The Hairy Edge Of Honky Tonk

Howdy Folks. The Averys and I have been fortunate lately to be included in a few really cool showcase gigs that have brought together some of Columbus' premier Traditional Country and Americana acts. We had a blast playing at Wild Goose Creative last week, with Slick City and Wagon Train Hummel. We saw a lot of our friends, and a lot of new faces. We also appreciate the good folks from Billy Two Shoes for havin' out to Fats' Billiards a few weeks ago. Every placed we go, we are on a mission to spread this music around and let folks know about the real Country they can find in this city.

This Tuesday night we are teaming up with two of our favorite acts- Slick City Ramblers and Joshua James and The Paper Planes. This is a new room for us, Skullys, and I don't think they program a lot of Country, so we are taking the music to a new audience, but we hope y'all regulars will see fit to make it out and give us a boost. I know Round Up sound man Travis Stratten works there sometimes, so with any luck maybe he'll be duty.

It so happens that this weekend, The Averys and I are going into the studio to record what will be our first record. I'll give some more detail on that once we are satisfied with the sessions. But playing a show after a weekend of recording, I would expect to either A) have these songs as tight as they've ever been, or B) have grown weary of them and fail to summon any enthusiasm. I'm joking, of course. We are The Averys. These songs will be so airtight that they'll stay fresh forever! Plus, Boots gave his amp a tune-up, and it sounds better than ever. And I am playing my new Recording King guitar, which sounds really spectacular. We are planning another great set for you.

I know that Slick City have been staying real busy lately, so they'll also be in fighting trim to deliver their upbeat, lyrically clever tunes; they have some real footstompers! And I am excited to see Joshua with The Paper Planes for only my second time. We thought their debut at the last Round Up was pretty much flawless- you can tell they've been in the woodshed for sure.

Here are the links, folks:

(I hope they work. I stink at computers.)

www.skullys.org/

http://www.joshuapauljames.com/

http://www.slickcityramblers.com/

Skully's Music Diner is at 1151 N High St, 43201. The Doors open at 8PM, and I'm sure they'll play an awesome set. At 9 PM, the Country Music starts. We hope to see y'all there!

Wild West at Wild Goose!

Folks, this is Slim again. It's me. I'm back. This time I am not plugging The Round Up because we just had that show a couple weeks ago and the next one is not for a couple more weeks. I am here instead to let you know about a different show that The Averys are going to play for you this weekend. The Averys don't play a lot of shows, because we are a little bit lazy and also because we are slightly disorganized, but mostly because we know that you, our loyal audience, can only make it out to see so many shows. Who the hell wants to see an Averys show four times a month? Once, twice, that's about enough already. This show coming up on Saturday, however, is really going to be a good one. We have lately had the pleasure and the privilege of working with Zach Whitney and The Slick City Ramblers, as well as Ian Hummel and his Apple Bottom Gang. These fine musicians are fundamental contributors to our growing Traditional Country music community, with unassailable taste in the classics, original songs that honor the tradition, and the chops and stagecraft to deliver the goods. This Saturday night, the 23rd, The Averys and I will join forces with Ian Hummel, The Slick City Ramblers, and your host Matt Monta to bring you an evening of the best local Traditional Country Sounds. This event will take place at Wild Goose Creative, located at 2491 Summit Street, Columbus, OH (43202). Matt Monta, who has straddled the worlds of both local rock and Americana music as both performer and MC, has programmed this show to serve as a brief primer on Country Music in its various incarnations. You can look forward to an informative evening that will provide insight toward this vital American art form, as well as three full sets of pure Honky Tonkin' twang from some of Columbus' leading Independent Country Music Practitioners. Here is what Wild Goose has to say about the show: "The figures that shaped American music are household names, their songs unforgettable: Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard. Building on their legacy and throwing in a few tricks of their own are the musicians shaping the current country music scene here in Columbus. What was just short list of bands a few years ago is now a bold movement featuring some of the best live performers in the city! To celebrate this musical groundswell join us for a night that mixes performances from some of Columbus' finest country outlaws with a bonafide music history, trivia, prizes, and more. It's sure to be a wild time as a posse of bands true to the spirit of American country take the stage, including: Slim White & the Averys, Ian Hummel (of The Apple Bottom Gang), and The Slick City Ramblers! And if that weren't enough the whole shindig will be hosted by one of the city's most entertaining front-men, Matt Monta (Matt Monta & The Hot Coal Band)!Doors open at 7:30, the fun starts at 8.Cover is only $5."

http://www.wildgoosecreative.com/

So there you go. We will see you there, and I promise you a memorable show! Giddyap! Slim PS I am sorry about the shitty formatting of this blog. It is a tech thing that I do not understand because my computer is powered by kerosene.

Another Big Show This Month!

Howdy Folks. It's me, Slim, again, like it's always me around this time of the month. I am here once again to tell y'all about the fine entertainment that The Averys and I have lined up for you this coming Sunday at The Ranch Party Round Up. We have been talking to some extremely dedicated and talented performers lately and are fortunate to have a whole mob of exciting Round Ups booked going forward, including the show you will enjoy next week. Now, y'all know and love Joshua P James just as much as we do. He has been out to a few Round Ups- played one of the first Round Ups ever, in fact- and has mesmerized us all with solo sets of his smart, provocative original tunes. With every listen, I discover something new in Joshua's lyrics. Joshua has lately been talkng about maybe getting a few side men, and I have been interested to see what might come of this development. Well, we are all going to find out this Sunday when he brings his three piece combo to the stage for their debut performance, and we are privileged to host them. I understand Joshua is working with a drummer and a bass player, which pretty much makes the ideal lean and mean outfit, in my book. There is always something really exciting going on around this little scene, and I count the debut of Joshua's new combo chief among this season's most happening happenings. You know who else is pretty damned happening? Ted Russell Kamp. Here is a journeyman singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from way out west (as in Los Angeles) who has found time in his schedule to swing through Columbus and perform a solo set for us next week. As I listen to his recordings, I hear big jangly guitars and tight vocal harmonies, sweet blues harp and a solid backbeat. The melodies are strong and soaring. Here is what Mark S Tucker at Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange has to say about Ted: "Ted Russell Kamp mixes up roots, country, and southern rock to come up with a sound that's immediately radio friendly, at times anthemic but always hedgerowed with magnolias, whiskey, lament, and more than a few knowing and weary smiles." Hmmm...whiskey and lament? I thought I had cornered the market on those themes. I reckon I could learn a thing or two from Ted Russell Kamp. Folks, Ted is touring behind his new album "Get Back To The Land", and this is your chance to hear these songs in an intimate setting before you rush out and buy the record.

www.tedrussellkamp.com

As if Joshua James and Ted Russell Kamp were not already a hell of a show, The Averys and I are always happy to see our good friend Bennie James take the stage. You know Bennie from a previous solo acoustic performance at The Round Up, or you've maybe caught him with his band The Repeating Arms. Bennie traffics in the purest form of '70s-era Outlaw style, with influences that include Cash and Waylon as well as older artists like the beloved George Jones. Bennie does the best "White Lightning" in town, and his original songs will have you spending your last dollar on a double whiskey and bumming a Camel non-filtered off'n me. I personally think that Bennie's fine singing voice is one of the best kept secrets in our little scene, so I want y'all to come out and give a good listen to him sing. With all this talent lined up for you, The Averys will only have enough time to play one set this Sunday, but of course that means that we will be cherry picking our best stuff and leaving out the filler. Just please do not buy me any whiskey until we are on stage or I will not be able to remember the lyrics to "Happy Birthday To You", let that one Merle Haggard song I've been singing for three years and always forget even when I am sober.... As always (I am contractually obligated to say), this is a free show that will include FOUR BIG ACTS!! as well as Papa Oxender's Country Music Trivia With Lame Prizes and Classic Country Vinyl DJ Boots Massing riding the turntables between sets. The Shrunken Head in Victorian Village has a full menu of delicious grub, an excellent selection of beers and whiskeys (and the clear liquors for you cosmopolitan types), and, not incidentally, some very cute bartenders (I'm looking at you, James Ian Morrison.....). Be there!

Slim White and The Averys

present

The Ranch Party Round Up

featuring

Joshua P James

Ted Russell Kamp

Bennie James

and of course Slim White and The Averys....

at

The Shrunken Head

Sunday, April 10, 5-9 PM

251 W 5th Avenue, Victorian Village, Columbus OH

www.theshrunkenhead.net