What’s in a name? Well, for half-bluegrass/all-sass comedic players The Cleverlys—everything. And a rose bouquet of road travelers by any other name surely wouldn’t smell this way. Well-known for their bluegrass spins on songs such as “All the Single Ladies,” “Walk Like an Egyptian” or “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” the faux-family group of musicians described by Stephen L. Betts of Rolling Stone as a “hilariously off-kilter hybrid of Homer and Jethro and The Office” bring their beloved sweet-talking stylings to the Murfreesboro Square in February.
Listeners can hear on the group’s newest album that it’s not all parody and laughs, such as on the sincere take on The Seldom Scene’s “Wait a Minute.” Though The Cleverlys’ version of the Zombies classic “She’s Not There,” which changes the vernacular to “she ain’t there,” serves an apt illustration of the band’s characteristic style.
Digger Cleverly reflects on the decision to record this track saying, “This song reminds me of my second wife. She ran off with a phone book salesman. Said she wanted someone with a ‘future.’”
Speaking of keeping your significant other, you won’t even have to buy yours a Valentine’s Day gift if you give the gift of seeing the Cleverlys, a band featuring Digger Cleverly and his nephews Ricky Lloyd, Cub, Quattro and DVD (short for Dale Vernon Dale, naturally). Sock Cleverly recently split from full-time touring thanks to a dose of reality in the form of a newborn, but he “still roots for the family” and will fill in on fiddle from time to time when Quattro (Digger Jr. Jr. Jr. Jr., hence Quattro) needs a break.
With planned stops in the coming months at Puckett’s Grocery locations in Franklin, Nashville, Columbia and even Pigeon Forge, you won’t have to walk 500 miles, or 500 more, for this concert. So prepare to get lovey-dovey locally with the one-of-a-kind dinner show. Tickets are $45 for one or $85 per couple for a three-course dinner and the performance, at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant, 114 N. Church St. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, with the show to follow at 7 p.m.
Find tickets on Eventbrite, or reach Puckett’s Murfreesboro at 629-201-6916 for more information. This is expected to sell out.
Find The Cleverlys’ latest album, Blue, here
“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” live at Puckett’s:
