DEFORD BAILEY: UNLIKELY COUNTRY HERO

DeFord Bailey was an influential harmonica player in both country music and blues, one of the Grand Ole Opry’s most popular early performers, and country’s first African American star. Bailey grew up in a musical family who played what he called “black hillbilly music,” a tradition of secular string-band music actually shared by rural black and white musicians alike. He also learned songs in church, and developed a keen ear for the music he heard around him: the chugging of trains, the baying of hounds chasing foxes, and the sounds of animals on the succession of farms Clark Odum managed in Davidson and Williamson counties. Bailey moved to Nashville in 1918 and spent the next six years working odd jobs, including stints as a houseboy, drugstore helper, and elevator operator. Meanwhile, he learned jazz, blues, and pop songs from recordings and from live shows he attended in local theaters. In doing so, he became a bridge between rural folk music and the modern world of commercial popular music. A trip to Dad’s Auto Parts to buy parts for his bicycle (his principal means of transportation) led to his meeting store owner Fred “Pop” Exum, who was fascinated by Bailey’s harmonica playing and began featuring him on radio station WDAD once Exum launched the enterprise in mid-September 1925. Here, Bailey met harmonica player and string-band leader Dr. Humphrey Bate, a kindly country doctor from Castalian Springs, Tennessee, who began performing over Nashville’s powerful WSM not long after its October 5, 1925 debut. Within months, confident in Bailey’s ability, Bate persuaded Bailey to come with him one night to appear on the show then called the WSM Barn Dance, and then convinced station manager George D. Hay to let Bailey perform without an audition. By June 1926, Bailey was making regular appearances, and Hay soon dubbed him “The Harmonica Wizard.”

Indeed, Bailey was a dazzling performer, whose renditions of “Fox Chase,” his train song “Pan American Blues,” and other tunes became instant hits. For the next fifteen years, he remained one of the program’s best loved—and best paid—stars.

WEBB PIERCE SWIMMING POOL!

CHICKEN SHIT BINGO:AN AUSTIN TRADITION

Every sunday from 4-8 pm, at Ginnys Little Longhorn, pay 2 dollars for a number on a sheet of plywood, w/ a giant bingoboard. Then throw the chicken inside the cage on top of the pooltable, and she eats till she poops, if its on your number you win! Hosted by the legendary Dale Watson, every hour on the hour. If you ever make it down there, you must stop and experience it.

Great Treehouse Show!

It was great to see all y’all out last night at The Treehouse for our evening of Americana style music. We love playin’ The Treehouse, like most bands do, because when folks crowd into that little room with the tree growin’ up through it, you know they are there to listen to the band. That sort of audience will really put an act onto its game and bring out the best in all the musicians. I’ve seen how it works from the audience side, as well as the performer’s side, and it is a unique kind of venue. We are lucky to have it and I encourage y’all to support The Treehouse.

Walter Tore put everyone on notice when he showed up in his cobalt blue suit and two-tone shoes. He is a class act and a true gentleman. His set showed not only his slinky blues guitar chops and his harp skills, but his songwriting and showmanship as well. He set an intimate and relaxed tone for the evening that I think we all appreciated.

Jamie Lyn has been assembling a local band lately, and she rounded up a new drummer and a bass player for her set, and brought along a great resonator man as well. They are called Fort Knox and they look to be off to a great start. Jamie Lyn always has a great turn of phrase when she writes a song, so pay attention to those lyrics. A country song is always about the story, and Jamie Lyn has some stories to tell.

Now, The Averys and I were prepared to play our set as a four piece, since our steel man Dusty was obliged to attend a Teamsters function last night. Tele man Boots wrote a set list that favored his own solos, since Dusty wouldn’t be there to share the work. We were all over the moon when Dusty blew in at the last minute; his Teamsters function was over and he was ready to play! Dusty got in some trouble with his old lady for adding the late night show to his schedule, but that set Boots wrote was a real killer, so in the end, we were able to present the Classic Averys Sound, and I personally think it was a damned fine set from a band that I am more and more convinced is turning into the finest Honky Tonk outfit in town.

Treehouse Show Line Up

Howdy Folks-

The Averys and I are pleased to announce the line up for this week's show at The Treehouse. We had to call off our show a couple weeks ago because I was in pretty rough shape, but Kyle was good enough to give us a chance to make good, so we have rounded up a couple of great folks to put on a show for y'all.

You have seen Jamie Lyn with us before when she opened up the first Ranch Party Round Up back in October. She's comin' out again to The Treehouse this Saturday, after bein' out in the countryside campin' and otherwise communing with nature. I know she has been workin' hard and playin' a lot of sets here and yonder, but she's going to help us out again, and I am lookin' forward to her set. You will probably see an Avery or two up there backin' her up.

We are also real excited to bring you the Legendary Walter Tore, and his one-man Spontobeat blues show. Walter says "All my words and music are spontaneously created, never to be done again-thus the name Spontobeat. I have done over 1 million spontaneously created songs so far. God blessed me with the ability to do this and cursed me with the disability to do a cover, even one of my own." Walter has traveled the continents and played with some of the biggest names in the world of music. He does things his own way, and I promise that you ain't never seen an act like the one he will bring you this Saturday. Check out his My Space by clicking on the link down there on the right.

Slim White and The Averys

Jamie Lyn

Walter Tore

Saturday, November 14th, 10 PM

THE TREEHOUSE

887 CHAMBERS RD

COLUMBUS OH 43212

(614) 294-2264

Thanks For Another Great Show!

Seems like these Round Ups go by so fast. We track down these great acts and convince 'em to come out and put on show for ya', and then we look forward to seein' 'em play. Time comes and it's over in a flash.

What a great time, though, at The Thirsty Ear last night.
I remember liking Joshua James so much last time we saw him, and he was even more riveting at The Round Up last night. He's just got his own sound, and it feels like you bumped into him on the road somewheres and it's just you and him and he's gonna tell you a story. We'll have him back, for sure, so if you missed his set last night you'll have another chance. Meanwhile, click on through to his My Space and see where he's playin' next.

Now, Springfield Special are the real deal, folks, I am here to tell it. When these boys started playin', I knew for sure we were goin' back in time. They have the real old fashioned and honest Bluegrass sound. Some of today's big time Bluegrass players seem to be mostly about speed and flashy playing, and they kind of lose the soul of the music. Springfield Special are some fine pickers indeed, but I really felt like they delivered the songs with true feeling, rather than just tryin' to impress us with a lot of fancy licks. Their vocal harmonies are right out of the mountains, high and lonesome for sure, and their repertoire is just classic Bluegrass from the old days. We're gonna make sure these fellows come back for another show, because they are a hell of a band and genuinely nice guys to boot.

We were also lucky to have Chris Shaw from The Andy Shaw Band and Matt Monta's Hot Coal Band come out and join The Averys for a few smokin' tunes on our second set. We have been tryin' to get Chris to add his country fiddle to some of our songs for a while, and he did not disappoint. I guess about the only thing I ever thought The Averys might could use more than a girl singer was a great fiddle, and I was right. We'll get Chris up on the bandstand from time to time, as his schedule permits, 'cause he surely adds something right to the sound.

Finally, here is something that we haven't really promoted, but it is a big part of the Ranch Party Round Up scene: We are the only show in town where you will enjoy hearing a real live Country and Western DJ spinning actual vinyl records between live sets. Boots Massing is not only a killer Tele slinger but also a regular Country Music Scholar; he knows his Country Music History and he has a killer collection of genuine country records, 45s like in the old jukebox. If you close your eyes it's just like bein' in a ol' beer joint.

So now you know, if you missed the show last night, you won't make the same mistake next month. I will be here to tell you about the next line up and remind you to come on out. Meanwhile, The Averys will be out at The Treehouse this Saturday night (887 Chambers Road, 43212, www.treehousecolumbus.com), so why don't you stop in there and we'll hoist a couple with ya'?

Giddyap!
Slim

Round Up Line Up For November 8th

Howdy Honky Tonkers-
The Averys and I are pleased to announce the line up for our next Ranch Party Round Up. We have had a lot of good folks to choose from, and as the months go by we plan on presenting a wide range of different country style acts for you to enjoy.

This month we are going to bring to the stage a young fellow who we met just last week when he played a set at our Vic's show. His name is Joshua James and he is probably best described as a singer-songwriter at this stage of his career, because he does a solo act with guitar and resonator and him singin' songs that mostly he wrote. He has a direct and lean style of playing and singing; you get the feeling that he is singing just for you. We think that Joshua is a unique voice and we encourage you to check him out if you want to see some real talent.

We are also lucky to have joining us a skilled group of pickers out of Springfield, OH, called Springfield Special. They are a Traditional Bluegrass outfit with guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass with vocals. These fellows are an experienced bunch of musicians who are going to bring a touch of class to the Round Up, so I reckon that The Averys and I will have to be on our best behavior, at least so long as Springfield Special are on the stage.

As usual, you can find our artists' music by using the links down there on the right hand side of the screen.

Last time we had y'all out to The Thirsty Ear for a Round Up, they sold out of that Columbus Brewing Company Apricot Ale. I only got one for myself. I recommend that you get there early so's you don't miss out.