The Ranch Party Round Up
Saturday, January 14, 6-10 PM
Late Night Round Up From 10 PM
Slim White and The Averys
Zach Whitney
Billy Two Shoes
The Bennie James Shotgun Company
The Shrunken Head
Howdy, Rounders-Up, Honky Tonkers and Americana Misfits! Slim here, once again, with the scoop on this month's edition of The Ranch Party Round Up. As we indicated last month, the new year brings a new and improved Round Up that will preserve the best of the old show and introduce some new features that should make for an even more totally excellent evening's entertainment.
The most radical change to the show will be the schedule. Instead of asking y'all to come out on a Sunday night each month, The Shrunken Head will now program The Ranch Party Round Up on THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH. We'll be going back to our original start time of 6 PM, since we figure y'all could stay out a little later on a Saturday, and that will give me time to watch a rerun Anthony Bourdain on The Travel Channel before I load out to go to sound check. The Round Up will still be a four set show featuring The Averys and two other fully committed and talented Traditional Country-slash-Americana acts, but in addition to this (as if that weren't already enough), you may now look forward to the Late Night Round Up, featuring an additional act who will follow the regular show at 10 PM. There are a lot- I mean a whole lot- of terrific bands around here who play some pretty twangy Country sounds that might be a little too "Alt-Country" (meaning more on the rocking side of the equation) to fit into the classic Round Up format, so we are pleased to have an opportunity to bring them to the stage to heat up the night and send you home with the sweet sound of an overdriven Tele echoing in your brain.
Now, I have pissed and moaned about the general crappiness of our Trivia Game prizes for a long time. You'd think we would have done something about this by now, like maybe put a shred of effort into finding better prizes. Instead, we have decided to do away with the Trivia Game. I know, it is a heartbreaker for a lot of you, but most of you are probably relieved. For one thing, the only people who ever seem to know the answers the trivia questions are usually the folks in the other bands that are on the bill, and how many more tore-up Ferlin Husky LPs or coffee-stained Johnny Cash biographies do these guys need to win? For another thing, it seems like you can't go to a Country Music show around here anymore without being asked to win a prize. I can't tell you how many times an audience member has come up to me and said "I don't want to have to win a crappy prize. I just want you to play some damn Country Music like you are supposed to do." We can't just ignore this sentiment, so we have decided, instead of the Trivia Game, to fritter away some of the precious Round Up between-set interludes with a brief interview segment by way of introducing each band. This is my idea, so if it is a successful addition to the show, I will be happy to take credit. On the other hand, if it stinks, then the rest of The Averys can share the blame with me, since they should have known better and they failed to talk me out of it. So heads-up, Round Up acts: be prepared to answer two or three questions about your band and your music, kind of like you did that time when you and Glen Campbell shared a funny anecdote before your duet on The Good Time Hour back in the '70s.
Maybe all of these changes seem confusing. Your head may be spinning by now. Do not be dismayed. This is still the good old Ranch Party Round Up you have come to know and love. For one thing, Brady's beard has pretty much grown back after the Movember thing, so you've got that going for you. Also, we will still have Boots spinning the old vinyl Country records between sets. That's probably the most reliably entertaining part of the evening, if you think about it. Miranda will still be slinging the bevvies behind the bar, and you will still enjoy the Shrunken Head's delicious pizza and sub creations. Travis is still running sound, and Oni is on the door, making sure that no hipsters gain access to the sanctified environs of The Round Up. Best of all, the show is STILL FREE!!!! Mostly, anyway, we think. See, The Round Up proper has always been a free show, and will remain so, but we were thinking there might be a cover for The Late Night Round Up. Then Andreas was promoting the whole night as a free show, so frankly we don't know what the hell is going on. To be on the safe side, you'd better get there before The Late Night Round Up. This tiny amount of confusion is byproduct of the massive bureauocracy that we have had to put in place to manage our small part in the ever-burgeoning might of the awesome Central Ohio Independent Country Music Scene. I think you will agree that it is a small price to pay along the way to ultimate Country Music World Domination. Actually, strike that last bit. We'll never unthrone Lady Antebellum. We can pee in their coffee, though, and that is just what we intend to do.
If you have read this far then I can only assume you are unemployed. Get a shower and find a job, already. But as long as you are still here, let me tell you about the acts you will enjoy at this, the inaugural New and Improved Ranch Party Round Up. First up we have our old friend Zach Whitney, one of the hardest working musicians in the region and a man who has done more than his share of hard work to keep alive these classic sounds that we all love. Zach is a walking encyclopedia of Country Music and his live show includes his own catchy original songs, old classics that you love, and plenty of witty repartee. He is a true professional and one of the most genuine fellows you will ever meet. The Averys are proud to call him a friend and a member of The Round Up family. You can catch Zach with good old I.R. Hummel (Apple Bottom Gang) at their Brothers' Hillbilly Happy Hour, every 2nd and 4th Friday at The Head. But don't miss him this Saturday at The Round Up!
Our second guest this month are another returning act, the fine folks in Billy Two Shoes. We've had The Billies out to the Round Up in the past, and played some other dates with them, and we always look forward to their "trailer park swamp stomp", as Brady nicely tagged it recently. These boys are one of the area's most well-traveled and deeply schooled string outfits, and they mean business. Their original songs are populated with keenly etched characters who are familiar, flawed and ultimately sympathetic. Plus they are real good guys. Find our more at http://www.billytwoshoes.com/.
Finally, The Late Night Round Up (the first ever and soon to be a must-book gig for every serious local Tele-grinding act) will feature The Bennie James Shotgun Company. Now, y'all know Bennie from his previous participation a The Round Up as a solo act. I think Bennie has one of the most compelling singing voices on the scene, and his stage persona is exactly the same as his off-stage persona: easygoing, genuine, rascally and smart. Bennie knows how to share a laugh and he is deeply committed to real Country Music. He's logged a hell of a lot of hours on stage and his experience shows. I had a chance to hang with his band mates at a Round Up not too long ago, and at first I was kind of scared of them since they sort of looked like they might be in The Black Crowes, but they turned out to be real good guys and I had to admit that I kind of wished I could pull off that look. I have a sneaking suspicion that they play Les Pauls instead of Teles, but I can't say for sure, and anyway, if there is one place you can play Country Music on a Les Paul, it is at The Late Night Round Up. Wardrobe and brand-name guitars aside, I guarantee that you that The Bennie James Shotgun Company will turn in one hell of a show this Saturday and they are the perfect act the launch the new late show.
Okay, now I am tired of typing, you're tired of reading, so I am going to sign off here. One more thing, though- The Averys may not open the Round Up this month- the show may be started by one of our guests- because I have to work my day job and I might be late. But those adult videos and marital aids aren't going to sell themselves, are they? I'll see y'all at the show, in any event! We're gonna dust off Wichita Lineman for ya'! Giddyap!
-Slim
0 comments:
Post a Comment