14
AUG. 24�31, 2022
SOUND CHECK
WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Country comes to Side A Brewing
Wes Youssi & the County
Champs plays Aug. 26
By John Vollinger
Go! Magazine
LA GRANDE — As summer continues to
wind down in its scorching fashion, come
cool down at Side A for the weekly iteration
of the Side A-lley series.
For the second-to-last show, the brew-
pub, 1219 Washington St., welcomes Wes
Youssi & the County Champs on Friday,
Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Based in Oregon, the band will bring a
lively show of original country compositions
to the stage for a night of upbeat enter-
tainment. Describing the touring process,
Youssi “plays bars, sweats hard and meets
all kinds of great people along the way” and
this is the type of outlook and energy which
ensures a fun time for all who are willing to
come out to the show.
Other members of the band are Don
Lawry on drums, Jesse Cunningham
playing steel and electric guitars, James
Sasser providing electric bass and vocals,
Steve Moore on lap steel and Chris Olson
on upright bass.
Wes and the band will, more likely than
not, stick to a primarily country sound —
one that promotes a positive atmosphere
and a groove that is hard not to dance to.
You will fi nd this even on songs like “Devil
Woman” and “Into a Bottle” where the sub-
ject matter tends to drift into darker themes
and images.
For example, take the song “High Time,”
which considers the importance of airing
troubles so that we can revel in them and
reach some sort of peace.
You were there for us
now we’re here for you
Baker County Veteran Services
2200
4th Street,
Street,
Baker
City, Courthouse
OR 97814
1995 3rd
Baker
County
541-523-8223
Rick Gloria, Veteran Services Coordinator
The Baker County Veteran
Services Office provides access
to the wide range of benefits
and services offered to
veterans and their dependents.
Health Care
Education
Compensation
Pension
Burial Benefits
& much more.
Robert Delahanty/Contributed Photo
Wes Youssi and The County Champs plays Friday, Aug. 26, at Side A Brewing
in La Grande.
As Youssi sings in the song, quite poet-
ically: “Facing hard times, I can’t explain, a
million little fi res running wild in my brain, and
I’m so tired can’t hear myself thinking, I work
this thing out, lord, a’shoutin’ and a’singin’.”
He has a great skill of complex sto-
ry-telling in his lyrics with great economy
of words. In the song “Cadillac Man,” Youssi
paints the picture of a man who is in love
with Cadillacs his whole life, starting from an
accidental encounter with one as a young
man — I won’t spoil the story, but it’s defi -
nitely a fun tune.
For some further examples of the band’s
sound and style, head to their website
(wesyoussimusic.com) or plug the band’s
name into YouTube, where they have some
great examples of their live performances.
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at the viewpoint above Prairie City and tag us on
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