This is only for a few of you. For those of you uninterested in the title, please do not read any further. You have fair warning.

On Thursday, February 5th, the 11th Annual McReynolds (Jim and Jesse) Bluegrass Festival will be taking place at the Gallatin Civic Center. This year is a special benefit/tribute to Bobby Thompson. I will be there, possibly with YDDD, Token, Powder P, and Brother Love.

Thompson was an integral part of the critically acclaimed 60's intrumental rock band Area Code 615. Area Code 615 consisted of Nashville session men who worked on albums by Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt and virtually every country artist of the time. Their song, Stone Fox Chase, was the theme song for the BBC show "Old Grey Whistle Test." Thompson played banjo and rhythm guitar for the band, which formed in the wake of Dylan's "Nashville Skyline", which had put a premium on recording in Nashville. Prominent popular acts flocked to Nashville after "Nashville Skyline", utilizing the talents of every member of Area Code 615. Thompson recorded with popular acts like the Monkees, as well as country legends. His revoltion of the banjo as a rock instrument garnered him with praise in many circles. He went on to play the banjo for the popular 80's show Hee Haw, where he played weekly in their band.

The following musicians will be performing a tribute to him at the show:

Bela Fleck
Mike Snider
Roni Stoneman
Williams & Clark Expedition
Abrams Family
Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys
The Osbourne Brothers
Jet Williams
Larry Stephenson
Leroy Troy
Melvin Goins
Luke McKnight (Powder P's cousin)
Jimmy Bowen
Allen Shelton

Area Code 615's self-titled debut album peaked at #191 on the Billboard pop chart in 1969. All-Music Guide gives their first album a four out of five stars rating and their second album, Trip In The Country, three out of five stars. Both albums were released on Polydor.

(Edited by richarddawson at 12:23 am on Jan. 28, 2004)

Thursday is the only day that I've been looking forward to. Since it's Thursday, I'll be there with bells on.

Now, I'm much more excited about this show than I already was. Oh yeah, Bobby Thompson's my uncle. I forgot to mention that, which more likely explains why I know who AC615 is and why I'm going to this in the first place. Don't be confused though, AC615 truly kicks ass. I just hope that somebody plays "Foxfire", because that song is fucking awesome.

Did you like the CD, JC?

(Edited by richarddawson at 10:23 pm on Jan. 27, 2004)

You know what, RD? I'm loving it.

I listened to it earlier today before I read that bio from CMT.com, and the bio summed up my thoughts perfectly. It's like bluegrass/country music with a rock'n'roll rhythm section - and the drums and electric bass are really the backbone of the band, I think. But it's the little things that the "country" instruments do that really make it special. I especially love the wah-banjo.

It's really pretty amazing how ahead of their time this band was. I can hear their influence in so many things from 70s classic rock/funk to a wide variety of jam bands to modern country music.

I actually know quite a few people who would really really enjoy this band, including our very own lawnwrangler.

The two of you should meet up with the rest of us next Thursday. There's some damn entertaining people at this show, specifically Leroy Troy, according to Powder P. And, it's in the G-Town, murdaa.

For those interested souls, this is tonight. CMT usually has a brief report on it, but no major coverage. Since Bela Fleck will be there tonight, that might change. Hopefully some hippies will record this whole show with their super-awesome equipment.

(Edited by richarddawson at 1:00 pm on Feb. 5, 2004)

Well, the show was prety fun, it was really good up through the Virginia Boys set, then slacked off with exception of the Osborne Brothers, who played later than the setlist said), and Bela Fleck. It was fun to see all the old people digging some tunes too.

Was it just me, or did I hear Area Code 615 on a beer commercial tonight? I can't remember which song or which beer, though.