Contingent Voyage with Randy Roger's Band

I had been looking forward to this for weeks. Literally. I absolutely love the Randy Roger's Band. For those of you living on the moon the past, like, ten years; they're it. The sandbox of my musical playground. Alone, and sometimes teamed up with other great American Songwriters like Radney Foster, Randy Rogers and his band of brilliance are American Country Music's most golden secret. There isn't one single red dirt song of his that I don't enjoy. Even his playful cover of a Ryan Adam's song is great ear candy. Besides his amazing voice, incandescent fiddler, well written songs spelling out everything that's ever went through my head, and the rest of his mind blowing band...I love how they are so genuine. He's not gunna throw on a pair of ropers, squeeze into rhinestone attire and wranglers, a black stetson or sing about some random bar skank's ba donka-donk or dip his finger into a Jimmy Buffett themed spiel of beaches. Nor will you see them striving to play in Colosseums for thousands. They like the good old fact of being uncommercialized badasses, walking onto stages of small town bars, just like they did when they first started, wearing worn-in converse shoes, and a simple pearlsnap or tshirt. Randy likes to wear his infamous cubs hat to his Columbia shows. It's kind of like flipping everyone in cardinal country the finger...and we hate to love it.

Anyhow, now that you understand how cool these guys are, you can trust and understand the substance of our little trek. Back to square one- I asked my roommate A-pop to join me at the concert.

A-pop: "you know how much I love Randy Rogers Band, but I don't know if I really feel like going."

A-pop. Seriously. PLeeeeeeeeeeeease. Don't make me call Ddub just because you're wanting to back out. C'mon. Since the first night we've become friends, our loyalty to their concerts has been pretty strict, lol. We NEVER miss them. C'mon we'll probably end up hanging out with them like always.

A-pop: "Okay, I'm down. You're right though Jcoop. I mean, we ARE like groupies...groupies in a non-sexual, non-trashy way."

After she got ready, we headed for another A-pop and Jcoop night full of adventure. The concert was great. The opening band was non other than the John D Hale band. They're like a mirror image of how cool RRB is. They have their own edge and style, and they kick total ASS. They're Missouri's very own little flavor of damn good music. My friend Ddub grew up with John and introduced me to the band years ago...the very first time I watched RRB live, they opened for them. As soon as I graduated Army training, I went to Texas, then back to Columbia Mo, then all the way down to Joplin just to hear John and the boys...what? I needed my fix! I missed out on good music for six months straight. The long drive was so worth it. Yes. I can honestly say that we're all friends. BOOM! Those two bands together guarantees a good night for sure. Later I will post some JDHB adventures.

I had a good buzz going, and after the concert we stuck around to chit chat with friends. As we were walking out to leave, we struck up a good conversation with Jon "Chops" Richardson. He's a dang good bass player and also does vocals. At the same time...some snarky faced girl that we would NEVER be friends with was standing with us talking to him too. We all were talking him into going out with us. Snarky face mentioned Black and Gold, a tiny little dive bar where all of our little country friends chill. I have a love-hate with Black and Gold. Sometimes you love it, and sometimes you don't. Everybody knows each other and we're all into the same stuff for the most part...but I'm a non-conformist. I do what Jcoop wants to do at all times....unless I'm in uniform that is. So in other words, sometimes I want to be a little more incognito, so crowds are more fun to blend into and to be around everyone of all walks...downtown. I like black and gold every so often...but for like 20 minutes. hahaha.

Jon was all for it..but thought it would be tight to get the rest of the crew to join us. He left A-pop and I standing on the sidewalk with Snarky face. He then stepped off the bus and asked A-pop and I to come up and meet the rest of the band! We were more than happy to leave Snarky face outside, and hurried on. Randy was sitting on the couch relaxing...jamming to to Miley.

Is this...IS THIS Party in the USA!?

Randy: You're damn right it is. This song is the SHIT!

You know what's not the shit?

Randy: What's that?

That damn cubs hat!

Randy: My cubbies? I love my cubbies.

We sat and partied on the bus for about ten minutes, then decided that we were all going out. The consensus was never black and gold but I was having way too much fun to argue it...I was focused more on having a good night chillin with my favorite band over a debate on where we should go. So I guess we all agreed by exiting the bus, and finding Snarky face outside in her car because she had announced that she was sober and driving. As we got in, I had a beer still. I'm pretty sure Randy and the guys had given it to me on the bus. I honestly don't remember how a got it, lol. Anyhow, we start driving and I pull my camera out. I never like the situation where I'm on an adventure without my camera. There are too many moments that need captured for later nostalgia purposes. I pride myself on my constant clicking addiction. A-pop's brother Voldermort told me that my click-happy addiction is so bad that it's almost sickening. Anyhow, I have my reasons. I like pictures.

Jon takes my camera and gets some good shots of A-pop and I in the back with Randy, while he was discussing the release of their next album. I was pissed because we have to wait so long for it to come out. All of the sudden, the pretty flicker of red-blue lights beamed in the back glass behind us. We were getting pulled over. ugh. What a waste of time. OH NO. I had just realized that I had an opened beer bottle in my hand.

Randy:"I don't care how you do it...but get rid of it QUICK!"

So I started chugging. There was still some left, but they were coming back with flashlights so I wasn't gunna get caught. I stuffed the bottle containing the rest of the coors light into my purse. Our driver was sober, and the cops initially informed her that she was getting pulled over because they noticed flashes inside the vehicle. Yeah. That's called a camera flash, I irritantly mouthed off from the back. What dumb reason to pull someone over. I would never pull someone over for that. Instead of catching real bad guys...like the ones that broke into our house and stole A-pops TV...Columbia PD likes to be lazy and stick to the easiest violations they can because drinking and driving is inevitable. There are always people doing it. Investigating other crimes involves way to much effort, and when there isn't any drinking and driving suspicion, they like to create their own little variables that lead them to their reasons to believe. So basically they get to waste our time too.

As they made our driver get out and do all the procedures, Randy's eyes got really big....

Randy: "my ass is wet!"

That beer bottle had less than a 1/4 cup left in it and had spilled out of my purse and onto the seat between him and I. ahahaha.
It seemed like we were there forever, and we debated getting out of the vehicle and just walking off to have someone else come pick us up. Leaving Snarky face wouldn't have effected my feelings or concscience at all. Jon insisted that we not do that because he thought Snarky face was pretty cool. uuugh.

Randy: "so you're the freakin MP now get out of the car and pull some rank so we can go drink dammit!!"

Ya right, lol. Finally Snarky face came back, and we pulled away. Then A-pop reminded me how much she hates black and gold. I was like whooooooooa. I had to re-direct this effort.

We are going to balck and gold? How about Willies back downtown?? Can we please go to Willies?

Randy: "ya can we please go to Willies...I mean, I think our other friends are there too..."

A-pop: "Oh for the love....we seriously should go to Willies"

PLEEEEEASE.....

Snarky face: "no. absolutely not. Not after I just got pulled over."

Seriously, it would be easier for them because Willies isn't far from the Blue Note...they could just walk back to their bus after the bar closes...instead of getting a ride back from the black and gold.

Snarky face: "no."

Okay well just drop us off there and you can go do whatever you want.

Snarky face: "no. no and no."

See...Snarky face wanted to be a hero in front of everyone at the black and gold for bringing Randy Rogers there because EVERYONE at Black and Gold knows who Randy Rogers is. We seriously would have had more fun downtown. Not alot of people in that scene know who RRB is...so it wouldn't be as annoying.

Randy: (high pitched) "Willies...."

A-pop: (low pitched) "Willies...."

Willlliiiiies....

Randy: (low pitched) "Willies...."

A-pop: (high pitched) "Willies...."

Willliiiiiies.....

Snarky face: "No it's not gunna happen!"

Randy: "Seriously I really don't give a shit but c'mon. I would much rather go downtown, so will you please take us to Willies..."

Snarky face got really pissed off. She screamed at Randy!

Snarky face: "I FUCKING SAID NO. I SAID IT A MILLION TIMES, NO! We're going to my bar and I'm driving so tough shit!

We all three shut up into complete silence. Then A-pop, Randy and I just BUSTED up laughing. Are you completely kidding me? Did she just freaking yell at one of my all time favorite songwriters? What a fucking joke.

A-pop: whispers..."dude...she just yelled at Randy fucking Rogers, lol"

This is retarded. This is seriously just the dumbest ever. Are you kidding me? lol who cares. Because as soon as we get to black and gold...I will have someone give us a ride to Willies so I don't know why you're so hell-bent on taking us there.

Randy: "OK!"

We get to the black and gold, and I notice the time. Bars closed in 20 minutes. We were there for good. I called and had my DD prepared, and noticed the swarm of people that hovered over the two band members. Randy was having an involved conversation with A-pop about his work and his favorite pieces etc, and EVERYONE in that bar wanted to have his undivided attention. No one could just sit and have a beer the guy. Randy turned to A-pop with an exhausted grin.

Randy: "I feel like I'm on display..."
A-pop: "ha, welcome to the Black and Gold"

A-pop went to wait her turn outside of the bathroom when this tall guy came up to wait his turn for the Men's restroom. They stood in silence for a little bit, then A-pop broke the ice.

A-pop: "Soooo, what did you think of the concert?"

Guy: "Well, I'm in the band. I thought it was pretty good."

A-pop wasn't sure what to say after that, but they ended up making pretty good friends. The guy told her that he was Les Lawless. She argued that he wasn't so he went ahead with it and said he wasn't. We all ran around and hung out with Randy and everyone for the remaining 15 min, and realized it was time to scoot. My boyfriend S-train was waiting outside for A-pop and I...and the guy. This is where things started getting hazy. We were having a blast with all sorts of conversation, then A-pop says...Jcoop, this guy told me he was Les Lawless. I started laughing.

We laughed it off and then he was all for coming back to the cottages to party with us. Everyone was down for it, until he said he would need a ride back to the bus at 5am. I knew I would still be considered over-the-limit and A-pop NEVER gets up that early. We explained the reality of the situation and he decided would just get out at the bus.

A-pop, by the way, this guy is a liar. lol, I assure you that he's not Les Lawless.

Guy: "Are you kidding me? Why else would I be going to the bus?"

Dude, you're not Les Lawless. He wasn't wearing that shirt earlier.

Les: "I am Les Lawless."

NO YOU AREN'T.....wait, are you?

It was Les Lawless. It WAS FREAKING LES LAWLESS. We said goodnight and headed home.

The next morning I went into A-pops room...

HOLY SHIT. WE LITERALLY ARE THE COOLEST PEOPLE EVER.