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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Confederate Railroad At Kelly’s

Joe Ehrbar Correspondent

One of the Inland Northwest’s perennial favorite roadhouses, Kelly’s, at State Line, will have one of the country’s greatest roadhouse bands, Confederate Railroad, on stage Thursday night.

With the Nashville-based band’s rugged, leather and denim, near-biker image, playing a venue like Kelly’s is ideal.

Confederate Railroad is a crossover band of sorts and is embraced in both country music and Southern rock ‘n’ roll circles.

It delves deeply into roots music such as early country, blues and rock, and it shies away from blatant country pop songs.

The band built its career in the ‘80s touring with Southern rock heroes Lynryd Skynyrd and backing two widely known country singers, Johnny Paycheck and David Allen Coe.

When Confederate Railroad wasn’t on the road with Paycheck or Coe, it spent all of its free time playing as a house band at a Georgia nightclub. The same club spawned country successes such as Travis Tritt, Billy Ray Cyrus and Diamond Rio.

Though the group formed in 1981, its first album didn’t come until 1993. This was mainly due to the fact the band didn’t have a record deal until its signed with Atlantic in 1992.

When its self-titled debut finally came out, Confederate Railroad had to rely on the reputation of its seasoned live show in hopes that would inspire people to buy the album. More than a million people did.

The album, fastened by smash hit singles “Trashy Women,” and “Queen of Memphis” vaulted to platinum in just months.

The band’s impressive debut led the Academy of Country Music to name the group Best New Vocal Group for 1993.

Last year, Confederated Railroad followed its successful first long-player with “Notorious,” an impressive album driven by the humorous cuts, “Move Over Madonna” and “Redneck Rodeo.”

The concert starts at 8 p.m. Reserved seat tickets are $15. You must be at least 18 to attend.