Merry Christmas to all!!!
--from Kelly Smith and the Creek Rats
Holiday Greetings
Blog, latest news
On New Year's Day, guitarist Lee Butler turned 80 years old while playing a gig with Kelly and the Creek Rats at the Amvets Post 98 West Plains, MO. After ushering in the New Year with "Auld Lang Syne" and "Shout" and "Happy Birthday", Lee and Kelly sang a moving version of "Like a Rock". Lee has been a stalwart musician in Arkansas and surrounding areas for decades. That's Jessie Orr on slide guitar, Michael Whited on drums and Larry Coyne on bass.
Creek Rats in West Plains MO on New Year's Eve
Make your New Year's Eve plans now to come see Kelly Smith and the Creek Rats bring in the New Year at the AmVets Post 98 in West Plains! We'll be playing from 9 until 1, admission is free and drinks are not. And, besides celebration of the New Year, we'll also be celebrating lead guitarist Lee Butler's 80th birthday---Lee was a New Year's baby! Should be a festive night!
Business Cards Are Here
The Creek Rats business cards have arrived, and we are accepting bookings for the fall and upcoming holiday season. If we happen to get some bookings, we'll give you a free card, just come up to the stage and we'll give you one!
About that stage lighting…
Thanks to all the folks who came out and saw us last night at Crown Point. It was really hot, but there was a nice slight breeze that kept the temperature from being too awful. We really appreciate ya'll coming out despite the heat.
Unfortunately, the much anticipated debut of our black light will have to wait. Seems the bass player left the bulb in a carrying bag, along with the GoPro camera, at his home. And once he got to the gig, he forgot half the songs. But Mike Smith, Kelly's husband and our photographer/ security guard/ soundman/ Creek Rats handler, took some videos and we'll post some of those later.
Our next scheduled gig is not until August 30 at the Fugarwe Tribe Motorcycle Club in Mammoth Springs. It's a private event, and we will keep you posted about any other gigs that may come up before then.
Stage Lighting Debut tonight @ Crown Point
The Creek Rats will be unveiling our new stage lighting Saturday night at the Crown Lake RV park in Horseshoe Bend. You won’t want to miss it—-the black light bulb alone cost $4.95 at Home Depot! The show starts at 7:30, ends at 9:30. Don’t worry if you cant get there until late, the black light probably won’t even work until 9 or so.
Hound Dog
Most everyone knows that Elvis Presley made a huge hit with “Hound Dog” in 1956, selling over 10 million records with his rock and roll approach. The song was originally written for the blues artist Big Mama Thornton, who released her soulful, growling version four years earlier in 1952. The Creek Rats lead singer, Kelly Smith, will open our show at Crown Point Saturday night (July 26) at 7:30 with Big Mama's Hound Dog, and you will be blown away by Kelly's style and power on the song. So get there early, make sure you have a good seat (bring your own), get some of that delicious pizza next door at Papa Dick's, have a cold beer, and enjoy the show! Click here to see and hear a YouTube video of Big Mama belting out Hound Dog.
Crown Lake Resort, July 26
Fundraiser for Justin Toney
There will be a fundraiser Saturday (July 19, 2025) for the family of Justin Toney, who tragically drowned in the Spring river June 9 saving the life of a child. The event, sponsored by the Darts with Hearts, will be held at the Copper Feather in Cherokee Village, with festivities beginning at 11 a.m. There will be a Poker run, raffles, and music by the Chad Marshall Band. The Creek Rats will play from 9 until midnight.
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, you can do so either at the Copper Feather or at the nearest First Community bank. One of the items to be raffled off are these two stadium seats from the St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium II, which was home for the baseball team from 1965 until 2005, when it was torn down to make way for a new and more modern facility. The seats were made available for purchase by those who held season tickets in the stadium's final season.
