Case Hardin: Young Blood Plays Old Country Music

Traditional Country lovers rejoiced as Case Hardin and the Blue Star Band played the VFW Friday night in San Angelo. The recent Central graduate has been making waves playing the local scenes, and even took a shot at American Idol.

“I made it to the fifth or six round,” Hardin explained. “It was a lot of fun, it was really different.”

According to Hardin, the episode that featured him aired on Jan. 16, and he felt that he learned much and gained valuable experience from his Idol debut in Austin.

“Definitely pay your dues, but that’s the fun part--I like playing bars,” said Hardin. “They told [me] to ‘keep doing what you like,’ and I don’t know if I’m good at anything  else so why not keep doing it.”

Case Hardin and the Blue Star Band formed in March of 2013 and started playing gigs in San Angelo. They mostly play covers of traditional country music legends like George Strait, Merle Haggard, Brooks and Dunn and a few others. In other words, music to which anyone can dance.

Because of the blend of young blood and older music, the VFW thought Hardin and his band would be a perfect match.

“We had a benefit a few weeks back and he was one of the bands that were playing. We had never heard of him and when he went on stage we were like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” said Wayne McShan, Commander of the VFW. “This has been even more successful than I thought it would be.”

By 8:30 p.m. enough people were at the VFW to pay the band, something that rarely happens according to McShan.

“They asked me to play, and I said ‘sure’,” shrugged Hardin. “Stagecoach closed so I had a few spots open so I decided to check it out.”

The crowd attending the concert were of a very wide age variety, from a couple in their '70s boot scootin’ to Merle Haggard, to a portion of Hardin’s newly graduated fanbase.

Hardin attributes the range to the love of good music: “In my eyes you can’t go wrong with traditional country music,” he said.

Both McShan and Hardin believe the VFW is a good fit and that there will be more gigs there in the future.

As of right now, Hardin is attending Angelo State University to get a degree in Political Science with an Agri-Business minor. Come rodeo time he will play the outside pavilion. Check out his Facebook for updates on gigs.