Sharp Notes March 13 2002

PIKE THE PITCH-LADY. Fans of local honky-tonker Amy Pike may have recognized her voice in a recent television and radio ad for Ford Motors, singing Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere." Pike was tapped after one of the commercial's producers heard her sing at a local club — the same way she landed previous advertising work singing her song, "Notorious," in a Turner Classic Movies commercial. The Ford spot is making the rounds in the Atlanta area, while fellow local country crooner, Dave Weil of the Blacktop Rockets recorded his own Ford ad airing elsewhere in the Southeast. As for the paycheck, Pike says, "While I won't get rich off of it, it's not hurting my feelings either." At least, it'll help pay some bills as Pike gets ready for maternity leave. Pike's second child is due May 27, the day before her band, Last Cold Beer, is scheduled to play the Star Bar's Bubbapalooza festival. "So I may have a showstopper that will literally stop the show!" she says. In the meantime, catch Pike singing Wednesdays at Eclipse de Luna with the Bonaventure Quartet and at the Star Bar March 27 with Last Cold Beer.?

KIDDIE CAT. Speaking of maternity leave, Catfight!'s Katy Graves gave birth to a son, Nicholas, late last month. Former X-Impossibles guitarist Shawn Christian is the proud pappy.