Re: On the Bus with Bill Monroe by Mark Hembree
These days I don't think any band leader could require band members to form a baseball team, and play local "nines" to raise interest in that night's concert. Or to work on his farm when bookings were slim. As to buying their own performance costumes, I guess that would depend. Luckily enough, when the Blue Grass Boys stopped wearing jodhpurs, their required suits-and-ties could also be used to attend funerals and church services, after leaving the band. And cowboy hats are always cool.
On the other hand, I just watched Mountain Heart on a Marty Stuart Show rerun last night, and I have to say I had a bit of nostalgia for the days when bands "dressed up" to play onstage. The band members could have been dressed to clean out a chicken coop, or blacktop a driveway. Contrasted with the always-coordinated Fabulous Superlatives, who put on a visual as well as musical "show" when they play. I watch the Saturday music shows on RFD-TV, where Marty Stuart follows the Pressleys, who flash the rhinestones-and-embroidery thing far beyond my costume taste. Still, the T-shirt-and-jeans image does make bands look like they just can't be bothered to put on a "nice shirt" for the show.
Long digression, and I love Mountain Heart's music. Just not their look.
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