I took a ton of band photos at the Nashville Boogie (my third, Heather’s second).
If you haven’t been to the Boogie in a while (or ever), I highly recommend it. It’s a fun weekend of music, dancing and socializing without the frantic urge to “do it all” that I feel at Viva Las Vegas. The people are really friendly, and the Nashville Palace, where most of the smaller bands play, is a gem. I’ve had some issues getting between the hotel and the Palace in years past, but that situation seems to improve every year.
And now, the photos:
Hillbilly Casino
Hillbilly Casino are one of my favorite live bands, and they brought their usual high-energy, entertaining show. This set was mostly new material, and I think it was the first time I’ve seen them skip “PBR”.
Hillbilly Moon Explosion
I had high hopes for Hillbilly Moon Explosion after hearing one of their songs on Shake the Shack’s last broadcast. This set ended up being completely different, and not really to my taste.
The Krank Daddies
If you’ve seen the Krank Daddies, you know what to expect. If not, you should see them for yourself, as I don’t have the right words.
Levi Dexter & the Gretsch Brothers
Levi Dexter‘s performances have always been a little hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes I love them, sometimes they just don’t quite connect for me. I had no idea what to expect going in, and this set with Levi fronting the Gretsch Brothers (all the way from Japan) was the best I’ve seen him. I have a new band to follow!
Little Lesley & the Bloodshots
We first discovered Little Lesley last year when she got up and did a song or two with the Psycho DeVilles. She did that again this year, but we also checked out her regular band, Little Lesley & the Bloodshots. The crowd was a little thin at 12:30 in the afternoon, but those of us who did make it out for the early show got a treat.
The Paladins
After somehow missing the Paladins for years, I finally managed to see them, and I wish it hadn’t taken me so long. They were great fun and I hope to catch them again soon.
The Polecats
I loved “Make a Circuit With Me” before ever heard the word “rockabilly”, and certainly well before I became aware of “neo-rockabilly”. The Polecats are right up my alley, and they delivered the goods.
Psycho DeVilles
Like Hillbilly Casino and the Krank Daddies, the Psycho DeVilles are another Nashville Boogie staple who I look forward to seeing when I get the chance. Walt and company put on a fun show with guest appearances from Rockabilly Hall of Famer Billy Harlan, Little Lesley (of the Bloodshots), Scott Hinds (of the Royal Hounds), and many of the ladies from the audience.
The Rocketz
I don’t know much about the Rocketz, but we enjoyed them.
Screamin’ Rebel Angels
I saw frontwoman Laura Palmer playing bass with the Go Getters last year, but I hadn’t heard anything from Screamin’ Rebel Angels in quite a while. This set put them back on my mental map–Laura is a fireball, not only fun to watch, but a very talented multi-instrumentalist.
Miscellaneous
Here are a few photos of other musicians from the weekend: Royce Porter, the Planet Rockers, The Highjivers, McKinley James, John England, Deke Dickerson and Dallas Moore