February 9, 2026
Now, for some Doc Moccasin history…
We had some photos taken just before we released our second album, “The Great Southern Gothic”. Four of those photos were used as our individual photos on the website. The photos I'm sharing in this post are from the same day.
The building in the photos was the site of an important milestone in the early history of Doc Moccasin. The building is now a feed store. Back in 2010, the band had just formed, and consisted of our two founding members, Code Cochran and Mike Newsome, and one other guitarist. At this early stage of the band, Mike was on drums, and the band didn't have a bass player, since this was several months before I (Kevin) joined the band. The building in the photos was, in 2010, a bar. The original three-piece lineup of Doc Moccasin performed the band's first-ever show at this bar. There were photos taken that night, but I'm not sure if anyone still has them in their computer files. The audience was small, but it was a start. As a bonus, the bar was only a mile or so from the band's rehearsal space. There are a couple of funny stories about the show that are best told in person, so if you see Code or Mike, ask them about that night. How the bar wound up being shut down by the authorites a few years later is also an interesting story that the guys can tell you about, but it had nothing to do with the band, as Doc Moccasin only played there the one time.
March 28, 2025
At long last, our second album has been released! It's called “ The Great Southern Gothic”, and it is now available on multiple streaming platforms (Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, etc.) and as a CD. We've been playing the new songs live for several years while working on the new album, and people have been giving us very positive feedback.
If you are able to purchase one of our first run of one hundred CDs, you will get what we're referring to as a “rare collectible", because one of the track titles is spelled incorrectly on the cover, and on the face of the CD inside. Somehow, it slipped past all of us, but it will be corrected on future printings. So if you get your hands on one, see if you can spot the misspelled word. Here's a bit of grivia for you. Did you know that the word ”"misspell" is one of the most commonly misspelled English words? No kidding.
We're currently working on getting a page on the website with all our song lyrics, and getting the email feature functioning properly so that you can send messages to us through the website. Until we get that straightened out, we can still get your messages on our Facebook page, and there is a phone number on our “Contact and Booking” page for bookings.
Big things are in the works. Stay tuned!
February 19, 2025
On February 15 we, along with four other bands, played in Lake City, Florida, for the first annual Olustee Battle of the Bands. All the bands were really good. From what I heard, the judges scores were very close. At the end of the event, Doc Moccasin was awarded first prize. We also had fun reconnecting with the band Higher Ground. We played on the same bill with them at Freebird Live when it was still around back in 2013. Thanks to everyone who organized and participated in the event!
February 12, 2025
Very quick update, with more news to come very soon.
In the last update, I shared that we were finished recording the new songs, and we had photos taken for the back cover of the CD.
The cover design is done, and the first batch of CD's have been printed. We are waiting on copyright paperwork to be completed before we release everything.
We've received a lot of positive feedback on the new songs when we've played them live, so stay tuned! I think you're going to like what you hear.
June 26, 2024
Once again, time has gotten away from me, but here's what we've been up to lately.
The new album is completely recorded and mastered. We recently had photos taken by local photographer Renae Devine, which will be featured on the website and on other media, as well as on the back of the new CD, since some of us still like having physical media. :) Once the back cover design is complete, we'll be printing copies of the CD and making the new songs available for streaming. We've received a lot of positive feedback on the new songs when we've played them live.
Our last show went well. We were one of the groups performing at Rock the Park for Monica, to raise funds for Monica Arnold's cancer treatments. Many local artists and vendors auctioned and sold items for the cause. In addition to Doc Moccasin, musical support was provided by local artists Keith Godwin and the Rio Grande Band, Brennan Brady and Jake Calhoun, and Duval County Line, who also performed a few numbers with Curt Towne and Greg Thompson from The Curt Towne Band. As always, Green Cove Springs came out in force to help a community member in need.
Keep checking back on this site and on our Facebook page for more updates. Also, go check out our official Youtube channel, which we're planning on posting more videos to very soon. You may also see us on some other popular platforms in the near future. Take care, everyone.
November 4, 2023
For some reason, the site isn't letting me add a separate title for the date tonight, so I just stuck it at the top of this overdue news update.
We played at the pool pavillion in Green Cove Springs on October 28. We were playing on the same day as the Florida/Georgia game and the annual air show, but we still had an enthusiastic audience. Thanks to Brandon Leino for being our opening act. That night, he and his wife were expecting their new baby boy very soon, so he may have arrived as of this posting. Thanks to Curt Towne and Jim Correa of The Guitar Station for taking the time to come check us out, as well as Jim's wife Kerrie, who made the show more fun by singing along with us. Thanks also to the representatives of the local art community who came to hear us, including Tim Stahlheber and his wife Angie, and the artist Lyneke. Tim and Lyneke have been instrumental in promoting local musicians and bands through their visual art projects, and Lyneke took some amazing photos for us, one of which I just posted on our “photos” page on the website.
On the night of November 1, in conjunction with the First Wednesday Art Walk, we played at Sweet Pete's in downtown Jacksonville. We had nice cool weather, and no rain, unlike the last time we tried to play there in July. We had some good interactions with people stopping by to hear us, and the folks at Sweet Pete's were gracious as always. Go by and see them. Sweet Pete's is always fun and a very cool place to visit.
The new album is very close to completion. There's one more drum track and some vocal parts to record before we get everything mastered and get it out there so everyone can hear it.
We have another engagement coming up soon, a fundraiser for a veterans' charity on Veteran's Day, November 11. Details are on the “upcoming shows” page of the website.
Keep checking back for updates. Good things are coming.
July 6, 2023
Short update.
We've been having a rough time gig-wise lately. We played Food Truck Friday in Green Cove on May 5 of this year. We had the worst sound people we've ever had. They showed up late, and they never got the sound right for any of the performers. Everyone had to cut their sets short because they put us so far behind schedule. Fortunately, the city has committed to never hire them again.
Yesterday, July 5, we were at Sweet Pete's in downtown Jacksonville, for an outdoor show in conjunction with the First Wednesday Art Walk. We never got to play a note due to the thunderstorms that rolled through. The cool thing is, Sweet Pete's paid us for our efforts, and they will have us back in the future. So, if you're in downtown Jacksonville, go grab some candy and craft soda from Sweet Pete's, and have a meal at their restaurant. They are good people.
November 17, 2022
In July of last year, I announced on this site that we had a new singer. I was distracted with job stuff over the next few months, so I never posted details about the new singer. In fact, I waited so long to post an update that she is no longer with us. Her name is Christy McLennan, and we enjoyed having her in the band. She is a great singer with a kind heart and a positive attitude. We played a couple of shows with her. The last one was in October, and it is on our Facebook page in the form of a very pixilated phone video. Country vocals are her main area of expertise, so if you know of a country band in need of a singer, look her up on Facebook.
We have one audition lined up for a potential new vocalist. Keep checking back for updates. Maybe I'll do better at posting them going forward.