Molly Hatchet at Sac and Fox Casino, Powhattan, KS (2022-07-23)

Decades later, they’re still flirtin’ with disaster–

Jacksonville, FL band Molly Hatchet brought their signature mixture of English invasion rock, blues, country and gospel to the Sac and Fox Casino, in Powhattan, KS for a complimentary show filled with classic hits and newer favorites.

The band formed in the early 1970s and, along with their contemporaries Lynyrd Skynyrd and other Florida and Georgia bands, brought together what we have come to know as Southern Classic Rock.

Epic Records released their self-titled debut album in 1978 and second album Flirtin’ with Disaster was issued the following year and quickly achieved multi-platinum status. Latest album is a 2019 live release, Battleground (on Steamhammer Records).

Taking their name from a 17th century axe murderess who beheaded her lovers, no original band members remain but in 1987, Bobby Ingram joined the band as lead guitarist and songwriter and John Galvin on keyboards has been a member since the mid-80’s. Ingram even learned a law degree over the pandemic, to better assist in band legal affairs.

Tim Lindsey on bass guitar and Shawn Beamer on drums have each logged in a couple of decades, and relatively new lead singer Jimmy Elkins joined in 2019 and exhibits that defined, rugged Southern vocal growl, so familiar with many of the band’s songs.

Their full ninety-five-minute set kicked off with 1979’s “Whiskey Man” and the near-capacity ballroom wasted no time in grooving along. Elkins explained how the band had just played in New York, then took a red-eye flight in, had a quick soundcheck and not much time before the show, so was initially confused whether the venue was in Kansas or Missouri, but once confirming things with the crowd, yelped a loud “Hell Yeah!” which was met with cheers.

They ended up playing half of their second album Flirtin’ with Disaster including “One Man’s Pleasure”, “Jukin’ City”, and an energetic Valentinos cover of “It’s All Over Now”, which found Elkins starting the chorus singing “I used to love her, but…” and the crowd finishing it with the song’s title.

Drummer Beamer had a drum solo mid-set that was both sublime and bombastic, 1983’s “Fall of the Peacemakers” was dedicated to troops serving everywhere, and Ingram led the instrumental solo portion of “Layla”, in tribute to the many previous band members that were no longer with us.

The main set ended nicely with their cover of “Dreams”, a seminal 1969 song from fellow Jacksonville musicians The Allman Brothers Band, which would prove a major influence on Molly Hatchet as they developed their own sound.

For the encore, Elkins borrowed a Skynyrd line, asking the crowd, “What song is it you want to hear?” before going into their biggest hit, 1979’s “Flirtin’ with Disaster” which found much of the audience standing, dancing, and waving their phones

“Don't try and turn my head away, flirtin' with disaster every day” say the lyrics in their most successful song, and more than four decades on, Molly Hatchet still keeps that flirtation going.