Lost In Louisville

If I ever complained about having nothing to do, I apologize. I obviously wasn't looking hard enough.

Friday

Friday night at Headliners two of the best-drawing roots music bands packed the house. First up was the newly reformed BR5-49. I was curious to see what would come of the recent line up changes. After many years together, Gary Bennett and "Smilin" Jay McDowell parted ways with the rest of the group. It was hard to imagine the band surviving the loss of these two vital members.

Bennett, along with remaining member Chuck Mead, was one half of the lead vocal and songwriting team. On a personal note, he was always my favorite of the two. While Mead's songs relied heavily on gimmick, Bennett's writing was always heartfelt and often heartbreaking. The combination of these two elements defined the band, as it was before. So with the band's anchor of straightforward country lament gone, I expected Friday to see the band in all out kitsch mode.

I was not altogether wrong. There was decidedly less introspection. But in a bar full of drunken music fans, introspection isn't always welcome. What was welcome that night was the kind of pedal to the metal hillbilly-beat stomping good time music supplied by the band in abundance. The band sounded as tight as ever, with the replacements Geoff "Fireball" on bass and Chris "Don't mention my uncle Earl" Scruggs on guitar and vocals.

The last couple of times I saw BR5-49 with the original line up, they looked weary. This was understandable, since they were at the closing end of years and years of nonstop touring. That impression was obviously not too far off the mark, since they disbanded not much later. But with the addition of these new members, and a little time off, the band is roaring with the kind of energy that you can sense when you listen to one of their two fine live albums.

The loss of two founding members, including a very important part of the songwriting team, could have killed a lesser band. And when it comes time to record again, it may kill BR5-49. For now, however, the band is playing live like it never missed a beat. Maybe it's the energy supplied by a fresh start. Maybe the band is able to stand because its foundation is a musical tradition bigger than any one singer or bass player. Whatever the reason, BR5-49 imposed their will on a packed house Friday. When the song told a story, everyone listened. When the song said to dance, they danced. When a song like "Eighteen wheels and a Crow Bar" placed it's foot on your chest and floored it, you were floored.

The headlining act, Southern Culture on the Skids, is another big crowd pleaser. They play up the "southern" thing big time, with songs about pudding, dirt track racing and fried chicken. It's a very talented band, and their musical talent is top notch. But I've already stated my distaste for gimmickry, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise when I tell you I left before they started. Sometimes after a set as good as the one put forth by BR5-49, you don't want to spoil it by waiting around for a band you probably aren't going to like.

Saturday

Saturday night I promised my friend Lee Ann that I'd work the door at The Rudyard Kipling for her Lucero/Two Dollar Pistols show. Upon arriving, I didn't see many cars and was a little concerned that the turn out might be low. You never know with shows in Louisville. The fans are fickle and even the best and most reliable bands can fail to draw sometimes. But that was not the case this night.

As I waited downstairs at the bar before the show, I ran into my buddy Nick, who played guitar in my long-defunct rockabilly band. We had a good chat about how much we want to get back to playing, and I think it just might result in yours truly actually starting a band again. Not long after I saw Nick, I glanced up at the door to the room where the band was to play. To my pleasant surprise, there was a long line already forming.

The flow of people never seemed to stop that night. I don't know the official capacity of The Rud, but I'm pretty sure it was tested Saturday. Folks were standing, jumping, climbing and drinking. Oh yes, lots of that last one.

The Two Dollar Pistols were the surprise hit of the weekend. Playing straight-ahead honky tonk from North Carolina, they made many new fans, myself included. I enjoyed their set much more than Lucero, and from talking to people at the show, I wasn't alone. It's really got me thinking that there's a big untapped market for that kind of music here in town. Especially with the kind of crowd at this show. It was mostly young people, around my age. I saw many, many familiar faces from my punk rock days. It makes perfect sense that these folks would dig hard driving honky tonk about drinking and heartbreak. But seeing the crowd's reaction to this type of band in person really drove the point home.

Sunday

After two straight nights of intense shows, I needed a little cool-down. So I went up to the BBC to see Mike Cleveland and the Blue Hollow band. For the better part of the night, I got what I bargained for. All acoustic, all bluegrass, and generally soothing. But at the end of their third (yes, third!) set, the boys broke into what could very well have been the fastest version of Orange Blossom Special ever played. Mike Cleveland wasn't named Fiddle Player of the Year by the IBMA for nothing.

So at the end of the night, after hours of playing, these guys turned in what could have been the most intense performance of the entire weekend. I guess it goes to show that you should never underestimate the ability of Bluegrass to kick your ass. It hasn't managed to survive this long in tact without being able to blow people away every once in a while.

**Update: Ben comes through like a champ with some excellent pictures from the BR5-49 / SCOTS show. One of these days I'll remember to take my digital camera to one of these great concerts.

Posted 10:02 AM by Jackson Cooper |