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FANFAIRE*FUNDRAISERS*FESTIVALS
First of all the Righteous Hillbillies would like to wish all our friends and fans a Happy New Year! We hope the new year of 2011 brings y'all much happiness and success.
It was a very busy year in 2010 for the Hillbillies, and we kicked it off on January 2 at the Rockbox in Chicago with our friends John Condron and the Benefit. The Rockbox was a wild little joint with décor that was a combination of Burlesque and Soft Core, TVs in every corner playing old 50’s film clips and burlesque dancers. Brent and I took our cases and coats downstairs to a little dark dungeon with eye hooks on the ceiling, had a couple of great laughs and then got the hell back upstairs where we proceeded to tear the hell outta the stage…musically speaking of course! Inspiration comes from many different sources.
February 2010 brought us back to our old stompin grounds, Chicago Street Pub where the food and fans are always the best. Brent and I decided that with any downtime during the year we would play some acoustic shows and began prepping for that.
March 2010 was our first trip to ZELMOS where we performed at the “Abate of Will County MOMS Fundraiser” sponsored by Moms Cookies, and we fit right in at this great biker bar establishment! Then it was back to Chicago Street for another “hoopin' and hollerin” show!
April 2010, Brent and I had the honor of performing an acoustic show at the annual “Benefit for Heroes – You Are Not Alone” This place was packed to the max with all kinds of folk and military. Unfortunately, we had some PA problems the entire time and Brent and I calmly made it through the evening. Immediately after we had to drive like 80 miles an hour to get back to Chicago Street where an entire video crew and audience turned the bar into The Righteous Hillbillies very first video shoot! I could talk about this for 5 more pages so let me just say that this was the greatest experience of my life so far. We finished the live shots for the video, then played a full show right after…the old man in me was pretty tired when it was all over. The next morning (Sunday), we all met in a parking lot (all, meaning the band, the video crew, our beautiful model Kelly Viol, and a whole bunch of our biker friends and heading to a mansion on the river to film the rest of the video…yet another great experience. The smile on Brent’s face when Kelly walks by the chicken cookin on the grill is priceless, and when all our biker brothers and sisters pull away at the end...well it chokes me up every time. Thanks again to Matt Gossen for his vision and hard work to pull that project to completion. (Matt is now living in Hollywood working on the TV show The Mentalist.)
One of the coolest things Brent and I did all year was the Midwest Songwriters Showcase at Downhome Music in Frankfort, Illinois. Steve the owner, and a wicked mando player himself, asked us to be a part of this great event…and NO cover tunes! Original music only! Wow! Brent and I were in music heaven. People were there to actually listen. It was a bit intimidating, however, it was a great experience. We shared the bill with Nathan Blake Lynn and Chicago Farmer. Great show!
May 2010, another great opportunity jumped at Brent and I. We were asked to open for the great Doyle Dykes, one of the best flat pickers on acoustic I’ve ever heard. His son and daughter Haley sang and played with him, and what a show. Haley was beautiful and sang like a bird and Brent and I were blown away by the experience. The Dykes family couldn’t have been nicer, and when it was all over, Doyle walked up to me and said ”I heard y'all from backstage. I really like your music and the way y'all sing together…keep doping that.” To me, it was a great compliment after watching this master play things I could only dream of playing! The Hillbillies topped May off by performing at Opening Day for the Jackhammers Baseball team! We got their attention.
June 2010 brought a host of private parties and freebies that led to some much bigger and better shows later on.
July 2010, AHHHH, festival season begins. Let me tell you folks the band loves to play. We really do. But outdoor stages are the best action you could ever hope to find if you’re in a rock band! Wilmington’s annual Fireworks display on the river; Joliet’s Race Fan Rally, Sugar Creek Music Fest, Chi Town Harley Owners Poker Run sponsored by Operation Support Our Troops, Shrefflers Land of Lincoln Harley Davidson Open House (can you believe it..they ran out of beer…twice!), Jackhammer's Stadium... we were busy, and we loved it!
August 2010, our trip to the infamous Cubby Bear in Chicago and our “Fight for Fame” battle of the bands (which we never do)! We sat at a table and watched a band on stage that could not even play their instruments….and we looked at each other in great comic disbelief...then we all left and went to the Alley where I bought some Johnny Cash stickers for my guitar case, so the night was not a total loss! August brought us to our first appearance at Staggs Head in Willowbrook (now called Irish Legends), a great little Irish Bar…great crowd…and of course the most beautiful Irish accented beauties. Most fun! We ended up at the Big Bason overlooking the river and played a Memorial Ride way into the evening…it was hot as hell that night I remember and Brent was sick as hell right from the start, and still played the entire show…that’s a pro for ya folks! On a side note…I actually had to leave during a break and go home to let my dog out..a large black wolfy looking German Shepherd named Gideon.
You know the more a band plays together obviously the tighter they get musically, and it was probably back in July when I began to notice that Johnny and Kenny were becoming so tight as a rhythm section, and were playing with ease professionalism and overall greatness! Brent and I have been together for years and years literally. We can anticipate each other's every move on stage and how cool is that? The whole band had this musical breakthrough and we all noticed it about the same time, too. We started improvising on stage a lot more just to see where it took us…and the more comfortable you get with each other the more chances your willing to take musically….and it sure worked for us! I’m very lucky to be in the presence of such fine musicians.
September 2010, still strong in the festival mode, The Hillbillies played a big one; Naperville’s Last Fling a great stage and sound and Brent sang his ass off that day I remember. Then it was on to the Freedom Fest in Barrington, Illinois, another big set up, same stage and sound. We opened the show that day and I almost got into a scrap with a couple roadies and their bass player who blocked the stairs with all their equipment and briefly would not let me pass through. I did the only polite thing I could do…I left the roadies alone and went straight to the bass player…ya know…the source, and said “Move your shit,” and ask anybody…I’m a nice guy!
Corn Fest in Morris is a big festival every year with bands playing all over town. We were lucky enough to get the main stage in the center of town, and although it was windy as hell, we tore that place apart I remember. Here’s a fun filled fact for y'all. The Corn Fest was where we met Kelly our now current manager who we love and adore for being such a go getter. Brent was approached by an angry lady from a Christian singers group across the street during our sound check. She told him to stop playing so they could finish their 2 hour set literally right across the street. Brent politely told her there was nothing he could do and to kindly be on her way…and I laughed myself to death. We were told later that this group had absolutely nothing to do with the festival…how funny is that?
October 2010: We did the Coal City October Fest and Fireworks and it was the coldest freakin night ever! Brent and I had coats on and our hands were frozen. You could literally see clouds of smoke comin out of Brent’s mouth when he sang! Needless to say, we did not stay for the fireworks! And for some reason…we played with a fury!
Back to Zelmos. Although we had already been to Zelmos previously, this was our first official show there. We were very well received that night and I never saw a more eclectic group of family, friends, bikers and bartenders….God, it was great. We are there on a regular basis now and have made many new friends.
November 2010, things begin to slow down a bit this time of year, and Brent and I were glad to do a Black Wednesday show at a new upscale place called Chew Chews. We didn’t really know what to expect. God it was snowing like hell, and cold. We get to this little place and it looks a lot nicer that we thought…so we strolled in and the manager was very nice. The place was packed and we were invited to sit down at a table and they fed us on the house. Brent and I are looking at each other and laughing a little as the waiter told us to order anything we want. You just shouldn’t do that....I remember thinking ..I wonder if this waiter ever heard the phrase “starving musicians” before. Brent and I ate like kings and had the greatest time laughing and drinkin and playing. Life was good that night! Did another gig at our home club Chicago Street Pub.
December 2010, Iron Mill, Rogue Riders. MC Christmas Party was a private party that we got from our good friend Max, a member of the MC. It was a long long trip to the clubhouse ..about 2 hours. We had a very unique time…played well…I remember Kenny was sick as hell with a fever and still played his ass off…another pro for ya’ll! Great food. I took a bite of some hot pepper potatoes. Brent asks me before the bite “You sure you wanna eat those?" He’s got a smile on his face…I don’t eat hot stuff by the way…so I cram in a spoonful, it takes my breath away for 5 minutes. I don’t tell anybody.. .try not to show it….I think. Brent and the biker across from me knew! It was a small place but we had a great time. We hit a snow storm on the way home. I was tryin' to keep Brent awake cause he was driving and I’m passing out in the middle of a sentence. We made it though!
Our last gig for the year was at Ballydoyles in Downers Grove. One of the best stages I’ve been on in a long time, great sound system. Kenny was friends with the sound guy and we sounded great. We played like it was the end of the world! You can take a lot of frustration and angst out on your instrument, if you’re careful. And we were all itchin' to play that night..and play we did folks. Needless to say, we have an upcoming gig there in February 2011.
I am humbled and thankful for the great musical year I’ve had. The chance to play with such great musicians..Kenny, Johnny, and my dear friend Brent James who always cracks me up and knows how to cheer me up…and can write one hell of a good song! And a most humble thanx to all of our family, friends, and fans who brave the rain, snow, sleet, and heat to come see us time and time again. I love ya’ll. May 2011 bring you happiness and good health and a couple extra bucks to come see the Righteous Hillbillies once in a while.
There are many things in store for 2011..new songs, new recordings, new shows. We’ll see y'all on the road…Life is good!
Kev TRH
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