The Back Beats rocked out over 300 people at the Boomers Rock Club at Grove Park in Hot Springs Village. We were lucky enough to get to help them celebrate their 10th Anniversary. They were a great crowd, full of energy and dancing in the near 100 degree heat.
Happy anniversary to the Boomers Rock Club and here's wishing you many more years!!
The Back Beats are happy now to have Scot Johnston laying down some mean guitar licks.
Scot is a native Texan but grew up in Little Rock, graduating from Little Rock Hall in 1974. He went on to study chemistry at UALR before discovering computer programming. After finding an opportunity to get into that field professionally, he advanced up the ranks from night shift operator to systems software engineer where he wrote machine level code for operating systems. Eventually, he took that experience over into the business side and spent the second half of his career in technology sales (Dell/EMC/IBM).
Growing up in Little Rock, he listened to its AM radio stations. Top 40 (KAAY), R&B (KALO) and funk (KOKY) stations set the framework for an appreciation of a broad range of styles, but KAAY’s Beaker Street program pushed Scot towards album rock which was and is a main contributor to his playing style.
Welcome, Scot!
The Back Beats had a terrific time playing for the city of Russellville’s tremendous 4th of July celebration, held downtown at Depot Park. A huge crowd gathered for the food trucks, the fireworks, and the Back Beats’ high-energy performance in a festive celebration of American Independence. The downtown crowd was estimated at nearly one thousand people, with hundreds in attendance for the concert. The Back Beats played two hours of classic rock ‘n’ roll and R&B hits from the 50s and 60s, and the crowd enjoyed the music from the comfort of lawn chairs while others danced and sang along. The band threw beach balls into the crowd during the show, and the children particularly had a ball (!) with them. All in all, a great time was had by everyone, including the band, and we cannot wait to come back to Russellville for an encore performance!
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The City of Russellville, in partnership with Main Street Russellville and the Russellville Tourism and Visitor Center, will present a free community fireworks display on Sunday, July 4th at 9:15 pm in Downtown Russellville. The fireworks will be choreographed to music and performed by Interstate Fireworks. Viewers can tune their radios to our local KCJC 102.3FM during the show or listen online with the KCJC Radio App.
Live music and food vendors will be set up at Depot Park before the fireworks begin. The Back Beats will perform live on the Depot Park stage from 7-9 pm. The Back Beats are a six player band that specializes in vintage rock and beloved classics. Admission to the concert is free and all are welcome to attend. B Street Bakery will be open and serving American classics and local favorites, while food trucks, The Crepe Coop, The Hungry Nomad, and Mountain Mudd Snow Cones will be set up at Depot Park from 5-8:45pm.
Go to www.mainstreetrussellville.com for more information about this Independence Day Celebration and other Main Street Russellville events.
It’s been nearly 2 years since The Back Beats had their first rehearsal. Although the pandemic has put the brakes on live performances, the band has continued to work hard and evolve. Last Saturday, The Back Beats took another step in that evolution as we entered the recording studio. The fact that the recording session took place on January 30 was only fitting as it was the 52nd anniversary of the Beatles rooftop concert. Over a period of five hours, the band cut seven tracks. The result was seven songs that showcase the essence of this band. I can’t say enough about my fellow bandmates who embody such a high level of musicianship and professionalism. They really make playing music fun. I feel that I have rediscovered the joy in creating music with others. Jim, James, Bruce, Kristen, & Ginifer have shown me what a band could and should be. I consider myself fortunate to be associated with this fine group of people. The Back Beats look forward to returning to live performance soon.
Meet our new vocalists!
Kristen Dempsey (second from left) was born on Christmas day into a family of talented musicians. Her parents met while performing in Tobacco Road on Broadway. Her mother encouraged her to sing Barbra Streisand songs as a child. Her love of singing shone as she competed in and won talent and beauty contests growing up.
As an adult, she sang in a few bands. Her fans said her voice was the closest to Patsy Cline they had ever heard. She drew her inspiration as a singer from her parents, Cline, Karen Carpenter, and Barbra Streisand. A contract in Nashville was in her future in 1996, but as she was set to leave Arkansas, her car was struck by a drunk driver. 32 surgeries and two years later, she was able to return to her singing career.
She loves The Back Beats’ music, and singing is her passion. The only thing Kristen loves more than singing is her son and her three amazing grandkids.
Ginifer Fox (forth from left) grew up in the heart of rhythm and blues country, southern Mississippi, amid a family of musicians, including her father, a New Orleans jazz saxophone player. Ginifer frequented the stage, from the church choir to weddings, performing melodic harmonies with her talented mother and two sisters. She gained more performance experience as a teen, expanding her stage from small community events and local theatres to performing as a vocalist/dancer with a traveling competitive company, The Showcase Performers.
Ginifer and her husband John settled in Cabot, Arkansas, where they’ve enjoyed raising their two beautiful daughters, Ginaley and Gaunne. They all share a deep love and passion for music of all genres and often find themselves attending concerts together as a pastime. Her love of soulful sounds and the stage lead her to The Back Beats. When Ginifer’s not performing, she’s still reaching the hearts of many as she continues her career in the cardiology industry and lives by the ever-so-true saying “Music is life, that’s why our hearts beat.”
We had a blast playing to a packed house at Hibernia Irish Tavern. There was a tremendous amount of energy in the room. Folks were dancing, singing and clapping along, and having a great time.
Thanks to everyone that came out. It was awesome seeing so many friends. You helped make this an amazing and memorable night. We were completely overwhelmed by everyone's support.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Sarah and Jerry at Hibernia for having us and to Jim Metcalf at Stagemasters for providing us with sound reinforcement.
Ready to have some fun? Then get yourself over to Hibernia Irish Tavern, this Friday, February 28! We will be playing from 8-11, bringing you some great rock 'n roll from the 50s and 60s. They have happy hour from 4-7 pm, and you can find their menu here. Join The Back Beats for a great time! Check out our other upcoming shows here.
One of my oldest memories is sitting by the radio waiting to hear Twist and Shout. In my seven year old brain, it seemed like they never played it but they probably did every half hour or so. The anticipation was great and the disappointment crushing when the greatest song ever did not come up.
My love of all things Beatles grew from there. Playing Beatles songs with The Back Beats made my admiration for Paul McCartney and his bass only more intense. He always adds something special to even the simplest songs. His bass line on Twist and Shout is the melody for La Bamba, least some of the time. He never seems to do the same thing twice or for very long.
McCartney is a master of his craft and we are lucky to be able to enjoy his art. I will never be Sir Paul (he is left handed and British, for starters), but I have the pleasure of diving into his awesome body of work with The Back Beats.
- Bruce Benson
I was very saddened to learn of the death of Rush drummer extraordinaire Neil Peart, an absolute virtuoso of percussion. Whether or not you liked Rush as a band, Peart’s technical prowess and musicality on the drum set were things to admire. He was a great influence on me as a drummer, and though The Back Beats play a different style of music altogether, the lessons I learned from seeing Peart in concert (twice) and hearing his incredible work on Rush albums and in the several jazz sessions he also recorded have improved my drumming significantly. His death is a great loss to the music world in general.
- James Moses
Neil Peart, Rush Drummer Who Set a New Standard for Rock Virtuosity, Dead at 67
