Day: January 7, 2007

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Bobby Hamilton, RIP

Wow. I just surfed over to Jayski’s site a few minutes ago and was stunned to see that Bobby Hamilton had passed away.

I think everyone had expected him to get better, but the cancer must have been worse than publicized. I’d guess that that’s what he wanted; he didn’t want the team or the public to be distracted by or fixated on his illness.

I got to see him race at the Fairgrounds a few times. He gave Casey Atwood a lot of help when he was getting started, and Atwood drove the #43 at the Fairgrounds that was owned by Hamilton. One memorable moment was when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was practicing for a late model race at the track. He and another car wrecked, and both cars burned to the ground. Everyone was ok, but Earnhardt was left without a ride.

Hamilton offered Little Earnhardt the use of one of Atwood’s spare cars. That season, Atwood was driving Fords. Little E had to get permission from his dad before he could drive the Ford.

The racing world lost a truly nice guy today.

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Webb Wilder, Unplugged

We went to see Webb Wilder play last night at Puckett’s Grocery in Franklin. As his website said, this was a “limited personnel gig”. That is, it was Webb and Tony Bowles, both on acoustic guitars.

I’ve been to Puckett’s Grocery in Leiper’s Fork many times, and had their great hamburgers. But this was the first time I’d been to the one in Franklin. You could fit the complete Leiper’s Fork store inside the dining area of the Franklin location, and still have room. Where Puckett’s Grocery in Leiper’s Fork is a grocery first and a music venue second, it’s just the opposite in Franklin.

A few weeks back, we saw Webb and the Beatnecks at the Bluesboro. They had a deal for $29.95 you got admission to the show and dinner for two. At Puckett’s, it was $29.95 and admission to the show per person (or you could pay a $15 cover for just the show). I like Webb a lot, but that’s still kind of steep.

But, the show was worth it. Webb opened up with a song I’d never heard before (and the name escapes me). Then went into songs like “Pretty Little Lights of Town” and others he usually plays with the full band. And Tony actually sung backup on quite a few songs! Very well, I might add.

They also did two new songs that Webb had written in the last few months, and I can’t wait to hear the whole band do them. He also did “Original Mixed Up Kid”, which the band normally doesn’t do, so that was refreshing.

The nearly 90-minute set ended with Human Cannonball.

I think it’d be interesting for Webb and the Beatnecks to do an “unplugged” show some time, with Tom on an acoustic bass guitar.

We’ll be checking Webb and the full band out at 3rd & Lindsley on February. If you’re a fan of good music, you should “pick up on it.”