It’s been a few weeks now since the benefit concert in Lakeland, Florida, but I am still reeling from the experience. I have been planning to write about the event, but things got hairy the minute I returned home to South Carolina. Scott dropped me and Tim off here at the “Buffalo Hut” and Tim was going to drive his chick-magnet pickup truck back to Spartanburg. Because we were all so tired, I invited Tim to spend the night in the guest room. Well, we awoke the next day to find ourselves snowed in. Fact is, we remained snowed in for several days, during which time I was in survival mode and got absolutely no writing done.

Once the snow and ice event had subsided, Tim returned to Sparkle City and I found myself on deadline to launch the Universal Music Tribe site. I was also on deadline for some articles for Twisted South magazine. Then on top of all that, my dear friend Tommy Crain died, and I had several days of feeling like doing nothing.

All of this brings me back to the benefit show. Now, I must first thank all of those who reached out to help me following what amounted to a year of blindness and chaos. A special thank you goes out to David Hall for getting the ball rolling. Also to Phil Stokes for pulling all he great musicians together. And of course, Phil Stevens, owner of The Music Ranch in Lakeland. What a guy. What a cool venue.

Thank you to Southern Rock’s Finest, Charlie Hargrett, Michael Sean Allman, Kymystry, The Music Ranch Band and Shane Dodson, and thanks to Gene Odom for joining us.

It was January 8th and Kymystry started the show somewhere around 5 PM, and it was a Southern rock throw down from that moment on. Nadine “Wailer” Atkinson lead the band through a set of absolutely great original tunes, then settled in for a nice set of covers that included - of course - some Skynyrd, old and new (including a nice reading of “Preacher Man”), and one of my favorite 38 Special tunes “Stone Cold Believer,” on which I was asked to join in for some fun backing vocals. At the end of the song I felt the hand of God on my shoulder, and without any plan whatsoever, began an acapella “Amazing Grace,” with Nadine joining me. It was quite a spiritual moment for me.

The Music Ranch house band just blew the roof off of the joint. With Phil Stevens on guitar, Darrell smoking some lead (I said lead, not weed) and all the other guys giving 110 percent, they were just amazing. Once again I was unable to contain myself and joined in singing on “Can’t You See,” dragging my friend Sherry Spires onto the stage with me. Sherry is the widow of my good friend Jakson Spires of Blackfoot, and it was great to see her again.

Southern Rock’s Finest took the stage and rocked the house. Artimus didn’t make it, but the Music Ranch band’s drummer did a more than excellent job. Phil Stokes was his usual amazing self on bass and vocals, especially on Stevie Ray’s “The Sky is Crying,” and Fast Fred Cole blew some mighty tasty harp all night. Charlie Hargrett played his heart out, and raised the roof with “Train Train.” The band was joined by a plethora of jammers, including Darrell from the house band, and even your’s truly got a moment onstage on the last song playing Darrell’s guitar ion “Sweet Home Alabama” standing right beside Charlie Hargrett. Pretty cool.

Michael Allman sounded great all night, singing a few with the Music Ranch Band as well as with Southern Rock’s Finest. He sounded eerily like his daddy on “One Way Out” and “Statesboro Blues.” At one point, Michael performed an acapella “Ballad of Curtis Loew” that had the audience going nuts.

The music was great, but it was the people that made the day for me. All the wonderful people who came up and talked to me, said nice things about my writing and my music, or just wished me well. There was a lot of love in he house.

The auctions were great fun, and I do want to thank The Outlaws, Blackfoot, Charlie Daniels and Billy Bob Thornton for donating items to be auctioned.

It was a show for the books, and the meal at Whitey’s Fish Camp in Jacksonville with Tim, Scott and all the Kymystry folks made it even more special. To everyone who helped or came out and enjoyed the great music, you have my eternal gratitude.

- Michael Buffalo Smith