Rock-n-Roll Fantasy Comes True - MLAS Paper 2
The story of the Hang Dog Daddies with only a few embellishments.
Clyde Poteat, music writer on the Americana, Outlaw Country & Roots Music beat, wrote several pieces that I will share here. They say “Those who can’t do, teach” and its musical corollary “Those who can’t play, write.” These apply to Clyde. His biggest success as a musician was at company functions and family reunions. His biggest fans were his sisters and his grandchildren. But he developed a knack for writing about music, especially music he loves.
Note: fictional writer Clyde Poteat is my nod to a literary device used in the book Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes where he creates a fictional author named Cide Hamete.
Bobby Charles story
Bobby Charles (originally Robert Charles Guidry) is from Abbeville in rural Louisiana. As a young man he wrote See Ya Later Alligator. Fats Domino declined it but Bill Haley & the Comets made it a huge hit. Now "after while crocodile" is an automatic response. Fats Domino invited Bobby to a show in New Orleans. But Bobby had no way to get there, which prompted him to write Walkin’ To New Orleans. Fats Domino recorded that one – another big hit. While Bobby was not much for traveling and preforming, he did find his way to Wookstock, NY where he jammed with Dr. John, The Band, and others. After settling down back in Louisiana, his house burned down and then the next one got blown away in a hurricane. Bobby Charles died of cancer in 2010 at that age of 70, but not before he wrote Down South in New Orleans, I Spent All My Money (Loving You), Tennessee Blues, and many others. — Clyde Poteat
Miss Tess story
I’ve been following a wonderful singer guitarist named Miss Tess. When she offered guitar lessons, I jumped at the chance. She was about to release a new album which would include her cover of Tennessee Blues. At my last lesson, just before the album’s release, I played my version of Tennessee Blues and Miss Tess played hers. It blew my way. Of all the covers, hers is the most true to the Bobby Charles original. I feel so privileged for that special moment. Thank you, Miss Tess! The new album, titled Cher Rive, adds some Louisiana cajun country lagniappe to here retro sound. — Clyde Poteat
North Mississippi Hill Country Blues story
I’ve been exploring a style of music called North Mississippi Hill Country Blues. I’m a lifetime blues lover: listening, playing, and singing. While I love the Delta Blues 12-bar structure, at times it becomes routine. Hill Country Blues is just as bluesy but it takes liberties with the traditional blues structure: adding an extra measure here, throwing in another lyric line there, and sometimes vamping on the same chord if that’s what feels right. Instead of tight riffs and fancy licks, it's all about the groove. The result is paradoxically energizing yet hypnotic, surprising yet familiar, loose yet tight - in the right hands of course. RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough are the genre’s standard bearers. — Clyde Poteat
Shannon McNally story
Of all the things I like about Shannon McNally — her good looks, sultry voice, and capable guitar playing — I think its her impeccable musical taste I like best. She celebrates her musical heroes with her cover tunes, her own songs, her charming banter on stage, and in her social media feed. They include Waylon Jennings, Bobby Charles, Dr John, The Band, RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, JJ Cale. All dead men, you will notice. She rarely collaborates with other women. But she can turn even the most manly song on its head. — Clyde Poteat
Southern Culture on the Skids story
How in the world can one band blend so many musical influences? Country, soul, surf, arabic, and camp as they parody southern culture: fried chicken, banana pudding, dirt track dates, trailer park high-hair queens, and Little Debbie oatmeal marshmallow cream pies, oh my! — Clyde Poteat
Hang Dog Daddies story
At Westhaven Porchfest the Hang Dog Daddies brought all their dad-rock jams. These guys rehearse every Sunday evening and it shows. They can modulate, harmonize, syncopate, transpose, vary dynamics and tempo — all without capos! I Tell the Truth I got the Key to the Highway to go Further On Up the Road, I’ll be down at the Crossroads, living on Tulsa Time with Layla looking Wonderful Tonight as the Sunshine of Your Love. Everyone was grooving when three of Westhaven’s most desperate housewives climbed onto the porch and started dancing with Dogs to a rousing rendition of Honky Tonk Women. So the band kept it going with Satisfaction, Tumblin Dice, and Brown Sugar. Keep an eye out for upcoming show dates! — Clyde Poteat
It all started in 2003 when Stuart Arnold put an ad in the local newspaper:
Rock Star Wanna Be’s UNITE! Franklin area professional family man/amateur bass player seeking other hobbyist/novice musicians to form a rock or blues cover garage band for fun & leaning. Call Stuart at 599-8486.
Stu’s vision framed the ethos for what would become one of the longest lasting dad bands in all the land: the Hang Dog Daddies.
I responded to the ad only to find out Stu had already started playing with some other guys, who eventually went their own way without Stu. Only then did Stu get back with me to invite me to jam with him. So Stu, another guitar player, and I went up to an extra bedroom. One song we played that night was Key to the Highway, which would become a go-to song for us even to this day. That guitar player was more into heavy metal so he never came back. Stu told us he was converting a room under his deck to make a band room. It wasn’t long until it was ready. Stu invited in others who would become members of the Hang Dog Daddies, including:
Ken Pope - a fluid lead guitarist with a sardonic wit and a bit of a temper.
Austin Pate - an older guy with a gravelly voice who could play drums and harmonica — at the same time.
JK - a drummer, singer/songwriter from Maryland. His favorite song that he wrote was Starting All Over Again, which I can still hear him sing in my mind.
Jim Alderman - Jim saw the Hang Dog Daddies play at the Cottonwood clubhouse and liked what he heard. He joined as an accordian player but eventually replaced JK on drums. Jim is our secret weapon, our glue, and quite a sandbagger. By that I mean he slowly and subtly reveals his talents.
Ron Tkaczyc - harmonica virtuoso, percussionist extrordinaire who can fit himself in to any song. Although I would not let him play bongos on Wonderful Tonight for my sister’s first dance at her third wedding. As a an aside, we don’t play first weddings so as not to spoil anyone’s big day — too much pressure!
Bart Smith - a very careful lead guitarist who’s licks grace so many of our recordings.
Scott Hazen - an extra-large front man who brought in a whole new song catalog
David Martin - exquisite dobro player
John Lafoya - our most recent addition who fits right in on lead guitar
Stu Arnold - our founder, generous leader, and bass player
Brian Fleming - me, rhythm guitar and vocals, who values the friendship and music of the Hang Dog Daddies.
Over time the band room became Stu Stu Studio — the practice and recording space for the Hang Dog Daddies. We gathered every Sunday evening as a last weekend harrah before the dreaded workweek. We joked around, worked on our sound, and watched YouTubes. In fact, we could think of a song, pull up the chord chart, watch and listen on YouTube, and then start playing it all within 15 minutes.
Our first performance — or you could say “open rehearsal” — was at the Cottonwood club house. That gave us confidence that we could start gigging so we played at various events and venues around town. Some highlights included playing my sister’s wedding in Chicago, Stu’s high school reunion in Atlanta, and at Nashville Predators hockey games at Bridgestone Arena.
Hang Dog Daddy Ethos (our version of Don Quixote’s Knight Errant Code of Honor):
Humility and self-deprecation about our music abilities. “If you need a band really bad, we are a really bad band!”
Stop making excuses and start living your dreams!
Friendship first! (before high musical standards)
Play songs we love that are not too popular so folks won’t know if we play it wrong
Tune it or die!
Well in this band we…
Stu happened to be at Puckett’s Grocery (and music venue) in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee for Open Mic Night when a young man named Dillon Vance accompanied by an old man named Lyn Ray took the stage and blew the house away. They played mid-twentieth century rock-n-roll standards covering the likes of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Elvis Presley. Not to be confused with the more famous and influencial rock-n-roll guitarist Link Wray, our Lyn Ray is an outstanding guitarist in his own right with a tremendous feel for rock-a-billy music. But it was 19-year-old Dillon who lit the fire with his slick back hair, jump and jive dance moves, and the ability to sing like all our old-time honky tonk heroes and pop sensations. Stu wrote his number on a napkin, handed it to Dillon, and told him to call if he needs a backing band.
Not much later, Dillon decided to give Stu a try on bass. But Lyn told Stu he prefers stand-up bass. Stu came back with his tail hangdog between his legs because he doesn’t play stand-up bass. We teased him mercilessly. Once we knew Dillon needed drums and bass, Stu slid over to drums and I started practicing with them on bass - which turned into my first bass gig. We became Dillon Vance and the Shinbone Alleycats, so named because the Stonebridge Bookstore where we practiced is literally on Shinbone Alley in Ashland City. We played for tips and charity events throughout the rural towns northwest of Nashville: Ashland City, Pelam, Joelton, and other parts unknown. But like the Hang Dog Daddies, we never hit the big time. Stu and I have a theory that Dillon’s music selection from the 1950’s was a bit of a novelty act and did not appeal to younger audiences. We encouraged him to play more originals and start to take the music in new directions, while still keeping that retro feel. But, for reasons I can’t explain, Dillon did not agree.
Until…
Begin Fantasy - a fictional rise to fame for the Hang Dog Daddies
We played a show at Joelton Hardware, which is more music venue than hardware store. In the house that night was veteran deejay Jessie Scott, the brains behind the Americana catalog at WMOT Roots Radio. She watched Dillon’s set and introduced herself after the show. “Hey guys, great show! I really like your sound!”
“Thank you, thank you very much, ma’am,” Dillon said in his ever polite manner.
Jessie said, “My name is Jessie Scott with WMOT. I remember most of those songs but some I didn’t recognize. Were they originals?”
“Yes we did a few: I wrote Leaf in the Wind, a friend wrote Extra Cash and Wander & Wonder and I wrote Never Learned How to Stop (Loving You) with my Dad.”
“All right!!” Jessie said, “If you can add a few more originals maybe we can have you over to WMOT Finally Friday for a new artist spotlight. Here’s my card.”
“We have a few more in the works. Let’s see what we can put together. I’ll contact you soon!” Dillon said, “Thanks again!”
He turned and did a high five with the band. We huddled to set the time for our next rehearsal. At an hour away, the commute to Ashland City got in the way of regular rehearsals, so Stu asked Dillon if he could come to Stu Stu Studio as well. Dillon agreed and it allowed the entire Hang Dog Daddies band to back up Dillon as our front man.
We put our heads together to see what songs worked to give our sound a “fresh retro” vibe. Just to be sure we were heading in the right direction, Dillon contacted Jessie Scott for suggestions. She recommended we listen to some artists featured on WMOT that had an updated yet old timey sound like JD McPherson, Miss Tess, Charley Crockett, and others. Once we worked up some tunes, Dillon contacted Jessie again to see if we could send her some demo recordings. She agreed, liked what she heard, and invited us to play at Finally Friday at Third & Lindsley in Nashville, which is broadcast live on WMOT Roots Radio. Our big break!
As a showcase, we only had a half hour to play 5 or 6 songs which allowed us to focus only on those in our preparations. We put our hearts into creating a set of honest rock-n-roll numbers that sounded familiar yet were completely original. The two acts before ours were sad singer-songwriters so the room was ready for some fun. We launched into our set and gave it our all. The crowd responded and the undeniable energy translated to the radio show. WMOT started getting requests for our tunes but all we had at that point were our demo recordings. So WMOT took an unusual step and started airing our songs recorded from that live show. This turned out to be the perfect way to get our fresh retro sound heard quickly. It set in motion more live gigs which gave us the opportunity to hone our sound as there is no substitute for live performance experience in roots rock.
With success comes hard choices. The band members had to decide if they were ready to become a traveling band or just keep it local which would limit our popularity. We had jobs and families to maintain. We are Hang Dog Daddies after all: owowowoooo! So we met and decided we would travel only for the right opportunities but otherwise keep it local. And yes that meant declining The Tonight Show, SNL, and Coachella.