Ricky, sadly, has always had dubious political taste. He was a vociferous Pat Robertson booster way back in the 80s when Smilin' Pat ran for Prez.

Hm. I was running low on skeet.

What have we here? Kentucky Thunder CDs.

Never mind.

***

As for how effective that this is: Anyone else remember that there was a group of country musicians called "Music Row Democrats" which included among their number Allison Moorer, Maura O'Connell, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Chuck Mead, Raul Malo, John Kay...?

They managed to pull together with the local Kerry campaign and they put on some incredibly fun, inexpensive, and high-visibility events, most namely "Kerry-oke."

As far as how much punch they packed as a political force, it was diluted somewhat by an incumbent establishment that was (a) crippled by a lack of imagination, and (b) ultimately didn't want much to do with anyone not beholden to them.

$250 sounds kinda steep to see Ricky Skaggs.

Last time we saw him was at the Disc Exchange on Chapman Highway a few years ago. It was free. And pretty great.

The only other time was at The Barn in Sanford FL, opening for Emmylou.

Skb, was that the same Disc Exchange thing several years ago that also featured Jerry Douglas? I caught that one, but probably hadn't met you at the time.

The next (and last) time I saw RS was at a festival type concert at the Smokies Stadium. He kept talking about "Momma," "Grandma's cookin'" and how they know how to pray, etc. As if a child prodigy who tutored under Bill Monroe has lived "the simple life," as his song implies. The faux folksiness got offensive, let alone the preachiness.

He's a fine musician and he hires great bands and all, but I decided then and there never to go to another concert of his.

At the one I remember, a kid yelled to Flux (JD) to play "When Papa Played the Dobro" and Flux said he would if the kid sang it, and so a star was born. Not Alex, though. Does that seem right? But yeah, Skaggs's band was "on," that day. Very impressive and without the offensive banter.

Ricky Skaggs traveled with Pat Buchanan, so Wamp is a piece of cake.

A Nashville musician friend of mine who sometimes played at the Opry told me that Skaggs is so insufferable that my bud and his buds used to play mean tricks on him – like putting a "Honk if you're horny" bumpersticker on the back of his SUV at night, in the dark when he'd be unlikely to discover it until he'd driven around for awhile.