Hillbilly Casino Memphis

Hillbilly Casino in Memphis,TN The Bandbox Tonight And tomorrow night, shows start at 9:30pm. Unfortunately there are no concert dates for Hillbilly Casino scheduled in 2020. Songkick is the first to know of new tour announcements and concert information, so if your favorite artists are not currently on tour, join Songkick to track Hillbilly Casino and get concert alerts when they play near you, like 1475 other Hillbilly Casino fans. Tickets and RSVP information for Hillbilly Casino’s upcoming concert at Memphis International Rockabilly Festival in Memphis on Nov 27, 2020. Matt Ross-Spang, born in Memphis, Tennessee, began working at the Legendary Sun Studio when he was just 16, working his way from an intern to the Chief Engineer. Wanting to capture what made Sun Studio great, Ross-Spang championed hard to find, install, and use the same period equipment that Sam Phillips engineered with from the 1950s. Hillbilly Casino Returns to Nashville Saturday October 12th.

(Redirected from Don Herron)

Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Genres	Country music, rockabilly, Western swing, alternative country
Years active	1993–2006, 2012–2013
Labels	Arista Nashville, Lucky Dog, Dualtone
Associated acts	Hillbilly Casino
Past members	Gary Bennett Geoff Firebaugh Don Herron 'Smilin' Jay McDowell Chuck Mead Mark Miller Chris Scruggs Jim 'Bones' Becker Mark Ude 'Hawk' Shaw Wilson

BR549 (originally spelled BR5-49) was an American country music band founded in 1993.^[1] It originally consisted of Gary Bennett (lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar), Don Herron (steel guitar, Dobro, fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar), 'Smilin' Jay McDowell (upright bass), Chuck Mead (lead and background vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar), and 'Hawk' Shaw Wilson (drums, background vocals).^[1] Bennett and McDowell left the band in 2001, with Chris Scruggs and Geoff Firebaugh respectively replacing them. Both Firebaugh and Scruggs later left the band as well; Mark Miller has become the band's third bassist. The name of the band is an homage to comedian Junior Samples.

BR549 has released six albums and two EPs, including three albums on Arista Nashville and two on Dualtone Records. The band's self-titled debut album produced three singles on the Billboard country charts in 1996. The band was nominated three times for the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

History[edit]

Before moving to Nashville and forming BR5-49, Chuck Mead played in a band called Homestead Grays, a roots-rock outfit based in his hometown of Lawrence, Kansas.^[1] Gary Bennett, meanwhile fronted an informal band that played at Robert's Western Wear, a clothing store in Nashville, Tennessee, when he met Mead at a nearby bar.^[2] The two then decided to form a band officially, and completing the lineup were electric bassist Jim 'Bones' Becker, then upright bassist 'Smilin' Jay McDowell (formerly of another band called Hellbilly), multi-instrumentalist Don Herron, and drummer 'Hawk' Shaw Wilson. They assumed the name BR5-49 (from the telephone number of a used car dealer in a running Junior Samples comedy sketch on the television series Hee Haw),^[2] and began playing for tips at Robert's before being discovered by Arista Nashville in 1995.

1995-2000: Arista Nashville[edit]

The band's first release for Arista Nashville was an extended play entitled Live at Robert's, which comprised originals and cover songs.^[1] Following it in 1996 was their full-length debut album, also titled BR5-49.^[1] Despite minimal support from country radio,^[2] the album's lead-off single 'Cherokee Boogie' (a cover of a Moon Mullican song) reached No. 44 on the Billboard country singles charts in the US, and No. 21 on the RPM country charts in Canada. Following this song were 'Even If It's Wrong' and 'Little Ramona (Gone Hillbilly Nuts)',^[1] which respectively reached No. 68 and No. 61 in the US. The album itself was a No. 33 on the Top Country Albums chart. The band also toured with The Mavericks, Junior Brown, and The Black Crowes and played on the PBS music program Austin City Limits in 1997.^[3] According to the All Music Guide to Country, BR5-49's recording of 'Honky Tonk Song' on the BR5-49 album should be considered an essential country song, although it does not consider either the album itself, or the group essential.^[4]

BR5-49's second album, Big Backyard Beat Show, was released in 1998.^[1] Despite not producing a chart single, this album reached No. 38 on the Top Country Albums chart. After touring with Brian Setzer, the band issued a live album, Coast to Coast, in 1999 on Arista as well. The band left Arista in 2000 after the label was merged with Sony BMG.

2001-present[edit]

After being dropped from Arista, they signed to Lucky Dog Records, a subsidiary of Epic Records. Their first release for the label, 2001's This Is BR549, also eliminated the hyphen from the band's name.^[2] Its only single, 'Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal', peaked at No. 11 on Country Singles Sales but did not enter the country singles charts proper. After this album, both Bennett and McDowell left the band, with Geoff Firebaugh succeeding McDowell as upright bassist, and Chris Scruggs taking over on guitar and vocals. The new lineup made its first appearance in 2003 on their self released album Temporarily Disconnected. In 2004, they signed with Dualtone Records and released Tangled in the Pines. Scruggs left the band to tour solo in 2005. Firebaugh also left to start his own band, Hillbilly Casino. Mark Miller replaced Firebaugh. A second album for Dualtone, Dog Days, was released in early 2006.

The band is currently on hiatus, with Chuck Mead working solo with Mark Miller playing bass, and Don Herron touring with Bob Dylan. On July 12, 2012, Jay McDowell announced on his personal Facebook page that the original line-up of BR5-49 would open for Old Crow Medicine Show at Woods Amphitheater in Nashville, TN on July 28. On July 27, 2012 the (reunited) original lineup recorded an original Gary Bennett song called 'A Truck Stop Christmas' at the East Nashville Studio of Phil Harris, which was released on the 2012 Christmas compilation An East Nashville Christmas. On May 9, 2013, it was announced that the original lineup would play together live once again, this time at the Havelock Country Jamboree in Canada on August 17, 2013.

Hillbilly Casino Memphis Menu

Musical stylings[edit]

Initially, BR549's sound was influenced by 1950s honky tonk, as well as Western swing, rockabilly and Bakersfield sound.^[2] Steve Huey of AllMusic described their sound and appearance as 'unabashedly retro', as the band's members dressed in 'old, budget-friendly clothes'.^[2]

Status of former members[edit]

Original co-frontman Gary Bennett released his solo debut, Human Condition, in February 2006. In October 2010 Raucous Records released Bennett's follow up album My Ol' Guitar co-produced by Kenny Vaughan and including several BR549 re-recordings. Smilin' Jay McDowell has gone on to work in post production in the music video world. He is now in charge of the video department for the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. He directed a DVD project for Gary Bennett titled Inside and Out. Former bassist Geoff Firebaugh founded a rockabilly band named Hillbilly Casino that are a crowd favorite in downtown Nashville on lower Broadway. Chris Scruggs released a solo album titled Anthem in 2009. As of 2015, he is the bassist and multi-instrumentalist in Marty Stuart’s backing band, The Fabulous Superlatives.

Chuck Mead released Journeyman's Wager in 2009 and toured with his Grassy Knoll Boys in support of the release; this was followed by the classic-country covers album Back at the Quonset Hut in 2012 and Free State Serenade in 2014. In 2006 Chuck began his association with the hit Broadway Musical Million Dollar Quartet beginning in Florida as the Musical Arranger and Musical Director; he has also worked with the cast at The Village Theatre near Seattle, Washington, The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and The Nederlander Theatre on Broadway in New York City. He is currently^[when?] working with the new cast in England as they prepare to open at The Noël Coward Theatre in City of Westminster.

Mark Miller was a founding member of The Ex-Husbands, formed in New York City in 1993 with lead singer Anders Thomsen and drummer Michael Smith. The band released two critically acclaimed albums on Tar Hut Records – a self-titled debut and the follow-up, All Gussied Up. Both made the Gavin Americana top 20 and the latter reached that chart's top 10. Miller released the solo record Dodsen Chapel in 2005.

Original bass picker Jim 'Bones' Becker is now retired and says, 'I'm not doing anything now, and I'm getting damn good at it!'

Members[edit]

Chuck Mead – guitar, vocals
Gary Bennett – guitar, vocals
Shaw Wilson – drums, backing vocals
Don Herron – fiddle, steel guitar, mandolin, Dobro, banjo
Smilin' Jay McDowell – upright bass

Former members[edit]

'Bones' Jim Becker – electric bass
'Buggs' Tex Austin (Mark Ude) – saxophone
Chris Scruggs – guitar, vocals
Geoff Firebaugh – upright bass
Mark Miller – upright bass, vocals

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
Title	Album details	US Country	US Heat	CAN Country
BR5-49	Release date: September 17, 1996 Label: Arista Nashville (18818) Formats: CD, cassette	33	11	12
Big Backyard Beat Show	Release date: July 14, 1998 Label: Arista Nashville (18862) Formats: CD, cassette	38	23	—
Coast to Coast	Release date: April 4, 2000 Label: Arista Nashville (18909) Formats: CD, cassette	46	—	—
This Is BR549	Release date: June 26, 2001 Label: Lucky Dog (85456) Formats: CD, cassette	54	—	—
Tangled in the Pines	Release date: March 9, 2004 Label: Dualtone Records (01149) Formats: CD	58	—	—
Dog Days	Release date: January 10, 2006 Label: Dualtone Records (01226) Formats: CD	—	—	—
'—' denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays[edit]

Title	Album details
Live from Robert's	Release date: April 30, 1996 Label: Arista Nashville (10800) Formats: CD, cassette, 12'
Bonus Beats	Release date: July 14, 1998 Label: Arista Nashville (8874) Formats: CD
Temporarily Disconnected	Release date: 2003 Label: Self-released Formats: CD

Singles[edit]

Year	Single	Peak chart positions		Album
Year	Single	US Country ^[5]	CAN Country	Album
1996	'Cherokee Boogie'	44	21	BR5-49
1997	'Even if it's Wrong'	68	66
1997	'Little Ramona (Gone Hillbilly Nuts)'	61	77
1998	'Wild One'	—	—	Big Backyard Beat Show
2001	'Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal'	—	—	This Is BR549
2004	'That's What I Get'	—	—	Tangled in the Pines
2004	'Way Too Late (To Go Home Early Now)'	—	—	Tangled in the Pines
2005	'After the Hurricane'	—	—	Dog Days
'—' denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos[edit]

Year	Video	Director
1996	'Cherokee Boogie'	Michael McNamara
1997	'Even If It's Wrong'	Michael McNamara
1998	'Wild One'	Neil J. Colligan
2001	'Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal'	Neil Lisk
2004	'No Train to Memphis'
2004	'That's What I Get'	Jay McDowell

References[edit]

^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^gColin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 61. ISBN0-7535-0427-8.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^fHuey, Steve. 'BR5-49 biography'. AllMusic. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
^Mary Chapin Carpenter followed by BR5-49, Austin City Limits, 1997
^Vladimir Bogdanov, et al, editors All Music Guide to Country, 2nd Edition, Ann Arbor: AMG, 2003
^Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 59. ISBN0-89820-177-2.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BR549&oldid=981327020'

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 Hillbilly

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!

Hillbilly Casino Memphis Va

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.