By Mark Ambrogi
Joe Hess & the Wandering Cowboys weren’t seeking a New Year’s Eve invite from the Palladium in Carmel.
Palladium officials were seeking a country band, and a third party recommended Hess’ band.
“It was exciting to get the call from the Palladium, and when they decided to have us there, that was really cool,” said Hess, who has lived in McCordsville for 11 years.
The New Year’s Eve Extravaganza will start at 9 p.m. Hess’ band will play in the Founders Room at the Palladium in Carmel. The Impalas, a party band, will play on the Palladium stage. The Scott Routenberg Jazz Trio will be in the Songbook Lounge. DJ Lockstar will play in the Robert Adam Room.
Hess, 40, said the group plays mostly covers because it doesn’t have enough original songs for the longer shows they play.
“We have six songs on an EP (‘Chapter I’) we recorded, either written by me or writers from Nashville, Tennessee, and we incorporate that into our sets,” Hess said. “The kind of covers we play range from Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks up to the newer stuff like Jason Aldean and Luke Bryant.”
Hess, the vocalist, and Larry Shepard, guitar, Hartford City, are the two original members. Tony Randolph, drums, Selma and Tracy McKee, bass, Nashville, Tenn., have since joined.
A professional land surveyor, Hess recently changed jobs so he could do part-time work and devote more time to his music.
There will be a ‘Chapter 1’ release party Nov. 12 at 8 Seconds Saloon, Indianapolis. Doors open at 6 p.m. and Hess’ band will play at 10 p.m. Two autographed guitars will be given away. To get in free, Hess said send him a message at Facebook.com/joe.hess.7758 or jhtwc.com for tickets or tell the door attendant they are there to see his band.
The band will play at 8 p.m. Nov. 18 at Indiana Grand Casino in Shelbyville.
For the New Year’s Eve party, tickets are $85, including food and party favors. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
