If you go
› What: Overland› Where: Revelry Room, 41 Station St.› When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12› Admission: $10 in advance, $12 day of› Phone: 423-521-2929
Overland, featuring Rick Williams, front from left, Bob Courter, Kris Phillips, Tommy Lifsey, Michael Welch and Randy Clark, will play at Revelry Room Saturday night.Singer/guitarist Randy Clark won't play every song he knows Saturday night, Aug. 12, but he might come close. Clark handles duties for The Beaters and Overland. Both bands will be doing full sets that night.
Fortunately for Clark, he won't have to travel too far between shows.
The Beaters play from 6-8 p.m. as part of Second Saturdays on Station Street, then Overland plays from 9 p.m. to midnight at Revelry Room. "Looks like I will be busy," Clark said with a laugh.
Clark said this isn't the first time that both bands have played the same night, but it has been awhile.
Overland, originally Overland Express, was arguably the most popular local band in the '70s and '80s, drawing big crowds to Yesterday's, then the Brass Register. After it broke up, Clark co-founded The Beaters, a hugely popular dance and party band for the last three decades.
Overland - which was a popular touring band at the time and released "Prisoner of the Streets" - reunited a month ago for a celebration of Yesterday's co-owner Denny Hennen, who passed away last weekend. The event was held at Revelry Room, and co-owner Monica Kinsey was impressed enough to ask them back.
"We weren't planning on playing again, but she came in with this surprised look on her face and said, 'You guys are really good,'" singer/bass player Rick Williams said.
The show marked the first time Williams had performed since a 2014 benefit for former bandmate Keith Sherman, who died earlier that year.
"I needed a break and to get away from that. I told [wife] Mary Anne, 'I don't want to play. Just let it rest for awhile' and then this thing for Denny came up."
Both Clark and Williams said rehearsals have gone well.
"It just clicked," Williams said. "It was so smooth. Everybody remembered the clicks and the harmonies.
"We are just having fun, plain and simple. It's a good feeling with no pressure. We are not trying to impress anybody but each other."
Clark said the band will do a full set of cover songs as well as originals.
Performing will be Williams, Clark, Tommy Lifsey, Bob Courter (full disclosure, my brother), Michael Welch and Kris Phillips. Longtime sound man "Wild" Bill Prescott will be on the board.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.