I am a music man, meaning I like all genres of music from 50s to the present. Wow, that covers a few years and a whole lot of music. Growing up in the Bible belt, enjoying southern gospel and being raised in a Bible believing church did not come without conflict of my choices. It seemed my folks thought the music should have ended in the late 60s: Elvis, Johnny Cash, Merle, Conway, George, Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell even with the long hair the Beatles seemed fine at first. But then the 60s music world was getting more explosive in the music culture, I recall listening to a personal size transistor radio of news broadcast reports carried for the three days (Aug 15-17, 1969) of Woodstock. The world witness a domestic revolution for hatred of war, the need for peace and love, it was the defining moment in history to see change: life style choices, drug use, rebellion and party life of “free love” that seem to push song writing and the recording volume to new levels, later in the next decade and decades to come giving way to new genres such as Disco, Rap, Metal, Punk, etc. It was no longer the choices of Christian Gospel, Rock or Country genres.
The political and social environment once focused on the US national stage was push to world issues with increase as so much resistance as even today. The political and social unrest carved out singers/song writers with much material to work with. I think the biggest flap for my parents was for me taking earn monies and tips (from sacking groceries at the Red Food Store, waiting tables to pumping gas) and converting it into purchases of growing rock music community most marketing there music with creative artistic covers for album jackets holding the vinyl records.
I was resistant when the vinyl began giving way to the magnetic tape of eight tracks, cassettes and later CDs. The album art work seems to have gotten less creative and condensed packaging wise. Today, with the digital and direct down load, the artist art covers are almost non–existing. Until it occurs that this younger generation still wants to see putting a face on the songs when it’s packaged to the music people. Should the independent singers/song writers afford to press enough vinyl a trend could be reversed. When is the last time you looked online to purchase a “record” player? Sometimes we make the best find at garage sales or pickers markets.
This to me was an exciting event on several fronts. Chattanooga OnStage converted to a Country Club of sorts, well even for a Thursday night the large number of enthused fans came out to support one of Chattanooga’s local bands Strung Like A Horse (SLAH) and a true legend of country music Travis Tritt. As I usually do, I arrive early to get my briefing from Chattanooga OnStage management and security concerning the instructions for the access areas for the event. I was able to spend some time with my friends with Strung Like A Horse who were not just opening tonight for Travis Tritt but will open more shows during Travis’s tour dates in the south.
Strung Like A Horse hooked up their carriage about five years ago. They just recently completed tour with Jasper GA native and Chattanooga’s adopted son Corey Smith.
Strung Like A Horse (SLAH), a local successful band with so much creativity and originality in music and showmanship is phenomenal. Taking a few minutes as they become stage ready, we always try to get a group photo; today it was back stage of the historic Tivoli Theatre. Band members include Clay Maselle, lead vocal, guitar, BJ Hightower, stand up Bass, vocals, Mark Fiddle, yep bearing down on pickin and pluckin with the crowd, Ben Crawford, banjo picking and Eric Crisp multi-trashing the drums and a few more homemade clangers. The group is occasionally joined by the beautiful gypsy dancer Lacy Jo of Zanzibar Studio.
The group announced the future release of a new project “FREE” to be released soon. When I asked what was the hold up, Clay quickly said we want this to be a very unique release. The songs are canned, (which means selected, mixed and ready) but the artwork is not quite ready. That got my attention; he said the art work for the bi-fold or duplex album cover as in vinyl record album. The vinyl press will be limited so those still into Album Art Covers and inside cover art this will be a keeper.
Their song set included all original written material by various members of the band: Storm Of You and Free are new songs to be released on the new Album/CD. The songs Opus Zero, Gypsy Jane. A Beatles cover Eleanor Rigby and Horizontal competed the set. A tour schedule for Strung Like A Horse may be found at Strung Like A Horse on Facebook social media or SLAH on the world wide web.
Riding in on Strung Like a Horse, Travis Tritt, not just considered by most but truly is a legend country music open the Country Club and giving out quarters for those who care. The country grass roots of SLAH, open the doors for Travis in a unique way at the historic Tivoli Theatre.
Travis just defines how good country music really was, and almost pleasing audience perhaps still enforces the love of it. Travis birthed his brand on country music in 1989, with first record label Warner Bros. Records. He holds two Grammys, four CMA awards and member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1992. Travis was flawless in his performance. His 21 song set was mostly his the favorites the fans wanted to hear.
The photos just don’t quite tell you how much energy, excitement the audience consumed. Travis hit many of his top songs and well as several from his new CD project The Calm After now released on iTunes. They included Drive, High Time For Getting Down, Be Somebody, Whiskey Ain’t Workin, Corn Ten Foot Tall, Take It Easy, Tell Me Was Dreaming, (the following three song played acoustic set) Drift Off to Dream, Country State, Anymore and 10 more songs.
Travis Tritt’s Band Members included Wendell Cox, lead guitar, Jared Decker, keyboard, LeJoe Young, drums, Brian Arrowwood, fiddle, Arlo Gilliam, base guitar and Mike Daly- steer guitar,
Travis took a seat in his customized leather chair and rested his six strings to his knee to set up the acoustic songs, which was Robert Streets' signal to move out of his seat with girlfriend Laura Hicks and move to the front of the stage. It is usually the last couple of songs before the audience may approach the stage front. Robert and I attended an event at Barking Legs Theatre when John Cowan and his band performed. Robert mentioned to me privately about attending the Travis concert and inquired if I would be assigned to SLAH/Tritt show. Then there was our friend, very gifted/talented musician from the Chattanooga area with the inside favor, Arlo Gilliam, a guitarist also on stage touring with Travis for several years. Robert reached out to Arlo to give him the heads up of the pending proposal. Arlo and Robert have been friends with in the local music scene for years. It was all premediated, except Robert didn’t know the song list or the song Travis would sing, except it would be acoustically performed. Robert proposed to Laura as the pictures illustrate. It was exciting to be part of such an epic moment in two people’s lives, and she said yes. Robert was as overwhelmed as was Travis singing this very fitting song.
Here is a Drift Off To Dream video compilation by Travis Tritt Fan published on YouTube. It was a powerful and moving love song as Travis witnessed this event as he was passionately singing.
Check out Travis's tour schedule on social media Travis on Facebook or the web at Travis Tritt
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Mark A Herndon, certified professional geologist and professional photographer grew up in Chattanooga area, graduated from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. He is the Entertainment and Chattanooga cityscape/event photographer affiliated with Chattanoogan.com and contributor to magazines, venues and various festivals including Riverbend Festival, Southern Brewery Festival, Roof Top Hop, Road To Nightfall, Nightfall Music Series, Wine Over Water and other events.
Email at; MAHerndon@ChattanoogaLiveMusic.com