Disappointment

Ever had one of those Official Red Rider BB Rifle moments? You know, the ones where you wake up early in the morning expecting that the gift you've been hinting after all year long will be waiting under the tree only when you rush down all you find is the horrible, pink bunny suit? Well, A Christmas Story references aside, we had one of them this past Saturday.

Through the day we'd planned on attending a rockabilly car show and dance in Nashville, IN. The car show was a bonus - something to while away an hour or so before strapping on the old suede soled shoes and working up a sweat. The real goal was a few hours on the hardwood at Mike's Dance Barn. In this part of the country it's hard to find a good, swinging dance where you can unwind to a little Jerry Lee Lewis or the likes. It doesn't seem like it'd be that hard to find rockabilly in Indiana - after all, half the country likes to think of us as hillbillies so you'd figure we'd at least have the appropriate music. However, quality bands and events are too few and too far between. So we were appropriately revved up when Saturday evening arrived and we headed south with visions of flat-hand pushes dancing in our heads.

And we arrived to find the dance hall closed. Well, not permanently closed but closed none the less. Dark and empty in spite of the fact that the fliers said dancing started at four o'clock and it was seven. I quick check revealed (to the best of my ability to translate) that the evening's acts had been cancelled (by who I couldn't decipher) and that there would be no dancing. We had dinner in Nashville and rode home in silence thinking of the dances in Indy we gave up in favor of travelling an hour south to the Dance Barn. It wasn't pretty.

So, Monday comes and here I am putting my disappointment on the web. I think we're swearing off events that seem as loosely organized as this past weekend's fiasco. I'd like to arrive with confidence that even if the bands aren't the best we'll have fun and get out on the dance floor. Unfortunately, it's becoming more and more obvious that there are certain events when you can't be assured that there'll even be a band!

Terry Lee and his Rockaboogie Band

Nashville, Indiana is the kind of place you go to get an herb wreath for your front door, a gingham dress for the goose statue that sits in your garden, and maybe a bottle or two of Brown County or Oliver Winery Riesling. It's a touristy, quaint little burg where city ordinance still forbids businesses from having illuminated signs and in general the streets roll-up sometime around nine o'clock every night. You wouldn't expect to see The Killer - or even someone inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis' piano antics.

Take a bit of a drive south, though and you'll run into a place called Mike's Dance Barn and on the night of June 20th, the band playing that venue was none other than Terry Lee and his Rockaboogie Band. I got the feeling I'd stepped back into the 50's, right into the middle of some smoke-filled honky-tonk. Mike's is a simple place - no fancy lighting or grand façade…just a dance floor, a stage, and a few tables. On stage, Terry Lee is every bit the keg of dynamite as the man he emulates. His piano antics are damn entertaining - and if you can stop watching the flying fingers you'll realize the music is as good as if not better than the original.

Two hours of pounding the hardwood is a tiring thing - but you know, sometimes tired feels so right. If you get a chance to see Terry Lee - do it. I promise you, if you have any rockabilly in your soul you'll be glad you did it.

I'm a Little Bit Country

I love all dance styles. I really do, even the kinds that go backwards like the Foxtrot. Those are not my favorite, but I still enjoy them. I also love all kinds of music, classical, Latin, swing, and dare I admit it, country.

I think part of my country twang as it were originates from when I was in my party bar hoppin' years. At that time there were two paths: disco and country-rock. The disco crowd was, interestingly enough, the dance crowd. But they were also a lot of other things which I will not go into, but it you lived through those years you know what I mean.

The country rock genre and culture were no saints either, but there was (to my way of thinking), a genuine, real, honestness about that crowd. And in my defense, the country we listened to was truly country ROCK...Pure Prairie League, Waylon and Willie, Marshal Tucker, Charlie Daniels. OK, so Waylon and Willie are true country, but hey, they were cool. And still are.

Anyway.

I also love rockabilly, which to my way of thinking is kick ass country, twang on speed. Love, love, LOVE the music, love the culture. If big band swing is cute 40's inspired dress, rockabilly is bad girl (and boy) 50s...guys in James Deanesque garb, women in Betty Page pin up...tight capris and skirts with midriff tops, woohoo. You simply cannot sit still when rockabilly fills the air, and that was the case last night at Mike's Dance Barn in Nashville, In. with the sounds of Terry Lee and his Rockaboogie Band setting the keyboard and the night ON FIRE.

What a band. I am not a critical person, but I do have an appreciation for talent and unfortunately (or fortunately depending) I have perfect pitch. Nothing I developed or am particularly proud of, but I have it. My dad used to trot me out in front of his musical friends, play a note, and say hey Kelly what's that? And I always knew. So. I know when a band is in the groove, and Terry Lee is in the groove. One of the best bands I have ever heard...in my life. Wow. The tunes were hot, he even wrote some of them.

Needless to say, my man and I danced, danced, danced. That was the most fun I've had EVER had out dancing. Too bad Nashville is so far from Indy, but nevertheless, every time Terry Lee is there we are going. What a fun evening. Everyone was enjoying themselves...lots of people dancing, some knew steps, some shakin' and grovin', some listening and clapping, didn't matter. The spell had been cast, no matter the expression.

And somewhere out there Jerry Lee Lewis gave a big nod of approval, I know it.

Rock on.