Pre- Braun Brothers Reunion Gathering

With the recent success of this lil Reunion up Challis way, flocks of fans have contributed some changes...Like moving from the venue from Stanley to the Challis ( what a mistake for Stanley) Golf Course. Unfortunately last year some idiot drunkard heaved a beer bottle at the guitar player in the Randy Rogers Band during the Street Dance...and that quickly put an end to that. To the guitarist's credit, they could have pulled their boots up and headed out town but they decided to keep playing...the guitarist needed stitches but he was going to wait til he got the next town/gig ( awesome in my book). The liability issues became apparent and financially unrealistic. While Muzzie Braun thinks we should have pulled some outlaw justice and pulled the bottle chucker down to the gully near the side of the road, the reality of the situation has since changed the Reunion. No more street dance, and probably the biggest change is the lack of the cooler pass.

Years past, you could pay $20-25 bucks and you can bring in a big ass cooler of whatever liquid/food you want. The concoctions of liquor that I have seen guzzled during a show is amazing and somewhat scary. Pacing yourself does not play out in Challis at a Reunion show. That being said, the cooler pass is no more and reality has set up in due to these liability issues. One positive change that has been recognized is the honeybucket sanitary issues however. This was/has been an issue in the last few years, and so much so, that some shirts have been made up supporting the need for more honeybuckets/portapotties....

The reason I bring up these changes, is while I believe change is good, the changes at the Braun Bros Reunion has hindered me from attending this year. The street dance was an epic adventure and the epicenter of a lot of interesting memory making incidents. The Friday night acoustic shows were exciting, but everything lead up to Saturday. The all day Saturday show would feature the lesser know Texas Red Dirt acts, followed by the namesake, Muzzie Braun, and his brothers pulling those old guitars. Eventually Muzzie would let his boys take over, and one set of boys would front Reckless Kelly and another set would lead Mickey and the Motorcars. Occasionally in years past, some big time Alt-Country stars would make their way through the mountains, including Robert Earl Keen.

One big change this year, that I mentioned is the lack of the street dance. They will ignite the festivities at the normal Challis Community Stage near the golf course tomorrow night. Mickey and the Motorcars ( MMC) will kick start/headline with 3 other supporting acts. One of them is Ray Wylie Hubbard who just so happens to be playing at Alive after 5 in Boise tonight for free.* The bad news is MMC will be departing due to scheduling issues right after the show. Well, there in lies the rub.....I love when on Saturday night, MMC and RK would jon there Dad on stage to close down the Reunion in the old days, but this year will be different. More change, right? Now according to the flyer on the Braun Brothers Reunion, MMC is playing Thurs, parting ways and letting Cross Canadian Ragweed takeover on Friday night. Not so fast my friends, when looking on MMC's tour dates, it states that the MMC will be up in Challis all weekend long. So who knows.....change, change, change. One thing that caught my eye is the special guest that is suppose to grace our presence on Saturday night. Rumors of Willie Nelson stopping by, since his daughter, Paula Nelson, is playing in Challis on Saturday. Only problem is that Willie is on tour in Lubbock that night. As for my guess as to who the special guests is.....I will venture Hank Williams III, but that is just a unrealistic shot in the dark...I have no stinking idea. Maybe Shooter Jennings...since he is playing in Boise on Friday night at the Warped Tour of all places! The only problem is that he is supposed to be in Utah on Saturday night.....I just hope the special guest is not MMC, since I am not making the 4 hour plus drive this weekend. For all I know

*Finally, and the main reason why I brought this Reunion up, is that a few of the acts are playing tonight in lil ol' Boise. Ray Wylie Hubbard kicks off Alive after 5....free venue where local Boiseans will probably enjoy the hot hot hot sun and beer/food more than this style of Outlaw Country. RWH then heads off to Challis, where he will be playing at the Reunion on Thursday night- but would not be surprised if he shows up at the Knitting Factory before heading out of town. The night picks up with three good bands at the local Knitting Factory, with the Randy Rogers Band ( no truth to the rumor that the guitarist will be sporting a helmet), CCR and MMC. To my friends who are not headed to the Reunion, you should attend this lil gig with friends and meet future ex-wives.....If you are headed up to the reunion, enjoy tonight's lil flavor in your ear before you take that 4 hour plus drive up the mountain.

** Avoid the hailstones this year

Sorry For Partying 7.05.08 at Tamarack in Donnelly, Idaho

click on the photo to enlarge the view

After whining and moping ( sic) around the house, I got the hall pass to the gig after all. I would have preferred if my wife would have went with me, but its just not her scene.......we have different perceptions of fun- her words, not mine.



So I went solo and met up with various relatives and about 2,000 of my closest friends. Some might compare this gig/venue/ atmosphere to the Braun Brothers Reunion in Challis, Idaho. I would say this version of the SFP tour/venue/gig was a mini- me version but suitable overall.

Some positives- the scenery is much more beautiful as the stage/seating area was surrounded by trees ( minus the eyesore know as the half built and bankrupt lodging accommodations of Tamarack Ski resort, just to the right of the stage.) The Tamarack staff were hospitable, and while the security guards had a job to do, they were not overpowering. The ones with attitude were from Boise, since the gig was being hosted by the Knitting Factory, formerly the Big Easy in Boise. There were less people and parking overall but everything worked out, and the drive from Boise was 2 hours vs the 4 hours to Challis. Another and quite possible the best factor of the weekend was the weather, where it might have been in the low 70's in the afternoon and by the time the gig was over at 1030pm, it might have been in the upper 50's

next clip is a lil in and out of focus....



The negatives- first and foremost, where was Muzzie?

Next,the lack of lawn chairs over 18 inches and the lack of bringing in your cooler full of whatever refreshment you would like. The Braun Brothers gig has made the Reckless and Motorcars fans very spoiled. Met up with my cousin who is 8 months prego and they would not let her have a chair over 18 inches tall, and while her Dad was upset about it, my cousin did survive.


Another negative that hopefully could be averted in the future was the lack of leaving to go and get a sweatshirt from the car or put away your sunglasses after dark. There was no readmittance after 5pm, and that did not sit well with me. Of course the real reason is to continue to partake in the consumption of barley hops.

( below, the view from the HoneyBucket line)

The bathrooms/honeybuckets were deplorable, as the case with the Braun Brothers gig last year. Expect a t-shirt to be sold at the BBR with a mention of last years portapotties ordeal.

I am sure some other thoughts will be added, for better or worse, but after sleeping up on Tamarack mountain on some U.S. Forest Land, I am off my game as we speak. Had to battle the mosquito's while trying to sleep and they reminded me of the flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz.

As for the music, it went okay. RK played a couple new ones mixed with the usual standard stuff. Mickey appeared to have fun but since they had to cut the gig by 1030pm at the latest, it might have been a rushed set but the $5 beers might have been kicking in.



The sound was another issue, where you could not hear it from 10 feet away ( in the mosh pit, where I did see a kid or youngster crowd surfing at the end of the RK set). The best sound was about 50 to 75 feet back, where I positioned the old camera. Had to upgrade ( extra $5) to sit in the up close AKA the hard partying section, where if you wanted to dance next to the stage, you had to pay the extra $5 upgrade and I am sure this was a money making idea that the bands had no say in. Which lead Willie Braun leading a revolution halfway through the set when he wonndered out loud, " What is up with the barrier. Its like the Berlin Wall. Tear it down. Tear it down. Everyone from up top, come on down." At first, I was pissed that I had to pay $5 to sit so close and have the up close hard partying access but maybe this was Willie's slight dig at the management who put up the barrier ( which was just a white rope) in the first place. The barrier did not last 1 minute. The dance floor/ area in front of the stage became crowded with overserved and sunbaked concert attendees. At that time, it was actually pretty sweet. Willie turned out to be brilliant.



Wish RK would scrap the encore song, Revolution, but at least they ended with a staple " Crazy Eddies Last Hurrah". Personal favorite/ highlight was Wild Western Windblown Band.

Here is one clip of Mickey and the Motorcars, early on their set


Setlist provided by Club Millican


RAGGED
GUY LIKE ME
WHISKY
I STILL
WILD WEST
ERIE
VINCENT
NOBODYS
VANCOUVER
LOVE IN HER EYES
BREAK MY HEART
BABYS
CALIFORNIA
STICK
AM BLOOD
HAY SAY (SI)
LORETTA
CASTANETS
encore
REV
CRAZY

Now for the funny or maybe juvenile. I was down for the encore and while 3/5 of RK enjoyed the encore behind a black screen barrier, I placed my camera back there and took a quick snapshot and well, got a lil too close for comfort. The drummer who will remain nameless was relieving himself while the others just laughed and continue their liquid refreshments. Timing is everything!

Clumsy Lovers ( from Canada) enjoyed and play heartily, a few hours before the headliners

Willie and Cody enjoy the Clumsy LoversScott Miller plays on this stage over here ( side stage that he kept mentioning). I am sure he is used to the abuse since he is from West Virginia.Mickey and the Motorcars on stage before the shade took over

Reckless takes the stage

Encore time for the lead guitarist

During Revolution

Willie did holler out loud that they want to make this a new tradition every year.

See ya in Challis

Sorry for Partying- Tamarack, Idaho-style

Celebrate the new album by Reckless Kelly ( Mickey & the Motorcars, Clumsy Lovers) with a lil get together in lovely Donnelly, Idaho on July 5.

Here are the ground rules:

Show at Tamarack Pavilion. All shows are general admission. Events will take place rain or shine. Doors open approximately 1 hour before show time. Parking is free. Beer, wine, and food available on site - cash only. PERMITTED ITEMS:Low-back chairs (seats may be no more than 5 inches off the ground), Blankets, A small picnic basket and/or cooler,Sealed non-alcoholic beverages PROHIBITED ITEMS:Outside alcohol, Unsealed beverages/open containers,Weapons, Fireworks, High-back chairs

While not the same as the Braun Brothers gig in Challis, this is quite cool since it is closer to the Boise area.

If anyone is going and wants to share/donate/volunteer some pics/memories/videos, please send them statueleft@hotmail.com

What to do until football starts......

To get through the Ides of March.....here is some upcoming tour dates

Jack Johnson looking at the Gorge on August 22

Jimmy Buffett recommending Alpine Valley this year. Last year, I visited friends at saw him at Tinley Park outside of Chicago ( as well as catching a Cubs game). Still recovering.....

Donavon Frankenreiter... need proof

Dave Matthews Band.....I prefer seeing Dave with Jack at the Kokua Festival but.....

Reckless Kelly Must see up in Challis, should be early August

Mickey and the Motorcars

Flogging Molly Coachella, anyone?

G. Love and Special Sauce can't beat seeing G. in the Bahamas.....


Metallica for the overseas folks

Foo Fighters maybe after the trip over to the Orient, will be able to travel to see them in the northwest

Micky and the Motorcars played the Big Sleazy

in Boise last night, St. Patties Day.
Mickey thanked the crowd for showing up on a Monday.
There were chants for "M-U-Z-Z-I-E" ....and just one drunken fight on the floor in front of the band. Not a bad night, besides our driver getting sick....but we made it home. ERIN GO BRAGH

Recovering from Challis

The Father of the Reunion, Mr. Muzzie Braun. Thank You!


Braun Boys

cheap seats

Enjoyed the heck out of the gig up in the mountains over the weekend. The crowd was fun and ever expanding. The bands were genuinely into it and caught a clip of Robert Earl Keen, and several Mickey & the Motorcars songs.....

Video clips include
Lawyers Guns & Money
&
Where I left you
&
Somebody
&
Carolina Morning
&
Lost Found


Cross Canadian Ragweed also performed, video unavailable

Apologies for the quality of the video clips, as my digital camera does not have a mute button for booze-infused fans ( mine included), random shots of women who sat down in front of the omnipresent camera ( one was hot and the other one,,,,,not so much) or the ever blowing wind. That being said, I am sure some will get a kick out of the footage and maybe some these bands' fanatics will make the voyage up next summer around August 17 2008.

Robert Earl Keen mentioned this weird dude with a Macaw on his arm....dating is rough in Challis. Here is the encore song

Plus 2 puzzling video clips of this burnout from Humboldt County, Cali.
1

&
2

Reckless Kelly hits the stage

Below- A local Patron enjoying the festivities & I see where his son, Smitty, acquired game/flow from....
Top- Smitty's Dad catnapping
Middle-Smitty's Dad dancing with Mrs. Smitty
Bottom- Smitty getting to know his fellow Idahoan...

On the way home...view of the Sawtooth Mountains from Stanley