View from Lounge at Whiteface
OK, usually I only mention Whiteface Mountain in passing as I am on my way to an art event elsewhere. But today, in frigid temperatures and a fierce wind, I am actually here at Whiteface Mountain. I'm not a downhill skier so you might wonder why I have braved the elements to find myself surrounded by snow on this Sunday afternoon.

As it happens, in addition to being a first-class ski mountain, the lounge at Whiteface also offers some first-class entertainment.

On tap this afternoon is George Kilby, Jr. and the Road Dogs. This band is making the rounds in this part of the Adirondacks this week. I had hoped to catch the band at The Recovery Lounge (Upper Jay Arts Center) on Friday night but that didn't work out. I had checked out the band's web site prior to that and noticed that they would be playing at Whiteface Mountain for the après ski, at a bar in Lake Placid, and also on New Year's Eve in Saranac Lake for the First Night Celebration. I chose today at Whiteface to get a sampling of their work.

George Kilby, Jr. and the Road Dogs in Performance at Whiteface

I imagine that this band "rocks" in whichever venue you might encounter them. But it is particularly dynamic to see them perform with a white backdrop complete with skiers and snowboarders who occasionally enter the room from a door adjacent to the band's performance space.

The audience may be tired from a day on the slopes but not too tired to appreciate the country blues of George Kilby, Jr. and company, as the applause signify at the close of each number. At some point one enthusiastic couple even begins dancing.

The music the band plays this afternoon takes me back to my youth and the kind of blues/rock that my family and friends listened to in the '70s. It is a great sound and one that comes from the heart...and soul.

George Kilby, Jr. hails from Alabama. He calls his music "rough-cut American roots music" and acknowledges influences like the Allman Brothers, Lynryd Skynrd and Outlaw Country. In an excerpt from his web site he says, "It's about writing great songs, not keeping up great traditions. My lyrics cut to the heart of things with no apologies; and I break any rule I need to, so the music speaks directly to the people."

Band CDs
When the set is over, I have a chance to meet George and ask a few questions. I learn that he has some friends and family ties in this part of the Adirondacks which is what brings him to the Whiteface region. He is a warm and friendly person as well as a talented musician. I get a peek at the CD covers and am immediately drawn to "Road Dog's Holiday" featuring my all-time favorite animal: the basset hound.

With the Road Dogs, George appears at European festivals from Scandinavia to Ireland and has extensive work on the East coast, with lots of gigs in the Big Apple and Catskill Mountains, and now the Adirondacks. He has been a fixture on Manhattan's downtown roots music scene for 20 years. The band can be seen frequently at BB King's in Times Square on Sunday nights.

Whiteface Mountain has regular entertainment on weekends après ski from about 3 PM to 5 PM. You don't have to be a downhill skier to get in but it helps if you like to watch.

Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, swimming, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.