 There's only one magical, musical place that the "bikini and banana" crowd can consort with baby-boomers, breaking any perceived barriers between them -- a Confederate Railroad Show. You're just as likely to see a couple of skinny high-schoolers on their feet for "Trashy Woman" or "Queen Of Memphis" as you are their parents (or even grandparents), seated and singing along to "Jesus And Mama" or "Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind." That wide-ranging appeal is what has made Confederate Railroad a unique and uncompromising force in country music. The combination of humor and high-energy on their double platinum debut album, Confederate Railroad, was just what the country world was waiting for. The raucous "Queen Of Memphis" was the #1 dance floor cut for six weeks, and the tongue-in-cheek, top-10 smash, "Trashy Women," with its hilarious music video, solidified the band's presence. Balanced by the sensitive odes, "Jesus and Mama" and "When You Leave That Way," Railroad went on to win the Academy of Country Music's Best New Vocal Group award in 1993. Chattanooga-native Danny Shirley's honest vocal style and uncaged showmanship provide the wheels for a Railroad show, but it wouldn't go anywhere without the motor -- drummer and charter member Mark Dufresne, bassist Wayne Secrest, guitarist Jimmy Dormire, keyboardist Chris McDaniel and pedal steel guitarist Gates Nichols. The band's 13-year association is evident in their tight blend and fondness for recreating their own hits on stage. Confederate Railroad might not go to any lengths to be different since they are already in a class by themselves. The group's zany originality, coupled with their ability to be tender, has brought big rewards and has kept everyone guessing what they'll do next.
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