ED HENRY: Heat Lightning - Blue Train's Second Official Performance

Mike Hartnett - David Propst - Tom Reeves - Rick Miller - George Osing Blue Train

21 July 2013 Spring Grove, Pa.

       The best part of the day was talking to three couples who had never been to Goofy's Eatery and Spirits out on York Road in Spring Grove. I like to do the detective work: Why are you here? Do you follow the music? Do you know who these guys are? What possessed you on a hot, July afternoon to come and listen to bluegrass? I'm that way. I can do it in a nice way so the strangers never suspect I'm grilling them. In the background, and beyond Whitey Runkle's custom-made pavilion sidings, heat lightning is crackling on the horizon. Storm clouds are building. I feel like the Grand Inquisitor. Rick Miller is up on stage belting out Hank's "Your Cheatin' Heart." I had to stop the questioning and listen. I don't believe Rick Miller and Blue Train is doing that song. The audience goes nuts. It ain't bluegrass and never was, but it fits the mood. It's about entertainment on a Sunday afternoon with Heat Lightning in the background and a large crowd of patrons having a good time in the big pavilion attached to the back of Goofy's restaurant and tavern.
       This is heaven. The last bastion of traditional bluegrass music outside of Jumbo Jimmy's Crab Shack and the Arcadia Bluegrass Festival. There are one or two other places, but to me they're like good fishing holes or the best Vietnamese restaurants. I'm very cautious as to who I give away their locations. Today at Goofy's it's a pretty special occasion and a lot of people who aren't at Goofy's normally, are there to see Blue Train perform for only the second officially-scheduled performance. Word of mouth is huge in the bluegrass community, and word got around when Blue Train performed there for the first time on June 16th, 2013 (Father's Day). I didn't want to miss this second outing. I knew they would stir up the pot and try some different songs, different arrangements. This band is bottled magic and highly skilled. The wonder of it, as I sat and thought about it, is they haven't even found or hit their stride yet as a working unit. They're that good. The specialness of the occasion could also be felt in who was in the room to have a good time right along with all the rest of the folks. There was a sprinkling of fellow-musician friends who were there to check out the band too. They were there to hear music and talk bluegrass, talk about gigs and old connections.
      More people are coming in and the dance floor is getting more crowded as Rick Miller, Mike Hartnett, David Propst, Tom Reeves, and George Osing heat up the music. Goofy's owner and Proprietor 'Whitey' Runkle and his staff are having a field day with the customers. I got a chance to talk to him. "My wife and I took a trip to Key West and we ran into the neatest biker bar. It was a neighborhood place. Clean and safe, where people could feel at home. I got the idea to have a place like that here in Spring Grove." says Whitey.
Seven years ago he took a chance on bluegrass music (he was already offering rock and roll and country/western). Some locals convinced him that it would draw in customers and sell food and drinks. "It's not always been easy," said Whitey, "It's a delicate balancing act to get the right bands. Here's Sarah Shock. She was a big help in building up the good entertainment." There were others who stood by the music: Ed Tillman, Donny and Kathy, Kathy and Woody, the Herb Martin Family out of Westminster, the local band Long Ryde, just to name a very few. It helps to serve up good food right along with the good music. Nothing fancy here. Just stick-to-the-ribs eats tending more toward seafood. The most popular platter-style meal is "The Big Fish" and that's exactly what it is.
       The lightning stopped and it looks like we're going to dodge a bullet. Blue Train is launching into another surprise: "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive" by Merle Haggard. I love it. And the crowd is hooting and hollering and wants to dance. Old folks, young folks, people who are dear old friends, and people who hardly know each other. That's what I've come to expect among the bluegrass community. They want to have a good time and enjoy the company of others who like the same music. Whether you got here on a mule or a Harley isn't a consideration. I have to hand it to Whitey Runkle. He's offering a rare commodity and taking a chance on it. Trying to make a buck on bluegrass in today's economy is a risk not too many bars and restaurants are willing to make. He knows the cash-flow totally depends on getting Entertainment Value, and not just anybody off the street who thinks they know something about music. This is what makes Goofy's a different kind of establishment.
       Blue Train will be back September 1st, 2013, and the music begins at 4:00 and ends at 8:00. In the meantime other great bands are there every weekend - some of the most recognizable names in Maryland and southern Pennsylvania music circles. Blue Train is traditional bluegrass, very tight, very professional, and consists of Rick Miller (Guitar and vocals) David Propst (Mandolin and vocals) Mike Hartnett (Fiddle) George Osing (Banjo) and Tom Reeves (Bass). The vocal-work is spectacular along with the instrumental structure and unity - rare to find a band that can handle both.