Many of the bands who will be performing at the Austin Dam Show have been coming back as often as they can, some every year. And this year’s show opener is one of those performers.
Allan Combs will open the show as himself from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, and play acoustic versions of lesser known Tom Petty pieces and some of his own music, including a song written and dedicated to the dam.
“I don’t know how I got the big break to open the show, but Rich (Hadfield) and I are friends, and every year I get a little more of the dam experience. This year I am excited to open the event,” said Combs. His band has been performing at the Austin Dam Show for five years and he has performed solo twice in those five years.
And, for those who know Combs as the Rainmaker, he promises to forgo all dancing and shenanigans until the Austin Dam Show is over.
Combs is not just the opening act. He will transform into another role on Friday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Allan Combs’ Soul Medicine band, where the full tribute to the late Tom Petty really happens.
“We are like little kids every time we are asked to come here. Who do we want to be when we grow up? That is how we decide which band to pay tribute to. This year it’s Tom Petty,” said Combs. He is the youngest of all the members in the Allan Combs’ Soul Medicine band.
“It’s multigenerational music. They don’t care how old I am and I don’t care how old they are. We all like the same stuff,” he noted with a laugh.
This is the band’s favorite venue.
“It’s outside,” said Combs. “There is history here. It’s as close to Red Rock as we are going to get — It’s Pennsylvania’s Red Rock.”
Red Rock is an amphitheater in Colorado. It is historically known for its concerts, among other events.
According to his website, this group was named Soul Medicine after a song Combs and Tim Lashaw had written and recorded.
Steve Mitchell, drummer from Williamsport, known to give short/sweet wisdom that “cuts right through you,” per Combs, gave the best advice that he will carry with him.
“Mitchell said, “Serve the Song,” which means listen to other musicians before you play. In other words, shut up and listen. If you don’t recognize Mitchell’s name right away, he was the man that Animal, the muppet, was based on,” stated Combs.
For Combs, Mitchell was a local drummer. To most of the world, Animal was a character. Combs said Mitchell was both.
Allan Combs’ Soul Medicine consists of Latshaw on bass/vocals, Sean Madden on drums/vocals, Bryan Noaker on keys/vocals, and Combs. Together they play “Groove-infused Rhythm and Blues” all over Pennsylvania and New York. The band will be releasing their first full-length album in December.
