|
Roger Alan Wade at Kaffee Klatsch
July 19th
By Brad Posey
07/10/2008
Roger Alan Wade is coming to Huntsville. You have been warned. One part comedian, one part redneck
philosopher and one hell of a rowdy country journeyman. Imagine a cross between Blue Collar Comedy Tour alumni
Ron “Tater Salad” White and outlaw country legend Billy Joe Shaver and you are half way there. Roger has
written songs for Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and George Jones. He scored a #1 hit for Hank Williams
Jr., writing “Country State Of Mind”.
You might have seen Roger in Jackass The Movie, singing along with his cousin Johnny Knoxville and
his merry band of daredevil misfits. Roger Alan Wade has been featured several times on Howard Stern, MTV and MTV2.
Like Todd Snider and Tim Wilson, Roger’s humorous songs have appeared on many radio programs across America.
Roger Alan Wade’s songs are very funny, populated by characters that would be right at home on an episode
of Cops or My Name Is Earl, but for every cheap laugh in “All Likkered Up” and “D.R.U.N.K.
S.O.B.”, there is a simple poetic strength in songs like “Sweet Wine Of Sorrow” and “If You’re
Gonna Be Dumb, You Got To Be Tough”.
Roger Alan Wade will be performing at Kaffee Klatsch Bar, Saturday night, July 19th. Potty
mouth duo Bad Ass 3000 will be opening the show. Bad Ass 3000 is recommended if you like Tenacious D or The Moldy Peaches.
If you want a beer and a laugh, everything starts about 8pm.
Roger Alan Wade Is A Saint
posted August 9, 2008
It has been my pleasure to know Roger
Alan Wade only a short time, but I feel like I've known him forever. I met him in a bar about a year ago.
I am Carlos
Dempsey - also known as Secret Santa. I give bikes to needy children. It started out 24 years ago just for Christmas, but
now it has evolved into weekly calls about birthdays, deaths in the family, adoptions and grandparents having to raise grandchildren.
I
approached Roger one night and asked how much he would charge me to do a show to help me raise money to buy new bikes for
needy kids. His answer was when, where and what time? No charge.
Not only did he show up, but he brought friends who stayed after he had to go that played to help me.
We
raised over $400 that night to buy new bikes. I gave away 156 new bicycles last year to needy children thanks in part to Roger.
He is like me. He's not perfect, but he has a heart and, because of him, there are a lot of kids in Chattanooga who
got something for Christmas who would not have gotten anything. I cannot afford any more to do this on my own financially.
I have to depend on cash doanations.
Thanks to people like Roger and Rick Hall, 10 needy children got new bikes for
Christmas that would not have possible. So, Roger, stay sober or go back to drinking. That is up to you. But whatever you
are a saint to me and 156 children you will never know. I prefer the children don't know us anyway. Santa brings the stuff.
Carlos Dempsey
August 22, 2008
On Monday night, the CreateHere organization hosted a party. Why? Was there a clever new ProgramTitle to celebrate? Did they discover a new
color of Post-It™? (I kid. I kid.) No, the party was meant to celebrate Chattanooga — and judging by the turnout
(not to mention the quickly emptied food and drink tables), Chattanooga was ready to celebrate itself.
Dubbed “35° 85°” (after the city’s latitude and longitude coordinates), and marketed in a cryptic but appropriately
viral manner, the event brought together current and future civic leaders, social butterflies, old hippies, and sundry other
types. The venue was Loose Cannon Studio on Rossville Ave, just off Main St.
As I stood in line waiting to get in, just a couple of bodies ahead of former mayoral candidate Ann Coulter
and friends, I could hear that Roger Alan Wade had already started his set of caustic country music. Once inside, I stood
for a while by the back wall and observed. The scene was neither of two that I half-expected—the predominant one being
a rather awkward gathering of snobbish urbanites who mostly knew each other (but in less casual surroundings than these).
This was an actual party, where people mingled, joked, and browsed in a carefree manner.
If you didn’t go, don’t make the mistake of assuming that the event was populated solely by foppish
would-be hipsters. If you weren’t there, you didn’t see the middle-class working set, the unapologetic eccentrics,
nor the buttoned-down tycoons. The second musical act, Col. Bruce Hampton, Ret., had some combination of all of these out
on the dance floor. While the dancing, like the installations of performance art I more than once heard called “weird,”
may not have been everyone’s favorite thing, it brought the guests together in its own way.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday, July 26, 2008
| |
Roger Alan Wade
Roger Alan Wade is a classy guy, My wife and I drove
down to Chattanooga Tennessee. To see him perform at the the Deadwood Saloon. He played about a four hour set,
with no break. I mean what more could you ask for, well after the show I asked Roger to sign a shirt I brought and get
a picture with him, he happily abliged. I told him how we drove down from Cincinnati and he was amazed that we came so far
to see him play, but let me tell you it was well worth it. I was talking a little more and then I showed him my Knoxville
tattoo's, he thought they were amazing, but then we had to leave and Roger walked out with us and gave my wife and I R.A.W.
t-shirts, and a cd, just to let me say he is the nicest guy around and I am glad I finally got to meet him.
MEATBALL
|
Roger
Alan Wade played at the Saxon Pub last night. I knew of his connection to the Jackass franchise but I guess I never realized it's at least partially because he's Johnny Knoxville's cousin. Anyway,
in attendance last night were a big chunk of my friends from the Stillwater Pioneers, Gunhands, Rattlesnake Deer and Reid
Wilson's band as well as Dale Watson and Knoxville himself.
RAW really tore it up last night playing great song after
great song and really, dare I say, inspiring the crowd. I was really blown away as that was the first time I'd seen him live.
He doesn't tour nearly enough (I know, I know...it's Austin and I'm music-greedy).
After the Saxon, a bunch of us went
down to the Broken Spoke to hear Dale Watson (also has a Jackass/Johnny Knoxville) connection and Dale called Roger up to
play a couple of songs with him and his Lonestars. They started off with a cover of Billy Joe Shaver's "Just Because You Asked
Me To", his own "Reckless Kind" and another of his own whose title escapes me at the moment. It was incredible to see not
only his performance of those songs (for the second time that evening) but also to see Dale's band just create the accompaniment
for a couple of songs they'd probably never heard before. Wow. The things you can
only see in Austin. And Johnny Knoxville was right up front through it all with his video camera rolling (and buying a dozen
beers at a time for himself and his friends).
Oh yeah, Roger is still in Austin. He'll be at the Mean Eyed Cat tonight
July 3rd. I have a feeling it's going to be a big time so come on out friends and neighbors. The beer'll be cold and tomorrow's
a holiday.
Chattanooga’s Live Music Scene: Roger Alan Wade
by
Bob Payne WWW.MYSPACE.COM/DAVRIK
posted August 7, 2008
The past week we have been on a musical merry-go-round, catching shows at Deadwood Station in Red Bank,
Riverfront Nights, our weekly jaunt to the Chattanooga Market for tomatoes and music, lunch with Charlie Louvin, and a trip
to the Memorial Auditorium to see the great Merle Haggard. It shows that Chattanooga is becoming a great music town when two
Grammy winners are here in the same week, and both are Hall Of Fame members.
Along the way, I also served as a judge in the “Chattanooga Idol” contest, with Chastity Jones
winning the competition and getting a guaranteed audition before American Idol producers in Jacksonville.
One of Chattanooga’s long-time favorites, Roger Alan Wade is back on the
scene, playing at several venues in the area each week. We caught him at Buds last week, and he put on a show. I think he
played close to three hours without stopping. His bass player and drummer looked as though they had just run the marathon
and just came out of the shower. His longest break was about 10 seconds, as he took time to get hugs from his many fans on
hand to welcome him back to Brainerd Road.
There is a reason for the hugs. One that makes you proud to know Roger Alan Wade and helps one understand why so many people were there to show him some love. It’s
no secret that he has recently completed rehab. He plays in venues every night that serve alcohol. Rather than be tempted
by taking breaks and sitting around while well-meaning fans come up and buy him drinks, he just plays. And plays. And plays.
The fans get a great show, and Roger stays sober. Like his many fans, I say congratulations, Roger!
Roger plays a mix
of original songs and cover tunes from Country music’s best. He has written songs for George Jones, Johnny Cash, Willie
Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and more. He is an accomplished guitar player and has the great Kenny Palmer playing bass, and Bob
Stagner on drums. Since Roger goes from song to song with no break or discussion, they have to be good enough to just pick
it up on the fly. Luckily, these two are excellent at doing just that. It’s a great band, fronted by a real pro.
Roger
and his cousin, Johnny Knoxville, have a new radio show on Sirius satellite radio’s Outlaw Channel, also. His touring
schedule has him all over the United States in the coming weeks.
I really loved both of Roger Alan Wade's shows when he was in Austin back in July at the Saxon and Mean Eyed Cat. I've been
listening to the recordings of the shows nonstop and really love his songwriting and sound.
He's coming back!
The
Saxon Pub.
Wednesday
August 13th
2008
8p
If you missed him the first time, take this opportunity to atone
for your sins. 100% worth it. I guarantee it.
|
|
|
|
|
