We have been looking forward to seeing and hearing David Ball & the Pioneer Playboys perform since we last saw them at John Green's Wagon Wheel back in April of this year. The show not only features the great vocal stylings and performance by David himself, but the band with Billy Pierce on bass, the talented Troy Cook on lead guitar & backup vocals and perhaps the best drummer/percussionist in the business, Scott Metko are a real asset to an already awesome entertaining and delightful package. Today's show began at 4:00 PM (doors opened slightly after 3) with opry owner Ted Cline (who is also one of this area's best male vocalists and who also played bass this first half, starting tonight's festivities off with Merle Haggard's "Let's Chase Each Other 'Round The Room Tonight" and an old Gene Watson tune "Texas Saturday Night." Ted returned a bit later with Lefty Frizzell's "Saginaw Michigan." Ted's equally talented brother Kevin Cline showed his many talents off singing Faron Young's "Step Aside," Johnny Paycheck's "Slide Off Of Your Satin Sheets" and a super job both singing, playing guitar and some great harmonica work on Tom T. Hall's "I'm A Shoeshine Man." Jerry Forney, the group's steel guitar player, stepped front and center, donning a conventional electric guitar and showing his immense talent, singing an original song entitled "Ghost," a historical lament written about the dark final days of Jesse James. Jerry then sang the Johnny Cash mega-hit "Rig of Fire" before returning to his usual spot and joining lead guitarist Jim Lower (who plays lead every Saturday night at the Big Creek Country Show in Pleasant Hill and whose son Jim Lower, Jr. played drums here tonight) for a great rendition of "Steel Guitar Rag." Jim concluded tonight's first half, choosing an accoustical guitar and playing first a Chet Atkins' standard, "Southland" then finishing with Merle Travis' "I'll See You In My Dreams."
Troy Cook, the Playboys' lead guitarist and backup vocalist greeted the crowd as the second half began with the great Buck Owens' tune "Love's Gonna Live Here Again," followed by Johnny Cash's mega-hit "Folsom Prison Blues." Troy returned a bit later with a George Jones' favorite, "White Lighting" which many aren't aware of, was written by the late J. P. Richardson, known as the "Big Bopper" a rockabily artist who was killed in the same plane crash that took the life of rock 'n roll artist Buddy Holly. As David Ball stepped front and center, he kicked things off with an old Faron Young tune, "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" followed by his own Buck Owens favorite "Stop The World And Let Me Off." 1994's "Look What Followed Me Home" preceeded "A Walk On The Wild Side," 2001's blockbuster "Riding With Private Malone," "Louisiana Melody," "I Wanna Go Back To Alabama," "I Don't Want To Go To Houston," "What'll I Do If I Don't Have You," "She Was Smiling In The Morning" and 2010's big hit "Hot Water Pipe." "Let Me Be Your Sweetheart Again" was followed by "When The Thought Of You Catches Up With Me," "Deep In The Heart Of Texas," "So Long," "Long-Legged Brown Eyed Baby Of Mine" and 1989's megahit that really got David's career off the ground, "Thinking Problem." David returned for an encore of "Amigo" at Ted Cline's request and much to the crowd's delight. (Below) David Ball (c.) poses with Ted (l.) & Kirby (r.) Cline.
