Last Saturday, accompanied by my two closest friends, I embarked on a visit to Porky's Roadhouse in Port Charlotte for some fine chicken wings and one of the best entertainers that country music has to offer, Mr. JJ McCoy, and his band the Chillbillys.
I certainly invite anyone who's never had the opportunity to visit this establishment to find the time. The Roadhouse offers a great menu containing fair priced, tasty meals, excellent service, two pool tables, a large bar, and serves as an excellent entertainment venue with high ceilings, a large stage, and a semi-private VIP type loft, which is a great place for groupies to goggle or to down a few shots with the band.
Musician friends, I have no idea whether the pay is decent, but I would seek gigging opportunities from this establishment if only because of it's sound friendly, cavernous environment.
We arrived early and observed the band setting up while we dined on chicken wings and fries washed down by ice cold brews. A leading poultry connoisseur, I proudly offer the opinion from my discriminating palate in regard to the delicacy served at Porky's. Their buffalo style wings, served sans breading, better known as naked, were plump and juicy, cooked to perfection and rolled in sauce, just a tad shy of cayenne. On the other hand, the accompanying fries tasted less spectacular. I cannot be certain but they looked and tasted like the restaurant vendor bought frozen and fried variety rather than the tastier chopped from potatoes on site version. Our waitress performed flawlessly ensuring that both our bellies and beer bottles remained full. Although at first shocked by the $5 cover, I realized the bargain of obtaining the wrist band after enjoying the benefits of $1 bottles of Miller Lite throughout the entire evening.
The band began promptly at 9:30 and performed some covers unrecognizable to me since I listen to virtually no popular country music and really only enjoy the outlaw variety of which we did happily witness a fair amount of in the second set. JJ's original music serves as the centerpiece and highlight of his live show. His songs paint vivid mind pictures that range from a lonely, homesick soldier on patrol in Iraq, the difficulties in raising a family and distancing yourself from kin, to the joy in living a simple life and enjoying the pleasures of country life. JJ's huge frame whips his seemingly tiny telecaster around, attacking it with the down home version of shredding, showing amazing virtuosity as a musician while accompanying his booming, rich baritone voice. Fortunately, JJ's band, the Chillbillys prevent him from standing as a one man band. They provide competent back up with steady drumming, thumping bass, a twangy acoustic, and the unmistakable wail of the pedal steel guitar. Bassist, Leo August, with his versatility, adds a dynamic often missing from country music with his ear for nuance and the addition of tasteful fills. Charlie Brown, on pedal steel, offers parallel diversity with a style that ranges from Hank Sr. twang to the alluring scream of the Allman Brothers.
If you've never heard or seen JJ McCoy, please do yourself a favor and pick up his EP "Redneck, White and Blue" from iTunes for the incredible price of $2.97 then go catch a show at your earliest convenience. His tunes, written deep from his heart, will stick in your head and you'll find yourself humming them all day.
JJ McCoy is the "Real McCoy"!
Enjoy this video clip of that night of JJ and his band performing their original hit "Sunshine State"
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