(DeSoto Times-Tribune photo by Luke Horton) An employee of Herb's Diner of Byhalia readies her culinary offerings Friday at Hernando's A'Fair.
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Community Editor
Published: Friday, May 15, 2009 9:48 PM CDT
HERNANDO - Get ready, Nashville.
An eclectic mix of New Country with an edge is in store for A'Fair festival-goers today as the Hernando-based band named Closely Watched Train takes the stage as the final act.
"Personally, I'm hoping to stop people in their tracks," drummer Oscar Faltus said as he described what he calls the group's "phenomenal sound."
It took a magazine listing to bring Faltus and his neighbor Johnny Curry together.
Curry, 39, lives just three blocks down from Faltus in a quiet suburban Hernando neighborhood.
Curry, who shares lead vocals with other band members, said he hopes hometown folks get on board the "Train's" bandwagon as the band's fan base grows.
"It would be great to have the hometown support," Curry said.
The Virginia Beach native has called Hernando home for the past three years.
The former policeman from Newport News, Va., has been playing music for 30 years but Curry said it's taken that long to find the perfect band with a distinctive and unique sound.
"The best thing about the group is that we're all from DeSoto County," Curry said. Other band members Scott Perry, Drew Short and Eddie Sorrell round out the group.
Curry said the band is in the mold of New Country groups like Rascal Flatts but has elements of rock, blues and even New Wave.
"We play New Country in the Rascal Flatt's kind of style - Blake Shelton, Keith Urban-type music," Curry said. "The New Country movement started with Garth Brooks and Vince Gill. They're the ones who put it in the mainstream."
Adding a few blues licks gives the band attitude, Curry said.
Guitar player Scott Berry has played on Beale Street for 30 years.
Faltus has been playing drums since his father bought him his first set at age 10.
"I remember we were in the living room harmonizing, and there was nobody to hear us," Faltus said.
Hopefully, that's about to change for the band. The free concert today, slated for between 3 and 4 p.m. is a chance for local fans to see the band up close before they cut their first CD.
Curry said the crowd will be treated to some familiar numbers before the band unloads their original songs.
"You've got to play stuff people want to hear before you play your original stuff," Curry said. "In order to get your music out, we have to play what people want to hear."
Faltus said a band's chemistry has to be just right.
"The really strange thing is that I put a band together three years ago," Fatlus said. "We looked for a guitar player and here he was just three blocks from me."
Faltus said he made the connection with Curry through the Memphis Flyer entertainment magazine.
Curry said he and Faltus instantly connected.
"It's tough to find people with the right idea and the right attitude," Curry said.
The five band members have been intently rehearsing for the A'Fair concert during the past week.
The band members hold down regular jobs and juggle family commitments into their rehearsal schedules.
Curry is a human resource specialist. Faltus is a machinist by trade and used to own Hernando's Hideaway (best honky-tonk ever) in Memphis, a legendary club frequented by Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Faltus is just 43 but he's heard all the stories. He even encountered Jerry Lee Lewis who came into the club to hear the band that was playing onstage at the time.
"Jerry Lee came in one time and heard the band and asked me 'Who are these crackers?"
"I said, well, Mr. Lewis I could tell you their names but you probably wouldn't remember them," Faltus told him. "He laughed and said, yeah, you're probably right."
Curry said his talent is songwriting and coming up with lyrics.
"My wife will go shopping and come back and I will have written a song. It's finding the alone time to write songs that is difficult."
It was Curry who came up with the name for the band based on a 1966 movie of the same name, a foreign film that became popular during the New Wave movement.
"We just hope that people will come out, have a good time, and like what they hear."
Other musical acts include Earl Randle from 9 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. and a bluegrass jam from 10:45 a.m. until noon.
From 12:15 until 1 p.m. Martin Carver and Jett Case will perform.
Preceding Closely Watched Train is Kerry Parker from 1:15 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Activities begin early Saturday at 7:30 a.m. with the Laurie Wiley Memorial 5K Run/Walk.
Registration and check-in is located in the parking lot of Trustmark Bank at U.S. Highway 51 and Center Street across the street from the courthouse.
Registration forms are available at www.hernandooptimist.com or call Rachel Cook at 901-258-6811 for more information.
The arts and crafts show, expected to draw hundreds of vendors and thousands of tourists and shoppers, begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m. around the courthouse square and down Center Street.
Major events are located throughout the day including the NASCAR racing car belonging to the Joe Gibbs racing team.
An arts show is slated around the courthouse square and down Commerce Street to City Hall and Center Street West from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Musical acts will perform from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Mid-South Flywheelers will have antique tractors on display. A book sale and story time are also planned at 11 a.m.
Robert Lee Long: rlong@desototimestribune.com or at 662-429-6397, Ext. 252