Well Hell, here I am again in Huntington West Virginia at The V Club for another year of my buddy W.B.Walker’s Old Soul Radio Show and his five year anniversary show. We are gearing up for one hell of a lineup here tonight and pretty much like usual this will be a good sized article choked full of news and videos of some of the acts. All of this weekend’s photography will be taken and provided by Mr. Joshua Wallace, who does all my album reviews. We also have a brand new photo system upon which will give a better perspective of this weekend in pictures.
Miss Chelsea Nolan was up first tonight, and she is playing an acoustic set here. She brought an initial flair right off the bat here with many covers in her own style like “Listen To Your Heart” and the Janis Joplin song ‘Mercedes Benz”. I believe the next song was called ‘Rock Bottom”, I wasn’t sure of the title, but it was well written nonetheless.
She played a nice medley of covers toward the end of her set, with pieces of “Big Rock Candy Mountain” and she went into songs like ‘I Saw The Light”. I could easily ascertain that she has a deep appreciation of Traditional Music from many different genres of history, much like the rest of us. I have a deep admiration for those that have reverence for those that paved the way for them. The night continued on with more acoustic music with a fellow I am very familiar with up here, as he was part of the anniversary show many other years as well.
Patrick Stanley is one that I am extremely grateful to see year after year here, as one of The Horse Traders he always entertained us out here yearly. Tonight he played a solo set of a few songs, his first song being “It Ain’t Right To Be Lonely” . He has still maintained his own approach to his songs that I miss when I saw the Horse Traders, which brought a melding of styles together.
His next song was called “Conscription”, and that was followed by another called “I Can’t Abide”, and he closed his set with a Patty Loveless cover called “Cheap Whiskey” from the 2001 Mountain Soul album. It just feels so wonderful to reconnect with so many amazing people again tonight, and see new faces up here as well.
Mr. Ben Knight was amazing, and we got to talk some before the show started tonight, he will be playing in Lexington tomorrow night so he will only be here tonight. I had some phone video problems tonight, and I believe he was the first act I successfully captured fully however it was upright…still was good. The next song I will tell you about was called “Nicotine Gum”, which was a true story revolving around him building a house. Altogether there were some truly fine songs shared here tonight, and I related to many of them for sure!
I HAD to pick up his CD tonight, as it was less crowded Friday night I was able to leave my post to buy stuff. Saturday night I could barely get up to use the bathroom. luckily I bought an extra steak sandwich from Sheetz for later on in the night on Saturday. I have my “go-to” places to eat all across America, and I utilized quite a few this weekend.
His first song was called “Robbers” followed by another truly great song called “Boats” as he displayed his style of writing tonight as very true to self. His next song was called “Iceman”, and he concluded that set with a song off his album called “Mistaken Identity”.
Mr. Tony Harrah And The Fly Over States was up next, I also had the opportunity to chat with him after his energetic set and found him to be a VERY nice person. I’ll tell you what I have met so many new faces up here it’s just always such a pleasant job to do here.
This man’s set began with “Good Man” and I also believe I did indeed get some footage of him as well. His next song was called “Hi Fi Lovers And Lo Fi Heroes”, followed by my favorite song he does called ‘Here I Am lord”. I myself have been at some low points in my life that required some knee bending prayer too.
‘Sweet Lucinda” was in this set here tonight that also included “Mississippi Wildfire” and concluded with a wonderful song called “Miller’s Farm”.
Mr.Darrin Hacquard brought a REALLY GREAT set here tonight that began with guns blazing with a song called “Huntington” that was basically declaring how awesome it was to return to this area. “Hurricane Season” was next from his album called Signs And Wonders, that’s a long song there. Most of these artists are on Spotify and I did create a playlist here in the promotional article.
“Mountains” was next in his set, which was an awesome song about a gal drunk on karaoke night with many hilarious (but often true) references to mountain life troubles. That song was followed by “Never Again”, I enjoyed his onstage charisma he has. You can easily tell he just enjoys playing his music up there, and as he belts out songs like “A World Away” he finished his set up with a cover of ‘all My Rowdy Friends”.
I finally got to see the Laid Back Country Picker LIVE, and let me tell you he put on one hell of a show here tonight..in fact it was one of the top acts of the evening here. He opened with a cover of Waylon’s “Are You Ready For The Country’, and went into one his own songs called “I Live In The Now”.
It’s a different kind of show here that incorporates comedy with Traditional Country Music that lightens up your soul and helps you forget the problems of the outside world. He IS a TRUE entertainer in EVERY SENSE of the word, he just provides you with a good time and makes you smile, and laugh.
“Laid Back Country Picker” was his next song off his album, and then he got his telephone out and performed his “Party Line” routine. He is hilarious and involves the audience, with his comedy routine. He played “Jim Frank” and went into “Kathy With An 8 Ball” before going into a few other songs and ending his set.
John R Miller And The Engine Lights was one I did some research on before coming up tonight, and his first song was called “Holy Dirt”. His set also included the song “Back And Forth” , and another song that Mr. Tyler Childers plays that he wrote when Mr. John was in the Prison Book Club called “Coming Down”.
His new album called “Service Engine” was a great album, and I enjoy listening to it very much. His bio boasts that he has performed in clubs in 50 states of America, and many shows overseas. He brought a nice blend of Blues/Folk and Americana to us tonight.
Jeremy Pinnell was up next, however this one was acoustic for him. He played one hell of a great set list for us tonight, and we enjoyed every minute of it. His album have always gathered attention on my website here, and Mr. Joshua was equally excited to see him.
You know he has this song called “Feels This Right” which mentions my good friend Bobby Mackey, and the fact he is from the Kentucky/Ohio area. When he has a full band he is so full of twang it’s unreal! He played a wonderful version of a classic song called “The Image Of Me” which was recorded in 1967 by Mr. Conway Twitty and the writer Mr. Wayne Kemp.
The opening track of his album “Ties Of Blood And Affection” was the song called “Ballad Of 1892”, and that was followed by “The Way We See Heaven”. Now he released that album last year and I believe it hit Mr. Joshua’s TOP 50 Of 2017.
He played a wonderful rendition of Merle Haggard’s ‘Today I Started Loving You Again”. Another great song he played was called “Ain’t Nothing Wrong” I remember hearing him play that on a stream at the Westport Saloon one night. “Take The Wheel” was once again off the new album that is one of his more well written tunes, and on the album it has enough twang to satisfy the most hungry of palates for REAL Country Music.
He played a nice cover of “Ramblin Man” and “Freeborn Man”, but one of his last originals was the song called “the Way Country Sounds” which is my favorite song he does right now. I enthusiastically look for growth from this young man, and I firmly see him as the part of Country Music’s future.
Mr. Nicholas Jamerson was here to finish off the entire show, formerly of Sunday’s Best. He also played an acoustic set for us tonight, and began his set with “Goodbye God”. The audience truly loved his presence onstage, and he responded with a special authority.
I FINALLY got to hear him perform “Long Way To Wheelwright” tonight and he delivered it in prime fashion followed by a heartfelt rendition of Keith Whitley’s ‘Miami My Amy” . Another original song he performed tonight was called “Brother Rabbit” from his album.
He treated us to a wonderful and lengthy set here tonight with songs like “I’m Gonna Love You” and others like the song called “Cold Black Heart”. Pretty good sized crowd here tonight, however Saturday drew an even larger audience.
We stayed in Ohio at the Comfort Inn South Point Ohio, Giovannis Pizza delivered us a WONDERFUL deep dish pizza for a reasonable price. VERY NICE service and we enjoyed the food, thanks guys.
So tonight we are all slowly gathering once again at the V Club for another night of music fun, as for the first time ever Ol W.B. has booked two nights worth of shows for his anniversary show. We got people already piling into the venue for this one,as pre sales were better tonight.
And begin tonight we shall with The Winetree which is from Kentucky, and they got their name from an old misspelled winter sweater. Mr.Ryan Harvey and Mr. Isaiah Muller make up this duo I’m about to include here tonight, and as they begin their set with “It Reminds Me Of You”.
Their set continued on with a song called “Tracks Of Coal” , and followed that with a song that W.B. requested from them called ‘There Is A Time”. That song is pretty much public domain, it was famously featured on the Andy Griffith show by the Darlings (AKA The Dillards).
Their set continued with a Willie Nelson themed song called “Red Headed Stranger (never meant so much to me) which displayed some amazing harmonies from them tonight, this was off to a great start tonight. They concluded their set with a song called “Kentucky Nights”.
Mr. Coby Langham will be up next here tonight with one of his songs I got to research from him called “Heroin Girl”. I especially related to this song personally well on many levels. This right here is downright good old fashioned Honky Tonk music.
Another of his songs I related to was called “The Farm” because I also grew up on a farm. It sounded like they were singing about my own father. Then they played a high pitched twang trucking song called “Years On The Road”, This young man has LOTS of energy. That I believe is honestly what we need at the beginning here in West Virginia, and as he sang a song for his gal called “As The crow Flies” I was further amazed by his creative writing style.
He played a song called “5 x 7” which boasts a 40 dollar bet that he couldn’t make O’l W.B. cry, but this song about his late wife whom died of an addiction did indeed make him cry. It was a very strong and poignant tear jerking ballad of sorrow.
Mr. Will Stewart was next tonight, not long ago you’ll remember Mr. Joshua Wallace reviewed his new album called County Seat. You can read about all that right HERE. Since today is actually his album release day, I will go purchase this album on vinyl even though we were sent a digital copy. SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC PEOPLE!
His next song was called “County Seat” which of course was the title track of the album, along with the song called “Heaven Knows Why” also off that album. Although he has been living around Nashville, he recently returned to Alabama to live where he grew up.
I related well with the song County Seat about the same old mundane everyday type life, I use this website to break up my boredom of same old same old. I would highly suggest you buy this album here!
The Local Honeys are a duo that have been featured many times on this website, as they have been a part of this anniversary show for a few years now. They opened their set with and then followed that up with one of my favorites called “Cigarette Trees” that you’ll find on their album.
O’l W.B. suggested that they played an all Gospel set tonight, and with their gorgeous harmonies and lightning fast banjo playing they played “He’s With The First Church Of God”. They told us that their good friend Mr. Don Rogers wrote that song, and they followed that song with a Kentucky fiddle tune.
As they closed with “Freight Train Blues” Miss Linda displayed her AWESOME vocal range, paired with their once again AWESOME vocal abilities this was truly a special set! The Local Honeys display comfort and poise up on stage together, and play like a well oiled machine!
Mr. Blake Berglund and I had the chance to speak before the show here, as he will also be playing Tumbleweed, which my man Mr. Joshua Wallace will be covering for me as I go elsewhere. He began his set tonight with a song called “Pretty Good Guy”, and with Miss Belle Plaine he took us through other songs.
He’s another Canadian artist and that song “Pretty Good Guy” was off a concept album he released about himself as he struggled with personal issues and demons. His latest album called “Realms” gathered much attention from the media that covers independent music.
“Crooked Old Earth” was really well written song about the state of today’s day and age of the “normal” world. Absolutely amazing guitar skills were displayed here tonight by Mr. Blake and his band. Miss Belle Plaine then took over the stage and played “Is It A Crying Shame If My Tears Don’t Fall”.
Mr. Ian Noe is another one I have been wanting to catch live here lately this year, I CAN TELL YOU that I am NOT moving from my spot here because I want to dwell on the entire remaining lineup. He has been garnering a plethora of attention here lately, and I wanted to write about him.
He played a song called “That Kind Of Life” that was very well written, and accompanied with his powerful voice it made for a VERY fun set to watch. Right now he is playing “I’d Rather Be Over You” and he followed that with a song called “P.O.W. Blues”.
His blend of Americana and other genres were unique and special, and it separates him from others because of his huge vocal ability which stresses his lyrics. You can pick him out of a crowd of other artists just by his voice alone, much like Tyler Childers or Colter Wall. “Doesn’t Do Me In’ was included on his set tonight,which was a good song as well.
One of my favorite songs he does was called “The Last Stampede” and after that he played his own version of the song “Rolling In My Sweet Baby’s Arms”, he just changed the lyrics around some. He finally ended up his set with a song called “Irene” as his last song here tonight. “The Last Stampede” is a truly well written song from the opening line..I was born in the mornin’ just sounds cool, and a well play on words.
Mr. Justin Wells is amazing as usual here tonight, and he opened up the set with a new song, He also played the song called “Going Down Grinnin”, from his album “dawn In The Distance”. “The Highway Less Taken” was a great song about the life of a traveling musician, now trust me folks. I been following folks like Mr. Justin for five years now, and it’s NOT a big party like everyone thinks. If you think they only work four hours a day on stage…you are a fool. What these folks do takes HOURS of work, and I can easily why they get discouraged.
Mr, Justin is one of the many here tonight that are fresh off the Hagfest over at the Southgate House, and he came down here to sing songs for us like “The Dogs” and “No Rain” which is always another sure bet for enjoying this man’s music here tonight, followed by another great song called “Little Darlins”.
“Can’t Break my Heart” was up next tonight, and as the evening was winding down to the last two bands of the evening he played his damn fine version of “So Far Away” by Dire Straits, that is also on his album. O’l W.B. acknowledged a gentleman that drove out here from Texas to be here with us.
Mr. Arlo McKinley is another act that I have had the pleasure of seeing on this show before in the past. In fact he has had Mr. Arlo on this show three past times before. “Don’t Need To Know” was one of the first songs he played tonight.
He played a song called “Time In Bars” next, obviously this man is a well sought after artist out in this area because this place is packed pretty tight here tonight. I have had a blast out here tonight with all these bands as they all brought us terrific sets!
They just finished their new record and it will have 14 songs on it. I think Mr. Arlo has some of the best writing ability of many of the other acts, with songs like “Gone For Good”. So I’ll be keeping an eye on them, and I shall feature that aforementioned album. Some of the new songs he played had a lot of old rock and roll influences to them, and one was called “I Get Lonely, But I’m Never Alone”.
He played the song called “iv’e Got Her” and another called “Just Like The Rest” were also included in his set tonight. “Waiting For Wild Horses” was another epic song that he sings, with huge crowd interaction here. As his set began to reach a climatic pinnacle he closed his set with “Getting Older”.
Mr. Luke Bell is another great man that was involved in my Ameripolitan Awards escapades this year in Memphis Tennessee. His album has also graced my TOP 50 OF 2017 recently, however I still haven’t had the opportunity to witness him live yet.
He opened with a Hoyt Axton song called “Greenback Dollar” and one of his own songs off his new album called ‘Where You Been”. They covered a terrific version of Merle Haggard’s song “Swinging Doors”, various old timey fiddle tunes and brought the most unique form of nostalgia in the entire weekend.
His style of yodeling and western swing tunes were unrivaled all weekend here, and as he played “Sometimes” from his current album the entire crowd went crazy! His set produced some vivid history as his fiddle player told stories of his Grandfather, and played many old tunes for us tonight.
As he bellowed out his epic song “Loretta” Mr. Luke Bell proved once again his fierce passion for history and the preservation of REAL Country Music with songs like “Bullfighter” and many more.
They ended the weekend with a bunch of group songs that brought up the remaining artists and O’l W.B himself. I tell you what if you haven’t witnessed this movement he is creating you MUST become a part of it. I’m VERY PROUD to call him a friend of many years, I am blessed to be one of the ones that got to see him begin from a couch.
I been with him the entire time watching him do this..he built an empire himself. He featured many GREAT bands that have went on to become NATIONAL phenomenons so far, and I figure he will push many more forward before this is over folks….Aaaaoowww
” W.B. WALKER IS THE PAUL HARVEY OF PODCASTS”
GARY HAYES
