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Country Corncobs make debut at the Fitton

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer 10:51 AM Friday, January 22, 2010

HAMILTON — The next Music Cafe at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts will offer a healthy serving of homegrown country music.

The Corncobs, based in the northern Cincinnati area, will make their Music Cafe debut Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Billed by Music Cafe as an old-time bluegrass band, the trio takes much of their set list from a medium scarcely heard these days.

“Most of what we do we learned from 78s,” said Jeff Custis, who plays fiddle and banjo, referring to the records spun at a high speed. “People like Charlie Poole, and Uncle Dave Macon, ragtime and early blues — early American-style music.”

Most of those 78s were from the collection of Jeff Gushin of Montgomery, who plays fiddle, banjo and mandolin. The third member is Larry Lankford of Lebanon, who plays guitar.

“We stick to the old styles like Earl Scruggs,” said Custis, referring to the banjo player who popularized a finger-picking style.

Adding folk rock to the night is Roy Bushman of West Chester Twp. He’ll play two or three original tunes, along with covers of songs by the likes of Elvis Costello, the Grateful Dead and Lyle Lovett. Bushman adds some humor to the mix too.

“I do a song by the Kingston Trio about going to Morrow, Ohio, and leaving tomorrow,” he said.

His set also will include a tribute to his brother Tim, who died five years ago of pancreatic cancer.

“I inherited his Martin guitar from 1953 — he taught me how to play,” Bushman said.

The guitarist enjoys Music Cafe for its attentive audiences.

“It’s a nice environment there. People are actually sitting there listening to you,” he said.

Also on the bill are Sara Mayhew, who will play country/pop/and rock, Greg Mahan playing folk and Steve Adkisson, a folk/rock singer songwriter.

Music Cafe is a once a month showcase for a variety of musicians from the area.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.