The Beat Farmers on Letterman Show "Hideaway" (1991)

[ManicHispanic24]

i was watching the x files and the dude from the lone gun man was wearing a beat farmers shirt so i had to check it out. being born in 86 i was a little young to know of this band.

[HPHSGermany2010]

Still one of my favorite bands of all time! This still sounds fresh, twenty years after the fact!

[Fire84190]

Exactly...0 dislikes. There's hope yet.

[librarianeric]

The thing I hate about Letterman's show is the Late Night band ALWAYS has to back up the musical guests. What's up with that shit?

[regcc]

If knew you the band, you'd know that what set them apart live was variety the songs. A big Yardbirds-like Raney tune, a Harris power-pop, a Raney punk number, a Harris country ballad, Dick out to entertain, offend and hold court for a while, and the cycle would repeat for a couple of hours. No other band gave you rock, blues, country, punk, pop, and comedy/outrageous all in one. And I know for a fact they wanted to play Liquored Up or King of Sleaze on Letterman, Dave himself wanted Hideaway

[AurelioErik]

they had that happy boy song and that is it period.. funny how musicians can be so head-strong that the leader thought his rick springfield sound from 1981 would trade well in 1991.. and ignored the groups novelty success...

[deddog]

Is that really Country Dick in the background playin' the fuckin' accordion?

[tigerclaw1955]

I think Dylan stole Jerry's stage attire! Too bad for Bob he can't borrow some of their personality as well, and learn to communicate with the audience.

[eddiecunningham7]

JERRY IS ONE OF THE BEST GUITAR PLAYERS IN THE UNIVERSE

AND JOEY CANSANG.......LOVE DICK WITH THE BEER GOGGLES

[templeofbone]

That's not Country Dick (R.I.P.) on drums, is it? Love Joey Harris. He was a good pick for replacing Buddy Blue (R.I.P.)

[drumsyeah]

@templeofbone Country Dick is playing the accordian.....That is Anton Fig on the kit....of Letterman's house band............

[tigerclaw1955]

@templeofbone That was Country Dick on under-amplified accordian. You have to love the goggles on the hat! America is poorer for having not seen two songs, the second being one of their raucous cowbillie songs!

[skeetersbiscuits]

I always hated that about Letterman, why the hell does his band have to play along with every band that comes on the show, sit the hell down, I  just want to hear the beat farmers, not gay-ass paul playing his keyboard

[DMcFed]

Is that Country Dick?? Sounds more like a Country Dildo. This song's about as cool as catching AIDS.

[birdmanofbooze]

Really tight, great song...........

[sainteulalia]

well now I know why I missed all this...I was off in Hawaii having a baby! fun to see this now and catch up Joey!

[bodiespizza]

search youtube for Pay Up Cheaters 1-9 for the Legend, the saga, the Poor & Nearly Famous

[bodiespizza]

@bodiespizza I gotta rephrase that last part....Poor & Not Nearly Famous Enough

[mikeyo33]

saw them at bachannal, spring valley inn and at a really nice theater on new years eve - downtown SD - they were not invited back. Great every time.

[MichaelMG711]

@mikeyo33 nye was the bachannal although they played more than one nye gig....i was there that night... they recorded loud and plowed live......these guys were the time of my life for about 3/4 years back in the day.......saw them just about every other weekend.......miss those days soooo much.......peace bro

[BigTylerAustin]

To be honest, I like the studio version of this song a lot better

[regcc]

Yeah it sucked that they made em play with the house band putting Dick and Rolle on the sideline and taking a minute off the song. The Poor and Famous version is great and polished with Bentmont Tench's organ...but to get the real deal pick up the major league soundtrack...vintage BF sound...2 guiters, bass and drums...legend has it they walked into the studio in El Cajon one afternoon, set up, no rehearsal, played it and sent it off in one take...nothing to improve on.

[AcetateFiend]

You said it Brad. I've never had as much fun at a small rock and roll bar show as I've had at the dozen or so shows I saw with the Beat Farmers. I saw the Farmers once down in San Diego since Dick died and while the music was great, of course it wasn't the same. I'm glad those guys are still playing though & I still love hearing those tunes, but I wish the Farmers would play some gigs up here in Northern CA SF and San Jose area. They would fill the place and I would be a "Happy Boy".

[AcetateFiend]

Brad, your brother's writing for them is awesome! I'm a non-professional songwriter myself and between the Beat Farmer's writing and your bro's, some awesome songs came out of that band. One of my top 3 favorite artists of all time! I'm very fortunate to have lived in SLO during college and I got to see them live many times. They put on a live show like no other and I still can't get enough of listening to their music. All the guys are the real deal and class acts.

[murfdasurfer]

Classic band and classic characters. God bless Country Dick Montanna.

[drumsyeah]

Jerry Raney is a terrific guitarist....very tasteful........

[MrLeroy08]

Amen to all the comment - I particularly loved Riverside( The studio version)

[MichaelMG711]

the best band that never sold out to anyone for anything.......they did it their way and it was freakin' spectacular....turn it up!

[LordoftheJimmy]

I saw The Farmers (Jerry Raney and a few other guys playing the Beat Farmers music) and they were awesome! This is an awesome clip, Raney really rips the guitar.

LOL, Dave at the end: "I want to be in that band... If I should have to leave and get a real job, I'm going to work with the Beat Farmers!"

[DonZeigler]

God, I hadn't even thought of these guys in years. I lived in El Cajon from 1986 - 1991 and they were "the" local band, a pretty impressive feat considering there were so many talented groups in the San Diego area. RIP Country Dick and Buddy.

[HumGuitar]

Thanks for posting this. I didn't know they played Letterman. They should have been regulars.

[spamwagon]

Thanks for posting this...hadn't seen it before. I used to sit and marvel at Joey's comfortable ease with performing, the most relaxed musician ever. Spirit Club in San Diego, early-mid 80's when he was with the Speedsters. And how many times did I go home soaking wet drenched with beer after a Beat Farmers show at the Belly Up or the Bacchanal..? Good times.

[micismyname]

saw them many times at the bacchanal on clairemont mesa bld had some fun times then miss you guys

[bluzkat13]

"...you could be my tidal wave, and I could be your little grain of sand..." what a great lyric. These guys remind us of just how bad corporate radio really sucks..

[dplanefilms]

One of the most underated bands ever. I loved them ever since I got the "Van Go" album.

[imacgoo]

very good I admit

[bodiespizza]

remember when they played Symphony Hall on New Years Eve and couldn't ring in the new year with champagne, so they brought out loaves of toast and threw it into the audience. Here's your toast!......classic

[SawboyV200]

completely irrelevent, cant believe they didn't do Big Ugly Wheels instead of this crap. Joey Harris writes 'em Country Dick sings 'em .  rip dick

[ironman3964]

I have been trying for years to get the soundtrack CD to "Major League" (the Charlie Sheen movie) just because it apparently has a demo type version of Hideaway--does anyone have a copy of it? The only ones available for sale on line are asking something obscene like $90. All I want is a copy of that one song! I'm almost tempted to rent the stupid movie just to hear the song, but I'm sure it won't be the whole thing and will probably have dialogue on top of it.

[BigTylerAustin]

I saw it for $7 on ebay

[BigTylerAustin]

This is my favorite song of theirs, right next to Happy Boy

[regcc]

What is the point? From what I heard Letterman himself specifically wanted Hideaway played. Joey fans never put down Buddy. Considering the fact that Buddy was with the band for less than a year once BF went national/international versus Joeys 10 years, to 90% of BF fans, Buddy is irrelevant. Why Buddy fans have to carp is beyond me. All 13 years was great. Leave it at that!

[dissolutionangel]

The only part I'd take issue with, and even in the context you presented it, is "Buddy is irrelevant." Love Joey, loved Buddy, and will always love the Beat Farmers, whatever incarnation they may be.

[regcc]

The point was not meant to put Buddy down. I was and am a fan of Buddy's work. The point was based on the fact that outside of the southwest, Buddy toured the US and Europe once. For the next 10 years the band did 3, 4 sometimes 5 significant tours a year with some combo of the US, Canada and Europe. They averaged over 200 shows a year. So statistically the vast majority of fans never even saw Buddy play. He certainly wasn't irrelevant to those that saw him, but fso few did

[yeenman]

Been looking for this for years, cool. I wish it was when Buddy was in the band though. I was at Joey's BF debut at that roadhouse in north county, and, well, I miss Buddy.

[grabes619]

Cool they were on Letterman...Lame they made the house band play with them. Paul Fisher is a Kook and the house drummer might be more polished but Country Dick played with power and that's what made the Beat Farmers great. Joey Harris is the greatest song writer on the west coast period. Long live the Beat Farmers

[YURMOVE]

I had no idea

[tootone10]

This is not the beat farmers that i remember, my lady gets liquored up. Sorry--slow and gay! As is Letterman--

[WildBillGrover]

"Gay" as in "happy?"

One thing that made the Beat Farmers great is that they could do both serious and humorous songs equally as well.

[bodiespizza]

The Mental Farm!

[bodiespizza]

OR......just keep doing what you're doing because you do it so well..............8o)

[bodiespizza]

oh yeah...Please.

[bodiespizza]

Yap! They are ALL good, and we are a very fortunate bunch for having been there. I just wish there was a deep, deep hole somewhere so remote it could never be found again. If such a place exists, I will personally drive any and all that want to go to that place, but bring the axe and bury it, then put on a show like we all know you can. That is all.

[whirl2020]

thanks for postin`that gem!!!!

[whirl2020]

BUDDY BLUE forever...

...no Beat Farmers without that great guy!!

[bodiespizza]

respectfully...DITTO!

[bodiespizza]

taking nothing away from the founding members, they were and still are FRIGGIN AWESOME! And now, it seems, there's new energy at work.

[Anonandon]

not THIS again

buddy was great - joey is too

viva los farmers, and joey and the mentals

one thing i'll say about this - no disrespect anton fig, but country dick was much more better!

[bodiespizza]

I've been wanting to see this forever. THANKS!

[bodiespizza]

Ace Bandage? I don't see any lumps on any heads....so????

[Anonandon]

me too! i've heard this is the clip that's preventing the dvd from coming out

*waits patiently*