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Homer Joy wrote the song that became the signature song of the Bakersfield Sound movement.  It was a number one hit for Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam.  And now Homer Joy is at the top of the independent country charts himself with a song called John Law.
http://www.homerjoy.com/

Homer Joy's performance on March 29, 2008 at Trout's in Oildale was electrifying and age-defying.  With Ms. Spanky at his side, he hitched us all up to his wagon, climbed up on his horse of hit songs, and took us for a ride that we will never forget.  

It was his abundant, passionately delivered contribution, to a grand two-night celebration of the Bakersfield Sound.  And that night, he proved that age is just a number and greatness is just his middle name. 

If a young up-and-coming Bakersfield-Sound-rooted artist wanted a person to grab the torch from, and a place to participate in a grand changing of the guards, this was the person to grab the torch from, and this was the place to grab it.  The problem is, Homer is still in his prime, and shows no signs of slowing down.  It's pretty tricky to grab a torch from  somebody holding it with such a firm grip and when the torchbearer is moving at lightening speed. 

Notwithstanding The Streets of Bakersfield, my favorite performance was Homer's cover of the Rolling Stones's Honky Tonk Woman.  With that rendition of the song, he came dangerously close to pulling the equivalent of the quintessential barrier-busting arrangement of Walk this Way, performed by Aerosmith and Run DMC in the 80s. 

Homer puts the outlaw in country, and he puts the ride in Kern County country rock.  He is the cream of the crop and the King of "Krock," that raw, new Kern County country rock based on the Bakersfield Sound, that I've taken the liberty of labeling even before it's come into its own (aka Nu Bako Sound). 

So if some of you young country crooners crawling around out there are hoping to step into Homer's boots and take over, you may be waiting for quite a while.  His boots were meant for yet bigger and better things, and, to borrow from our BTO brothers across the Norhern borders, You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!

I Worship the Streets you Walk On
words and music by Dr BLT copyright 2008

http://www.drblt.net/music/WorshipStreetsDemo.mp3

I worship the streets you walk on
the ones you made famous with Buck
I sure hope the good Lord
forgives me
I worship the streets you walk on

you put the outlaw in country
you put the rebel in yell
I worship the streets
that you walk on
the heavenly streets that raise hell

Lord Jesus, forgive me
only you, Lord
are worthy of praise
but I'm tempted to worship
the streets he walks on
when he's up there
on Trout's Blackboard stage

(repeat)