At first glance, Rusty Smith and Lynn Shaw appear to be two friends who like to sit in a circle with their instruments and play music together. However, their band’s history transcends their simplistic appearance.
The two of them, along with a few other members, make up the Boys of the Hock’, a Celtic band that has been playing in Athens since its formation in the mid-'80s. Smith, the guitarist, has been a part of Boys of the Hock’ since the beginning. He remembers how a “pretty prominent” Irish musician used to play music with some of the band’s original members at Blue Eagle Music, having jam sessions and playing at dances. The members reunited frequently, and the Boys of the Hock’ was formed.
Each Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Little Fish Brewing Company hosts the local band in an event called “Celtic Sessions.” The band plays consistently, only taking breaks to crack a joke among members or greet a visitor.
Though the band has “gone through different phases, it’s continued pretty much since then,” according to Smith. Their aura remains essentially the same after 30 years, with their base being in playing good, enjoyable music in a laid-back environment.
The music they play is chosen simply.
“It’s up to the fiddler (Shaw),” Smith said. “It’s usually just whatever tune they can remember.”
Though that tactic sounds limiting, Smith insists they “could play for days…that big noggin has a lot in it.”
Little Fish works perfectly for Boys of the Hock’, not only because of its relaxed nature, but also because of its “real family atmosphere. Kids playing everywhere, people having dinner and having fun (and) sometimes (they’ve) got dancers,” Smith said.
The live music, along with a playground space for children and quaint picnic tables under Christmas lights, contributes to the neighborhood vibe the owners aim for.
Co-founder of Little Fish Jimmy Stockwell said the brew house likes the group to come because the act “lends itself well to (Little Fish’s) inviting atmosphere.”
The friendly and welcoming atmosphere also attracts regular customers over time, and “Celtic Sessions” is no exception. Chip Rogers has been a loyal customer, and he said Boys of the Hock' has become an integral part of his Athens circle over time.
“We knew them from O’Hooley’s (the brewpub now called Jackie O’s) … and that place used to be our home,” Rogers said. “The proudest moment of my life was when four of my daughters danced (to Boys of the Hock’s music) in there one night.”
Important to many of their most loyal Athens supporters, such as Rogers, is the notion that Boys of the Hock’ has been there to play music for major milestones in their lives.
“When my wife and I had our 50th (anniversary), they played,” Rogers said. “These guys have been a part of our family.”
This is evident as Shaw’s arrival at Little Fish elicited greetings of “Hi, Grandpa” from both Rogers and his granddaughter.
However, not every guest of Little Fish was quite so familiar with Athens and with the band. Jim Cooney, who said he was in Athens for the first time on business from Chicago, came to Little Fish for the beer. When he arrived at Little Fish, he decided to stop and take in the surroundings.
Cooney is of Irish heritage and said “whenever I see there’s traditional Irish music playing, I stop to listen.”
The common thread among all of the listeners at Little Fish is the enjoyment of the music.
“I want to brag to my wife because she’s at home with the kids,” Cooney said.
The group has humble desires as musicians, as they “do this not so much for the crowd, but for our own self-aggrandizement,” Shaw said. They are simply a group of men who like to make music and play the way they want to.
The members all have jobs other than performing with the band.
“Athens is not known to be the greatest place in the world for a musician to try to make a living,” Shaw said. “So we’ve been playing for beer for 25 years… and that’s OK.”
The band thrives on the fact the music isn’t overly structured. Though the group may not take itself quite as seriously as others, the pride for the work is still there.
“After 20 to 30 years of it, we’re starting to become pretty good at this,” Shaw said.
