Back around the turn of the year the Gin Palace Jesters played Chris and Heather's Country Calander show with a veritable array of superstars based out of Chicago. Our "Honkytonk Fools" were torn between choosing Porter Wagoner or Ray Price but decided to play the hits of Johnny Horton. Above is the back cover of the Country Calander and the ordering info.

Here Chris Ligon introduces the Gin Palace Jesters. Heather McAdams does the art for the Calander and the nifty signs around the stage beside and behind the musicians.

I'm a Honkytonk Man!!!

Next it was a rendition of the geographically pertinent yet obscure Johnny Horton historical ballad "Miss O'Leary's Cow" who was allegedly responsible for the great Chicago Fire of October 1871.

This is an interesting picture of Casey Stockdon warming up before a gig.

In the heart of the midwest in January the boys trucked off to Cleveland and Indianapolis dodging a severe snowstorm the whole way. Here they are preparing to leave cursing the rental company which had given their large passenger van to someone else and only had the mini-van left...Damn them!

How is all this stuff going to fit ??? Observe the newfangled "Honkytonk Legend-Go-Round" (patent pending) which is the latest and greatest prize-giveaway-money-making gimmick thingy ever...Sponsored by Hadacol.

Phew...it fit. Now can the band fit in there too?

OK...so it's not a Silver Eagle.

Although over the next several days many people would offer to drive, Rick never trusted anyone else to do it.

Joke: A musician arrives at the gates of heaven and St. Peter says, "Oh yeah, you can come in...just load in through the back door." Arriving at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio.

Setlists? Future hit songs? Fan mail?

"I think I hear a frog in here.." Tuning before soundcheck

Finally it was time to play. The fellas had a ball sharing a bill with the Wailin' Elroys.

Things that matter: cold beer, good music and the "Honkytonk Legend-Go-Round" (copyright 2005?)

Ken hobknobbing with the fine folks of Cleveland.

There a goin like hotcakes! Thanks to the folks at WRUW for promoting the show.

The storm catches up to our heroes.

Speaking of hotcakes...Dave says,"If we have to slog it through the snow all day we might as well do it with some hot flapjacks in our bellys"

Buddy says, "If we have to slog it through the snow all day we might as well do it with some beef jerky in our bellys." Dave heartily agrees.

Someone got creative with the chalk at Radio Radio in Indianapolis.

Dave explains to this leather jacketed, hot rod drivin' ruffian that the band is not exactly rockabilly but really more like old school honkytonkin' country and western and asks if he could keep his gang of outlaws from smashing anything up.

Moving the merch at the "general store."

Have guitar, will travel

The band shared a bill with the fabulous Riptones and the Hoyle Brothers on the same night. Here we see songwriter extraordinare JEB in the foreground while hep Mike blasts some harmony and baritone guitar into the Riptones set.

Riptones bassist and crazy man Earl Carter pounds out a truckdrivin' beat.

Next it was the Jester's portion of the program

Casey and Dave don't usually talk behind people's backs.

Jeb got his copy...do you have yours?

We're not sure if this was taken the same night butt...ah...but..uh...forget it.

Earl Carter, Ken Mottet and Blue Ribbon beer.

Unfortunately noone took a picture of the Hoyle Brothers playing their set but luckily this one got snapped. "Pennsylvania" Dave perched on the 6 foot 97 inch Jack Hoyle.

In February the boys opened up for BR-549 at Bill Fitzgerald's place. Band friend and sound engineer Mike Sharp was working the board too so they were right at home.

Cousin' Buddy works the "Hillbilly Hammond."

"Aw dang...I missed the C sharp diminished 5-9 chord with the suspended augmented 13!!! UGH!!"

Back in the wheelhouse.

The Hoyle Brothers were out of town gigging so the Gin Palace Jesters filled in for their weekly stint at the Empty Bottle for the Friday Honkytonk Happy Hour. They did their level best to keep the regulars entertained with real by gawd country music and even broke out the "Honkytonk Legend Go Round" (TM all rights reserved...just kidding already). Here the arrow just landed on Ray Price so off they go into a Ray Price shuffle.

Dave looks kinda frisky here.

This man may look like a Pete Seeger impersonator but it's none other than Lawrence Peters.

Boys and girls getting their weekend started right.

This guy looks shady.

Sing birdy sing.