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The Billys in Palmdale 2005 |
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After a one year absence, The Billys returned to the Palmdale Fall Festival the week-end of October 8th and 9th, 2005. From the Millennium Stage at the new Marie Kerr Park location at 39700 30th St. West, Palmdale (the corner of Rancho Vista Blvd. & 30th St. West) fans were treated to all the regular favorite Billy songs as well as a few new ones.
The Palmdale Week-end began with The Billys being assigned to the prestigious Millennium Stage, a fact pointed out more than once by Kirk during the shows. This year the stage sponsor was Crazy Otto's Diner and The Women's Clinic. How Palmdale was able to get the Women's Clinic to co-operate with a man as crazy as Otto was a mystery, but our hats are off to you. |
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In a great show of force, Crazy Otto had agreed to work with the Women's Clinic. Security guards were posted as Otto was released into the crowd for the event. Fortunately, the Billys representatives from the California Work Release Program were there to help control Otto as well. |
Thus began the sound check! |
Dennis and Kirk discuss the recent addition of bongos to the hillbilly line-up. This proved to be a dangerous discussion. |
Sound check went smoothly with the exception of this gentlemen in the Hawaiian shirt who decided the band needed to add a "Ricky Ricardo" element to the line-up. |
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The anxious crowds began to gather for the show. |
A pole was added to the show by festival staff in the hopes that Kirk would be inspired to do his famous "pole dance of joy". Kirk later pointed out that he did feel in the least bit "pole-ish". |
Some of the crowd decided to get into the hillbilly spirit by removing their shoes.
[Notice the lack of guests around them.] |
Dennis tried doing a number without his fiddle, which brought stares of apprehension from Kirk. |
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Despite the band's requests, "Hawaiian man" insisted on being in the line-up.
He did however agree to turn his back on the audience. |
As an audience warm up, Kirk lead the crowd in a spirited rendition of the Village People's "YMCA". |
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Rick wowed the people of Palmdale with a new tune entitled "Worms", a tune learned recently when the guys played the BUG BAND for a private party at Disneyland. |
Kirk reaction to the song "Worms" was ....interesting! |
Anders' reaction was equally stoic and he enjoys insect songs. |
Dennis choose to ignore the whole worm issue and do a Jimmy Hendrick's guitar solo. |
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Rick introduced for the first time "Friend of the Devil", an old Grateful Dead song.
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Not to be confused with the Grateful Dudes version of "A Devil of a Friend."
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Not to be outdone Dennis tried his version of "Sympathy for the Devil" made popular by the Rolling Stones. |
To which Kirk was going to add "You're the Devil in Disguise" by Elvis, but instead broke into a full Elvis Medley. [see below] |
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The transformation into Elvis takes great concentration.....
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....but once complete, the resemblance is quite shocking!
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Kirk decides to sing directly to the audience and girls from every direction swooned.
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Rick also performed his famous "Whistling Tell Overture" along with Anders on bass back-up. |
The second day began with a change in Billy attire..... Dennis changed his shirt and hat. |
In a fit of lemur-like solidarity, Rick changed his shirt and hat, too. |
....and Anders changed his mind.
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Always the fashion trendsetters at any occasion, the weekend continued with a plethora of unusual stage head gear. Rick was sporting the official Billy Racing Team ball cap. Dennis downed the official Beatles "White Album" ball hat and Kirk preferred to let his hair go wild. [which it did.] Anders, ever the standard of good Billy manners, wore the official hillbilly hat, but pouted about it until Kirk offered a year's supply of KETTLE CORN to appease him. |
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"Johnny" seems fairly confident he can beat this guy.
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Our hero |
Once again, the devil is defeated. |
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In keeping with their devil theme, the week-end ended on a high note [a C#, I believe] with The Billys doing their world famous "Devil Went Down to Georgia". |
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