Atlanta Rhythm Section; Sellersville Theater 1894 6/24/10

[jimmy19029]

"Nice to be back here in PA as we play mostly down South anymore", said ARS lead singer Andy Anderson shortly after the band took the stage in my new home away from home, Sellersville Theater 1894. He's sure right about that. The last time I saw an ARS show was SEVENTEEN years ago at the PA State Fair. And since that time, it seemed anytime I saw a proposed ARS date penciled in somewhere, it was just as quickly canceled.

Thankfully, the earlier heavy storms in my area, that caused some damage and many power outages, did not appear to have affected Bucks County too badly.

Like many of our favorite classic rock acts, ARS has seen its share of personnel jumbles, with the most recent being guitarist/founder Barry Bailey's retirement from the road in 2006 due to ill health. Though we miss Barry's distinctive signature sound, the current guitarists, Steve Stone and Dave Anderson, are very fine pickers in their own right. Keyboardist Dean Daughtry is the sole remaining original member.

And this was my first time seeing singer Andy Anderson, who's been a part of the band's history since 1983 off & on, finally returning for good nine years ago after Ronnie Hammond left again.

Tonight's show was strictly classic ARS, nothing new or unexpected thrown in. No complaints here, especially as it's been so long since I've seen them that I was way OVERDUE for a fix.

Large Time was dedicated to former Lynyrd Skynyrd backup singer Jo Jo Billingsley who had passed on the day before. Homesick, explained Anderson, is one of several of our songs that Travis Tritt has put on the Country charts. I'm Not Gonna Let it Bother Me Tonight, one of their 1978 hits, was introduced as being from "one of our best years." And Ballad of Lois Malone, Andy said, is a huge favorite at the biker shows they play now. "So...pretend you're all on a bike..." he laughed.

It was our turn to laugh when Anderson told us about running into various people on the road who ask them the name of the band...then ask where they're from....."I guess there are alot of Atlantas in this country...But the last time I checked, we're still from Georgia", he shook his head and chuckled.

After an encore of Georgia Rhythm, in which the words were altered from "tore up another town" to "tore up this Sellersville town", the band was off stage and gone after a much too brief 80 plus minute set.

Let's hope we don't have to wait another seventeen years to see them again!

And a special shout out to singer/songwriter Ryan Tennis who played a nice opening set for tonight's show.



Setlist:

Back Up Against the Wall
Champagne Jam
Alien
Doraville
Spooky
Conversation
Large Time
I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight
The Ballad Of Lois Malone
So Into You
Pretty Woman tease/ Homesick
Imaginary Lover

Encore:
Georgia Rhythm

Current lineup:

Dean Daughtry - keyboards, vocals
Andy Anderson - vocals
David Anderson - guitars, backing vocals
Steve Stone - guitars, harmonica, backing vocals
Justin Senker - bass
Jim Keeling - drums, percussion