Review of Concert by Blue Highway at the Lucy Opry on September 22, 2007

Review of Concert by Blue Highway at the Lucy Opry on September 22, 2007

by Betty Westmoreland

When it is time for the best in bluegrass music, one band comes to mind for the discriminating listener—Blue Highway. The band is now a time-honored tradition in Memphis. The Lucy Opry continues to host Blue Highway each September, just prior to the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass, which is held annually in Nashville, TN, at the Renaissance Center.

Blue Highway came to town on September 22, 2007, filled the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center (BPACC), and completely blew away everybody in the room. The band has been together, without personnel changes, for an astounding thirteen years. That is almost unheard of in bluegrass and in other genres as well. Changes occur all over the place and all the time. Not with Blue Highway! They have it together, it is tight, and it works!

Tim Stafford is a spokesman for the band. He is from Kingsport, TN, but has strong ties to West Tennessee through his sister and brother-in law, who live near Memphis, and who were in attendance at the show. He performs vocally and instrumentally—this year, on his composite acoustic guitar. Tim explained that the substance used to make the guitar is the same substance that is used to make the heat shield tiles on the Space Shuttle. With the high energy this fine artist and songwriter puts out, it might take a heat shield to keep them from burning down the building. Stafford carried the audience along throughout the show with his spot-on imitations of the legendary Ralph Stanley singing “O Death”.

Shawn Lane cannot be counted on to say very much while on stage, but the young man from Cattown, VA, who now lives in South Carolina, is one solid performer on mandolin and fiddle. He, too, is a fine vocalist and songwriter who has written for Blue Highway and for other artists. Lane’s sensitive renditions of the band’s songs indicate just what a fine performer he is.

Wayne Taylor is another spokesman for Blue Highway and he is somewhat of a cut-up on stage, as he shares little stories of the adventures the band has had during their thirteen years together. Wayne is from Abingdon, VA, and his vocal and bass work are sublime. He is a singer’s singer! His unusual-looking sort of a “broomstick” bass, providing that perfect beat, only adds to the charm and warmth the band puts forth.

Jason Burleson is the one band member who left Blue Highway for a brief time but then returned. Solid and clean on his banjo, Burleson says even less onstage than does Shawn Lane. His banjo does the talking, as is true of most superb performers. From Newland, NC, in Avery County, Burleson is part of that fine crop of North Carolina banjo players. There must be something about the air, or water, or the soil in that part of the country—so many fine banjo players seem to come out of those hills.

Rob Ickes now calls Franklin, TN, home, but he is originally from San Francisco, CA, which Wayne Taylor grins and calls “the home of bluegrass music.” He is teasing; however, the gigantic Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival which is held annually at Golden Gate Park, may have helped that area to become a “second home of bluegrass music”. Master of the Dobro ® or resophonic guitar by any measure, this humble young man takes it all in stride. He just does what he does, and he is one of the top performers anywhere in the world. He would never tell you that. Ickes brought his wife and daughter to the show—a good opportunity for them to watch Dad work.

Set 1

1. Marbletown (written by Mark Knopfler, from the CD of the same name), 2. Three-fingered Jack (written by Jason Burleson and Shawn Lane), 3. Lonesome Pine (featured Wayne Taylor), 4. Born with a Hammer in My Hand (written by Tim Stafford), 5. Someday (a cappella gospel from CD, Midnight Storm, written by Olive Stockton and Tim Stafford—Tim’s wife’s aunt wrote it for her own eulogy), 6. Monrobro (instrumental written by Rob Ickes and Aubrey Haynie, featured Shawn Lane and Rob Ickes), 7. I Used to Love Parades (written by Tim Stafford, featured Wayne Taylor), 8. Tears Fell on Missouri (written by Shawn Lane, from CD Marbletown), 9. Find Me Out on a Mountain Top (from CD Midnight Storm), 10. Lonesome Road Blues (from the Huber Banjo CD, written by Henry Whittier but often attributed to Woody Guthrie), 11. Wondrous Love (traditional, arranged by Blue Highway, Sacred Harp song using shape-note singing, each member coming separately into the vocals), and 12. Nothing but a Whippoorwill (written by Tim Stafford and Steve Gulley)

Set 2

1. I’d Rather Be a Lonesome Pine, 2. Midnight Storm, 3. Clinch Mountain Backstep (instrumental, featured Jason Burleson), 4. Seven Sundays in a Row (written by Wayne Taylor, Kim Williams, and Larry Shell), 5. Wild Urge to Ramble, 6. Still Climbing Mountains (written by Tim Stafford and Shawn Lane), 7. The V-Bottom Boat (from upcoming CD, Through the Window of a Train), 8. Cold Harbor (written by Tim Stafford, about a Civil War battlefield in Virginia), 9. Riding the Danville Pike (written by Wayne Taylor), 10. Don’t Come Out of the Hole (mining song, featured Wayne Taylor), 11. The Old Rugged Cross (arranged by and featured Rob Ickes), 12. Little Maggie, Encore: John Henry (traditional instrumental)

Blue Highway continues to be a driving force in bluegrass music. Their subtle approach to their fine qualities is refreshing. The band doesn’t slam the listener or tout their own many accomplishments. Be sure to catch this excellent band and purchase their CDs and instructional materials. Watch for their next CD, Through the Window of a Train.

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