Billy Bobbin' in Myrtle Beach

Thursday morning I got up early and made my way to the beach. I was bound and determined to get in a beach walk, so at 8 am I was virtually alone on the sand, walking in the surf and feeling the cool breeze blow through my hair. I found myself walking with my eyes closed. It felt great. After a bit I turned to find the marker I had established in my mind to remind me of where I had parked. It was a good two miles back down the beach. I had lost all track of time and reality, and had effortlessly made my way down the beach. I turned around and made the return trip, enjoying every minute of it.

Next, I would go looking for the KISS Coffee House, something I just had to see for myself as an old school closet KISS fan. The Coffee House is located at Broadway at The Beach, in the center of the biggest tourist trap (and there are many) in Myrtle Beach. Just down from The Hard Rock Cafe.

I enjoyed watching some kids feeding the ducks from the foot bridge that leads into Celebrity Square. It reminded me of bringing my own kids to this same spot years ago.

I found the KISS Coffee House easily, and since it was a little past lunch time, I decided to lunch at Johnny Rockets, across the sidewalk right in front of the Coffee House. It was good food and I enjoyed the 1950’s styles and attitudes and the jukebox and the staff dancing to Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” The patty melt sandwich was very tasty. I really wanted a cherry smash to drink, but opted for unsweet tea. All good.
After lunch, I made my way to the KISS Coffee House. Just when i thought Gene Simmons could never take another dollar of my hard earned money, I found myself buying a baseball cap and a frozen Rockuccino (French KISS Vanilla) and an Ace Frehley postcard for my wife. She never liked KISS, but finds Ace fascinating.

I left Broadway at the Beach and headed back to the Holiday Inn for a little r&r prior to meeting Billy Bob and company.

I made my way over to the House of Blues, and got there right on time. Soundcheck was set for 5 PM. I parked backstage and made my way over to a group of crew folks, who pointed me to Kristen Scott, Billy Bob Thornton's personal assistant. Kristen is a sweetheart, and throughout the night I would become more and more aware of how vital her role is in the whole scheme of things. The lady is always at work!

She led the way to the dressing rooms, and told me to make myself at home and that Billy Bob would be up to see me shortly. The first guys I met were Mike Shipp and Brad Davis. I had seen Brad before at the Americana Music Conference. He played guitar with Marty Stuart for a number of years. Brad was very cool, and I enjoyed meeting him a lot.

Michael Shipp spent quite a lot of time with me, and I really like this guy. Not only is he a super guitar and bass player, he is also a life long friend of Billy’s who played in a ZZ Top cover band called Tres Hombres with Billy Bob back in the day. Mike and I talked about a whole bunch of stuff during the course of the evening, and he told me he is working on a solo record as well, which i cannot wait to hear.

After about fifteen minutes, the familiar face of Billy Bob walked up to me to shake hands and gave me a big hug. After first meeting him during our interview over a year ago, it was great to finally meet face to face, and I was really happy to get in a great deal of face time with this rock and rolling movie star, who has not an ounce of ego. It’s amazing. Hollywood has not taken the heart from this Arkansas Southern rocker.

Sound check was fun. The guys have two bands. The Boxmasters, which Billy describes as a “hillbilly band,” dish up country and rockabilly. They open for the Billy Bob Thornton band, the rock group.

They did a Boxmasters soundcheck, and while Billy doesn’t play drums during the show, he did sit on the kit and jam during soundcheck. He is quite the drummer too, by the way.

After a break, they returned to soundcheck for the rock band. This is when I started to realize that i was in for one hell of a show tonight.

After soundcheck, everyone was eating dinner, provided backstage. I was so excited, I chose to eat like Billy, just a banana and an apple and a lot of cold bottled water.

During the dinner break, someone exclaimed that it was “feeding time” for the alligators, so we all made our way to the deck to watch as dozens of alligators were hand fed from a pier 100 yards out. Lots of people were right there on the boardwalk to view the feeding, but I was fine viewing from a distance as these absolutely huge gators rose up out of the water to get their fish dinners. It was amazing. Billy Bob and the others seemed to really enjoy it, and Billy made a few funny comments. He is a great host, and seems to be a limitless entertainer, even off stage.

After a while, it was time for the band to get dressed in Boxmasters gear. Pompadour haircuts, wigs, sideburns, and tonight’s costumes, British Mod, were donned. Apparently, they dress out different at various gigs, sometimes wearing sparkling outfits.

I was sitting on a sofa and looked up and Billy Bob was walking toward me, dressed in his suit and skinny neck tie. “I can’t hear because I have these ear phones in,” he said. “But you’d better get down there. We start in 2 minutes.”

I thanked him, and hit the stair well. I found a perfect vantage point at stage right just behind the sound man, complete with road cases to sit on. Best seat in the house.

The general admission audience were all pushed to the front of the stage, ready for a show, and boy howdy did they ever get one.

Read the SHOW REVIEW by clicking here...

After the Fabulous Boxmasters set, there was a scurry of activity in the dressing rooms as the guys switched from ‘60’s mod to hippie rock and rollers. I sat in a chair and stayed out of the way. When there’s this muck going on, the last thing an artist needs is somebody getting in their way.

We all went back down for the show, and it just plain kicked ass. (See Review)

Following the show, we all went back upstairs and hung out and talked for a long time. Billy had to meet and greet and sign some autographs, and he introduced me to a fellow journalist, Lee Valentine Smith from Atlanta who writes for Creative Loafing. Billy had told me months ago that he wanted me to meet Lee, and said we were a lot alike. I believe he was right. I really enjoyed meeting Lee and his friend who came out with him.

After another hour or so, I decided to head out. I said goodbye to all of my new friends and thanked them all for being so kind and generous with their time. I walked in on Billy Bob as he was changing into some comfortable traveling clothes. They were about to head out for Huntsville, Alabama, quite a drive. I gave Billy a big ol’ handshake and hug.

I was in the wind back to the Holiday Inn, and would leave out the next morning to drive back, with some great memories of one of the most fun nights of my life.

Thank you Billy Bob, Kristen, Lisa Roy, the band and crew. Good times!

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo

Be sure to read the Concert Review.