I was (and still am) into bands from the late 60s to early-mid 70s, but I knew this band, Black Oak Arkansas was different, but in an irresistable way. From then on, when I hit the record shops, I was on the lookout for B.O.A..
The next LP I found was "Raunch N` Roll" , then "High On The Hog", and by then I was hooked. I felt "at home" with their music. Finally, I had found ALL the LPs and thaught WOW--they musta had a helluva impact in the 70s (which they did) & I wondered if they were still around. I didn`t have to wonder long---soon I found a new LP called "Ready As Hell", fresh off the press & was lucky enough to find the rare "Black Attack Is Back" LP a couple years later. By now, I was a huge fan, and had introduced friends to the music, many of whom liked it. Now, if only I could see the band live!!
At first, I was very unlucky at this. In 1990, I read of a gig 50 miles away in Olympia, WA 3 DAYS AFTER THE GIG!!!! (real bummer!!! --- this was WAY BEFORE my days on the web). In 1993, I got tickets to a gig in Seattle, but found out at the last minute, it had been cancelled. But being a true fan, I was down, but not out .. I knew there had to be a reason they couldn`t make it.
I continued to play the LPs constantly & finally a few CDs began to appear!!! Then I began meeting friends who were fans like myself, first through Goldmine magazine, then on the web. Lots of good people!! I was also able to contact Harvey Jett a few times, who sent me a few tapes. Finally, it happened--B.O.A. had a show to do in Darrington, WA, northeast of Seattle at a 2 day classic rock festival. Rick, still my best friend after all these years, and myself, got off work on a Friday night, threw our "stuff" in my truck, and hit the road!! The rockfest was just outside of Darrington, with a huge outdoor stage, with a big beautiful cabin just behind it. It was the perfect backdrop for a B.O.A. show!! There were alot of good local acts playing, and also Iron Butterfly, and I got to met Lee Dorman (bass) also of Captain Beyond -- who co-produced the first B.O.A. LP!! The second day, still being half-high from that, I was thinking "this can`t be true -- B.O.A. is actually going to play here REAL SOON!!" I went to get a few drinks, and was asking around if anyone had seen some friends I met on the net, who would be there wearing B.O.A. shirts. At first I got no, and people would ask, "wherja get the shirt?" & I referred them to the B.O.A. website. After awhile, someone came up & said, "hey, I think that`s who you`re looking for", and there in the distance on the concrete "bleachers" was Anett & Woody. It was great to meet them, and we B.S.`ed about B.O.A., as Rare Earth was performing.