Step It Up and Go: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk

by David Menconi

This book is a love letter to the artists, scenes, and sounds defining North Carolina's extraordinary contributions to American popular music. David Menconi spent three decades immersed in the state's music, where traditions run deep but the energy expands in countless directions. Menconi shows how working-class roots and rebellion tie North Carolina's Piedmont blues, jazz, and bluegrass to beach music, rock, hip-hop, and more. From mill towns and mountain coves to college-town clubs and the stage of American Idol, Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk, Step It Up and Go celebrates homegrown music just as essential to the state as barbecue and basketball.

Spanning a century of history from the dawn of recorded music to the present, and with sidebars and photos that help reveal the many-splendored glory of North Carolina's sonic landscape, this is a must-read for every music lover.

Genres: Music

328 pages, Hardcover

Published October 19, 2020

Reviews

[Faye Cathey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished up the book today, I’m pushing 50, from Charlotte and an avid NC Music lover for the last 30+ years. I was looking forward to taking a walk down our music scene’s history. That’s not what happened.
According to this book, The 80-90’s scene in Charlotte didn’t exist. The title of the book mentions “NC Popular Music” but, the list of Artists from the Charlotte area that were hardly mentioned or left out of the book completely is absurd.
Hopefully, the next person who tackles writing a book about North Carolina’s ENTIRE contribution to popular music will do a little more homework and not be so factually and intellectually lazy. What a disappointment

[Steve Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Step It Up and Go” spans over 100 years of NC music history, from 1920’s Bluegrass to the most recent crop of NC’s American Idol contestants. The book starts off well, and Menconi does a thorough job with the historical aspects.
His coverage of the last 30 years, however, is laughably biased towards artists from the Triangle (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC) where he spent about the same time as a music critic.

I must point out that I enjoyed Menconi’s previous book “Ryan Adams: Losering, a story of Whiskeytown.
In this book, he marginalizes Adams, likely to avoid any Political Correctness violations. Adams was in the news in 2019 when he was accused of inappropriate behavior and has been cancelled (hopefully temporarily) by many.

Someone at UNC Press should buy Menconi a map, as he seems to have forgotten that Charlotte is actually in North Carolina. So many bands from the Charlotte area are left out completely or reduced to a small name check, while he heaps pages of praise on much smaller Americana and Indie bands from the Triangle. No one west of Chapel Hill has heard of some of these groups.

This speaks to the problem with this book; it’s presented as the “The Story of NC Popular Music”. Menconi spent most of his pages writing about the artists he likes and then he sprinkled in the names of other artists from NC on top, more like an afterthought. I also noticed his knowledge of NC’s Hard Rock/Metal/Punk history is very limited.

If he picked a different title and didn’t call it “The Story of NC Popular Music” it would be less problematic.
Or maybe if he only wrote about 1920-1980, his personal biases wouldn’t be so obvious. That part of the book is actually well done.
People from the Triangle will love this book as it really was written for them, For everyone else from North Carolina’s other 96 counties and beyond, it’s incomplete and lacking.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great ride, and the photos are fantastic. I learned a ton about NC music history and about some people I didn't even know were from NC or had NC connections. I know there is some criticism in Goodreads reviews about Charlotte folks feeling left out of this history, but I think Menconi did his homework and his due diligence, and it seems the book is fully inclusive of bands that had a Billboard presence or Grammy nomination. You've got to draw the line somewhere. Heck, I'm sure I know some Triangle folks who were offended at not making it into this book, but hey. Books do have contracted word limits and prices go up when the page count goes beyond what was agreed. Maybe someone else can write the untold history that got left out or edited out. But what is written here is written well and engagingly.

[Caitlin Dickerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is NC music history as seen through the eyes of someone from the triangle.
He seems to have forgotten about Charlotte.
Don’t call a book, “THE STORY” if you just going to pick and choose your favorites.

[Barry Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

North Carolina has been at the center of much popular music over the course of the past 120 years and David Menconi's book illuminates its many of its threads and niches. From pioneers like Charlie Poole, Clarence "Tom" Ashley through Alice Gerrard, Blind Boy Fuller, John Dee Holeman, guitarist and media pioneer Arthur Smith (who wrote "Guitar Boogie" and "Feudin' Banjos" later used as "Dueling Banjos" in the film Deliverance), Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, The 5 Royales, The Embers and the Beach Music style, Mitch Easter, Nantucket, Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Ben Folds 5, James Taylor, Whiskeytown, Ryan Adams, Caitlin Cary, The Backsliders, Superchunk, people who came from there but became known in other places like Maceo Parker, Nina Simone, Rhiannon Giddens and Thelonious Monk, wrier John D. Loudermilkas as well as many record labels such as Sugar Hill, Yep Roc, Colonial and Merge. It's been known for Bluesgrass, Blues, Country, R & B, Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop, Alternative, Americana and everything in-between. It even holds a record as a state for the most successes to come out of the TV show American Idol. Menconi details all this and much more in a well-written, readable and informative book. - BH.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Menconi has long had a relaxed and effortless prose style, honed by his 28 years at the Raleigh N&O (where I regularly read him throughout my formative years and have seen him speak many times). Menconi’s opinions about more recent popular music can be infuriating, and his biases are often clear (as many of these other Goodreads reviews can attest). But as anyone who loves music criticism knows, the best critics are not the ones you agree with the most, but those with opinions that cause you to reconsider your own preconceptions and expand your tastes. Menconi is one of those critics, and this book does not fail on that front.

The early parts of the book are the most illuminating for me, having known next to nothing about the NC origins of blues and bluegrass. As the book moves into more familiar territory it moves briskly and entertainingly- one can always quibble about the inclusion of some artists over others, but Menconi clearly tries to be equitable in his treatment of artists in the service of his grander narrative. In this he is mostly successful, with the detours to beach music and forgotten 70s rockers Nantucket among the most engaging chapters. Entire books could be written about some of these eras and of course the 90s in Chapel Hill and the Raleigh alt country scene get somewhat short shrift. (Ryan Adams is almost completely sidelined, likely due to Menconi having covered the territory in his previous book on Adams, as well as the recent sexual abuse allegations against Adams which are briefly mentioned.)

The last part of the book is the only place where it really seems to falter. Hip hop is relegated to only a single chapter, while American Idol stars are the subjects of the book’s excruciating final chapter. The wealth of contemporary music in NC seems unexplored and the book ends abruptly without any insight into what the long history of NC’s musical tradition may teach us about its future.

Overall, while imperfect, “Step it Up and Go” is still highly recommended for music lovers with an interest in the Old North State.

[Bobby Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book started off good but when it got to the 90's it went downhill. Not much about Ryan Adams (No relation) or lots of bands I remember from Charlotte. More of a "Love Letter" to bands from Raleigh/Durham.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step It Up and Go: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk by David Menconi was a truly enjoyable book. Between the stories of the people and the ways in which these people and their state influenced each other made this both an entertaining and an educational read.

I love music and while I have my favorite genres I don't dismiss any style out-of-hand. My least favorite is opera, mainly because I generally don't understand the words and it is a story, but even opera is appealing when in person and the story plays out for you. So this book is ideal for me since I like knowing about more types of music and more artists. There will be plenty of names you're familiar with here as well as many you might not know. Because even the shortest entries are still narrative at heart you get a feel for the artists as well as their music and the fertile ground in which it was nourished.

Having moved a round a lot I have been fortunate to experience a lot of what many local and regional scenes have to offer. Though somewhat aware of North Carolina's rich past I didn't fully appreciate just what they have given the world, and what they have kept for themselves. In addition to learning about (and if you're smart you'll find music online as you read) these musicians, both known and unknown to you, you will also be rewarded with nostalgic moments. The short section about Squirrel Nut Zippers took me back to the late 90s and a period when I just could not get enough of them. Whalen's voice just swept me off my feet and the band was tight. For you, it might be James Taylor, Nina Simone, or any of the many stars (and near stars).

In addition to the chapters there are short insets that highlight a person, song, event, whatever. These are fun and offer a little break from the general arc of the chapter in which they are located.

I highly recommend this to readers who love music. Not necessarily just a particular style but those who love music, who will take any opportunity to catch a live show even when the genre isn't their favorite. I also suggest that you use whatever online resources you like to catch some of the tunes and/or videos, that will really bring the book to life. Menconi has even created a Spotify playlist to make it easier, titled Songs From "Step It Up & Go"

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Michele Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history of NC musicians

[Cornelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic accounting of North Carolina's influence on popular music. Well done!

[David Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning of this book is well done and interesting, the problem starts
around the late 80’s, When the Author puts on his Triangle Music Superfan Hat and leaves any Objectivity behind.

So much of this book is spent on artists from the triangle you’ve never heard of while artists from the rest of the state are overlooked, minimized or completely left out.

Ryan Adams, who was born and raised in North Carolina and went on to become an important artist, is hardly mentioned. This is likely due to the unproven allegations against Ryan from 2019.
The Author thought Adams was important enough to write an entire book about him a few years ago.
Taking Adams’ place in the “Y’all Alternative” section of the book are
The Backsliders and Six String Drag, two small groups that nobody has heard of
outside eastern North Carolina.

I guess in the triangle, being Politically Correct is more important than being Factually Correct.

It’s actually stunning that the author would have the audacity to call this book “The Story” when it presents such a one-sided and haughty view of NC’s music history.

[Dan Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing about music takes a special kind of talent. Not only must one know how to write an essay and what the music is about, but one must convey both the feeling of the music and the jolt the listener gets from the performance.
Mr. Menconi is a master.
For me, as a listener, the first half of the book had heart and soul. If I did not know about the artist being discussed, I knew the genre well enough. And as with the entire book, I had my phone next to me, a wire into around the world's music regardless of country or time. Menconi's reverence for the early players of mountain/country/hillbilly/ folk/blues soothes the soul. His understanding of how dancers define a style of music---beach---is rare and valuable.
About half of the latter part of the book introduced me to artists whom I missed along the way, some of whom were simply outside my regular listening orbit. All were worth the time spent with the phone; all were well treated by Menconi.
I'd like to look around Ashville, check out Warren Wilson College, pop over to check out the Music Makers, visit a shag dance and the clubs in the tri-city area, and so on. But for now, the internet and Mr. Menconi's book will do.
Recommended.

[Artie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe he didn't mention (fill in the blank.)

[Ted Lehmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Menconi, a former music writer for the Raleigh News & Observer, who was retired by the ongoing digital destruction of newspaper publishing, Menconi continues to write mostly about North Carolina and popular music. Step it Up and Go takes a wide ranging view of popular music in North Carolina from the early days of the early banjo player/singer Charley Poole through a range of music styles and formats throughout the Tar Heel State. He looks at vaudeville, old-time mountain music, bluegrass, beach music, country music (both traditional & modern), rock & roll, rap, punk, and more. He provides a fascinating view of the variety and quality of music connected in one way or another to North Carolina. Readers looking for extensive, highly detailed accounts of their own favorite genre might find themselves disappointed. Others will find it informative and motivating enough to take further looks and deeper dives into musical forms they hadn't previously considered.

I felt that I wanted to explore the music further and dig at least a little deeper, so I decided to create a YouTube playlist of all, or at least most, of the musicians covered in the book. You can find my playlist, designed in the order of the artist's appearance in the book, on YouTube as: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
By listening to the genre as well as exploring the artists, a clearer idea of what was going on when, and how rich an environment for musical growth North Carolina has provided.

David Menconi is a knowledgeable and thoughtful guide through this musical wonderland. The addition of some knowledge of the genres and artists creates a rich soup of the full range of popular and niche music.

[Brad Montgomery · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was thinking as I ordered “Step It Up and Go”, how could the same book get so many good and bad reviews? After reading it, the answer ended up being quite simple.

It depends on who reads it.

A lot of the 5 Star reviewers are from the Triangle.
(Raleigh and the surrounding area)
Many of their favorite local bands are mentioned.
It makes the Triangle feel like a Musical Mecca.
This also gives them a sense of pride about where they live.
Readers who know little or nothing about Music also usually fall in this category; this book was fun for them and an easy read.

The 2 Star reviewers mostly live outside the Triangle,
Many from Charlotte (NC’s biggest City)
The Author conducted a deep dive on the Triangle’s music and omitted most artists from the rest of the state.
So many artists are missing from “Step It Up and Go”, it’s actually ridiculous.

I almost gave it 3 Stars, as the beginning of the book was great. The 2nd half of the book was so incomplete and somewhat pretentious; I couldn’t bring myself to stretch it to three stars.
I read a review where someone thought this book was “Like a puzzle with 20-30 missing pieces”
I felt the same way.

However, my biggest takeaway was my surprise that the Author was so oblivious that he didn’t realize (or maybe didn’t care) that people OUTSIDE the Triangle might read his book and be mad when he left out so many artists from the rest of the state. I wonder if this crossed his mind at all?
Maybe he should stick to writing about Ryan Adams and Americana,
Although Ryan didn’t get much ink in this book either.

He seems to only be concerned about his readers from the Triangle.
This makes the most sense; these are the people who gave him five stars.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from University North Carolina Press for an honest review.
This book about the history of the music of North Carolina starts with bluegrass and what I would call country music. I read about a man named Charlie Poole whose music from the twenties were still being played by people into the sixties and beyond, I had never heard of this person. Here is when I knew I would learn things that I had never knew before. Just like the man who wrote the dueling banjos that were used later in the movie Deliverance was never paid for his music and would have to sue in order to get any money for that. You will come across a lot of information like that.
I also did not know that Nina Simone was from North Carolina, this was touched on lightly, even though there was a photo of an old house where she grew up. I thought maybe more would have been written about her but not. Though there was a lot of information about bluegrass, country, and blues musicians and a few from the late ’50s and early ’60s. it seemed to fall off once you got into the seventies and beyond. That would be my only complaint. Other than that you do get a lot of information and it seemed to be well researched. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great add to the NC Humanities 2023 state wide reading program. I have always been a huge fan of NC bluegrass and folk music but the NC music history is not just about this type of music. It’s amazing how much music, music industry, and musicians have hailed from North Carolina. The book is well organized and presented; it’s in somewhat of a chronological order and gives ample space to all genres. While the book does have selected albums referenced at the end, I really think it should be made into an iTunes playlist! At least I kept having to refer to on-line music to listen as well as read to better understand the discussion. Out of necessity, there is a lot of name dropping and I know probably only 20% of the musicians discussed (but I did learn a lot about new music!) and this makes it a little difficult to read quickly. This is a book that needs to be savored together with the music.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book because I enjoyed reading David's articles while he wrote for the Raleigh News and Observer. Rather than a comprehensive history of North Carolina popular music, it provides in-depth profiles of a handful of NC-based musicians and considers how they impacted the genre of music they're identified with. And he focuses on musicians like Doc Watson, Superchunk, and the Avett Brothers who made NC their home through their entire career. You'll read a little about emigrants (people like Nina Simone and Thelonius Monk who were born in NC but based their careers elsewhere) or immigrants (people like Branford Marsalis who moved to NC after establishing themselves) but this book is very NC-centric. May be worth buying just for the extensive bibliography and discography.

[Michael Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Menconi is a masterful music historian and critic and this book is his ode to the pantheon of musical artists that created a musical style that is uniquely North Carolinian. With fabulous stories about Charlie Poole, Blind Boy Fuller, Elizabeth "Libba" Cotton, Etta Baker, Arthur Smith and the Carolina Crackers, Earle Scruggs, Doc Watson, Nantucket, Clyde McPhatter, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, The Embers, Shag dancing, Let's Active, the Backsliders, REM in Winston-Salem where their career took off, Metal Flake Mother, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Ryan Adams, the Ben Folds Five, Nina Simone, Nickel Creek, the Avett Brothers and the numerous night clubs, hot spots and independent recording studios across the state this book covers all the ground and gives the reader the full panoply of Tar Heel music history.

[Padgett Gerler · Rating 5 out of 5]

From mountain shapenotes to blues to beach music and beyond, David Menconi's STEP IT UP AND GO guides us on an enthralling journey through the history of North Carolina music. Painstakingly researched and beautifully written, illustrated, and produced, STEP IT UP AND GO has a memory for everyone. As a child of the South, a North Carolinian for forty-seven years, and a lover of southern music forever, I loved this book from the first page to the last.

[Jacob Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ripping good chronicle of North Carolina Popular Music. This book is filled with anecdotes you'll be retelling weeks later. My favorite part is it demonstrations art is not created in a vacuum. Hopefully there will be many volumes to come because there are many stories left to tell. I highly recommend seeking out the companion Spotify playlists.

[Artina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this one through the Wake Forest Historical Museum and the NC Reads program through NC Humanities. This reads more like a textbook than a read-for-pleasure book. It gave a very abbreviated story of the NC music scene. Example: when discussing beach music, it focused mainly on The Embers instead of going into details on the numerous beach music bands that hail from NC.

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's the most fun I've had reading a book in quite some time. I'm not from Charlotte, so I have nothing to bitch about.

[Timothy Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

As you read this book, the authentic passion for music jumps off the page. The author transports the reader into the world of various musicians with his intimate knowledge. A fantastic read.

[Christopher Klug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers a wide range of music well.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with tons of fascinating information about the NC music scene. Almost a must read for a music lover