Hudson Hornet featured at final NeighborFEST of the season today

Let it be known that Hudson Hornet truly can live up to its sleek, classic car name.

The four-member, Bloomington-based group performed in French Lick a few years ago for an international Hudson car club gathering that celebrated the vehicles from the 1950s.

“People still bring the cars to a lot of our shows,” drummer Sam Pierce said.

The band aims for a revved-up rockabilly revue of sorts, with a splash of honky tonk, when it plays the final JCB NeighborFEST street concert of the season. That happens from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today in front of The Commons, 300 Washington St. in Columbus.

The band covers The Beatles to Buck Owens and until several years ago even occasionally included a rendition of a Metallica tune. Pierce said he expects the ensemble to whip through as many as 35 to 40 songs in their local stage time.

“A lot of the older tunes are mostly three-minute songs,” Pierce said. “And we often don’t have a whole lot of in-between chatter.”

The group features Eric Reeves on vocals and rhythm guitar; Andy Bruce on lead guitar, vocals and lap steel; Pierce on drums; and James Douglas on standup bass.

Amid the band’s set lists, Pierce said he likes the Owens material probably the best.

“We’re all big Dwight Yoakam fans,” Pierce said. “And he did an entire Buck Owens tribute CD (“Dwight Sings Buck”). It’s just really good music.”

Celebrating its 27th season, NeighborFEST debuted via the Columbus Downtown Council as a laid-back summertime, downtown entertainment option. The first concert was conducted along Fourth Street on the patio of the now defunct Peter’s Bay seafood restaurant at the original Commons.

Pierce said the band’s 1950s covers, including songs by Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent, are among the most popular.

“’Twenty Flight Rock’ is a really fun one,” Pierce said of a Vincent tune. “Rockabilly is still a specialized, little niche on the general music scene.”

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Who: Bloomington-based rockabilly band Hudson Hornet performing at the Columbus Area Arts Council’s final JCB NeighborFEST street concert.

When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today.

Where: In front of The Commons at 300 Washington St. in Columbus. Bring a lawn chair for seating.

Admission: Free.

Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

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