Welcome to the Barking Cat
Web Page. You
have found the webhome of Bill Scoggins, Athens Georgia's premier busker. In July 2000, I signed a
record deal with 1def-ear-entertainment , a local company that
actually pays its artists for the hard work they do. We have had
many sucessful showcases in Athens and Atlanta.
MP3s and other modern wonders:
I have released several home tapes on my own record label, Barking Cat and have been writing my own songs for a few years. The tapes are out of print but you can download several songs for free at the Vitaminic site. When you get to the site put my name in the search engine and you'll go straight to the page.
If you just want to listen to some songs go to the 1def-ear-ent site . They have snippets of several songs.
In order to sucessfully download a song, you'll have to download Real Player or one of those MP3 players. They have some in the software library at Vitaminic
Here is a picture of me at the Colorbox in Athens, Ga.
(thanks to the lovely and
talented Amy Columbo for this shot).
I have also been involved with some community projects like Friends of Bill, a benefit to raise money to pay the medical bills of a local cartoonist who nearly died from a burst aorta.
Also raised money for the Church of Subgenius, Oxfam and Jubilee Partners.
Here are some of my songs:
Lowlander Inn
Harbor
Mama's in the Detox
Pushin' up Daisies
Therapy Song
Love is an Outlaw
That ain't all my songs...we'll talk more about that later.
I also play some covers but am selective about it. I play Johnny Cash, Billy Joe Shaver, Bob Dylan, John Prine and others. I figure you can hear any of that other stuff from almost any other guitar player. I hate labels so I'll give ya a hint as to what makes me tick...
Here is list of things that make my big toe swell up in my boot:
Rosie Flores and Joe Ely singing "Love and danger"; Exene Cervenka grinding it on stage in Athens, Ga. 1983; Bob Dylan-Augusta, Ga.1995; Mercury 7; GI Joe (classic 12 inch); Shaver-singing anything; The Andy Griffith Show; that girl at the PIL show Atlanta 1983; REM and Jason and the Scorchers-the lunch room at Augusta State University-1982; an angel named Hillary who stopped one night while I was busking; That guy who remembered me after two years off the streets; Seagull guitars; All my friends like Robin and Paul, Maggie, Charlie and all the Mustards, Patterson Hood and Paul Thomas.
Here are some of the bands I have been in:
The Fungos 1983-1985. This is a picture of Augusta, Georgia's best band:
Willie and The Hand Factory: 1987-present
Members are: Bill Scoggins, Phil Cartledge, George Cartledge and Kathleen Cartledge
Our best show was opening for the Drovers Old Time Medicine Show at the High Hat in Athens, Ga.
Squeal Like a Pig: There are no photos of this band. Members were: Bill Scoggins, Jennifer Camp, and Eric Agner (ex-Woggle). Thanks to Patrick Cardiff (boomerang man) for the name. We played for The Church of the SubGenius fund-raiser and at the Hoyt Street Station.
Ramblin' Willie: 1987-1998
As RW, I was the featured guest on "Blue Laws", a local radio program dedicated to blues music. "Blue Laws" is a weekly broadcast on WUOG 90. 5 FM and I appeared there on a semi regular basis. Also I self published
Ramblin' Willie's Broadside, a 'zine of music and culture from 1988-1995.
Writings and Such:
I wrote for Flagpole from 1988-to the end of the world. I wrote music reviews and features on the Morton Theater and Stride Piano. I also wrote a large piece on blues singer , Willie McTell.
In 1988 my friend, Lee Matney and I located the widow of Blind Willie McTell and interviewed her. We made an amateur video that resides in the Blues Archive at Oxford, Mississippi. This probably the last interview Kate McTell granted and was supposed to written up in Living Blues but that article never materialized.
From 1996-1997 I wrote for the ill-fated Slam magazine. Although I consider these pieces to among my best, the magazine went belly up and not many people saw my articles.
Set list: click here
to view my current(?) list of songs
Links:
Nuci's Space- This is a resource center for musicians run by musicians. They have practice space, counseling services, and one of the best coffe bars in town. Barking Cat coffee is proud to provide the coffee to such a great resource!
1def-ear-ent.com- the coolest record label I have ever been signed with. They give 80% of profits back to the people who play the music. What a novel idea!
Vitaminic- This is a huge music site that has its main page in seven different languages. How do you say "redneck" in Swedish?
The Fountains- one of the coolest bands in town.
Drive By Truckers-the best band in Athens, Ga. Visit them and get an Alabama Ass Whuppin'!
Kinky Friedman-Texas Jewboy who loves Jamison Irish Whiskey and Jimmie Rodgers. He also write great country songs and detective novels.
Flagpole-the best music rag around.
Barking Cat Coffee - this is the newest member of the Barking Cat Family. Try our whole bean coffee by mail.
Club Dates/Places:
Lunch Paper- College Square, Athens, Ga.
Allen's- Prince Ave. Athens, Ga.
DT's Downunder- 140 East Clayton Street, Athens, Ga. 706-543-9276
Also you can find me on the streets of Athens, Ga-usually on Clayton Street between the Grill and the Globe.
Thanks to:
Faye, Dylan, and Hannah for tolerating this insanity. Carol Hoff for the Barking Cat. Phillip Cartledge for the drumming and the artwork. George and Kathleen Cartledge for the studio time and their continued support.
Send me feedback, lewd postcards, or just a note to say hi!
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