The Mayhaws profile picture

The Mayhaws

About Me

The mayhaw is the fruit of several kinds of hawthorn trees native to the low and swampy parts of the deep south. As the name implies, the fruit ripens in early May. Because hawthorn trees are covered in thorns and impossible to climb, folks used to go out and collect the fruit by laying a blanket under the tree and shaking the haws out onto it. The jellies and wines made from the Mayhaw are considered to be amongst the finest in the world.
Like their namesakes, The Mayhaws are sweet and thorny, playing music rooted in American and American-immigrant traditions. Each member brings to the enterprise a wealth of musical experience, their combined talents resulting in a piquant mix of folk, honky-tonk, soul, bluegrass and old-school country. A Mayhaws set can run the gamut from traditional hill music to delta blues to pop songs re-imagined as jug tunes.
When Dave Leporati of Singing Biscuit signed on with Sharla June & The Mayhaws as occasional man of the mandolin, he couldn't have known that eventually it would lead to two bands merging into one. Upon original bass player Doug Morgan's departure, Carrie Hamby of Singing Biscuit—an accomplished songwriter and singer—joined in on upright for a series of gigs. It was apparent to everyone who saw these early shows that something special was happening, and it wasn't long before the two groups decided to activate their Wonder Twin powers and take the form of The Mayhaws.
With their roots in folk and country music and their hearts in the honky-tonk, The Mayhaws do rockabilly Stooges, samba Patsy Cline, and a wealth of originals (written by all three core members) that saunter, swing, or make folks weep into their shot glasses. Come and see them soon—you will be moved. You'll shake your tail feathers. You'll remember why they call it folk music.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 06/02/2007
Band Website: www.themayhaws.com
Band Members: Sharla June -- guitar, banjo, & vocals
Carrie Hamby -- upright bass, guitar, accordion, occasional mandolin, & vocals
Dave Leporati -- mandolin, occasional upright, & vocals
Deb Berlinger -- drums, cowbell, whoops, hollers
Adam Straubinger -- Violin, Vocals

TO PURCHASE FLYIN' WITHOUT MY WINGS AGAIN. CLICK THE PICTURE, Y'ALL

YOU CAN ALSO BUY IT AT iTUNES

FOR ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT:

View The Mayhaws's EPK

Name: E-mail:

Influences: Carrie: Laura Love, Asleep at the Wheel, Emmylou Harris, Iris DeMent, The Stanley Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, The McGarrigle Sisters, Twisted Sister (just kidding), The Velvet Underground, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Victoria Williams, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Lynn Morris, Laurie Lewis, Gillian Welch, Frederic Chopin, Deacon Lunchbox, Cowboy Bob's Chuckwagon Roundup, H.R. Puff'n'stuff, Marie Curie, Vincent Van Gogh, Pedro Almodovar, David Lynch, Anne Sexton, Annie Dillard, John Muir, Tony Millionaire.

Sharla: Patsy Cline, Hank Sr., Johnny Cash, Carter Family, Louvin Brothers, Gram Parsons, X, Ramones, Iggy Pop, Psychdelic Furs, Townes Van Zant, Buck Owens, Flaming Groovies, Kinks, Pretenders, REM, Big Star, Memphis Minnie, Leadbelly, Fetchin' Bones, Replacements, Charlie Pickett and the Eggs, Sean Condron, Bill Hangley, Jr., Tim Easton, Ole Bogwarriors from Hell, The Lazy Pigs, Two Dollar Bash, Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Dylan, The Slut Boys, Donovan, Bap Kennedy, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam, Peggy Lee, Green on Red, Ella Fitzgerald, Bessie Smith, Lucinda Williams, Flying Burrito Brothers, Byrds, Neil Young, Paul Simon, jug music, Monk, Coltrane, Armstrong, Cannonball Adderley, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, Gun Club, The Police, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Clash, Dean Martin, Woody Guthrie, Loudon Wainwright, Dr. Suess, Francesca Lia Block, Emily Dickenson, Mary Jo Bang, Les Murray, James Dickie, Mary Oliver, Barbara Hamby, The Ditty Bops, The Velvet Underground, circuses, Buffy, Los Bros Hernandes, Spiderman, Nietzsche, Shakespeare, Elizabeth Cotton, Freedy Johnston, Wem Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Thai food, the Gourds, David Kirby, Al Green, Otis Redding…
Sounds Like: Acoustic stomp and revelry. Honky-tonk shenanigans. Blues. Balladry. Harmony-dense, irreverent, muscular sweetness.

My Blog

Guerilla Folk (and the Florida Soak Fest)

A big ole smooch and a thank you to all the fine folk who came out to the Florida Folk Fest despite unseasonable dampness! Y'all are troopers and saints and ladies and gentlemen of the road. We were e...
Posted by on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:04:00 GMT

Lonely Places

Well, y'all,We've finally mixed the new record with Doug Morgan over at Frank's Analog Boutique; it's been mastered by the masterful Rick Ott at From the Heart down in lovely Sopchoppy, FL; the cover ...
Posted by on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:17:00 GMT

Spring Popping Out All Over

Hey, Friends,Just a quick note to say "howdy" and "how are ya" and to wish you wonderful Spring vibe-er-ations. We've been playing some terrific gigs with some terrific bands and have made new friends...
Posted by on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:38:00 GMT

Recording the New CD

Well, folks, the new CD is coming along swimmingly. We're recording again with Doug Morgan, the same fella who helped Sharla with Flyin', and we've laid down 12 songs so far. Each of these just needs ...
Posted by on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:41:00 GMT

Home Again: Gratitude, Gratitude, and More Gratitude

The Mayhaws are blessed to have many wonderful friends and family who support what we do. On this tour, we were shown tremendous hospitality and fed like royalty. Here's a shout-out to the folks who n...
Posted by on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:48:00 GMT

DAY 6  Mountains, Green Horses, Blue Plates, & Pre-Columbian Coffee

MountainsSo far, Daisy has done great and we appreciate her mightily. She has even climbed a couple of mountains to get to and from Blowing Rock, NC. Deb was driving and it was like a carnival ride. W...
Posted by on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:54:00 GMT

DAY 21Costumery, Gypsy Burlesque, and Tallahassee as a Wormhole

CostumeryIn Washington, NC we decided to wear costumes for our show in Greenville. We're not sure whose idea this was initially, but the word on the street is it was Dave's. Lucky for us, there was a ...
Posted by on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:56:00 GMT

DAY 17Frontier Towns, the Smallest Church in North America, Daves New Career, and Maque Choux

Frontier TownsWest Virginia is full of little towns that look like they've just been settledlike you've gone back in time and should expect a gal in a bustier and long bloomers to lean out the window...
Posted by on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:22:00 GMT

DAY 15  Mermaids & the Tooth Fairy, Tips, and Almost Heaven

Mermaids & the Tooth FairyAfter a lovely dinner and two sets of music at Pittsboro General Store, we stayed with Steve Grothmann (former member of Sharla's band Begs & Achin', alt-country lege...
Posted by on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:03:00 GMT

DAY 9: Menageries, Our Illustrious President, Bruises, Poker, & Fried Olives & Banana Pudding

MenageriesSitting outside an auto-parts store in charming Sylva, NC, we've just spent the night with chanteuse and songwriter Ashley Chambliss (live link to her website here). Ashley took in us weary ...
Posted by on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:14:00 GMT