Tarkio Road

[Randal]

Well as Michael and Tom are Movin' on down the Tarkio Road (I-29) and Heading up to Tarkio for their performance this weekend. They will not be performing at The Mule Barn at Tarkio Collage liked they had so many times 40 plus years ago. For those of you that do not know.The Mule Barn was an octagon shaped brick structure that was built in the early 1890s as a Mule Barn. It was converted to a theatre which was used by Tarkio College. It was actually on the National Register of Historic Places. But unfortunately The Mule Barn was destroyed by a fire in 1989. Speaking of fire. It looks like Michael and Tom will be setting the highway on fire In the great Northwest section of Missouri this Summer. With shows in Tarkio, MO on JUN 25; JUL1 in Olathe, KS for a Brewer & Shipley & Sam Bush show. Sam Bush is a tremendous Mandolin Player.That will be a Hot One for sure. (punn intended) That will be a good way to start your 4th of July Weekend. A Kansas City, MO show at Crossroads KC August 5th with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It doesn't get much better than that. Then Michael and Tom head up Tarkio Road once again on SEP 2 to St. Joseph, MO. So, Michael and Tom safe journeys to you and yours and to everyone that are
Movin' on down the Tarkio Road
Headed up to Crete Nebraska
Trying my best to set the highway on fire
But my bicycle won't go no faster
Tarkio Road is a mother
It's just like oh so many others
Where the children reject you
And the police inspect you
Lookin' inside the trunk under the hood hopin' to find
The secret places where you always keep your mind
Woh–oh-no Tarkio Road
Abbie and Rubin lyin’ in jail
Learning about the price of bein’ free
Trying to live the constitutional life
And being held back by hypocrisy
Carry the load my brother
You're just like oh so many others
Who the children rejected
And the police inspected
You’re tied to the chair manacled bound and gagged
Is that your face on the American flag?
Woh–oh-no carry the load
I'm singing Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
If you're lookin' for some trouble
You can find it on the Tarkio Road
Twenty-four hours of barbed wire fence
Fifty-five years of pollution
Everyone knows how the puzzle was laid
But can anyone recall the solution
Tarkio Road is a mother
It's just like oh so many others
Where the people infect you
But they never elect you
No reason or cause that you may have perfectly sound
The blind looker’s gonna' try and cut it down
Woh–oh-no Tarkio Road
I'm singing again, Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
If you're looking for some trouble
You can find it on the Tarkio Road

[Steve]

What a wonderful day in Tarkio on Saturday. Main Street was roped off and there was a crowd which I heard estimated at 1,000 to 1,200. The weather was perfect about 80 degrees, overcast and no humidity. Street vendors selling food , drink and 40th Anniversary Tarkio T-Shirts. Current and previous residents of Tarkio were happy to see the biggest event in town in years and years.

On this perfect day Brewer & Shipley’s destination was not Crete, Nebraska but rather the small town in northwest Missouri that will forever be linked to Brewer & Shipley after they named their third and biggest selling album afterTarkio. I heard several stories from locals who took pride in the fact that Brewer & Shipley had used their town name and charted with a song titled “Tarkio Road.”

What a fitting anniversary tribute to have the guys performing on Main Street in Tarkio, singing songs that were directly inspired in this area. Songs like “Indian Summer,” “Tarkio Road,” and “Song From Platte River.” After performing “Song From Platter River” it was pointed out that it was also the anniversary of the start of the Battle Of Little Bighorn.

And the end of the show, the Mayor of Tarkio gave the guys a key to the city. And of course everyone knows what song the guys sang for their final encore. Even though it has been off their set list for years due to the guys not being able to hit the high notes they wrote 40 years ago, you knew there was no way they were not going to sing “Tarkio Road.” Definitely a crowd pleaser and a fitting end to a wonderful day.

What a wonderful job the organizing committee did in planning and executing a perfect tribute to Brewer & Shipley and the town of Tarkio. On this day there were absolutely no problems on Tarkio Road.

I have few pictures that I’ll put on the site when I get my PC back after taking a power surge from a lightning strike.

[Steve]

Here are the pictures I promised to post. Thanks to MaryAnn Hull, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Tarkio for many of these pictures. And a huge thanks to MaryAnn, Mike Needleman and all their committee for a truly wonderful day in Tarkio.

As I was driving home on the Tarkio Road and reminiscing about the day, I thought the only thing missing was Michael & Tom confirming or debunking the rumours that they were indeed arrested in or around Tarkio. I know they intended to set the record straight, but must have forgotten to do so when they were surprised with the key to the City.

Guys?

http://www.brewerandshipley.com/Misc/PhotosTarkio.htm

I'm singing again, Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road
Tarkio, Tarkio Road

[Michael]

No doubt, Tom and I have probably deserved to be arrested numerous times over the years, but as far as being arrested in Tarkio, MO. is concerned...it never happened. Who knows where and how that folk/rock rumor got started? I'm happy to say neither one of us has ever been arrested, but it ain't over yet.