Texas Music Journal » Concert Reviews

Guitarists Find Sanctuary in McKinney

John South — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:23:35 +0000

Retail stores open every day; many never catch your eye. However, a store opened this past weekend in McKinney, Texas which sets a new bar for servicing guitarists and musicians. It’s called The Guitar Sanctuary, with Quinten Hope, Caron Hope, Maylee Thomas and George Fuller (Geo) as founders. What’s interesting about this store is that its name has multiple meanings that might not be caught by those who don’t know the principals. Yes, it is definitely a sanctuary for those guitarists who aspire to be the best. Not only does the store carry some of the finest guitars and amps in the business (like PRS and Collings guitars as well as PRS and Mesa Boogie amps), it also offers educational opportunities for students who want to perfect their skill levels on the instrument. This is a store run by musicians who themselves demonstrate the finest in music performance.

But The Guitar Sanctuary as a name highlights much more about these folks. Each has a strong faith which permeates their lives. You see this reflected not only in their music, but also in the way they interact with people on a day-to-day basis. They bring a freshness and life to their music that stems from having that strong base of faith. Musicians who work with the team at The Guitar Sanctuary will find caring and dedicated instructors.

When one walks in the store, one is taken aback by the beauty of the establishment (check out their website for a shot of the breathtaking entrance to the facility). The store evokes two emotions: one of peace and relaxation (like walking into a friend’s living room); the second of the excitement that you may have had walking into your first candy store. It’s hard to imagine how these two emotions can display themselves at the same time, but, in the store, you’ll see what I mean.

I visited the store during the Grand Opening. Okay, actually that is really underplaying the event; it was more of Grand Celebration. The place was packed with people. Now you say, “It was a Grand Opening. A lot of people will show up if you’re giving away a PRS guitar and Mesa Boogie amp.” However, on a day when squalls and tornado warnings (with an actual citing southeast of McKinney) were present most of the afternoon, it is impressive that the event was literally packed to the rafters (see picture). Being great musicians, the team at The Guitar Sanctuary felt the best way to celebrate the opening was with music. The lineup was fantastic. Originally planned to be outdoors, with the terrible weather, imagine the luck to have an immense, empty facility available right next door to The Guitar Sanctuary where the celebration could be held (remember that faith thing I talked about above).

What a celebration of music! The opening set was Quinten Hope and his band (www.quintenhope.com). I have been following Quinten for some time now, and to say that this was the opening set should tell you how high the bar was raised for the day. These guys are the epitome of Texas music. The ease with which they work together as a team makes their music superb.

But, wait… the second set, Maylee Thomas and George Fuller (www.maylee.com), took the stage with their band. Folks, if you have heard Maylee sing with Geo highlighting his mastery of the guitar, you’ll understand what I’m about to say. The performance was so incredible that I was lost in the moment with visions of some great singers of the past. People, it was like watching Janis Joplin in her prime (sans the heroin). I was actually stunned (in a nice way) at Maylee’s performance. She captivated the crowd and took them on a musical journey that none will forget.

Okay, so who could possibly raise the bar even further after the performances of Quinten, Maylee and Geo? Andy Timmons (www.andytimmons.com). Yup, folks, it only got better. The facility that Andy has with the instrument belies the difficulty of the work that he performs. Quoting a friend, “Andy is a monster!” He took the emotion built up from the performances of Quinten, Maylee and Geo and drove the audience even further. Andy played fantastic riffs that built the fabric of a musical story that thrilled even the youngest in that audience. By the time he finished, the audience had experienced one of the finest celebrations of the opening of a retail store.

Stop by the store or visit the website (www.theguitarsanctuary.com). You will find that the folks there are more than musicians and certainly more than store owners. They are people who truly believe that there should be a place of sanctuary for those who want to excel.

The Guitar Sanctuary is located at 6851 Virginia Parkway, Suite 101, McKinney, Texas. They can be reached on the web at www.theguitarsanctuary.com or at 972-540-6420.

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Jesus Team A, Jesus te ama!

Rick Matos — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:34:48 +0000

One of several musical highlights of the recent University of Dallas Ministry Conference held October 23-24, 2009 was Jesus Team A (JTA), a band with soul and talent to spare.

The name “Jesus Team A” is a play on words: “Jesús te ama” means “Jesus loves you”. But to tell you the truth, I think the feeling is mutual. Just like its names, JTA’s music displays a kaleidoscope of influences ranging from Rock, Soul, R&B, Latino, Jazz, and more. I’d be pulling your chain if I told you that I could actually pick them all out, but I’d be downright lying if I told you I didn’t enjoy their show.

JTA’s music dares to be different while at the same time universal. Its rainbow of melodic variations, chord progressions and syncopation is complemented by relevant original lyrics that tell you something, something you’ve always known, something you’d long forgotten, something you’ve yet to learn.

JTA is headed up by Vince Lujan of the Vince Lujan Project (VLP), and various of the members of JTA are also members of the VLP. While both bands have a crossover of influences and musical styles, each retains its own identity. Vince’s songwriting and guitar playing skills match his vocal presentation and make for a memorable performance.

JTA has released a CD album entitled, “In the Hands of My Father”, and the VLP has released a CD album entitled, “Echo Lab Revisited”. Needless to say, I purchased both of them and will be reviewing them in the future.

To find out more about JTA, check out their websites at:
www.jesusteamaband.com
www.myspace.com/jesusteamaband
www.facebook.com/pages/Jesus-Team-A…/101011205129

To find out more about the VLP, check out their websites at:
www.thevincelujanproject.com
www.myspace.com/vincelujanproject
www.facebook.com/pages/Vince-Lujan-Project/20937800018
www.garageband.com/artist/vincelujanproject
www.winamp.com/artist/the-vince-lujan-project

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.

Big Concert Before the Big Game

Sam Moore — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:48:57 +0000

All the ingredients were there: the night before the big game, a huge audience, a beer sponsorship, a honky tonk with historical roots, and two Texas super acts.

Friday night’s concert at Gilley’s Dallas, featuring the Eli Young Band and Kevin Fowler, was the perfect storm of Texas music.

Many years ago (this pre-dates the Urban Cowboy rage of the 1980s) I saw David Allan Coe at Gilley’s in Pasadena. It was an experience I will never forget. And while the current version in south Dallas will never be mistaken for the original “world’s largest honky tonk,” it was still a great venue for a great set of performances. The atmosphere was authentic Texas.

The venue was filled with fans in town for Saturday’s Texas-Oklahoma football game at the Cotton Bowl. Attractive young ladies worked their way through the crowd, passing out Mardi Gras-like beads, with Texas and OU emblems attached. Bud Light was the sponsor, with banners hanging everywhere pronouncing that fact.

I guess the biggest question facing promoters would be deciding which of the two stars would be the featured act. As it turned out, Fowler opened up the evening, bringing his brand of high energy entertainment that he is so known for. Few performers can work a crowd like Fowler can.

After a very quick change of staging, EYB came out and entertained the audience. I was pleasantly surprised. Given the fact that there were two big acts, I expected the second performance to last about an hour. But almost two hours later, Mike Eli was still on stage, now joined by Fowler, singing their trademark closing cover of the Beatles’ “Come Together.” Eli introduced the song by saying Fowler didn’t know all the words, but that he doubted that anyone really knows the words.

The truly amazing aspect of the evening was that the tickets were free – of course, they were available through local radio stations. Fowler joked that his audience was truly getting its money’s worth, for a change. But regardless of the cost, anyone attending a show from either of these acts always leaves happy. Friday night was no exception. Now, if only the Texas-OU game can provide as much entertainment!

Stories to Watch For This Week From Texas Music Journal

Sam Moore — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:46:51 +0000

It’s been a busy summer for Texas music. This weekend was no different for the Texas Music Journal. We began by going Saturday evening to McKinney, where we caught two different acts. The first was a newcomer to north Texas music, Eric Erickson, who was performing at Spoons Restaurant in the downtown square. Then right across the street, in the outdoor courtyard of Landon’s Winery, we listened to the pure vocals of Anna Thomas, a Collin County teenager who has a strong future ahead. In fact, she is leaving this week for a recording session in Memphis. She said everything is happening very quickly. If you hear her sing, you will understand why.

Sunday’s activities will bring forth one of several stories set to appear in the Texas Music Journal this week. The fourth annual Red Dirt Roundup was held on the Fort Worth Stockyard grounds, outside of Billy Bob’s Texas. As is the tradition, Cross Canadian Ragweed invited enough of their musical friends to fill the day and night with incredible entertainment. We will bring you that story.

We will also tell you about Rally ’round Greenville, an upcoming festival in Greenville, Texas, not far from Dallas. This festival will underscore the incredible musical heritage of this north Texas community.

What do Habitat For Humanity, Little Big Town and a Texas dentist have in common? We will tell you that story, that comes with a happy ending, this week.

Plus, we will review two different CD’s from a Houston-based band called Sugar Bayou. I had not hear of them before. But the next time I am in Houston, I will be sure to see if I can catch them live. We will tell you why you should watch for them, too.

Any other items of interest, we also plan to bring to you this week. Be sure to keep checking TMJ!

A lot of Texas in a little bit of time

Rick Matos — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:19:17 +0000

A few weeks ago, we returned to Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse in Dallas. With their lyrics, vocals and instrumentals, Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines brought us all into their hearts.

Terri and Lloyd started off with “Bring ‘em All in to My Heart”, an upbeat song with a driving rhythm guitar beat and mandolin harmonies to boot. They drove the message straight to our hearts with this one.

Photo by Mary Keating Bruton

They then hit us with “The Spiritual Kind” of music on dobro and guitar. All you people of faith, any faith, know what I’m talking about, the kind of music you stand up and sing, “I am the spiritual kind”.

I then reminisced while “Goodbye Charlie Brown” filled the air. With Lloyd on guitar and Terri dueling it out with a guitar and harmonica, I wondered what I had done with my collection of Charlie Brown books. If only I could kick that ball and hit the sky. I miss Charles Schultz.

One of my favorites, hands down, was “My Brother Throws Like a Girl”. As a guy having gone through the awkward stages of guy-hood, I laughed. As a brother of a way more athletic brother, I admitted I shared some things in common with Terri’s brother. As a father of daughters with boyfriends, I almost peed laughing at how similar some of them were to her brother. What a riot!

Terri and Lloyd then turned it all upside down with “If I had a Daughter”. Spoken and sung. Strummed and hummed. Terri made a few of us wish she had been our mom. If she can live according to those lyrics, one day Terri is going to make a fantastic mother.

Terri shared a big piece of her life in “The Ring”, a song about her growing up in San Antonio, her Dad, a soldier’s life, the cost of war, and the quiet within our families and each of us. I moved around a lot in my “growing up years” and I still have a quiet dad. I could relate. Life is a ring. Some are gold, some are old, some are new and some are used, but every ring brings a reason to sing.

For every man who has ever stopped by a diner and had a piece of cake, “Dana Blues” might make you reconsider. Dana baked cakes for every man in town, including … Well, let’s just say, some poor guy got his goose cooked when he went for the sweets instead of his sweetheart. Thank goodness I eat pie.

I guess you can say that I’m a fan now. I left Uncle Calvin’s with two CD’s and a decision to attend Terri and Lloyd’s songwriting workshop (www.wiloryrecords.com) “Life’s a Song. Live it… Write it… Play it!” in Port Aransas, TX on November 13-15. See you there!

IGNITE 2009 – An Awakening

Rick Matos — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Main Screen

In the midst of a stormy day, swine flu scares and school closings, the music and speakers at IGNITE 2009 lit a fire in hearts of the Christian masses. Some nestled beneath umbrellas or ponchos and others standing in the rain, one security volunteer described the attendees, “Come rain or come swine, the Christians are here to stay.” The sky was thundering but the music was thunderous.

On May 2, 2009, CW Festival hosted the “IGNITE 2009 Passion for God, Compassion for people & Justice for the oppressed” event at Burleson, Texas with the main purpose to awaken in each of us the spirit to make a difference now. The event, through major sponsors like the Student Discipleship Ministries (SDM), featured notable performers and speakers that lit the crowd into a blaze of praise.

Sanctus Real

In the beginning, there was Sanctus Real… a Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning Christian rock band from Toledo, OH. Matt Hammit (guitar and lead vocals) started the day with Chris Rohman (lead guitar), Dan Gartley (bass), Pete Prevost (guitar), and Mark Graalman (drums). It was an empassioned beginning despite the rain.

Then, the sky opened up, and the cleansing waters poured out upon the crowd. We were divided into two groups and directed to seek shelter in an adjacent gymnasium and stadium to wait out the passage of a first of several storm cells.

After we gathered again, Bethany Hoang of International Justice Ministries shared a heart-wrenching story of Elizabeth, a 12-year old victim of child slavery (human trafficking), sold by her parents to a brothel to supplement the family income.

Bethany Hoang

Even through all the torment, sexual abuse and disgust, Elizabeth believed in the grace, mercy and compassion of our God. The workers who rescued her from the brothel found inscribed on her bedroom wall the passage, “The Lord is my light and salvation. Whom should I fear… Though war be waged against me, even then do I trust.” (Ps 27) A truly powerful witness of unending faith and trust in our God.

Zach Hunter, a 17-year old slavery abolitionist and founder of “Loose Change to Loosen Chains” spoke and shared words of encouragement urging people young and old into action. There is no age limit to discipleship or to responding to God’s call within each of us.

Zach Hunter

Flyleaf turned up the pace and volume with a mixture of pounding rhythms (James Culpepper on drums), fiery guitar (Sameer Bhattacharya) and bass (Jared Hartmann) riffs, screaming vocals (Lacey Sturm) and pained sorrowful lyrics. The teen crowd responded to the music and lyrics with screaming cheers and rousing applause. Though Lacey confessed they were not accustomed to performing in Christian music concerts, some of Flyleaf’s songs were truly worthy of recognition.

Flyleaf

Then, the sky opened up… the second of several storm cells. Rather than merely wait out the storm, Billy Beacham of SDM gave those in the gymnasium the opportunity to listen to Pastor Francis Chan’s (Cornerstone Church) message on the need to respond immediately to God’s call to action, to not let ourselves be calmed, to rouse the boldness within us to be better disciples and apostles for Christ. Following a trashcan duo, we gathered outside again.

Kirk Cameron

Kirk Cameron, a.k.a. Mike Seaver of the television series “Growing Pains” and Buck Williams of the “Left Behind” films based on The New York Times best selling novels of Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, shared his message of strength of will, trust in God and real commitment to a Christian life.

David Crowder Band

Billy Beacham introduced The David Crowder Band after sharing a testimony of his daily struggles with the many hidden challenges to a Christian life. DC-B stirred the crowd, which appeared to be about 5,000-6,000 strong, with high intensity songs into a thunderous praise choir overshadowing the storm cell coming over the horizon.

Francis Chan

Finally Kari Jobe joined Chris Tomlin in a moving song that showed us the depth of her faith.

Kari Jobe

Pastor Chan gave a reprisal of his first sermon before the entire crowd and set the tone for Chris Tomlin and his band to take us through the waves of passionate and intimate praise of God our Father, Jesus Christ His Son and His Holy Spirit. We sang with Chris. We sang for God. We sang His praise.

Chris Tomlin

IGNITE 2009 will be remembered. We were awakened. SDM fulfilled its mission. I look forward to the next event hosted by SDM. Operated by Billy Beacham, SDM is a non-denominational ministry that provides Bible-based evangelization and discipleship resources.

Hendrix, Maines Combo Creates Outstanding Texas Music

Sam Moore — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:00:55 +0000

One of the great things about living in Texas is you never know where and when you will run into some great music.

TMJ recently attended a concert in Fort Worth at the First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church. Each month they host the Jefferson Freedom Café, a listening room which features mainly Texas performers. On this night, we were treated to an outstanding performance by Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines.

The duo performed many songs from Terri’s newest CD, “Left Over Alls”. It features songs she has written in the past, but never released. “Posey Road Stomp” is an upbeat tune featuring Terri on her still-learning-how-to-play harmonica. “Hole in My Pocket” is more mellow song which would have fit perfectly into the soundtrack of “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou.” And “Give Me My Flowers” is a simple, touching song which asks the listener to “give me my flowers while I’m living and let me enjoy them while I can. Don’t wait ‘til I’m ready to be buried and slip some lilies in my hand.”

Throughout the performance, Terri’s bubbly personality came through supported by Lloyd Maines’ sense of humor. At one point, while he was tuning his guitar for a particular song, he told the audience, “I tune because I care. Next week, we go to Massachusetts – I won’t tune there!”

Lloyd was particularly excited about the newest honor to his celebrated career. He is one of the newest inductees into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. He even used this to generate some humor.

“I’ve just been named to the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame,” he said, “but I’m still driving Terri back and forth to Austin.”

Watch the Texas Music Reporter for a future story on the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and some of the outstanding musician honored there.

Terri’s rise to success is inspirational. In exchange for tending goats, she received music lessons from Marion Williamson. From there, she began hauling her own P.A. in the back of her beat-up pick-up to gigs throughout the Texas Hill Country. She is one of the many Texas musicians whose careers were launched at the famed Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos. Before long, her fan base began building.

By the time she recorded her debut album, 1996’s Two Dollar Shoes, Terri shopped around for a record label. She was turned down by three. She released the record independently, and never looked back. She jokes that after twelve years she is still in business and the record labels rejected her aren’t!

Terri’s style flows seamlessly in her songs from folk and country to pop, jazz and Texas swing. With Lloyd as her musical and personal support, Terri performances are uplifting and inspirational. When you leave her shows, you can’t help singing one of her songs as you walk to car.

For more information on Terri and Lloyd, visit HERE.
To learn more about the Fort Worth musical event, visit HERE.

“Deep” in the Heart of Texas

Rick Matos — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:45:51 +0000

This past weekend, we returned to Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse (www.unclecalvins.org) in Dallas expecting to listen to some talented performers do their stuff. And with depth beyond his years, Chris Rosser, a singer-songwriter from North Carolina, took us on an international tour of musical splendor.

One could try to classify Chris’ repertoire to folk music, but that would be placing a jewelry store in a gift box. His music cuts across boundaries paving new roads across the musical landscape and creating cross-culture genres like “Indo-billy”, “Turko-billy” and “world music fusion” by blending jazz, swing, gospel, folk, Indonesian, coffeehouse acoustic, and Turkish styles.

A gifted lyricist, vocalist and instrumentalist, his vocals are reminiscent of James Taylor and his piano tends toward Keith Jarrett and George Winston. Songs carry us through the hills and valleys of life. Melodies caress us with the warmth of an early summer breeze and glide us gently down as leaves upon flower covered fields. Lyrics paint the view from the windows of the soul. His vocal range is a playing field for the arsenal of musical instruments he commands (dotar, guitar, Turkish “banjo”, piano, just to name a few).

Growing up in North Carolina and hearing all of the family tales, he felt as if he had actually lived in Atlanta, TX. In “Deeper Than My Name”, Chris recounts some of the stories about his grandmother while she was still with the family in Atlanta. In “Atlanta”, Chris shares with us his journey to her funeral and his return to the tap root of his family tree. Her interment unearthed family history recounted in the song.

In his concert and in the CD entitled “The Holy Fool”, Chris’ messages transcend religious barriers, helping us realize the unity and commonality we share. We laughed, got choked up and met a man who admits, “I don’t have all the answers”. Even so, he has a perspective that many need to hear.

Chris dedicates himself to family and music as owner and operator of Hollow Reed Arts (www.chrisrosser.com), a recording studio in Asheville, NC named after the “hollow reed” prayer of the Baha’i faith. He travels in the U.S. and abroad doing what he can to establish a spiritual connection with audiences through his music. He is a graduate of the University of Miami and has a double major- sound engineering and piano.

Best of luck, Chris!

Houston Singer/Songwriter Shows Her Stuff

Sam Moore — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:42:36 +0000

During recent musical travels, I met a singer/songwriter named Beth Kille. She is originally from Wisconsin, but now lives in Houston. I caught a recent show at a private event, Salon Nights on the Levee, in Dallas. And she showed her audience she has a lot of talent.

Beth performed with her drummer, Tony Kille, who Beth says “conveniently doubles as my husband.” Beth’s style ranges from folk/country to rock/jazz. Yes, she is a versatile performer. She reminds me very much of a young Sheryl Crow, who she looks to as one of her many influences. Beth led a rock group – Clear Blue Betty – for six years in Madison, Wisconsin. She moved to Houston one year ago.

Songs during the show included “Under,” a very good tune with a driving beat. “Only Skin” was inspired by a couple burned in a fire. Beth said they commented that they were used to themselves, but it has taken the world a little longer. “Say My Name” was a very entertaining one-string song. And “Through the Walls” was a little song, Beth said, “about stalking your neighbor – but in a nice way!”

During the show, which also included performances with her close friend Jessi Lynn, Beth sang and played guitar, mandolin and harmonica. Her voice is smooth and soft, with a high range.

As good as Beth is, she is often upstaged, as she was this night, by Buddy, her black Labrador. Buddy visited with audience members before working his way up on stage. At one point, he knocked over Jessi’s water bottle. “He must be thirsty,” Beth said.

Beth has several upcoming performances in the Houston area: April 23 at Anderson Fair, May 8 at Backyard Tavern, May 9 at Bohemeo’s, and May 18 at the Corkscrew. To learn more about this talented young artist, visit www.myspace.com/bethkille.

What Makes the Eli Young Band Go

Sam Moore — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:03:23 +0000

For those who know the Eli Young Band and its work, it comes as no surprise that the four young men who met in Denton were nominated this year for best new group by the Academy of Country Music. A recent performance at the House of Blues in Dallas proved that the band is going to be a hit with fans for years to come.

“Last year was a good year for us,” said lead singer Mike Eli. That is a bit of an understatement. Not only did they receive the ACM nomination, but their latest release – “Always the Love Songs” – has been moving up the country charts, and includes a Top 20 video. Their new CD, Jet Black & Jealous, is their first national release, and is selling well. Eli says the key to their success is simple.

“Texas is our foundation,” he commented. “If Texas were to go away, we would collapse.”

Eli said he and his band mates try not to preach with their songs and performances. But they do like to focus on the good things in their lives. They are very thankful, for example, that they are now able to make a living with their music. For years, they all worked second jobs to support their ability to perform and grow.

“There’s nothing like that feeling when you perform live,” said Eli. “We try to be honest and real, and we hope the fans appreciate that.”

James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson all arrived at the University of North Texas in 1998, and played music together informally at a friend’s house that first year to recapture the spirit they’d felt in their respective high-school bands. In 1999, Eli enrolled and became quick friends with Young. They started performing as a duo, and in short order, the entire foursome began making music together, debuting live in October 2000. What followed was eight years of playing small clubs in Texas, gradually building their fan base.

Brian and Christine first saw EYB in Austin three or four years ago. This night, they traveled to Dallas to see their show. “We’ve been following them since they were small,” Brian commented. “We love all their songs.”

Troy, an Oklahoma resident, brought his young daughter to the show. “’Oklahoma Girl’ is obviously our favorite,” he said. “Their songs hit home with me. And as good as their CD’s are, they are even better live.”

Eli admits that their music is not what many would consider to be typical country. But he is thankful that they are not being pigeonholed.

“If you look back at Johnny Cash,” he said, “a lot of what he did would have been considered pop today. And for many people, that would have been blasphemous.”

What is Eli’s favorite song that they perform? “’Guinevere’ is my favorite without a doubt,” he bragged. “Every once in a while, you hear someone’s song and say ‘I wish I had written that.’ Well, that’s the song I’m glad I wrote.”

Eli traces his roots to his dad, who was a truck driver. Among his musical influences are Ronnie Milsap, Conway Twitty, and Rodney Crowell, his favorite.

Where does he hope he and his partners are in 30 years? “I hope we can be part of an idea that mainstream country music doesn’t have to fit in a certain box. And I really hope that we continue to make good music.”

For more information and tour dates, visit http://eliyoungband.com.

If Adventure Had a Name…

Sam Moore — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:26:47 +0000

Those attending the Plano Symphony Saturday night knew something was different the minute they arrived in the lobby. In addition to the normal crowd of music lovers, ushers and ticket takers, they were greeted by storm troopers, a princess and even a wookie. Yes, it was time for a tribute to the music of John Williams.

The incredible composer is responsible for some of the most memorable movie music in history. From “Star Wars” to “Saving Private Ryan,” the marriage of incredible films and incredible soundtracks is simply amazing. Combine that with the Plano Symphony Orchestra, aided at times by the Plano Civic Chorus, and it made for an unforgettable evening.

Maestro Hector Guzman set the tone for a fun evening by walking on stage wearing a cowboy hat, to coincide with the theme from “The Cowboys,” one of the few John Wayne classics in which the good guy dies. It was the first of many stage props, used to match the movies that would be brought to life through Williams’ music. Hearing this western theme made me ready to hop on a horse and ride across the prairie.

The musicians were spot on with the music. As Guzman explained, they played not adaptations, but the actual movie scores. To me, the true test of their success was their ability to create not only the sounds, but to also bring the scenes of the movies to life in my mind. I was able to close my eyes and ride the Hogwarts Express during “Harry Potter;” fly faster than a speeding bullet with “Superman;” and wield my light saber during “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.”

Perhaps my favorite part of the evening was when the orchestra played the first two ominous notes from “Jaws.” Many of the audience members laughed, but it was a nervous laughter. I even looked down, just to make sure I did not see a dorsal fin circling my feet.

The first act was filled with adventure, including the Raiders March from “Indiana Jones.” The second set contained songs from more of the adventure-fantasy films – such as “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “Jurassic Park” – it also included works from some of the more serious movies. The military sound of the drums from “Saving Private Ryan” brought the pride people often feel with the military. It was quiet, simple and reverent. And the absolutely incredible violin of Concertmaster Vesselin Demirev had audience members near tears during “Schindler’s List.”

To conclude this emotional roller coaster, Guzman chose the music from “ET, the Extra Terrestrial.” I believe anyone familiar with the film could see the silhouetted figure of ET riding his bicycle in front of the moon.

Williams’ resume is incredibly long. From his time as conductor of the Boston Pops, to his “Schindler’s List” dual Oscar and Grammy awards, he is one of the most prolific musical creators in history.

During the evening, Guzman pointed out a very important element of Williams’ success: his music’s popularity spans across several generations. Everyone loves his scores. I could see it even in the smiles of the musicians: they were having fun. It was as close to a perfect evening as possible. As Guzman said at one point, “this is a unique canvas for music.”

For more information on the Plano Symphony, visit www.planosymphony.org.

A G-Chord on an Old Martin – An Evening with Quinten Hope

John South — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:00:44 +0000

Many parents pass on their expertise to their sons and daughters, but little did Joe Hope know that by teaching his son a simple G chord a rich body of work would emerge. Quinten Hope recounts that he practiced that G chord for quite some time, often quietly sneaking his Dad’s Martin from its case as he wasn’t allowed to touch the guitar without his Dad being present.

Texas Music Journal caught up with Quinten at the Granada Theater in Dallas on Sunday, February 8, 2009 where he was opening for Andy McKee (quite a guitar player in his own right). Since the show highlighted acoustic guitars, Quinten left his Strat in the case and played his repertoire on an old acoustic – his Dad’s Martin.

The Granada Theater is a great venue for music, as no seat in the house is bad for viewing or hearing the musicians. When a trio is playing an acoustic venue, the Granada affords a bit of intimacy, allowing the audience to feel and experience the music for themselves. On this night, Quinten was accompanied by Joe Lee on guitar and Len Barnett on percussion. The three meshed well, weaving a rich tonal fabric that kept the audience engaged throughout their set.

Quinten jokingly commented that he had had to learn how to play an acoustic guitar for this particular set. This brought a laugh from the audience, as the opening number showed that he is as adept on the acoustic as he is on the electric. With Joe weaving his exquisite guitar lines into Quinten’s lead, the audience was taken on a journey that ranged from hints of classical guitar to the blues and jazz.

Quinten opened the set with a piece that one would liken to a fusion of Paco DeLucia and Wes Montgomery, at times strongly influenced by Quinten’s classical training, yet evolving into flowing jazz overtones. Hearing “Start of a New Day” and “Midnight Drive” in the acoustic version, rather than an electric rendering, painted a completely different picture. By using acoustic guitars without additional instrumentation, the pieces exemplified the virtuosity of each of the musicians.

This set was highlighted by two pieces, both completely different from each other and, again, tonally different from their electric versions. “Caron’s Song” is a beautiful piece in its electric version, but in acoustic, one can really feel the intimacy and love that that artist is expressing for his wife. In contrast, “Q’s Gigue” was a light, airy gigue that had you tapping your toes as the artists’ fingers flew across their fingerboards.

If the set had stopped there, the evening would have been a great success; however, Quinten had one final surprise for the audience. He brought out Mike Clark from Junior and the Journeymen (see the upcoming TMJ article, “Friday Night at the Cadillac”) to join the trio on stage. Mike delighted the audience with his strong charging blues vocals and guitar work. The trio provided the underlying guitar and percussion support that made Mike’s three selections a dessert for the crowd. His rendition of Robert Johnson’s Crossroads Blues was an extraordinary piece. Mike’s powerful vocals capped off a great set.

After the set, TMJ sat down with Quinten back stage.

[TMJ] How did you get started on this journey, and when did you decide that you wanted to do this professionally?

[QH] My Dad played guitar and had a band that got together to play R&B, bluegrass and country. The played a lot of Jimmy Reed material. When I was about age 6, my Dad showed me how to play the “G” chord. That was the only chord I knew for 10 years, but I got really good at playing a “G” [laughs]. I used to sneak into where my Dad kept his guitar and I would carefully open the case and very quietly play it.

As my Dad was teaching me to play, he encouraged me to play “…the good music”. However, I discovered Kiss. In high school, I played with a pop band and found rock very easy to do. I formed a band that played rock and blues. We were good enough to be offered a contract by Warner. However, after four years we started arguing and fighting and then disbanded.

[TMJ] There are two paths that a musician can take to pursue a musical career:

skipping additional school and going straight into the business
going onto college and studying music

Why did you decide on the latter route, going to the University of North Texas to study music?

[QH] I met Joe Lee who was teaching at North Texas and started studying under him (about 14 years ago). I realized that there was a lot that I didn’t know about music and I wanted to learn more about it. When I went to UNT, it was all about breaking down a bunch of walls. I had to wrap my mind around new concepts. In the process I met some new and amazing musicians, like Andy Timmons, with whom I still play.

[Joe chimed in that Quinten had taken the things he had taught him and quickly developed them into three or four new ideas].

[TMJ] How do you describe your music to someone?

[QH] It’s a fusion of blues and rock. I’m not sure if everyone understands it, but you have to write with your heart and hope that people get it.

[TMJ] What makes you most happy about your music so far?

[QH] My recordings. “Reunion” reflects what I had really set out to do. Overall, I really want my instrumentals to be as strong as vocal songs. When you’re playing , you hit that one chord or even that that one note that is just perfect for the chord, and that makes you happy.

[TMJ] What makes you saddest about your music so far?

[QH] It’s knowing that there is not enough time in the world to do everything that I would like to do with my music. Even if I could play music even second of every day, I wouldn’t get to everything I’d like to play. We only have so much time on this earth. You get a birth date and death date; it’s what you do with the time in the middle that’s important in life.

[TMJ] How does Texas influence your music?

[QH] For a long time, it didn’t. Early in my music, I was influenced by NY, LA and Nashville. Then I went to UNT, where they were more focused on the jazz and classical with an emphasis more towards an East Coast feel (particularly NY).

In the last 5-10 years, I’ve started to pay more attention to Texas and blues musicians like Eric Johnson, David Grissom, and Robert Johnson. I found that Texas music has a certain tone and approach to melody. It has a certain rawness and realness about it; it’s not fake.

[TMJ] What is your connection to the music program at Prestonwood Baptist Church?

[QH] I have played guitar there for 9 yrs. [Quinten also teaches in their School of Fine Arts several days a week].

[TMJ] What piece of advice would you give young people who are considering a career in music?

[QH] Listen to what you like and find enjoyable in music; but always be open to new things. If you want to get into music, do it because you love it. But, be prepared. You have to love the journey, as the journey never ends. If you don’t love the journey, you won’t be happy.

Links

Quinten Hope Online

Quinten Hope – Myspace

Discography

	Aspects of the Soul - Released 2001
	Start of a New Day - Released 2005
	Reunion - Released 2008

Eli Young Band Rocks

Sam Moore — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:40:34 +0000

I guess it shows the breadth of the popularity of this state’s music. I was in Baton Rouge LA Friday night. I went to a venue called, appropriately, the Texas Club. And I sat, watched and listened for the first time to one of Texas’ hottest country/pop groups, the Eli Young Band.

I learned a lot. First, there is no one in the group named Eli Young – at least, not technically. There is a Mike Eli, the lead singer, and a James Young, an incredibly talented lead guitarist. The group also has drummer Chris Thompson – who successfully captured the eyes of every young female fan – and bassist Jon Jones, who played some of the best licks I have ever heard.

The Denton-based band is promoting its first successful national CD release: Jet Black & Jealous. The current hit is a good one – “Always the Love Songs.” “When It Rains,” another popular song with the fans, is also included. But as witnessed during their live performance, these two songs just scratch the surface of the talent level of these four young men.

In this venue – with posters of Willie, Merle, Tracy and David Allan looking down – I expected a country show. What I got was country, but very much plugged in. Many songs verge on the rock classification. And each work is absolutely full of energy. And the guys look so young, I did not expect to get such an experienced sounding result. It was quite a pleasant surprise.

The Eli Young Band is currently nominated for Best New Group or Duo by the Academy of Country Music. Voting takes place for just a few more days. Anyone wishing to give them support can go to www.acmcountry.com and follow the links to register and vote.

The four Texas boys are very busy these days. They have two performances this weekend in the Dallas area, then head to Oklahoma and Colorado for gigs in those states. Go to www.eliyoungband.com for full show details.

During their show, Eli told the crowd, “For seven years, we traveled by van. Now we finally have our own bus. But no matter where we go, we always thank you for making us feel at home!”

After a two-hour show and encore filled with songs written by each of the members, Eli Young closed with a song that they said “will never appear on any of our records.” Their cover of the Beatles’ “Come Together” was fantastic and appropriate. My guess is these four guys will come together to create wonderful Texas-based music for years to come.

Discography

	LevelReleased April 5, 2005 by Carnival
	Live at the Jolly FoxReleased November 14, 2006 by CarnivalRe-released 2009 by Universal South
	Jet Black & JealousReleased September 16, 2008 by Universal South
	Eli Young BandReleased September 16, 2008 by Universal South