‘The King’ and his court of Shockers bid farewell to live shows: But for how long?

The Shockers kick it in for one of their last public performances for …? Photos/Roger Bianchini

On Saturday, October 13, 2018, Front Royal-based regional rockers The Shockers played their final, non-private club show in the Virginia Beer Museum’s rear, outdoor patio.  The 6 p.m. show time coincided with the close of the Historic Downtown Front Royal Business District’s annual Festival of Leaves celebration of the fall tourist season.

An enthusiastic crowd of fans helped propel the band through three sets of rock covers that have marked the current lineup’s delivery over the past six-plus years.

The band’s so-called “Farewell Tour” is an accommodation of band front man Duane “Dewey” Vaughan’s doctor’s orders to slow it down a bit in the wake of a recent health scare of the cardio variety.  So, is this really a farewell tour and last general public show, we asked Vaughan.

‘The King’ ponders semi-retirement prior to the Virginia Beer Museum performance

‘Well, the doctor thinks it is – we’ll see,” Vaughan, aka “the King” who has lorded over the local rock club scene for the past 36 years, replied.

“So, is what we have here fake media covering a fake farewell tour of a fake king,” we offered.

“Maybe on the first two but I’m not a fake king, I’m the REAL king,” Front Royal’s heir apparent to Elvis, Elvis Costello more likely, asserted of his place in the local musical and general royalty hierarchy.

Stage left – a dangerous musical triumvirate: Lenny, Dewey & James

“Well that’s two out of three down, because we’re not fake media either – we just operate in the era of a man who would be king with accountability issues,” we countered, drawing a stern look.

“Don’t worry – not you, you’re much more credible,” we assured Vaughan.  “What’s that campaign slogan we came up with – ‘The King for Mayor” (it’ll have to be a write-in this year).

More seriously or not, at 54 Vaughan is taking an indefinite break from live performances after being told to ease up physically for awhile in the aftermath of a less than stellar cardio diagnosis in late July.

Lordy Dewey, don’t reach for the heart on stage

Having had a past cardiac scare, this reporter could appreciate the impulse to obey doctor’s orders when you’re told you are, or could be, “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” as one singer-songwriter once put it. – “Dewey, what’s that folk-turned-rock guy from Minnesota’s name; you know the one that won a Nobel Prize for his literary/lyrical body of work – Bobby Zimmerman?”

Speaking of old rockers – Dylan, Zimmerman, whoever – having the Vaughan brothers and one incarnation or the other of bands they have populated as part of my entire 32-year residency in Front Royal and Warren County, I offered that perhaps he could continue playing out live if he sat down like other aging rockers – The Eagles come to mind – have to milk the rock & roll cow as long as possible.

“I can’t do it – I won’t do it!!!” Dewey countered, gaining a measure of respect in this reporter’s eyes that The Eagles never could.

Rock & Roll kings do NOT sit on stage …

And some of their fans don’t sit either

So from one long-time fan, here’s a hopefully temporary farewell to the king and his current court of musicians: drummer/brother James Vaughan, bassist/cousin Dean Smith, guitarist/friend Doug Hess, and keyboard-guitar-vocalist/football fan recalcitrant Lenny Barnhart – till next time, guys …

Dean Smith and Doug Hess hold things together, stage right

Lenny Barnhart at the electronic ivories

And here’s a wave from some other fans, friends and family out for the Virginia Beer Museum show:

The Donnies – Poe & Walton, as Jay Duncan approaches

Former Eyesoar guitarist Pat Flowers, Rene and Reno

Careful Steve – oh, Lori doesn’t seem to mind

Careful Lindsey – oh, mom Kathy certainly doesn’t mind

James Vaughan, daughter Reno, whom her uncle has said has the real voice in the family, and John Costello during a Shockers break.

Dewey Vaughan and venue host David Downes