Years ago, Buck Marshall, one of my musical mentors, brought over a few albums for me to hear. I guess he thought I needed a little education in the Country and Bluegrass categories. Buck's opinion was that someone arrogant enough to host a radio show about those he considers to be good songwriters, should not be myopic in his musical tastes. While I did enjoy Country Rock, I’d never explored the more traditional Country and Bluegrass genres. I welcomed the education, and over the past few years, Buck and others have apprised me of some really great music. Among the first CDs, Buck gave me Willie P. Bennett’s seminal “Blackie And The Rodeo King” album, Stephen Fearing’s “Between Hurricanes”, and 2 albums by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, a band that took its name from that legendary Willie P. Bennett album. I have since become a huge fan of theirs.
Several years ago, Shauna Leigh Taylor and I were fortunate enough to see #BlackieAndTheRodeoKings
After Attawapiskat, Ontario singer/songwriter Adrian Sutherland (of the Adrian Sutherland & Midnight Shine band) opened the show with several of his original tunes, there was quite a lengthy intermission, affording Shauna and I the time to mingle with some of our fellow concert goers, and we were surprised to hear how many attendees had never before seen the Rodeo Kings perform. Knowing how good their live show is, we were excited to be in an audience that was about to have their socks blown off. The band did not disappoint.
In their music, I hear so many influences. Artists like JJ Cale and Buddy Holly, Lonnie Mack, and a dozen other major musical powerhouses, inhabit their rich melody lines, their well-crafted lyrics, and those beautiful harmonies. Like all great musicians and songwriters, Blackie And The Rodeo Kings pay homage to their influences without aping them. Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing, and Tom Wilson (LeE HARVeY OsMOND), are all excellent songwriters in their own right. When you add their distinctive singing voices, Colin Linden’s incomparable guitar skills, and their first class rhythm section, this band can only be described as world class. I’ve long admired the songwriting skills of Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson, and now, after having seen Colin Linden perform just 10 yards away from me, I have now dubbed him “The Blackie And The Rodeo Kingpin”. I have a newfound respect for his energy and showmanship. I’m not at all surprised that Colin Linden recently received a Recording Academy / GRAMMYs Award for his production skills. The band made it look fun and easy, and their passion is contagious. During one jam, in the second half of the show, Linden just kept dialing it up, and the band spontaneously formed into a tight circle, building and building until they had the entire audience pulsing in unison. By the end of the song, the audience erupted into a standing ovation. Shauna and I agree that this band, as a unit, is one of the most entertaining and highly-skilled acts we've ever seen.
At the end of the show, for the first time, Shauna and I had the opportunity to meet and converse with the three founding members of the band and I found myself a little starstruck. They all had wonderful things to say about #HuntersBayRadio and thanked the station and its hosts for all the support with which we're providing them. In fact, during the performance, Tom Wilson noticed Shauna had her Hunters Bay Radio jacket draped across her legs, and he gave the station a hearty shout out, sparking a round of applause from the audience members. That was a thrill for all of us "88.7FMily" members in attendance. Thanks to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts for bringing the brilliant Blackie And The Rodeo Kings to town. What a great show it was! I’ll be buzzing all week. Like Shauna said: "DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE to be MOVED & GROOVED by the mega-multi-talented BLACKIE AND THE RODEO KINGS. If you're lucky, they'll be BARKing up a tree, perhaps in YOUR neck of the woods." https://
Jamie Oppenheimer, Songwriter, Author, Blogger, Radio Producer, & Host has been writing THE OPPENHEIMER REPORT every MONDAY since 1992 and has published the articles on his blog since 2006. We are including Jamie's weekly reports, as a feature of Hunters Bay Radio, The Bay 88.7FM.
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