Bar J Wranglers

I've been pretty lazy about Christmas concerts this year. Only been to 2, FM100's mini concert with Alex Boye/Nancy Hanson (does that count as 2?) on December 1st  and last Tuesday's Bar J Wrangler concert at UVU's UCCU events center. In other years I've caught a few more concerts, but these were good ones. Let me recommend the FM100 concerts as down loads from their website so attending is optional and can be enjoyed at your convenience. These are great for sampling the kind of talent that exists on the Wasatch front music scene. Find them @:

http://fm100.com/?sid=127566&nid=78

Now about the Bar J Wranglers. If you haven't seen these guys, you're really missing something. They do cowboy music in the retro style of the Sons of the Pioneers. There are a few other acts, Riders in the Sky spring to mind, who are keeping this form a music alive, but it's not common now-a-days. If you remember songs like Cool Water and Ghost Riders in the Sky, you know what kind of music we're talking about here. These boys hail from Jackson Hole, Wyoming and perform at their working ranch during the summer months. In the off months they travel around, thus the December appearance in Orem which has become traditional for them. It's almost become a tradition for me. I've been to 3 of their Christmas concerts over the last several years. My friend Ed loves them to death and calls them the best deal for the concert dollar you can find. We paid $11.00 for excellent GA seats this year, so who can argue with him! Their musicianship is top notch and their humor.... Let's just say you have to experience it! If you happen to catch one of their Christmas concerts you just might get to hear Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer set to a slightly different tune than you're used to. Would you believe Ghost Riders in the Sky?! Pretty wild! There are a couple of other things they do that I really appreciate. #1, they never perform the same show twice. Every time is a new experience. #2, they always make a great effort to be at the doors to meet and greet the fans on the way out. It was cool to shake hands and let them know how much I enjoyed and appreciated their performance. Catch 'em the next time they're in town. I've also heard their dinner programs at the ranch are worth the trip to Jackson. Gotta get up there some time.