Even Money

In an era when bluegrass has re-defined and re-invented itself in an array of styles, interpretations and presentations, the musicians of Even Money are content to stay close to the core of traditional bluegrass material, vocal styles and instrumentation. Recognizing that “bluegrass instruments” and material do not guarantee that the resulting sound will be remotely recognizable as the traditional, drawn from the depths of the heart, American roots and soul music of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and Jimmy Martin, Even Money seeks to maintain the earthy purity, drive and intensity of the early days of bluegrass. True to original bluegrass standards, instrumentation is tight, as is the vocal harmony, with no room for sloppiness or compromise in the quality of musicianship.
Even Money does throw in some curves, material-wise, that are surprising. Audiences hear some blues, some folk, maybe a different era here and there, but still bluegrass in form and composition… and nothing electric, a nod to authenticity and staying close to what is real. The band’s performances are like bluegrass itself, at one moment mournful and haunting, the next rolling, driving, complex and jubilant.
Mr. Monroe described bluegrass music as having “…a hard drive to it. It's Scotch bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound. It's plain music that tells a good story. It's played from my heart to your heart, and it will touch you. Bluegrass is music that matters." With foundations in an array of musical backgrounds, Even Money has their own beliefs about who and what they are musically, how they like to play, what they want to hear and work to keep alive.
THE BAND MEMBERS
SKIP JOHNS: BANJO, GUITAR AND VOCALS - A native of Lake City now living in Tallahassee, Skip is a third generation bluegrass musician and was playing festivals with his own band, the Travelers, by the time he was 18. While still a teenager, he was privileged to learn traditional bluegrass foundation and technique from fellow Lake City natives and bluegrass greats, Chubby Anthony and Chubby Wise. His primary influences musically are Earl Scruggs and J.D. Crowe on the banjo; the harmony and musicianship of the Osborne Brothers, the Country Gentlemen and the Seldom Scene and the perfect tempo and impeccably tight instrumentation of Jimmy Martin. He has opened concerts across north Florida for Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash, the Seldom Scene, Al Hirt, Grandpa Jones, the Bellamy Brothers and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, performed numerous times alongside legendary fiddler, Chubby Wise, and was a special guest of country comedian Jerry Clower on WSM’s Grand Old Opry. A veteran of the Florida Folk Festival beginning in 1972, one of Skip's and the Travelers' performances at the Festival is included on the Florida Folk Festival's 25th Anniversary Album. Even Money continues the tradition and has already expanded and improved upon it musically.
BRIAN DURHAM: BASS AND VOCALS - Born and raised in Tallahassee, Brian grew up in a world of musical influences. Drawn to his father's plethora of instruments, Brian picked up each, beginning with the guitar, and was soon playing them all, from strings to brass. On his own, he developed a love of music and was soon in the company of family friends and great bluegrass artists, Rudy Q. Jones, and Hall of Famer, Max Tillman. He learned the history, foundation and traditions of bluegrass and developed an appreciation for the music. Today he actively plays an array of musical forms, from blues to reggae, and brings the best qualities of each to his bluegrass performances. Brian believes music is one of the purest forms of communication among humans, crossing many barriers and bridging gaps among people. In addition to Even Money, Brian has performed, and currently performs, in a variety of bands and genres including the New 76-ers, Stillwood, Dead Keys, The FSU Blues Band, Curious Circus, Blue Moon and Trial by Stone.
KAY LINTON: FIDDLE - A Tampa native, Kay developed a love of bluegrass while attending jams with friends, including gatherings at Tampa’s popular "Bluegrass Parlor". She met local bluegrass musicians Aubrey Haynie and David Crow, who would later establish themselves in Nashville as two of the most respected musicians of their generation. Kay started learning to play the guitar, traveled to festivals (often to hear Crow’s band, the Beachville Bluegrass) and soon decided playing the fiddle suited her better. She traded her guitar for a fiddle and started taking lessons from Ted Locke, a relative of Aubrey Haynie’s who had also taught Haynie to play. One of the best known fiddlers in Nashville today, Haynie has recorded with numerous artists. David Crow would go on to play the fiddle with the Osborne Brothers, become a Nashville entertainment industry attorney and president of the IBMA. Kay put her fiddle aside for a time, but took the instrument up again at the urging of her mother shortly before her mother’s death. Kay later studied the fiddle with Owen Saunders and moved to Tennessee. She now lives in Tallahassee, where she continues to play her bluegrass fiddle at every opportunity. Kay joined Even Money in January 2008. Her versatility, enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to the bluegrass form are important assets to the band.
GEOFF CALLAGHAN: GUITAR, MANDOLIN AND LEAD VOCALS - The only Yankee in the band, Geoff is originally from Long Island, New York, and spent most of his early years in Vermont. He discovered bluegrass when he was dragged to see local Tallahassee bluegrass group Blue and Lonesome, who ended up being his first bluegrass inspiration. Starting with guitar and eventually picking up the mandolin, Geoff hung around the periphery of the local bluegrass community and tried to learn. With singer Kelly Durham (now Goddard), Geoff formed Blue Moon, which was almost a bluegrass band. Starting with local legends Dave Leporati and Carrie Hamby, the lineup eventually rounded into Geoff, Kelly Goddard, her husband Danny, her little brother Brian Durham, and some weird guy named John they just couldn't shake-off. After the breakup of Blue Moon, Geoff played with Kim and the Curs and eventually joined Skip in Even Money, dragging Brian along with him.
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"SCALLOP" - KAY'S FIDDLE
GREAT INLAY. BUILT BY CHRISTIAN SCHALLER IN 1858
SWEET!
"REUBEN'S TRAIN"
A 1912 BALDWIN
OUR FRIEND BOATDOCK BILL'S PEN AND INK DRAWING
John Hardy
"COUNTRY MUSIC IS THREE CHORDS AND THE TRUTH." - Harlan Howard
"I WAS DETERMINED TO CARVE OUT A MUSIC OF MY OWN. I DIDN'T WANT TO COPY ANYBODY." - Bill Monroe
"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND THE NEWER ARTISTS IS THAT I HAVE THE HISTORY WITH THE ARCHITECTS, THE MASTERS THAT STARTED THE MUSIC. I KNOW WHERE THE MUSIC CAME FROM." - Ricky Skaggs
"CARNEGIE HALL WAS REAL FABULOUS, BUT YOU KNOW, IT AIN'T AS BIG AS THE GRAND OLE OPRY." - Patsy Cline
"ANY SONG THAT TAKES MORE THAN 20 MINUTES TO WRITE, AIN'T WORTH WRITIN'." - Hank Williams
BOTTICELLI'S MASTERPIECE, "BIRTH OF VENUS WITH BANJO"