Laid Back Makes a Statement...at Judy Drive-In

Laid Back Country Picker “Kingsport” album release show at Judy Drive-In in Mt. Sterling, KY

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Mark it down, 8-14-2020 was the night I realized that drive-in shows are a force to be reckoned with in the music scene for this current climate the world finds itself in. I made the little over three hour drive from Owensboro, KY to Mt. Sterling, KY and the Judy Drive-In. I wasn’t headed there to see one of the many throwback movies that drive-ins and other theaters are playing these days, no, I was there for the album release show of Laid Back Country Picker’s brand new album “Kingsport”.

Pulling into the Judy Drive-In is somewhat like being transported back in time when small town one or two screen drive-ins were America’s go to form of entertainment. I’m lucky enough to have a beautiful drive-in ten minutes from my house, across the river in Indiana, but there was something about this one. It gave me an idea of the places my parents might have frequented while growing up. This was the old school set up, each lane was raised in a stadium style and the screen we were situated towards was covered in sheet metal. The concession stand was built into one of the hills, I could go on and on, but just know...I was transported to a simpler time for a few hours.

Luna and the Mountain Jets, a frequent opener for LBCP for some reason, were up first. Teresa Prince has such a simple and beautiful voice that lets her Appalachian twang seep in as she goes through her mostly rocking set. These songs may not be known worldwide, but I’ve learned that they’re loved on this side of the state and it truly is one of my favorite things about the music scene in the Bluegrass. The sun starts sinking down towards the end of their set and that’s when the projectors turned on and broadcast the action on the big screen, this would prove pivotal in the vibe of the show, which would only get cooler, along with the weather as storm clouds were heading this way.

It was time for the show we were all there for, the fan favorite LBCP was up next as his promo for the new album was emblazoned across the screen and a beautiful night sky had fallen over Central Kentucky, for now. If you’ve ever seen LBCP in person you know these few things: You’re going to have too much fun, you’re going to laugh, you’re going to see exceptional guitar playing, and did I mention you’ll have fun? David Prince, Chico, LBCP, whatever you refer to him as, is a respected and beloved figure in the Kentucky music scene. A huge influence on Tyler Childers and I’m sure many others, he commands a respect without demanding respect. Is he the uncle that teaches you about the music you don’t hear on the radio? Is he the mentor that is at every show he can be and opens for some of the biggest moments in artists‘ careers? Is he a guitar slinger that has a down home and warm personality? He’s all of it and we’re lucky to have him.

He busted into some older songs to get the show started and it didn’t take long for me to forget that I was at a drive-in in the middle of a pandemic, because we can’t have normal shows. The camera work for this show was fantastic, it wasn’t just one view projected onto a massive screen, it was multiple views at the same time with different color effects splashed in to truly take it to the next level. The crew worked with Laid Back on his promotional “Goat Drop Bingo” which is, well, goats taking a dump on some lucky people’s number for prizes, so he brought them in to help livestream for the folks who couldn’t make or just don’t feel comfortable going out right now.

I hadn’t heard “Kingsport”, which had already been shipped to fans who preordered (I wanted to pick up a copy at the show, I scored a vinyl). Let me say this about the new material after hearing live and not digging in yet; that old dog done learned some new tricks. These songs are legit, they’ve got the humor, thoughtfulness, guitar work, and passion. This isn’t a novelty album, this is an honest step up in work and produced by Dave Ferguson. Laid Back ripped through the new album, some of the standouts for me were “Kingsport”, “Country Jesus”, and “Lester Plays it Straight”, but every song he plays has undeniable groove that keeps your head bobbing and attention on the stage. A slight sprinkle had begun to fall and with a lot of equipment outside and fans watching from their chairs, he decided to cut a last three songs into one fan favorite, the one that put ol LBCP on the radar with its hilarious video and lyrics...”Magoffin County Cadillac”. That ushered in the end of the cool night as the sprinkle became a drizzle. What needed to be played had already been played, it didn’t feel like we got cut short. A fun night out had become a moment I’ll never forget, getting to spend it with my favorite person, my wife. Everyone was respectful, masks were worn when necessary, and a memory was made.

Laid Back is already a spectacle, he’s got the western get up, the rotary phone hooked into the sound system, a talk box, and a killer/hilarious backing band; but it wasn’t just LBCP that was the spectacle on this night. The Judy Drive-In, the fans in attendance, and the people working behind the scenes and cameras made this a statement and that statement is that this can work and it can work really well, it can be good enough for a worldwide pandemic and even beyond that. I had more fun than I anticipated and I couldn’t be more proud to be a small part of such a magical music scene...oh and I saw Jeff Cox, again, he was in the back of a Tacoma...so there’s that.