Take Me Back to Tulsa....AGAIN!

Even though Gay had just got back from the Second Annual Native American Music Awards (The Nammys) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she felt compelled to see BR5-49 in Tulsa again! [The Power of Shaw compels you....The power of SHAW compels you...-- Father Merrin, during his lengthy exorcism of Regan McNeil] Her crafty Sis, Arigon decided to come along....and of course made sure they had plenty of band stuff to do.

Arigon provides the commentary.

Piling into our rental car, with plenty of tunes, Mountain Dew and Red Vines, we plucky gals headed east from San Diego late on a Thursday night. We made it to Flagstaff, Arizona by 4:00 AM.

The Creator was looking out for us all the way. The roads were so clear and dry -- the only thing to look out for were places to get massive amounts of coffee.

There were some *great* programs and tunes on the radio on the way out. Of course, I had to listen to Art Bell during the late night...but once we hit the Arizona/New Mexico border -- it was all about listening to "indin" radio. KTNN-AM (The Voice of the Navajo Nation) was doing a live remote, when suddenly without warning......they played a BR5-49 song. The strains of "Even If It's Wrong" propelled us forward and reinforced the lead-foot, good feeling. Thanks, KTNN! It really set the mood for the trip!

We finally arrived in Tulsa at 5:00 AM...on Saturday. We found a cheap hotel near the airport (Comfort Inn...warm room, breakfast and in-room fridge!) and took a badly needed nap. After getting up later in the afternoon, we decided to do a bit of sight-seeing. Drove around Mohawk Park (a place our grandparents used to take us when we were kids) and went looking for record stores.

Mohawk Music was just the ticket -- they were selling tickets for the Cain's show. We visited quite a few other record stores, including Starship Records and Tapes. That place was a TRiP! One of the rare few stores still selling Bootleg LPs...and what a plethora of collectibles they had. And I thought I had every Queen trinket! Hah!

We had a quick dinner and then headed back to the motel to gussy-up. We missed seeing our previous host, Choctaw Boy aka Mark Abbott. What a tragedy! He had somewhere else to be....and he was greatly missed! After donning our gowns & tiaras (yeah, right-ed.), we headed to Cain's for a night of BR5-49 madness!

We found a nice seat near the front of the stage. Now....there was an opening act of clever fellows....and I'm totally blanking on their name! Good songs, though. Still, I was wished Brian Lee Parton would show up and do more of those cool country versions of Echo & the Bunnyman faves.....During the show, Convoyer Kara found us and I managed to snap a picture of them during the concert!

The only bummer about the boys coming to the stage (like those two thoughts even go together)....was there was a very nice family of gals right in front.....the matriarch of the bunch was wheel-chair bound....and seemed to really enjoy the music. Because we didn't want to block her view -- being an elder, you know -- we didn't do on our usual crowding near the front (Chuck, I missed seeing your boots way up close -- AAAY!)...so we hung back. Still, I couldn't complain. We were there with THEM...and they played real good.

I did wander forward and take a few close-up shots. Now, everyone on the Convoy has been talking about the lack of hats. I must admit I was taken aback. Those hats were cool! The hatless wonders did what they do best -- and they played all of my usual favorites.

Here's Chuck taking the lead on.....<fill in your favorite song here>.

All the usual suspects were in attendance., Chuck with his Gretsch..Jay and the doghouse bass..Shaw keepin' time...Mr. Bennett on rhythm gee-tar and...Don Herron on pedal steel, fiddle and mandolin. Hey, while we're on the subject on Donnie, one of my favorite Donnie stories was about Hillbilly gal who was Hillbilly nuts for Donnie. "Those Hillbilly gals always take a likin' to me. I don't think she had many of her own teeth left! Well, I told that gal I already had a girlfriend. 'What's her name?' she asked. Her name is Amanda.....Amanda Lynn." Get it? A mandolin..." Another good one from Mr. Herron!

We didn't see our pal Doug Hill (from the Norman, Oklahoma paper)...did see a few other NDNs, though. That was good. There was MUCH hillbilly dancing in the large center aisle. Young folks, old folks. It was good to see such a wide age range of people in one place, having fun. The atmosphere in Cain's is full of history....even the yellowed pictures of country legends look like a million bucks! The hardwood floor has probably seen quite a few pairs of boots, Doc Martins, Nikes and high heels over the years!

A good time was had, that's for sure! We headed out to Albuquerque the next morning, where we did a radio call-in show (AIROS' "Native America Calling"),an in-store CD signing at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and a live show at a Sports Bar! EEEK! It was okay -- we had fun with fellow NDN performer Natay and his friends.

Thanks again, BR5-49 for being such nice people and fabulous musicians. Can't wait to see ya'll again!