Curt Young and Friends “rocked the nation” March 1 at the Smokehouse, with a day-long feast of great local talent, fashion and 
good feelings.
There were only a handful of people at the beginning of the event which began at 3 p.m., but the numbers picked up.
Curt Young opened the show for an extended “soundcheck” of blues music backed by bassist Mark Hall and drummer Raz Bruce.
I haven’t heard him play the blues as he usually plays more folk and traditional music with Jamie Medicine Crane, which he did later in the show.
But for his blues set, he picked up a Les Paul and made it sing beautifully.
Jolene Draper, backed up by bassist Steve Martin and guitarist Dano Douglas were up next with a solid mix of originals, a few obscure covers and more well known covers including “Save Tonight” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop.”
Her appealing, reedy, sweet voice even made me a fan of pop star Rihanna’s “Found Love.”
She shone on her jazz tinged originals, which sounded like a blend of Norah Jones and Cyndi Lauper.
I especially enjoyed her aging song “ State of Mind” and “Night Falls,” her song about a sunset. Dano Douglas sang harmony vocals on these. She ended her set with a pretty version of Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.”
