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Local band give albums' profits to food pantries since 2008
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Written By Debbie Bowman
Published: July 4, 2011
Published: July 4, 2011
"There ain't a one of us Billies that's afraid of a hard day's work, and ain't a one of us
that minds givin' it all away." How many bands do you know that can honestly make
a statement like that? When Billy Two Shoes says it, they are not just blowing smoke.
As of June 5 these guys donated more than $10,000 to food pantries in Ohio and
surrounding states--using money from their albums Appalachian Memoirs, New
Shoes and Full Breakfast as well as playing local shows. They are paying it forward
in a big way.
I was as happy as a puppy with two, uhm, tails, that James Gettles, one of the
founding members, and the band took time to answer some questions for me.
Deb: Tell me about "the weekend" that Billy Two Shoes was born.
Billy Two Shoes (BTS): We had been talkin' for awhile about tryin' to cut a record in a
weekend, writin' a bunch of new tunes and recordin' it all in one shot. We wanted to
make some music that talked a bit of our times and experiences down on the river in
Gallia County. James [Gettles] and Big J [Cowans] gathered up the instruments,
started on Thursday evenin', framed up the tunes and took a swing. We spent 'round
15 hours a day for the next three days cuttin' tracks. [Dan] Rees stopped through for
some harmonica on Saturday afternoon, and we wrapped 'er up by Sunday night. It
was a kind of an organized mayhem of sorts. We knew what we wanted to do, but
really had no idea if we could pull it off or what it would sound like in the end. We got
what we got and we ran with it.
that minds givin' it all away." How many bands do you know that can honestly make
a statement like that? When Billy Two Shoes says it, they are not just blowing smoke.
As of June 5 these guys donated more than $10,000 to food pantries in Ohio and
surrounding states--using money from their albums Appalachian Memoirs, New
Shoes and Full Breakfast as well as playing local shows. They are paying it forward
in a big way.
I was as happy as a puppy with two, uhm, tails, that James Gettles, one of the
founding members, and the band took time to answer some questions for me.
Deb: Tell me about "the weekend" that Billy Two Shoes was born.
Billy Two Shoes (BTS): We had been talkin' for awhile about tryin' to cut a record in a
weekend, writin' a bunch of new tunes and recordin' it all in one shot. We wanted to
make some music that talked a bit of our times and experiences down on the river in
Gallia County. James [Gettles] and Big J [Cowans] gathered up the instruments,
started on Thursday evenin', framed up the tunes and took a swing. We spent 'round
15 hours a day for the next three days cuttin' tracks. [Dan] Rees stopped through for
some harmonica on Saturday afternoon, and we wrapped 'er up by Sunday night. It
was a kind of an organized mayhem of sorts. We knew what we wanted to do, but
really had no idea if we could pull it off or what it would sound like in the end. We got
what we got and we ran with it.
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Deb: Where does the band's name come from?
BTS: Billy was actually a reference to what Big J calls goin' "Goat Boy," which is when ya drink too much whiskey and start actin' goat boy. The "Two
Shoes" part was 'cause it was just two folks at the start puttin' all the music together.
Deb: How many people have played with BTS to date?
BTS: A bunch of folks, a whole bunch, from all kinds of places. There have been 17 Billies that have musically contributed to the project. We're playin'
out as a four piece string band now with: Josh Lawson, Josh Coy, Sean Jenkins and James. Other Billies that have played live or contributed to the
albums are: Big J Cowans (Columbus) Drums and foundin' Billy; Gary Harden (Chapel Hill, N.C.) Lapsteel, Mandolin and Dobro, Dan Rees
(Columbus,) Harmonica; Stacy Harden (Chapel Hill, NC) Bass; Matt Fleak (Obetz) PVC Flutes; Tom Howard (Columbus) Bass; Keith Flint (Delaware)
Percussion and Harmonica; Dan Laney (Columbus) Fiddle; Steve Ball (Columbus) Bass; Gus Hoffman (Denver, Colo.) Trombone; Wim Oudijk (The
Hauge, N.C.) Orchestration; Pete McPartland and Colin Heaney (Liverpool, UK) Ukelele and Cuatro. Many of these folks contributed parts to the
albums and every once in awhiles ol' Gary will make a trip up from Chapel Hill to pick a few tunes with us. Gatherin' up with Gary always makes for
good Billy times.
Deb:Who writes the songs?
BTS: For the first three records James and Big J wrote all the tunes, some individually and some collaboratively. For the recordin' though, it was pretty
much a free-for-all puttin' the music together. We had no pre-conceived vision for the tunes and didn't want to guide folks one way or the other. We'd
work out some guitar and drums, maybe a scratch vox and send 'er down to Gary in Chapel Hill. For the last couple records, he put together all the
Lapsteel, Dobro and Mandolin, which really gave life and a particular feel to the tracks. For our Full Breakfast there were 13 folks that contributed,
which made for all kinds of new Billy sounds. These days, the Joshes and Jenkins are all bringin' new Billy tunes to the table. We'll be hearin' a lot of
their works on the next record. They're great folks to make music with.
Deb: Tell me about why the band donates everything to feeding people?
BTS: It is our way of givin' back to the folks where our families are from. It's hard livin' 'round many of them parts. Jobs are thin and there ain't much of
a career to be made unless you work on the river or in the mines. It's really been an amazing experience. There have been some really good folks help
us out. All of them workin' to help raise a few dollars, both musicians and folks who support what we're doin. We get to see a really kind and generous
side of people and it's one of the best parts 'bout bein' Billy. No matter the players, the reason for makin' Billy music will always stay the same.
Deb: Who do you donate to and how do you decide where to donate?
BTS: We send them dollars to The Gallia County Outreach Center in Gallipolis, the food pantry at The First Presbyterian Church of Logan, W. Va., the
Bread of Life Ministries in Manchester, Ky., and Second Harvest Food Bank in Mahoning County. These are all places where the biggest Billy music
contributors have roots. That's how we decide where them feedin' folks dollars go. Big J and Gary in Logan, James in Gallia County, Lawson in
Manchester and Coy up 'round Youngstown. Jenkins has been playin' with us awhile now too, so it's time for him to pick his spot to feed folks.
Deb: What is the "dream goal" for the band?
BTS: The dream goal is to keep Billy breathin' for as long as we possibly can. To continue to make music, make albums and get out and about to pick
a few tunes, collect some dollars for feedin' folks--that is the goal. Gary often mentions drips and drops, meanin' that little by little if we spend enough
time makin' Billy music, after many years, we might be lucky enough to feed a whole bunch of folks. He also says we're gonna keep makin' Billy music
'till our fingers don't work no more. I agree with him whole heartedly. We hope to feed folks by the tens of thousands, but we know that's gonna take a
lot of years and a lot of work.
Deb: What is coming up?
BTS: We'll be gettin' out and playin' some of our favorite gatherin' spots like Benito's, Fat's, The Rendezvous, as well as a bunch of other spots 'round
Columbus. You can check our gatherin' dates at www.billytwoshoes.com. Far as new music, we're headin' down to record with Rob Fugate at Mind
Ignition in Cincinnati early August for our fourth album, Bourbon for Beans. There's talk of a hillbilly funk album for the fifth album, so we'll be tearin' into
that idea this fall as well. We're just gonna keep on makin' music and feedin' folks best we can. Ya know, there's a big difference in talkin' about what
yer gonna do, talkin' about what yer doin', and talkin' about what ya done. As big a dreamers as all us Billies tend to be and as much as we like talkin'
them dreams, the only thing that really matters is what we done
Don't you just want to hug these guys? Better yet buy an album, send a donation and spread the word about Billy Two Shoes!
BTS: Billy was actually a reference to what Big J calls goin' "Goat Boy," which is when ya drink too much whiskey and start actin' goat boy. The "Two
Shoes" part was 'cause it was just two folks at the start puttin' all the music together.
Deb: How many people have played with BTS to date?
BTS: A bunch of folks, a whole bunch, from all kinds of places. There have been 17 Billies that have musically contributed to the project. We're playin'
out as a four piece string band now with: Josh Lawson, Josh Coy, Sean Jenkins and James. Other Billies that have played live or contributed to the
albums are: Big J Cowans (Columbus) Drums and foundin' Billy; Gary Harden (Chapel Hill, N.C.) Lapsteel, Mandolin and Dobro, Dan Rees
(Columbus,) Harmonica; Stacy Harden (Chapel Hill, NC) Bass; Matt Fleak (Obetz) PVC Flutes; Tom Howard (Columbus) Bass; Keith Flint (Delaware)
Percussion and Harmonica; Dan Laney (Columbus) Fiddle; Steve Ball (Columbus) Bass; Gus Hoffman (Denver, Colo.) Trombone; Wim Oudijk (The
Hauge, N.C.) Orchestration; Pete McPartland and Colin Heaney (Liverpool, UK) Ukelele and Cuatro. Many of these folks contributed parts to the
albums and every once in awhiles ol' Gary will make a trip up from Chapel Hill to pick a few tunes with us. Gatherin' up with Gary always makes for
good Billy times.
Deb:Who writes the songs?
BTS: For the first three records James and Big J wrote all the tunes, some individually and some collaboratively. For the recordin' though, it was pretty
much a free-for-all puttin' the music together. We had no pre-conceived vision for the tunes and didn't want to guide folks one way or the other. We'd
work out some guitar and drums, maybe a scratch vox and send 'er down to Gary in Chapel Hill. For the last couple records, he put together all the
Lapsteel, Dobro and Mandolin, which really gave life and a particular feel to the tracks. For our Full Breakfast there were 13 folks that contributed,
which made for all kinds of new Billy sounds. These days, the Joshes and Jenkins are all bringin' new Billy tunes to the table. We'll be hearin' a lot of
their works on the next record. They're great folks to make music with.
Deb: Tell me about why the band donates everything to feeding people?
BTS: It is our way of givin' back to the folks where our families are from. It's hard livin' 'round many of them parts. Jobs are thin and there ain't much of
a career to be made unless you work on the river or in the mines. It's really been an amazing experience. There have been some really good folks help
us out. All of them workin' to help raise a few dollars, both musicians and folks who support what we're doin. We get to see a really kind and generous
side of people and it's one of the best parts 'bout bein' Billy. No matter the players, the reason for makin' Billy music will always stay the same.
Deb: Who do you donate to and how do you decide where to donate?
BTS: We send them dollars to The Gallia County Outreach Center in Gallipolis, the food pantry at The First Presbyterian Church of Logan, W. Va., the
Bread of Life Ministries in Manchester, Ky., and Second Harvest Food Bank in Mahoning County. These are all places where the biggest Billy music
contributors have roots. That's how we decide where them feedin' folks dollars go. Big J and Gary in Logan, James in Gallia County, Lawson in
Manchester and Coy up 'round Youngstown. Jenkins has been playin' with us awhile now too, so it's time for him to pick his spot to feed folks.
Deb: What is the "dream goal" for the band?
BTS: The dream goal is to keep Billy breathin' for as long as we possibly can. To continue to make music, make albums and get out and about to pick
a few tunes, collect some dollars for feedin' folks--that is the goal. Gary often mentions drips and drops, meanin' that little by little if we spend enough
time makin' Billy music, after many years, we might be lucky enough to feed a whole bunch of folks. He also says we're gonna keep makin' Billy music
'till our fingers don't work no more. I agree with him whole heartedly. We hope to feed folks by the tens of thousands, but we know that's gonna take a
lot of years and a lot of work.
Deb: What is coming up?
BTS: We'll be gettin' out and playin' some of our favorite gatherin' spots like Benito's, Fat's, The Rendezvous, as well as a bunch of other spots 'round
Columbus. You can check our gatherin' dates at www.billytwoshoes.com. Far as new music, we're headin' down to record with Rob Fugate at Mind
Ignition in Cincinnati early August for our fourth album, Bourbon for Beans. There's talk of a hillbilly funk album for the fifth album, so we'll be tearin' into
that idea this fall as well. We're just gonna keep on makin' music and feedin' folks best we can. Ya know, there's a big difference in talkin' about what
yer gonna do, talkin' about what yer doin', and talkin' about what ya done. As big a dreamers as all us Billies tend to be and as much as we like talkin'
them dreams, the only thing that really matters is what we done
Don't you just want to hug these guys? Better yet buy an album, send a donation and spread the word about Billy Two Shoes!
Home > Columns > Loud & Upfront in Columbus > Billy Two Shoes
An interview with Billy Two Shoes' bassist, vocalist James Gettles
Visit Billy Two Shoes online and learn more about how you can help the Billies
continue to support those in need, where to catch a live show and check out some
tunes: Band Website, Facebook, Reverbnation, MySpace. Image Submitted
continue to support those in need, where to catch a live show and check out some
tunes: Band Website, Facebook, Reverbnation, MySpace. Image Submitted