This weekend I was able to visit Buckstop Junction for Applefest, a benefit for the Bismarck Cancer Center. While I had a freelance gig occupying my Saturday, I braved the wind on Sunday to watch my friends Tucker’d Out play their mix of bluegrass, folk, and other tunes. It was fantastic; I haven’t seen these guys play live since a practice jam sesion in Lynn’s basement.

I’ve referred to these guys previously as JPL, but they took on the Tucker’d Out moniker when they started playing some serious gigs. The band is comprised of brothers John and Lynn, and bass player Jeff (“Petey” ). Thus the “JPL” origins. Petey, Lynn, and I have worked together since…well, almost 20 years, technically…since the start of my NBC days. They’re part of the KVLY crew, and we’ve worked together on freelance jobs all over from ESPN to FOX Sports Net. I got to meet John for the first time this weekend as well.

Thanks to the guys for playing two of my all-time favorite songs, and calling me out by my TV nickname (which I am not giving away, sorry!):

“The Dutchman” is a song I can’t listen to with a dry eye. It’s a sweet song about an old man whose grip on reality is fading due to dementia, and his loving wife Margaret who is ever by his side. It’s just a plain lovely song. Lyrics are copyrighted material, so I’ll post a link to the writer’s page here.

I’m no Bob Dylan fan, but the song Lay Down Your Weary Tune is another truly beautiful song that pops into my head whenever I behold a broad landscape and the beauty of God’s creation. Please click on the link above and read the lyrics; you’ll see what I’m talking about.

As with many of the songs I hear them play, I’ve never heard the original versions of these two favorites. I don’t want to. With a simple guitar, acoustic bass, and mandolin, these guys give such a warm treatment to every song they play that I don’t ever want to hear these songs by anyone else. It’s simply not necessary. Songs like “If I Had a Boat” (one of my other favorites) seem to be written for these guys, anyway.

I was able to score a copy of the new album, “The Basement Tapes – Spring 2008” this weekend as well. Thanks, guys! I already have some new favorites, such as “One Drop of Rain.” It’s a love song talking about drops coming together, forming a river of love. You can listen to this one on the band’s MySpace page.

One side note: their albums are recorded, mixed, and mastered by KVLY farm news anchor and meteorologist Mick Kjar. They sound as well as any studio recording I’ve ever heard. What is it about those farm news guys? Al Gustin is another one who’s multi-talented, with woodworking and other skills to go with his award-winning journalism. I guess it takes a certain type of fella to fill those morning ag news shoes!

For any of you who find themselves in the Fargo-Moorhead area, look ahead on that page to see if Tucker’d Out is playing while you’re there. Check out the songs on their MySpace page, and score a copy of their CD if you’re able. Say hi from me, and ignore any stories they might tell about me!