DALE WATSON & THE LONE STAR BAND

DALE WATSON & THE LONE STAR BAND @ SHENANIGANS, OCT. 13, 2008

Submitted by Elvistra


Dale Watson is one of country music’s true remaining outlaws. His name is usually included in the company of the other outlaws, Merle, Johnny, Lefty, Willie, etc. Dale Watson flies just under the radar and his fans wouldn’t have it any other way. He doesn’t gauge his career by the country music industry’s standards. He plays by his own rules and follows his own path to a sound he has termed “Ameripolitan”. Dale defines this as original music with prominent roots influence, and he has been told “he plays country like country was when country was country. If you can follow that, you know what a huge compliment it is to be told you sing country the way it was meant to be sung, with heart and muddied philosophies and sadness like the way country music sounded when I was a kid.

As most people in Richmond last weekend, I went to the Folk Festival. I went to the Saturday performance of Dale Watson with my elbows on the stage, dead center, best seat in the house, and enjoyed about a 45 minute set of mostly newer songs. Dale played 2 shows that Saturday and another on Sunday.

As great as the folk festival show was, it was the Monday show at my neighborhood hangout, Shenanigans that I was really looking forward to. It’s Dale’s home away from home when he’s in Virginia. I knew before I walked in the door and paid the $15 cover that it would be the best show of the weekend and worth every penny. Considering how much the bands that play the National and Toads charge for their shows, the show Monday night was worth more than the price of admission.

Dale feels so at home at Shenanigans he treats everyone as either a new or old friend and will cater to you every whim, whether its pictures, autographs, shots of tequila, more shots of tequila, actually about a shot per every third or fourth song is how many I determined his “friends” brought to the stage before the first break. Dale’s fans are devoted to him, men and women alike, the gender status is split pretty much down the middle. The band played 2 sets, and with the rounds of drinks coming at such a fast pace, by the second set, things usually get interesting at a Dale Watson show, and this show did not disappoint.

The material covered was varied. Older favorites such as “Don’t Rock No Cradle”, “Exit 109”, and my personal favorite “Country My Ass” along with his special cover of my favorite artist Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas”. The latest material covered was from “From the Cradle to the Grave” which included “Justice for All”, It’s Not Over Now” and a very interesting version of the Wizard of Oz.

After meeting Mr. Watson for the second time now, I am even more convinced that this band is one of the most loved and yet undervalued group of musicians making that great music we call country.


Band Memebers: Dale Watson - Lead vocals, guitar

Don Pawlak – Pedal steel guitar

Don Raby – 5 string fiddle

David Bowen – Drums


Band website: http://www.dalewatson.com





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TOMMY 2 FINGERS and More @ THE TRIPLE

TOMMY 2 FINGERS & THE WHY NOTS, OCTANE SAINTS, AND THE RATS

@ THE TRIPLE, SAT. 9/27/08

The triple is getting quite a reputation thanks to the dynamic duo Tiffany Cale and Danny Ingram, who together make up Community Chest Booking, and are responsible for all the excitement at the Triple lately located at 3306 West Broad Street .

The Triple is quickly becoming THE place to be to see great shows and the location is convenient to most areas. And then there are the billiards, to which the neon sign outside boasts. A billiards room was the original theme of the Triple, but now you get two for the price of one. It’s a cool place with cool people taking care of you.

This Saturday night was no exception. The place was packed by the time I got there around 9:30, which told me that this was going to be a good night. Three bands performed, Tommy 2 Fingers and the Why Nots, Octane Saints, and The Rats. These bands consisted of some of the most respected musicians Richmond has to offer, and some of them I had crushes on when they were just little pups starting out back in “the day”. Okay, so I still have crushes on them, but I enjoyed my little nostalgic moment and got back to business.

The opening band was TOMMY 2 FINGERS AND THE WHY NOTS. Formed from various local bands such as Lilly Liver, Blind Brain, Sugar Creek and Uphill Down, this trio uses their punk roots together with cheeky lyrics to express their quoted “I don’t give a ….. attitude” of the genre. With songs like “All my Friends Are Dead”, “Great Personality”, “Kelly Went Gay”, and “Lapdance In Paradise”, you can conclude these guys don’t take themselves too seriously, and that’s pretty refreshing in this all consuming rock star world.

The band has written and recorded an album and is working on the second release.

You can visit Tommy 2 Fingers website at: www.tommy2fingers.com

Band Members: Joey Lasagna -guitar, vocals

Johnny Bactine – bass & background vocals

Danny Crucial – drums @ background vocals



The second band up was the OCTANE SAINTS. For me personally, the Octane Saints experience was like going back to the days when guys really enjoyed playing music together and it was always reflected in the music. This set was a joy from beginning to end. The band formed in 2001 collecting a fan base ranging from rock purists, punks, rockabilly and more. They have become regulars at various rock and roll festivals such as The Heavy Rebel Weekender and Elvisfest.

The songs from the band are no frills and catchy with titles such as “Grind”, “Daddy’s Trash”, “Tear the Meat off the Bone”, “Jailbait”, “Kitty”, “Hell Yeah”, and “Drinkin” which was a special favorite. It was a set I didn’t want to end, but I got some good butt shakin’ in for exercise.

Band Members: Jay Thurman – guitar, vocals

Rock Koplin – guitar, vocals

Tom Strel – bass

Scott Schuppert – drums

Band website: www.octanesaints.com, or www.myspace.com/octanesaints



The headlining band was THE RATS, who is mostly based in Norfolk , VA. One of my old crushes was on guitar player Dan-O, previously of Mudd Helmet, Rocket 69 and Adam West. It was kinda weird seeing how older and mature he is now. Okay, we’re old, but, damn these guys can still play.

Thanks to Jeff, the bass player, I got a brief history of The Rats. Apparently, the guitar player Eric got together with bass player Jeff and started a Ramones tribute band. It didn’t take long for them to want more and they started writing their own songs and became The Rats. They played Baltimore , D.C. , Richmond , the Outer Banks, and after a string of lead guitarists and drummers including Joey and Shon of Reverend D-Ray and the Shockers, their current drummer, Matt came along. They were led to Dan-O’s recording studio and they spent three days recording there first album, “Rats Ass”. Eventually their lead guitarist had to leave the band and Dan-O played guitar on several of the tracks they recorded for the album. Dan-O expressed an interest in joining the band and the rest is The Rats history.

The punk influences on their songs, such as “Norfolk city Rockers”, “Sellin Honey”, “Rats Ass”, Rock & Roll You Over”, “Cathcin’ Flies”, and “Sick of Being your Dog” (my personal favorite), is so strong there was actually moshing to be had in front of the stage. Yes, beer was spilled, people fell down, equipment was compromised, and the vibe was pure electricity. You couldn’t ask for anything more.

Band members: Eric – guitar, vocals

Dan-O – guitar

Jeff – bass

Matt – drums

Band website: www.snakeoilrecordings.com, www.myspace.com/thenorfolkrats


To wrap up I will just say I had a great time seeing old friends and listening to kick ass music and hope these bands continue to play and flourish, because they deserve it. Nuff said. Elvistra signing out.



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