~ Kitty Hawk ~

When Words Fail….


…Music Speaks. And at this show, it did just that.

Scotty B‘s in Stanleyville was the stage for an awesome musical event as Kitty Hawk, a long standing band from Winston-Salem, opened with a powerful mix of Linda Ronstadt and Van Halen’s “Your No Good”. Lead vocalist, Staci McBeth, showed what kind of powerhouse she really is vocally on this song. I could feel it as well as hear it. I think Linda Ronstadt herself would have been impressed. Other power songs she belted out include Heart’s “Baracuda” and Bonnie Rait’s “I Cant Make You Love Me”.

Staci got her start vocally at 3 years old along side her mother, also a powerhouse vocalist, singing in churches. She fondly remembers standing on a chair and singing Joel Hemphill’s “Consider the Lilies” and “Amazing Grace”. Staci also says that she has just a minor part of her mothers overall talent. If this is the case, I can only imagine how amazing her mother really was.

She admires the vocal talent of women such as Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Rait, and Pink. Saying that Pink is a daredevil, she take chances and is not afraid to be herself. “You have to be yourself when your on stage and singing, if you try to be anything else they will see it and they will feel it. It takes away from who you are“.

Other songs included a keyboard solo by Danny Forrest, keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist as he opened up Kansas’s “Carry On”. “Lady Marmalade”, originally made famous by Patti Labelle and later in the movie “Moulin Rouge” as well as Gavin DeGraw’s “I Don’t Want to Be” were mixed in to the first set as well. The band tried a new song on the crowd with John Cougar‘s “Wild Nights“. I couldn’t tell they had only practiced it three times. It always amazes me how some songs come so naturally to bands. I think for Kitty Hawk, this is one of those songs.

The band showed their vast talent when they pulled out their version of the popular Kid Rock/Lynyrd Skynyrd medley, “Summertime/Sweet Home Alabama”. Their twist included Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”. I was very impressed with this addition and pleasantly surprised to see someone had broken the mold of a very popular medley. When you are in a cover band, it is important to keep the crowds interested, and when you switch things up like this….your going to do just that.

Lead guitarist, Wayne Arrington showed how much fun he was having when he ‘threw down’ on Alien Ant Farm’s “Smooth Criminal”. Wayne has been playing guitar since he was 5 years old. Started out sneaking around on his dads guitar, until his dad found him out, he was going to play come hell or high water. Even when his dad bought him a guitar for Christmas, he would sneak and play it while his dad was at work until it was actually given to him.

Wayne is another guitarist that you can see how he plays on his face, getting very involved with the music. He says he loves how he can escape within his music, forgetting everything else except the notes he is playing.

Danny Forrest showed his multitude of talents by banging out songs on his Kurzweil, tossing out melodies on his Ibanez, and singing with his God given’s. Danny said he had a cold, but I couldn’t tell by listening to him.

He started playing piano at 4 years old and guitar when he was 9 on a 1976 Ibanez Les Paul. He credit’s a lot of his influence to the likes of Queen, Elton John, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, & Steve Vai. Danny is fun to watch play, as he throws little ‘tricks’ out there like playing the keyboard upside down or doing the same on the neck of his guitar. When I asked him what it was about music that he loved the most he said, “Music gives you a feeling that nothing else can.”.

Bassist, Hal Martin, started off playing the trumpet at 11 years old in the school band, but made the switch to upright bass in high school when he was in a jazz band. Doing the community music program through the school of the arts, he made the switch to the electric bass along the way.
He contributes his interest in music to be rooted with Motown, R&B, and Jazz.

Drummer, Tommy Arrington got interested in playing the drums at 15 years old by listening and watching his cousin play. Tommy said when he saw him play from behind, seeing how he played and used the peddles, it was an instant “That’s what I want to do”.

His cousin was his mentor, guiding and getting him ready for the rock and roll road ahead. After he passed away, he left his kit to Tommy. The kit that Tommy plays out on is that exact kit. What an awesome tribute to one mans influence.

Tommy loves the power of music and the ability it has to move a person. He definitely facilitates this ability behind his kit, keeping time and rhythm for the band. Watching him, it seems almost effortless, like his drums are an extension of what he is. He tries to convey the visual he sees in music to his audience. I think he, as well as the entire band, does this very well.

When I asked Danny what his favorite part of any show is, he responded with a smile on his face….“Any song that we have fun doing, and seeing that flow over to the audience”. I can promise you that you will enjoy any show by Kitty Hawk you are able to catch.

Kitty Hawk will be at Ground Zero in Mebane on Friday, March 12th. Plan on being there to experience it for yourself. I know I will be :)

You can find Kitty Hawk on Facebook & on myspace @
http://www.myspace.com/thekittyhawkband