In The Green Room: Honky Tonk
Post-pub-rock act Ricky Albeck spills on hosting a Honky Tonk at the Cranker every second Tuesday, featuring a five-piece country band (with pedal steals and violins no less), guest appearances and great country tracks…
Image Nash Blight
Tell us more about the backstory of Honky Tonk.
I’ve wanted to start a casual-ish country-esque jam night for quite a while. I was inspired after hearing about a jam night that Jonathan Wilson ran in Laurel Canyon a few years ago. It just sounded like the best way to spend a weeknight.
When I was living in Collingwood, I would go to James Ellis’ honky tonk night just at The Gem. It’s such a great thing they’ve got going there. Their gig is also definitely an inspiration. The Cranker had a [Tuesday] gap in their programming and it seemed perfect to me. I’m pretty sure there hasn’t been consistent music on a Tuesday in Adelaide for years.
What should people expect?
We’ve got a house band called Country F**kers, consisting of Tom Spall on violin, James Mannix on drums, Frank Boulden on pedal steel, Jackson Wright on double bass and myself on guitar. It’s not strictly “Honky Tonk” tunes, but it’s pretty much all old songs. There are lots of violin and pedal steel solos. I think it’s a bit like a jazz gig in that it’s mostly all of these standard tunes with a lot of improvisation and personal spins.
The house band is always on and then we invite some friends to play in the week leading up to the show. You never know who you’re going to get. We’ve had Ella Ion, Ned Baulderstone, Laura O’Callaghan and Michael Pearse. My 80-year-old Grandma even got up to sing an Emmylou Harris song! That was special.
What do you hope a regular gig series like this provides the Adelaide scene?
My true earnest hope is that it’ll promote heavier musical friendships and relationships within the community. Playing music together really grows friendships and mutual understanding. It’s been so nice playing with the guests we’ve had so far.
Catch Honky Tonk live in the Crown & Anchor front bar every second Tuesday from 7.30. For more information follow Honky Tonk here @honkytonk4eva.
