Third Annual Holidays at the Harvester with The Tiger Beats, Ghalia Volt, & The Joey Fletcher Band
12.07.2024 - Media and mystery have long suggested that Robert Johnson went down to the Crossroads in the Delta where he sold his soul to the devil for a supernatural musical talent playing blues guitar.
I’m more of the opinion that truly great musical artists are a combination of God-given talent, lots of hours spent mastering their instrument and style, and having the incredible luck of being in the right place at the right time, when and if music industry magic lightning strikes.
If I DID think there’s anything to the Robert Johnson myth, then I’d have to therefore have suspicions regarding the four (4) outstanding blues guitar players who appeared at the Third Annual “Holidays at the Harvester” event on Saturday following the Smithville Christmas Parade – which is always a big draw for the the numerous attendees who line the historic downtown square and peripheral streets to get a glimpse of their friends and neighbors showing off their talents and community spirit in this down-home, traditionally festive holiday event.
The (4) awesome guitar players on hand at the Harvester Event Center were, (in order of appearance):
Joey Fletcher (of The Joey Fletcher Band) - wore OUT that old Telecaster with not only his fast pick wizardry, but delivered a distinctive slide guitar expertise that sounded very “controlled” but with a rawness that sounded like that little Fender amp was about to blow to smithereens. Good blues vocals from Joey also, with Mercury Blues being one of my favorites he pulled out of a vast bag ‘o hits. VERY accessible blues vibes, excellent accompanists Brandon Buck on drums and Andrew Bennett on bass, Dave Bell on keys… made Joey’s opening set seem more like the headliner than the first opening act of the evening.
Ghalia Volt: who grew up in Brussels, Belgium and now resides in New Orleans. Good Golly, Miss Ghalia! You and your duo of organist from Austin Texas named Jay Stiles and drummer Daniel Perez from Columbia both compadres were the perfect “gear change” from Joey’s straight down the highway blues vibes. Ghalia whupped out a slide guitar style that was comparable, but completely different from Joey’s slide approach. Great “nasty” tones was basis for Ghalia’s aggressive style, and at times slipped right into a full-blown “psychedelic-reminiscent” feel, using her guitar sound with her voice (big vocal range!) to create some spacey jams, that her fellow players follow right along, before locking right back into edgy, traditional blues feels. Ghalia Volt is one of the most “different” blues artists I’ve encountered…..ever. Big things ahead for this lady!
McKinley James (of The Tiger Beats): who opened for the Mavericks on Friday night at The Ryman and helped headline the Flatwoods Stage at The Harvester on Saturday night! Clean…fast…accurate…imprecible tone…innovative….pitch-perfect. It’s good to see this young man and his group getting some of the positive attention and recognition they deserve.
Patrick Sweaney (of The Tiger Beats): It’s easy to overlook the tasteful, very cool guitar playing of Patrick Sweaney after he floors you with his sometimes Wilson Pickett, sometimes Brook Benton, incredibly wide-ranging soulful singing style, but Patrick’s ALSO playing those guitars and providing an excellent alternative style to MaKinley’s playing- the two guitars playing their separate parts together is the basis for the formidably tight sound of the band, plus having Jason Smay (McKinley’s dad) drummer who can play a two-handed shuffle blues beat “all night long”, as the saying goes. (rare) Add Ted Pecchio and you have one helluva R&B Blues band unlike any other.
Four great professional guitar players in one night - no gimmicks, no big pretentious prima donnas, and zero deals with the devil (as far as we know…), and in Historic Downtown Smithville, Tennessee – this could only happen at the Harvester and if you missed it…you might as well kick yourself again for missing out on Lala’s Tamales and Taco Company, the excellent service provided by the Harvester Security and Service Staff: David, Mike and Ross in addition to the signature cocktails prepared by the award winning bar staff: Holly, Eschelle, Ava, and Blair and the quality sound mixing by Philip Stafford, our in-house sound engineer and Mike Witzell. Videographer Jason Ward, and photographer Matt Antoniak. And to our outstanding in-house artist Lucas Antoniak who always captures The Local Vibe! Sign up for our newsletter here.
Which brings me back around to Holidays at the Harvester - we are blessed and thankful to have many supporters who believe in what we are trying to accomplish musical performance-wise, and the cultural impact that can be created for our community. In order to continue to bring unique entertainment options to our area, we need to get the word out that the Harvester is also an “event venue”, where folks can host weddings, conduct business conferences and meetings, or create your own personal celebration and/or party! Having a viable “event venue” business will help subsidize the high cost of our musical and entertainment endeavors…spread the word that Downtown Smithville, Tennessee is very welcoming and Open for Business so spread the word and we can all keep rockin’!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year from all of us associated with the Harvester Event Center!
Join us for our final public event of the year at the Advent Service at the Harvester on Thursday, 12/12 - free and open to all, all ages welcome. TWO new show announcements coming this week! And mark your calendar for Saturday, 2/8, for an afternoon of exploring and networking with others in the industry as you tour our fantastic facility at our Bridal Show and Wedding & Event Planners Reception in Downtown Smithville! Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the Harvester) by signing up for our ‘The Local Vibe Newsletter - released the first Tuesday of the month, straight to your inbox! And don’t forget the Harvester is for rent: corporate events and parties, weddings, receptions, graduations, baby showers, or whatever you’re celebrating, we host ‘em all! Contact us for more information, and check us out on Wedding Wire or The Knot!
