Panhandle Polecats do not disappoint

Last Saturday evening, the Harrington Opera House Society held another event to support their on-going efforts to rehabilitate the Harrington Opera House so it can, once again, become a regional venue for the visual and performing arts. But who knew fund raising could be so much fun?

The Harrington Opera House Society staged an evening of entertainment, beginning with the Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner, held at the Harrington Memorial Hall.

Miss Harrington 2011, Breanna Simpson, greeted diners at the door with an opportunity to enter a raffle where the winner had a chance to win an iron planter in the shape of, you guessed it, a chicken. The delicious dinner of chicken, potato salad, beans, a bread roll and beverage was prepared and graciously served by the Harrington Homemakers. From 5 to 6:30 p.m., a steady stream of hungry people kept the volunteers on their toes.

The main event was a bluegrass concert by the Panhandle Polecats, a sibling group of three sisters and two brothers from northern Idaho. If the crowd was expecting to see and hear an amateurish family band, they were quickly and pleasantly surprised from the moment the girls opened the first song signing in harmony on “Listen To The Rhythm” (Wheels Keep Rollin'). This was definitely a well-seasoned band.

With Jenny Little on the stand-up bass and vocals, Molly (Little) Wilbur on mandolin and lead vocals, Bonnie (Little) Campbell on guitar (who lives in Odessa and placed in the “Red, White and Bluegrass Festival” guitar flat-picking contest), her twin brother Austin Little on banjo (named “Best Banjo Player of 2008” by the Inland Northwest Bluegrass Association) and Hank Little on a Dobro providing plenty of trivia and comedic entertainment, the band comprises great musicians, as well as singer/songwriters.

Gospel flavored with more than a hint of good-natured, family-friendly fun, Saturday night’s show consisted mainly of the Panhandle Polecats’ own compositions. A few songs into the show, the band sang the hauntingly beautiful melody and lent their effortless harmonies to “The Sound of Angels Singing.” Molly’s vocals quieted the audience and gave me chills. The otherwise toe-tapping, knee-slapping, energy-packed night of performance purposefully slowed near the end when the Polecats sang the soul-stirring “Sing Unto the Lord.” Jumping right back into the bluegrass swing, the band played a rousing version of the Statler Brothers “Fourth Man in the Fire.”

During intermission, the Harrington Homemakers provided tasty treats and beverages for all in attendance, and the Panhandle Polecats had a table set up to sell their CDs. To date they have recorded three, The Polecat Stomp, Skunked Again!, which has been playing in my CD player from the moment we climbed into the car after leaving the show, and their latest, Selkirk Storm.

After a standing ovation and calls from the audience, the Polecats took the stage for an encore, playing a hard-driving banjo tune that had the crowd stomping their feet and clapping along. Ever so polite, the group stayed after the show to sign autographs and talk with anyone who cared to chat.

More information on the Panhandle Polecats, a schedule of their upcoming performances and a place to shop for CDs, T-shirts and more is available at their website at http://www.panhandlepolecats.com. They can also be reached via email: panhandlepolecats@yahoo.com or by visiting their page at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/panhandle polecats.