From The January 13-20 2005 Issue

Country quartet Deputy 5 performs this month at Cafe Firenze, Outta Bounds, Smokey Joe's and The Yellow Rose.

by  Mick Michaels

     The band takes its name from the The Andy Griffith Show's bumbling, fumbling, paranoid sidekick Barney Fife, who's allowed only one bullet, but required to keep it in his shirt pocket. But these guys' guns are fully loaded and there is no fumbling. They call themselves Deputy 5, and they are a country band, com­plete with 10-gallon hats and cowboy boots.

     I caught these guys on a Friday night at Smokey Joe's, soon to become Iron Horse Cafe. I was there early to collect the club's music schedule and inquired about the odd name, to which Shannon (the guy with the schedule) enthusiastically replied, "They're great! They've got the bass player from the Oak Ridge Boys, you gotta come see 'em," the lovely young bartender nodding agreement.

Well, okay...

     It's funny, when you mention country music, so many people are quick to turn their noses up and say "Ewww ..." But press people individu­ally to reveal their tastes and you'll find a lot of closet fans of Alan Jackson, Hank Jr., Garth Brooks and Toby Keith. Then, when a band jumps into a cover of one of their songs, the same people that pooh-poohed the genre will be the first on their feet.

Hmmm...

     Anyway, I came back later to find the bar chock-full of young ladies, each adorned with some variation of western hat, tight jeans, and high-steppin' boots. Deputy 5 was busy easing their way through their first set, working songs from Alan Jackson, Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn and Toby Keith, and the crowd was eating it up.

     Deputy 5 is made up of four guys: singer/gui­tarist Breck Carroll, guitarist/vocalist Tommy O'Barr, bassist Don Breland and drummer John Simpson. It all started when O'Barr and Carroll met each other out at the Yellow Rose, became friends and started an acoustic duo that eventually evolved into Deputy 5. As indicated, Breland served as bandleader and bassist for the Oak Ridge Boys for more than 16 years, tour­ing the world and living out every musician's dream. Although the Oak Ridge Boys are still performing, Breland has retired to pursue other interests -like Deputy 5. The band plans to perform some original compositions along with all the covers. They have their demo recorded, pictures taken and are busy shopping for a label.

     You can catch the quartet this month at Cafe Firenze on Jan. 14, Outta Bounds on Jan. 21, The Yellow Rose on Jan. 22 and back at Smokey Joe's on Jan. 28, or reach them by email at deputy5@charter.net.