Headhunters play fair

By JUSTIN HARMON/Staff

Few country fans don’t know the lyrics to “Dumas Walker” or the name of that band that sang it almost 20 years ago.
That band, the Kentucky Headhunters, was a big hit in the early 90’s, but these days, they tend to stick to smaller venues like the Washington County Fair. And according to Kentucky Headhunters rhythm guitarist Richard Young, that’s the way they like it.
“We’re consigned to the fact that we’re getting older,” he said. “There comes a level where you’ve got to face the fact you’re not a super human.”
Young said they always liked playing the big gigs from New York to California, but it’s the smaller venues that excite them.
“I like cities like this,” said Young before their concert Sept. 9 at the fair. “You never know what it’s going to be like.”
The charm, according to Young, is the selling point. Young said that, being from a small town themselves (Edmonton, Ky.) makes places like Washington County are special.
Though Young admits to getting older (with a laugh), he said the Headhunters are just as strong and wild as ever.
“When we go somewhere and play, we don’t have to sell out an arena as long as we get to play the way we want to play,” he said.
Young said that’s what the band has always really been about.
The Kentucky Headhunters formed in 1968 with Young and his younger brother Fred (the drummer) and their cousins. At the time, they were a weird act.
Country and rock were the big things of the time according to Young, but the Headhunters were both and neither: they played what they wanted to, how they wanted to.
“We could just slide in under the fence,” said Young.
According to him, they were country enough to get along with the Hank Williams Jr. and Dwight Yoakam crowds, but the were rock enough that they didn’t exactly fit in.
“We avoided Nashville like the … plague,” he said.
Young said this was great and though they didn’t reach the levels of success that some bands did, he said they’re all happy with their cult following. But one thing that amazes him is the new crowds that show up. Many of them are far too young to remember the Headhunters in their heyday, but Young said he sees more and more young people at the shows. Young attributes this to their strange blend of country and rock and roll along with many of the fans being raised on their music.
“It’s an interesting thing,” he said. “Some of them just find us weird. I’d rather be something weird in country music… we’re the best of both worlds,” he said.
These days, Young said that much of the partying that the Headhunters used to do is in the past, but they still have their fun and are gearing up for next year.
According to Young, 2009 will mark the 20th anniversary of “Dumas Walker”, arguably one of the band’s most popular songs. With this, Young said the band is planning on releasing a three-disc set that will include their greatest hits and a DVD of new and old live performances.
Justin Harmon can be reached at 628-7101 or