Woodstock Music Fest-Brent Hoodenpyle, Play Doctors

No, not that one, this one was a tad smaller and this past weekend in Woodstock, Illinois, and not in New York in 1969. I digress a bit here, but back in 1969, when I heard of Woodstock and all the bands that were going to be there, including my favorite CCR (Creedance Clearwater Revival), I decided to go. I thought it was in Woodstock, Il, and drove up there looking for it. I didn't find it. Even the logo of this event evoked memories of the one back in 1969.

This was the third annual festival and billed itself as being held on the beautiful square, but this wasn't actually truth in advertising, as it was held in the parking lot next to the 1920s movie theater with that great marque outside. This was featured in the movie "Groundhog Day" when Bill Murray did his Clint Eastwood thing and pulled up in front of it in the Rolls-Royce.

Saturday was day two of the fest.

I was in town visiting with my mother-in-law, Frances, who has an assisted living place with three windows overlooking the square. I heard music while leaving and walked over to it. There weren't many people there at first, but by the time I left, the place was packed so fully, it was difficult to get out.

The first act I saw was Brent Hoodenpyle and the Loners. They would best fit the alternative country genre. If you came wanting to hear "I Love This Bar" or other big songs, you weren't going to be too happy. They played mostly their own originals. When they'd play a song from a big act, like Johnny Cash and Roger Miller, it wasn't one that you'd ever heard before.

Some of the songs were cry-in-your-beer, others historical, and some outright rockers. Brent lists influences such as Steve Earle, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, and Graham Parsons.

I really enjoyed the too-short, 45 minute set and intended to buy a CD from him, but didn't see him afterwards.

All acts were on the same stage, so while the next one was setting up, we avoided the awkward wait between acts when an individual performer, Brian Watson I believe, got up and played solo. He had some sort of a machine where he would play some chords and it would repeat on a loop. He was quite good.

Next up were the Play Doctors which consisted of five girls and a drummer. This was high-octane party music from a group, who, if high and tight clothing got you money, they all be rich. Most had white nursing-type uniforms with red crosses on them.

The crowd was bigger now and the girls really got them going at first with hard rock and later quite a bit of disco. They started with: We're Not Gonna Take It, Rock and Roll All Night, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Shook Me All Night Long, then to Lady Marmalade and Boogie Oogie, Oogie.

RHYTHM KINGS at CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS- Sunday

I've seen this band before. Actually I've never seen a band I didn't like at Captain's. These four guys were great, even though starting two hours late because of a truck breakdown (fortunately I arrived just as they played their first song).

This group plays a wide variety of music. During one stretch, they played "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye, "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon, "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash, and "Sweet Home Chicago".

Always great music at Captain's and this coming Sunday, The Only Sons.

NOT THIS TIME

I did miss two bands I would have liked to see this past weekend. Friday, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas were at the Music Fest in Woodstock. I've been a big fan of Zydeco, Cajun, and New Orleans music in general ever since seeing the movie "Big Easy". That soundtrack really blew me away. Nathan Williams grew up in southern Louisiana where this music originated. For those of you who don't know what zydeco is, I'd call it a mix between Cajun music and Rock and Roll, with an accordion and rub board thrown in for good measure. I regard this as the ultimate party music. You can always tell where a zydeco band is playing, just look for where the people are jumping up and down, and you've found it.

Yesterday, I didn't make it out to "A Mile from Reality". That would be the Chain of Lakes' institution better known as Blarney Island. The only way you can get there is by boat. They were having Key West Fest and Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24 were performing along with their 1938 outboard Johnson engine that today mixes up huge batches of that island treat called Margaritas.

We saw them last year and it was a great show. Imagine Jimmy Buffett and you'll know what the music was like. A great show from a band that doesn't take themselves too seriously. Pretty much everything is nautical-flavored. They actually have home base down in the Keys and a lot of their songs are about places along that 100 mile stretch of good-times.

By the way, while at Woodstock Music Fest, I saw some great flyers for a concert to be held out at Galt Airport in nearby Wonder Lake on July 21st and featuring those Summer of Love and Hippiedom stalwarts Iron Butterfly and Canned Heat. The flyer would have fit right in at Haight-Asbury on this 40th anniversary of that special summer.

Anybody remember In-a-Gadda-da-Vida? Or how about that seven minute drum solo?

Still Partyin' After All These Years. --RoadDog

THIS DAY IN HISTORY- 1942- Paul McCartney was born. And the rest, as they say, is history.