Keep Reaching for the Stars

Here’s how “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” went down, Part 8 (last one): Fiddleworms keep reaching for the stars

As the “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” rock show was winding down, I couldn’t stop thinking about how the Fiddleworms are crazy tight, y’all. Who pulls out a high-octane anthem like AC/DC’s “Back in Black” as the pre-finale number? Answer: I’ll take Fiddleworms for $1,000, Alex. Marty Lewis gave us the Most Inspired Moment of the night with his rendition of this 80s banger oozing Brian Johnson’s trademark raspy scrowl. Scrowl = a scream and a howl, just in case you’re wondering.

I’ve been to a lot of shows in my time and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like the “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” Tusk (marching band) finale. Halley Phillips and Mitch Mann, along with all the worms and the West Morgan Marching Band, delivered an epic performance in the vein of Fleetwood Mac’s iconic video with the University of Southern California Marching Band to close out the night. This finale takes the cake for the Boy, That Was Fun Moment. Well done, friends.

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it ten thousand times: The unexpected but completely kismet song/artist pairings of the “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” rock show were inspired. I know in reality that building the set list was likely a group effort but I felt Russell Mefford’s behind-the-curtain genius fingerprint all over the entire night, y’all. I am stunned by how the Fiddleworms and friends added new layers (of depth) to songs I’ve known the vast majority of my life. Thank you for breathing new life into our favorite 80s classics.

You know what? I came away from “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” rock show with an even greater appreciation for my hometown, too. I am so in awe of these generous souls who gave of themselves for a charitable cause. I have a renewed appreciation for the Fiddleworms, our beloved Shoals music legends, and our treasured local music scene.

Speaking of our treasured Shoals music scene, I think both Russell and Mitch would agree that it truly does take a village to pull off a show of this magnitude. These artists may not have taken the mic at center stage during the rock show but Scott Todd, Steve Vickery, Clint Bailey, and Michael Curington were the worm glue that made “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” rock. I can still hear those fabulous horns, too — thank you Drew White, Brad Guin, and Ricky Burks. Cissy Guin and Jimmy Nutt helped us keep the beat and those Shoals Sisters, Marie Lewey and Cindy Walker, with the help of Eddie Martin on occasion, kept us singing along. A special thank you to Scott Campbell, Corey Hannah, Patrick Akers, Tommy Pettus, and Chris Kemp who made sure we had a quality “Muscle Shoals Meets the 80s” experience and Chip Davis who helped keep us safe.

A wise man told me more than once during our weekly sessions back in the day: Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. Thank you, Casey, for that great advice and thank you, Fiddleworms and friends, for a totally awesome 80s night.

See you in the 70s, friends.

Photo illustration credit: Scott Campbell