Photog Chris Br + Tanya

                                                 Clint McFarland and Black Creek Ri'zen, Long's Log Cabin and Package 5/14/2021

     In 2011 The Shop Radio came to Jacksonville. I had come to see what Jacksonville had to offer by way of music; and saw a couple of good acts, and heard of many more. Clint McFarland and Black Creek Ri'zen was one of those acts, and circumstances did not permit us to see them then. All that changed this trip out!

The band bills itself as the TRUE Honky Tonk experience. It's genius marketing. How much fun is a Clint McFarland Show! It's THIS much fun!

 It all started after we got into town, when Clint called us with an invitation to have lunch at Whitey's Fish Camp. Whitey's is famous due to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and .38 Special, but that aside, we had a chance to meet Clint and Mimi, plus good seafood. Somewhere, it was on my do it list, but I tend to get into a mindset on these trips. Clint's suggestion was much appreciated, and we caught up on the local scene. Clint was playing at a bar called Long's Log Cabin and Package in Welaka, and told us how to get there. It seems that everything in Middleburg meets up at 17 or Blanding, but we fired up the GPS and the rental and headed thataway. We were promised a nice drive and it was indeed especially the cutoff road into Wekala. Long's literally looks like a log cabin, and is a fun place; the band had already started so I took pictures. And promptly got thwacked by a door. Somehow I missed the fact that I was blocking the ladies room door...

  The band is crack- Clint McFarland on guitars, Jonathan Myers on harmonica (he is the best I've ever heard, and I learned a lot talking to him) David "Chuckie" Pratt on bass, Mike Keeble on drums, and Mimi Connour doing the sound mixing and occasional fickle finger of fate.

   They do not miss a beat (well ok, maybe once, but there were boobs involved, so we get that.) and crank out versions of classic country songs which are better than the originals. They covered "Leaving Here a Better Man" (A Clint Black tune)  and that set the tone. It was also in my head for awhile after the gig. More than that, I heard songs that I'd not heard (some were favorites in those days) like David Allen Coe's "Long Haired Redneck". I have not heard this in many years, and the words came. Then the thump of the foot and Clint launches into Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road", then Johnny Russell's "rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer". These were great covers, two *more* favorites were Love and Theft "Whiskey on My Breath" and Cody Jinks "Cast No Stones". I walked in not knowing these tunes and walked out humming them.  Clint's crew made us feel welcome, and at home, which was much appreciated. With those things in place it was easy to have a great time with their show. Clint's folks have hearts of gold, and we cannot wait to see them again. Now... You?

You gotta go see them! Don't gimme no lip! 

- Chris Br