The 35-year-old Southern rock band known as America's "guitar army" is coming Saturday to the Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse, in Burgettstown, where lead guitarist and vocalist Hughie Thomasson hopes to rock patrons into a frenzy with the band's "chicken pickin''' style of playing. "We go out with the intention of taking everyone out with the guitars so that they have so much fun, they forget where they are," says Thomasson, of Brooksville, Fla. "You're going to get a Southern rock fill." Members of the Outlaws, who first banded together in 1972 in Tampa, Fla., have maintained their popularity during the past decade mostly through constant touring and releasing several greatest-hits collections and re-mastered albums. Their last studio album, "Hurry Sundown," came out in 1995, yet Outlaws fans have packed venues across the country to see the band play live. "When you're not making records and getting airplay, people tend to forget about you; that's just the way it is, " Thomasson says. He says that giving great live shows has prevented Outlaws fans from forgetting the band. "Our fans are very loyal and we love you dearly," he says. This year, however, members of the Outlaws plan to finish recording a new album they started about a year ago, but put on the shelf because of other activities. The album's working title is "Full Circle" and should come out soon this year, Thomasson says. This year, the Outlaws also will be joining The Charlie Daniels Band and The Marshall Tucker Band for Daniels' Volunteer Jam Tour, which kicks off April 28 in Valdosta, Ga. No date is scheduled yet in the Pittsburgh area, but Thomasson says the "all-star Southern rock" tour will be "coming to a shed near you." The bands have performed together many times, and it's fun for each to have its own individual stage time, plus spontaneous "jam" times together onstage, Thomasson says. The three bands embody the genre of Southern rock, he says, although they sometimes cross over into other genres -- particularly Daniels, who is known for everything from country to Southern rock to bluegrass. Southern rock, also called country rock, mixed elements of rock, country and blues. "Country music nowadays is doing what we were doing in '75," Thomasson says. "I've always said to everyone, it doesn't matter to me how you label us. As long as you enjoy the music, that's all that matters." Additional Information:

Outlaws

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday Admission: $55-$75 Where: Pepsi-Cola Roadhouse , Routes 18 and 22, Burgettstown Details: 412-323-1919

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---