By: Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
After a two night stand in Bucyrus, David Allan Coe left the crowd at Dillinger’s calling him by his name as the country music legend exited the stage Saturday night.
Opening Saturday’s show with “Crazy Mary,” the 75-year-old Coe and his backing band tore into an hour and a half set of the legend’s hits. Coe’s wife Kimberly came on stage and joined the band after Coe’s performance of “Please Come to Boston.”
After paying short tributes to Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, Coe busted out “Take This Job and Shove It,” which had been written for Johnny Paycheck.
While this weekend was the first time David Allan Coe had played in Bucyrus, it was also the first time many fans had seen the legendary act.
Friends Angie Noe, Dawn Brewer, Chuck Brewer, and Gavin Montgomery came to the show for a good time.
“We like him, we saw a poster advertising for the show over in Mansfield, and went with it,” Dawn Brewer said.
Seeing Coe for the first time, Melinda Fishpaw explained what prompted her to go to the show. “We like some of his music, it is just fun music. It is timeless,” Fishpaw said. “Shawn and Tasha do such a wonderful job here at Dillinger’s and we are here to support them too.”
Jesse Vaughn, who attended Friday’s show, said that Coe was awesome. “My favorite part was when he played ‘Long Haired Redneck.’”
Drummer/guitarist and tour manager Harold Marcho joined Coe’s band in 2001, when his band from New Orleans was breaking up. Marcho was asked by a booking agent to run sound for Coe. Two weeks later, he was playing in Coe’s band as his drummer.
This was also the first time Marcho had performed in Bucyrus. “I was so impressed driving down this little small town street Memorial Day weekend with the flags hanging; the beautiful little all-American town. You people really got a good thing here, and appreciate it for what is not here. It is really Americana at its finest.”
“And getting to play here?” Marcho continued, “What a great crowd. Everyone has been so nice to me, the owner of the club. Dillinger’s what a great little venue and we have had such an awesome time playing here.”
With stints in numerous acts including the “Reverend” Al Green as well as Prince, Dustin Barber joined Coe as lead guitarist.
“I was friends with the tour manager Harold Marcho, and he called me at 7 in the morning one day, and said hey our guitar player just quit, do you want in the band? We had talked about it previously but he said we are going on tour with Kid Rock today. He told me to meet him up on the highway at noon.”
Having fun with the set list, Coe surprised the crowd by doing a medley of Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker songs with the crowd singing along with Rock’s “Wasting Time,” “Only God Knows Why,” and “Picture,” as well as Uncle Cracker’s “Follow Me.”
For the entire show Coe played a white Dean Razorback guitar, a model designed for late Pantera guitarist Darrel Lance Abbott with whom Coe recorded the groundbreaking country/metal album Rebel Meets Rebel.
Coe recounted making the album. “It was great. We were great friends. We hung out together, we recorded some songs then released it. It was a great experience.”
While performing the song “I’m an Ohio Boy,” Coe recounted his times as a rebellious youth in Ohio. Johnny Cash helped him get out of Marion Correctional Institute before Coe finally made it to Nashville to become a recording act.
Coe finished out the show with an encore of “Long Haired Redneck,” “The Ride,” and “Never Called Me by My Name,” which left the audience on their feet and cheering for the country legend.
The next show for Dillinger’s, the first Bucyrus Rockfest, will be June 6 and 7. The show will cover two days and have nine bands performing. Headliners for the June 6 show will be LungWorm with Podium headlining the June 6 show.
Local recording artist Rob Skaggs opened up for Coe Friday night.
The DeVault Ridge Band opened the show for David Allan Coe Saturday. They will be returning to Bucyrus at the Bratwurst Festival to open up for Aaron Tippin.
Photos from the conert can be found on Crawford County Now’s Photos page