The Liars Bench Gazette: "An Old Time Appalachian Christmas With Randy Flack" Is Smash Hit"

Folks, if you missed the Liars Bench Show last Thursday night at WCUs Mountain Heritage Center you missed the best one of the year. We managed to persuade Nashville recording artist Randy Flack to guest star for us and wow, did he put on a great performance! More on Randy in a bit.
As always, Dr. Gary Carden, the creator and artistic director of the show, made announcements regarding upcoming Liars Bench Shows. He graciously thanked everyone involved in the show in the past year.

Dr. Gary Carden-creator & artistic director of the Liars Bench.

Gary showed an excellent four minute video produced by Joe Newberry (formerly of NC Cultural Arts) which was first shown in Raleigh at the end of October at the ceremony at the governor's mansion where governor Perdue presented Gary with the 2012 NC Award for Literature.

Liars bench star Paul Iarussi plays claw hammer guitar.

Paul kicked the show off with "Put my little shoes away" and yes, it had lyrics about Santa Claus and toys.

Lloyd Arneach, Liars Bench star.

Lloyd Arneach, Liars Bench Cherokee storyteller and famous in his own right told the Navaho story of "For you."

Gary 'testifies' to the veracity of 'First Footers.'

Gary told about the New Year's custom of observing "First Footers" here in the mountains and the also the ancient custom of "serenading." Gary explained just why mountain folks made noise and lit fires "coming up to New Years."

Liars Bench fans

Randy Flack.

If you don't know this man, you should because he's as local as they come. Born over in Buncombe County (before it got 'weird') and raised in Swain County, Randy Flack has played the Grand Old Opry and the Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville Tennessee.

Gary told a quick story while the 'mileage' basket was passed about the very ancient myth of how the farmers animals would talk to each other and predict what would happen in the coming year.

When the audience came back from intermission Lloyd told a story about "Giving without giving" and the crowd loved it.

Lloyd Arneach, with the crowd in the 'palm of his hand'

When Randy Flack came back for the second half of the show he did "Fried Chicken," a song about a father's funeral; "I wish that I could go back," a song about growing up on Deep Creek; and a song about jumping out of an airplane, among several others--great stuff! You better believe he got a standing ovation.

Liars Bench fans give Randy Flack a standing ovation.

Paul and Randy sing a duet.

Paul sang "Christmas times a coming" with a little help from Randy--wonderful duet.
Thank you as always Liars Bench fans. You make it all worth while.