Halden Wofford and the Hi-beams

Paul in Colorado · August 21st, 2006, 08:40 PM

I finally got to see this hot little honky-tonk band over the weekend at the New West Fest here in Fort Collins, CO. They opened the festivities at the crack of noon on Sunday and played a great set including two (count 'em, two!) Kinky Friedman songs. Besides the vocals from Halden and sometime TDPRI'er Ben O'Conner (on stand up bass), there was some great Tele pickin' and steel playin (triple neck Stringmaster non-pedal). The lead man and steel player worked well together complimenting each other's parts. I'd love to hear them in a honky-tonk doing their whole show. Check 'em out when they come to a town near you!

ddhr · August 22nd, 2006, 12:20 AM

I think they have a new record out as well. I look forward to seeing them around town.

Tim Armstrong · August 22nd, 2006, 12:53 AM

Yep, as I posted last week, I caught them at two gigs in NYC. What a killer band! It's a pure sin that music so cool is so uncommercial these days...

Cheers, Tim

51mike · August 22nd, 2006, 09:23 AM

Yeah! I was in Denver about 4 years ago and had been exchanging info in some forum with Ben. He invited me out to see them and I loved the whole experience. Kinda lost track of Ben. I'm glad to hear he's on this forum. I was blown away by them 4 years ago. Imagine how good they are now! Holy Moly!

Tim Armstrong · August 22nd, 2006, 11:47 AM

Yeah, I last saw them about four years ago, and let me tell you, they're WAY better now!!!!

Cheers, Tim

MandyMarie · August 22nd, 2006, 09:10 PM

Man...I'm dyin' to see them! And I'd love to meet Ben in person, he seems like the coolest guy ever - thanks so much for the show reviews guys...now I wanna see 'em even more! Thanks a lot! ;o)

Paul in Colorado · August 24th, 2006, 02:03 PM

Musically the Hi-Beams remind me of a great Tucson band from the '70's, The Dusty Chaps. Song-wise, the Chaps had a totally different thing going with George Hawks writting. But that mix of classic country with a taste of western swing is like nothing else.
It was also fun watching the swing dancers in the crowd. When you get 'em dancin' on a Sunday morning, you know you've got something special.

August 21st, 2006, 08:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,330 3 Photos	Halden Wofford and the Hi-beams I finally got to see this hot little honky-tonk band over the weekend at the New West Fest here in Fort Collins, CO. They opened the festivities at the crack of noon on Sunday and played a great set including two (count 'em, two!) Kinky Friedman songs. Besides the vocals from Halden and sometime TDPRI'er Ben O'Conner (on stand up bass), there was some great Tele pickin' and steel playin (triple neck Stringmaster non-pedal). The lead man and steel player worked well together complimenting each other's parts. I'd love to hear them in a honky-tonk doing their whole show. Check 'em out when they come to a town near you!

August 22nd, 2006, 12:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
ddhr Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 120 13 Photos	They're good! I think they have a new record out as well. I look forward to seeing them around town.

August 22nd, 2006, 12:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,668	Yep, as I posted last week, I caught them at two gigs in NYC. What a killer band! It's a pure sin that music so cool is so uncommercial these days... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 22nd, 2006, 11:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,668	Yeah, I last saw them about four years ago, and let me tell you, they're WAY better now!!!! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

August 22nd, 2006, 09:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
MandyMarie Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 28 Posts: 2,527 65 Photos	Man...I'm dyin' to see them! And I'd love to meet Ben in person, he seems like the coolest guy ever - thanks so much for the show reviews guys...now I wanna see 'em even more! Thanks a lot! ;o) __________________ our wacky little hillbilly band

August 22nd, 2006, 09:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
51mike Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Webster, NY Age: 58 Posts: 621 11 Photos	Yeah! I was in Denver about 4 years ago and had been exchanging info in some forum with Ben. He invited me out to see them and I loved the whole experience. Kinda lost track of Ben. I'm glad to hear he's on this forum. I was blown away by them 4 years ago. Imagine how good they are now! Holy Moly!

August 24th, 2006, 02:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 55 Posts: 4,330 3 Photos	Musically the Hi-Beams remind me of a great Tucson band from the '70's, The Dusty Chaps. Song-wise, the Chaps had a totally different thing going with George Hawks writting. But that mix of classic country with a taste of western swing is like nothing else. It was also fun watching the swing dancers in the crowd. When you get 'em dancin' on a Sunday morning, you know you've got something special.