Country Countdown

Mack has taken to theme or tribute shows that feature more of the higher-quality, bigger-drawing acts. The new location and less frequentmore selective events have been a shot in the arm for the Barn Dance. And it‘s given Mack more breathing room, finally allowing him to concentrate his energies elsewhere. For the first time in more than a decade, he’s cut an album‘s worth of original material. Fiddles and steel guitars are replaced by smart hooks, jangling guitars and airy vocal harmonies. It’s startlingly good. No less than local pop chieftain Robbie Rist (the former Brady Bunch child actor who is in more bands than anyone can name) produced, and, for the first time in years, Mack is enthusiastic about making new music:

“It‘s given me a new lease on life, even if it never comes out, just because I smile when I hear it. I don’t know -- maybe I like knowing I can do something else.”

The Barn Dance is truly Ronnie Mack‘s child, but he’s as lovingly ambivalent about it as parents usually are about children whose lives aren‘t working out as successfully as was once hoped.

“The scene’s not what it was,” says Mack unsentimentally, “and it‘s impossible to sustain things week to week. We’re doing really well lately, but I don‘t think there’s enough going on to make it happen with four bands every week. At least not now. There‘s not another Rosie Flores or another Dave Alvin or another Lucinda Williams. When you don’t have people like that, you don‘t have the energy that comes from people like that.”

“There’s always phases in the L.A. club thing,” counters Dave Alvin, “and things ebb, but they come back with a different focus. In the early Barn Dance days, you had me and Rosie and Lucinda and Lauderdale, then things died down for a little while, and the next wave was Dave & Deke, Big Sandy, Russell Scott. And the audience got a little younger. Now that‘s kind of gone, but something will eventually come around. And, trust me, when it does, those kids’ll be playing the Barn Dance.”

The next Barn Dance features a tribute to Gram Parsons, with special guests TBA. At Crazy Jack‘s, 4311 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank; Tuesday, November 6. (818) 845-1121.