Item 9
Greenville, North Carolina, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Hailing from the small town that birthed the likes of
Cindercat and The Avett Brothers, Item 9 traveled from
Greeenville, NC to deliver a powerhouse show at Shakedown
Street this weekend. The band plays original music in a
variety of styles as well as a select batch of cover songs
from classic progressive rock groups and "lost but not
forgotten" regional acts. The crowd roared as they wrapped up
their set with the closing tracks from Pink Floyd's "Dark
Side of the Moon", making way for their friend and
contemporary, Barefoot Wade to close the show. John Smith
spoon-fed the audience his tasteful and incendiary solos as
his brother, Rick, and unorthodox drummer, Tom "The Sniper"
Barrington held down lush grooves that demanded strange body
movements. Vocalists Gene Gillikin and Gina Gerard have a
harmonic style to die for. According to Gillikin, "We came
together with a common love of music, art, and performance
and the blessings of Artemis Pyle". This is a band not to be
missed but, according to "Uncle" John Moyer, proprietor of
the popular "Grateful Dead" themed bar, guaranteed to return
again and again.
(Taken from the story: "Item 9 comes to Raleigh"; Michelle
Lewis; News and Observer; March 6, 2011; A&E) - News and Observer
Complete surprise is the only word to describe
Plymouth's reaction to the band Item 9, from Greenville, NC,
as they played this weeks Music on the Roanoke event.
Audience members of all ages nodded their heads to the
quality music of this talented band. Known for their
inventive original songs and tasteful renditions of classics
from Pink Floyd, Marshall Tucker Band, and Bob Marley, they
also have a knack for bringing greater exposure to lesser
known regional songwriters like Mike Corrado, Purple
Schoolbus, and The Avett Brothers. The band's three-plus hour
set of high energy songs shifted smartly from progressive
rock, to soul, reggae, and country/newgrass, containing
something for the pleasure of each and every person who
attended...The Downtown Development Association has outdone
itself this time and will be hard pressed to find a band this
good for the following months. One can only hope for a repeat
performance next season.
(Taken from the story: "Original Music On The Roanoke"; Mary
Wyat; Roanoke Beacon; July 29, 2009; p.1) - Roanoke Beacon
June Music in the Streets
Item 9- Item 9 will be taking the main stage at the Music in the Streets this month. Gene Gillikin and Gina Gerard are musicians that started playing with MITS in its first year. Their play list contains a wide range of styles and generations. But their upbeat positive attitudes are what makes their music so much fun. Based out of Greenville NC, this 5 piece group blends a homegrown mix of Rock, Funk, and Reggae. Members include: Gene Gillikin(Vocals, Guitar) , Gina Gerard (Vocals, Keys, Flute, Harmonica, Wind Synth), John Smith (Guitar, Vocals), Rick Smith (Bass), Tom Barrington (Drums)
Check them out on Facebook: Item 9 and reverb nation.com - Washington Harbour District Alliance
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Delighting bar patrons for 10+ years, Gene and Gina acquire the services of grade A noisemaker Tom "The Sniper" Barrington in 2006, creating a monster, two-drummer powerhouse of a band---dubbed "Bones McCoy". After the departure of drummer, Brandon Davis, and bassist, Antonio Oden in 2009, fate would connect them with The enigmatic Brothers' Smith, playing with The Household Objects. Following a string of smoking shows that summer, The Objects would disband, their lead singer and guitarist, Will Bridges, having been abducted (rumored alien abduction) and deposited in western NC, left with no return resources but with, "a hell of a buzz!" John Smith was quick to offer the services of his genious younger brother, Rick, as well as his own talents to the now defunct Item 9. Sharing a common love for Pink Floyd, Rush, Umphreys McGee Peter Gabriel and The Grateful Dead, this seemed a no-brainer. Embarking on a psychedelic pilgrimage to aquire the neccessary mojo for World Domination, the band returned to the scene with a bucketfull of original songs, a mysterious green goo, Lazers, reverse manufactured alien technology, and the blessings of Artimus Pyle...THE Artimus Pyle. The band is presently holed up in it's state-of-the-art home studio, Skillit Studios in Greenville, NC, recording it's debut album, Voodooism, due out in the fall on CD and Vinyl LP and playing select shows through the summer of 2011 (ie: the now legendary well kept secret Farmstock Festival in Ayden, NC where there may or may not have been variable Loch Ness and Sasquatch sightings). Check out their new single, "Dang Ol' Zombies" spinning on:
http://rukusradio.ning.com/
Links
