I’m happy to introduce Billy Bucher, musician and music activities volunteer at Cedar Lake Nursing Home, as guest columnist this week. He will be filling in for me from time to time. I think you will like what you see.–Loretta Humble
By Billy Bucher
There have been a lot of wonderful things happen to me since I moved from Dallas to Malakoff six months ago but certainly one of the most magical things I did was to find the Shed in Edom. Even the drive to Edom is magical. I turned left at Brownsboro where I drove over a high railroad track and then followed 5 miles of winding road to the jewel box of a town called Edom.
I pulled up to a stop sign and looked to the right where the Shed was located and drove into a crowded parking lot. Going up the wooden steps I could hear the sounds of old-time country music spilling out the front door. The woman at the gift shop said the pickers were in the back and the further I walked in that direction the more it brought back memories of being in Austin in the late 60s when Threadgill’s old filling station on Lamar had Wednesday night jam sessions. It was so much the same. The pickers in the room had seen a lot of good gigs and the music was filled with well-being. Threadgill’s was popular with a young college crowd and at one time frequented by none other than Janis Joplin.
The audience at the Shed were older and friendly and they applauded for every song. I sat in the only available seat and counted 14 pickers in a tight half-circle on an imaginary, makeshift stage. There were electric and acoustic guitars, a bass player, many singers taking turns at the microphone while also being accompanied by banjos, dobros, fiddles and harmonica. Like Threadgill’s, these pickers were Veterans of Country music and their songs ranged from Johnny Paycheck to Johnny Cash and from early rock tunes like “Daddy’s Home” to country gems such as “Turn the Radio On.” Even a few gospel songs like “Peace in the Valley” filled the air. Talk surrounding places such as the Louisiana Hayride and Billy Bob’s Texas were common.
Starting as the Woodshed in 1966, the Shed has offered enough good food to fill yet another article. After all, they have pies and Chicken Fried Steak to die for and even a seemingly out-of-place Ruben was delicious.
The sessions are supervised by veteran Wayne Evans and his wife who keep careful watch the number of players didn’t end up in a train wreck of sounds. It is harder than it looks to blend the sounds and volume of such a myriad of instruments.
“My wife and I are always making eye contact,” said Wayne, “as she’s turning their sound levels of people up and down. It’s kind of fun to do and very important. We want it to come out right.”
Another thing that Wayne wanted to be a success was the upcoming Edom Art Festival which was coming on the 18th and 19th of October.
“We are very excited,” Wayne announced, “because this year there will not only be an electric stage but also an acoustical stage for one to three people. It should improve the very nature of the talent at this year’s event. Y’all can come out and have a really great time.”
Many of the performances will be duos and trios from the players in the Tuesday night jam sessions. This weekend Edom will be the place to be!