Department of Labor Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). To win benefits, a miner must prove that he has Black Lung and that he is totally disabled due to a breathing impairment caused at least in part by Black Lung. A widow of a miner whose death was due to Black Lung is entitled to benefits.
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 contained important changes to the Black Lung Benefits Act. Under these changes, a miner with at least fifteen years of underground coal mine employment or surface mine work with similar dust exposure who has a disabling breathing impairment is entitled to the presumption that the disability is due to Black Lung. For a widow, there is a presumption that the miner’s death was due to Black Lung. The operator can rebut the presumption by proving the miner did not have Black Lung or by proving the miner’s disabling impairment or death was not due to his coal mine employment. The widow of a miner who was disabled by Black Lung at the time of his death is automatically entitled to benefits. These changes apply only to claims filed after January 1, 2005.
The Affordable Care Act could not have come at a more crucial time. Just this year, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health found that the rate of the most severe form of black lung among Appalachian coal miners has resurged to the same rate it was before the federal government started regulating coal mine dust levels 45 years ago. In other words, the risk of catching severe black lung is actually worse for miners today than it was in 1969. However, seeking benefits in light of this evidence is not so easy. In 2013, an investigation by The Center for Public Integrity revealed the specifics of how the coal industry spends millions of dollars to employ doctors and lawyers to defeat black lung claims. Coal miners often lack the resources, money, and access to legal representation to counter these efforts.
ACLC works with other attorneys and advocates to trade knowledge of the black lung benefits system. This past spring, ACLC sponsored and hosted its first Black Lung CLE (Continuing Legal Education), designed to update fellow attorneys on what we and others have been seeing in black lung law. These efforts have been supplemented by our black lung blog, Devil in the Dust, which discusses the policies, laws and medical literature surrounding the disease.
ACLC, along with the National Black Lung Association and others, advocates for changes in legislation and regulations to improve the Black Lung benefits program. In addition, we have worked for years to advocate for regulations that reduce the allowable level of dust in mines in an effort to eliminate Black Lung. These efforts paid off in May of this year, when MSHA reduced the nationwide coal mine dust standard for the first time since 1972.
Apollo Pizza from Richmond Kentucky and also Steam Engine Pizza Pub were here all weekend satisfying our palate with GREAT pizzas, I even caught Laid back Country picker taking one to go. You know there folks support independent and local music VERY heavily, with live music on weekends and also weeknights as well.
MANY of the acts featured on this article this week have been kind enough to play shows there in the past. I have heard many many good stories about the acoustics and the overall ambiance of this eatery. House Of Cue was on hand as well with some MIGHTY FINE Cole slaw, no people I AM PICKY about my mac and cheese and my Cole Slaw if its weird or watery I HATE IT. What I like to do is stop at different food trucks and combine what I like…I know that sounds weird but I am strange on food.
Before I get to the music of Day 2 I want to go over loving on my friends that come here. Some of these functions are the only times I get to see some of these people because we are so regional, and travel can be hard during the festival off year ( like now). I’m not sure how my health will allow me to travel in 2020, or my medical bill situations, so I cherish EVERY TRIP like it could be my last.
I’m going to “flip” around to my friends that are here as I run across them on my camera roll in my folders if you don’t mind, ok?. I took thousands of pictures from this event so I will go over each one thoroughly and evaluate all of them worthy of this article, and post the rest. Mr. Byron IS COMING I assure you, he is the heart and soul of this festival and this family, being a Christian like I am the father is discipline and the role model, and the mother is the LOVE and the nurturing…that’s what this festival has.
Mr. Arlo McKinley will be talked about later on as well as this young man Mr. Abe Partridge whom I have been DESPERATELY WAITING to talk about on an article of a festival format. Both of them played this weekend, and both of them were astonishing in their own rights.
Mr. Jim And Miss Victoria Guthrie from the Honky Tonk Hotel out there in Missouri. Now, I’m not exactly sure WHAT to call them other than awesome supporters of the local music community. They aren’t really a website but they give out ticket prizes and cover events with videos and photos. BUT HERE is where they are actually more integral than people like me…they book shows at powerhouse venues in many states.
Without people like them I cannot do what you read here day after day, without events my job becomes scarce in public. I cannot do booking I’m not good enough to do that legal stuff, and I don’t know prices or politics of booking, I’m good at other ways of helping local music.
They open up their home to so many artists and bands on a regional basis, and allow them to network and travel into regions they normally wouldn’t be able to get to on their own. Mr. Jim has a similar vision as I do to cross integrate many kinds of local music into other “scenes” if you will.
Just like any year, the merch crew did a bang up job taking care of our shopping needs this weekend by selling us the official Kickin It On The creek merchandise and other band merchandise that we wanted. I’m glad my camp was pretty close to the main stage area so I could return and dump off all my stuff I bought, at various times of the day while wandering around and taking pictures, and gathering information.
See this website is different from any other that covered this event. TRUE I’m WAY LATE, but I’m more thorough and I’m going to take you on a personal tour of the property later on in this article. After YOU SEE this…you’re going to be BEGGING to come down and buy a ticket to this event. And if you are a first timer in 2020 MAKE SURE you come see Mr. Byron and Miss Kelli, THEY WANT to meet you!
This next band came with a pretty unique story, WATCH THIS VIDEO because THIS IS how this event works. This portion of the festival was so special I HAD to embed the actual video instead of just writing a bit about these guys. I just couldn’t get the video to position sideways instead of upright.
Mr. Michael Shave, Mr. Will Sinkula and Mr. Tom Bensleburg all formed a Bluegrass band are from all over like Paris Kentucky and Georgia and other places. I remember their couch last year in the crowd and people loving their campfire performances before and after hours.
Alex Wright came to us from Louisville to play some music for us early on in the day before the heat settled into the yard and the morning dew left us. His 2017 album called “What Is Real” left us with his song called “Church”, which to my knowledge was indeed his first song.
“Weight Of The Day” was a song I found on his 2014 album called “Starlight Navigator” , as well as a song called “Live To The Bottom”. This festival always brings me a few new artists I never knew about before coming out there, and I usually buy most of their albums that I can find. Sometimes I find myself searching Amazon or EBay.
I found three albums total and got two of them so far. Next up was a great band I have covered MANY times on here called Luna And The Mountain Jets whom have a rich history in this area. I have encountered then at Hagfest, Master musicians Festival, W.B.Walker’s Anniversary Show, and MORE.
Also, Laid Back Country Picker was here as well, whom we will talk about in just a moment here. Many of their songs they played were from the “Telling Stories” album accept the last song they played I recalled called “Number Two”.
It’s fitting I’m on my Thanksgiving Day weekend break writing this as I come across the song called “Thanksgiving Day” on my notes from the event. Anybody’s Thanksgiving can turn into a huge fiasco with family around to ruin things. Fights, politics and all sorts of crap ensues. But there are also some situations where spouses keep one another from Thanksgiving functions as this song describes.
“Lies And Envy” was included in their set here, as well as “Walking Away” which is one of my personal favorite songs they play, I like many of them that feature the guitar solos Mr. David pounds out onto the audience on a daily basis. The rest of the songs they played were “Pepsi Girl”, “That Thing You Said” and the last one I remembered was “Number Two” and “Silent Sunday Morning”.
Mr. Kyle Crownover has a famous role in being the tour manager for Mr. Tyler Childers but his music is fabulous in it’s own right, and his performance today proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt. His album is simply called Crownover so if you look for it do not put the Kyle in the search bar.
“One More You” was one of the first songs I heard him play today, and I admired the passion in his vocals. Some of his songs are pretty well done like “Wasting Time” because I felt myself in his shoes upon that position before. “Sweet Jeanette” is a TERRIFIC song that paints a vivid display of my own youth with my young girlfriend as I discovered the outside world on my own terms.
“Every Day This Week” was another song on his set today along with “Almost Right” and one other one I didn’t catch the name of. We ALL enjoyed the mighty comical antics of our favorite Laid Back Country Picker who taught me all about that trash talking truck driver.
“Kingsport” and of course he pulled out that “Party Line” for us today. Tyler Childers has been paying him back for influencing him early on as his teacher. THIS IS WHY this music is becoming ever popular and taking over the market as big as it is, because these artists are NOT FORGETTING where they came from.
“Kathy With An 8 Ball” was of course part of his show today folks, and then he poured on his guitar licks upon us with his rendition of GO GO Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult. I’m telling you if you have never experienced the guitar ferocity of this man’s show you need to!
“Truck Stop Sam” was about a filthy mouthed comic Legend that he turned me onto a long time ago, “Magoffin County Cadillac” was next and he played others like “Live In The Now” and a cover of “Okie From Muskogee”.
Friends again here, here are some more friends enjoying the music and the drinking we did there that weekend. There was so many fun things going on all over, people playing cornhole and cooking things. Hell even I fried fish and made some steaks one night, ask Mr. JJ Waters about my rib eye steaks I make.
As long as it isn’t illegal you can have a fun time here on the creek. We don’t have any really bad trouble here like you do at those corporate BIG festivals. Mr. Byron will PERSONALLY handle ANY potential problems here and I have NEVER SEEN ONE person kicked out of Kickin it. Mr. Byron doesn’t want you to have to leave, he will personally help you to your camp if you need help. He and his family personally check on every person they can, and you can come to ANYONE for HELP. EVERYBODY IS SAFE HERE.
I missed the Green Genes performance but my buddy over at Capture Kentucky got it pretty good. Mr. Don Rogers, Mr. Todd Copeland, Mr. Brandon Bowldes and Mr. Roddy Puckett apparently reformed this band from a hiatus.
My next band I got to see was my GOOD friends called Jericho Woods from out here in Breckenridge County Kentucky. If you remember I covered them out at Master Musicians Festival this year. Their new album called “One Perfect Sound” was a fabulous album indeed.
“Wrong Things, Right Reasons” was first today, and featured Miss Amanda’s beautiful fiddle work as always in true form. “Love The Way You Love Me” is another of my favorite songs they do. There is just so much joy and happiness on the stage when they come play, and you can easily ascertain they are here because they LOVE what they do.
“Sinking Creek” is another good song from their 2017 “Bonfire Songs” EP and this was a perfect introduction to how the evening sun was beginning to sink down from the high trees on both sides of the creek property here. The moonshine was rampant out here this weekend and the stars were out in full force.
They played ONE HELL of a good instrumental before playing “Orange Blossom Special” and another called “Weep No More”. And as they amazed us with their showmanship, they blazed a path for the other bands of the evening to move forward with like the song “Clear Cut”.
The two cousins my buddy Mr. Paul Priest and Mr. Josh Mitcham formed this band some time ago, and along the road they added members Mr. Kyle Daniels and Miss Anna Blanton and Mr. Aaron Martin.
The Hi-Jivers ARE YOU A FAN of Muddy Roots, or the Nashville Boogie? You a fan of Rockabilly? Can you believe that this place has Rockabilly bands? Well…THEY DO! I been a HUGE HUGE FAN of these guys ( and gal) for some time now, as myself met them through Muddy Roots.
They bring a HUGE high energy rocking vibe to the mix with their songs like “Hotwire Woman” which is actually the opening song for my buddy James Riley and his radio show called The Rockabilly N Blues Radio Hour. The album called “Always Talking Down” brought us the song called “blood In My Mouth” from 2017.
Miss Dawna Zahn – Vocals, Mr. Austin John – Guitar & Vocals, Mr. Hank Miles – Upright Bass & Vocals and Mr. Jason Smay/Tony DeCurtis- Drums makes up this four piece band from Nashville. Their 2019 album they put out had the song called “Just One More Time” on it, as well as the songs “It Takes Time” and “I Smell A Rat”.
“Any Woman You Please” was included in the set as well as my personal favorite called “Something’s Gotta Shake” and they played a few more before turning the stage over to Vintage Pistol.
Magnolia Boulevard is simply energetic and amazing, especially the vocals on the song “Sister” when Miss Maggie hits those high notes toward the end…simply amazing. Mr. Ryan Allen on keyboards, Mr. Todd Copeland on drums, Mr. Gregg Erwin on that guitar Miss Maggie Noelle on vocals and finally Mr. John Roberts on bass make up this band.
They actually opened with a song called “Planting Seeds” and they played a song called “Smooth Sailin'” while Miss Maggie twirled and danced on into the night. She truly cuts a hole into the carpeting up there and is quite a fashionable entertainer in her own right, as the guitarists in this band display some other talents.
Another song they played they said was called ” 3 For 5″ and another called “Without You”, all before playing a rousing cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic “The Chain”. And they played “Gold Dust Woman”. They closed their set with songs like “Strong Willed Woman” and another song called “Ride”.
Vintage Pistol is a ROWDY five piece band from Fayetteville Arkansas, and they have a new album out called “Trial And Error”. That’s NOT the best way to describe their stage presence, NO SIR there is NO error in that at all!
Mr. Taylor Smith- guitar, vocals, Mr. Walt Blythe- lead guitar, vocals, Mr. Jonny “Marinara” Morden- Bass, Mr. Garrett August – Keyboards, harmonica, vocals and Mr. Jake Schaffer – Drums, vocals make up this band here. Their first song was called “Get Down”.
They went on into album songs like “So Long” and another called “Don’t Wait Up”. All the while going into roller coaster rides of instrumentals and incredible laser displays, that kept me mesmerized. They went on a version of “Another Brick In The Wall” that almost rivaled the original in some ways.
They played some that they said were new along with one called “Smoke About It”, before going into other jams. Some of the instrumentals were so lengthy they went right into new ones with no song breaks! They are all over the stage, and they are wild in every way.
Town Mountain is just a powerhouse band. They began with “New Freedom Blues” and went into their 2016 album called “Southern Crescent” and played a song called “Arkansas Gambler”. Mr. Phil Barker – Mandolin, Vocals, Mr. Robert Greer – Vocals, Guitar, Mr. Jesse Langlais – Banjo, Vocals, Mr. Bobby Britt – Fiddle and finally Mr. Zach Smith – Bass make up this North Carolina band.
“Whiskey With Tears” was a good song from the same album “Arkansas Gambler” came from in fact on the album they are together as well. They played the “Road Goes On Forever” and they played their soul rousing cover of “I’m On Fire”.
The hard working song called “Up The Ladder”, is a song I CAN relate to because I’m wore plum the hell out from years of working. This place makes me forget my hectic job and issues in life, we all try to use music to forget the outside world, especially since none of us have a signal!
The top part of their entire set is when they yell out “LAW DAWWWWG” and the whole place goes absolutely insane and starts dancing and chugging beers. They then brought out former Wooks banjoist Arthur Hancock to plays some of his own special songs, including the NOW OFFICIAL Kickin It On The Creek anthem called “Wolfpen Branch”.
More Friends again folks while I skip around and combine days and times here. More people in the audience dancing and having fun, and my buddy JJ Waters who operates The Honkytonk Heroes Facebook Group.Through the years we have turned each other on to some great bands.
After I talk with y’all about my good friend Mr. John R. Miller down below, I’ll take you into the property a little more and BEYOND the initial camping area. I knew I was free to explore, but I don’t know his property lines yet and out there I didn’t want to trespass or end up in a place I didn’t belong!
I really wanted to encounter some wildlife out there, but also I followed some of the dry creek and I KNEW that snakes are plentiful out there. I’m NOT afraid of snakes but I’m not partial to getting bit either.
Mr.John R Miller is an awesome act by himself and his band the Engine Lights. Now tonight, he had Mr. John Clay on drums, and Miss Chloe Edmonstone, Mr. John Looney, Mr. William Matheny and Mr. Adam Meisterhans.
As most of you know, he plays bass guitar for Mr. Pat Reedy And The Longtime Goners, who is releasing new music this year on the Muddy Roots label. You’ll be hearing more about that album on later dates here. He opened with “How It Feels In The Light”. “Old Dance Floor” and “Borrowed Time” were next.
“Been Here Too Long” was up next and I can relate with him…I don’t wanna go to work today! It’s a true road dog song about being a traveling musician like he is, I never realized how hard this life was until I began following them around and watching what they do.
“Red Eyes” was released as a single first from the “Trouble You Follow” album in 2018. With a haunting and poignant melody about it, that song sets the scene for a classic masterpiece of an album. That song and “Holy Dirt” both display some over the top songwriting, and he grew to whole new echelon from his previous album “Service Engine”.
“Ghosts” and also “Back And Forth” came before “Holy Dirt” here today. He did a few more before closing with “Whale Party”. Actually I just realized I swapped this up with Town Mountain time wise but it’s OK with me. I was getting incredibly tired, and had to head back to camp for some rest!
I’ll be honest here, I have been here for two years of music now, and I STILL haven’t met everybody, and been to every part of the property. Some of the trails on both sides of Ross’s creek ramble on for miles and go to places I am not familiar with, and to be honest I was writing down songs the bands did as I hiked.
If I do go in 2020 I won’t be able to do any exploring I know that. Especially if I’m not supervised by an able bodied person with my heart in the condition it’s now in. So this is probably my last chance to go do any sightseeing on the property.
So now on to the final day on the creek with Mr. Brett Ratliff and his band called The Giant Rooster Sideshow. On guitar they had Mr. David Prince ( this band is one of their side projects), and Mr. Kenny and Mr. Hayden Miles from Wayne Graham.
They played MANY old school classics like “Cow Cow Boogie” which was a 1940’s classic originally recorded by Miss Ella Mae Morse. He played a solo set, and others like the “Old L + N” and “Gospel Plow”.
Well now, I have been waiting for what seems to be a lifetime to bring you coverage of a live set from this man from Alabama Mr. Abe Partridge, whom has been on my radar for some time now. He sent me an album a while back, and it had some DYNAMITE songs on it…but I’ll be honest folks, I cannot always feature everything I get. Time wise I simply cannot do it alone.
Now, I may get some of these songs here out of order on the set lists because I have so many papers and notes of so much information. So I can say he played “Ride Willie Ride” , which is a tribute song to Willie Nelson. You know, I have always said that “Red Headed Stranger” is the greatest Country Music album ever recorded. He references himself to many of his musical heroes in this song, as well as friends from his youth.
He pushes out sharp and edgy lyrics that isn’t really Country and really isn’t ANY kind of genre, it’s just good music. period. He isn’t trying to be like anybody but Abe Partridge, and he isn’t trying to look like anybody else..but he does print “This Machine Kills” like Mr. Woody Guthrie did.
“Colors” I’ll tell you WHAT, I cannot even rave highly enough about his well written lyrics on this one! You can take this song and interpret it in many ways, I saw my old drug addicted youth in this song where my love went wrong, and I lost a very special lady in my life…it didn’t happen like we planned it. Colors are all that matter when you’re already outside the lines..is amazing.
“No Teacher Blues” was one he played and another called “403rd Freakout”, and one of his last songs was “Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down”. I must honestly say I haven’t seen passion and attitude as raw and real as his on ANY stage, and I’m upset I haven’t discovered him sooner.
My buddy Mr. Joe Macheret who originally plays for the Tillers, also has a side project called Joe’s Truck Stop, and they came out today to play some great tunes for us. I truly enjoy sharing my nerd facts with Mr. Joe when we get together, which isn’t often enough!
“Banjo Pickin’ Tobacco Spittin’ Gal” was one of the songs they played, and the brought a real traditional flare to the already Country lineup. They incorporate comedy into their mix, while juxtaposing real and honest Country with nostalgia.
Mr. Joe and I share a very close common love for the Country Music underdogs that have been omitted from the annals of Country Music journalism like Mr. Eddy Rabbit and older artists like Mr. Spade Cooley ( even though in his personal life he was a piece of shit, I always add that disclaimer). To be honest, Mr. Joe is one of my friends I am most fond of even though we don’t see each other very often.
While Joe’s Truck Stop was playing I went around again for ANOTHER ROUND of greeting friends and catching moments of the crowd. The afternoon of the last day was a very special moment for me, because I ran into a small dilemma, and if YOU know ME like many of you do…it was a BIG problem. I ran out of cash, no mind you folks this is NOT a corporate festival with a plethora of ATMS lineup up by the merch booth.
I had no money to buy cokes to drink and I wanted to thank my friends at Pickup Country and Mr. Byron for helping me out with that. That truly meant a lot to me that I got that kind of special attention, and YOU WILL TOO if you go.
The next act was called Padre Paul Handleman and I’ll be honest folks, I never met him or heard of him until today. But if YOU encounter him in the wild PLEASE say THANK YOU to him for serving our Country in the 82nd Airborne Division. He spoke highly of his service through his wonderful set here today.
He had Mr. J.T. Thomas and Mr. Dan the Banjoman with him today up there, to play songs like “Gypsy Home”, and the song “Broken Chariot” from his 2018 album called “Unbridled”. Now, Broken Chariot was one of those military songs I just spoke of, where he acknowledged his fellow military personnel.
“Southside Of Heaven” was next followed by “Six Dollars”, which showed me some really raw and untamed folk type Country. It was plain stripped down straight up COUNTRY in my opinion. His combination of guitar and hard blowing harmonica soul blended together made some bone chilling music.
His last songs were called “Long Gone” and “Hard Water”. Many of these acts you would have not heard of if not for this festival here, unless you are somebody like me that scours the bars for pickers like this signing for tips. And most times the people you find doing that have more soul and heart than the acts that are filling football stadiums.
Speaking of veterans here are some friends that made a cardboard cutout of their beloved family member whom could not attend this event due to his being deployed. They wanted me to include him into my article, and I promised to do so. Here is the picture of him and his wife.
Up above that is my good buddy Mr. Luther Center who helped write a bunch of this article here. If you love what I do PLEASE stop and say hello and THANKS to Mr. Luther for writing so many great articles for me. Right now I another thought I had in my head…I pretty much mentioned EVERYONE BUT one of the MAIN ingredients to this equation of fun..the SOUND MAN!
EVERYONE PLEASE say a big ol THANK YOU to Mr. Marvin Gilbert from Angry Baby Productions Mr. Matt Polashe, and there were others that helped make the lights, smoke and visual effects all that much more astonishing. It brought LIFE to bands like Magnolia Boulevard and the Wooks, whom played in the PM hours. The smoke and lasers were a top notch effect, and beast last year’s.
Mr. William Matheny was next up today, and he had Mr. John R. Miller with him as well as Mr. Adam Almister today to help him play songs from his albums “Moon Over Kenova” and “Strange Constellations” from 2017. In fact, “Moon Over Kenova” was one of his opening songs as well as “God’s Left Hand”.
The last song I recall him playing was “Living Half To Death”, as he closed with instrumentals and other songs as I went and did a little merch shopping. I went back to camp to drop off notes and papers, and got to chat with a few more people before going back to the stage area.
Miss Senora May is busy as all get out and is out in the world making a name for herself, on her own rights as a top notch artist among the Appalachian community and on a national scale as well. She had a full band this time, which was a first for me as she played “Semper Fi” for her brother.
Veterans are very appreciated here on Ross’s Creek, and there were giveaways for veterans whom were called up on stage to announce the winner. MANY TIMES Mr. Byron THANKS them for their service and there are many places for them to be appreciated here.
I recall her playing one called “Dogs Of Mexico” and that one was followed by “Lainhart” the title of her album, and a brief introduction into her family, and upbringing in East Kentucky. She played a few songs that I have never heard her play before tonight, like one called “Intertwine”.
“Milk And Honey” was one from her album that I recall her playing, as well as “California King”. She always stands so special and proud up there at the Creek, because she is a product of that very environment having been a family friend for all of her life. See, this goes deeper than just the music. The Roberts family has known many of these performers their whole lives, before they even picked up their guitars.
‘By My Lonesome” was another song played tonight, as well as ‘Silver Lining” and another called “Elusive”. The action was beginning to get more heated here tonight, as we all were getting geared up for the main acts of the night ( not that the first bands were less important) in ANY fashion. The later acts were enjoyable because of the sun finally setting for us!
This weekend was NOWHERE NEAR as hot as 2018, but BY GOD it was hot before that sun sank into those high tree sides of the holler. Ona was next, whom also have a new album out now called “Full Moon Heavy Light”. I had to go back to my truck for some things, and take a dinner break and I didn’t get to see them much. I do recall them playing “So Much Better Now”.
As I was previously saying, right before we all got to do the Wookie Foot Shuffle, Mr. Byron came out and explained that through all of our donations the local VFD was able to buy a BRAND NEW fire truck! they bought it out front and blared the siren for us all. MORE PROOF that this event not only promotes and proliferates the local music scene here, it stimulates the economic growth of East Kentucky as well. When love is involved in ANY event it makes it just as tangible as one that generates money.
what can I say about The Wooks that I haven’t already said? Mr. CJ Cain | Lead Guitar, Mr. Harry Clark |Mandolin, Mr.Roddy Puckett | Bass and finally new member Mr.George Guthrie | Banjo began their epic set with “Sang” a great song about buying a little lady a wedding ring from a miner’s view. It’s off their 2018 album “Glory Bound”, and this was the first set I have seen with their new banjo player.
“Out Of Mine” was next followed by “White Lines And Neon Signs” both off their 2016 album “Little Circles”. The latter of the two being a decent travel song when you are cruising down the interstate driving to a music job, or anywhere really! They posses that appeal to the most finicky of Bluegrass traditional fans, with their smooth harmonies and their old timey sound on songs like “The Few Or Far Less Fortune”.
“Let it ride” and another called “Learning To Fly” (Tom Petty Cover) were both included in their set tonight before they dished out upon us songs like ‘Dear Prudence” which starts out with a really unique bass line intro and brings the banjo into the mix. BUT THEN they broke out the “Wookie Foot Shuffle” man…I just cannot explain in words what the hell that REALLY is, you just got to go witness it for yourself live. You know the Beatles song “Dear Prudence” has some terrific instrumentals added within the lyrics, and displays their ability to jam as well as play good originals AND covers.
“Atlantic City” is probably their most well known song as well as one I don’t believe I ever heard live, and that was the song called “Night Bird” from the “Little Circles” album. They played a few more and busted out a bunch of more instrumentals before turning things over to our good friend Mr. Arlo McKinely And The Lonesome Sound another BIG NAME ACT around these parts.
Mr. Aaron Cordell on drums, Mr. Tyler Locard on bass, Mr. Zac Roe on guitars, accompanied Mr. Arlo tonight to make up the band the Lonesome Sound. They started with the wonderful song called “Time In Bars”.
‘I Don’t Need To Know” sets a great scene of a typical hometown in anyplace U.S.A. that anybody from small towns can relate to. You know the deal, people talk about one another and gossip profusely about who’s doing what, and who’s doing what….same old shit.
One of the last songs I remember him playing tonight was “Iv’e Got Her” which is the opening song on his album, as well as the song “Waiting For Wild Horses”. Also included in the set was “Bag Of Pills”, and “We Were Alright”.
One of the main acts that many of these people come to see is this man Mr. Tyler Childers, one of the two local music phenomenons of the last few years. He immediately commands the stage, and whips people up into a signing frenzy with songs like “White House Road”. One of the first songs I remember hearing him play on the first encounter I had with him.
“Cinder And Smoke” and “I Swear To God” was part of the show tonight, hell, I remember last year he played a few of these songs off “Country Squire” as new songs. I recall he played “Bus Route” last year as a new song before the album was out. “Charleston Girl” was next foolwed by the song “Country Squire” which is about a camper he is renovating for him and his wife.
“Shake The Frost” was on the set list as well as the song “Bus Route” I was telling about earlier. All the bus driver needed was that nasty glare and his paddle he had! “Creeker” was played tonight.
“Banded Clovis” is a damn fine song about hunting for arrowheads and murder, while getting drunk off their ass, his sifting buddy found a very rare banded clovis and he killed him over it. The song about his wife was next called “Lady May”, that he played on the Opry.
The middle portion of his set was choked full of his older more stripped down songs on record. Meaning they were more of the under produced songs he has like “Nose On The Grindstone ( Mind Off The Pills)”. “Bottles And Bibles” which is the name of one of his earlier albums, as well as “Follow You To Virgie”. Other songs that he did were “All Your’n” and “Matthew”
“Feathered Indians” was another one of the songs that got us all whipped into a party tonight, and as he banged on late into the night with all of his Honky Tonk hits, and kept us all up late with songs like “Honky Tonk Flame” and his Charlie Daniels classic cover of “Trudy”.
BUT IT WASN’T OVER YET! We STILL had a Bluegrass LEGEND up next in the name of Mr. Larry Keel and the Larry Keel Experience. They played from an extensive amount of back albums tonight like the song “Psycho Hell River”
He played covers like “After Midnight” and “Runnin Down A Dream” along with others. I began to head back to my camp to turn in for the night, after saying goodbye to a few people I knew were leaving tonight. I had a lot to pack up and take care of like the flat tire tire I had, and the next morning I learned my battery was dead. ugh.
From the 2005 album called “Natural Bridge” they played a rare one called “Groundhog Grease” that I have only heard him play a few times live. Along with the Allman Brothers classic “Whipping Post”, that song always has terrific instrumentals in the middle and the end.
The next morning I wandered around and picked up a few bags of trash for the Roberts family and helped clean up some chairs and other things. Everybody pretty much always does a GREAT JOB of cleaning up their mess, and putting out their fires.
