Making Music in Renovo
By Christopher Miller
Renovo is well-known for the Flaming Foliage Festival, a rich railroading history, and has produced almost every imaginable source of energy known to modern man. The area is also becoming well known as an excellent music venue surrounded by the backdrop of lush green forest, and an unfortunately very low river in recent days.
One couple has been living here and making music for the past few years. Even though their public performances have been rare, the 16th Street Park will be hosting them live and in concert on Saturday night.
Mitch and Autumn Gavlock have pure musical talent. Mitch, a self-taught guitar player and Autumn, who comes from a large music and theater background have been making music together ever since they met.
“Music brought us together,” Autumn laughs, “we did not know each other existed and I went to a recording studio…the guy there worked with Mitch and told him about me.”
Ironically enough, and as far as the writer of this piece can understand, their band name does not coincide with any specific time that something significant happened, but it does combine their first names and the fact that they are a couple: 2 A.M. (Autumn & Mitch).
Their signature composition, Mr. Blue Jeans, was written by Autumn, about Mitch, on the night that they met. “I shared it with him [Mitch] and he wrote the music for it, we put it together,” Autumn explained.
Though they have only 1 original piece composed, they perform many songs in their repertoire. “Our genre is pretty varied – mostly country with some rock, pop and a couple spins on musical theatre thrown into the mix…we perform mostly covers,” Autumn explained. “Our crowd favorite,” Mitch chimed in, “is definitely Wagon Wheel,” “and Jolene by Dolly Parton,” Autumn exclaimed.
Many performers have someone or something that inspired them to write and perform their music. 2 A.M.’s inspiration is drawn from love. “The songs we do are love songs…love inspires us,” Autumn remarked. “The love we have for our children, our country, our town, it’s all around us.”
It was also music that spread genetically through Autumn and Mitch from their families’ appreciation for it. “My parents were always playing music,” Mitch explained. “The radio was always on in the house…I was in college one day singing along, and my friends would say that I was really good and that I ought to learn some songs and play them.” Autumn, who has been performing on stage since 6th grade, credits her father’s singing in the shower and her mother’s singing in church as well as her family’s very musical background for her talent today.
It has been a while since the Renovo area heard 2 A.M. perform locally, which is usually at a Budstock event that sadly did not occur this year. When asked for a comment for this story, Lynn, Mitch’s mother, said “Andy and I are very excited that Mitch and Autumn are singing again…we couldn’t be more proud of their talent and love for music!” “They really complement each other and make being an acoustic duo look easy…it was a nice break but we are happy they are back and are looking forward to the concert!”
If they could choose to open a show for any artist dead or alive, it would certainly be for Johnny and June Carter Cash. In fact, they have near-matching tattoos that spell out “His June,” and “Her Johnny.”
The advice that they offer others wanting to begin a music career, or just have a song in their heart that they want to be heard is to just do it! “Just do it….get up, don’t be afraid, if it’s something you want to do then just do it – you’re not promised tomorrow,” the couple stated.
Autumn and Mitch, 2 A.M., are available for hire and open to performing at events, weddings, and concerts. Family always comes first for them, considering that they have 2 littles in their home now.
The free concert will be on Saturday night, August 29 at Renovo’s 16th Street Park next to Lingle’s. It will be from 5-8pm and sponsored by the Clinton County Community Foundation, The Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park, and Renovo Borough. It is funded through a grant that was obtained by the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park.
The public is asked to please bring a lawn chair and to follow CDC guidelines for social and physical distancing. Hot dogs, baked goods and drinks will be available for purchase by the Bucktail Girls Booster Club. Support our school – GO BUCKS!
