Shortly after the latest issue of Bazooka came out featuring the interview with J.D. Wilkes from Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, I got a text saying that some people were really pissed off about the comments J.D. made about the Paducah music scene.

I was a bit confused, because the only thing I could remember him saying was that it needs better venues (which we all say all the time) and figured it was just the usual few people who bitch about everything. If he was being critical of anything, I took it as being critical of the city itself for not supporting the local scene.

Then I realized that it wasn't that comment that set most people off, it was this one:

J.D. -"The Pokey LaFarge show was a good step in the right direction. We need fresh ideas and new blood. Paducah is a great town for art, but when it comes to music they need to catch up with other small towns like Hattiesburg, MS and Lafayette, IN who celebrate eclectic music that challenges the status quo in a healthy way... not in an ugly, drugged out way."

This was not a misquote, it was simply misunderstood by many. The guys from Ground Zero Promotions wrote him and said that a lot of people were not only angry but hurt by the comment, and could he please explain what he meant by that.

Here are some of the things he said (the whole email exchange is on my Facebook page):

"No no no... it's not like that. Perhaps I didn't provide enough additional info in the interview to establish what I meant.

What I meant was, so many other towns that the Shack Shakers play have fallen prey to the whole gutter-punk, hellbilly, cowpunk chic thats hip in the underground nowadays. Unless you've played these dumps and dealt with those assholes you don't know what I'm talking about. Why, Duane Denison of the very edgy Jesus Lizard (who now plays in my band) complains about this phenomenon all the time. He's cool, right?

Hey, I want there to be a renaissance here more than anyone, but not the kind that has crept into a lot of these other southern and midwest towns. Hattiesburg and Lafayette are good examples for Paducah to follow. For now, I believe that Paducah is in a neutral state in terms of all this. So I want it to go in the correct direction.

I love this town and only want it to flourish. When I see other small towns that are turning things around and making it work I get jealous. Paducah's got a lot to show for itself, but without a university, I'm afraid it can only go so far. I'm just trying to offer some insight, since, for the last ten years I've had the unique opportunity to interact with the music scene of every US market in the lower 48 states. And those two towns I mentioned are pretty special, just ask any REAL hard-touring band.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not sitting on any throne or high horse either. Hell, plenty of folks have seen me get drunk down at Doe's. I'm no saint, that's for sure. A quick Google check of my name should set that record straight.

You can post this email too. I don't want anyone thinking I view Paducah as some druggy hellhole. To be honest, I was actually thinking of places like Jacksonville, Florida.

Great, now I've offended all the Floridians who read Bazooka too.

All the best,

J.D.

I've read many of the comments people have made about this issue, and talked to some people in the scene about it as well. Everyone thought J.D. was saying that Paducah's scene was a shit hole and he wasn't. People have said the tickets cost too much, that the band is getting paid too much, and that they haven't done shit for the local scene.

That is all wrong on so many counts. This show IS their way of supporting music in Paducah. Th' Legendary Shack Shakers didn't have to play Paducah on NYE - they could have sold out a show in a much bigger city for better money - but they believe in this town and want to see it flourish.

Ground Zero Promotions has busted it's ass to pull this show together, FOR the people of Paducah. We're always saying that we want to see cooler, bigger bands come to town (and that's not a dig on our local scene, that's a dig on the crap that comes to the larger venues) - and when one finally does, everyone starts bitching about everything from the lineup to the ticket prices to a single quote that was misunderstood.

We need to support this band, this promotions company, and this show in particular if we want to see bigger and better things happen in Paducah. And not just bringing bigger acts to town, but to spotlight on the coolness of the scene in general and to help kickstart bigger events for the local scene.

Yes, the tickets are $30. This is a huge band, at a huge venue, on NYE, with tons of advertising. It costs a lot of money, and people routinely pay $50 for NYE events without near the coolness factor of this one. And I promise you, as someone who has seen them live, it is worth every penny.

Hopefully this has clarified any misunderstandings and soothed any hurt feelings, and we can all get onto the business of just chilling out and having a good fucking time. So be there or be square babies, and I will certainly be there, champagne drunk with all my friends listening to one of the best bands in the world. And if you're lucky, passing out kisses at midnight!