The first time Hillbilly Hellcats singer/guitarist Chuck Hughes played Miami back in 1998, he was so moved by the energy at Churchill's, that climbed up on the middle bar, did his best Chuck Berry walk down the length of it and jumped off to great applause - and the morning discovery that he had dislocated his knee and had to postpone the rest of the tour.
Assuming Hughes and company survived their Churchill's gig last night, Saturday will mark the first appearance by a notable touring band at Titanic Brewery since Dash Rip Rock drank their keg of homemade stout dry in 2007.
One wonder if the Hellcats bothered to read their contract, as the Titanic demands 3 sets for their modest paydays - a requirement that drove even the extremely prolific, cover-happy DRR boys to their last nerve. Midway through their 2nd set, DRR singer Bill Davis got so frustrated at the lame attempts of his volunteer cowbell player to play a set-filling cover of "Honky Tonk Women" that he shouted "Doesn't anyone in Coral Gables know the F***ing Rolling Stones?!"
So if you ever wanted to know what covers the Hillbilly Hellcats have in their grab bag, Saturday night is an excellent time to find out. It's also a safe bet they'll be playing their rap tune about the music business, along with every 3-chord rockabilly stomp Hughes and bassist Lance Bakemeyer have ever written.
Consider it :"An evening (and early morning) with The Hillbilly Hellcats." Or "Everything you ever wanted to know about a rockabilly band (but were afraid to ask).
no tour was ever postponed
Posted by: Chuck | 07/22/2012 at 05:37 AM