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BR5-49

Submitted by Roanman on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 06:32

 

I have spent a lot of time in my life going to the bar to see a band.

Easily my favorite band of the last 20 years, and one of my very favorite bands of all time is BR5-49.

I put em right up there with The Clash.

They made two great records, a great EP, and three or four more real solid records.

They were even better live.

The Little Wiffer and I drove to see them nearly every time they got to within a hundred miles of home, a couple times I'm pretty sure we took the kids.

Just to let em see how it's done.

We were not alone, people drove all over the country to see "the boys".

Just maybe not quite enough people.

It's probably testimony to the charmed life I've led, that one of the saddest nights of my life was going to the Ark to see the boys and finding out that Gary Bennett and Jay McDowell had left the band.

Damn!!!!!

They were a way great band and were even better guys.

They came out after every show I saw and hung out until everybody else had left or were kicked out, and were just plain fun to know.

One night, Donnie Herron sketched out the tunings he uses on his steel guitar for me.

I still have that napkin.

This is Chuck Mead on lead guitar and vocals, Gary Bennett on rhythm guitar and vocals, Donnie Herron "the future Governor of West (by God) Virginia" on the steel guitar (not to mention practically every other stringed instrument ever invented), "Smilin" Jay McDowell on the stand up bass ... "only 13 years old ladies and gentlemen" ... and Shaw Wilson playing drums.

BR5-49.

Little Ramona's Gone Hillbilly Nuts

 

 

I'll say it again ..... Damn!!!!!