys music.
WHERE & WHEN
Who: Brice Street
Where: Kelly's, U.S. Route 158, Milepost 10
When: Friday and Saturday
For information: 441-4116
by CNB