Webb shop to host Stidham Old Time Music Gathering July 28 and 29
BY BUGS DIXON
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
TOMAHAWK — This past Sunday at James Webb Musical Repair & Sales in Tomahawk, Phill Barnett and Tob Branham of Lawrence County played an acoustic concert that was followed by an open jam.
Tob Branham, with his smooth yet subtle vocals, kicked off the evening, weaving stories through his songs that brought back the vibe of the early 2000s alternative music with a touch of pop-punk energy. The influence of this era was palpable, yet his individualistic twist on the genre brought a fresh perspective.
As Branham finished his set, the energy in the room had already sparked, ready to ignite. Enter Barnett with a gas jug full of diesel, ringing in a slightly grittier flavor.
A combination of folk, alternative and rockabilly, you could describe Barnett’s style as Counting Crows meets Old Crow Medicine Show. Like Branham, his music was uniquely his, his tales echoing through the room, raw and unfiltered.
Their raw talent and honed craft lit up the room as they each played an entirely original set. Above all else, their songs are authentic.
During the show, Jim Webb, the shop owner-operator and son of its namesake, invited Barnett and Branham to lead a songwriting workshop at the shop.
As the evening moved forward, the room bustled with fellowship and a jam session featuring local musicians and some from afar, including the Mobile, Alabama-based singer-songwriter Abe Partridge and his family.
Despite a previously public feud with Barnett over an alleged virus-infected floppy disc, the night served as part of an olive branch, as the two released a collaborative single through the nonprofit project Three Sheets to the Wind on Sunday as well.
The shop turned into a hub of musical inspiration, with Partridge even purchasing one of Webb’s antique rare banjos, noting in a later social media post, “I got another banjo. Just like Roscoe Holcomb’s. Thanks to the Webb’s shop in Tomahawk, Kentucky.”
Roscoe Holcomb was an old-time banjo picker who heavily influenced Partridge musically.
The sound of music will again echo in James Webb Musical Repair & Sales as the shop is set to host the Stidham Old Time Music Gathering on July 28 and 29 at 1213 Milo Rd in Tomahawk. The show will feature local and regional acts, including the Possum Queens and John Haywood. Music and workshops will kick off around noon each day. For more details, check out the event page on Facebook.
Since recovering from a fire last year, the Webb music shop has been under the direction of the son of the original namesake. Jim Webb, who lives in Frankfort when he isn’t staying in town to run the shop and build instruments, follows in his father’s footsteps by making the place a hub for musicians, hosting regular jams, workshops and concerts.
Catch Barnett and Branham playing again at the Appalachian Artist Festival on Aug. 4 in Inez.
As Martin County begins a new Renaissance, musicians in the small town of Tomahawk are here to remind us that true music, real stories, and raw emotion are alive and well. And sometimes, you just have to stop in and listen.