When Electricity Came From Arkansas: Black Oak Arkansas Returns To L.A. To Promote Their New Album

Black Oak rocks the Whisky.  Photo Courtesy Keith Matherne

Black Oak rocks the Whisky.
Photo Courtesy Keith Matherne

Black Oak Arkansas staged a triumphant return to Los Angeles at the world famous Whisky a Go-Go last Tuesday, September 20. Newly re-signed to Atlantic Records, the band came to the Southern California area to promote the release of Back Thar N’ Over Yonder, due out October 15.

Black Oak – fronted by original members Jim “Dandy” Mangrum and Rickie “Ricochet” Reynolds – opened the set with their single “Plugged In and Wired” from the soon-to-be released LP. Next up was the gritty southern stomp of “Hot Rod,” a stylistic blueprint for rockers like Van Halen and Guns N’ Roses.

Jim Dandy's scrub board.  Photo Courtesy Keith Matherne

Jim Dandy’s scrub board.
Photo Courtesy Keith Matherne

During one of many heartfelt moments, Jim reminded us of long-lost rock heroes (drummer Johnnie Bolin is the brother of late guitarist extraordinaire Tommy Bolin) and dedicated a show-stopping cover of Grand Funk Railroad’s “Heartbreaker” to former Black Oak vocalist Ruby Starr, who passed away in the 1995. Lynette Skynyrd vocalist Laurie Es, who is uncannily similar to Starr in looks and stage presence, provided the necessary call-back to the band’s familiar 70’s hit, “Jim Dandy”.

Newer members departed the stage leaving Black Oak founders Jim and Rickie to sit out for a mid-show acoustic set featuring the bluegrass-tinged “Sweet Delta Water” (another from the forthcoming release) and fan favorite “High and Dry”. Black Oak rounded out the set with “Hot & Nasty”, “Jim Dandy” and a passionate cover of the Dylan penned “I Shall Be Released”, also included in the Memphis recording sessions for the new LP.

To order “Back Back Thar N’ Over Yonder” on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/BackThar

Special thanks To Ralph Bennett for his help with this review.

Michelle Nati

About Michelle Nati

Michelle Nati is a pop culture priestess who hails from Rochester, New York. She is a freelance graphic designer, writer/copy editor (formerly Caffeine Magazine), researcher (Co-Conspiracy Entertainment) and lives with her poodle-terrier mix in Northeast LA. Check her out at www.michellenati.com.
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5 Responses to When Electricity Came From Arkansas: Black Oak Arkansas Returns To L.A. To Promote Their New Album

  1. Keith says:

    For those of you who care about such things, the setlist also included Uncle Lijah, Lord Have Mercy On My Soul, When Electricity Came To Arkansas, Happy Hooker, and The Wild Bunch.

  2. BrianK says:

    It was indeed a great show!

  3. Doug Wenzel says:

    Great review! BOA needs publicity right now, and that’s a good one to grow on. Keep The Faith

  4. Peter Egley, Jr. says:

    I just discovered this review. I saw a Jim “Dandy” Mangrum concert when he was promoting the “Ready as Hell” album, which I thought was quite a classy album. He had a really good band. I never got to see Ruby Starr perform, but she is one of my favorite singers. I have two of her solo albums (the first one has former Black Oak Arkansas drummer Tommy Aldridge playing on it), and she performs on one of my favorite Black Oak Arkansas albums, “Balls of Fire.”
    Ruby Starr and Grey Ghost – Full Concert – 09/11/75 – Winterland (OFFICIAL)
    https://youtu.be/2lJ3l0_loWM

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