Moments: New Years Eve with Russell Lacy, Matt Jones and The Bobs and Jackass Flats

Russell Lacy. Russell Lacy. What can I say about Russell Lacy. Well, he is my favorite male vocalist as well as one of my favorite humans. Whenever I create images of gals, I usually throw on Russell’s cd and it quickly became the most requested cd in my studio. “Start that cd over again” is what I would always hear after the last note played. And there is a good reason for it. Russell sings with his soul, he puts it all right out there and he engages every single person in the room. His voice and his songs pull the listener in and you can’t help but get caught up in his stories.

It was my first time seeing Matt Jones and the Bobs and they did not disappoint. Great lyrics, terrific vocals and superb playing. They are a high energy good time based in the sounds of folk and good ole americana. Hard slot to be sandwiched between two of my favorite musical acts and they more than held their own. Great music and great times!

Jackass Flats!!!!!!! YES!!! I could not miss the chance to see Jackass Flats tackle and CONQUER the music of The Beatles, so I scheduled a flight back to RVA to make it in time for the New Years Eve celebration at The Camel. Jackass Flats has been one of my favorite bands for over a decade now. Wow. I’ve seen so many of their lineups and I think they have evolved into the perfect mix of bluegrass, rock, excitement and all around awesome. For New Years they were going to take it up to the top of all musical notches by rocking an entire night of The Beatles. And when I say a rocking night, I mean a ROCKING night! They made the incredibly hard music of The Beatles seem effortless and entirely their own. They spruced it with the sounds of Jackass Flats and had a little help from their RVA music friends. The incredible saxaphonist, Gordon Saxman Jones, Andrew Trongone of The Trongone Band and Tim Beavers & Matt Volkes of Peoples Blues of Richmond switched in and out for a few songs. The perfect end to 2014.