Looking backward, looking ahead

These beautiful shots from Friday's show at Hugo's were taken by the very talented Honeygirl, who graciously shared them this week. Thanks so much, Honeygirl!

So, yes--technically, we're back to our lull--at least until some Nashville, or Missouri, or label-announcement news pops up. But until then, we've got some happy musical memories from this weekend to share--and a lot to look forward to, as well.

According to the play-by-play from Hugo's and the article in last Thursday's Richmond County Daily Journal, Bucky, Rocky and Sammy will be on their way to Nashville in a couple of weeks to record "three to five" songs for the yet-unnamed label to choose from, and in early '07, we'll have Bucky's very first single. (Yes, I'm counting the days until we get to hear this one on the radio, too...sigh.)

This weekend gave those of us who first met Bucky through American Idol a bit better idea of what to expect on that debut single--if the covers Bucky chose to do this weekend are any indication, there'll be a healthy dose of Southern-rock drive in that country. But for those Idol viewers who "drift away" at the end of the season, only paying attention again when the finalists' first songs hit the airwaves, there'll be a bit of a shift in gears to be made. Will the contrast between the "cutie singing cowboy dude" crooning Barry Manilow-arranged tunes they knew from Idol and the very real, very rockin' Bucky Covington (fronting a rockin' band) who can leave the whole place wanting more at 2:30 a.m., be a bit much to handle?

Well, maybe--and maybe not.

In retrospect, Bucky's finish on the show was just about perfectly timed--he was on Idol long enough to attract a devoted national (and international) audience, many of whom have followed his musical journey ever since. But he wasn't there long enough to get pigeonholed into an inflexible, indelible Idol-crafted "image". By early '07, Bucky's debut single will have more of a new-Nashville-artist feel than an "Idol finalist" vibe--and if anything, future Home Cookin' shows will underscore the fact that what we saw on Idol was only a glimpse of what he has to offer. (Let's hope this rumored Missouri show is one of many more we'll get to enjoy, vicariously or in person...)

I have to admit to being a little nervous (you can spell that envious if you like) when I first heard about the Hugo's show. Was Bucky still interested in a national career? Would those of us who live far from Rockingham get our chance to enjoy Bucky live before that quiet, intense studio time began? As it turns out, not only is Rockingham willing to share the Covington Sound with the world (and I'll take the time now to thank all the local fans and family for their incredible generosity this weekend--we out-of-towners really felt like we were there in spirit), but Bucky, Rocky and Sammy seem ready to bring a little bit of that Rockingham flavor right on into Nashville and beyond.

Bucky appears poised to combine a national, Music City-based career with a true sense of home. He's gonna do this thing his way, and from the first glimpse of things we got this weekend, his post-Idol journey is going to be as fascinating as the road so far has been.

Next stop, Nashville. Hang on tight, y'all...