A call from Ken Blitzkrieg concerning the Dirty South gig at Washington Football Club and the fact of having no less than four guitarists on stage for the gig (including the infamous Bad Bob from the hard-drinking and even harder-playing Bandits) was enough to whet my appetite for the gig. Nige and myself had actually pencilled in another band for the night but Ken persuaded us it was the Dirty South who would present a more visual show, so it was off to Big Davey's gaff we set - although we never actually saw Big Davey on this occasion.
 

After getting lost (again!) with Nige driving...........say no more, we got there about nine ish and the band were still sound checking. But Gambit on the desk has done the sound for the band many times before and it didn't take him long to get it spot on. Nige told me how Gambit had saved Nige's life by retrieving his lens cap after Nige had lost it at the Rainbow Trust weekend. You'd think he'd taken a thorn out of Nige's foot the way he was talking...........!
 

It's always nice to have a bit of a chinwag with members of the band (not that Nige or myself ever push ourselves on to a band) but it was nice to have a chat with drummer Bodean Cornhauler (and I do believe that is his real name) who was the first to come and chat and he came over as a really down to earth sensible guy - so what the hell is he doin' in the Dirty South? He was telling me and Nige how the band is never a set band. People come up and guest on vocals or guitar at most gigs as there is usually quite a bit of musical talent in the audience. I pointed out that Nige has absolutely no musical talent of any sort whatsoever. 'Perfect for the band', said Bodean. 'we'll have him up on stage and he will fit in perfectly!'
 


 
Great to chat to Ken Blitzkrieg and of course Steve Gilory (who both Nige and myself saw at the same place for the Washington Rainbow Trust weekend). Nice to see Duke regular Laurie who also turns up at many gigs in the North East including the Three Tuns in Gateshead.

We were most honoured (and I am not taking the mickey here) to chat with the almost legendary Bad Bob himself (pint in hand - of course; gotta keep up his reputation!) who was saying just how much he enjoyed being in a band with so many guitars: 'when you have all those guitars in a band you can at least pull back a bit with no detriment to the sound, as I am one of three Bandits then if I do that in my band then there is a noticeable hole in the sound. I can really relax in the Dirty South and it's so much fun.' And I can vouch for that as Bob was pulling some great poses and actually put down his guitar to pose for a pic for Dave Lunn.
 

The concert room is a decent sized room and it takes quite a few bodies to look anywere near decent. Although on this occasion there was room for a few more, the crowd responded well to this Southern, redneck, toe-tapping music you normally associate with the States.

When you first see them you’d think it was country music night with their leather waistcoats and cowboy hats. When Nige first saw them in all their regalia, it took me all my strength to stop him heading for the exit!!

The band plays tunes by bands such as Molly Hatchet, CCR, Steve Earle, Georgia Satellites, Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd,JJ Cale, ZZ Top, Robert Johnson, George Thorogood; and Dirty South do them all with confidence and professionalism
 

The band consists of six tobacco splitting rednecks,
leading the motley crew Doc Cletus Brown (vocals and multitudinous harmonicas) who had loads of confidence and gave us an insight on how to work an audience with a walkabout amongst the crowd.
 

Blind Dog Jefferson and Big Brad Stanton both (Guitars) very tight and timely rhythm section with some heckling in the background as backing vocalists. Earl T Clayton or better known as Steve also Guitar Rev JJ Jackson (Bass) a cool player gets on without a fuss strutting his stuff with a solid sound and never in one place for more than a minute. Bodean Cornhauler (Drums) played superbly and turned in a nice powerful sound to keep everything well paced. 
 

All these lads make the use of the southern redneck whisky-drinking, tobbaco-chewing, womanising image without cutting down on the fun of being in a niche band.

Just as an aside both myself and Nige were taken with the abundance of Foghat tracks between and around the set. When I got home I had a quick blast of 'Mabelline'. Great stuff.
 

Anyway, the band have fun; they look good; they sound good and they play tracks that no other band does. All in all great entertainment. Definitely recommended. And the most important thing of all - you can tell that every single one of them are thoroughly enjoying themselves. And in my book that is reason enough for going to see them.
 
 


 

 
 

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