Hammer-March

s that are somehow playing backwards, delays that mean you weren
sleep the night before and yet you go on stage at 11pm a
that never overshadows playing. “We use to do 300 sho
and it was great” George says. “I would play a show eve
could. I don’t ever play enough. When I’m not playing w
Oak Arkansas, I’m doing solo shows, or recording, or pl
guys around here. It’s not like it’s a choice. I can’t mak
is doing what he always wanted to do. For awhile he w
chair with hip problems and he related how the Pearso
would come and pick him up and carry him to a show t
saved me. I would have gone crazy, not being able to pla
hadn’t done that,” he told me. At one point he got his ri
most torn off by a machine and initially the doctors info
he would have to lose that arm. George reminisced abou
of music he could play that would not require the fingers on his rig
were able to save his right hand albeit; partially numb and adorned
sue. Again I am blown away. Who does their job for forty years, thr
s, and is still that passionate and dedicated? Someone who totally lo
.
Black Oak Arkansas made a huge impact in Fort Smith
ocal pubs, patronized by the locals. Nick’s Village Pub
for the local entertainment scene. It was a packed out
epic music line up. First Josh Thomas and Mark Vanasane
opening act. Then, Judge Parker got up and did
s solo project and how he writes songs. “For me,” he explains, “if it t
nutes to write a song then it needs to be shredded; it’s no good”. “So
you fully formed?” I ask. “Yes, they just kind of pour out, somehow
. “These songs, I write in first person which makes them hard to tak
sing about “him” doing something then i
from you, but when you say “I” did this
all laid out for every to know.
“You are playing in Fort Smith in a few d
still get the same adrenaline rush, the sa
ment you got twenty years ago when you
ed playing with Black Oak?” His respons
surprises me. “The adrenaline is always
are playing in the wrong band, or you sh
playing anymore at all,” he says. This gu
all. He is passionate about playing with
nd, he fervently loves his wife and family, he still pursues his solo w
on what he knows to twenty-something local musild
do anything to be in his shoes. George Hughen is
eorge”, the title of his solo album.
e