In Lawrence, bluegrass is always on top. Without a doubt. But, if you can believe it, there was what some might consider a golden age of bluegrass in recent years. These are the years where a lot of the vibes that gleefully encompass the Americana music scene were created by the can-do attitude of Truckstop Honeymoon. Mike West was already well-known on the bluegrass circuit, but when he relocated to Lawrence we saw more families and packed shows at the Replay Sunday matinees, an increasing number of bluegrass acts collaborating and recording music at West’s studio in the Pinckney neighborhood, and the infamous completely musician-run Mardi Gras parade that takes place downtown every Spring.
West moved to Wales– or, as he calls it, “the Kansas of the United Kingdom”– in 2019. The next year, we were struck with the pandemic shutdown, and honestly shows have not been the same since. But for one night on Sunday, we got a taste of how it used to be. Before attendance started dwindling at shows, before COVID wrecked our fragile little bodies, and before the venues started shutting down (RIP Jackpot, Kaw Valley Public House, and Frank’s).
It’s been YEARS since we’ve seen the Replay attendance the way it was on Sunday. We half expected it to be one-in-one-out. The occasion was West’s first show back here since moving away six years ago. He had scheduled tours, but they never panned out. Let me tell you, every bluegrass musician was there. And their kids. In fact, some of these kids were just children who used to run amok at the Truckstop Honeymoon shows. Now, they’re in their own bands (looking at you, Arlonious Rodeo King). And there was a new batch of children at this show. There were tables full of empty beer glasses right alongside tables full of sippy cups.
The entire night tugged at our heartstrings. The crowd got older, but the love was still the same. They knew all the words. There were songs about life, death, love, and audio technicians. It was like riding a bike, falling right back into that old vibe.
The highlight of the night came when River City Brass Band, who currently lead the Mardi Gras parades in Lawrence, surprised West with a live performance. They started at the back near the entrance. At first, West thought something was going on with the audio. When he spotted the band coming through, parade style, he was all smiles and leapt off the stage to play along with them. They transitioned into “Down By The Riverside,” a song we could all really use right about now, to be honest. When it ended, West told the crowd “Thank y’all. It’s good to be home.”
Fun fact: the Mardi Gras band surprising Mike West is also how they said goodbye at his final Lawrence show.
It was a homecoming for the books, but one thing is certain. The legacy West left behind in Lawrence is that the scene is that the bluegrass scene is not only still going strong, but it’s developed as well. It’s still, hands down, the strongest genre of music in Lawrence.
You can watch the magical moment below and see some photos from the night.