The Reeves Brothers at Hennesseys Saturday Nov 4, 2017

Stationed in Pahrump, The Reeves Brothers are Matt and Cole Reeves (guitars/vocals) and Kelly Bishop (bass) and a revolving cast of other members who are dedicated to keeping traditional country music alive. Insanely talented guitarists and terrific vocalists (love their genetic harmonies), they are also fun'n'funny characters and true entertainers - telling stories, crackin' wise and generally goofin' while still providing great music. I haven't had a chance to see them for a while, as I don't get out to their adopted hometown very often, so when I heard they were doing a night at a local bar, me'n'the missus made it down for a couple of sets.

As is the case with far too many bands, the Brothers have had a hard time finding a permanent drummer so tonight Matt and Cole sat in on drums (both fine players - Cole just having learned in the last couple of months!) - and they found a sit in second guitarist/harmonica player in a cat named Danny. We arrived as they started their first set, with Cole up front and Matt behind the drums. They did a variety of numbers, some from their CDs (Home Sweet Honky Tonk and the latest that I just picked up, King of Country Music) along with a number of covers. As I am still not well versed in country, I did not recognize some of the tunes, but they actually took some requests from the audience, pulled out a couple of "kiss my ass" songs, did one where Cole imitated an auctioneer (a fairly amazing performance), Gene Autry's "Back in the Saddle" (in which Cole did some C&W impersonations) and, in a somewhat bizarre moment, a version of Tom Jones' "Delilah"!

After a short break, Cole took the drums giving Matt the front spot and they did more from the records and more covers, including bits of "Truck Drivin' Man", "On the Road Again", "Cocaine Blues", "Folsum Prison", "Jackson", "Heartbreak Hotel" (!) and more. There were George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Jimmy Reed, and Willie Nelson cuts, as well as their take on the bluesy "11 Months and 29 Days". Lots of terrific pickin' and country shreddin' and a closer of "Okie From Muskogee".

If ya wanna see real country music played by some of the best players around, make it a point to get out for these cats the next time they come around. It's a good time guaranteed!