Texas Music Journal » Venues

Internet Radio in San Antonio to Feature Texas Music Program

Sam Moore — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:24:45 +0000

Editor’s Note: We received the following notice from OpenPR.com.

RadioSanAntonio.com has joined forces with noted performer, producer, and promoter Nikki Young to launch a new program with a special live event.

The Digital Open Mic Night Show, a showcase for Texas music, will premiere in its regular time slot from 6-8pm on Sunday, January 8, with a live broadcast from Sam Ash Music Store in San Antonio. Hosted by Young, the series will feature music by local artists and combine news, reviews, interviews, as well as updates on area concerts and plenty of in-studio performances from area artists of all genres. The premiere event will also feature tons of giveaways, complimentary munchies, and live performances from SA favorites The Tim & Bob Show, Laura Marie, and The Krayolas.

Nikki Young

For Jay Tope, Program Director at RadioSanAntonio.com, Young – a fixture in San Antonio radio, with frequent guest appearances on KONO and KTSA – is a natural fit for the growing Internet radio station. “Besides having a natural presence on radio,” he explains, “Nikki has a presence in the arts scene here in San Antonio. And as a promoter, she understands how the Internet and social networking are transforming the way musicians and listeners connect with each other. So we’re very excited that she’ll be bringing her energy and expertise to RadioSanAntonio.com.”

“Texas has long been a center for musical invention,” Young (a former board member and event coordinator for the Texas Music Coalition) says. “From pop to punk, from country to conjunto, every genre of music has been touched by artists and innovators from this state. This show will be an opportunity to introduce listeners to some of those innovators, to music that has been relatively untapped by broadcast radio. And given that more and more of us are discovering music through the click of a mouse, RadioSanAntonio.com is a perfect fit for the show. I’m thrilled to be working with Jay on this new venture.”

In support of the new show, Sam Ash General Manager Jon Johansen has announced that the store will extend its closing time to 8pm on January 8. “We’re proud to support Nikki and RadioSanAntonio.com in their new show,” he says, “and we encourage everyone to come to the store that evening to support them and the local music scene.”

Musicians interested in having their music featured on upcoming shows can either drop off CDs at the event, email mp3 files to nikki@radiosanantonio.com, or snail mail materials to:

Digital Open Mic Night
c/o Nikki Young
6338 N. New Braunfels #328
San Antonio, TX 78209

Please be sure to include contact info on any and all non-returnable submissions!

Launched in 2011, RadioSanAntonio.com is an internet radio station dedicated to providing audiences with a positive listening experience. Its programming includes music from yesterday and today, morning and evening shows, and live broadcasts from area venues across San Antonio. For information about the station and to listen live, please visit www.radiosanantonio.com.

A native of San Antonio, Nikki Young is one of Texas’ most familiar names in arts and business. As an actress, she has been featured in over 20 films, nearly 50 plays, and numerous print and television campaigns; as a producer, she has developed projects for stage and screen; as a promoter and supporter of the arts and entertainment, she has worked with organizations including the Texas Music Coalition (TMC) and American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), to name a few. Young has been recognized in newspapers and magazines, on websites, on radio, and on television for her work as a community partner. For more information on Young and her work, please visit nikkiyoung.biz.

Copyright © TexasMusicJournal.com, All Rights Reserved.
This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. The commercial use of this feed without the express written permission of TexasMusicJournal.com is prohibited. If you are not viewing this content in your news reader, the web page you are viewing may be infringing on this copyright. Please contact TexasMusicJournal.com to request license rights or to report a suspected violation of this copyright. (Digital Fingerprint: 99fbb508a0ef45a3f8979540b294ba14 (38.107.179.233) )

The Band Perry Showcases Texas Fans Tonight on National Television

Sam Moore — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:14:04 +0000

By Sam Moore

The Band Perry, who were taped during a performance last week at Gilley’s Dallas, will be the featured musical guests tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The special appearance is part of the summer-long Samsung AT&T Summer Krush 2011 concert series. Taking place in nine cities from mid-July thru mid-September, the series is an exclusive music tour featuring nine well-known musical acts each performing free one-night only music events – open to the public, but with private, limited access. Portions of select performances will air exclusively on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

Two songs from the show last week will be shown tonight. “If I Die Young” is the song that pushed the band of two brothers and one sister to number one on the charts. They garnered a Grammy nomination and were named New Artist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. They also played their newest hit, “You Lie,” which has climbed to number-five on the country charts. They are currently touring with Tim McGraw, and will team up later this year with Keith Urban, then Reba McEntire.

During last week’s performance, lead singer Kimberly Perry let the audience know how important they were.

“You guys are the most important part of tonight,” she said. “We’re just here to back you up!”

Often, that is just what happened, as the crowd sang along to song after song. And as for what it is like for a Tennessee group to play on a stage synonymous with Texas, Kimberly left no doubt as to their feelings.

“I think every act that is not from Texas feels jealous when they perform here. Because when they play in front of people like you, they wish this was their home!”
Samsung AT&T used the opportunity to showcase its new Samsung Infuse 4G phone. Media members were given phones for the evening to use as cameras. The photos in this article are from the photos Texas Music Reporter took from the crowd.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” appears on ABC tonight. Check local listings for air time. For more information on The Band Perry, visit www.thebandperry.com.

Levitt Planning for Cool Weather Music

Sam Moore — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:37:03 +0000

Carolyn Wonderland

Texas may be going through the pains of a summer drought. But the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington is already hard at work, preparing for its upcoming “cool weather” music.

The Levitt’s free 2011 Texas Power Fall Concert Series begins on Labor Day weekend and runs through Oct. 1 with free music on Thursday through Sunday evenings. This venue is one of the best in north Texas for fun, free, top quality live music.

The Levitt Pavilion continues its fall tradition of having the crowd-pleasing mosh-pit polka music of Brave Combo start the fall series on Sept. 1. Labor Day weekend continues with rockin’ “pianimal,” Jason D. Williams, who channels Jerry Lee Lewis on Sept. 2. Arlington’s favorite country-singing mom, Melissa Lawson, returns to the stage on Sept. 3, and the holiday weekend concludes with blues from a down-home diva, Ruthie Foster, on Sept. 4.

All of the fall concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. except for two concerts on Sept. 17, which are part of EcoFest, presented by Arlington Parks & Recreation. On that day, Velvet Love Box will perform at 6:30 p.m., and new age percussion masters, Spoonfed Tribe, will perform at 8 p.m.

The Fall Concert Series has something for everyone, including indie rock, lyrical songwriters, Latin pop, contemporary Christian, enchanting music from the Peruvian Andes, rebel funk, Grammy-winning jazz, persuasive percussion and country music with a distinctive Texas flair. Highlights include Carolyn Wonderland, a hot Texas artist with a touch of Janis Joplin and a slice of Stevie Ray Vaughn; alternative country married couple duo, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis; Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist Jeff Coffin, who plays with the Dave Matthews Band; and popular country nice guy, Deryl Dodd and his band, The Homesick Cowboys.

To make the most of their Levitt experience, participants should bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on, a picnic and cooler with beverages (no glass containers, please), bug spray, and family and friends to enjoy music under the stars. J. Gilligan’s will be back to grill burgers, veggie burgers, chicken and quesadillas. Kettle corn, ice cream and snow cones also return. And concert-lovers can document their evening with the Levitt’s photo kiosk. There is plenty of free parking in the lots all around the pavilion.

The 2011 Texas Power Fall Concert Series is generously supported by our Fall Season Sponsors: Texas Power, Titan Operating LLC, the Mortimer Levitt Foundation, Levitt Pavilions, the City of Arlington, Arlington Parks & Recreation, the Arlington Chamber Foundation, the Arlington Arts Alliance, the Star-Telegram, the Texas Commission on the Arts, FW Weekly and the Sheraton Arlington, the official hotel sponsor for the Levitt Pavilion.

For more information, visit www.levittpavilionarlington.org.

New Book Outlines 30 Years of Texas Honky Tonking

Sam Moore — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:26:32 +0000

Everything is bigger in Texas, as the saying goes. Now, a book is available that details the biggest old time music hall in the country.

Billy Bob’s Texas is billed as the world’s largest honky tonk. Now, the club’s history is detailed in “A Texas Legend,” an outline of the Fort Worth establishment’s 30 rocking years.

The book outlines the history, year by year. It tells the stories of the stars, the fans, and the shows. It goes on sale next week at Billy Bob’s gift store. It can also be purchased online at www.billybobstexas.com.

Also available is a 30th anniversary double CD, “30 Years – 30 Songs. The Best of the Live at Billy Bob’s Concert Series.”

New Texas Music Venue to Open in Historic San Marcos

Sam Moore — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:46:37 +0000

Texas Music Theater San Marcos, the new live music venue equipped with state-of-the-art sound, lighting and video components ready to handle intimate acoustic performances as well as large-scale special events and full-production national touring acts, will soon open on the town’s historical downtown square.

Built with musicians in mind, the goal of the three entrepreneurs who reclaimed the theater from its past is creation of the best live entertainment venue along the Interstate Highway 35 corridor, a “must play” for artists and a “must see” for audiences.

Selected to host the 2011 Lone Star Music Awards on March 27, the musical lineup for the evening includes headliner Hayes Carll, Lincoln Durham, Javi Garcia, The Trishas and Max Stalling. Advance general admission tickets are $5, available at www.FrontGateTickets.com. Tickets not sold through the Web site will be available at the door, also for $5.

Texas Music Theater, at 120 E. San Antonio St., will offer a rich variety of entertainers. In fact, any given night of the week, audiences can expect the best in live music performances in musical genres from Americana, Texas country and rock to indie rock, blues and Tejano-Salsa-Latin. The Theater will always be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Other scheduled performances include country rocker Cory Morrow on March 9 and Mr. Fest free music event with a big lineup of entertainers the weekend of April 28-29.

With high-end digital sound and lighting equipment; a stage of oak; space that can accommodate 1,000; VIP, reserved and balcony seating; and ample parking, Texas Music Theater will be the premier live music venue along IH-35. It is also available for private parties, corporate meetings, special events and rehearsals of national touring acts.

Performing artists will enjoy easy load-in and a first-class green room and will appreciate the staging and production equipment waiting for them, which includes Renkus Heinz line arrays and Shure Beta, AKG and Sennheiser microphones; and Panasonic PTFW300U projectors with VuTec 110-inch rear-projection screens. (Full Production Specifications package available upon request.)

“Once they’re onstage and performing, the musicians who play here won’t want to leave,” says Gray Gregson, one of the owners of Texas Music Theater, a lifelong musician and winner of a W.C. Handy Award for 2003 Blues Song of the Year. “We look forward to presenting the very best music to our friends, neighbors, Texans and the rest of the world.”

In its long history, the theater — a short walk from Texas State University, one of the largest and fastest-growing colleges in Texas — has had many uses: theater, movie house, restaurant and most recently, a bar/live music venue called Gordo’s. “The theater has proven itself to be a very popular place over the years,” says Scott Gregson, another owner and a local investor active in the redevelopment of downtown San Marcos. “We know musicians everywhere will appreciate what we’ve done to revitalize it, and we know that music lovers will, too.”

For more information, visit www.texasmusictheatersanmarcos.com or call 512.878.2459.

Public Art Promotes Love of Music

Sam Moore — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 21:57:43 +0000

When the Fall Concert Series at the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington ended in October, a new bronze sculpture was unveiled in Founders’ Plaza — a gift to the community that represents the intergenerational appeal of music and the legacy of passing a love of music from one generation to the next.

The sculpture was commissioned and donated by long-time Arlington residents, Debra Duncan and her husband, Randy Jordan. The couple are also donors to the Levitt Pavilion, and Duncan serves as board secretary on the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion Board of Directors.

The Gift was created by award-winning sculptor Seth Vandable from Cedar Hill and cast by Schaeffer Art Bronze in Arlington. The piece sits in a circular area created when Founders’ Plaza was built just to the left of the pavilion stage on the Abram Street side at the History Garden entrance on Abram and Center streets.
The Duncan family came to Arlington in the early 1920s, where J.C. Duncan served as Mobil Oil and Gas distributor for Tarrant County. His business office was on Abram Street directly across the street from Founders’ Plaza, where Arlington’s City Hall is today.

In 1951, J.C. and his sons, Maurice and Bob, took over Arlington Disposal and began the 45-year process of building it from two trucks serving 7,500 residents to the largest family-owned hauling company in the south. Duncan family members were charter members of Arlington’s service clubs, elders of churches and leaders in business and the community. The Duncans’ interest in music also was strong. Twins Jan Tucker Duncan and Ann Tucker Sanders sang their way to full college scholarships, then went on to teach in Arlington.
Randy Jordan arrived in Arlington in 1982 and created an award- winning choral program at James Martin High School, where he taught for 23 years, growing the choir to 400 students and winning 74 Sweepstakes Awards in University Interscholastic League competitions before he retired. As director of the Arlington Master Chorale, Mr. Jordan has grown the chorale from 38 members to 90 and taken his singers to perform in the ultimate music venue, New York’s Carnegie Hall.

When Randy Jordan met and married Debra Duncan, the two families’ love of singing and music was shared with many more families in our community. For both, sharing their love of music with the next generation has been second nature. Together, they have two altos, a tenor and a baritone, and seven grandsons, voices to be determined.
The Duncans and the Jordans believe in community and sharing the magic of music, and their belief is the concept for The Gift sculpture in Founders’ Plaza. The gift of music is a gift that’s meant to be shared with each other, with the community and from generation to generation.

Fort Worth Losing a Listening Room

Sam Moore — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:41:31 +0000

(Editor’s Note: The following is courtesy of galleywinter.com.)

After nearly 9 years of exceptional listening room moments and memories, Miss Joni and the gang are closing the door on Clubhouse Concerts in Fort Worth. What started one night in 2002 in an apartment complex pool clubhouse with Max Stalling has blossomed into one of the premiere listening experiences in the south!

Through venue changes and shifts in the Red Dirt scene, Joni always provided a top notch venue though which songwriters were able to bare their souls to receptive audiences. By following 3 main rules: sit down, shut up and listen; the Clubhouse was able to attract a very talented and diverse roster of guests. The Clubhouse atsmosphere fostered and helped grow the careers of Ryan Bingham, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, and Stoney LaRue among many others.

There a couple of final shows and then a big blowout featuring MANY of the great names to have graced the Clubhouse stage over the years will take place on Sunday December 12th at Keys Lounge in Fort Worth. Tickets are $30 and go on sale November 1st. For more information, go to www.clubhouseconcerts.com.

Cactus Cafe Gets Support from State

Sam Moore — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:06:34 +0000

(Editor’s Note: TMJ has covered the controversial announcement by the University of Texas that it plans to close the Cactus Cafe later this year. The following story appears courtesy of KXAN-TV, Austin.)

The Governor’s Texas Music Office and the Center for Texas Music History both sent letters to the University of Texas in support of keeping the Cactus Cafe open.

The letter from the Texas Music Office asks UT President Bill Powers to keep the music venue open. Additionally it suggests that the university consider a compromise if it plans for students to run the venue.

Friends of the Cactus Cafe, a student organization, learned about the letter on Monday. The letter was dated March 10.

Enlisting students to run the venue was one of three plans proposed in early April by the University.
Casey Monahan, Director of the Texas Music Office, suggests that current management handle programming Thursday-Saturday and students oversee programming Sunday-Wednesday.

The Center for Texas Music History, a department at Texas State University dedicated to the history of Texas music, sent a letter April 27 to the Texas Union Board of Directors urging them to keep Cactus Cafe as a live music venue. The letter suggests that the venue is historically significant.

The university announced in January a plan to close the venue as part of a university-wide cost-cutting measure.

TMJ Looking for Austin Recommendations

Sam Moore — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:31:43 +0000

Attention, all Texas Music Journal followers, especially those in Austin. TMJ will spend this Friday night on 6th Street in Austin. If you have any suggestions or recommendations on clubs or bands we should visit, please respond and let us know. We will have an article on our Friday night experience in next week’s edition.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Sam Moore

Special Branding for Texas Music Dance Hall

Sam Moore — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:24:50 +0000

A week before the grand reopening of the newly and extensively renovated Albert Dance Hall, the Texas-born Easley family, which purchased the historical Hill Country hamlet last fall, has invited locals to bring their branding irons to a party to make their marks on the new bar in the 88-year-old structure.

Doors open at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 1, to those who want to burn their brand into the bar in the Dance Hall, which has been sided with unfinished cedar and updated with sound, lights and more and its original pine floor refinished in the months since the Easleys purchased the 13-acre town one hour’s drive west of Austin. Dances, concerts, weddings, community events and parties will bring new life to the grand old hall.

Entry Saturday night is free for branders, who are invited to stay for a 7:30 p.m. show by Texas-country music artist Bill Rice. For others, admission is $5.

The following week, on Friday, May 7, the Easleys will host the Albert Dance Hall Grand Opening Concert featuring Abilene-based country music artist Aaron Watson, who just released his eighth album, ANGELS & OUTLAW.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 through Front Gate Tickets: www.frontgatetickets.com; tickets will also be available ay the door.

The Easley family, led by Ed and Connie Easley and their son Brandon (elected as Town Manager), bought Albert as a fun family project, to rejuvenate its tradition of Texas hospitality for locals and Hill Country travelers, to renovate the property as a must-see destination and venue for reunions, rallies, corporate retreats and the like, and to care for and share the beauty of its pecan trees and ancient live oaks, stands of Texas wildflowers, and ever-flowing Williams Creek.

Already a popular gathering spot, Albert Ice House is enjoying extended spring/summer hours, lots of live music and barbecue by Riley’s BBQ of Blanco. The bar area has been expanded and Texas Star bar stools added. Outside, the patio/beer garden deck and its picnic tables, shaded by two massive 500-year-old live oaks, have been repaired and refinished; a stone fire pit built; the parking lot expanded and Iron Horse Corral (for bikers’ rides) added; and the bathrooms glammed up.

Albert, founded in 1892 20 miles east of Fredericksburg, had a general store, a school that a young LBJ would attend and a post office. Despite efforts by descendants of the first residents, it had lost most of its population and a series of owner-caretakers and the school had been converted into the community center by the time the Easley family took the reins in fall 2009.

The Dance Hall’s grand reopening points to a future the Easleys envision, in their words, “a special place where friends and family gather and experience the simple pleasures and traditions that make the Texas Hill Country special.”

For more information, visit www.alberttexas.com.

Rodeos Become Big Texas Music Draw

Sam Moore — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:16:38 +0000

(Editor’s Note: The following story is courtesy of cmt.com. It is always nice to see a tip of the hat to Texas music. Note the reference to two several Texas music acts – the Eli Young Band and Lee Ann Womack.)

You can’t have a career in country music without playing a few rodeos along the way. That’s especially in true in Texas, where live music and bull riding are inseparable.

Gary Allan compares the rodeo concert experience to a street fair because the whole family comes the show.

“There are so many people, it’s like stepping into a different world,” he says. “I just played Cowboys Stadium (in Dallas) for the PBR. I’m always shocked by how big the sport is. You probably play to 50,000 to 60,000 people. And I’m doing the Houston Livestock Show [on March 17], which is probably another 65,000 people. I’m telling you, it’s like a time warp when you go into these places. They’re real cowboys, hard core.”

After the roping and riding, the performers often ride in a pickup truck toward the middle of the track to a small rotating stage, which is nearly engulfed by the gigantic venue.

“You definitely feel like you’re playing to cameras and lights because you’re 50 or 60 yards from everybody,” Allan says. “It’s a very strange deal. At the Cowboys Stadium, they put up ramps so we could get to the audience, but still, the scale of it is so big.”

Blake Shelton

When Blake Shelton played the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in February, he decided to skip the pickup truck and just stroll to the stage.

“There’s something about just walking in there,” he says. “You feel like a professional wrestler walking across that dirt. People are shouting, and you can wave and raise hell that way, versus hopping in the truck and driving a hundred feet. It seems way more fun to me. It was more of an ego trip than anything.”

He calls the San Antonio event “one of the last true rodeos, as far as the entertainment goes.” Noting that rodeos usually have two shows with two different artists each day, Shelton says, “They put them in the round out there and the stage turns in the middle so that everyone can see you. It’s a true Texas experience. It’s probably not anything like what you’d expect. It’s just … Texas. If you haven’t been to the Houston rodeo or the San Antonio rodeo or even the Austin rodeo, in my opinion, those are three of the five last good rodeos to go to.”

Alan Jackson says he “grew up riding things that had motors,” yet he’s a perennial favorite on the circuit. He kicked off this year’s entertainment lineup at RodeoHouston on March 2. Over three weeks, the roster offers Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban, as well as several rock and pop acts.

“I’ve played that Houston rodeo just about every year that I’ve qualified to play it,” Jackson says. “That’s a big show, a lot of fun. That used to be at the Astrodome — that’s the worst sound you’ll ever have — but now it’s at the new place [Reliant Stadium], which is a little better. There are 40,000 or 50,000 people in there, and you’re out there in the middle of the dirt, going around in a circle.”

Asked about the appeal of rodeos, Jackson says, “I think it’s like NASCAR. They want to see them crash. I think the favorite rodeo thing is the chuck wagon race, when they race those wagons around. They’re crazy, man, those things come apart and people get hurt. They’re wild. That’s a tough job, being with those bulls and horses. You’ve got to be tough to do that. They deserve a lot of respect.”

Lee Ann Womack, who grew up in Jacksonville, Texas, sang at the Houston event four times between 2001 and 2006.

“They have a full staff all year round, so these people work on that constantly, and they have the best entertainment in the world,” she says. “I’ve always had a great time playing the Houston rodeo.”

Asked about her perspective from the stage, she replies, “It’s a huge, huge building. You’re way far away from the crowd but the energy is wonderful. The dressings are set up with cowhide everywhere. … A lot of times in venues, you could be in any city because they all look the same. So when you go play the Houston rodeo, it’s … Houston. It’s Texas — from the catering and the dressing rooms, all the way to the show.”

The Eli Young Band were the last act on the San Antonio rodeo calendar last month. Coincidentally, they’re also booked to open the Austin rodeo on Saturday (March 13). But the real eye-opener will come from their first-ever headlining performance at RodeoHouston on March 19. Although they’ve only recently had a few country hits on the national chart (“When It Rains,” “Always the Love Songs”), the ensemble has gradually emerged as one of the most popular live bands in Texas.

“When I was a kid, I lived in the Houston area and those were my first concert experiences,” says Mike Eli. “I saw the Judds and George Strait there. The fact that we have our own headlining show on a Saturday night at the Houston rodeo … we have those few moments, like playing The Tonight Show, playing the Grand Ole Opry for the first time and headlining the Houston rodeo. These are pivotal moments that we will never forget. People ask about those moments: ‘When did you know you made it?’ I don’t know if you ever feel that way necessarily, but if I was to take any moments, those would be the three.”

New Owners Bring Texas Music to Life for Hill Country Town

Sam Moore — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:46:55 +0000

West of Austin in the Texas Hill Country, new life is being breathed into the historical town of Albert by three generations of a spirited Texas family with a big love for the Lone Star State that has purchased the 13 acres of pecan trees, stands of wildflowers, and working watering hole and due-to-reopen dance hall.

The Albert Ice House and the 85-year-old Albert Dance Hall, which is undergoing extensive renovation for a spring reopening, are the focus of this fun family project undertaken by Ed and Connie Easley, married 30 years, and their four children and three grandchildren. Their aim: make the town a must-see stop for Hill Country sightseers; a venue for reunions, rallies and the like; and a setting for Texas-style weddings among the flowers and the trees.

“My son Brandon and I had been talking about Albert for almost two years before we purchased the town,” says Ed Easley. “My wife, Connie, and I thought Albert presented a unique opportunity for the Easley family to work together on a project that would inspire us to create a special place where friends and family could gather and experience the simple pleasures and traditions that make the Texas Hill Country special. We hope the experience will bring our family closer together.”

Albert, founded in 1892 20 miles east of Fredericksburg, had a general store, a school that a young LBJ would attend and a post office. Despite descendants’ trying, it had lost most of its population and a series of owner-caretakers and the school had been converted into the community center by the time the Easley family took the reins in fall 2009.

The Ice House, already a well-loved hang-out for locals and a cool discovery by travelers, with its weekend live music and ancient live oak tress out front, will soon have a full-service mobile kitchen offering barbecue and more — under the supervision of the Easleys; children Brian Blumn and Brandon and twins Nick and Nicole Easley; and grandchildren Maverick, Colton and Brady.

Ed, Connie, Brian, Brandon, Nick and Nicole became the Albert Town Council, and its first official act was to unanimously elect Brandon the Town Manager. With a new lease on life, Albert faces the coming Texas spring a hive of activity.

For more information, visit www.alberttexas.com.

Terri Hendrix Speaks Out in Support of the Cactus Cafe

Sam Moore — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:11:40 +0000

All week, I have been reading comments of reaction to the news that the University of Texas plans to shut down the historic Cactus Café this fall. Apparently, no one is supporting the move. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, oppose it.

Will the uproar make a difference? The school is currently saying they will keep it open, under a somewhat different format – no bar, student singers, and so forth. Maybe more criticism will force the school to keep the Café going. That remains to be seen.

Perhaps the most vocal opponent to the move is Terri Hendrix, one of the best Texas music stars to perform there. Following are some of the comments Hendrix posted in her monthly newsletter:

“The Cactus Cafe is not just a bar. It is a landmark of Texas music and music, period. This is the “Ark” of Texas. This is the “Freight and Salvage” of Texas. This venue is one of the greats promoting our next generation of singers and writers from the Lone Star State by giving them a stage in which to perform and it’s a favorite place for lots of major non locals and out-of-state artists to play, too. Put it this way: In 2003, when Griff, who’s been the manager of the Cactus for almost the entire time it’s been open, added my poster to The Wall, I was so happy, I cried. And with only very few exceptions now and then, the Cactus Cafe is the only venue I still play in Austin.

“Judging from the public uproar since this news hit, I’m certainly not the only artist and music lover who knows how important and special the Cactus Cafe is. And even if you don’t live in or around Austin, if you’re a music lover, this affects you, too. Venues like the Cactus share the same root system. Artists like me need places like this in order to play for fans like you. Cut the throat of the venue, and you cut the lifeblood of every artist that plays there.

“I for one, am in this fight to the finish.”

Hendrix performs at the Cactus Café next Saturday, Feb. 13.

Music and Food Return to Cypress

Sam Moore — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:40:47 +0000

Pappy and the Blue Ridge Playboys

The Goode Company BBQ Friday Night Concert Series is back, every Friday at Goode Company BBQ on Highway 290 in Cypress, Texas.

This tradition began in 1979 when Goode Company encouraged customers to “come by, eat some Barbecue, drink a cold Lone Star and listen to Pappy play Texas.” Pappy and the Blue Ridge Playboys are a popular band Goode Company booked regularly during the earlier days of the Goode Company Friday Night Concert Series.

From the time Goode Company opened in 1977 until he died, Pappy played the fiddle Friday nights out on the Goode Company patio on Kirby Drive. He required $65 and a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey. Times were tough for Goode Company at that time so he never took the cash — but he always drank his bottle.

It’s Texas heroes like Pappy that Goode Company will celebrate. His spirit will inspire a new generation of Texas musicians to make memories in the tradition of a great man and a dear friend, Leon “Pappy” Selph.

Pappy Leon Selph is an integral part of Texas Country Music. He helped create the form and style of this genre through performing and composition. He also organized the band, Pappy and the Blue Ridge Playboys, one of the finest stage and recording bands to ever perform Country Music. Pappy and the Blue Ridge Playboys played Texas in every Dance Hall and Honky Tonk from Ft. Worth to Austin. They went on to play Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry for four years, not to mention Command Performances in Czechoslavakia, Holland, Mexico and Canada. They were also one of the first on early Texas radio and contributed much to Texas music by their broadcast.

Levitt Pavilion Planning Next Big Benefit

Sam Moore — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:04:29 +0000

Last year it was native son BJ Thomas supplying smash hits. This year, one of north Texas’ best outdoor music venues will raise money by singing “Joy to the World.”

The Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, a Texas music showcase, will hold their annual benefit concert on June 26. Special guests will be Three Dog Night.

Three Dog Night

Individual tickets for the concert only are $25. A special $150 VIP ticket is also available. This includes a pre-show dinner and special VIP concert seating. Ticket sales help raise funds that allow the Levitt to produce more than 50 free shows a year.

The benefit falls in with the Summer Concert Series, which begins May 28. Three Dog Night is the only show during the summer that requires a paid ticket.

Three Dog Night has been together for more than 40 years. They still maintain an aggressive touring schedule of 80-plus dates annually. Their well-loved hits are performed by founding members Cory Wells and Danny Hutton on lead vocals, along with original keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon and guitarist Michael Allsup. Paul Kingery (bass and vocals) and Pat Bautz (drums) complete the lineup.

For more information on the benefit, visit www.levittpavilionarlington.org.

Cactus Cafe Shutting Down in Austin

Sam Moore — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:49:46 +0000

If you go to the University of Texas website and look up Cactus Café, you will find a description of an incredible historical site in Texas music. What you won’t find on the site is the school’s decision to close the institution after 31 years of operation.

Joe Ely and Joel Guzman at the Cactus Cafe

Texas officials say they will shut down operation of the campus landmark in August. It is part of a process to save chase and use money more effectively for students enrolled in classes.

The Cactus Café opened in 1979. It has seen some of the top local, regional and national acts perform there. It helped start the careers of people such as Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith. Robert Earl Keen, Allison Krauss, the Dixie Chicks, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Townes Van Zandt, and Guy Clark are just some of the performers who have appeared there.

Billboard Magazine listed the Cactus as one of the 15 “solidly respected, savvy clubs” nationwide, “from which careers can be cut, that work with proven names and new faces.”

Beginning in August, they will have to look elsewhere.

Texas Stars Sell Out Oklahoma Venue

Sam Moore — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:20:03 +0000

Nashville, TN – Tickets to the upcoming show in Tulsa, OK for Artist of the Decade George Strait and Entertainment Superstar Reba with special guest Lee Ann Womack sold out in less than an hour on Saturday. This marks the first time in the history of the Bank of Oklahoma (BOK) Center that over 18,000 tickets have been sold for one event.

“The demand for this show is phenomenal,” states John Bolton, General Manager of the BOK Center. “It has been as high as all the shows we’ve had in the past and it’s the most number of tickets sold since the venue opened. “

Strait, Reba and Womack head to play to the thousands of fans in Tulsa on February 20. This marks Strait’s first appearance there in more than 13 years.

Holidays a Great Time to Entertain Audiences

Sam Moore — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:56:21 +0000

Consider this a shameless self promotion.

As I may have mentioned in earlier posts, I am a member of the Black Prairie Band. We are a group of “older” first time performers, who really enjoy performing a combination of original songs and popular covers. Saturday night, we had an opportunity to perform a Christmas show at the Heard Nature Museum in McKinney.

We have performed at the Heard many times during the past three years. In fact, they refer to us there as the “Heard house band.” When we played there in the past, it was for special events that were ongoing for six or eight hours during the daylight time. As a result, we would have quite a few people hear us, but never a big crowd at one time.

But last night was different. They moved their Christmas exhibit to nighttime – 6:30pm to 9:30pm, to be specific. They pre-sold 600 tickets, so we knew we would have a bigger audience than normal. But the crowd far exceeded our expectations. More than 1,000 people came for the three hours of holiday lights, crafts and entertainment. That meant that at any given time, we had at least 200 people enjoying our music.

The performance was not easy. We played in the outdoor ampitheater. The temperatures were in the 30s. And we found out that the group scheduled to follow us had decided to back out at the last minute. But we were able to extend our hour set to almost two hours. And the audience enjoyed every song.

The children danced along as we sang such classics as Jingle Bell Rock, Silver Bells and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. And they all sang along with Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. And it was very exciting to see them dance to a Black Prairie original, Prairie Christmas.

We took a break from the holiday songs to add in some of our cover play set, including Johnny Be Good (dedicated to the Saints fans), Swingtown, Long Train Running and Taking Care of Business. The parents on hand joined their children in dancing to these tunes.

After these songs, we returned to Christmas. Run Rudolph Run and Please Come Home for Christmas led into our final song, the Springsteen version of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. This was especially fun, as a young girl named Delilah joined us in the chorus. She was eating her candy cane and came to the stage to offer me a taste. I got her to sing, instead.

One of the most interesting moments came when a father made a request for Santa Baby. As our entire band is male, this is not a song we had ever practiced. So I did a little of it, using my best Bob Dylan impression.

I tell everyone this story not to make the shameless self promotion as mentioned in the lead. Rather, performers should look for opportunities when they can to perform in these special fundraisers. It not only helps the organizations, but also exposes you and your music to large numbers of people who may not otherwise ever hear you. In other words, this can be a win-win situation.

I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season.

BJ Thomas Gets Rare Home Gig

Sam Moore — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:56:19 +0000

Texas singing legend BJ Thomas won’t have to travel far for his Sunday appearance. The Arlington native will sing the national anthem before the Dallas Cowboys-Washington Redskins game at Cowboys Stadium.

Thomas travels around the world because of his immense popularity and incredible talent. He said recently that he has called Arlington home longer than any other place he has ever called home.

Kickoff for Sunday’s game is shortly after noon.

Austin Music Scene from a Connecticut Perspective

Sam Moore — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:53:35 +0000

(Editor’s note: The following article appeared in the University of Hartford Informer. TMJ has been given permission to reprint the article by its author, Harris Decker, a student there. You can follow Harris at http://twitter.com/truthaboutmusic. We thought you would be interested to see how Austin’s 6th Street is viewed from a Connecticut student perspective.)
Can all that music really be located on one street in the middle of Texas? Turns out it can. Sitting in the lobby the morning we are supposed to leave Texas, I’m somewhat overwhelmed. Just beyond the walls of our hotel is 6th Street, a place crawling with bars, restaurants, clubs and live music venues (sometimes all combined into one).

The amount of live music venues was astonishing. All pounded inside one single street that was about 10 Manhattan blocks long was venue after venue. What made it all the more interesting was that inside each one was a band.
These were not places that ever go quiet. On a relatively quiet, rainy night in Austin, each club had a band residing inside, playing music that ranged from country to jazz to classic rock covers.

For someone who has never explored much music outside the east coast, I am really enjoying the fact that music seems to surround everything here. Even in places like New York and Boston, you have to seek out concerts large and small as opposed to stumbling onto them.

Music fans really don’t know what they are missing. Being able to walk (or stumble at times) from venue to venue, bar to bar and listen to this amazing range of talent makes for the most interesting evenings. One of my favorites was Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar. Set up just like the name suggests, Pete’s offers two piano players alternating songs all while comedically entertaining the crowd and taking requests.

This makes for an enjoyable atmosphere that I’ve never found inside an east coast venue.
Aside from music, I am completely in love with Austin’s food. Especially good was its Tex-Mex eateries, including Iron Cactus. Aside from making fresh table side guacamole, their selection of authentic Mexican dishes is to die for. Personally, my favorite were the fajitas. While here, I had hoped to check out a concert at Emo’s, which is the local rock venue (for larger acts). Ben Kweller was performing but, with zero energy left in my body, it was a tough task. Two nights later, Owl City performed in front of a sold out audience. Although we were unable to make it inside, we did hear the tail end of the smash hit “Fireflies” as we walked by.

It became clear to me that Austin was not a place I could live in, but certainly a place I would visit again. If the food didn’t bring me back, then the music and atmosphere certainly would.

Star Wars Brings Better Sound to Stadium

Sam Moore — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:09:07 +0000

Officials with the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington have had no trouble drawing crowds to the facility for both sports and musical events. But the sound at concerts has often left fans leaving disappointed.

But Friday night’s performance of the Star Wars experience proves that good, quality sound can be produced within the confines of what is often called “Jerryworld,” for Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys.

Star Wars: In Concert is a touring multi-media performance complete with music from all six of John Williams’ Star Wars scores. It is narrated live by Anthony Daniels, the man who portrayed C3PO in every movie. It features a full symphony orchestra and choir. It is accompanied by specially edited clips from the movies.

Friday night’s experience was incredible. Star Wars fans – many of them costumed – arrived to see special exhibits from George Lucas’ personal collection of movie memorabilia. As the lights dimmed, hundreds of light sabers glowed throughout the stadium.

The musicians were incredibly accurate, both in their technical execution and their timing to the video. The giant video board hanging over the fans was the ideal spot to see the multimedia display. Yoda never looked so real. The villains never looked so menacing. And Luke Skywalker never looked so heroic.

In past concerts at Cowboys Stadium, many people complained about the poor sound. TMJ wrote about it after the George Strait concert. Many people were heard complaing on local radio shows following the U2 concert. But whether changes have been made, or possibly a symphony orchestra suits the site better, Friday night’s sound was fantastic.

On at least one night, for the people responsible at Cowboys Stadium for putting on a good show, the force was with them.

Africa Coming to Arlington Stage

Sam Moore — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:06:40 +0000

The Levitt Pavilion stage in Arlington will be transformed into a traditional African village celebration, or djo-gbe, to kick off the third weekend of free concerts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8.

Pronounced JOE-bay, djo-gbe — A Night in Africa, will include traditional African instruments, costumes and dancers. Lazare Houetin and his dynamic master dancers and musicians have the distinction of traveling the farthest to perform on the Levitt stage, coming all the way from Africa to present a colorful, centuries-old celebration that symbolically welcomes the child in all of us. The performance will include involving the audience in an evening of free-spirited dancing and singing.

The Levitt Pavilion’s 2009 Fall Concert Series runs through October 25. Concerts are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with Children’s shows at 2 p.m. on Saturday. All Levitt Pavilion concerts are free and family friendly. Guests are seated on an open lawn and are welcome to bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnics and coolers to enjoy the outdoor concerts.

A complete Fall season concert calendar is available on the Levitt Pavilion Arlington’s Web site, www.levittpavilionarlington.org. The Levitt Pavilion is located in Founders Plaza at the intersection of Abram and Center streets, directly across the street from City Hall. Free parking is available all around Founders Plaza.

San Antonio Prepares for Indie Bash

Sam Moore — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:05:40 +0000

What do you get when you combine Texas music with Lone Star beer? The Indie Bash!

The grounds of the former Lone Star Brewery in San Antonio will play host to the big concert, featuring independent Texas musicians from across the state. It will take place October 24.

Fans can win free tickets by visiting www.lonestarbeer.com. Some of the talent scheduled to perform include Austin’s Ben Kweller, San Antonio’s Charlie Robison and Dallas’ Jonathan Tyler. A total of ten acts will perform on two stages, beginning at 1pm.

“We’re excited to return to the place where it all began for the National Beer of Texas,” said Brad Hittle, marketing director for Pabst Brewing Company. “We hope our fans will not only enjoy listening to some great musical acts, but they’ll also take a few moments to see how we’ve worked to preserve this historic landmark.”

Proceeds from the product sales – including Lone Star beer, of course – will go to the Texas Music Project, a non-profit effort which works in conjunction with the Texas music industry and various state and arts organizations, to help strengthen music education in Texas schools.

The old Lone Star Brewery was shut down in 1996. It is now being restored as a combined residential, commercial, hotel and retail center. For more information on the concert, visit www.lonestarbeer.com.

Plano To Get Rhythm

Cyndy Moore — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:05:01 +0000

Plano’s Concerts in the Park series will head musically south of the Mason/Dixon line when the Atlanta Rhythm Section hits town on Saturday, October 3 at 7:30p.m.

This music series is being presented in Plano’s Amphitheater at Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway. Tickets are available at http://planostages.tix.com.

Along with their contemporaries, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Atlanta Rhythm Section were considered legitimate successors to the Allman Brothers as kings of regional rock in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Skillful musicianship and strong
songwriting has always been great strengths of this band.

With 1978’s “Champagne Jam,” the band reached its commercial zenith. Top 20 hits over the years have included “So Into You,” “Imaginary Lover,” “Outside Woman Blues,” “Spooky,” “Homesick” and “I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me,” among others. To sample their music, visit www.myspace.com/arsatlantarhythmsection.

Everything about the Concerts in the Park is designed to be smooth and easy. The public is welcome to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets to enjoy the show in comfort. Picnic baskets and coolers are allowed, as well. Alcohol consumption is permitted by those 21 years of age and up. Parking is free. No pets, please – only service animals are allowed.

Admission to “Southern Rock Night” is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (60 years and up), and $8 for children 12 and younger. Kids age three and younger are admitted free.

Mudcat Prepares to Go Global

Sam Moore — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:58:15 +0000

One thing the Internet can do is to make people instant worldwide celebrities. Texas music veteran Michael “the Mudcat” Reames gets his chance for global notoriety, beginning Thursday night.

Reames will appear with his good friends Wayne, Chad and Matt as “Gator, Mudcat and All Dat” Thursday at 7:30pm on the Lesley Taylor Hare Show. In Dallas, it can bee seen on Digital Channel 34.1. More importantly, it can be seen on the Internet at http://www.acess34.tv/.

The program is part of one of the biggest developments in communication: the internet television station. While it is not yet competing with commercial television, it is a step in that direction. And it opens the spectrum of visibility to unheard of proportions for musicians and their works.

TMJ had the opportunity to attend the taping of the show yesterday afternoon. Between interviews with a mobile bartender and a man who specializes in salt-free snacks, Reames and the boys entertained with a couple of their Southern blues tunes. They also played some instrumental in and out of commercial breaks. Altogether, they earned about eight minutes of air play, plenty of time for the world to catch their act.

Reames said he is very pleased to have the opportunity to perform for this new, more mobile audience. He said times have really changed from the days when he played with his band in the ’70s in Dallas’ Deep Ellum music district.

“It was really different,” he said. “But we had a great time. And we appreciated the opportunity to promote our CD’s, as well.”