Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Indeed!

Kurt Johnson / Tahoe Onstage
“Cuzin” Kenny Vaughan, left, Marty Stuart and Chris Scruggs on the bandstand at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys on July 26, 2018.
Tahoe Onstage photos by Kurt Johnson

There’s not enough superlatives to describe Marty Stuart, who will never run out of singers.

Each member of Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives took turns at lead vocals during a 10-song set on Thursday at the Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys. Their performance preceded Chris Stapleton.

“It’s good to be in the mountains tonight,” Stuart greeted the sellout crowd of more than 7,000. “Turn the hillbillies loose.”

The master of hillbilly rock wore his customary neck scarf and stand-up hairdo and played Clarence, his famous 1954 Fender Telecaster. His easygoing speaking delivery led the show and his singing voice inspired a jovial mood throughout the crowd.

“He could sing the telephone book and it would sound great,” a concertgoer exclaimed.

The Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame member was happy to share the spotlight with His Fabulous Superlatives. Each member is a bandleader in his own right. Bassist Chris Scruggs (you might know of his grandfather) sang “Bull By the Horns,” guitarist “Cuzin” Kenny Vaughan sang “Country Music Got a Hold on Me” and drummer “Handsome” Harry Stinson sang the Woodie Guthrie standard “Pretty Boy Floyd.”

Even when they players didn’t sing, the music was superb. They performed a swell instrumental, “Torpedo.”

“Lake Tahoe is the surf capital of the world,” Stuart shouted.

An irreverent moment of a seriously great night of music.

Related story: Chris Stapleton thrills Tahoe with no props or country pop.

  • Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
    Harveys Outdoor Arena, Stateline, Nevada, July 27, 2018
    1 – Lesson In Love
    2 – Country Boy Rock & Roll
    3 – The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’ (Travis Tritt cover)
    4 – Torpedo
    5 – Country Music Got a Hold On Me (with Cuzin Kenny Vaughan)
    6 – Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash traditional)
    7 – Bull by the Horns (Chris Scruggs)
    8 – Orange Blossom Special
    9 – Pretty Boy Floyd (Woodie Guthrie song sung by Handsome Harry Stinson)
    10 – Time Don’t Wait

    Kurt Johnson / Tahoe Onstage
    Legendary hillbilly rocker Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives captivated Lake Tahoe.
    Tahoe Onstage
    “Handsome” Harry Stinson has a helluva good voice.

ABOUT Tim Parsons

Picture of Tim Parsons
Tim Parsons is the editor of Tahoe Onstage who first moved to Lake Tahoe in 1992. Before starting Tahoe Onstage in 2013, he worked for 29 years at newspapers, including the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Eureka Times-Standard and Contra Costa Times. He was the recipient of the 2011 Keeping the Blues Alive award for Journalism.

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