Big Smith

Friday night, this roving iPhone reporter succumbed to a couple years of spousal pressure and accompanied her to a Big Smith live performance. Man-o-man was I pleasantly surprised! I expected a knee-slappin' night of Ozark blue grass music. You know, the kind that just makes you want to smack yourself in the head with a beer bottle in hopes you will black out. But instead, I found a band of six superbly talented musicians and song-writers influenced by blues, country and rock-and-roll, as well as the expected double dash of blue grass and obligatory case or two of Budweiser. It is amazing that five cousins could get along so well, and just as amazing that a classically trained violinist hangs out with those yahoos. Below, Rik shares a joke with the crowd while Molly refills her tank. Rik can make anything with a string sing, and his vocals are enthralling.

The founder, Mark, jams with Molly. Mark's musical influences come from a classically trained pianist mother, a teenage stint in a punk rock band, singing gospel in a Southern Baptist church, Burl Ives, rock-and-roll, a mentor uncle, his big brother's interest in blues and a graduate degree in music from Missouri State University. In addition to leading Big Smith, Mark and his wife own the MayApple Record label, he produces CD's and is a noted music archivist.

Mark's older brother Jody is on the left. He is a former university English professor and a poet. His energetic mandolin and keyboard licks are fantastico profundo. Pictured in the middle is cousin Bill playing his bass. His songs add a whole new punch to show.

If you haven't seen Big Smith. See 'em. If you've seen 'em, I know you'll see them again soon. If you see them play in the Blue Note, just maybe the sound board guy will hop on stage and play his beer belly to accompany his favorite song. The timbre on his tubby tummy was, well, pink.