Interview with Michael 'Covey' Covington Where did you grow up? What is your favorite childhood memory? I was raised on a farm in Norway, South Carolina, in Orangeburg County. I'm not sure I ever really 'grew up.' Life is too short for that. My favorite memories of childhood involve all of the crazy things my brothers and I did to entertain ourselves on the farm. A lot of it was dangerous stuff. But, we all survived and now we just sit around and laugh about it. When did you start playing music? How did you learn to play? I started a band in the sixth grade. My parents bought me a drum set. Two guys played guitars and the other guy sang and played tambourine. We played songs by the Monkees and other bubblegum bands. One time, a teacher arranged for us to play during the band break at the Senior Prom. I was hooked after that. I have had three formal music lessons in my life. My piano teacher didn't like the way I added notes to the songs, so I quit taking lessons. I basically taught myself to play piano by translating guitar chords onto the piano. To this day, I tend to "strum' the piano rather than really playing it. We had lots of sheet music around the house, so I started playing the chords to the songs we had. I wrote my first song in the seventh grade. It was called 'Lithonia, Where Are You?" It was a song about the time we got lost trying to find Stone Mountain. What musicians influenced you most? My brother Colin taught me the basics about chord progressions and harmonies. He is a little older than me, so I benefitted from his experience. He played in a Motown/Soul band in the late sixties and early 70's. It was one of the first integrated bands in South Carolina and the knowledge we gained from those guys was immeasurable. After learning the basics, I was most influenced by Leon Russell because he was one of the first major artists to incorporate the piano into mainstream pop music (if you consider Joe Cocker and Leon Russell to be mainstream). A few years later, I started getting into Warren Zevon. There was a time when I could just sit down at the piano and play twenty Zevon songs by memory. My song writing was influenced by his fearless lyrics and his use of minor chords to set the mood for his ballads and songs of unrequited love. "Reconsider Me' is still one of my favorite songs. What was your very first concert? I had a fake i.d. when I was fourteen years old. I sneaked into Kittens Corner on the Gordon Highway in Augusta, Georgia to see Percy Sledge ('When a Man Loves a Woman'). It must have been 1968. The show was awesome! What do you think about popular music today? Who are your favorite artists? I think that today's music was built on the foundation established in the 60's. When I was eighteen years old in 1973, I never listened to the music of the 1930's, with the exception of a few jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Jack Teagarden and Pete Fountain. But, today kids are listening to the music of the 1960's and 1970's. The good music of today is based on the models established back then. It reminds me of that Darrell Scott song called 'Title of the Song.' It's gotta be three minutes long and it needs two verses, a bridge and an instrumental break. I think today's music is technically a lot better than the old stuff simply because the equipment is so much better. My favorite artists today run the gamut from Traditional/Bluegrass musicians like John Hiott, Todd Snider, Alan Bibey and Nickel Creek to Rock musicians like U2, Coldplay, Counting Crows and Train to Country musicians like Beth Nielsen Chapman, Dixie Chicks and Brad Paisley. It's all good. Where do you go to hear good live music in Columbia? Who are your favorite local musicians? I like Delaney's in Five Points and I think House, Keith and Allison deserve a big thanks for supporting live music five or six nights a week... some times seven nights. One thing that bugs me about Columbia is the lack of appreciation for songwriters. There is a lot a talent in town, but you have to seek it out in obscure places like the Unitarian Coffee House and the parking lot at El Burrito. Gary and I love going to Bill's Pickin' Parlor when its open stage night. Thank goodness for the festivals. But, most people in this town want to hear cover bands. Gary and I played 'Keep Off the Grass' by Todd Snider one night and a young lady said 'Why don't y'all play some Buffett?' Of course, we immediately jumped into Margaritaville, but we thought what a shame it was that this person didn't appreciate the music for its own value rather than having a closed mind about it. Despite these challenges, Columbia has produced some fine musicians that we can all be proud of. Everybody is familiar with Hootie and the Blowfish. But, I would say that my favorite local musicians are Danielle Howle and Jack Williams. Both are recognized songwriters, along with Rob Crosby who has managed to make a living as a Nashville songwriter. Jack has moved to Arkansas, but he still claims Columbia as home. Another name that comes to mind is Elaine Townsend. I was really getting into her music a few years ago. I learned to play 'I Just Want to Kiss You,' a song about forbidden love. But, I guess she must have moved away because I haven't heard anything from her lately. The best thing going these days is the summer series at El Burrito. I think that Randy Lucas is one of the best banjo pickers in the free world. Cary Taylor, Danny Harlow and Barrett Smith are all great musicians. Every now and then, they bring in guest musicians like Vollie McKenzie (a Winnsboro native) and the Biscuit Burners. Oh, I do love those girls. What do you do when you're not playing music? I like cooking barbecue. I like river kayaking and hiking. I am also (don't laugh) an avid scrap-booker. I work for the SC Department of Transportation. Most of my work at SCDOT involves public policy development and inter-governmental cooperation. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to learn how to play music? You should experiment with several different instruments. If you play by ear, you should at least learn the names of all twelve notes in the scale. Learn what it means to play a 6th, 7th, Major 7th, 9th and suspended chord, and learn the difference between a major and minor chord. The best way to learn is to play along with the CD player. What do you think makes 2 For The Road special? We are in it for the music. We have fun playing and we are both committed to it. We practice every week. |