TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JULY 2018 19
GO LOCAL
Music Profile
Monty Park’s Tuesday
Night Acoustic Jam
Like every other kid in the 60s, music and rock stars were the guiding
lights of adolescence as everyone seemed to have a guitar, drums or
harmonica ... even if they couldn’t play them ... they dressed like they did.
The latter half of the Twentieth Century, and the first part of the Twentyfirst,
life was all about the music and the players.
Now as “spoken word” is layered over computer generated rhythms
replacing “music,” rock legends die in mass, Gibson Guitar files bankruptcy
and the generation of players who never played discover themselves.
That’s part of it.
The other reality is islands breed music. Music loves islands. And Tybee
Island loves music.
It’s hard to walk around the Island without music drifting overhead from
Fannie’s, behind AJ’s, through the doors of Nickie’s, the Rock House, Doc’s,
The Sand Bar or on the deck at North Beach Grill.
As great as it collectively is ... and it’s GREAT! ... perhaps the best
occurs in the out of the way Beachview Bed and Breakfast on Tuesday
nights when a diverse group of musicians collect to share the music ... with
each other ... for free. Fortified by the camaraderie, the new guys light into
Robert Earl Keen’s “Feeling Good Again” ... quickly joined in with Joey on
bass ... Bob on harmonica ... Chip playing lead ... Greg’s rhythm guitar and
harmonies and ... when it’s good it’s glorious ... and if it’s mediocre it’s fun!
At lease they keep coming back. From everywhere. Year after year.
The anchor is a group of ever changing “locals” ... some from as far
away as Richmond Hill or Pooler and others who ride bicycles with guitars
strapped to their backs. The result is a weekly family reunion of sorts
bound together by playing music.
It started when Roy Swindelle was the house player at Doc’s Bar, trying
to get business in on a weeknight. “I thought of an open mic night but I am
not really keen on those. At the time Ian Parmee was visiting from England
and he told me about these types of jam sessions in the UK. I did a little
research and found out there were a few of these in the area, but they were
all bluegrass. So ... I started the Jam night at Doc’s. The original concept
was about the musicians and the music,” Roy explains, “and NOT about
the audience or the spectators. Doc’s back room was perfect for that. On
the first night I had actually prepared a song book if nobody had any songs.
Never used that. In the beginning, we were also very active in helping
others to get better.”
One of those attending was Monty Parks. “I attended a Jam in the
back room of Doc’s Bar organized by Roy and Martha. Some nights it was
magical. I was working crazy hours but made it as often as I could ... I
couldn’t hold a candle to the talent there.”
That’s funny because Monty grew up with music, first in the school
band before picking up a guitar and joining a band.
It was all about getting better by playing music with others.
Then Roy and Doc’s parted ways. The Jam fell upon hard times,
eventually moving to the Old Tybee School Cafeteria, which didn’t work.
Monty explains, “A few of us felt the Jam was important and should
be continued. It’s a great place to play music with others in a low key
atmosphere. After all these years, it remains what it’s always been ... a
place to play music with others and get better.”
“I met Roy at Doc’s one night after the Jam,” explains Matt Marshburn,
whose stage name is Cousin Itt. “He invited me to come and try it out, and
I did. I had never played with others, still in my first year of learning to play,
but the Jam was exactly what I needed, a small group of very nice and
great players. I learned a lot. We played every Tuesday until Docs closed.
Then we moved it to the old school. I thought it was over then. Sometimes
it was just Monty and myself. Then we went to The Sand Bar for a bit. Docs
reopened and we returned. Most of the original players have left but the joy
of playing never did. No matter who was there or where we played.”
Cousin Itt now has a regular gig at the Rail Pub in downtown Savannah,
Monty Parks is a professional entertainer throughout the region and a
house player on the Savannah River Boat, and Roy Swindelle remains
the Godfather of Savannah’s live music scene. Other regulars perform
on stage or in singer/songwriter shows throughout Georgia, churches,
nursing homes and community events, taking the skills honed in the Jam
and sharing it with others. The rising tide of music elevates the skills of all
the players. “It’s always been about the sharing of music, musical ideas,
and helping each other achieve whatever goal they were trying to reach,”
Roy says.
Monty explains, “Some folks like to share songs they’ve written, some
practice lead guitar, others sing along and everyone uses the Jam as
motivation to practice and get better. Some people have dreams and some
are happy to just be with others who love the same thing they do ... playing
music.” It really is, and always has been, about people who love to play live
music gathering together.
On occasion, people collect to listen, though it’s rare because they
merely stumble upon it. Derick and Michelle Hodge from Conyers, Georgia,
attend every time they’re on Tybee, which is often. “We love live music,”
she explains, “the jokes and camaraderie everyone has. When everyone
goes around the room taking turns singing, it’s fun, relaxing and it’s the
greatest vibe and everyone’s so talented ... of course this is from two
people who have no musical talent.” Derrick adds, “It’s just great to see
live performances and hear someone playing instruments in these days of
manufactured so-called music these days.”
People come and go but the joy of playing never leaves.
And once each week on Tybee Island, a gathering of normal folks
who practice real hard are transformed into rock stars for a little while,
sometimes while others listen but mostly just for each other, they live the
love of music. It’s a part of island life that makes Tybee so damn special.
The magic’s in the music and the music’s lovingly cared for every
Tuesday night on Tybee Island at Monty Park’s Acoustic Jam.
By Micheal Elliott