 | | Hayseed Dixie (pic: Stu Gibson) |
Casting aside any notion of novelty or comedy, the tongue-in-cheek character of the bands they doff sweatbands to (albums include A Hillbilly Tribute To AC/DC and Kiss My Grass, featuring KISS songs treated similarly) is captured in exquisitely posing pouch-perfect style, including the redneck attire to mandolin man Dale Reno stomping the stage in like manner of AC/DC’s Angus Young. The success of this venture over the last six years is explained in part by the almighty Samson-shearing strength of the original songs, but more so by the Dixie whistlers’ supreme musical proficiency. It ensures rattling, shack-shaking, horse-trough trashing takes of anything from Aerosmith’s Walk This Way, Motorhead’s Ace Of Spades, J Geils Band’s Centerfold and the finale of Duelling Banjos are lapped up by a raucous Friday night crowd parched and thirsting for a party.  | | Hayseed Dixie (pic: Stu Gibson) |
According to lore written by Dale and brother Don Wayne Reno’s Uncle, the last choice heralds a rebuke to the Deliverance writers as real rednecks wouldn’t have let anyone get away to tell the tale and, incidentally, would prefer Burt Reynolds to Ned Beatty for that infamous scene. Not even a fleeting, hot-footed run through The Bangles’ Eternal Flame can douse spirits, albeit it’s one undertaken to hurry along Don Wayne’s string changing break. Whether or not you view them as a mere curiosity, a countrified footnote to the tribute band arena, there’s no doubting every second of their crowd-pleasing two hour, twin stroke set tonight. Let those about to pick up a banjo, violin and acoustic guitar be saluted. Hail Hayseed. | 
