Moonlight Pickers

People are so interesting and I get such a kick out of hearing from country music fans.  

The BAND tonight is Moonlight Pickers and they have me surrounded.  They all join in on the podcast.  The name came about from a group of talented musicians with kids whose only freedom would be at night.  Hence the name Moonlight…Pickers meaning they play guitar.  

Hear where their favorite places are to perform. 

How they found each other…I stick my foot in my mouth, you’ve gotta catch that moment…

And Smitty shares the secret to a youthful life.  

Tony talks to me about ALL the talents that God has blessed him with!  That includes the Banjo…mandalin just to name a few.  

Hear about all the technicalities that go into performing on stage and the benefits of a set list.  

You can check these guys out at Moonlight pickers.com

They have a new album set to come out this summer so be sure to check them out.  

 

 

Rita is a country music fan and line dancer.  She has been a part of Sundance Saloon for many years.  Her love of country music and dancing started after a divorce.  

Hear her story and about going from just a girl looking to find fun after a divorce from teaching and dancing pretty much every line dance out there! 

 

Fit bit people, hear how many steps you can get doing line dancing. 

Just for the record, there are tons of country bars in the Chicagoland area!  It is still a thriving wonderful scene!

 

Drew listens to podcasts and stops by to see what I am doing.  His passion is audio engineering which he does for a big local church called The Chapel.  

BTW, I haven’t done this all on my own.  I have had a fabulous teacher and that is Michael with TruthWork Media.  If you have a passion that you want to share with others and want to start your own podcast? Michael is your guy!

Tony, a Retired Marine - Makes jewelry and other items from military equipment.  He comes to Sundance every so often and offers his items for FREE! He accepts donations for his items which goes directly to retired military vets.

 

Courtney and Kyle of Back Country Roads Band have been married about one year.  They share the story of their wedding and how they met. Hear about how vinyl records were used in their wedding.  And it wasn’t to play music on record players...

Kyle started the band.  He plays guitar and sings.

They have written original songs that perform on stage - top 40.. and some 90’s even Johnny Cash songs!

They have performed at Country Thunder

Look for a black bus with Back Country Roads logo out on the highway.

 

They have played as far away as Mexico and in Ohio on an Island called Put in Bay.  Yep, apparently, there is an Island in Ohio...Who knew?

 

Bobby Carlson, owner of Sundance Saloon joins me on the mic.   Hear about his passion for the people who walk through the doors of Sundance Saloon.

Bella Cain is in the house! Hear from two of the bands performing artists; Judson and Patrick who chat about their experience of being in a high energy band.  Rob the drummer started the band with the belief that the audio and performance should always be great.  Both Judson and Patrick are multi-talented performers that play many different instruments in addition to singing. Becuase of their talent they are able to change it up.  Its like a Chinese Fire Drill up on stage.

 

Bella Cain will be opening for Kip Moore at Summerfest

And performing Country USA in OshKosh Wisconsin to name a few.

 

Jen is a country music fan who came out with her friends to see Bella Cain.  Jen lost her husband to cancer. Through his battle, a foundation was started by her nephew called HelpingUP.  They grant wishes to cancer patients as well as help families in need. I just love country music fans!

 

Jake serves in the Navy and is stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base.  He has been deployed all over the world including Dubai and places I have never even heard of!  You will have to listen to the podcast and see if you have heard of the places he speaks of.

 

He is fairly new to the country music scene and is loving it.

Let's talk about what not to do in a bar… Yes there is a list of things you should never do in a bar. Listen to the podcast and let me know if you’ve done any of them.  I know I am guilty of one or two...

 

I talk to John.  He shares what brought him into a country bar for the very first time.  It involves a girl, a Halloween party and an Indian...

I am calling this episode our throwback night because I get to talk to Len an 87 year old country dancer who has been married for 65 years.  He has been dancing and enjoying country music for many years. Hear about his life and journey that includes roller skating and priesthood.

 

Len finally convinces Ed to chat with me.  I have been trying to get Ed to talk to me for weeks! He and his wife dance couple dances together and look adorable.  Back in the day he and his wife would drive all over the Wisconsin, Illinois area with about 20 people in a van dancing at various country bars.  They even had a name for their group. The Mavericks...Man that speaks directly to my hippie soul, I just love talking to people and hearing their stories!

I was worried that we would not have time to chat with the band but somehow I pulled it off.  

Bobby with Nashville Electric Company joined me for a few minutes to chat about his band.  He shares how a country band turned him down because he was to rock and roll. Bobby explains what the name of his band means and how he ended up with that name.  Hear what his dance style is and let me tell you it is not a couples or a line dance!

I keep saying you never know what or who your gonna get at a country bar.  This episode is a fun one.

I talk to line dance instructor -   Carol - She is a couple and line dance instructor at the Original Sundance Saloon.  

Listen to her story of love and romance; finding her future husband in a country bar.

Next up is Keegan, who is also a  line dance instructor at the bar. You want to hear about love in a bar? Keegan has all the bases covered.  Her life is like a true country song. From getting cheated on to breaking down on the side of the road, she too has a fun story to share.

The band Smokin Gunz has been around for a while.  Artie with the Smokin Gunz band shares his favorite country artists and they are not the common performers you hear on the local radio stations.

The country music fan that closes us out the night is PC.  AKA Kenny Chesney’s doppelganger. A humble cinematographer that records commercials for companies like Kellogs and music videos for big-time musicians.  As if his life doesn’t already sound super interesting, PC actually landed himself in a Clay Walker music video! Hear how PC’s love of country music was sparked by being stuck in the boonies out on a cornfield in the middle of no-where.  You never know who you will meet in a country bar!

 

*Check the website:  www.honkytonkassociation.com

I will post some of the music by Aaron Watson and Casey Donahue (Smokin Gunz favorite country music artists) as well as PC’s country music video with Clay Walker.   He both recorded the video and can be found IN the video during the bar scene as well as sitting in the truck next to Clay Walker.

Welcome to my first ever podcast.  A Girl Sitting in a Country Bar. In this episode, I will chat with Pistol Pete the Dj at Sundance Saloon.  Hear Pete’s story, his DJ experience, what kind of music he personally enjoys and what dances he knows how to do.  He claims to only know about 6. I don’t believe that at all. I’ve seen him in action on the dance floor. This DJ can dance!

We will also hear from Paul Wenzel with Made in America - A Toby Keith Tribute Band.  Paul talks a little about his personal life and the fact that he and Toby share the same patriotism for the military.  He likes to honor those that serve during his performance. He also discusses what it takes to set up for a Toby Keith Tribute Band and that includes having the exact instrumentation as the real Toby Keith!  You won’t believe how many instruments they perform with up on stage.

Next up is first-timer Matt.  This was his first night out at a country bar with his girlfriend of two years.  

Peggy shares her dance experience and shares details on how new dancers can learn the line dances through a fb page called Maverick Dancers.  

Just when I thought I was done for the night, I had the opportunity to meet Jodi.  She has been dancing at Sundance Saloon for many years and knows all the dances! Hear about how her karate expertise shows out on the dance floor through a line dance she does called Apple Jack.

 

*Check the website:  www.honkytonkassociation.com