Moved Up

"I finally get to sleep with the head of the record label," jokes BR549's Chuck Mead of his new venture as a solo artist. Of course, the head of Mead's record label is his wife of 20 years, who is helping him now that he has made a break from his critically acclaimed hillbilly band. Born and raised in Lawrence, Mead hung around Kansas long enough to raise a ruckus with his roots-rock band the Homestead Grays and play the afterparty for Danny and the Miracles in '88. He's one of the rare few to have gotten exactly what he wanted from a move to Nashville: a career playing music. After spending the past few years writing songs for a Nashville publishing company (Jimmy Buffet recently picked up his tune "Cinco de Mayo in Memphis"), Mead is heading out on the road again to support his debut solo album, Journeyman's Wager. Catch the prodigal son tonight at the Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire in Lawrence, 785-841-5483), where he'll swing through his old stomping grounds with a new band. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $11-$13.
Sat., May 23, 8 p.m., 2009