Category: Music

Roller Rapper reaches the end of the line

Robby Love, aka the Roller Rapper, recently finished his Route 66 tour, despite near-exhaustion, logistical screw-ups and a broken-down RV. Love filed his last tour diary entry on Monday after reaching the shores of Santa Monica. As far as the next roller tour goes, I think i would definately (sic) do it again. I had … Continue reading Roller Rapper reaches the end of the line

“Life Is a Highway” — the original

I know folks are lovin' the "Cars" soundtrack and Rascal Flatts' pretty good version of "Life Is a Highway." But it's worth remembering Tom Cochran's original from 1992, which is pretty swell, too. Here it is: UPDATE: Rascal Flatts' version for "Cars" can be seen here. And the link to the Cochran video has been … Continue reading “Life Is a Highway” — the original

The Harley & Annabelle Experience

If you can't get to Erick, Okla., to see Harley and Annabelle Russell, aka the Mediocre Music Makers, here's the next-best thing, posted just a couple weeks ago. It must've been hot when this video was shot. You can usually tell what the weather is like by what Harley wears with his overalls. If he's … Continue reading The Harley & Annabelle Experience

Which town truly earns the “Redneck” title?

Harley Russell, during the course of his entertaining and sometimes eccentric Mediocre Music Makers shows with wife Annabelle, will tell his audience, "Welcome to Erick, Oklahoma, the Redneck Capital of the World." But the Oklahoman newspaper, in a lighthearted article, reports that East Dublin, Ga., was bestowed the "redneck capital" title by the "Jeopardy" game … Continue reading Which town truly earns the “Redneck” title?

Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices

Voice of America reports: Surveys show that half of all Americans still prefer the car for summertime vacation travel — instead of a plane, bus, or train — despite rising gasoline prices. There appears to be a resurgent nostalgia for the great American road trip, a motorized odyssey that’s long been part of the popular … Continue reading Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices

“Route 66” musical to be at KC festival

A musical that aims to eventually get itself to Broadway, "Route 66," will be staged today at the Kansas City Crossroads Musical Theater Festival. Here's the plot, according to Lower Hudson Online in New York: A hard-charging, ambitious free-lance writer, Liz Mitchell, is assigned to write a magazine piece about Route 66, a road that … Continue reading “Route 66” musical to be at KC festival

Love the Luna Cafe

I started missing the Luna Cafe in the Route 66 settlement of Mitchell, Ill., as soon as I read this first paragraph from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch story: Any time you walk into a bar with Bob Seger playing on the jukebox, you have a pretty good idea of the ambience. Luna Cafe doesn't disappoint, … Continue reading Love the Luna Cafe