I guess you could call the genre the hell-raising bastard child of rockabilly, seeing as rockabilly was of the ‘50s and combined country, gospel, and rhythm and blues all kicked up to a frenetic pace until it “rocked”. What is classically termed “Southern rock” took that base, nailed on some harder British rock-influenced elements, (which were really nothing more than a bunch of white British guys trying to imitate old Southern black bluesmen, so the Southern boys already had a head start on half of it now, didn’t they?), and added in triple guitar layers and three part harmonies, mainly bluegrass string band songwriting devices, to bring the vibe back down to earth regardless of the amplified decibel level and back down home to the dirt roads, the deltas, and the swamps.

Florida, in particular, has a way of breeding that feel-good, drive fast, party music. Alongside regional acts like Mudcrutch/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Tampa’s Outlaws, inspired and influenced by the examples of bands like the Allman Brothers and The Eagles developed a highly original style of guitar-driven country-rock with pristine three and four part vocal harmony. Owing much to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant as well as Clive Davis, the band soon found themselves the first group signed to Arista.

The year 1975 saw the band touring the country and rocketing to chart success with such hits as the now iconic “Green Grass and High Tides” and “There Goes Another Love Song”, from their debut album Outlaws. The signature sound of these early recordings was the distinctive voice and Fender guitar of leader Hughie Thomasson, (who sadly passed in 2007), along with Billy Jones and Henry Paul—known belovedly as Florida’s Guitar Army to their fans. Today’s line-up of the Oulaws consists of original singer/songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Henry Paul and original drummer/songwriter Monte Yoho and features lead guitarist/songwriter/vocalist Chris Anderson (Dickey Betts, Dan Toler, Warren Haynes), lead guitarist Billy Crain (Henry Paul Band), bassist/singer/songwriter Randy Threet (BlackHawk, Pam Tillis, Trisha Yearwood, Buddy Jewell), and keyboardist/singer/songwriter Jon Coleman (Lee Roy Parnell, Brothers of the Southland). They brought a bit of the sweet sounds of the good ‘ole South right to the center of 42nd St./Times Square when they came to NYC’s BB King Blues Club & Grill to entertain the sold-out crowd. And entertain they did with a tight, succinct set that stuck mainly to favorites from the band’s early career days.

Coming out with high energy, they sprang straightaway into the hits “There Goes Another Love Song” from ‘75s Outlaws, and “Hurry Sundown” from ‘77s album of that name, showing pitch-perfect vocal harmony execution and their patented three guitar line. Just three songs out of the gate they pulled out “Freeborn Man” from ‘76s Lady In Waiting album, the five minute-plus composition that flings between up-tempo country-fried rock and sweet prog-y jamming on the familiar 12-bar blues framework. But that’s nothing new for this band. It’s what they’ve built their career doing, after all, writing the unexpected but delivering it consistently.

Watching Chris Anderson, Billy Crain, and Henry Paul trade licks with the sharp precision of technical skill and the flowing fluidity of innate effortless experience is awe-inspiring and uplifting, simultaneously. Along with such crowd-pleasers as “Keep Prayin’”, “You Are the Show”, “South Carolina”, “Gunsmoke”, and the always amazingly soulful “Prisoner”, the group added some Henry Paul Band tunes such as “Grey Ghost” and “So Long”.

The six musicians together deliver the spirit, the flash, the fire, the consummate showmanship with grace and humility, each song building their set in its intensity. The crowd feeds upon it and sends the love back largely and loudly. By the time the band gets to the end of the set and the other two songs they’re best known for, the audience can barely be contained. They know that it’s time for “Green Grass and High Tides” and “Ghost Riders in the Sky”, and they’re more than ready to go there, singing right along at the top of their lungs until the last note sounds.

SET LIST
Tomorrows Another Night
Love Song
Hurry Sundown
Freeborn Man
Grey Ghost
Song in the Breeze
Keep Prayin’
Feel the Heat
You are the Show
Prisoner
South Carolina
Gunsmoke
So Long
Waterhole
Knoxville Girl
Green Grass and High Tides
Ghost Riders in the Sky