Thacker Mountain Radio Hour Entertains Overflowing Crowd

Last night at 6, the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour cranked up its weekly broadcast to a full house/standing room only crowd on the Oxford Square.

The night progressed on queue with house band, the Yalobushwhackers (led this week by frontman Eric Lewis), and host Jim Dees initiating the action as a stream of guest musicians along with author/Ole Miss alum Jesse Holland took the stage.

Thacker house band, the Yalobushwhackers, were fronted by multi-instrumentalist Eric Lewis at the TMRH broadcast on Thursday, Feb. 25 at Off Square Books.
Photo by Jeff McVay

Hilarity ensued at the beginning of the broadcast as host Jim Dees traded jabs with Marco Cavaglia, UM associate professor of physics and astronomy, on Einstein’s theory and the recent discovery of gravitational waves in the universe caused by the collision of two massive black holes that occurred over a billion years ago. The engaging dialogue – from both the expert and the clueless – was included in the broadcast to recognize the team from Ole Miss who was partially credited with proving the theory. Dees and astrophysics? – two words rarely seen or thought of in the same sentence.

As for musical entertainment, first up was the all-female country music quartet, Farewell Angelina who harmonized their way straight into Oxford’s heart (see video-top).

Farewell Angelina
Photo by Jeff McVay

Farewell Angelina
Photo by Jeff McVay

Farewell Angelina
Photo by Jeff McVay

Author and Ole Miss alum Jesse Holland followed the ladies from Farewell Angelina by reading from and discussing his latest novel The Invisibles: Slavery Inside The White House and How It Helped Shape America (Lyons Press), where he taught and challenged all in attendance that although not all political slave owners mistreated their slaves – “no man wants to be owned.”

Thacker Mountain Radio Hour host Jim Dees (left) talks with author Jesse Holland before the TMR broadcast on Thursday, Feb. 25.
Photo by Jeff McVay

Author Jesse Holland discusses his new book, ‘The Invisibles: Slavery Inside The White House and How It Helped Shape America’ at the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour broadcast in Oxford, Mississippi.
Photo by Jeff McVay

Finally, the night concluded with a great set from the Memphis-based funk and soul band Mighty Souls Brass Band (see video below) who crossed the street afterward for a concert at the Shelter on Van Buren.

Mighty Souls Brass Band
Photo by Jeff McVay

Mighty Souls Brass Band
Photos by Jeff McVay

Stay tuned to HottyToddy.com this spring as we bring you weekly updates and schedules for the popular radio broadcast, Thacker Mountain Radio Hour.

And, for those who were unable to attend last night’s performance, the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour can be heard every Saturday night at 7 p.m. on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, radio or online at MPBOnline.org

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Jeff McVay is a staff writer and graphic designer for Hottytoddy.com. He can be reached at jeff.mcvay@hottytoddy.com.

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