What started as an Emerging Artist showcase had to be moved into the main theater, with a full house turning out to see Johnny Hastings and Bob Fahey share the stage again. Over the course of the night, it turned into something a little bigger, with Deb Lux stepping in and the three of them rotating through sets, collaborations, and a final stretch that pulled the room to its feet.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Friday night at the Dahl we got to experience three Black Hills legends on stage together. Deb, Bobby and Johnny all shine brightly on their own, but there’s an extra spark when they’re performing together.
The evening started off with Bobby playing a mix of his own material and tasty covers. Hearing him in such an intimate setting, we could really hear the beautiful tones and timbres of both his voice and his guitar.
Before he ended his solo set, he was joined by Deb and Johnny for a couple of tunes and it was Deb‘s turn to shine with her beautiful, bluesy vocals.
Johnny‘s set followed with another fantastic mix of his originals and great cover choices. My personal favorites were Johnny’s latest single written for his Dad, and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, the Willie Nelson classic. Johnny put his own sauce on it, of course.
The evening ended with a super funky blues workout with Johnny and Bobby trading licks back-and-forth to bring the audience to their feet for the finale. The talent of these three is surpassed only by their hard work and humble hearts. I’m grateful to call them all my friend.
707 Sports Bar & Nightlife — Michael Winslow
Saturday night at 707 pulled a different kind of crowd.
Michael Winslow is one of those names people already carry with them when they walk in. Most know him from Police Academy, or at least from clips that have been floating around for decades. The expectation is pretty fixed before he even steps on stage.
What happens once he gets going doesn’t really match that.
Instead of just running through familiar bits, he builds everything live. Sounds stack on top of each other, rhythms start to form, and before long it stops feeling like impressions and starts leaning closer to music. Not in a polished, produced way, but something assembled in real time, right in front of the room.
You can feel the shift when people realize what he’s actually doing. It takes a minute. Then it clicks.
The room settles in after that. Less about recognition, more about watching how far he can push it.
Aby’s — Johnny Hastings & Band
Later in the weekend, Johnny showed up again, this time at Aby’s.
Different room, different pace. A ticketed show, a little more space to breathe, with his three-piece band behind him instead of a full crowd pressed into the seats.
The night opened with Aaron Niehaus, a songwriter out of Fargo, North Dakota, making his first swing through the Hills.
I ended up outside with him for a while, talking through what it actually takes to get into places like this. Travel, booking, trying to make the numbers work. He’s got a bluegrass band back home he’d love to bring out, but the cost of moving a full group makes that a harder jump than going solo.
This trip was part of feeling things out. Finding rooms. Meeting people. Seeing what might be possible if he comes back through.
Inside, Johnny and the band kept things steady, working through a set that felt a little looser than the night at the Dahl, but just as grounded.
