It always warms my heart when close friends share with me how they met people who have made a difference in their lives, and in so many ways and sometimes suddenly and unexpected. Such is the case with Big Valley Mustangs-Michael Merritt (lead vocals), Billy Seals (guitar), Bobby Seals (bass), and Kevin Feeney (drums, formerly of Decompressed
Big Valley Mustangs is an Americana band from Knoxville, Tennessee.
It was a dreary, rainy day on Saturday. A great way for me to spend a night like this is to see a live band at Vienna Coffee Shop. I had been curious about Big Valley Mustangs for a few months. I had seen pictures of them on Facebook and what they were working on at their rehearsals.
What I had seen online was nothing compared to what I saw in person! What did you see, you may ask? Not only talent, but sincere passion in playing and drawing in the audience, and lyrics that are anything but cliche. Big Valley Mustangs wasn't just another band filling up time on a weekend night at a coffee shop. Nor was it one who played nothing but covers of songs everyone knows by heart.
A few songs and lyrics that stood out to me are "Roses and Rainbows": "For better or for worse is better than roses and rainbows." As a longtime Tanya Tucker fan, I have the lyrics of "Love Me Like You Used To" stuck in the back of my mind. Those lyrics have now been replaced with "I don't love you like I used to; I love you more." In the 1960s, The Byrds gave us "Turn, Turn, Turn," with lyrics based on Ecclesiastes 3. Big Valley Mustangs did the same thing in "Filled With Love." Some other noteworthy lyrics are: "We'll whisper hope at the end of each day."
If any of you are familiar with that lost element of music in which a song title is the same as the band's, that isn't that way with Big Valley Mustangs. They had a song called "Big Valley Mustangs." Lead singer Michael shared how for a while, they had played that at a fire hall. What a great visualization of paying your dues and making memories, making the most of every moment in life!
Having gone to many shows of various genres, the lead vocalist always asks some nice question, primarily, "How are you feeling tonight? Having fun?". What did Michael ask the audience? "How many preacher's kids are there?" Surprisingly, there were a considerable number of them. I believe the song they had, as a "shout" out to them, was called "Preacher Boy."
They have a "fun song," too. It is "Road to Heaven." It started out as a jazz song, but evolved into one with many genres. Kevin provides a great drum intro. The song transitions into a blues-style guitar break, which segues into a jazz-like jam that builds well.
But that wasn't the only song that was rich in that and more. For more of that, check out "Lone Wolf" and "Black Soot."
Another different way the band connected with the audience was asking who knew the lyrics to Johnny Cash's timeless hit "Folsom Prison Blues." Michael had everyone try to fill in the blanks a la Don't Forget the Lyrics. Let's just say I need to brush up on my Johnny Cash. They led into a cover of that same song.
The connection with the audience only got deeper when they led into "Rosalie". It was a song in honor of Billy and Bobby's (twin brothers) mom. After the song, an older gentleman, who happened to be their father, stood up and gave an emotional comment about their mother.
Another cover they did was not one I expected. In fact, it was one I had forgotten and had been somewhere in the depths of my subconscious. Does anyone remember a one-hit wonder 4 Runner, and their song "Cain's Blood" ("Half of my blood is Cain's blood/half of my blood is Abel's)? I'm still trying to figure out when and where I heard that song.
Their last song was "No More Goodbyes." That goes double for me and my relationship with this band. It's only hello, I am a fan for life.
