Concert Special

Last night’s “concert special” at the Emma Chase.

Sue Smith at the Emma Chase Cafe had invited me to have a Flyover People book-signing table at the bluegrass concert in Cottonwood Falls last night in the former city auditorium building.

Before the concert, Dave and I enjoyed a fine dinner at the Emma Chase featuring brisket and pork shank. Let me say, that was some good tasting meat. If you’re wondering what’s in those paper cups- one had barbecue sauce and the other apple butter. It was a very filling meal, so, no room for dessert. But Sue understands the importance of pie…

The group playing last night was called “RoundAbout.” Jeff Schaefer said he just gathered whoever was around and about for the group and that the group will likely consist of different musicians each time they perform. So the guys who played last night haven’t really practiced together a whole lot. It was Jeff Schaefer on guitar, Ryan Durst on guitar, Jimmy Campbell with the banjo, Jeremy Littrell playing bass and John Faris on mandolin. And boy, oh boy, were they good. That was some fine pickin’ and singing.

The crowd enjoyed it and from my vantage point at the back of the room, I could glance over to the side and see Sue and Monty Smith enjoying the show. Whenever the music was playing, Monty had a big ol’ grin on his face – he just loves this stuff. And Sue, too, was smiling during the whole performance. This is not something they put on just for customers, it’s something they truly enjoy themselves.

And, like I said, the music was fantastic. In the middle of it, Sue walked past me and in reference to the thrown-togetherness of the band said, “Imagine how good they’d be if they practiced.”