Show will bring bluegrass, with a twist, to town
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 1, 1997
A group of polished musicians will sing more than Happy Birthday on Wednesday as they celebrate Bowling Green songwriter Pat Haneys 34th birthday at Three Brothers II.The Pat Haney Birthday Bash will be headlined by The Larry Keel Experience, a sort of bluegrass band with a twist that features Bowling Green resident and Grammy-winner Curtis Burch. Larry Keels flatpicking guitar twice has won him top honors at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Burch, known for his work on the dobro, is a founding member of New Grass Revival. Other musicians who will play with Burch as part of The Larry Keel Experience include banjo player Bill Constable of Hypnotic Clambake and The Doug Dillard Band and Mark Schimick on mandolin. Were going to have a five-piece slamming Bowling Green ensemble, said Jenny Keel, a band member and Larry Keels wife. Its no telling whos going to get up and play with Larry, Haney said of Keel, who composes music influenced by the likes of The Grateful Dead, Jimmi Hendrix and New Grass Revival. Thats why they call it the Experience. Part of the Experience is unstructured fun Haney isnt even sure what time the show will kick off. It will usually get going between 9:30 and 10 p.m., he said. … Its not going to be structured. Its no telling what will happen once they get started. Jenny Keel said the Experience is always relaxed. Bluegrass lends itself to being in a backyard or on a porch, she said. You can break out your mandolin or guitar and, if youre discreet, (you can) merge into a jam. Its a great spirit of friendship. Jenny Keel first felt that friendship when her now-husband, who she met through friends at a bluegrass show in Virginia, drafted her to be his bass player, even though shed never played a string instrument. It was kind of trial by fire there, but I loved it and he was so supportive, she said. The Keels and Burch are friends with Haney, who often goes fishing with Larry Keel. They are part of what Bowling Green banjo and mandolin player Todd Osborne calls a circle of friends who support each other. We kind of switch musicians with each other and kind of put different bands together, Osborne said. Its a mixture of Miles Davis, Bill Monroe, Duke Ellington and the Grateful Dead. Jenny Keel, who lives with her husband in Rockbridge County, Va., said members of The Larry Keel Experience feel honored to play with Burch at Three Brothers II.Were thrilled to be back with our good buddy, Curtis Burch, she said. … Were just doing what he did with the New Grass Revival for our generation. Jenny Keel called Burch one of our inspirations from 20 years ago. Haney said he cant think of a better birthday present and is excited about the bash. It certainly is an experience, he said. Tickets for the show at Three Brothers II are $6 at the door.