CHUCK “WAGON” MAULTSBY AND HIS SAME OLD BAND, DUNCAN STITT
BAND
SUMMERHAVEN
Sunday, Aug. 9
Tucson is getting a bad rap due to the lackluster support of our
arts community from the powers that be. One idea that breaks the mold
is Music on the Mountain, a series of outdoor concerts presented by the
Live Acoustic Venue Association (LAVA) on Mount Lemmon. Each Sunday
throughout the summer, LAVA has featured talented musicians and given
Tucsonans an excuse to escape the heat.
A 45-minute drive from central Tucson up to Summerhaven brought
cooler temperatures and a festive atmosphere, perfect for a lazy Sunday
afternoon. The impossible parking situation and the accompanying hordes
of people walking down the narrow two-lane road against the flow of
traffic meant that getting there an hour before the noon start time
would’ve been the smart thing to do.
The Duncan Stitt Band played to a large, relaxed audience (with many
older folks, Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, families and tons of dogs)
under a massive tent. The trio consisted of guitarist Eric Mellen (also
a member of the headlining band), Dave Vigasin on drums and Stitt on
the keyboard. Their set was peppered with covers, including the David
Letterman theme song and Dr. John’s “Right Place Wrong Time,” while
their original songs ranged in style from mellow rock to Mexican disco,
from blues to polka. The lyrics stood out as the hysterical highlight
of the day. My photographer and I were laughing aloud at lyrics such as
“sock it to me, soccer mom,” and, in a song about a physically
unattractive woman, “there is a catch, you have a personality to
match,” but it seemed the audience didn’t get the joke. These guys were
lots of fun.
Chuck “Wagon” Maultsby and His Same Old Band (S.O.B.—ha!) have
an almost cult-like status in Tucson music. Maultsby has been
performing regularly with his band, including bassist and co-founder
Scott Bish, since 1977. (Until 1999, they were called Chuck Wagon and
the Wheels.) Their performance was solid, and the fans chowed on hot
dogs and drank beer while Maultsby and company rocked ‘n’ rolled. They
played many covers, which were no doubt requests, and I tip my hat to
them for obliging their fans who drove a long way to see them play.
This article appears in Aug 13-19, 2009.
