It was a gorgeous evening outside and traffic was actually pretty light, so we made it to the BK in plenty of time to witness Larry Dean kicking off tonight's agenda with a Bob Wills' classic "Miles & Miles Of Texas" and Alan Jackson's "Designated Drinker." The group's great lead guitarist, Gordon Riley was up next and he did a great job with "Wildwood Flower" and singing George Hamilton IV's (this great little band backed George at a festival in Hastings, NE over the weekend) "Break My Mind." "Marvelous" Marvin Bredemeier, who handles the fiddling duties at Annie's Country Jubilee in Tonganoxie, KS every Saturday night was up next with big band number "Red Sails In The Sunset" with Larry Dean handling the vocals and another Bob Wills' classic "Silver Bells." Bassist Mary Bichelmeyer did a super job singing Loretta's "Blue Kentucky Girl" and Patsy's "Walking After Midnight" before husband Garry Bichelmeyer took over the duties with John Anderson's "Would You Catch A Falling Star" and a self-written bluesy number, "Summer's Almost Over" which also featured some great harmonica runs. It was super seeing Art Covey back, playing some great mandolin and singing "Royal Telephone" and Jimmie Rodgers' "Hobo's Meditation."
During intermission, we passed around peices of a big carrot cake we brought in (our B-day was actually yesterday) and it was certainly great to see our friend Lola Bohon, who's a regular at Wayne Hoover's Countryside Jamboree in Cameron, MO every Friday night come down and join us along with our buddy Jim Bledsoe and all the other folks who always make the BK such a fun-filled Tuesday evening. And thanks to all the gang for singing "Happy Birthday" to us, it meant a lot.
Larry Dean began the second half of the evening fulfilling our request of Lefty Frizell's "Mom & Dad Waltz" followed by Delbert McClinton's "Back To Louisiana," "Together Again," Robert Earl Keen's "Billy Gray" and Hal Ketchum's "I Miss My Mary Tonight." After Gordon & the band played a pretty instrumental of "Back Home In Indiana," Marvin took bow in hand to play our favorite fiddle tune, "Ragtime Annie" followed by "Faded Love" and "OBS" - "The Orange Blossom Special" (the dance floor was full on this one!). Mary returned this half to do a super job singing Jeanne Pruett's "Satin Sheets" and "Bill Bailey" while husband Garry was joined by Larry as they sang the Soggy Bottom Boys' version of "In The Jailhouse Now." Garry got the dancers going again as he sang a crowd favorite, "Kansas City." Drummer John Malone even got into the solo business tonight and did a terrific job on "Wipe Out!" before Larry Dean closed out the evening with "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." (Below) top - Larry Dean & the band fulfill our request of Lefty Frizzell's "Mom & Dad's Waltz" bottom - Your's truly (under that hat, as usual), Miss Jean, friend Jim Bledsoe and other friends enjoying a great evening at the BK
