Vintage Rock – September-October 2019

T

he fifth annual Nashville Boogie

rumbled and rocked its way into

the Music City on 24-26 May 2019.

As with previous “Boogies”, this year’s event

delivered great music, eye-popping fashion

and an unusual mix of bands, reflecting a

uniquely Nashvillian take on music festivals.

The music kicked off on Thursday

evening at the Nashville Palace. Located

directly across the street from the massive

Opryland Hotel complex, the large

1970s-era honky-tonk was packed as the

music ran past midnight. A smaller, front

bar presented various bands, keeping feet

moving on the hardwood honky-tonk floor,

while the main ballroom played host to

great sets from Shanda & The Howlers

and McKinley James. Back-to-back sets

from Tammi Savoy and Chris Casello and

the mighty Planet Rockers highlighted

the evening.

Savoy and Casello’s mix of rockabilly, R&B

and girl group sound wowed the audience

before The Planet Rockers took the stage.

This performance was particularly welcome

with lead singer Sonny George in good form

after overcoming several health issues in

recent years.

FRIDAY’S ACTIVITIES REVVED

up with the opening of the classic car show

in the parking lot behind the Nashville

Palace as well as live music at the Palace,

the adjacent Scoreboard Bar & Grill and

the Presidential Ballroom of the Opryland

Hotel. A brutal heatwave put a slight

damper on the outdoor car show, but

frequent (and air conditioned) shuttle buses

eased travelling between the two locations.

Stand-out Friday performances included

The Vargas Brothers and Hillbilly Casino at

the Scoreboard, and the Gin Palace Jesters,

Rock’n’roll, cars, fashion... The latest Nashville Boogie

was a celebration of all that’s great about mid-century

American music, culture and style

The High Jivers, The Country Side Of

Harmonica Sam and The Cactus Blossoms

at the Nashville Palace. Meanwhile, the

Opryland Hotel played host to smokin’

sets from Nikki Hill, Linda Gail Lewis, Los

Straitjackets, Marcel Bontempi, Bloodshot

Bill, and a very special, farewell appearance

from rockabilly Art Adams, with an

announced retirement due to health issues.

The Ms Nashville Boogie Pin-Up Pageant

attracted an enthusiastic crowd with Aussie

Miss Lulu Devine receiving top honours.

SATURDAY BROUGHT MORE

fuel-injected, psychobilly-flavoured music

at the Scoreboard courtesy of Hellfire

Revival and The Psycho-DeVilles. At the

Nashville Palace, Cherry Rat, Lonesome

Souls, The Moonlight Trio and Bailey Dee

delivered various flavours of rockabilly

and country, while Bloodshot Bill, Marcel

Bontempi and The Country Side Of

Harmonica Sam served up encore sets of

their Friday performances.

At the Opryland Hotel, rockabilly original

Billy Harlan delivered boppin’ hillbilly as

well as Sonny West and Deke Dickerson.

As per the custom for Dickerson’s

Nashville Boogie sets, a variety of guest

stars joined him onstage, including the

ubiquitous Bloodshot Bill and a special

appearance by Harmonica Sam, foregoing

his country side and demonstrating the

origin of his sobriquet with some fantastic

blues harmonica work. Also on tap in the

Presidential Ballroom were Japanese frantic

rockers The Stompin’ Riffraffs, bowling

over the audience with a blistering set, and

The retro car show was a must-see,

despite the punishing heatwave

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WORDS BY RANDY FOX IMAGES BY WILDE CO

Nashville Boogie