When I first heard a few Six Gun Sally songs, I knew immediately that this band was meant to be heard live.

The members, who have various musical pursuits of their own, remind me of a supergroup bringing the best of what they do together to make the rowdy, eclectic southern rock band Six Gun Sally.

Produced by Jeff "Ford" Thurston alongside Dave Barbe (Six Gun Sally band leader and drummer), Seth Cook, and Matt Muckle, the musical collection boasts seven Six Gun Sally originals and four fan-favorite cover tunes. Spotlighting the prowess of Aimee Jane Williams on lead vocals backed by the extraordinary collaborative talents and musicianship of seasoned musicians and band members Allen Granus (lead guitar), Jeff Yeckel (lead and rhythm guitar), Dan Rach (keys), Stan Brusoski (bass), Billy G (percussion/drums) and Dave Barbe on drums, Stand Up makes you feel like you are in the room while listening.

Performing at festivals, arenas, amphitheaters, and biker rallies across the country, Six Gun Sally has shared the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, the Marshall Tucker Band, and Blackfoot.

Bandleader Dave Barbe and Dan Rach have been friends since high school, and having a band good enough to open for Skynyrd was always their dream. After running a successful business for years, he has reached an age where he wants to pursue his music career full-time.

For this interview, I interviewed vocalist Aimee Jane Williams, who stepped up in 2024 to bring an extra dimension to the already successful band.

"They needed a new 'Sally,'" she jested. She takes her job very seriously as she fills the role perfectly.

"I dress the part, like the hot pants, the heels, the Sally hat, and the outlaw look, because I looked at their logo and thought, 'All right. I'm going to kind of mimic that.'"

Stand Up consists of seven original songs and four covers, with some leaning more rock 'n roll while others lean more outlaw country.

The title track is a hopeful song about making a new start. Williams bellows, "Gonna Stand up, put my feet back on the ground." It's a perfect opener that fans can enthusiastically support.

Allen Granus takes over on lead vocals with the rowdy song "My Redneck of The Woods." Williams stated, "He has that Molly Hatchet sound in his voice. We have completely different voices, but it somehow works when we're up there.

"Backwards" was released to the public in 2024 and has been one of their most popular songs. When Williams sings, "We're a little bit backwards, you know we got a story to tell," you believe her. Many people can relate to the words, "We praise Jesus but still raise hell."

Six Gun Sally's cover of "Boys of Summer" may be the most interesting song on the album. It is brave to cover such an iconic song, but sung from the female perspective, I'll admit I was shocked at how good it was. It just works.

I love the driving drum beat of "Fast Train." It's as good a Southern rock song as any I've heard. You want to learn all the words so you can sing along to "I, I, I want to get on the fast train, take me on back, take me on back if you're heading my way." It is their biggest single to date.

Granus retakes the lead to bring his outlaw country version of Eddie Rabbit's "Driving My Life Away" while Williams' vocals shine on the young love anthem "Let's Take a Ride."

The Six Gun Sally song that sounds the most like Lynyrd Skynyrd is "Redneck White and Badass Blue." With Granus bellowing the words Got a ragin' fire burnin' in my soul/I'm a Freebird you can't control/ so let's take a toke, sing a song about a home sweet home/ I love my country, and that's the truth, redneck white and badass blue, you know you are hearing pure raw talent as the band builds this southern rock shredder.

Williams co-wrote "Don't Be Done," and she was thrilled when they included it on the album. Recently married, she soon realized that "years of baggage from old relationships can't be brought into the new one when you got something special." As in, "Don't scare this one away."

Six Gun Sally brings a full brass intro when covering the iconic song "Ophelia." They give The Band's Levon Helm a run for his money on this version.

The final song on Stand Up is a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Second Hand News," a song I was unfamiliar with. Williams explained, "It's about breakup sex. It's hilarious. But it's just got such a groove to it."

Six Gun Sally's Stand Up will appeal to audiences seeking classic rock, Southern rock, and rockin' country music.

After listening to this versatile record, I knew that Six Gun Sally was a band you must put on your bucket list to see live. They will team up with the Artimus Pyle Band in several locations, including a stint in McMinnville, Tennessee, near Nashville.  

You can follow Six Gun Sally on their website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and all streaming services.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.

STAND UP TRACK LISTING

1) Stand Up* (3:22)

     (Jeff  Thurston/Jim Luther/Dave Barbe)

2) My Redneck Of The Woods* (2:50)

     (Ford Thurston/Dave Barbe)

3) Backwards (2:57)

     (Jeff Thurston/Natalie Brady/Seth Cook/Dave Barbe)

     Produced by Jeff Thurston/Seth Cook

4) Boys Of Summer*  (3:39)

     (Don Henley/Mike Campbell)

5) Fast Train* (4:40)

     (Jeff Thurston/Natalie Brady/Dave Barbe)

6) Drivin’ My Life Away* (2:45)

     (Eddie Rabbit/Even Stevens/David Malloy)

7) Let's Take A Ride* (3:07)

     (Jeff Thurston/Chase Bryant/Adam Box/Dave Barbe)

8) Redneck White & Badass Blue (3:01)

     (Jeff Thurston/Anthony Smith/Dave Barbe)

     Produced by Jeff Thurston/Matt Muckle/Dave Barbe

9) Don’t Be Done* (2:49)

     (Aimee Jane Williams/Ford Thurston)

10) Ophelia* (3:09)

       (Robbie Robertson)

11) Second Hand News* (3:06)

       (Lindsey Buckingham)

*Produced by Jeff “Ford” Thurston/Dave Barbe