Wayne Hancock and a great 2010

Last Sunday was one of the best musical experiences of my life.  We kicked off the 2010 Extradition Concert Series with an excellent show at The Underground in Reno.  Opening was the local Rockabilly act, The Cowbelleros, who played a great set of covers and originals.  I’m biased, of course, but the finest moment of their entire set was when the headliner, Wayne “the Train” Hancock, got up on the stage and sang lonesome with them himself.  And yes, by singing lonesome, I do mean that he covered Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” with The Cowbelleros backing him.  I’m always eager to see new artists interpret that song, but really, how do you do better than Wayne himself, the Viper of Melody, singing that song? 

Leroy Virgil and the Loaded Dice absolutely killed.  It was the second time that I had seen Leroy with this band set-up in a weekend’s time.  I caught his wife’s birthday party on Friday, and really enjoyed what I heard from him, Frank (doghouse), Rex (steel), and Katie (fiddle) at Shea’s, so I was excited to see what they had in store for Sunday night.  They didn’t disappoint.  They played a mix of covers, Hellbound Glory songs, and some originals.  I hope Leroy gets his side project into the studio soon.  They sound really good together.  (Watch out for “Black Mass” if he can get them to record it.  It will haunt.)

Finally that night, of course, was a two-hour set by Wayne and his band.  Two hours after two opening acts on a Sunday night?  Yeah, and they killed.  Again, I put this show right up there with the John Doe and the Sadies/Richmond Fontaine show we did in 2009 as one of the best musical experiences of my lifetime.  And who can beat $10 for 4.5 hours of music by three talented acts?  Hopefully we can as we plan the rest of this year’s music schedule.