I'm with the band.

I'm with the band.

You're with the band. We're all with the band, y’all, when that band is the Fiddleworms.

We're all friends here, too, and we go way back. Yes. We're old friends – which are the best kind, don’t you know? Absolutely. We're old friends who never lost touch despite life sometimes getting in the way. We all grew up together, friends. This is a lifelong friendship and we're all part of the Muscle Shoals music story. Yes, Muscle Shoals music is our legacy, too. Thanks to the Fiddleworms, this is what growing old in the Shoals looks like for us – a rocking good time.

If you dig worms, you know the Shoals music scene is a multi-generational community that loves nothing more than meeting up at the rock show. This past weekend, I went along for the ride as these world-class rockstars shared the Muscle Shoals love by taking “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” on the road to Decatur’s Princess Theatre. If you don’t know the Fiddleworms yet, get on board, grab a front row seat, and buckle up for the time of your life.

First things first, let's get one thing straight: The Fiddleworms are NOT a cover band. Now, don’t get me wrong – I respect a good cover band. After all, we're all living out our rock n’ roll fantasies in our own ways, right? These world-famous worms, though, just do not fall into that category. The Fiddleworms are veteran professional musicians/performers who I consider regional rock n' roll royalty.

I can’t help but think of Fiddleworms founder, Russell Mefford, as the Brigadier General in charge of the long-running “Muscle Shoals Meets …” series with the incomparable Mitch Mann as his Colonel. I see Scott Todd, Steve Vickery, Clint Bailey, and Michael Curington sharing duties as Majors and Marie Lewey, Cindy Walker, Cissy Guin, Jimmy Nutt, Eddie Martin, and those fabulous horns are all Lieutenants standing ready to do their rock n’ roll duty.

Saturday night was the third curtain call for “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” with the first two dates happening in Florence this past summer. These "Muscle Shoals Meets" experiences spearheaded by the Fiddleworms are celebratory themed cover shows orchestrated with meticulous planning and execution by seasoned musicians and artists to benefit the greater good.

In the past, Muscle Shoals has met the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Tom Petty, the Swampers, and Sam Phillips. These charitable rock shows have raised well over $100,000 for The Healing Place with additional donations going to support Room in the Inn, the construction of several local Boundless Playgrounds, and many other worthwhile causes.

Yes, these shining stars literally give of their talents and time -- doing it all for a good cause. Saturday night, though, I promise they did it all for me. I was and will forever be one of the “good causes” who benefits from the Fiddleworms’ collective generous spirit. Thank you.

Stay tuned for more …

Monica Collier