PARLOR PICKIN' PACKS THE HOUSE
COUNTRY OAKS B-N-B
MOUNTAIN VIEW, AR
FEBRUARY 25, 2017
 |
Country Oaks Bed & Breakfast - Mountain View, AR
|
A Parlor Pickin' always has my name on it! And if the weather cooperates on a February day in beautiful Mountain View, Arkansas, we peel out and head for the hills. The beautiful Country Oaks B-n-B and her owners, Jerry and Carole Weber, along with various rescued pets, are the ideal hosts for what has become an annual invitation-only event.
Guests at the inn on 12 rolling acres are treated to comfortable accommodations and a couple of killer breakfasts while staying there for the weekend. Come Saturday night, the guests and some folks from around town and beyond are further entertained by incredible performers from the Mountain View and Batesville areas.
Not staying at the B-n-B? You won't starve or have to sleep in your car. Here are some suggestions: Check out Pinewood Cabins on the corner of the Town Square. Hungry? Stop in at JoJo's Catfish Wharf just out Hwy 9 at Jack's Fishing Resort. For breakfast, it doesn't get any better than P.J.'s Rainbow Café on the Town Square. Best breakfast in town!
Right on schedule at the Parlor Pickin', Pam Setser shows up with her dulcimer and those spoons that fascinate everybody. Pam is known throughout Arkansas for her performance with her family's band, also The Leatherwoods and the very popular Apple-Setser-Rounds trio. Pam's stunning vocals, her touch on the dulcimer and guitar, and the delightful click sound of her 'magic' spoons are crowd pleasers.
 |
Irl Hees, bass; Pam Setser, dulcimer; Gary Rounds, guitar
|
Gary Rounds comes in looking just like Santa Claus, only much thinner and more handsome. His beautiful hair and beard get everybody's attention immediately. His guitar work is sublime. His vocal renderings on the songs in their program are unbelievable. You wouldn't think Santa Claus could sing like that, but he can. One of Gary's best features is his terrific sense of humor. He enjoys a back-and-forth swap of funny remarks with guests and band members. He's a dandy!
Irl Hees is hardly a stranger to music lovers in this part of the world, since he has performed with Lost Highway, Cedar Hill, and Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, to drop a few names. He is 'the bass player's bass player' and he sings lead and harmony in fine style. Irl is almost always seen working on a toothpick in his mouth whether he is singing or slapping the bass. The toothpick is always there.
 |
Irl's daughter Hannah backed by
Pam Setser and Gary Rounds
on "Steel Rails"
|
This superb musician brought reinforcements with the addition of his daughter Hannah, who joined the group and sang harmony and even lead on several songs. Hannah also plays guitar, and at a young 20 years of age, she is already a seasoned veteran. We hear that Irl knows at least one of The Cleverlys up close and personal.
 |
Irl Hees on upright bass
with "Amazing Grace"
|
Two gentlemen who were missing from the roster are Batesville's own, Brad Apple (multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, producer), who is ill, and fiddle player Tim Crouch, who had a prior commitment. While we missed Brad and Tim, the artists who performed were warmly received by the 40+ guests who filled the parlor for a wonderful night of music and fun.
We like to let folks know on this blog just what they missed if they could not attend the annual Parlor Pickin', so here is the program: Bonaparte's Retreat, Darcy Farrow, Across the Great Divide (a Kate Wolf song), All of My Memories (John Denver song), Steel Rails (a Louisa Branscomb song done beautifully by Hannah), Just Remember I Love You (a Firefall song), Sweet Dreams (best known by Patsy Cline), 2:10 Train (a Tom Campbell song from an album by Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys), Honky Tonk Heaven, Down on the Corner (...out in the street!), Where the Soul Never Dies, There Is a Time (from the Darling family on "The Andy Griffith Show"), I've Got a Name (Jim Croce), Help Me Make It Through the Night (made popular by Sammi Smith, written by Kris Kristofferson), the Petticoat Junction Theme Song (sung by Irl Hees) [Can you detect themes of early rock, country music and early television shows running through here?], and Long Black Veil (written by Danny Dill of the early Grand Ole Opry husband-and-wife team called Annie Lou and Danny).
After a short break for coffee and dessert and visiting with folks we haven't seen since last year about this time, the second set kicked off with Scotland the Brave, Everyday (a Buddy Holly song), These Days, The Lighthouse, Daddy (written by Irl Hees), Carry Me, Carrie (Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show), Homeless, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack), When Times Were Good and You Were Mine (written by David Lynn Jones, songwriter friend of the artists and several in the audience), I Know Who Holds Tomorrow (Alison Krauss and the Cox Family, performed by Hannah), Drifting Too Far From the Shore, Amazing Grace (solo on bass, Irl Hees), Streets of London, and Walkaway Joe. It was an astounding pickin' (and singin') in that parlor!
If you haven't experienced Mountain View and Stone County, Arkansas, you need to go! The music, the sights, and the food all over town are just incredible!
For more information:
Country Oaks Bed & Breakfast www.countryoaksbb.com
Pinewood Cabins www.pinewoodcabins.com
Pam Setser www.pamsetser.com or Facebook Search PamelaGSetser
Gary Rounds Facebook Search Gary-Rounds
Irl Hees See Acoustic Music Camp - Irl Hees
Mountain View, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce https://www.yourplaceinthemountains.com
JoJo's Catfish Wharf at Jack's Fishing Resort Facebook @jojoscatfishwharf
P.J.'s Rainbow Café On the Square...just ask around!
