Born and raised in Alabama, Hiram “Hank” Williams was an early pioneer of country music, and became one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Williams died on January 1, 1953, at age 29, in the back seat of his car in Oak Hill, West Virginia, while traveling to a concert in Canton, Ohio. His death was ruled a heart attack, though likely exacerbated by alcohol, morphine, and chloral hydrate he’d taken, creating a fatal mix.
His tragically short life made him a country music legend, influencing countless artists and earning posthumous recognition, including a Pulitzer Prize. Williams was succeeded in music by his son, Hank Williams, Jr., and grandson, Hank Williams 3.
A local New York City tradition, the Lonesome Prairie Dogs and friends celebrated the music of Williams on the 73rd anniversary of his death on New Year’s Day with the 22nd Annual New Year’s Hank-O-Rama. At the Bowery Electric this year, Heidi Lieb, vocalist and bassist of the Lonesome Prairie Dogs, explained that she and vocalist and guitarist Steve Strunsky had led the house band for a Johnny Cash tribute when they realized that no one was doing a Williams tribute show. Lieb and Strunsky launched what became an annual Hank-O-Rama series in 2004, then at Arlene’s Grocery.
This year’s celebration featured guest appearances by many local New York City country music vocalists. These included Tammy Faye Starlite, Elena Skye & Boo Reiners of the Demolition String Band, Sean Kershaw, Monica “Lil’ Mo” Passin, Cliff Westfall, Monica Falcone, Dave “Smoota” Smith, Brendan & Katie Curley of Bourbon Express, and Strunsky and Lieb’s daughter, Nikko Lieb.
Many of these artists are annual Hank-O-Rama participants. Lenny Kaye of Patti Smith’s band played pedal steel in the Lonesome Prairie Dogs for most of the show, as he has done in several recent years.
The Lonesome Prairie Dogs Setlist
Set 1
- Moanin’ the Blues
- Cold, Cold Heart (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover)
- You’re Gonna Change (Or I’m Gonna Leave) (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover)
- Honky Tonk Blues (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Cliff Westfall)
- Lonesome Whistle (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Katie and Brendan Curley)
- Move It on Over (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Sean Kershaw)
- Long Gone Lonesome Blues (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover) (with Monica Passin)
- Mississippi Mud (Hank Williams III cover)
- I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love With You) (Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Tammy Faye Starlite)
- I’ll Fly Away (Rev. J.M. Gates cover, with Tammy Faye Starlite)
- “Hank Willians death radio announcement” (with Jeff Ward)
- Ramblin’ Man
- My Sweet Love Ain’t Around (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Dave “Smoota” Smith)
- Alone and Forsaken (Hank Williams cover, with Nikko Lonesome)
- If You Don’t Like Hank Williams (Kris Kristofferson cover)
Set 2
- Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way (Waylon Jennings cover)
- “Mother’s Best Spot” (with Jeff Ward)
- Mind Your Own Business (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover)
- Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (Hank Williams, Jr. cover, with Cliff Westfall)
- Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Heidi Lonesome, Monica Passin, and Monica Falcone)
- Your Cheatin’ Heart (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Elena Skye and Boo Reiners)
- I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome (Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys cover, with Elena Skye and Boo Reiners)
- Hey, Good Lookin’ (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with Jack [raffle winner] and Stephanie Marie)
- Too Many Parties and Too Many Pals (Irving Kaufman cover, with Lenny “Link the Drifter” Kaye)
- Luke the Drifter (Lenny Kaye cover, with Lenny Kaye)
- Cold, Cold Morning
- I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover)
- Family Tradition (Hank Williams, Jr. cover)
- I Saw the Light (Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys cover, with most everyone from the concert)
Read more on Hank Williams and check out more photos from Hank-O-Rama here.
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