Bob Payne
photo by Chris Gomez
Frankenband – Webster defines as a band made up of the best parts of many bands.
What happens when you put together a band with a two time entertainer of the year, a three time drummer of the year, one of Chattanooga’s most popular female singers, a world class fiddle player ranked among the best in the world, and a three time bass player of the year? You get Queen Lightning, that’s what.
Chris Gomez, the ever-popular Bud Lightning front man, has teamed up with bass player extraordinaire Kenny Palmer from the Sweet n’ Lowdown Band, Bud Lightning’s great drummer Greg Rudder, Christi Roberts from Queen B & the Well Strung Band, and fiddler Kevin Moore to form Queen Lightning. Add in guest appearances by Sara McCoy and others and you have all the makings of a “super-group.”
Others have done it previously – The Highwaymen, Traveling Wilburys, Chickenfoot, and Dolly Parton’s Trio have all made history in the super-group arena. I expect Queen Lightning to achieve similar success in the local music scene. Other local bands have also had huge success with the super-band concept, including The Communicators, Jimmy Tawater’s River City Showcase, and several combinations of our best country singers like Roger Alan Wade, Nathan Farrow, Davey Smith, Channing Wilson, and Robby Hopkins.
Queen Lightning opened their first set with Wagon Wheel, then on to Chicken Fried, some fancy Guns & Roses stuff, and even a little Charlie Daniels. To say that the big crowd at T-Bones loved them would be an understatement. Chris Gomez and Christi Roberts harmonize well and mix up the songs, ranging from rock classics to country. Sara Nickloy joined in toward the end of the first set and the band dazzled the crowd with Bobby McGee, the Beatles Come Together, and more. Dancing was the order of the night, as much of the crowd was up on their feet for the entire set.
Here is my suggestion…if you want to go out and have a great time, forget all your worries, and dance your feet off- then go see Queen Lightning. The only ones having more fun may just be the band.
For local music info, try www.chattanoogaentertainers.com or www.chattanooganightscope.com. They both have great local music info and schedules. For local info on Country music, try Jim Boles’ site www.chattacountry.ning.com.
Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or catch him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davrik2000 .