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Loving the bird chorus in the background Otis. Nature’s band providing your soundtrack this morning. 🎶🎼🎵

I love the Kenny Vaughan interviews. He has to be the most likable guy. 2024 has been a very very hard year for my family. It's great to hear his stories and his laugh. I need more of that perspective in my life right now. Thank you

My oldest brother had an Easter basket full of M-80s. As a grade schooler (mid 1960s), we'd put an M-80 on the ground, light it, put a plastic garbage can over it and run like hell. The M-80 would launch the garbage can about 25 feet in the air. We laughed and laughed and laughed.

I parted with fireworks about 10 years ago when I made friends with my daschound, thanks Otis

Definitely remember one 4 of July cookout when someone brought a hand cranked ice cream freezer, and assigned the cranking out to the younger kids first, then as the ice cream got thicker and the cranking got harder, moving up to the older kids, then, with the adults finishing it off at the end. We all had delicious fresh peach ice cream.

Another great, down to earth visit. Many thanks and welcome home!

Thanks for grounding me for a few moments Mr Gibbs. Stay calm, and listen to Otis.

good morning, Otis. I'm glad you're home relaxing. I used to travel a lot for work, nothing like sitting on your own porch. I enjoyed fireworks as a kid, now I enjoy peace and quiet, must be getting old!!

I haven't heard anyone talk about Wheatie balls in ages.

I remember when tombstone pizzas were good I remember how good ice cream used to taste. I remember how people used to be polite, and would give you space on the sidewalk I remember when every restaurant was run by a family I remember when good weed came in from around the world, not an indoor greenhouse. I remember when it was safe to buy drugs I remember when even drunks were kind of reliable I remember hanging out with girls outside. I remember when you could almost find the truth But,,I CAN REMEMBER. kids today will never know … luv ya otis

Otis, I've been envious of many of your experiences but I really would have like to have been at those events with John Prine. Keep up the interviews. You are right up there with Marty Stuart. When my kids were young we saw fireworks shot of the top of Mount Rushmore. I don't think I can ever top that.

The neighborhood corner store sold all the latest fireworks. The one thing no one bothered with was a separate piece called the burning schoolhouse. It was a cardboard A frame with a chimney sparkler sort of thing lasting a few seconds then it just slowly burned, no excitement in that. Great memories. Take care, Otis. PS. We had a pitbull who would head for the bathroom and climb into the tub when the fireworks were going off, poor girl would be shaking and no way to comfort her. I get people who don't like the noise, they probably own a pet who is miserable that night.

Thanks much Otis. Great conversation. I really enjoyed the interview with Jim Rooney. I highly recommend "Shakespeare Was a Big George Jones Fan--Cowboy Jack Clement's Home Movies" It's priceless for the folks who love our kinda' music.

I'm here to tell you Otis you haven't lived until you've witnessed the greatness that is my hometown Fireworks display at the University of Redlands, Ca!! The Grand Finale can not be beat!!✌💙⚡🇺🇸🇺🇸🎆🎇💥💥💥💥

I’m over in Greenwood now and have a German Shepherd that ain’t gimme no rest in 3days. Finally last night we laid back to back and finally got a moments rest. You are doing great buddy and I appreciate you

blessed to be 57 the 70's were an amazing time to be a kid michigan born had to drive across the border into indiana to get fireworks

Good morning and happy Saturday, Otis. Glad you're able to relax and enjoy being home. I remember enjoying fireworks as a kid in the 70s and 80s and taking my kids to see the spectacle in the 90s and 2000s. Somewhere along the way it lost its luster. It's not only the household pets that don't like it, I have some veteran friends who served in the Gulf wars that still need to medicate to get through the holiday. Love the stories of the old Nashville scene. What a time to be alive! Be good to you 🙏🏻🤍

4th of July as a kid was a big family get together and watching the fireworks from Grandma’s front yard. She lived in the country, but close enough to town to see them all. Some of my best memories as a kid 😊

this is certainly iced coffee weather

Safe travels, Otis!

Just a tip for pet owners. Dogs can take antihistamines for people. Our 25 lb dog had immune system problems when he was a puppy. The vet had him on 25mg antihistamines, the kind you can pick up at any pharmacy, for six months. Antihistamines calm down, relax, dogs. Not a fan of fireworks. They were illegal here in eastern Canada, so sparklers were the only thing we used to see in the stores. There are fireworks in stores now, and one of our neighbours used to be setting them off for days when any holiday was handy. Everything is so dry in the summers now, it’s crazy to set them off anywhere except over water. Hope all USers had a fun Fourth of July.

I live in New Hampshire! Dartmouth College is in Hanover. Right on the Connecticut River across from Vermont.

Thanks to whoever invited and hosted Otis in NY.

As kids our parents would take us for the fireworks display on the Delaware River across from Philadelphia. We’d sit in lawn chairs or blankets on the banks of the Delaware River in Riverton, NJ. It seemed like those fireworks lasted for hours. 🧨

My girlfriend worked in music until covid and lived in Nashville for a while she has lots of fond stories of those porch parties. Unfortunately the Californians seem to have ruined all of that. There is a Drive in Theater in Virginia that I try and go to regularly. Throwing a cheap mattress and cooler in the back of the farm truck to go see a movie is just special.

I remember watching hang gliders afloat above Raccoon Lake out on North Highway 59.

Very cool! I spent the 4th comforting my dog Bella !! I got a copy of Hoosier National !! And I have it on my Apple Music ✌️ Get some rest my friend! 🐿️😎🐿️

Otis on Spotify open.spotify.com/artist/28ArvZS9yIxIPnPCDD5IXD ----- Otis Tour Dates ------- 08/27/24 - 08/30/24 -Big Indian, New York -with Todd Snider and Tim Easton 10/25/24 -Brown County Playhouse -Nashville, Indiana 03/05/25 -TivoliVredenburg -Utrecht, Netherlands 03/06/25 -Cultural Centre De Zeepziederij -Bree, Belgium 03/08/25 -Lutherse Kerk -Groningen, Netherlands ------ Details at otisgibbs.com ----------

My youngest daughter was born on the 5th of July. For years we would go watch big pyro displays on the 4th. Then we got dogs. It’s really hard to get away from them here in the south. My granny had a little store when I was a kid . She sold everything from live bait to cold cuts. Every major holiday I would get a pile of fireworks that are now mostly illegal. I effin loved it but thankfully eventually grew out of it.

The things a guy can learn from your channel,,,, another good talk! Have a good one Otis!

Oh my gosh same as you. My dog put himself into the bathtub! And he hates the bath tub. But it is the central most protected space in our home. When those mortar fireworks went to booming he was shaking and panting. It just killed me seeing him. I found a youtube site that had soothing sounds for dogs during fireworks and the white noise when seemed to take the edge off. When your dog looks for protection from you and you can’t help him its the hardest and most frustrating feeling in the world.

In my area, it’s like a war zone. Illegal block buster fireworks are everywhere. Brushfires, backyard/house fires, window shattering explosions, almost apocalyptic. Before the 4th, after the 4th…. These people are bat shit crazy.

Independence Day to me more than July 4th. That’s just me. Memories,… Fireworks had become illegal in Georgia when we were kids. Somehow, my 3 younger brothers would end up with a few fireworks. Maybe from an uncle or two. We grew up on a rural farm in North GA district. So fireworks were definitely a highlight of our childhood. We mostly had the package’s of “Black Cat,” fire crackers, bottle rockets, a few Roman candles and sparklers. The most fun was the rush of a bottle rockets either coming straight at you or straight at a sibling! 🤣 Another is cutting open a “Black Diamond,” watermelon from our patch. Sprinkling salt on each piece. Throwing “May Pops”,?that grew wild, at each other. Riding our bikes on dirt roads and stopping at a drive up wild plum bush! Boy they were so good. Grabbing our fishing poles and heading to the creeks and catch, “ Horneyhead Fish.” Just being with visiting cousin’s was another treat. Fun times at very little cost was the best. Hard work and fun times. I loved it and miss those times. ❤ Peace

I am aware of pay lakes, as well as Wheatie balls. I grew up in St Louis, and learned multiple recipes as a kid. Many include garlic or vanilla.

thanks for this. just wrapping up my office/shop day, and thinking about the forth of the July when I was a kid washed away all my work stress!! As an adult, I almost always work July 4th. As a backline tech there's always a gig, and usually once the fireworks start I'm working on the load out, and hear the fire works but don't stop to look. This year was no exception. Thursday I was with En Vogue on Ft. Lauderdale Beach. I really don't like how freaked out all animals get, wild or domestic on 07/04 and 12/31. The Jim Rooney interview is fantastic, as are all the other interviews on the channel.

During the years my interest in fireworks was high, we weren’t allowed because they were illegal in our state. Of course that did not stop people from using them. My dad was a minister at a church in a town of 25 hundred. We lived right behind the church next to the county jail on the busiest street in town. I still have all my fingers!!!!😂😂

Great Saturday morning visit Otis, get rested up buddy

Great to hear your stories Otis . Agree with you on the Fireworks .We get them here from Late October into mid November and it's the worst time of year for my dogs and the local wildlife . Here in the UK we had a General Election on July 4th and finally voted out the Conservatives . Worthy of our own celebrations 🍹

Likewise on the fireworks.. I’m not a fan of unnecessary noise. That goes for leaf blowers, motorcycles, and a lot of stuff on the radio these days. 4th of July by a lake always included watermelon when I was a child. I’m already a regular listener of yours on Spotify.

I played that barn Otis, Jim’s daughter’s wedding I believe it was.

was that 2 murders the night you stayed in a motor lodge??? Now thats dangerous!! Stay safe Otis. Thanks for your videos

anything dogs don't like is probably best avoided

Gotcha on Spotify now…I’ve been forgetting for a month or so and I’m good with it!! “Ol’ Scooter” in East Texas…

The birds sound nice.

When fireworks are going off outside, I tell my cat that somebody's making popcorn for her (she likes popcorn and Cheetos).

Thanks for the reminder! Just followed you on Spotify.

I know Pay Lakes! Definitely a Blue Collar Indy tradition but not the Northside, of course 😂 So many happy memories of male relatives tapping into their pyro-side, but the biggest and best was always the years my dad was a partner in a dirt track and the family moved our tradition to share with local stock car race fans

I too have memories of the Drive Inn on the fourth. One year we saw "Rally "Round the Flag Boys" with Paul Newman

Yeah but sometimes you run out of luck. I had an M80 (1/4 stick of dynamite they say) go off a couple inches from my hand. The wick never sparked, it got red on the end and I guess burned inside. Nearly lost thumb and index finger on right hand which looked like raw hamburger. Lots of blood. I was 18. Didn’t touch one again until my daughter was three. Accidentally touched a sparkler to my finger. Never ever again. Not to mention how the noise affects dogs, cats and especially wildlife.

Man I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and we definitely had pay lakes and this is the first time it ever occurred to me that they might not exist everywhere😂 zambelli International is from right outside of Pittsburgh so thre were constantly fireworks growing up for just about everything and I got over them real quick. However, ironically my house sits on a hilltop overlooking a bend in a river and you can see three or four communities fireworks displays really well. oftentimes people will come up and park on my street and watch the different fireworks displays with their kids.

i recall humidity crowds heat humidty crowds heat and hmidity.....for starters....for sure

Otis, your comment about illegal fireworks had me laughing. I grew up in Ontario, but my mom is from Nevada, so we would drive every 2nd summer to see my grandma. I had a real good business selling the fireworks I'd buy in Wyoming out of my locker in middle school and high school. Good times

Our canines are trying to tell us that are obsession with ‘fireworks’ is at best absurd; if you need verification talk to some Vietnam combat vets who have a hard time as some of our canines. The end of the draft after the Vietnam War has made the results of combat less familiar to many of us now. I maybe an old timer now, but I still shout out my view.

Hey Otis - you seemed to have crossed paths with quite a few interesting people over the course of your music career; did you ever cross paths with Kinky Friedman who passed away last month? He was an opening act for Bob Dylan in the 70’s, friends with Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, Eric Clapton, Billie Joe Shaver, Mojo Nixon, Chinga Chavin, as well as Larry McMurtry, Don Imus, and Billie Bob Thorton. Just curious.

Probably not just my opinion, Nashville cats are the best players in the world.

My Pit Bull LizaLou gets under the bed and crys til it's over.

4th of July as a kid meant modest backyard picnics and going to the suburbs for the night's fireworks display. As a 10-year-old in 1970, I saw Let It Be at a matinee at the Patio Theater for 75 cents on the 4th of July (Chicago's northwest side).

My dog (my avatar) has become increasingly scared on 4th Of July. This year I planned ahead and ordered him some CBD dog chews, they really seem to help him. He does seem a little loopy for a few hours, but I guess I prefer that to him shaking. They may also help me when it comes time for his nails to be trimmed.

Good Morning Otis 🌞. Like you I had some good 4th memories as a kid although damaged my right ear shooting bottle rockets at each other. Seems you may have escaped those times unscathed. That’s good. Really can do without them now. I gave my dog some CBD in some dog biscuits on the fourth and it really helped him. Something you and others might want to try. Really cool learning about Cowboy Jack. Going to find out more about him. Thanks again and safe travels😊

I grew up in East Central IL. My Grandpa would take us across the state line to Indiana where we could buy bottle rockets, black cats and roman candles. Great 4th of July memories and nobody was injured!

i have vague memories of going to some giant gathering outside Baltimore City i think Hunt Valley on a then stupidly crowded steep hill with some impressive music.

Andes is really nice little town. I was a small part of the library rehab probably 4 years ago.

Burgers on the grill, parents having a beer with neighbors, sparklers after dark…

one of my friends growing up was Sam Adams yes related so I do recall some summers around july 4 going to an Adams Family Farm, yes related lol in rural PA. I recall being afraid of the dumb boys with the fireworks and for good reason so spending time with chickens instead.

I couldn’t enjoy Backyard fireworks, knowing that the noise might be disturbing the life of my neighbors.

i hope we get yall to new mexico some day month year moment and in santa fe i think ull dig the way the old motor lodge was fixed up respectfully called El Rey and any of your (our?) music buddies esp the Texas ones can hook ya up with the owner a Texan who knows loves and supports all them cats....its a cool joint

Best Western outside of Alamosa, CO has a drive in.

I remember the atmosphere of June and July with the 4th of July being the peak of summer atmosphere. Hot and long summer nights where you’d cruise up and down the main drag listening to music and sometimes discovering music that was new to you. Jerry Jeff Walker’s Viva Terlingua album takes me straight back to being a kid during summer. HA!

im scared of watcing about john prine till im ready to cry anyway the 2nd half of this makes me think of this Now you boys better get in tune Sis Draper's gonna be here soon Don't shoot no dice nor get too tight If you're gonna pick with Sis tonight Now she came down from the Boston mountains There was lightnin' in the air Honey on them fiddle strings Magnolia in her hair

first time dad took me fishing was at a pay lake. dough balls were what people used for carp.we used nightcrawlers for sunfish.

Pay Lake. Never Ever heard of such a thing. Had to look it up.

Otis you could read the label off a snickers bar and make it sound good.

what i cant recall is the last time i actually did do anything on the 4th of July it seems now a great week to avoid heat stupid human behaviours noise etc

C’mon, man, what’s a Pay Lake? I’m not a top of the food chain person, but Pay Lake is new to me.

Get higher than Indiana Otis…Camping at 3862 ft elevation in Doughton Park…just short of the Virginia state line in North Carolina…high of 84 a cool breeze overnight caused me to pull on the blanket. Just heard the fireworks on the fourth.

im smiling picturing Amy thrwoing something playfully at you when u call her that woman

👍😊

NRBQ song about the drive in.. comes to mind.

u said whatie ball huhuh

Them Nashville cats always come in hottern hell.Del knows

i guess from if not 8 then 10 years old on I would have been at summer camp from 10 on in new hampshire so i vaguely recall movie nights ....FraneksSudae which i just mentioned on BettySoos post about ice cream in Vermont....and FunSpot the multi level arcade and come to think of it I def recall how pretty little Center Harbor New Hampshire the little lakes around well known Winnepsauke were and a lot more American flags and such then one owuld see in Baltimore City lol

I must have some dog in me because I don't like the booms of the 4th but like many, I'm also a war vet...can't they celebrate the end of war with music instead of more gunpowder? (my old fart rant, sorry folks) My son loves fireworks

Loved fireworks when I was a self absorbed young buck.. as I’ve gotten older I don’t think that they’re worth all the fear it causes animals…✌🏼

I live in rural Indiana, not too far from the city lights of Gosport. Coincidentally, an operational drive-in theater is about 1/2 miles up the road, and the pay lake is a couple miles the other way. Memories live on...

I love your videos - you're kinda talking about me sometimes......not your fault..... no blame , but you are --- much love ---- Michael Grau --- Songwriter

Do they still do the parade down main street (Sheridan Road in my case)? The uniformed marching brass bands, candy being thrown from floats, clowns, beauty contest winners, Shriners wearing the Fez with tassels on go carts made to look like flying carpets.

love the melting pot fishing tales sharing is daring!

I once blew a firecracker in my hand. It hurt a lot. Fireworks were cool for a long time but my little girl hates them. She goes under the couch and stays there. So I don’t like them anymore. Plus, they used to blow them up on the day of, but now it’s a few days earlier and a few days later. It sounds very interesting about “Cowboy Jacks” disciples?

Your right about Everything but you didn't Say anything about winning money at Pay Lake with catching those Tagged fish

Fireworks should be banned NATION WIDE. At least on a consumer level.