Few bands take the time to really pay homage to the tradition from which they came. From their high and lonesome vocals to their tailored suits The Henhouse Prowlers do just that with each performance. The Swing Station is an out of the way hole in the wall honkey-tonk that hosts music nightly. It’s the type of place where a stray Golden Retriever might illicit a few pats from patrons as they order up at the bar. It’s not where you’d typically expect to see The Prowlers play, but they’ve developed a bit of a following out here in the sticks. They played two sets starting right around 9 PM.
Since their last show in Laporte in the fall, they have toured Europe and lost a member. Guitarist Aaron Dorfman has departed the band to focus on teaching. Chris Dollar of the Flatland Harmony Experiment is a folk and bluegrass picker hailing from Indiana. He has some solid picking skills and a truly unique voice. In addition to the personnel shift, I noticed there were two microphones on stage. I was baffled until I saw bassist Jon Goldfine’s leg in a walking cast. He was playing hurt, but that would not stop him from ripping it up for two sets.
They were on just the second stop of a sixteen show run that would take them through the Bender Jamboree in Las Vegas and end in Oregon. Kyle O’Brien who has now been playing with the Prowlers for over two years was primed to get the night started with “Born and Raised in Covington.” “Syracuse” featured Ben Wright on vocals was another early highlight. Dollar stepped up the mic several times throughout the shows and it was immediately obvious that he is a well-polished performer ready for the road. Fans were happy to hear their rendition of “Chop My Money” as well. Kyle sang a bluegrass version of the Fats Domino classic “I’m Walkin’” to close out the first set.
Their second set was another round of the classic Prowlers we’ve come to expect. In fact, I would say ankle injuries and new faces aside the music was perfect for the last time they played in town. In fact, that’s sort of the beauty of the Henhouse Prowlers. While their lineups may not always be stable, the music always is. Highlights from the second set included “Honey Bee” and a new song by Chris Dollar entitled “I’m A Drifter.” They closed the show with their theme song “I’m Still On That Ride.” Before departing for Denver they brought the show down to the floor for a pair of unamplified tunes to encore their performance.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of seeing The Henhouse Prowlers live, catch them at Summer Camp or you know anywhere in Europe. They are definitely one to check out. Here is my full photo album from the show on my production page.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1996592513685470.1073741859.775534025791331&type=1&l=ce875d93f4
And now, a very special message from The Henhouse Prowlers about Summer Camp Music Festival 2018.
]]>
