If you’ve been a long-time reader on Buzzard’s Beat this post will make perfect sense and not surprise you in the least. My love of witty, meaningful lyrics, mellow harmonies and true musical talent (not T-Swift or Luke Bryan) comes up in blog posts a lot.
I constantly tell my friends and family I was born in the wrong decade. I think I should have been a late 60’s early -70’s baby. That’s when real music was happening. I am positive I am not the only person who feels this way – many of my friends are also classic country junkies, although not many (only one that I can think of) adore classic rock as much as I do. Although I do enjoy Texas country and some current mainstream country, (think Eric Church, Eli Young Band, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum) my heart lies with the classics. For example, I cannot count the miles I traveled on the way to rodeos with this guy’s tunes blaring out of the truck speakers:
George Jones passed away a little over a week ago and I’m still struggling with being mopey about it. I feel like a part of my soul has been taken from me. The generation of artists that Jones represents still believed in real lyrical genius, harmony and not caving to radio pressure *I’m looking at you Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Dustin Lynch (seriously, She Cranks My Tractor????) and Kip Moore – tsk tsk*
The passing of George really opened my eyes to the fact that a generation of musicians who were the soundtrack to my childhood, adolescence and adult life are not only fading away from the spotlight but are also passing on to the next life. It’s depressing and makes me want to rewind my life – I’m nostalgic. I can’t help it. I have watched the video of Vince Gill and Patty Loveless singing “Go Rest High on That Mountain” at The Possum’s funeral more times than I care to count and I think the only time we’ve ever seen Alan Jackson remove his hat while singing was during his rendition of “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” The entire situation is heartwrenching.
So, one of my new goals in life is to see the following artists on tour before contemporary radio chokes them out of society and they’re forgotten forever by the enthusiastic audience of Top 40 country.
In no particular order of preference:
— The Eagles – Oct. 2013
— Bob Seger
— Garth Brooks
— Journey – July 2014
— Merle Haggard
— George Strait – January 2014
— Sammy Kershaw
— Steve Miller Band – July 2014
— Lynyrd Skynyrd
— Doug Stone
— Willie Nelson
— Reba McEntire
— Kansas – September 2013, August 2014
— Vince Gill
— Billy Joel
— Boston – August 2014
Had I written this list a few months ago (that’s how long I’ve had this blog post on the brain), I would have had George Jones’ name on it – I’m even more saddened by the fact I was going to get to see him at the Ohio State Fair in August this year.
What are your favorite bands? Have I forgotten to put someone important on the list? I’m sure I’ll add names to it – my lists tend to grow over time.
Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~
