Recently, we got to see Pure Prairie League in concert at the Berglund Performing Arts Theatre in Roanoke, Va. We also were able to meet the band and interview Randy Harper before the show. Not only was he super nice [actually the entire band was], but he also had the coolest shoes. I made sure to tell him but, alas, I did not get a great picture of them [though you can see them slightly in the collage picture further down in the post], so you, dear readers, will just have to trust me on this. This post includes the interview [where we learn the history of the band’s mascot “Sad Luke”], as well as the night’s setlist and we will be sharing our thoughts on this iconic band’s performance.
An Interview With Pure Prairie League’s Randy Harper
EPR: It’s how many years for you guys now? 50+, right?
Randy Harper: Actually 54 years.
EPR: 54. Wow! Okay, and what do you think is the secret to keeping the band going for so long?
Randy Harper: I mean, we’re like brothers. I mean, even when we spat about something, it’s usually something stupid and silly. It’s also because some of the past band members are no longer alive.
EPR: Oh, so you already took care of them, huh?
Randy Harper: No, no animals were hurt in the making of the band.
EPR: Alright, so what is your most requested song besides, “Amie”?
Randy Harper: Requested? Yeah, that’s a good one. “Two Lane Highway,” definitely. “Flat Tire, Merle.” That’s a huge one.
EPR: What’s your favorite one to play?
Randy Harper: The encore. *laughs*
EPR: You’re ready when it’s done.
Randy Harper: The encore song is my favorite one. No, I don’t have one. I mean, I love them [all]. There are even songs that we’re not, that we can’t play, on the show because it would be too long. I mean, I love the songs and love to do them, you know?
EPR: Well, who are you like listening to now? Like other artists? If we were going to look at your CD player, who would we find?
Randy Harper: Who am I listening to? Sports radio. I don’t have a CD player I still have vinyl. So I listen to a lot of old R&B and jazz, you know, country stuff. That’s what I listen to. I don’t have a mood or whatever, a rhyme or a reason.
EPR: So how big is your vinyl collection?
Randy Harper: Probably about 200 records. It is pretty small. It’s small compared to some of my friends that have thousands of them.
EPR: I’m sure there’s lots of people who really regret getting rid of all their vinyl because it’s just such a different sound that really can’t be replicated.
Randy Harper: I’m one of those people. I’m actually working back to it.
EPR: So what do you like to do in your free time when you’re not out on the road.
Randy Harper: Play golf. Drive my car.
EPR: Are you good at golf or do you just like to play?
Randy Harper: I just like to play. Well, I used to be really good but circumstances caused me to quit playing for several years. Now I just enjoy doing it. As long as I beat him [nodding at, I think, either Jeff Zona or Scott Thompson], I don’t care.
EPR: So how long do you guys think you’ll continue to tour. I’ve talked to some bands that have told me they are just going to tour until they fall over dead and then other people have like a timeline of when they are going to be done.
Randy Harper: I mean, this is what we love to do. We don’t know. I mean, I’d love to be doing this when I’m John’s [John David Call] age. As long as my fingers don’t fall off or whatever.
Jared Camic: He’s 79 and we are going to keep him going at least until 82.
Randy Harper: We have a new record coming out. We have been in the studio several months and we are getting to the finishing stages now. We are excited about it. Jeff and Jared, Jeff [Zona] is our lead guitar/lead singer and Jared [Camic] is our bass player – they wrote several of the songs on the record. Gary Burr, one of the former members, has written a couple songs on the record as well. We are excited about it and we are going to actually play a couple of the new songs tonight.
EPR: How long is your tour?
Randy Harper: Basically, we don’t tour. We are just pretty much perpetually playing shows. Sometimes we get a couple of weeks off, and that’s fine. Sometimes we have like 20 days in a row that we’re out. It depends.
Editor’s Note: While Scott Thompson was prepping to go onstage, drinking hot tea, he and I had a discussion about tea flavors that we enjoy before the interview.
EPR: I know Scott [Thompson] drinks tea to prep. What about you?
Randy Harper: What do I drink? Honestly, if it was made in Kentucky, I’ll probably drink it. No, I’m just kidding. Let’s say water. Sure. *Harper winks and laughs*
Randy Harper: We’ll go with that. Sure. Sounds real convincing.
Editor’s Note: We are just joking, for anyone who might be taking this part seriously. These guys are pranksters.
EPR: Of the music that’s out now, I know you said you don’t listen to a whole lot of new music. But is there any that you find promising?
Randy Harper: I appreciate the talent of some people that are doing the new music, but I don’t find any of it that’s really…it ain’t like my old Zed Leppelin [Led Zeppelin] albums.
EPR: So, back to what you have been drinking.. *laughs*
Randy Harper: Actually, nothing yet. I don’t know. I grew up in an era when music was like, really, really, really good. And it wasn’t programmed at all. We didn’t have autotune. You had to sing your butt off. It’s funny. I had a guy after our soundcheck, he came up and he goes, “So what, do you guys use tracks. Do you use any auxiliary stuff?” And I’m like, “No, what you hear is what you’re gonna get.” And that’s exactly how we are. I’m kind of a little organic in that way.
EPR: But that’s good. That goes back to a lot of the way records sounded. So this is one of the coolest shirts [the shirt I am wearing in the picture with the band]. Do you guys have input into the design or does somebody just choose it for you.
Randy Harper: A little bit. Actually the cowboy, we call him “Sad Luke.” The original cowboy picture is on the “Two Lane Highway” [record]. I think that’s the original because that matches the Norman Rockwell more than anything else. The Norman Rockwell family allowed us to use Norman’s painting of Sad Luke. It was on the 1929 cover of the Saturday Evening Post. The family allowed us to take him and make him our mascot. So, he’s our guy.
EPR: Well, you say they “allowed” you, but I’m sure they found that quite the compliment, too.
Randy Harper: I think we paid them a little bit of money. I think it’s one of those dollar contract deals where you pay us $1 and you got it.
Editor’s Note: Mike Reilly added later via email: “The Sad Luke cover was our first album, featuring the cowboy from the Saturday Evening Post cover. Also, we had to pay the Saturday Evening Post for usage rights, but Rockwell refused to take any kind of payment. I have a signed Artist Proof of the original painting in my office. The original oil painting hangs in Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas’ home.“
Pure Prairie League’s Festival In The Park Setlist
- Kansas City Southern (Dillard & Clark cover)
- Early Morning Riser
- Angel
- Heart of Her Own
- I’ll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle (Big Brother And The Holding Company cover)
- Let Me Love You Tonight
- Woman
- Jazzman
- Call Me, Tell Me
- Goodbye So Long
- Lucille Crawfield
- Still Right Here In My Heart
- Harvest
- Angel #9
- Price Of Love
- Modern Problem
- Out In The Street
- Two Lane Highway
- Falling In and Out of Love
- Amie
What Did We Think Of The Show?
Pure Prairie League is a band that has been on my bucket list to see for many years. They tour around here pretty often, but it never worked out for some reason or another. So, I am glad I finally got to see them live. My favorite song by them, as I am sure with many, has always been either “Amie” or “Let Me Love You Tonight.” However, seeing them live might have changed that. The live versions of “Jazzman” and “Goodbye So Long” were some of the best live performances I have seen. Ever.
At this point in the year, we have been to around 25 concerts. This one was definitely one of the best – if not the best technically speaking. The music was loud enough, but not overpowering or distorted. I would describe it as “crisp.” I’m not sure if you thank the venue or the band for that [probably a bit of both] but it was a wonderful experience. Everything was clear and sounded just like I imagined, if not better. The band members told stories during the show that were funny and engaging. And I believe they played everything that anyone would come to hear them to play. Don’t you hate when a band doesn’t play a hit that you love? That is absolutely not the case here as proven by the setlist above.
Also, I want to say that I buy a tour t-shirt at most concerts I go to, unless they just don’t have anything I like. The Pure Prairie League shirt that I purchased might be my absolute favorite [I am wearing it in the picture with me and the band]. “Sad Luke” is an amazing and iconic character, making this particular shirt one of the coolest I now own. If you’ve seen the pricing on concert shirts lately [$30-$45, typically], then you probably agree that you need to get your money’s worth for that. The band also had pictures, stickers, and tons of other items to buy at their merch table, making it one of the best selections of band souvenirs I have seen. I put stickers, backstage passes, etc, on one of my doors, so I bought a couple of their stickers to add to my collection. The only thing I wish they would add [which I have never seen ANY band have] would be lapel pins. I collect these pins on my travels for a board in my home and wouldn’t it be so much cooler with band pins? Maybe me putting this out into the universe will make it happen. 😉
Get Social With Pure Prairie League
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