New Familiars making name at MMF

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July 9, 2009

By CHRIS HARRIS, CJ Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Thu Jul 09, 2009, 11:36 PM EDT

If you’re not familiar with the New Familiars — just visit Master Musicians Festival.

Made up of five individuals with a shared love of Appalachian music, the New Familiars will kick off the second day of Master Musicians Festival on Saturday, July 18, appearing at 1 p.m. on the outdoor stage behind Somerset Community College.

Made up of Justin Fedor on vocals, guitar, mandolin, and banjo, Josh Daniels on vocals, resonator and guitar, Daniel Flynn on drums, Jordan Klemons on banjo, electric guitar, and lap steel, and Pat Maholland on string bass, this band from Charlotte, NC, has created a blend of folk, blues, rock, and bluegrass music that illustrates a unique ability for storytelling.

“We've all been playing in bands since we were kids,” said Daniels. “Justin and I got together a couple of years ago at a ‘jam’ session over at his old place. (We) started playing out and decided to put a full band together.

The two enlisted Maholland, living at the time in Philadelphia, then Flynn, and Klemons just this past April. That created the current quintet, one that is quickly making a name for itself in the music world, appearing at venues across the country — including right here in Somerset.

Don’t call them a “bluegrass” act — these boys know how to rock. They take pride in their ability to blend traditional genres to create their own sound — something new, yet familiar.

“Although we do play ‘bluegrass’ instruments (banjo, mandolin, upright bass) we consider ourselves an honest rock n roll band,” said Daniels. “That being said, it doesn't scare us to play a traditional or gospel tune.”

The band had never heard of Master Musicians Festival under they were asked to play for the 16th annual two-day outdoor music festival, but find themselves excited about the opportunity.

“We love playing festivals and being outdoors in nature,” said Daniels. “It’s really great for us to be able to see so many acts as well.”

The New Familiars are just the first of eight bands scheduled for next Saturday, including the Dixie Bee Liners, the Greencards, the Duhks, and Mike Farris & the Roseland Rhythm Review. There are no easy-to-peg acts here; each boasts a style that defies categorization, ranging from Afro-Cuban jazz to down-home country.

The New Familiars are currently touring in support of their six-song EP “The Storm” and a 7-inch vinyl (featuring their original tune 'Mill's River' with a re-interpretation of Smokey Robinson's classic 'My Girl'). They're known for their live, energetic and ever-evolving performances.

To hear more of the New Familiars, check them out on iTunes, amazon.com, or www.thenewfamiliars. com.

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Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

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