America's Cowboy Review a success

MOSES LAKE — Three cowboys came to Moses Lake Saturday to share stories, poetry and music dedicated to the cowboy lifestyle.

The Columbia Basin Allied Arts brought T.J. Casey from Montana, Jim Reader from Alberta, Canada and Delbert Shields from Kansas, to the Wallenstien Theater for the first show of the 2006-2007 season. Casey and Shields flew to Seattle and drove to Moses Lake, while Reader drove all the way to Moses Lake from Canada.

"These guys are real live cowboys. They're not Hollywood cowboys," member of the Allied Arts board Rich Victor told the crowd of nearly 200 people.

Their performances were full of anecdotal jokes. After Shields performed one song requiring his voice to go high, he noted his mother-in-law said no man should be able to sing like that.

"When you've been on as many bucking horses as I have, that's no problem," Shields joked.

Victor said the performers mixed up the show, taking turns with the spotlight. Their performances complemented one another, he said.

Allied Arts' next show is Nov. 8 with Steve Forbert taking the stage. Forbert was added to the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame.

The public can see him at a special price to benefit the Moses Lake Food Bank. They can see him for $10 with five cans of food for regular admission, or $5 with five cans of food for students. Season ticket holders can see him for free with five cans of food.