Almost Missed The Electric Barnyard Show

[Peter Dollard]

Another blistering day in Sacamento and I'm reading the local paper. In it there is an interview with Marty Stewart saying his band(The Fabulous Superlatives), Connie Smith, and Merle Haggard would be playing a short distance away in Dixon. It costs thirty dollars and I'm wondering if it's worth the price. Later I head over to the fair grounds to check for early roving musicians. Just the Greyhounds in the sweltering heat with their air turned on to the max.

I finally corner a roadie and ask if Marty has a steel player; he says no and I head home but as I arrive at my house I begin to wonder whether that was the right question.

Later that day I throw caution to the winds and go back.As I enter the fairgrounds there is a kid standing there with a ticket. How much?...$15.00, sold. As I enter the fairgrounds it is like stepping back in time; you can sit in the sun and watch the warmup acts or buy beverages and food at the concessions in the shade. I approach the stage and see an MSA Millenium: must mean one thing Johnny Cox. Fifteen minutes later the band is taking me back to the old days when singers stood and delivered. There was the winsome Connie Smith singing like an angel. Johnny was simply great, he invoked all the great styles while still sounding like himself. He worked very well with the guitar player and they did everyone of her hits including "I'll Come Running Back".

What was really nice was seeing different members of each of the bands help out the others. Mardi sang a duet with Connie's band and it was clear they all were enjoying it.

As you might expect the average age of the audience was around fifty but there were a surprising number of younger folks too.

Merle was the last up and he kind of broke my heart. I will always love his music and his grit but he seemed off his game. That doesn't mean I don't like him so please don't take it the wrong way. Norm did his job and more.

When I left that night I felt as if I had stepped back in time when musicians played and audiences appretiated the music not the glitter. This show has 16 more stops so go see it. Pete