the NeverCanEvers

It’s a warm summer evening in late August. I am feeling pretty lucky about having been invited to the Triple C Ranch for the NeverCanEver’s band practice. As a family band practice isn’t complete without a big family meal served before hand. One crucial member of the band who is not pictured above is “Switch”, and she holds the band together by providing all the excellent grub, like the Lemon Cream Sauce Pasta dish that is laid out before us on the table.

Even if Sarsaparilla weren’t my most favorite friend out here in Wheeler County, I know I would still consider her family’s band, the NeverCanEvers my most favorite band. Her brother, Branch sings and picks the bass, long time family friend Dingo rocks lead vocals & guitar, Sarsaparilla pounds the drums, and her dad, Zerk, pulls it all together on the guitar and mandolin. Long time friends as well as musicians this group formed their current union earlier this summer, and they have been rocking street dances all over the county ever since, with more live shows on the way.

Dingo has coined their style “Ranch-Rock”, and I would have to agree. These folks spend their days working hard in the sun, running the family ranch, bucking hay, splitting wood, and Dingo helps run his family’s Tire Shop in Mitchell, while Miss Sarsaparilla finds time to study school teaching.

My first question is how Dingo came up with the term Ranch Rock. Seems there was a practice just a few months ago, and one of the family dogs started barking away outside. Sarsaparilla looks out the back window, and sees a rattle snake shaking and hissing something wild. Zerk runs out there with a shot gun, and pow, true Ranch Rock was formed at that very moment.

Their rockin’ western style is also influenced by; Steve Earle, John Prine, Townes VanZandt, Reckless Kelly, Captin Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters, Elmo and the John Day River Boys, and Louis Armstrong, just to name a few. And while you might catch them playing a few select covers, most of their songs are all original and written by Dingo himself.

You have to see these guys live to really appreciate their style. If you are lucky, you will catch them playing on a flat bed trailer, stretched out before the rim rock with the folks dancing right there in the street. If you get a chance to attend one of their upcoming shows, you are sure to find this gal right up front singing along and dancing away.