It had been a while since I last did a Wednesday “Country Night” at the Hitching Post. But I had a hankerin’ for some of the Post’s barbecue ribs and fries this night, and noted on the venue’s marquee that Warren Dane was performing, so the Post was my Post-work destination.
This night clearly delivered the message that Warren Dane is one of those musicians who does it for the love of playing and providing a good time. To begin with, he roadtripped nearly 3 hours from his home base in Kulpmont (near Shamokin). And despite battling bronchitis and some laryngitis, despite playing to a largely empty room (except for the Hitching Post staff, management and hardcore regulars), and despite facing that same 3-hour roadtrip back home at the end of the night, Warren proceeded to whoop it up and deliver the good time nearly nonstop for WELL OVER FIVE HOURS!
Warren was just getting warmed up as I first arrived around 8:30 PM. He was already in a jovial mood and breaking out the country comedy songs, doing Rodney Carrington’s “Momma’s Got Her Boobs Out,” which prompted “Mama Buttcheek” to get loose on the dance floor. (I’ll let the definition of “get loose” up to your own interpretation.) Warren proceeded to mix it up through the course of this 5-hour-plus sojourn, with the emphasis of his setlist on the country side of the spectrum, with a few rock and folk favorites included along the way.
And a lot of comedy…I think every third song Warren did this night was “Tits in the Ditch” (“You sonuvabitch!”), an improvised original song punch line that featured the Hitching Post staff and patronage furnishing their own lyrics. He kept the laughs coming with several more of his tongue-in-cheek original songs and quick-hitters, often improvising words or letting the audience create the words along the way. He did a reprise of “Momma’s Got Her Boobs Out” later in the show (which again drew “Mama Buttcheek” out to the dance floor), and did other Rodney Carrington numbers such as “The Day My Wife Met My Girlfriend,” “All the Reasons (I Ain’t Queer)” and “Put Your Clothes Back On.” Warren also offered his own uproarious updates of Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire,”David Frizzell’s “I’m Gonna Hire a Wino,” Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” (complete with a “Tits in the Ditch” verse), Gaye Dalerme’s “Rodeo Song” and more. And when Warren’s part-time sidekick Steve Yetzko showed up, the two yukked it up on renditions of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and Kevin Fowler’s “Beer, Bait and Ammo,” before Steve did a solo rendition of Roger Miller’s “King of the Road.” Introducing Steve, Warren added, “He’s ugly enough to make a train take a dirt road.”
There was some good serious music during this show as well, as Warren applied his deep and rich voice to country numbers by Garth Brooks, Marty Robbins, George Strait, George Jones, Brad Paisley, Joe Nichols, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers and more. He also did a few of his more reverent original songs, such as the reflective “I Wish I’d Seen It in Color” (about his parents) and “Lonesome Lady.” And he also touched on the rock and folk sides of the spectrum, doing several numbers by both Harry Chapin and Warren Zevon, in addition to tunes from Bob Dylan, Dave Loggins, Jimmy Buffett, John Denver, John Mellencamp, John Prine and more. Additional highlights included Warren’s rendition of Gordon Lightfoot’s “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” and his convincing Roger Waters croon on a version of Pink Floyd’s “Mother.”
Late in the show, another guest, Hitching Post regular Darren, brought his acoustic guitar to the stage, and he and Warren did a rendition of “Wagon Wheel,” after which Darren played four songs solo. Warren then continued, playing Darren’s guitar for a few songs.
I think only the clock on the wall prevented Warren and his Hitching Post fans from going longer; at 1:45 AM, he finally called it a night.
It was a fun evening, as Warren and his guests kept the music and humor constant. The Post’s ribs were great as always, and brews and shots of “that red stuff” helped fuel the festive mood through the course of the night. As I’ve witnessed before, when Warren Dane comes to town, it’s a happy-go-lucky country party! And after experiencing this marathon and enjoying every minute of it, I definitely plan to be back at the Post for more whenever this guy comes back to town!
Warren Dane.
Warren Dane, with part-time sidekick Steve Yetzko.
Again, Warren Dane.
Warren Dane, joined by the Hitching Post’s Brandi and Butch.
Once again, Warren Dane.
Later in the show, special guest Darren brought his guitar to the stage and performed a few numbers.
Warren Dane and Darren play a few numbers together.
One more time, Warren Dane.