When you think of the creative musical centers of California, the Central Valley town of Oakdale, the self-proclaimed “Cowboy Capital of the World”, doesn’t make the list. Most folks immediately point to San Francisco, some Southern California enclaves, even Bakersfield, but the Central Valley is always overlooked. The fact is though that great music is where you find it, and Oakdale has been the home of Alt-Country heavy hitters The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit, for their twenty plus years of being a band. After over a decade of playing their particular brand of country music, they pretty much called it quits in 2016 and a bright light was dimmed . . . temporarily. After a five-year hiatus, however, the Good Luck gathered for a reunion show at Dying Breed Brewing, Oakdale’s preeminent live music stage. Something happened that night to both the band and the crowd. The excitement in the room was not only undeniable, it simply could not be ignored. From the first infectious chords of that set, EVERYONE realized that this music demanded to be played – it could not be shelved to gather dust. And when the last notes of the evening lost their final sustain, those in attendance walked into the rainy darkness buoyed with the hope that something had clicked and there was no way that the show would be a one off. And they were right!
The Good Luck is BACK! While we will not see consistent dates on the band’s calendar, what we will see are sporadic runs of shows a few times a year that will reconnect so many fans with the musicians, songs, and friendships that they have missed for so long and introduce those same fans to new songs they have not yet heard. Yes, the band is even recording again! Chris Doud (guitar, vocals), Taylor Webster (bass, vocals), Willy Tea Taylor (tenor guitar, vocals), Matt Cordano (pedal steel, searing Flying V leads, Banjo), Aaron Burtch (drums), and Chandler Pratt (lead guitar, banjo, mandolin) are reforming to bring back and create music that will have you fist pumping, swaying, and maybe even wiping a tear from your eye. Each of us, in our own way, have missed this band. We have missed the scorching guitar of “Highway Religion”, the falsetto vocal abandon of “One Yard”, the poetry of “Burden Of Sea Captains”, and the blessings of “Hummingbird”. Keep your eyes peeled for further tour dates and your ears open for potential new music. It’s happening, it is FINALLY happening!
Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit Spring Run, 2023:
Thursday May 18th: The Grove House Mariposa, CA
Friday May 19th: Dying Breed Brewing Oakdale, CA
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/good-luck-thrift-store-outfit-tickets-559132800257
Saturday May 20th: Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building Santa Cruz, CA
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-good-luck-thrift-store-outfit-tickets-565933732027
