THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9506020078
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
HOUSE AND garden.
``I'm doing some gardening today,'' James House said, during a telephone interview from his newly acquired Nashville home. ``We moved in about six weeks ago.''
He will move out this weekend to perform at Harborfest, Norfolk's annual ``God-it-better-not-rain'' food and fun fest.
Specifically, House will be on the Budweiser Stage to perform songs he has written for himself and others. His chief claim to songwriting fame is his Grammy nomination for penning a Dwight Yoakam hit, ``Ain't That Lonely Yet.''
Lonely, he ain't. House is close to - what else? - the House Band, described by Nashville writer Robert K. Oermann as ``one of the best bands on the road today.''
Unlike many of today's performers, House spotlights his band, including fiddle player Laura Weber, who used to work with Patty Love-less.
``I wanted a girl fiddle player,'' he said - ``a rose among thorns.
``I always liked the band feeling,'' House said, noting that the inspiration for that reasoning came from ``Springsteen and Bonnie Raitt.
``It makes for a better show. Let 'em show off. The audience loves it - so do I,'' he said. ``Each one of them has their own following. It's like saying - he's my favorite Beatle. Anyway, the floodlights do not hit them at the knees.''
The spotlight shone on House and band about two weeks ago when they performed a ``for-Navy-only'' show at the Norfolk Naval Air Station.
``I sat in the captain's chair on the Eisenhower,'' he said. ``Man, that was one of the biggest thrills.''
The Navy thrilled him, but the Army helped him with a hit.
The video of House's current single, ``This Is Me Missing You,'' was filmed at the Fort Campbell Army base in Kentucky.
House will perform that one in Norfolk as well as a few other items from his first album on Epic, ``Days Gone By.''
In those days, while still in high school, he began his performing career. That was in Sacramento, about 60 miles from Merle Haggard territory.
When school was out in the good, ole summertime House headed for his grandfather's farm in Klamath Falls, Ore. ``baling hay, herding cattle, fixing fences'' - pause - ``and spreading manure.''
House also has memories of singing with his dad and brothers - ``those old cowboy songs with the four-part harmonies.''
He is talking about items like ``Tumbling Tumbleweeds,'' ``Red River Valley,'' ``Cattle Call.''
So much for the past. The future calls for an album to be cut late this year or early next year.
House is already thinking about the songs therein - originals or material by others.
``I'll come in with about 25. I've already got 15 written,'' he said. ``I write 'em, tape 'em, forget about 'em. In October, I'll start looking at 'em for the album.''
What would House be doing if he were not recording or performing?
``The only other thing I'm qualified for,'' he said, ``is. . . `would you like fries with that?' '' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by BRET LOPEZ /
Sony Music
James House returns to Norfolk for Harborfest.
by CNB