JOHNNY BERRY
Postmodern country-western singer
“I thought Louisville was a place where people would dig what I’m doing,” country-western singer Johnny Berry says. And locals do seem to dig Berry, 35, and his band The Outliers, featuring guitarist Steve Cooley and drummer Andy Brown. Berry, moved to town in 2000 after working in Nashville for several years as a musician at Opryland. The Meade County native grew up in a house with a gospel-singing mother and a father with an 8-track collection featuring the likes of Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash.
Berry’s deep voice garners him comparisons to Cash — which he doesn’t seem to shy away from. While his roots may be buried in the dirt of country music, Berry’s sound and performance style exist outside of the slick, pop-infused version coming out of Nashville. He doesn’t seem to care if his music fits a mold. “I feel very comfortable in my own shoes,” he says. “I know I’m striking a nerve.”
In the tradition of Waylon Jennings, Berry could be a new Nashville outlaw. His baritone vocals are offset by the fierce string-picking of Steve Cooley. With a singing style that’s country to the core, his lyrics reach beyond stereotypical content of the genre. His songs capture the feel of both city and country life, heartache and romance, day-to-day living and memories of the past.
Playing monthly to fire-code-breaking crowds at the Germantown pub Seidenfaden’s. He opened for Dwight Yoakam in the fall at Coyote’s and is set to release a second album, Fegenbush Farm, in February. “This is going to be the one,” Berry says as he listens to tracks from the upcoming release. He leans back against the Dutch Modern couch in his living room in front of a painting by his wife, Libby, and taps his cowboy boot to the beat of the song. “Here’s the hook,” he says and pauses to hear himself sing from the CD player, “You’re the only thing I’ll take lying down.” He looks up and says, “It’s gonna be a hit.”
Berry and the Outliers will celebrate the album's release with a concert next month. For more details visit www.johnnyberrymusic.com.
- Beth Newberry
LIST OF FIVE
LOCAL RESOLVE
While some New Year’s resolutions seem daunting, such as joining the gym and actually going regularly, here are five low-commitment, no guilt, enjoyable alternatives: local fieldtrips worth the trip.
Ride the Mechanical Bull at Coyote’s
116 W. Jefferson St., 589-3866. Whether you were inspired by the showmanship of this month’s Professional Bull Riding competition at Broadbent Arena or by Susan’s attempt on Desperate Housewives — for only $5 you can ride Slingshot and try to hold on for eight seconds.
Visit the Portland Museum
2308 Portland Ave.,776-7678
The museum’s exhibits highlight the west Louisville neighborhood’s early history, its relationship to the river (through floods and the building of the flood wall), and the area’s cultural legacy.
Take a Winter Hike
Jefferson Memorial Forest, 1131 Mitchell Hill Rd., 368-5404
Sp/files/storyimages/the morning walking the trails during the “Winter Wonderland Hike.” Check out the wildlife while the trees are bare — particularly the oft-spotted pileated woodpecker. Saturday, January 14, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $5 with pre-registration, $7.50 on the day of the program.
Eat a Hot Brown at the Brown Hotel
Fourth Street and Broadway, 583-1234
In 1923, while concocting a late-night snack, then hotel chef Fred Schmidt created an open-face turkey sandwich smothered in a mornay sauce and topped with bacon. The now classic dish is served in many local restaurants including the Brown’s J. Graham’s and English Grill.
Take a Class at the Crane House
1224 S. Third St., 635-2240, www.cranehouse.org
Even if you can’t afford a trip to Asia, you can still learn about and enjoy the culture of the continent. This nonprofit cultural resource center offers classes, lectures and special events on the languages, arts, food, economics and history of Asia.
- Beth Newberry
WORD OF THE MONTH: BINGO-TERROR
That’s right, not bio-terror but bingo-terror. In late October the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security awarded a $36,000 grant to the state’s Office of Charitable Gaming to help it “detect, investigate and prosecute money laundering” associated with the huge gobs of cash taken in at hundreds of Kentucky bingo parlors. The assumption is, presumably, that where there’s money laundering, there are bound to be terrorists. Bingo, great Satan!
DOORBELL DINING
Being told by your doctor to regulate your calorie intake while diversifying your diet to meet nutritional needs is one thing. Following through without a personal warden and chef is another. That’s why a new food-service operation called Home Cuisine may be just what the doc ordered.
Your responsibilities: Answer the door; bring in the big plastic bag filled with a half-week’s worth of home-cooked breakfasts, lunches and dinners; select one (storing the rest in your refrigerator); warm in the microwave; eat.
The business, which makes home deliveries on Tuesdays and Fridays, is the brainchild of former restaurateur and caterer Sandy Pike (Jack Fry’s, Cafe Society, Queen of Tarts), who prepares the meals in the kitchen of the Mayan Gypsy restaurant. She offers 1,200- and 2,000-calorie-per-day menus that change weekly and include USDA-suggested levels of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
“We don’t use anything processed — no white flour or white sugar, no white rice,” Pike says. “The only white potatoes we use are little round new potatoes because the Diabetes Association approves them.” Her customers, she says, range from dieters and diabetics to cooking-challenged males and free-time-challenged workaholics.
The two meal plans cost $125 and $145 a week, plus a $13 weekly delivery charge. Call Pike at 228-6363 for more information.
— Jack Welch
SNOW FLAKES
Now that we’re in what seems like our 33rd week of winter, it’s time to start thinking about safe winter driving. You can avoid a lot of stress and misery — and, in some cases, pedestrians — if you take a few simple precautions. For instance, one great way to avoid problems is to live near the equator, where winters are milder. If that’s not practical, there are plenty of other safety measures you can take before getting behind the wheel.
For example, it’s a good idea to keep winter driving accessories handy, including an ice scraper, jumper cables and, for those really cold days, a flamethrower. Also, make sure your battery, windshield washer, wipers, brakes, tires and middle finger are in good working order. That done, you’re ready to head out.
Before you venture too far, be sure to roll up your windows. You’ll be amazed at how much warmer that makes it. If your car isn’t equipped with seat warmers, consider bringing along a small mammal to sit on for warmth.
Here’s another commonsense tip: Turn off your cell phone. Studies show that a majority of people on the other /files/storyimages/of a call hate to hear “Oh, no! Arrrrgh!” followed by a loud bang. It’s also a good idea to turn off talk radio, which is known to increase road rage by up to 73 percent. Other activities to avoid while driving include reading, shaving, applying makeup and jazzercise. Also, don’t pick your nose. You don’t want to know what happens when the air bag goes off while you’ve got a finger jammed up a nostril.
But when all else fails, there is one foolproof safety tip when you’re heading out on those wintry roads: Turn around, climb back into bed and cover yourself with a nice, warm blanket.
— Jim Welp
