The Time Between

Whenever I say I played in country bands in the UK to an American I get a look of surprise and shock. What could the Brits (who after all are soooo cultured) possibly be doing listening to hillbilly music. I actually think the Brits appreciate real country at least as much and maybe even more that you yanks. We love this stuff. There used to be a huge festival every year in London at Wembley Arena (about 10000 people) where the cream of American country music would play. I saw Dolly, John Hartford, Jack Greene, Marty Robbins there one year. Amazing stuff. I don’t know whether it’s because of it’s historical ties to English folk music (which we often treat the same way as the Americans treat real country I’m afraid – see my Martin Carthy comments elsewhere for a good example of this) or what but it’s seen as something cool and groovy there – whereas here it’s seen as old fashioned and old hat. People like Merle and George are seen as the embodiment of country, the totally real deal – as they most certainly are. Not as two old guys who can’t get played on country radio.


I played in a band there with my friend Gwyn (the other half of the Time Between – we’ve been together now for so many years…all together now) and it was a hoot. We played mostly Irish pubs and clubs and the most memorable was a Country and Western club we played in St Albans. It was a large room and each wall had life size pictures of famous cowboys (John Wayne, Gary Cooper) and an audience of probably 300. Each of which was Indian – no…not Native American. Indian Indian. The highlight for me was our version of Elvis’s American Trilogy which Gwyn did a lot of accapella. Oh I forget to mention the Indians were all wearing full cowboy regalia – hats, toy guns, chaps. The lot. So when we did Dixie they all lined up in front of the stage, and put their guns on the floor and held their hats against their hearts. Gwyn kept a straight face but those of us who weren’t playing almost lost it. It remains one of my favorite memories and a true cross-cultural experience.

Country remains cool and groovy and there’s a real understanding of its significance in the overall history of popular music. It’s also got a romance about it – and a lot of the songs include references to alcohol (what’s not to like). I just read the history of California Country – and it’s shocking how legends like Merle and Buck were ignored by the mainstream and for a while by everyone else. I hope we don’t have to wait for the rest of them to die before we appreciate them (thanks to Dwight for helping a lot of people recognize the genius that was Buck Owens).