March 14th Round Up Flyer

Boots has made another great flyer for the Ranch Party Round Up, y'all. This is gonna be a great show, and I will be back here in a few days to fill you in on what you can expect from our guests, the headlining Funky Roots, and also Angela Perley, making her Round Up debut.

JOHNNY CASH WINS ANOTHER AWARD....WELL KINDA

Fun little story about this Johnny Cash song. Click here to read

A COUPLE OF MOVIES, YOU MIGHT WANNA SEE!

Here is a clip from the "HILLBILLYS IN A HAUNTED HOUSE". It doesnt get any cooler than this!

"Back In The Saddle Again" and Treehouse Show Review

Howdy Honky Tonkers!
Slim here, back from the worst vacation I ever had. I been laid up a-healin' from where they had to take some guts out of me, but I am a tough old bird and stubborn too. They got me sewed back up and I'm just about better than ever now. But layin' 'round here listening to The Delmore Brothers has got me crazy itchin' to get back on stage, and I have missed a mob of good shows out there the past three weeks, played by the fine musicians here in Columbus, Ohio. Loyal Avery trap man Ox has seen some good shows, though, and he has this report from The Treehouse show they put on last night.

Treehouse Show Review
Tin Hearts, One Wolf, Mount Righteous, Joshua James
by Brady "Ox" Oxender

Last night I had the opportunity to go to The Treehouse for some live music. The Treehouse has become, in my humble opinion, the premier location in the Grandview Area for live music. The eclectic mixes that Kyle Sowash books there every week are always full of talent, and I have never had a bad time leaning up against the maple tree and taking in some tunes. Last night featured four acts: The Tin Hearts, One Wolf, Mount Righteous, and Joshua James.

Columbus’ The Tin Hearts put on a really good show. The laid back bluesy tunes sit alongside groups like “The Band,” and you can tell Tin Hearts’ lead singer Matthew Sullivan is influenced by Levon and the boys. I was especially impressed with the way that The Tin Hearts’ bassist and guitarist listened to each other on solos and really complimented the other’s playing. All in all, the Tin Hearts are a local band that you have no excuse to ignore. They are solid, and should be heard.

One Wolf took the “stage” next. One Wolf is a quartet out of Lubbock, Texas. As a country fan, I’m not sure how to accurately describe these guys. I would liken them to some of the 90’-style indie rock that you didn’t hear on the radio, but should have. Doug Van Pelt of HM Magazine described One Wolf as "Simple acoustic-driven laid back cool rock." This is mostly true, but what stuck out to me was just how tight their arrangements are. It’s simple for a band with drums, distorted electric guitar, thumping bass and keys to cover up sloppy playing with overtones and non descript sound. This did not happen with One Wolf. Stops, starts, and accents were clean and crisp, and the band clearly knew what they were doing. The band closed with a great cover of REM’s The One I Love. It’s a real shame that these boys are headed back to Texas, because they’re certainly worth hearing again.

Mount Righteous. What to say about Mount Righteous? Watch this. Here’s what I saw: two melodicas, two bullhorns, a trombone, a trumpet, a marching sousaphone, marching bass drum, floor tom/snare drum/tambourine, marching crash cymbals, electric guitar, ratchet, cowbell, sleigh bells, and a glockenspiel. I may be missing some instruments. The 9 musicians I saw in Mount Righteous put on one of the most original shows I have ever seen. In terms of style and feel, I suppose if local band Trains Across the Sea had a marching band backing them up, it might come close. I am still at a loss for how to accurately describe this troupe, but I will tell you this-- if Mount Righteous comes back to Columbus, I will be there; Again, and again, and again.

Finally, Local boy Joshua James rounded out the night with an acoustic set. Joshua may be a Jimmie Rodgers reincarnate, and like Jimmie Rodgers, I never get tired of hearing his soulful country/folk/blues style. The personal highlight of the night was hearing Joshua’s new song Run Like Fire. It features Joshua’s usual insightful and often funny lyrics that use simple metaphors that echo your own personal experiences in a way that only Joshua can relate. I’m not going to say that Joshua James is Columbus’ best songwriter. I am going to say that I have not heard a better local songwriter. If you don’t believe me, listen to I'll Be Damned or Walkin' Home.

If you missed last night at the Treehouse, you missed something special. All four acts were different, and yet accompanied each other well. And if you’ve never been to the Treehouse, get out there for an experience that you can’t have anywhere else.

-Brady "Ox" Oxender
Ranch Party Round Up

Thanks to Ox for that report on The Treehouse. I agree with him, of course about what a fine place The Treehouse is to enjoy live music. We always have a blast playin' there, and also I concur with Ox about Joshua James bein' as good a songwriter as Columbus has to offer.

We have a great Ranch Party Round Up planned for you comin' up here on March 14th. I will be back to give you the full details here in a few days, so come on back and we'll talk.

Giddyap!
Slim

A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

SPEEDY WEST AND JIMMY BRYANT!

Looks like ol' Boots and Breeze got some work to do, if they wanna get to this point. One problem Breeze doesnt like it when Boots sits that close. Enjoy!

THEY EVEN HAD THEIR OWN LABEL

Bakersfield International was a short lived record label based in Bakersfield, CA. Started in 1967 by legendary recording artist and songwriter Gary Paxton. He moved there in 1967 to do so. The sessions musicians for the label, were none other than Clarence White(guitar), Gene Parsons(drums, banjo) and Gib Guilbeau(backing vocals, guitar, also later in a version of the Burrito Brothers). The first release: Guilbeau and Parsons: Louisiana rain/sweet suzanna. Second release:Gosdin Brothers: Hangin on/ Multiple heartaches. This release somehow found its way into the top 40, which garnered interest in the duo. Although some of the releases were not the hardcore Bakersfield sound we have come to know and love, they are some great records. And many recorded examples of country music guitar god, Clarence White's mastery of the instrument. An easy collection is the CD release called Tuff and Stringy: this is a collection of many of the sessions Clarence played on. The records themselves are hard to find.

LEGENDARY ALBUM COVER