On the evening of Saturday, August 17, 2024, The Southland Music Line’s Johnny Cole, Stephen “Andy” Anderson, and Deborah Chatham drove to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to see a group of friends perform their lively and entertaining music at Grill and Grocery located at 121 E. Pine St.
We had not seen Rambling Steve Gardner and Bill Steber since before the pandemic, so it was a really nice opportunity for us to see them again. We have seen Gardner and Steber as part of the Jericho Road Show many times, including memorable shows at the famous Birdie’s Roadhouse (Angie, LA), Duling Hall (Jackson, MS), the popular Shack Up Inn (Clarksdale, MS), and The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center (Ocean Springs, MS).
Mississippi-born Gardner now lives in Japan, where many of his tours are sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Not only is Gardner a historian of the blues but is also an accomplished photographer. Steber, a native of Centerville, TN, has been documenting the blues culture in Mississippi for more than 30 years. He was an award-winning staff photojournalist for the Tennessean in Nashville from 1989-2004. In addition to photography, Steber continues to make music with several music ensembles, including The Jericho Road Show with Gardner.
Seeing our friend Drew Young perform his original music was truly enjoyed by us all. On this particular night, he was accompanied by Richard Dabbs on bass and Andy Pate on drums. Young’s recent releases, all of which have charted in The Southland Music Line weekly music charts, are a testament to his talent and the impact of his music.
We first met Young at The Mississippi Songwriters Festival. He has helped coordinate the Mississippi-Sweden songwriters exchange program, which has helped bring several songwriters from Sweden to the festival in Mississippi. Young tours the world with his songs and helps spread knowledge and appreciation for music.
The mini-documentary film From Dust We Came, which follows Drew Young as he sets out on a heartfelt journey to scatter his father’s ashes at Yellowstone National Park, has received sensational reviews for the film, Young, and its acclaimed filmmaker J.B. Lawrence.
The Southland Music Line enjoyed a very special night, reuniting with friends and enjoying their music. We also want to thank the good folks at Grill & Grocery. We will be back.
Photos by Stephen “Andy” Anderson; page design, editing and commentary by Johnny Cole; and additional editing by Deborah Chatham.
