Music, fireworks mark July Fourth

Area residents celebrated the nation's birthday Friday with music at Shields Park and a booming fireworks display over Freeman Field.

Rain caused a change in plans for the annual concert at Shields Park, but they dried up in time for Friday night's fireworks, pumped up this year with a donation from Schwarz Pharma.

Concert in the park

They've performed at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Phoenix Hill and the Chow Wagon on the waterfront in Louisville, and on Friday, they brought their show to Shields Park in Seymour.

They are 7 Car Pileup, and these 13- and 14-year-olds, along with Tommy Day and Mike Gerth and the This Old Guitar Band, were featured performers at this year's free concert in the park.

For the fourth year on the Fourth of July, the concert, sponsored by Seymour Parks and Recreation Department and This Old Guitar music store, provided entertainment for all ages.

7 Car Pileup consists of 13-year-olds Dahkota Bungcayao of Charlestown and Kyle Kincer of Seymour and 14-year-olds Matt Brading of New Washington and Alex Williams of New Albany.

The latter two were in a band before 7 Car Pileup formed. They met a year ago through Mom's Music, a store serving Louisville and southern Indiana.

"We needed a drummer and we needed a guitar player," Williams said as he and Brading were looking to start up a new band.

Once the four got together, they began getting gigs. They like alternative rock the best, and they do a lot of '90s music. The band practices once a week at Mom's Music. They all also take lessons on the side, and Kincer has worked with Larry McDonald of TOG.

Kincer knows piano, but his two favorite instruments to play are drums and marimba.

"I started a few years ago doing drums. You can be expressive," Kincer said. He went through two instructors before getting to McDonald.

Brading began playing guitar about two years ago.
"My dad and his brothers all play music, and I just got into it," he said.

Williams said when his father handed him a guitar seven years ago, he just took off from there.

"You can play by yourself and you can play in concert," he said of guitar. But playing with the band, he said, "You get a huge sound, and I like that."

He sings lead vocals for the group, he knows bass and he is starting to learn harmonica.

"I always listen to a lot of music," he said. "I took vocal lessons about a year ago."

Bungcayao, who plays guitar and does background vocals, also knows saxophone and some piano and drums. He said he likes how the band has gelled and the feedback from audiences.

"They say we have good choices," he said. "We get a lot of good concerts. It's a good experience."

Kincer was glad to perform in his hometown.

"It's fun because I know most of the people and it's local," he said, adding that he's enjoyed being a part of the group. "Our dynamics are good."

Williams said the group will focus on some upcoming shows, and writing and recording some music. To check out the group, visit myspace.com/7cp.

This Old Guitar performed after 7 Car Pileup, and they are familiar to the Seymour scene. From the TOG original "Last Goodbyes" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" to the Everly Brothers' "All I Have To Do Is Dream," perhaps the most appropriate song of the afternoon was "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Rain fell for the second straight year. It stopped in time for the show last year on the bandstand, but this year, the show moved to the shelter house. Around 100 people still came out to hear the music.

"The weather put a damper on it," McDonald said, "but I still had a wonderful time."

Jane Roberts, who is originally from Seymour and is now living in Neptune Beach, Fla., enjoyed the show with her 1-year-old grandson, Andrew Roberts of Brownstown, and her parents, Eldon and Norma Voss of Seymour.

Roberts was a classmate of McDonald and Gary Myers, who both play in the TOG Band. Roberts played clarinet in the band at Seymour High School, while McDonald and Myers played drums. Plus, Gerth taught her son, Mike Roberts, how to play guitar.

"He's the greatest," Jane said of Gerth. "I love what This Old Guitar has done for this town. They have brought the music back together and they have brought the bands together."

She said the free show is a positive, too.

"I like the selection," she said. "It hits the spot for so many different age groups. It brings back memories."
Last year, the family brought a picnic lunch to the show. They didn't do that this year, but Norma still had a good time.

"It's just the beat that they have," Norma said of TOG. "It's the type of music I like."

Eldon, who recorded a DVD with his son, Charlie Voss, and Mike Roberts in Tennessee a while back, liked TOG ending the day's music.

"I like those guys and I think they're real good," Eldon said. "I wouldn't miss it when they play around here."