Monday, September 09, 2019

Hillbilly Casino and their crusade to bring REAL AMERICAN MUSIC to the masses


If you aren't familiar with this powder-keg explosive, PBR and Jägermeister-fueled quartet that makes up the loud, fast and truly entertaining band that IS Hillbilly Casino, are you really even allowed to call yourself a fan of modern day Rockabilly music? I mean, seriously. Go look at their website before you read the rest of this, you'll totally thank me later.


See, I told ya, didn't I? OK, if you didn't go look, shame on you. I'll give you ONE more chance to check them out before I continue. Here, look at this fun music video for their song, "Knockin At Your Door."    


Y'all. If you liked that video, even a lil bit, then you MUST get your ass to one of their live shows, like...YESTERDAY...and if you can even manage to find a table by the stage, even better. Their lead vocalist, Nic Roulette, is so high energy that he's even better than an IMAX 3-D movie experience. Hell, experiencing Nic perform in person comes complete with sight, sound, smell AND feel and sometimes, if you're close enough, sweat or beer might even hit ya and you won't give one flying flip cause you will be enjoying the show too much to care. If you even so much as blink, he will fly off that stage straight into your face like a wild banshee on a tear, all wild-eyed and manic lookin, all while somehow making you want to get even closer than you are. He never stops moving. He can go from head bangin' to ballet twirling right before your eyes. Don't believe me? GO TO A SHOW!

SERIOUSLY, right IN your face!

Interesting side note about Nic. Not only does he leave everything he has up on that stage by the end of the night, but he also fills in as a barber at NexGen Barber Shop in Murfreesboro, TN on occasion when he's not touring around the world. Here's their Facebook link for any guys out there wanting that authentic Rockabilly hair (Nic's really good about posting on FB when he will be there): 


Wanna hear some Elvis? They will throw down on "You're So Square". How 'bout some Johnny Cash? They do a highly entertaining version of "One Piece At A Time" that will blow your mind. Charlie Feathers your cup o' tea? Hell yeah. They can even play a Stray Cats song off the new album. Even better than their covers are their originals. High energy, knock your socks off songs shaped from the grit and grind of life on the road, hitting you square upside the head full force, and making you love every note of their music in a way you've never experienced before. Then, juuuust when you think you've heard it all, they hit you with a banjo-licked song called "Violets in May" that is ALWAYS a crowd favorite. There's a video to it, and you get to see Nic do some amazing river dance moves in it, and if you truly are well-versed in your rockabilly band knowledge, you may even spy some other famous faces in it. If you really wanna see it (and you DO, trust me), then go click that band site link above! 

Playing ALL guitar parts and the banjo, as well as vocals, is Ronnie Crutcher. Ronnie, having played with Brian Setzer at one point, is a mastermind behind those guitar strings and banjo finger picking. He has a solo CD out called "Crutchero" that is far different from his gig with HC. He's not afraid to break boundaries in music, and the reward is a cd chock full of amazing music that showcases his talent as a picker, plucker and song writer. Ronnie's solos during a HC live show mean in your face raw guitar pickin' that leaves the crowd cheering for more. It's truly showmanship at it's best. Ronnie is also one hell of a guitar, bass and banjo teacher (and probably other instruments I'm not aware of) of which he offers lessons on the side when he's home from the road. He has no problem teaching via Skype. He's a patient teacher and has a way of explaining both music theory and chord progression in such a way that even the most basic learner will not only grasp what's being taught, but also learn it in a fun and non-stressful way. (I'm pointing every finger back at myself here, as I take lessons from him via Skype.)


Ronnie Crutcher
Now, look. Everything I've said up to this point is all great, BUT. While all this centerstage action is grabbing most everyone's attention, there's a side show going on you need to know about, and it comes via the most intimidating looking, yet nicest fella I've ever met. I'm talking about the giant of a man, bass player and vocalist, Geoff Firebaugh, aka the Vanilla Gorilla. Geoff also wears the tour manager and mechanic hats of the band, and I think once you see Geoff in person, you know why he's the tour manager. I'd use lots of caution in approaching him with anything snarky if you don't know him, as I've heard stories he ain't afraid to stand up to bullies. (But seriously, who WOULDN'T be on their best behavior around him?) Geoff is probably my absolute favorite guy in this bunch (don't tell the other three cause I love 'em all equally, I swear), but I feel a big brother vibe any time I am around Geoff. It took me over a year to finally feel truly accepted by him. It's sorta like a little sister lookin up to a big brother sorta thing. I will say this. If Geoff likes you, you are in like Flynn. If he doesn't, I have a sneaky suspicion there's not a prayer in the world that would change his mind. Geoff stands off to the side in his blue jean overalls, with his trusty white and gold Doghouse Bass at the ready and slyly puts on his own show without missing a beat. Literally. If he sees someone paying attention to him during the show, he can change fingers while playing so that he's flipping them off. You might not even notice if you aren't really looking. I think it's the best and most enjoyable "fuck you" anyone's probably ever experienced. He makes faces and he does little things that are so subtle, yet so hilarious. All this is fueled by Jägermeister being fed to him by Nic throughout the show. When not on the road, Geoff runs a vintage store in Old Hickory, TN, along with his wife (whom I've yet to meet but I can't wait to because anyone that can keep the Vanilla Gorilla in check is a superhero in my book and really needs some sort of award or high honor like a street named after them or something...just sayin...) and it's called Live True Vintage. Here's the link if you wanna check it all out:

I will say this. Listening to this behemoth of a man excitedly talk about finding a blue taffeta dress he found at an estate sale is, well, a lil surreal! He truly loves shopping estate sales to find great pieces for their store and it shows. Go check 'em out next time you're in the Nashville area. (Don't get me, Geoff!  I swear I'll buy something for saying all that! LOLOLOL).
Geoff Firebaugh aka The Vanilla Gorilla
Rounding out the group is the literal heartbeat of the band, Matthew Arnn. "Matty" is dynamite on the drums, and has a legendary "battle jacket" that, if you are lucky enough, he will let you see. Somewhere on my Facebook page, I have a rare photo of him posing in it for me outside Blues City on Beale Street one night in between sets a year or so ago. (I even managed to touch one of the patches, so yeah, I'm cool, yo.) It's a high honor being allowed so close to "the jacket". 😊 His jacket may be legendary, but it doesn't even touch his percussion skills. He sits in the back, knockin out song after song, hair going every which way, all while appearing deep in thought. I like to say he's thinking of his next artistic creation while keeping the beat. That's right, Matthew is an exceptionally talented artist and many other bands call on him to create amazing artwork for their music and shows. He will even take broken cymbals and create pieces of art on them and sell them at HC gigs. They sell like hotcakes. If memory serves me correctly, he's also got a massive VHS tape collection of movies from every genre, and is always on the lookout for those rare movie finds. Want a one of a kind shirt done up? Matthew's your man.
Matthew Arnn
Speaking of band merch, if you haven't already purchased one of their rockin' albums, you can pick up ALL their cds, patches, stickers, trucker hats AND Vinyl albums AT THEIR SHOWS and on their website! They even have band shirts that the crowd willingly throws money at them for WHILE THEY ARE STILL ON STAGE PLAYING A SET. True story...my aunt came with me to a show last year and a guy in the crowd offered her money for her shirt because he had "all the rest of their band shirts but that one" and he said he HAD TO HAVE IT. She wouldn't even consider the offer. The artwork on the shirts is all created by Matthew, and they are GREAT! Definitely collector item level creations.
These are just a couple examples. Definitely check with the band for their latest creations.

I truly love this band, and they had no idea I was doing this write up. From the moment I drunkenly stumbled into Blues City one evening with some friends a couple years ago, brazenly taking over a table front and center and dancing the night away to their every song, to this very moment, they have been nothing but kind and accepting to me, and to all the amazing folks that come out to catch their shows. I think of them as family, and I'm so happy to represent them by playing their music on my radio show over on Speedway Radio. (yep, you know I'm gonna plug myself, too....hell...)


I also know they support all their other band friends in this industry, and that's HUGE. I always say, "there's enough sunshine for everybody" and I love that Hillbilly Casino embodies that truth as well.

And, hey, if you happen to see Chops McClintock out and about, for the love of all that's holy, please tell that man to accept Nic's phone call!






Kimber is the host of the #1 rated digital talk/rockabilly radio show, "Walking In Memphis With Kimber" on Speedway Radio, and shares her love of rockabilly, outlaw and retro country music with her listeners around the world in 119 countries. You can catch her in Memphis, hanging with her cat Waylon, and admiring her two tacky yet amazing Velvet Elvis paintings hanging prominently in her living room.

Kimber.speedwayradio@gmail.com.


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