Folk Alliance Conference 2004 (continued)

The Lee Boys, a sacred steel group from FL, were the real deal. Some mighty big fellas with a very wide groove, and entertaining singers who danced their ass off. They're going to get a lot more famous this next year or two.

I saw a very good set by Ray Bonneville at the Fox Run Concerts Room, that cat can really lay it down. Caught some songs by Jim Photoglo and Chuck Pyle at the very end that were a great sendoff. And an early morning conversation with Troy Campbell on Saturday at Starbucks was particularly enjoyable.

The Waybacks kicked ass everywhere they showed up, and are very funny dudes (see our review of their CD in this issue). Dan Bern floored me at Ronda Barton's Songwriter Showcase. He had a song about a dream in which all these weird people joined the Beatles, really good stuff. Tom Kimmel also played a characteristically strong set at Ronda's room. Two of my favorite shows there were Darden Smith and Jim Lauderdale. And I played a showcase with my friends Arthur Godfrey and Phil Roy, two excellent artists.     continue