We’re men of constant sorrow for Stagecoach’s lack of collaborations

Where's the community? If there's anything missing from Stagecoach's sophomore year it's the sense of musical conversation among the participants.

With so many musicians representing nearly every strain of country-related music under the now-setting sun, it's a shame there's been so little in the way of surprise collaborations on stage. How much electricity would have shot through the Eagles' umpteenth performance of "Desperado" if Trisha Yearwood, who'd been on the same stage a couple hours earlier, had jumped in for one verse, referencing Linda Ronstadt's stellar version in the '70s? Or how about John Fogerty inviting punk rocker Mike Ness up for a verse of "Fortunate Son"?

As I sit listening to the Dan Tyminski Band offering the leader's "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" hit "Man of Constant Sorrow," I salivate at the thought of torch-passing among generations if they were joined by Earl Scruggs, who's due here on the Mustang stage a little more than an hour from now. Instead of operating as musical monologue, there's a golden opportunity to expand the conversation with a genuine exchange of ideas through dialogue or even multiartist one-off sessions.

What a wonderful world it could be.

-- Randy Lewis