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» member profile:
danflowers7
» genre:
Country >
Country-Rock
» location:
Mr. Smith
» label: unsigned
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Idaho Smith
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Rode Hard (Live)
Idaho Smith is not from Idaho. His name is not Smith. So, what gives?
Back in 1972 while riding his sorrel mare through the Mojave Desert in Southern California, the horse spun around, lost her balance, and fell to the ground landing on his right leg. His head crushed his hat as it hit the hard packed ground. When he regained his senses not even the dust was left hanging in the air to tell him what direction she had galloped off toward. But, the barn-sour mare would surly be heading the 2 1/2 miles back to the ranch to her corral and fellow horses.
After climbing up onto his knees he looked up to find the only support in sight were yucca cactus trees. Given no other choice he hobbled to his feet, and dragging his boots he moved over towards the cactus, snapped off a reasonable stock, and after peeling back the long needles, he had a usable crutch.
Two miles later he hadn't even noticed the near 100 degree sun burning through his crushed hat. He just continued down the dirt path until he saw old man James yelling something incoherent about that ... horse. He just kept on swearing and ranting about his new fence and how that ... horse nearly tore it down after ending up on the wrong side of the post and wire boarder between his and Smith's ranches.
Half an hour later the mare had been corralled, the saddle was back in the tack room, and he was laying on the sofa in the ranch house, still covered in the desert dust and sand.
From that day on he was never the same.
Back in 1972 while riding his sorrel mare through the Mojave Desert in Southern California, the horse spun around, lost her balance, and fell to the ground landing on his right leg. His head crushed his hat as it hit the hard packed ground. When he regained his senses not even the dust was left hanging in the air to tell him what direction she had galloped off toward. But, the barn-sour mare would surly be heading the 2 1/2 miles back to the ranch to her corral and fellow horses.
After climbing up onto his knees he looked up to find the only support in sight were yucca cactus trees. Given no other choice he hobbled to his feet, and dragging his boots he moved over towards the cactus, snapped off a reasonable stock, and after peeling back the long needles, he had a usable crutch.
Two miles later he hadn't even noticed the near 100 degree sun burning through his crushed hat. He just continued down the dirt path until he saw old man James yelling something incoherent about that ... horse. He just kept on swearing and ranting about his new fence and how that ... horse nearly tore it down after ending up on the wrong side of the post and wire boarder between his and Smith's ranches.
Half an hour later the mare had been corralled, the saddle was back in the tack room, and he was laying on the sofa in the ranch house, still covered in the desert dust and sand.
From that day on he was never the same.
Why this name?
Smith had played in so many bands over the years that after while he couldn't remember what band he was playing in at the time.
It might of had something to do with the fateful day out in the desert several years earlier.
Anyway, when he put his own band together he wanted to make sure that he could remember the name - even if he didn't know who he was.
It might of had something to do with the fateful day out in the desert several years earlier.
Anyway, when he put his own band together he wanted to make sure that he could remember the name - even if he didn't know who he was.
Do you play live?
For the first 10 years Idaho Smith only played live, but generally someone was recording on tape or video.
Any special moments? Any time the band got the end of a song together, and at the same time, that was always a special moment.
Any special moments? Any time the band got the end of a song together, and at the same time, that was always a special moment.
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
No reasonable record label would touch this band despite the full houses and filled dance floors Idaho Smith was used to seeing with each gig. This new format and venue is Idaho Smith's future.
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
As if that were possible.
Band History:
Smith got a call one Halloween to see if a fellow band could barrow some gear, and since he wasn't playing that night there was only one answer - of course.
As he arrived at the Atascadero Elk's Lodge, the steel guitar player's wife asked why Smith hadn't brought his guitar with him. Apparently, that was the standard thing to do when you showed up and found another band playing. Besides, there may have already been 14 players crowded on the bandstand, but there was no lead player. After realizing that he wasn't going to escape the ambush, he walked over and picked up a stranded Les Paul copy from the edge of the bandstand.
The next day Smith got a call from another improptu guest who liked his lead work, and a new band was formed: "Country Express."
Actually, that story involves several band incarnations. So, here is the short version...
The bass player from Country Express, Forgetful Jones, and Idaho Smith had been brought together that Halloween night, and a few years later they had given up on that band and formed "Idaho Smith - the band"
Smith's wife also joined in this band. Add a couple of different drummers along the way, and 25 years later I'm here writing about it.
Idaho Smith hasn't played together since about 10 years ago - but that doesn't matter. Smith and Jones consider each other to still be members of that band. You just try to tell them that the band isn't together anymore.
As he arrived at the Atascadero Elk's Lodge, the steel guitar player's wife asked why Smith hadn't brought his guitar with him. Apparently, that was the standard thing to do when you showed up and found another band playing. Besides, there may have already been 14 players crowded on the bandstand, but there was no lead player. After realizing that he wasn't going to escape the ambush, he walked over and picked up a stranded Les Paul copy from the edge of the bandstand.
The next day Smith got a call from another improptu guest who liked his lead work, and a new band was formed: "Country Express."
Actually, that story involves several band incarnations. So, here is the short version...
The bass player from Country Express, Forgetful Jones, and Idaho Smith had been brought together that Halloween night, and a few years later they had given up on that band and formed "Idaho Smith - the band"
Smith's wife also joined in this band. Add a couple of different drummers along the way, and 25 years later I'm here writing about it.
Idaho Smith hasn't played together since about 10 years ago - but that doesn't matter. Smith and Jones consider each other to still be members of that band. You just try to tell them that the band isn't together anymore.
Your influences?
Influences? Hard to say...
The day the band was born arrived when another band had double booked for this particular night. The phone rang one week before the gig was to take place and Smith was asked if he could put something together - QUICK!
Smith booked that first gig without a set list, and without having a band yet, either. Smith had played with Forgetful Jones' band, Country Express, along with a steel guitar player. So, that would be the start of the band. They had no drummer because he had left Country Express and gone back to Sacramento without telling anyone. But, Jones had heard about a guy who had just moved from Santa Barbara to Atascadero. He was a rock drummer, but he wanted to play country. No one had ever heard him, or even met him. So, he was hired.
The rest of the band was Smith and his wife. She had never played in a country band before. She was more of a folk singer and guitarist. Later Smith would wonder why she agreed to do this job. She'd always seemed so smart.
He and his wife were en rout to the club when it occurred to him that they were about to play a 4 hour gig and had no song list. The only singing Smith had done for the last couple of years was harmony on the choruses. He didn't even know the verses to anything. His wife was about to faint right there in the car.
He told her that he had always been the lead player and never really had to worry about the tunes. So, why worry now? Smith's wife had been franticly writing down the titles to any song she could think of while Smith drove California's Highway 101 to Los Alamos for the gig.
The band met their new drummer while setting up for the show. Smith's wife was familiar with the rest of the band, but didn't really know most of them all that well. But, it was time for the show.
The drummer admitted that he didn't know any of the tunes we were about to play. They assured him that they didn't either.
Someone would call out a song title, and the key that they sang it in. The next sound was the drummer rapping his sticks together to set the tempo, and the band started playing as if they actually knew the song.
It turned out that Forgetful Jones' wife was a pretty good singer too, and so she sang a couple songs. She was a big hit as was Smith's wife.
The steel guitar player and Smith took turns playing instrumental pieces. And, if they played a blues number, the solos would go on for days. At one show they played Summer Time for 21 minutes. And, it only has two short verses.
Finally Smith had to sing something. So, he realized that many songs started out with the title of the song as the opening of the first verse. So, that's what he did. He started singing the title of a song, then he made up the rest of it. He usually knew the words to the chorus, so, if anyone started wondering what was going on, by the time they got to the first chorus it all sounded right. And, they could even sing along. The band became a big hit.
This set the tone for the next 10 years of Idaho Smith, the band.
Many times Smith and his wife would be driving to a gig and hear a song on the radio that one of them liked. Smith usually drove, so his wife would grab a pen and sheet of paper and started taking down the lyrics as fast and clear as possible in a bouncing car. She'd guess the key, and as they pulled up the club and started unloading the gear she would call out to the band that there was a new song that night. "Do you know such and such song?" She would ask. "No. What key is it in?" "Let's try the key of C... "
"1, 2, 3, 4... " And the band took off.
Any song, any genre, all was fair game. So, I guess Idaho Smith became their own musical influence.
The day the band was born arrived when another band had double booked for this particular night. The phone rang one week before the gig was to take place and Smith was asked if he could put something together - QUICK!
Smith booked that first gig without a set list, and without having a band yet, either. Smith had played with Forgetful Jones' band, Country Express, along with a steel guitar player. So, that would be the start of the band. They had no drummer because he had left Country Express and gone back to Sacramento without telling anyone. But, Jones had heard about a guy who had just moved from Santa Barbara to Atascadero. He was a rock drummer, but he wanted to play country. No one had ever heard him, or even met him. So, he was hired.
The rest of the band was Smith and his wife. She had never played in a country band before. She was more of a folk singer and guitarist. Later Smith would wonder why she agreed to do this job. She'd always seemed so smart.
He and his wife were en rout to the club when it occurred to him that they were about to play a 4 hour gig and had no song list. The only singing Smith had done for the last couple of years was harmony on the choruses. He didn't even know the verses to anything. His wife was about to faint right there in the car.
He told her that he had always been the lead player and never really had to worry about the tunes. So, why worry now? Smith's wife had been franticly writing down the titles to any song she could think of while Smith drove California's Highway 101 to Los Alamos for the gig.
The band met their new drummer while setting up for the show. Smith's wife was familiar with the rest of the band, but didn't really know most of them all that well. But, it was time for the show.
The drummer admitted that he didn't know any of the tunes we were about to play. They assured him that they didn't either.
Someone would call out a song title, and the key that they sang it in. The next sound was the drummer rapping his sticks together to set the tempo, and the band started playing as if they actually knew the song.
It turned out that Forgetful Jones' wife was a pretty good singer too, and so she sang a couple songs. She was a big hit as was Smith's wife.
The steel guitar player and Smith took turns playing instrumental pieces. And, if they played a blues number, the solos would go on for days. At one show they played Summer Time for 21 minutes. And, it only has two short verses.
Finally Smith had to sing something. So, he realized that many songs started out with the title of the song as the opening of the first verse. So, that's what he did. He started singing the title of a song, then he made up the rest of it. He usually knew the words to the chorus, so, if anyone started wondering what was going on, by the time they got to the first chorus it all sounded right. And, they could even sing along. The band became a big hit.
This set the tone for the next 10 years of Idaho Smith, the band.
Many times Smith and his wife would be driving to a gig and hear a song on the radio that one of them liked. Smith usually drove, so his wife would grab a pen and sheet of paper and started taking down the lyrics as fast and clear as possible in a bouncing car. She'd guess the key, and as they pulled up the club and started unloading the gear she would call out to the band that there was a new song that night. "Do you know such and such song?" She would ask. "No. What key is it in?" "Let's try the key of C... "
"1, 2, 3, 4... " And the band took off.
Any song, any genre, all was fair game. So, I guess Idaho Smith became their own musical influence.
Favorite spot?
Anywhere with an open field and a flatbed trailer. Oh, and a long enough power cord to run the amps - maybe a flood light or two. The more desolate the better. Who needs to be shut down just because someone's neighbor is trying to sleep?
Equipment used:
Fender electric guitars, Guild acoustic guitar, Honer acoustic electric and upright basses, and whatever amps were close at hand. The PA was whatever gear anyone would happen to have lying around. And, with room enough in their truck to bring.