We missed the guitar genius of Gordon Riley who was vacationing in Branson this week, but it was a super show tonight at the BK Lounge (Burger King, 95th & Quivera Rd., Lenexa, KS), nonetheless with the return this week of Larry Dean and Art Covey and the appearance of Hall of Fame harmonica player Don Spain. We also got a thrill when we saw our friend Glen Smith, former owner & operator of Glen's Opry in Tonganoxie, KS (now Annie's Country Jubilee) and our classmate at Shawnee Mission High School in Merriam, KS., many years ago.
We arrived a few minutes late, as is our custom, and Larry Dean was doing a great job playing lead in Gordon's absence and singing Charlie Daniels' "Long Haired Country Boy," then asked the audience to help him remember the events of 9/11/01 by singing "America The Beautiful." He shared with everyone his rememberances and asked us all to remember where we were and what we happened to be doing when we learned of the horrific events that took place on that fateful day. Later, it was "I Believe," Brooks & Dunn's "Boot Scootin Boogie," the plaintive "Some Old Day," Chuck Berry's "Nadine," "God Must Be A Cowboy," Hag's "I Had A Beautiful Time" and a Rock & Roll medley of Elvis/Jerry Lee Lewis songs. Garry Bichelmeyer, in addition to playing rhythm guitar and banjo and writing some terrific songs is also quite an accomplished vocalist himself, tonight singing the Waylon/Jesse classic "Storms Never Last," "Catch A Falling Star," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Blues Stay Away From Me," "Rocky Top" and "Kansas City." Wife Mary Bichelmeyer, the group's bass player sang "Your Cheating Heart," "Walk The Way The Wind Blows" and "There He Goes" for the appreciative audience. Lou Moore was looking and sounding good behind those drums tonight and it's always neat to see and hear little Sandy Barnett, who sang "Don't Be Angry," Jimmy Dickens' "I'm Little But I'm Loud," "Swingin Doors" and "Truck Driving Man."
They say you don't really appreciate something until it's gone and we've sure missed the beautiful mandolin playing and singing of Art Covey and it was so nice to have him return tonight. Art, to the crowd's delight played "Golden Slippers," sang "Falling Leaves" and "Royal Telephone," then joined Don Spain and the band on "Red Wing," "Love Letters In The Sand" and "Black Mountain Rag." And speaking of Don Spain, congratulatons are in order as Don was inducted into the Old Time Country Music Hall Of Fame, September 1st in Missouri Valley, Iowa. An interesting article in the Leavenworth (Don lives there) Times notes that Don is one of very few harp or harmonica players who is accomplished in playing the cross harp or the ability to bend the reeds inside the harmonica and create distinctive sounds that a normal player couldn't produce. There are literally only a handful of players in the world who do this well. If you ever have an opportunity to hear Don play, you will appreciate the difference, it is just awesome! Don has several CDs available and a website: www.donspain.com. Just before leaving, he played a terrific version of "Folsom Prison Blues." (Below) top: l. Don Spain r. Sandy Barnett bottom: l. Art Covey r. Glen Smith
