To: hix@yahoogroups.com From: jonr925 Date sent: Mon, 11 Apr 2005 Subject: Saw Dan Hicks in Reno First off, I am a big Dan Hicks fan. For about 30 years now. I even like his latest stuff better! I've seen him 4 times before this last time, all with the Acoustic Warriors. All 4 times he and his band were great, could not be better. But on April 8th I saw him in Reno and the Nugget. The whole experience was not that good. Here are my observations. The sound was not that great in the room. Dan hicks sings some fast songs and without good sound you can not make them all out. All his words are great, and I could not hear them that well. He had with him what he calls the "Hot Licks". These were 2 women that were nothing like the original Hot Licks, and they really distracted from the show. He should get rid of them. Is he giving into pressure of the fame he had when he had the original Hot Licks? The violin player was good, but not great. The mandolin and violin player in the Acoustic Warriors and the original Hot Licks were the best. But the one he had in Reno was just "good". Same with the guitar player. The 4 times I saw the Acoustic Warrios the guitar player was amazing! But in Reno the guitar player was just "good". Both the violin and guitar player were not microphoned well. So in short, I would suggest Dan Hicks drop the girls, get better players to accompany him, and insist on a smaller venue with better sound.