Kelly Dearmore, way back there, all excited about Gary P. Nunn
Shiner Sunday, 3/25/12 — A day of infamy. Gary P. Nunn brought his Sons of the Bunkhouse Band to Love & War in Texas (Plano), and it was Swampadelic which opened. Now, an opening act is also called a “warm-up” band, and in this case, Swampadelic did its work well. Truth is that the crowd was heated up and so ready for the infamous Gary P.
Now, one sign it was a knocked-out, kick-it show was when Dallas Observer’s Kelly Dearmore, always around the music everywhere, was seen in the back, so excited he climbed on a table top to let loose more enthusiasm! (He’s young, he can do that. I’m not saying I’m old, but I can’t do that!)
Swampadelic is led by KHYI’s radio personality Big Gus Samuelson, and also features Chad Ford on the drums, the Amazing Ric Denker on fiddle, Greg Wait on trombone, and Bill Sallee on stand-up bass. Chris (Sorry, didn’t get his last name, but you can learn it Thursday night when Greg and Chris bring a jazz group back to L&W in Plano, another in the Lone Star Underground series — and that’s another story in the making.) joined the group Sunday with his horn, and the stage was filled with so variety. The band jumped from blues to country to cajun to jazz to … egads, you get the picture.
Gary P. Nunn took the second half of the show, with Lars Albrecht on guitar, Evan Christian on bass, and Gary Delz on drums, and together they rocked and countrified the Rusty Wier outdoor stage, and dancers filled the floor. Then, Gary P. asked, “Is there a country fiddler in the house?” and Ric Denker got to sit in for a couple of numbers. Now Ric is a good-natured guy, but I’ve never seen him smile quite that much as he did for those few minutes on stage. Next, Chris and Greg got up with their horns, and the S.O.B. band took on a whole new depth.
Later, Gary P. said that he just couldn’t stand the thought of so many incredible musicians being in the audience and not being brought before the crowd. Gary P. stumbled a little on the word “Swampadelic,” but nobody minded, least of all Big Gus and the guys!
This coming Sunday, April 1, brings The Derailers back to Shiner Sunday, with Drew Landry opening. It starts at 4 p.m. every Sunday, and if you simply can’t make it down there, listen on KHYI radio, from 4-6 p.m., that’s 95.5 on the dial. Oh, yeah, and Love & War in Plano is at the northeast corner of U.S. 75 and Plano Parkway.
For more Swampadelic pix, click here