Do you like your women just a little on the trashy side? Clothes too tight and hair that’s dyed? Well, you and Confederate Railroad both. The band is part of the Sunday line-up of the two-day Coral Head Music Festival set for this weekend — Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18 at Marathon Community Theatre. Confederate Railroad plays on Sunday.
“Trashy Women” is an oldie (1992), but a goodie. Even lead singer and band founder Danny Shirley thinks so.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve played it, you respond to the energy of the crowd and they love it,” said Shirley.
The band has a reputation for low-key humility and high-quality entertainment. And … they’re funny. Don’t think so? Check out their music videos from the 1990s. “Queen of Memphis” (1992) features a shticky set-up by NFL Coach Jerry Glanville. “She Took It Like A Man” (1989) has some deliriously good bar fight destruction scenes and then there’s the pièce de résistance — “Elvis and Andy.” The 1994 hit has enough set and costume changes to make any off-Broadway producer proud.
Shirley said the fun-first attitude was intentional.
“I enjoy doing those songs. Back in the 1990s we had some video hits and I got some calls from Hollywood about doing some acting and film stuff. But it never really interested me; I never wanted to be a TV or movie star,” he said. In fact, if his first career as a musician didn’t pan out, he said he was all set to go into law enforcement.
Shirley said his life is very tame now. He lives outside Atlanta with his wife and if they go out for dinner, it’s a big night.
“One year ‘back in the day’ we did 273 shows in 12 months. It was a lot of fun and you wait your whole life for that,” Shirley said. “But the things you miss is the mundane stuff — mowing the lawn or fixing up that house. These days, I really enjoy that.”
In 2016, the band released its newest album — “Lucky to be Alive.” There’s a re-recording of “Trashy Women” featuring vocal guests John Anderson, Willie Nelson and Colt Ford. According to iwasborncountry.com, the music continues to be mostly “rowdy upbeat,” with some surprising introspection in tunes such as “I Don’t Feel As Young As I Used to.”
CoralHead Music Festival features eclectic lineup
In 2017, the inaugural CoralHead Music Festival was by and large a metal-big hair-1980s rock fest. In 2018, the lineup is longer and much more eclectic.
“Our original plan was to stay a one-day concert for one more year, but then the hurricane hit and we saw what was needed,” said concert organizer Rich Anderson. The concert is hosted by the American Legion Riders Post 154 in Marathon. It’s a fundraiser for the specially created Rebuild the Keys charity and the proceeds will be handed out to affected locals in the form of credits at local lumberyards for tools and supplies.
So, the concert is now two days long with a mix of local and national acts. John Bartus and Storm Watch and Fiddle Rock are both local, and Above the Skyline group out of Homestead is semi-local. Returning for a second year is Lazy Bonez, the ’80s tribute band, but look for last year’s lead singer Joey Bravo, who performs solo on Sunday.
Conservatively, Anderson estimates the concert will attract between 8,000 and 10,000 fans.
“We want to grow Marathon’s reputation. This is not just a place for drinking and fishing and diving. It’s a destination for other events, too,” Anderson said.
Advance tickets are $30 for one day or $45 for two days and at the gate they cost $40 or $60. There are a limited number of VIP tickets left, starting at $225 for a chance to mingle with the bands, enjoy A/C and free food and beer. For more information, visit coralheadmusicfest.com.
SCHEDULE
John Bartus & Storm Watch
Saturday, Feb. 17 | noon
Fiddle Rock
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 1 p.m.
Atlanta Rhythm Section
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 3 p.m.
In the 1970s, it wasn’t a sexy mix tape unless it included plenty of ARS tunes. Songs like “So Into You,” “Imaginary Lover,” and a cover of “Spooky” are among their top hits. While they definitely have Southern rock roots, this is ballad territory. Bring your main squeeze.
Lazy Bonez
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 5 p.m.
Lazy Bonez, an ’80s tribute band, killed it last year at the inaugural Coralhead Music Festival. They’re back again to play all the crowd favorites; liberated from a specific tribute, they play the hits by the likes of Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and more.
Slaughter
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 7 p.m.
Slaughter fans love the driving beat and lyrics of hits like “Up All Night, Sleep All Day” that made this ’80s band famous. Party tunes and ballads “Fly to the Angels” keep the band gigging continuously.
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 9 p.m.
Featured in the past issue of the Keys Weekly, Great White’s break out song was “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” Fans also love “Rock Me” and “Mista Bone.” The band recently released a new album called “Full Circle” and promises a good mix of old and new.
Above the Skyline
Sunday, Feb. 18 | noon
Joey Bravo
Sunday, Feb. 18 | 1:30 p.m.
SUS4
Sunday, Feb. 18 | 3 p.m.
Rick Derringer
Sunday, Feb. 18 | 4 p.m.
Confederate Railroad
Sunday, Feb. 18 | 6:30 p.m.
There’s plenty of Southern rock at this two-day concert, but only Confederate Railroad plays the true country version of it. Bone up on the lyrics of “She Took it Like a Man” and “Trashy Women” — both will definitely be sing-alongs.
