Buffalo Roaming: Alabama Trip Wrap Up and Linkage

This past week was a real blast for me. Every time i visit Alabama I feel surrounded by friends, and its a great feeling. From the visit to Penne’s river home on Thursday and seeing Billy C. Farlow, to the two days with Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters and the awesome party Dick Cooper threw on Sunday, it was all good. What follows are some “random notes.” Little factoids from the trip that I somehow managed to leave out of the story.

The guy filming Billy Bob’s interview with A&E’s Lynn Hoffman was talking to me before the filming, telling me that he is on the crew of the PBS series Southern Haunts. It’s kind of like Ghost Hunters. Later, when venue owner Debra Jenkins spoke to the assembled crowd, she related a story about a ghost that lives in the Merrimack Hall. He even has a name, Charlie Foster. A kid that worked at the former textile mill. Continuing with the theme, Billy Bob spoke to Lynn about his California home. He says it too is haunted. His home was formerly owned by Cecil B. DeMille, and when he was married to Angelina Jolie, they saw a ghost in the house several times. Spooky.

Debra told the audience that the non-profit Merrimack Hall has been open for a year, and has already donated $60 thousand to charities in the community. How cool is that?

I wanted to give a shout out to the Garden Hilton in Huntsville. Especially the staff ladies and cook at breakfast Saturday and Sunday. Nice girls, and the cook really knows how to make a Southern omelet sing.

To all of Billy Bob’s band, Teddy, Mike, Bubba, Marty, Brad, and J.D., I had a blast. You guys are not only world class musicians, you are some of the nicest and funniest human beings I have ever met. Hey Marty. Tell The Boss I am a real fan!

I loved meeting all of Billy Bob’s crew, from the hair and makeup girls to the road crew, of course Lisa Roy and Kristen Scott, and Tom Mayhew, the head of the crew. Tom showed me footage from his upcoming reality show “King of the Roadies,” and it looks great. Here’s a teaser.

Thanks again to Dick Cooper for the party on Sunday. A large time for sure.

Below are links you should check out. They are all people and places I encountered while roaming to Alabama. The first section is devoted to links to my writings about the trip, followed by external links.

Well, I think I covered everything. I’ll be back tomorrow with some more Southern rock madness.

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo

Buffalo Roaming to Alabama

Buffalo Roaming, Day One

Buffalo Roaming, Day Two

Buffalo Roaming, Day Three

Buffalo Roaming, Day Four

Boxmasters Show Review

Video of Billy Bob's Interview

Cooper's Party Photos

The Boxmasters

Billy Bob Thornton Music

Billy Bob Fan Site

J.D. Andrew, Boxmasters Producer/Engineer/Guitarist

Brad Davis, Boxmasters (and Bluegrass hero)

Teddy Andreadis, Boxmasters

Marty Rifkin, Boxmasters

Funky Donnie Fritts

Merrimack Hall

Dick Cooper

Jason Isbell