Hoochie Cootchie Men at Carl Miller Thursday

Mountain Home's 2008 Summer Concert Series continues July 31 featuring the Hoochie Coochie Men as the second concert in the summer series.

Those attending are urged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets and join Parks and Recreation and the Mountain Home Arts Council for the free concert, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. Thursday evening at Carl Miller Park.

Concessions will be available.

Ken Harris, a former resident of Mountain Home and one of the founders of the band, said he was looking forward to "seeing that old plane in Carl Miller Park" again as part of what he called the band's "Elmore County Tour."

The Hoochie Coochie Men served as the house band for the Blues Bouquet in Boise, until the nightspot closed, and the band had the opportunity to back up many of the top visiting solo artists who appeared there. Billy Boy Arnold called them "the best back-up band I've ever played with." Other artists backed included Pinetop Perkins, Carey Bell, AC Reed, Michelle Willson, Phil Guy, Coco Montoya and others.

The Hoochie Coochie Men also have had two appearances at the Waterfront Blues Festival.

The band features Harris on the keyboard and harmonica, Mike Trail (who also plays for the Jeff Palmer Band) on guitar, Barney Southard on drums, Bud Gudmundson on base and Dean Jennings on saxophone and flute.

The band recently represented the Boise Blues Society at the 24th International Blues Challenge in Mephis, Tenn.

The Hoochie Coochie Men feature three distinct singer/songwriters and a large variety of music influences including Chicago Blues, New Orleans Funk, Swing, Jump Blues, Memphis Soul, Texas Blues and Rock. Three-part vocal harmonies are an identifying feature and often emulate a horn section. "All songs are high energy," sponsores of the event said.

The 2008 Summer Concert Series is provided in part due to the sponsorship of the Hiddleston Drilling and Pumping, McDonald's, Pioneer Federal Credit Union, Footnotes Bookstore, Los Pinos Mexican Restaurant, Johnson Brothers Hospitality and other local sponsors.

The Summer Concert series will continue with the Lara Price Band on Aug. 14 and conclude with B-3 Sides on Aug. 21.