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TUSKAHOMA 2000...Where the wind blows hot on the plains....
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Gay, Nick, Arigon, Janet and their Tulsa-based pal Curtis packed up the band rental van with ice, snacks and eclectic music and headed south from their gigs in Tahlequah and Tulsa. The day before had been a big THRILL as some of the BR5-49 boys (Jay, Chuck, Shaw and Cowboy Keith) had attended the gig at Borders in Tulsa.
Here's a brief, eyewitness account from someone who was there:
Hi Gay,
First of all, just want to say that you guys put on a real good show. I got the scoop that you guys were playing Borders from my weekly Tulsa Weekend email and remembered that you were really into BR5-49. I think I saw a link to your website from BR's site or something. Me and my girlfriend are regulars at Borders on Friday nights, so when I told her we were gonna see you and how big a fan of BR you were it jolted her memory that she had seen the BR/Jack Daniels bus downtown in front of the Ramada on her way home. So I kinda thought that they'd show up there.
I know ya don't remember, but I think you guys sat in front of us at the last Cains show on Dec 29, 1999, don't you have a little "lunchbox" purse with BR5-49 on it and a jacket with a big BR5-49 patch on the back? Scary how I remember things like that, but I do.
Guess I'll sign off for now and I guess I'll probably see ya at the next BR show at the Cains. Here's my address so ya can add me to the mailing list.
Thanks,
Bobby Myers
Okay, here's the sad part. NOBODY TOOK ANY PICTURES!!! Can you BELIEVE it? Gay & Arigon's Mom and Dad, plus assorted cousins and their Aunt Susie were also there to take in the scene. Even a few students in Dr. Paula Conlon's Native Music History class at the University of Oklahoma came to see the show, plus get class credit for doing it!
I can tell you, there was much screaming in the Van as the band left Borders to pick up band manager Janet Miner.
ONTO TUSKAHOMA
After several twists and turns on some very winding backroads (you should have seen Curtis' topographical maps of Oklahoma!) -- the group made it to Tuskahoma. Stepping out the air conditioned van was a shock to the system. Ever stepped into a Pizza oven? Perhaps made a side trip to Death Valley? Well....it was THAT hot. Try 110 degrees worth of heat. Ay Carumba!
Here are some of our holiday snaps -- hope you enjoy them!
Choctaw Nation Fair -- Tuskahoma, Oklahoma -- June 25, 2000
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Show headliner was Loretta Lynn.
We arrived in time to see Janie Fricke.
How they did their show in the heat remains
a mystery!
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Crazed from the heat, Arigon, Janet and
Nick amused themselves by doing their best "Dottie West
meets Loretta Lynn in 1975" impressions.
Told you it was HOT!
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Gay amused herself by pretending
to be Mark the Merchandise guy. A young fan from the crowd had
earlier asked her..."Are you with the band?"
Mark -- don't get any ideas about
hiring an assistant, now!
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"Shaw....Shaw Wilson!"
yelled Arigon.
Then she took this picture!
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The band was introduced
by Choctaw Chairman Gregory Pyle....and then they came out and
rocked the crowd.
Most folks seemed unfamiliar with
BR5-49...and most had little energy to even nod along with the
music. Despite the heat, the BRs carried on a gave the audience
their usual 110 percent of effort. Note -- The HATS are back!
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As the Great Seal of the
Choctaw Nation dominates the background, Chuck plays "Cherokee
Boogie!"
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The hats are gone after
"I Ain't Never." Thunder, what's wrong with you?
"It's 110 Degrees....and
I ain't never!"
[Note that the burly Choctaw
Tribal Policeman has been cropped from these pictures. He was
keeping folks from rushing the stage. Like, that was a danger!]
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"I don't care too much for money,
cos' money cain't buy me air conditioning....."
Chuck tells the rather conservative crowd
about a hippie dude who breaks down in redneck town.
Can you guess what song that is? No, it's
not "Convoy!"
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Gary eyes the Tip Jar. It was filled sporadically
by very sweaty audience members.
Wonder who got the "chain" dollar?
(Pass this dollar onto someone quick and they will be granted
three wishes by a very small Irishman, blah, blah, blah)
HAHAHAHAHA!
I hope they passed it on to the guy who
shakes up the Dr. Pepper's at the Flying J Truck Stop in Winslow,
Arizona.
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Smilin' Jay made the most of the heat
by putting on some cool shades.
He head-banged and thrashed throughout
the set.
Do you suppose he was hiding his supply
of Gatorade behind the bass fiddle?
Hmmm.....
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Some SMALL pictures....
Gay brought along her I-Zone Polaroid
and had fun snapping pix before and after the gig.
The photo at the right is ACTUAL size....so
give the webmistress a BIG hand for making these available for
you!
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An I-Zone Photograph
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Raindrops Keep Falling On My head
-- Dateline Tuskahoma, OK.
Hollywood's Robert Redford makes
a rare appearance with his sidekicks BR5-49. Redford greeted
the crowd with handshakes and autographs. He later stuck a Sharpie
up his nose and attempted to make a film about the Choctaw Nation.
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Donnie has the RIGHT idea and the RIGHT
wardrobe for such a sizzling day.
He had lots of fun meeting the fans and
yakking with Gay and Co. after the show.
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AWWW Shucks!
Gary shows off a spiffy brown hat with
snazzy hat band.
Is that a bolo tie he's wearing!?
The Fashion Police issued a "Snappy
Dresser" award to Mr. Bennett.
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Smiling Jay is a poster boy for the I-Zone
Camera.
He later returned the favor by adding
Gay, Nick and Janet to his "Fan Reel."
Just you wait, Jay! We'll get a video
camera and do a whole "Behind The Music" about you!
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Shaw Wilson is the Sir Laurence
Olivier of the Hillbilly Set!
I wonder if he dreamt of Mandalay
last night?
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What Becomes A Legend
Most...
"I love the smell of Sharpies in
the morning," quipped Mr. Mead.
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More candidates for the "Perfect
I-Zone" photo contest.
Doesn't it look like they're having the
time of their lives?
Never let them see you sweat!!!
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 L-R: Nicholas Peters, Janet Miner,
Curtis Beckwith and Arigon Starr
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Janet models the NEWEST BR5-49 cap, while
Arigon reprises her Dottie West grin.
Arigon actually looks like Eric Idle doing
his cheesy British TV interviewer.
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Here's Something Special For You!
The Latest Edition of Nashville's New
Magazine for Teens...
COUNTRY TEEN!
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Click on the Magazine For A Larger
Image...You Won't Be Sorry!
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Truly one of the hardest working bands around -- here are BR5-49 hard at work after their sweltering set in Tuskahoma, Oklahoma. It was during the Choctaw Nation Fair...and it was about 110 degrees with 98% humidity. Yuck! |
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You can kinda tell how hot it was that day judging from the sweat on Shaw's back. Yet...they kept signing for folks and were really sweet to all who came up after the show to say hello!
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| Both Nick and Gay patiently waited in line to get their "Phone Records" autographed. Nick is a passionate vinyl collector - he even makes sure he gets the "new" Beatle-related releases on vinyl as well as CD. |
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| Crowds LOVE BR5-49! It's just a matter of time before they are on top of the charts. It sure is fun to watch you work, y'all! |
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©2000-2004 Wacky Productions Unlimited. All Rights Reserved.
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