Stick your neck out...both of 'em

If you haven't heard of Junior Brown, I doubt you'll read this post. Anyhow, he is a traditional style country music singer/guitarist. He is mainly known for his deep voice and his weird looking guitar. As the story was told, he said that he had a dream one night about a guitar that had a two necks. And if you do not know what a guitar neck is...please stop and read no more.

The top neck was a regular full scale neck and the bottom neck was a 6 string steel guitar neck. After consulting with Fender, his dreams became a reality and the novelty began. In 1993, he began his career by releasing 2 albums at the same time. This unusual release has been his best work to date. Since the dual release, he has put out a few more albums and narrated the 2005 Dukes of Hazzard motion picture release.

Well, last night my band had the opportunity to play with him. Over the years I've seen him numerous times and my thoughts on his performances have been a mixed bag (just as the album Mixed Bag). I first saw him in the early 90's and he was great. He had a 4 piece band that included his wife playing acoustic guitar. The second time I saw him it was great. He had a different band with Buddy Miles playing drums and his wife playing acoustic. However, he and his wife argued outside prior to the encore. The third time I saw him it was only a 3 piece and a completely different band and no wife and no acoustic guitar. He came in about 30 minutes late and mumbled through the set. I think he wished he was on Coconut Island. That's a Junior Brown joke. I know nobody will get that one.

Last night was a combo of all of those. I did know the bass player, but a new drummer and no acoustic...so a 3 piece. He was fashionably 20 minutes late and sounded great with all the Junior Brown country classics. The highlight of the night for me were two cover tunes he did. One was Ernest Tubb's "Gimme a little old fashion love" and the Ventures' "Apache".




Junior appeals to a cross section of fans ranging from Ernest Tubb fans to Jimi Hendrix fans. He is known to mix in licks from famous guitarists that only a few people can spot leaving the traditionalist crowd just thinking he is a little crazy.

The cons to the show: He played too many meaningless blues songs with too many meaningless blues licks for too long.