Train to Birmingham
Felt great to get out on the road for some live music and music family reunions. Saw lots of friends on social media doing the same, as well as artists excited about getting back in front of “real flesh and bone,” as Cody Canada put it so well.
Things began to re-emerge in March as we marked the one year anniversary of the closing of America, and I took full advantage of the opportunity for a couple road trips to America’s Heartland. First, two shows with Jason Boland & the Stragglers in Inman, Kansas, and Fort Smith, Arkansas, then three shows with Cody Canada & the Departed at the legendary Knucklehead’s in Kansas City, then back to Inman and Ft. Smith.
Inman, Kansas is a tiny town of about 1,500 in McPherson County - an hour’s drive northwest of Wichita. Just outside the city limits sits the 365 Sports Complex. The indoor practice facility is home to a sports academy that was founded by a group of parents to provide their children’s sports teams with a turf practice facility. As these kids continue to grow and move on from the academy, the owners of the facility are looking at producing concerts as an option.
The complex covers the area of about one half of a football field (it even has a goal post at one end). Large tables seating eight each are lined up in rows in front of the well-appointed stage. Randy Rogers and Stoney LaRue played there early in 2020 and more nights were scheduled before the pandemic shut everything down. I caught both the Jason Boland and Cody Canada shows last month; each was professionally managed and produced. I talked with a couple of the owners, and they said two more shows were already scheduled and another pending before they go dark for the summer (they can’t really air-condition a barn in Kansas!) and hope to get more shows this fall. They would like to catch some of the artists moving between gigs in Tulsa or Oklahoma City and Kansas City.
Fort Smith has become a regular stop for many artists and the Majestic is one good reason. The downtown venue on Garrison Avenue opened about two years ago. Its two levels and plenty of room in front of the stage make for an intimate performance. One night we were there, RC & the Ambers had to wait for the finish of the broadcast of the Arkansas - ORU NCAA tournament game because of the big screen in front of the stage. If the Hogs had gone into OT, we would have had to wait another half hour.
Jason Boland slowed down some in 2020, but from June through the end of the year he played about 60 live shows. Most of those were along the old “rodeo circuit” from Texas up through Oklahoma and Kansas, then back home, but he kept the “Pearl Snaps” 20th Anniversary Tour on the road.
The Stragglers are still as tight as ever with original fiddler Dana Hazzard back on stage for both shows. (Kyle Nix joined the band for a couple of shows a few weeks later.) It’s always great to catch Boland when he’s in the Tulsa area because there’s a good chance original Stragglers pedal steel player Roger Ray will sit in, and he did for this Arkansas show. He also pulled out a beautiful resonator guitar and played some killer dobro!
Cody Canada has just recently been getting out for live shows after spending most of the pandemic in front of a computer screen. He was always busy doing Zoom shows or the Sequestered Songwriters series, and would pop up as a guest on other online events. Back on the road with Eric Hansen on drums and the ever-present Jeremy Plato on bass, the Departed was joined by Peyton Glasco, the New Braunfels, Texas band, Waves, guitarist. Peyton also handled merch sales for the run and Cody brought him onstage for several songs each night.
Finally, I got to check another venue off my Bucket List. I’ve tried to get to Knucklehead’s for years, but it ain’t easy to get to KC from Birmingham. I’m glad it worked out this time. The show was in the Garage across the street from the original bar and outdoor venue. Talking later with folks who have been to the club, they had never been to the newer venue space. It’s a great room and I will make it a destination to get back.
It’s so exciting to be back out for live music and opening emails confirming your ticket purchase instead of announcing a cancellation, or a postponement, or a refund… or not.
