First let us say how sorry we are about the lost lives and property of our WNC friends and families. The farm sustained some damage but nothing relative to the devastation in this area. Secondly, we've been excited to find these unheard live recordings from a hot, July weekend in 1994. Praying for Rain had just finished their CD, "When a Rooster Crows," and hosted a CD release party at Gatsby's, Asheville, during the busiest weekend of the year. It was a special time for us because we had just released the CD which we recorded the previous year in Nashville at 1111 Studio. Also, a new, independent radio station (WZLS) was on the scene and played local tunes along with the Beatles, Stones and all that other long haired, screaming mess called classic rock. WZLS DJ Iron John was in the audience for these shows. A few months ago David Bradley (bass) was able to acquire from Scott Wallace three cassette board tapes from this incredible weekend in July, 1994. The tapes were pristine having never been played. The tapes contained about four hours of originals and covers. I was nervous about hearing these tunes because I used to get a little lit during our performances. I wasn't prepared for the flood of emotions listening to our shows, going back 30 years. For a whole weekend I paced my studio listening to the tunes, trying to remember the crowds, and getting emotional about it all. To our surprise and delight there were about 10 songs we had forgotten. On this and following episodes I will be playing these fresh, unearthed, "dank" tunes. So, yeah, in the face of world events, tragedy, loss and creeping fascism, it was good to find these tapes which represent a time before the Internet and social media's virtual tower of Babel. Once again our hearts go out to all our brothers and sisters effected by Hurricane Helene.

If you hear the Sound:

• Whatever Helps you Sleep-Praying for Rain (PFR)
• Sis Boom Bah-Praying for Rain (Live at Gatsby's, 1994)
• Something Getting Rotten (Live at Gatsby's, 1994)
• Highly over You-Richie Tipton and the First Kings

www.richietipton.com

Instagram@bandofthesky

Special day at the farm this past week. The band, Band of the Sky,Mke Barnes, Jeff Anders and David Bradey, sat down with Rich for a conversation about Asheville, Band of the Sky Podcast co-founder, Rocky Lindsley, the connections between Matt Sluder, Rocky, Praying for Rain and Dixie Deluxe; plus "Get on the Soul Train." This podcast is the first in a series with these guys. In the next few parts we'll listen to live music recorded at Gatsby's during Praying for Rain's "When a Rooster Crows" CD release party during Bele Chere, 1994.

If you hear the Sound:

• Intro-Whatever Helps you Sleep-Praying for Rain
• Soul Train-Band of the Sky Improv
• Sorry but I Used to Love You-Dixie Deluxe
• Here We Go-Praying for Rain
• Sails Away-Rocky Lindsley
• Outro-Highly over You-Richie Tipton and the First Kings

www.richietipton.com

Instagram @band of the sky

We wrap up our series with Plywood (David Pressley). in this episode Plywood recalls playing music in Derek and the Dominators which featured a 12 year old Derek Trucks. Plywood was there when Buddy Guy picked up young Derek, gave him a kiss and walked off stage shaking his head. A passing of the torch, so to speak; Plywood returns to Canton before heading to Buffalo, N.Y. where he plays drums in the Dave Constantino Band.

If You Hear the Sound:

• Highly over You (intro) RTFK
• Slide Slide Slide-Derek and the Dominators
• Clean up in Aisle 3, Jim-the Bi-Los'
• Prokofiev plays the Piano-Prokofiev
• Yasmeens Blues-Black Disco
• Last Train Home-Praying for Rain
• Highly over You-(outro) RTFK

In part two of the Plywood series, Plywood recalls leaving Canton for Florida in the 70s and navigating gigs and life with Les Dudek and Rick Derringer, among other great players and situations. Plywood is known for his shuffle but he's a great rock drummer as well; Mike Barnes and Plywood recall a legendary Asheville jam session with "Howie," and Plywood; with Charlie Hyde, Mike Barnes, Jeff Anders, David Bradley, and Rich.

If You hear the Sound:

• Intro-Richie Tipton and the First Kings(RTFK)
• Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo-Rick Derringer
• You Make Me Ill-Les Dudek (from Sanderborg Denmark Blues Festival, 1991)
• Outro-RTFK

Band of the Sky welcomes drummer and long time friend, David Pressley (Plywood). Plywood was first active on the Asheville scene (Homegrown) in the early 70s. In his career he's played with Rick Derringer, and Les Dudek, among others. But, it's his hometown connection and folksy personality-after all he is Andy Griffith's thrid cousin- which endears him to us. And it goes without saying he's one hell of a drummer.

Gathered around the old mic. was Mike Barnes, Jeff Anders and Charlie Hyde (Pick 'n' Grin). Wonderful.

If you hear the Sound:

• Highly over You (intro)-RTFK
• Flying with the Flock-Buffalo Mojo (Mike Barnes vehicle with Plywood on drums)
• Highly over You (outro) -RTFK

Asheville guitarist extrodinaire, Mike Barnes, (Bonzo to us) joins Jeff Anders and Rich to reflect on his time witih Geffin Records, Rock City Angels, (Young Man's Blues) opening for Jimmy Page at the L.A. Forum and how it wound down and eventually led Barnes home to Asheville and Praying for Rain. It's a classic story.

I was thrilled to have Barnes on the podcast. He is the home grown, self-rising jam for which this podcast was created; Ronnie Burgin surfaces on a long, lost recording of "Back to Louisiana." Recorded in Rocky Lindsley's bedroom, wih Johnny Jump, Bobby Webb(who shared the recording with Jump) and Rocky, it's a jump back to a simpler, organic moment in Asheville, music history. Thanks to Johnny Jump and Bobby Webb for sharing the recording. Also, thanks to Jeff Anders for providing his studio to record the podcast. Home Grown. Self-Rising.

If you hear the Sound:

• Intro-RTFK
• Deep Inside My Heart-Rock City Angels
• Our Little Secret-Rock City Angels
• Here We Go-Praying for Rain
• Thunder Foot-Rocky Lindsley
• Back to Louisiana-Celebrity Hot Tub (w/ Ronnie Burgin)
• Outro-RTFK

Two guys, back side of 55, share what it means, to live post dream, while the dream never dies; music, silence, space; laughing at laughter in a slow moving coup.

If You hear the Sound:

• Highly over You (intro) Richie Tipton and the First Kings (RTFK)
• Sonny Boy Can Beline-Drank
• Lonesome Too-RTFK
• Trailer Park-N.C. Rail
• Horse Tour Stops in Mars Hill-David Bradley, Billy Bowden and RT
• Highly over You-(outro) RTFK

When an artist must "face the music," so to speak, it can be a big, ol' slap in the face. What, you mean I'm not gonna fill halls and sell millions of records and have famous friends? You mean Dylan won't say hello to me one day? You mean I wont show up in a limousine at Bi-Lo? Sleeping on studio floors, drinking and drugging like my heroes, driving on bald tires in the rain to deliver a song to a Nashville publisher by 5, years and years of band practice, breaking glass, relationships, and wearing cowboy hats in Cinjades... was for naught?

But, it wasn't.

There comes a day "when youth will pass away." At some point you'll be into sleepy mile 400, after driving 300 miles, recording vocals on six songs, dodging kangaroos in the road, and there's still 200 miles to go, and when you drive those 200 miles and arrive home 24 hours later, you ask yourself, "what the fuck am I doing?" You start to ask it a lot.

But, if you're lucky to come out on the other side and allow old age, life can be cherries. However, you still want to play, write, and record. Be with other musicians. Your dream weakens from a flame to a spark. You are still you, but content to be still.

Rudy, in show clothes, gets stranded at the Biltmore Mall; Richie walks 20 miles in a pair of loafers made for standing-hard soles and cheetah print (actually it was about 15 miles); discovering old songs, written as a young man, as an old man; new/old demos featured.

If You hear the Sound:

• Intro-Richie Tipton and the First Kings
• Rhyming Club-Come on Mule
• Ruby-Come on Mule
• Songwriter Blues-Rudy Colombo
• Ballad of Jimmy the French-Praying for Rain
• Drank (drunk Hank Williams Jr.)
• Cherry-Rudy Colombo
• Get back Home-Come on Mule

www.richietipton.com

bandofthesky@instagram

Rich and Rudy talk about seeing bassist, "fascinating," David Gay, (Freakwater, Reigning Sound, Los Gun Show) at a recent Los Gun Show performance; Sha Na Na; the rock stance;putting PFR on Spotify; Rudy's indie sensibilities; Waylon in the blood; Yo, David B.

If You hear the Sound;

• Intro-RTFK
• Heaven-Praying for Rain
• Things Can Only Get Better-Rudy Colombo
• Heaven-Praying for Rain
• Trailer Park-N.C. Rail
• Waitress Song-Freakwater
• Things Can Only Get Better-Rudy Colombo
• Outro-RTFK

www.richietipton.com

Instagram@bandofthesky

Rudy visits the farm and we're tickled to death; take note, the ability to simply pick up a phone and call someone is a superpower; ego work; Rich and Rudy go see "Los Gun Show" in Hendo and discuss "lifer" (art at all costs) Morgan Geer (The Merle, Drunken Prayer, Los Gun Show); Lifer, Dan Lewis (Johnny and the Jokers, check out his discography at www.discogs.com) wrote a book: "Growing up in Asheville, North Carolina: How Music and Art Sparked a Renassaince In a Sleepy Southern Town." It's wonderful, although it made me sad.

If You Hear the Sound:

• Intro-RTFK
• Sober Thinking-Rich
• It's a Good Day-Humbuckers
• C'mon 🍒 Cherry-Rudy Colombo
• Cordelia Elsewhere-Drunken Prayer
• Outro-RTFK

www.richietipton.com