Texas Music Journal » Texas Music Events

Dumplings and Bluegrass Coming to Music City Texas Theater

Sam Moore — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:47:24 +0000

Music City Texas Theater in Linden is preparing for a big summer Bluegrass concert on August 21.

The Hickory Hill Band will perform, with special guest Mike Powell.

Hickory Hill Band

Tickets are $15, and all are general admission. Showtime is 7:30pm. Doors open at 6pm. And this is something great about Texas music shows: organizers say they will be selling chicken and dumplings “as long as they last.”

To purchase tickets, call the Music City Box Office at 903-756-9934, Monday through Friday, from 10am to 3pm.

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Observer Awards Bring Fun to Texas Music

Sam Moore — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:54:41 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

By Tamara Loggins

What do you have when you throw indie music fans clad in skinny jeans, rap artists with gold chains and old blues lovers in black fedoras together in one room? You get the Observer Music Awards.

Hundreds of people from all different music genres and walks of life flocked to the Granada Theater to take part in the 22nd Annual Dallas Observer Music Awards. Bands went head to head, competing for titles like “best musical group,” “best experimental/avant garde act,” and “best record store.” Just from those titles, you can see this isn’t your conventional music awards. The Observer did a really good job of bringing together all the different types of music genres and awarding those who were voted the best by fans.

What makes this award ceremony different than many others is the fan involvement. Bands who are more active with their fans are more likely to win at these awards. It’s a lot like The People’s Choice Awards, but with strictly local Dallas musicians.

The woman who stole the award show by taking home five awards was Sarah Jaffe. She’s the only artist who for the past three years has won every award she has been nominated for.

The event showcased an eclectic array of musicians, either in on-stage “mash-ups” or in an arena in the center of the crown referred to as “the pit.” The highlight of the evening was watching semi-like sounding musicians’ pair up to create intriguing, off the wall music as they mashed their musical styles together.
Heavy hitters Somebody’s Darling paired up with the folksy duo, The Ohs to create a musical style jam packed with equal parts of country-rock guitar riffs and earthy-toned banjo and vocals. Another fan favorite, Spooky Kids, took the pit with their upbeat, catchy indie rock songs that got the crowd in an uproar.

The entire evening was just full of everything a music lover wants, music, success, and a tinge of alcohol. The Dallas Observer Awards was definitely a night to remember.

Father of Modern Recording Speaks at Retreat

Sam Moore — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:53:56 +0000

Austin, TX — Audio design legend and GRAMMY® Award winner Rupert Neve, center, was keynote speaker June 19 at the state-of-the-art Blue Rock Artist Ranch and Studio in Wimberley for The Recording Academy® Texas Chapter’s P&E Wing®: Texas Retreat at The Rock, that was attended by more than 100 people, including Theresa Jenkins, executive director of Texas Chapter of The Recording Academy; Dodee Crockett and Billy Crockett, owners of Blue Rock; and Chris Bell and Christine Albert, Chapter trustees. Two-time GRAMMY nominee Ruthie Foster, fourth from left, was the day-long event’s featured artist.

Texas Music Odds and Ends for July

Sam Moore — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:21:21 +0000

No Justice Going National

After building a strong reputation in Texas and Oklahoma, No Justice will make their first national television appearance on WGN July 21. The appearance comes in conjunction with the release of their debut “2nd Avenue.” The first single, “Love Song,” is already on the Texas Music Chart’s Top 30. The CD is being released through Dallas-based Carved Records.

Matt Koger Ready with His New CD

“Armadillo Time” is finished, according to the Greenville singer/songwriter, who also practices medicine – in his spare time! To celebrate the completion, Koger will play at the Blue Armadillo in Greenville on July 23-24. He is counting on producer John Kent to sit in on many of the new songs and old favorites. And of course, the CD will be available for purchase.

Sarah Jaffe Announces New U.S. Tour Dates

The 24-year-old Texan has added new dates to support her debut “Suburban Nature” CD. The first single release, “Clemintine,” will hit commercial radio in August. For a complete list of the dates and more information, visit www.sarahjaffe.com.

Songwriting Author Visits Houston

John and JoAnn Braheny will present a seminar entitled, “Creativity, Song Craft and Marketing” in Houston on July 31, from 10am-5pm. The seminar is sponsored by the Houston chapter of Nashville Songwriters Association International. It will take place at 2317 South Highway 6, Houston TX 77707. Braheny is the author of the best-selling “The Craft and Business of Songwriting.” For more information, visit nsai.houstonnorthmetro@gmail.com.

Dallas Library Sponsors Travelling Song Meetings

Instead of inviting a speaker for one large meeting, the Dallas Public Library’s “North Texas Musicians Meetings” will have several small, informal gatherings around the Metroplex. The purpose of the meetings is to network and share information and tips among one another. The first meeting will be tomorrow, Wednesday, from 4-7pm at Addison Point, 4578 Belt Line Road, in Addison. For more information, email info@voixdetemps.com.

Reckless Kelly Uses Softball to Help Youth Groups

Sam Moore — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:58:33 +0000

Austin, TX — Austin roots-rock band Reckless Kelly members Cody and Willy Braun and Jay Nazz were on the field June 23 at Round Rock’s Dell Diamond before the Round Rock Express-Albuquerque Isotopes game to present four checks totaling $35,000 to members and representatives of four area youth baseball groups — the Miracle Leagues at Town & Country and San Antonio, Balcones Little League and Montopolis Little League — proceeds from the band’s 2nd Celebrity Softball Jam, which was held in April at the ballpark.

More than 5,000 fans filled the stands for the softball game and outfield concert that featured two teams, Sultans of Sing and One Hit Wonders, made up of sports greats and musicians such as MLB players Greg Swindell and Kirk Dressendorfer, boxing champion Jesse James Lieja and NFL players Ahmad Brooks and Eric Winston mixed with members of Reckless Kelly, Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Randy Rogers Band and The Trishas as well as Pauline Reese, Cory Morrow, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson and many others.

Coaches Reid and Reese Ryan watched as One Hit Wonders, led by Reckless Kelly front man Willy Braun, routed Sultans of Sing, lead by Reckless Kelly co-founder and fiddle player Cody Braun. Guests were invited to bring blankets and chairs onto the field for the five-hour jam and fireworks finale.

For more information: www.recklesskelly.com

Benefit To Provide Funding for Year of Free Texas Music Events

Sam Moore — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:30:33 +0000

Editor’s Note: The following is a news release from the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington. I personally attended the event last year, and the money raised was extremely valuable to help them put on free public concerts for the remainder of the year.

The legendary 1970s group, Three Dog Night, is alive and rockin’, and they are coming to Arlington June 26! Joy to the World! Three Dog Night in Concert, presented by Titan Operating, will help Friends of the Levitt Pavilion Arlington raise the funds to produce 50 free concerts this year.

General admission tickets are on sale now for the 9 p.m. concert. Gates will open at the pavilion at 8 p.m. For this concert, no coolers or chairs will be allowed. Chairs will be provided, and concessions will be on sale, including beer and wine.

You can purchase tickets online on the Levitt Pavilion Web site or by calling 817.543.4307 between 1 and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Three Dog Night tickets also will be on sale at the Levitt Pavilion during this week’s concerts and at the gate on the night of the concert.

Three Dog Night’s hits wind through the fabric of pop culture today, whether on the radio, in TV commercials or in major motion pictures. Songs like Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Joy to the World, Black and White, Shambala, One and Old-Fashioned Love Song are testimony to Three Dog Night’s longevity as well as their continued popularity.

Joy to the World! Three Dog Night in concert is sponsored by the Mortimer Levitt Foundation, the United Service Association for Healthcare Foundation and the University of Texas at Arlington.

Woodlands Hosts Texas Music Festival Tonight

Sam Moore — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:42:41 +0000

More than 100 gifted musicians from around the world will perform a free concert at 8 p.m. tonight for the Texas Music Festival at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands.

Gates open at 7 p.m. with pre-concert activities, including The Pavilion Partners instrument petting zoo and hands-on activities provided by Audi of America and Woodforest National Bank.

Ira J. Black, a prominent music scholar and professor, will host a discussion about the concert from 7:15-7:45 p.m. for Pavilion Talk.

The Texas Music Festival is a summer orchestral training program at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, and participants who have been chosen for the program through competitive auditions, are advanced students and young professional musicians. They represent the United States, Canada, Mexico and countries throughout Europe, Asia and Central and South America.

Under the direction of Horst Foerster, the musicians will perform Wagner’s overture to “The Flying Dutchman,” Bartok’s Concerto for Viola and Orchestra and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.”

The winner and finalists of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition also will be announced during the program.

Picnics are welcome on the Pavilion lawn, and lawn chairs are available for free. Preferred parking in the on-site Town Center garage, located along Six Pines Drive, is $5 per vehicle. Tickets for garage parking can be purchased in advance at all Ticketmaster locations and The Pavilion box office.

For more information about The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, visit www.woodlandscenter.org.

Texas State Musician To Appear in Arlington

Sam Moore — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:32:19 +0000

Gifted singer/songwriter Sara Hickman has a long list of accomplishments and honors. This year, she added one more: State Musician of Texas. Sara performed her children’s music at the Levitt Pavilion last summer, but this year, she will perform her adult evening of music at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 18.

Since launching her career in Houston at the tender age of 14, Sara has been a force of musical artistry with 11 CDs, appearances on NBC’s Tonight Show, her own VH-1 special, an independent video that won first place in the USA Film Festival, and appearances from festivals to Carnegie Hall. She has won numerous musical awards for her adult music as well as her children’s music and is on the list of the Top 100 Performing Songwriters.

Sara’s concerts are equal parts great music, stand-up comedy and social justice rally. Her performances are always like spending time with a delightful, genuine, extremely talented friend.

Super Bowl Brings Musical Extravaganza to North Texas

Sam Moore — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:41:12 +0000

(Editor’s Note: The Following is a story contributed by the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee.)
There may never come another day in the history of Cowboys Stadium when fans enjoy more bang for their bucks than is likely on September 10.

With tickets prices starting at a mere $25 (and going on sale June 26), a two-and-a-half-hour extravaganza titled “XLV Countdown Live From Cowboys Stadium” presented by Frito-Lay will rock the big house in Arlington.

One day before the Dallas Cowboys kick off an NFL season that will determine what two teams end up in North Texas for Super Bowl XLV, the Host Committee’s mammoth undertaking will include:

• A concert headlining country superstar Tim McGraw. McGraw made the official announcement Saturday night on stage while performing for a sold-out crowd at Superpages.com Center in Dallas. He’ll wrap up the Host Committee’s three-tiered Kick-Off Concert Series, which began with a performance by his wife, Faith Hill, in March at Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall.

• North Texas’ own celebration of Emmitt Smith and his Hall of Fame career. The most prolific runner in NFL history will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame a month prior to this celebration. Smith commented, “I am so humbled to be honored in such a way upon my return from Canton. This is a very special evening for me and my family to be able to share this with the greatest fans in America.”

• A tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Dallas Cowboys. The great stars over Cowboys’ history will introduce five-minute segments of a half-century of highlights displayed on the huge stadium scoreboards. NFL Films is providing the footage, and the 90-piece XLV Symphony Orchestra will score it live.

• A rare public performance by Van Cliburn. One of the great pianists in history, raised in the East Texas town of Kilgore and now living in Fort Worth, Cliburn will perform the “National Anthem” on his grand piano.

• The chance to see Cowboys Stadium, for the many who have yet to step inside. As Kit Sawers, Host Committee VP of Special Events, puts it, “We are expecting more than 30,000 fans to join us that evening…for just a little more than the price of a stadium tour.”

• There’ll be several more announcements this summer. In other words, be on the lookout.

Even those who have only visited the year-old wonder for previous concerts will get a far more striking look at the massive scoreboards, which will be lowered and active throughout the evening.

Tentative plans are to set up the stage at the 50-yard line facing one end zone. Floor seating will reward those who already purchased tickets for all three Series events (Hill in Fort Worth, Sting’s Dallas performance in May, and this big one) and for $65 purchasers.

No upper deck seats will be sold, and the $25 seats will comprise 80 to 85 percent of the configured seating. Bill Lively, the Host Committee’s President & CEO, says pricing is “one-sixth the cost of other major concerts at Cowboys Stadium.”

As with the other two concerts, this one is presented by Frito-Lay. Live Nation and Host Committee partner CorporateMagic are handling event production. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will introduce Emmitt Smith. And the University of North Texas’ internationally acclaimed College of Music is assembling the 90-piece XLV Symphony Orchestra.

“As you can imagine,” Sawers said, “determining the setup of Cowboys Stadium was a little bit trickier than it was for Bass Hall or the Winspear Opera House. But the Cowboys and our partners helped us figure it out, and the large screens will be featured in a way they have not been featured before.”

The high-energy evening will run from roughly 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets go on sale Saturday, June 26, at www.ticketmaster.com or by dialing (800) 745-3000.

Lively emphasized, “It’s important that the people in this region that have supported the Cowboys for five decades and care about where they are now, have a chance to come into the stadium that’s going to host the game and see something that’s really unparalleled here.

“The League has told me this: This will likely be the biggest event introducing an NFL season in history… So the goal is to make this so spectacular, if we can, that people will come to this game who can’t go to the Super Bowl and have an experience that will be memorable.”

Tony Fay, the Host Committee’s VP of Communications, feels McGraw’s broad name identification makes him the ideal performer.

“I think the number one thing we were looking for all along was an act with a wide appeal, somebody who was not slotted into one genre,” Fay said. “Tim McGraw has that wide appeal. He’s had the network specials, he starred with Sandra Bullock in the movie The Blind Side, he has a big following, not strictly a country following.”

McGraw is also a huge NFL fan.

“North Texas has an obvious passion for both music and football,” McGraw said, “and it will be an unbelievable experience to be a part of the official countdown to Super Bowl XLV. This will be more than simply a concert, but rather a celebration, and Cowboys Stadium is the perfect venue.”

Nobody is going to forget the reason for this event: It really is the kickoff to the NFL’s regular season. And at the end of this season, Super Bowl XLV will be played at Cowboys Stadium.

“I think it’s important that each one of the three concerts has not just been a matter of us opening the door and putting an act out there,” Fay said. “Everything we’ve done, we’ve been very conscious of trying to bring it back to the Super Bowl. Whether it be Joe Buck and Troy Aikman hosting Faith Hill at Bass Hall, or Cowboys legends hosting for Sting, we’ve brought it back to the sports page, which is what it’s all about.”

Whoever thought a family of four could walk into Cowboys Stadium for $100 bucks? The bang is coming this fall.

Smiles for Habitat a Big Success

Sam Moore — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:59:06 +0000

The Smiles for Habitat Concert and Family Festival held this past Memorial Weekend was bigger than its first two events in 2008 and 2009 setting a new record for both attendance and revenue.

Despite a delayed start because of lightning, the concert and festival were an immense success. Drawing a crowd of 12,000 fans, Smiles for Habitat eclipsed its 2009 attendance of 8,000. Sales of t-shirts, raffle tickets, and concessions during the concert event brought in $40,000, more than doubling the concert’s 2009 proceeds.

Following a Memorial Day tribute which included a powerful rendition of the National Anthem by former Nashville singer Christie Taylor and a flyover by World War II era airplanes, the concert began with McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller issuing a proclamation declaring the Sunday before Memorial Day as Smiles for Habitat Day in McKinney. Maylee Thomas, who performed with her band during the concert, helped Mr. Loughmiller celebrate his 50th birthday on stage by leading McKinney residents in singing “Happy Birthday.” The drum line from McKinney Boyd High School performed while athletes from all three McKinney high schools carried collection buckets throughout the crowd.

The concert featured three bands to entertain the crowd. The opening band, sponsored by Dodie’s Place Sports Grill, was Dallas-based guitar virtuoso Tommy Katona. Following Mr. Katona was McKinney favorite The Maylee Thomas Band. Headlining the evening was Gavin DeGraw who entertained thousands of fans with his upbeat original music. Screaming fans enjoyed his performance and lined up to get his autograph after the concert. Mr. DeGraw says he had a “blast on stage and is very happy to have been a part of this event.”

The festival entertained thousands of local children and featured rock climbing, bounce houses, Games 2U video games, and the ever popular large inflatable hamster balls. Entertainment Photography, the official event photographer, is selling photographs of the concert and festival and will donate fifty percent of its sales of Smiles for Habitat pictures back to the charity. Proceeds from the 2010 Smiles for Habitat Concert and Family Festival will go towards the Habitat for Humanity home of McKinney resident Tracy Sawyer and her two sons, Eric and Josiah. Tracy, an Alzheimer’s nurse at Provident Living Center in McKinney, received a presentation on stage from Smiles for Habitat founder Dr. Jennifer Buchanan.

The 2010 Smiles for Habitat Concert and Family Festival was made possible by generous donations from local businesses and corporate sponsors such as Simpson Strong Tie, Dr. Jennifer Buchanan, Pogue Construction, Crest Auto Group, Torchmark, Dr. Don Nix, Zimmer Wilson Phillips, Dodie’s Place Sports Grill, KLAK 97.5, Independent Bank, RSC Equipment Rental, Medical Center of McKinney, HGTV, Chili’s Restaurants of McKinney, Print Right, Olive Garden, MediaGrafix, and many more. Under the direction of founder Dr. Jennifer Buchanan, Smiles for Habitat was organized by twelve dedicated McKinney women who share her vision and friendship. Additionally, more than one hundred McKinney residents volunteered their time before and during the concert to ensure the event ran smoothly and safely.

The mission of Smiles for Habitat is to bring the community together to change the world one family, one home at a time. By offering free admission to the concert and festival, Smiles for Habitat encourages the entire community to be involved and to donate at their own level. The stories told by families realizing their dream of home ownership thanks to Smiles for Habitat and the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity generate smiles that last a lifetime. For more information about this year’s concert or to become involved in the 2011 event, please visit www.smilesforhabitat.org.

Texas Music Special on PBS Honors Troops

Sam Moore — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Austin, TX — “Texas Burning: A Lone Star Salute to Our Troops,” the award-winning concert special commemorating the opening of San Antonio’s Center for the Intrepid, is premiering on Texas PBS stations over the next few weeks.

Houston PBS Channel 9 began by broadcasting the one-hour program Monday, May 24, followed by Killeen’s KNCT-TV at 10 p.m. Sunday, May 30, and San Antonio’s KLRN-TV at 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 2. Each has a viewing party or sneak preview attached.

The concert was recorded live at the historical Charline McCombs Empire Theatre in San Antonio in 2007, days before the dedication ceremony of the state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility for seriously wounded troops at Brooke Army Medical Center. It showcases seven impressive Texas- and Gulf Coast-based artists who perform in a variety of musical genres.

“The unique mix of talented musicians, performing in honor of the military and their families, creates a compelling concert special. It’s a great way to begin the week leading to Memorial Day weekend,” says Andrea McKenna, assistant director of programming for Houston’s KUHT.

The show is hosted by Austin’s Patricia Vonne and Sam Baker, who both also performed. “It was a very special night of music in recognition of our brave troops and their loved ones. We hope everyone will tune in and join us in saying ‘thank you’,” says Vonne. Her song, “Texas Burning,” is the origin of the show’s title and its theme song. Guitar goddess Carolyn Wonderland, internationally renowned blues player Sherman Robertson, GRAMMY nominee Ruthie Foster, singer-songwriter Shannon McNally and New Orleans’ Swedish chanteuse Theresa Andersson are also featured.

Blues player Sherman Robertson

It is the first project produced by Houston-based Rampant Entertainment. The program is being submitted to the National Educational Telecommunications Association, known as NETA, for national distribution to more than 350 public television stations. Executive producer Anthony Cutrona, a Houston-based attorney, anticipates that many TV stations, especially those serving large military communities, will begin airing the program later this summer. “By the time Veteran’s Day rolls around in November, we hope to have hundreds of stations offering ‘A Lone Star Salute to Our Troops’,” he says.

John Frazier of Houston’s Rollin’ Films, was the director and producer of the concert video. He and Cutrona were recipients of an award for Best Music Video in the Shows/Specials category at the 2007 Houston WorldFest International Film Festival. The program was partially underwritten by House of Blues, Restorative Health Care (based in San Antonio), Marshall Sound Design (based in Dallas) and the Houston Blues Society.

KNCT-Killeen will air the show following PBS’ National Memorial Day Concert live broadcast from Washington, D.C.

The concert special includes introductory footage of wounded warriors being treated at the Center for the Intrepid. Hundreds of military personnel, catastrophically injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been treated there during the past three years.

The live concert audience included many soldiers and family members. Rampant Entertainment donated seating to troops stationed in the San Antonio area, and all ticket proceeds were donated to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization with headquarters in San Antonio that provides support to the families of deployed soldiers.

A DVD of the one-hour program will be offered for sale during the PBS broadcasts. Rampant Entertainment will release the complete three-hour concert DVD and Blu-ray disc for sale later in the summer. It will include 30 songs, with three in Spanish, and features a number of duets and collaborations, along with behind-the-scenes footage.

Rampant Entertainment plans to develop “Texas Burning” into a televised concert series by recording a concert annually in Houston and San Antonio. It hopes to shoot its first “Texas Burning: Live from Houston” concert at Rockefeller Hall, the historical venue formerly known as Rockefeller’s Nightclub, later this year.

Country Throwdown Cancels Texas Dates

Sam Moore — Sat, 29 May 2010 02:30:32 +0000

Country Throwdown is dead for the two largest markets in Texas.

The Country Throwdown Tour has cancelled four upcoming shows: Houston (June 9), Dallas (June 10), San Diego and Phoenix. In addition, the Bakersfield date (originally set for June16) has now moved to Friday, June 18. Tickets from the Houston, Dallas, San Diego and Phoenix shows will be honored at all other Throwdown tour dates (Except Bakersfield) and refunds are also available at the point of purchase.

Tour Producer Kevin Lyman said, “After many attempts to keep these shows, we’re regretfully unable to bring Throwdown to these four markets.” Lyman cites the following reasons for the cancelations of shows: “Low tickets sales and too many shows competing with one another. We are trying to bring a festival style tour with 21 artists, at a reasonable and fair ticket price (average ticket cost $31), but because most markets are currently flooded with shows, we end up cannibalizing one another and someone ends up with lower ticket sales.” Kevin adds, “As a result, we can’t afford to keep the show on the road for ALL of its intended dates. It’s a first year tour and we expected year one to be full of key lessons, so that next year– and there will be a next year–is even better.”

The Country Throwdown Tour has seen crowds as large at 13,500 already. Fans and bands have expressed huge enthusiasm about the concept. Lyman asks fans in the above canceled markets to accept “our sincere apologies” and if they can’t make it to one of the remaining Throwdown shows, “expect to see us back in those markets next year.”

The tour features some of the most popular acts in country music, such as Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Heidi Newfield. It also includes two of the biggest national acts with Texas roots: Jack Ingram and the Eli Young Band.

Smiles for Habitat Founder Says Thanks with Texas Music Festival

Sam Moore — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:39:47 +0000

One dentist can make a difference.

What does this mean, and what does it have to do with Texas music? Read on to find out.

Dr. Jennifer Buchanan operates her practice from her office in McKinney. She also is the founder of Smiles for Habitat, a group dedicated to funding the construction of homes in the Habitat for Humanity program.

Dr. Jennifer Buchanan and 2009 Habitat home recipients

So far, Smiles for Habitat has been responsible for placing two families in new homes. Last year, an elementary school custodian – who had never lived in a house of his own – moved his wife and two children into their brand new home. And thanks to Habitat, a McKinney woman and her two kids also have a new place to call home.

Dr. Buchanan does more than help build houses; she does much more. She says “thank you” to everyone who helps make the dream possible, in a most Texas-like way.

For the third straight year, Dr. Buchanan will host her Smiles for Habitat and Family Festival, behind her offices at 6595 W. Virginia Parkway in McKinney. The event always takes place the Sunday before Memorial Day, from 5-10pm.

Little Big Town 2009 Festival

Two years ago, Chris Cagle performed. Last year, the headline act was Little Big Town. I was shocked that such a big name group would come to play a concert for a McKinney dentist in a field behind her office. But if you’ve ever met Dr. Buchanan, you wouldn’t be so surprised. First, she thinks big. Second, she rarely takes “no” for an answer. Third, her efforts go toward an incredible cause.

Gavin DeGraw

This year, Sunday to be exact, the concert headliner is Gavin DeGraw. There is no entry charge for the event. However, festival goers are encouraged to donate what they can. Proceeds go to the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity. The event has averaged more than 7,000 annually in attendance so far.

This is definitely a family-friendly festival, with rides and games for the kids. A flyover of vintage Would War II-era planes will honor America’s veterans. The Marlee Thomas Band will kick off the entertainment. And following DeGraw’s performance, the event will conclude with a brilliant fireworks display.

Throughout the concert event, raffle winners will be announced for items such as a Darius Rucker autographed guitar, Sugarland autographed guitar, Jonas Brothers autographed book and t-shirt, 2 tickets to the September 4th John Mayer concert at the Superpages.com Center, Rascal Flatts autographed CD, Jeff Gordon autographed die-cast car, Gavin DeGraw autographed CD, a Kindle, an iPod Touch, and much more. Raffle tickets are pre-selling now at Dr. Buchanan’s office but will also be on sale during the concert. Visit www.smilesforhabitat.org for more information.

Dr. Buchanan and her team of volunteers are a perfect example of what it takes to give, and what you can get in return. This Sunday, her favorite saying will be on display: Build a Home, Create a Smile, Change the World.

Levitt Opens Summer Series with Firefall

Sam Moore — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:35:19 +0000

Firefall, one of the most popular pop bands from the 1970s and ‘80s, opens the free summer concert series tonight at the Levitt Pavillion in Arlington.

Firefall

Among the hits by Firefall are “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You,” “Cinderella” and “Strange Way.” The show begins at 8pm. The band is sponsored by the Sanford House Inn and Spa.

Tomorrow night, the Levitt welcomes The Tejas Brothers, sponsored by Al Clark State Farm Insurance. Since their first album in 2008 went number two in the nation on the Americana charts, The Tejas Brothers have been making the accordion cool with an original sound born on a little stage in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The high-energy band breaks musical boundaries with a show that’s packed with original tunes, catchy melodies and unforgettable hooks with a sprinkling of new spice given to familiar classics. The Tejas Brothers are fun, funny, amazing, breathtaking, inspiring, and honest – making their audiences fall in love with them at every performance!

With a sound dancing between gut-bucket soul and N’awlins grit-down funk and horn-fueled Motown pop, Mingo Fishtrap is an anomaly in contemporary music. You can hear their indescribable brand of music as they finish the Levitt Pavilion’s opening weekend on Sunday. With each new recording, the group gravitates more toward its 1967 musical roots. In their time together since their University of North Texas jazz studies days, Mingo Fishtrap has performed with such artists as Sting, Blues Traveler, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Little Feat and Johnny Lang. Mingo is an infectious marriage of classic soul sounds and gritty, horn-driven funky stuff.

For more information, visit www.levittpavilionarlington.org.

Music City Texas Theater Hosts New Comedy Show

Sam Moore — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:44:35 +0000

Three nationally known musical comedians have secretly banded together as a trio to bring you one of the most entertaining comedy experiences since Blue Collar Comedy. James Lee Reeves, Denny Johnston and Richard Bowden have teamed up to form “The Smoldering Embers,” touting the motto, “We Ain’t Done Yet.”

Smoldering Embers

James Lee Reeves, well known for his character “Professor Milo Tremley,” has headlined America’s flagship comedy clubs for over two decades and made many comedy recordings for the nation’s popular morning radio shows. As an actor, James made guest appearances on ‘70′s television shows such as “Kung Fu” and the James Garner series “Nichols.” He has performed at Farm Aid with Willie Nelson, plus a couple of Willie’s July 4th picnics in Luckenbach, TX. He has headlined such Las Vegas casinos as The Dunes, The Aladdin, The Golden Nugget, The Rio, The Sands and The Riviera. James was one of the first acts to perform regularly at the Comedy Store in Hollywood along with the likes of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Robin Williams and Billy Crystal. He was among the first to bring funny songs to the Bob & Tom show. During the Gulf War, his song “Kick Ass USA” was a huge hit on Bob & Tom and the #1 most requested song for all of 1991 on the Dr. Demento Show.

Denny Johnston won Showtime’s Big L.A. Laff-Off out of the 109 comedians who signed up. He has appeared on The Tonight Show and Late Night with David Letterman. Denny’s other television credits include Evening At The Improv, Good Morning America, Merv Griffin (11 shows), Comedy Central, Arsenio Hall, A & E Comedy Channel and Make Me Laugh (20 shows). He has also appeared on the Television Specials, “SELL OUT” (a Showtime SPECIAL for Denny), the HBO Special “Chevy Chase and Friends,” and won Showtime’s game show “LAFF-A-THON” (and as he says, most importantly… he painted Kenny Rogers’ house). Denny has opened shows for Michael Bolton, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kenny G., Julio Iglesias, George Jones, Kenny Loggins, Seals & Croft and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Richard Bowden was the co-founder of the musical comedy duo of Pinkard & Bowden, who recorded 5 albums for Warner Bros. Records throughout the Eighties and Nineties. His comedy songs with Pinkard & Bowden reached the national charts with titles such as “Mama, She’s Lazy” and “She Thinks I Steal Cars.” Live cuts like “Help Me Make It Through The Yard” and “I’ve Got Friends In Crawlspaces” became morning radio hits nationwide and can still be heard on such great nationally syndicated radio shows as the Bob & Tom Show and the Johnboy & Billy Big Show. Bowden’s solo CD cuts are now being heard on Sirius/XM Radio. Before embarking upon a comedy career, Richard provided lead guitar skills for such rock artists as Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg, Roger McGuinn (Byrds) and Johnny Rivers. He has also recorded on albums for Stevie Nicks, Commander Cody, Johnny Rodriguez, Doug Kershaw and sang backup vocals with Bonnie Raitt on the “Urban Cowboy” soundtrack album.

“We are all 64 years old and we’re finally doing something we’ve been threatening to do for the better part of a decade. We’ve always made each other laugh. This is something that we just plain want to do,” says Richard Bowden, Executive Director at the Music City Texas Theater. “It dawned on us,” added Bowden,“ that there are millions of us 55 and older that have been left sitting in the dust by the nation’s current comedy scene. We are not interested in a thirty-something year old comic, using dude every other word, talking about text messaging or sexting or some other Nouveaux- techno stuff that holds nothing for us electronically challenged fuddy duddies.”

Reeves currently resides in Reno, NV, and Johnston in La Quinta, CA, near Palm Springs. They will be converging on Linden in a few days to do a little fishing before the show on Saturday. The show will also be professionally video taped for a promotional video. “Because of the demographic we are targeting,” says Bowden, “we plan to keep the material no more risqué than “PG-13” … is that still a rating?”

Combining their musical skills with their comedic expertise for the “Smoldering Embers,” the trio is sure to provide the audience with more laughs per second than any other comedy act working today. This is a “MUST SEE” comedy performance.

For tickets and information, contact the Music City Texas Theater at 903-756-9934 or by email at LindenMCT@aol.com. Visit the theater’s website at www.musiccitytexas.org for a complete lineup of events. MCT is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization classified by the IRS as a public charity, and as such, all donations, including tickets, are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. Call the theater, inquire about the Patron and Corporate Sponsor programs and become a part of this great entertainment venue.

Awards Provide Wealth of Texas Music Stories Waiting to Be Told

Sam Moore — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:10:39 +0000

I think it is safe to say that most everyone knows that Texas is a hotbed for music. That is one of the reasons, for example, that Texas Music Reporter is even in existence. Saturday’s Texas Music Awards provided an example of why we do what we do.

This year’s awards were presented in Marshall’s Civic Center. The purpose of the Texas Music Awards is to honor members of the Academy of Texas Music, independent singers, songwriters and musicians who work to make this state known as the best source of entertainment in the country.

The vast majority of those who had been nominated were in attendance. And many of them had an opportunity to perform during the ceremonies. Every performance was a demonstration of what makes Texas music so special.

From the opening curtain, with Michael Martin Murphey performing with his son, Ryan (who would later win the Producer of the Year award) to the final concert performance by superstar BJ Thomas, audience members were entertained for more than five hours. And I believe most people would have stayed for more.

Texas Music Reporter was represented by a four-member team to provide in depth coverage – not just the event, but the people behind the event. In the coming days and weeks, we will bring you those stories, along with photographs and video. I know I came away from the experience feeling great about Texas music. I hope you will, too, as you see our coverage.

Texas Music Awards Coming Up Saturday

Sam Moore — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:48:09 +0000

Tickets can still be purchased at the door for Saturday’s Texas Music Awards in Marshall.

Cost of a ticket begins at $20. Ticket holders will also gain access to a special concert by B.J. Thomas following the award ceremony at the Marshall Convention Center.

The show, presented this year by Northeast Texas-based MyTexasMusic.com, the retail partner of the show’s production company, Payline Productions, presents awards to independent Texas performers in several categories.

The annual event also serves as the main fundraiser for the non-profit Academy of Texas Music, Inc. which seeks sponsorships and donations to further its efforts toward music education programs, scholarships, recognition projects, and benevolence programs for musicians in need.

Prior to the awards, nominees will participate in a “red carpet” entrance, beginning at noon. The awards presentation starts at 2pm. B.J. Thomas will begin at approximately 6pm.

Scheduled to perform at the awards show on Saturday are Michael Martin Murphey with Ryan Murphey and Richard Bowden, Blue Condition, Dewey Wayne Band, Big John Mills, James Lann Band, Josh Langston Band, Robert Frith Band, Shake Russell Trio, Thomas Michael Riley, David Lutes, Jessica Shepherd, Matt Harlan, Christen Sawyer, Bo Carter, Katherine Dawn, and John Arthur Martinez.

For more information, visit www.texasmusicawards.org.

Music at The Bridge

Tue, 11 May 2010 01:36:10 +0000

Recently, David Schechter of WFAA reported on efforts by the City of Dallas to battle chronic homelessness and highlighted The Bridge Homeless Assistance Center. Musicianary John Tracy is excited to be a part of a group of musicians and singer-songwriters who share their gift every Tuesday during lunch with the homeless population visiting The Bridge. He will be there again on May 11 from 11:30 to 1:00 and finds that his participation in this project really keeps his life and mission in perspective and provides an outlet for him to give to a community who might otherwise be overlooked.

Organized by John Fleming, Senior Pastor at Buckingham United Methodist Church, this program seeks to share the message of hope through music and provide a break in the every day routine of the chronically homeless that frequent The Bridge.

For more information on this music program and the artists who participate, contact John Fleming at revjohnf@verizon.net. For more information on musicianary John Tracy, visit www.johntracymusic.com.

Brian Cutean In Austin – CD Release Guitarred and Feathered

Listen — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:02:01 +0000

Brian Cutean was a mainstay of the the Austin music landscape in the 80’s and early 90s regularly featured at places like Chicago House, Maggie Mae’s, The Cactus Café, The Other Side, Folkville and other venerable venues. Now based in the Pacific Northwest, he performs, writes and tours, making a Texas trip once a year in spring.

The Austin concert this year is celebrating his new wordless guitar album, Guitarred and Feathered, just released this March. The concert is Sunday May 16 at Café Caffeine, 909 W. Mary. The concert is from 4:30-7pm and all ages are welcome. Tickets are $5 – $10 sliding scale and no one will turned away for lack of funds. Brian will be accompanied by long time sideman, Austin bassist Robert Vignaud.

After five albums and nearly 30 years of award-winning songwriting, performing wordplay, metafables and stories, the Oregon troubadour’s wordless guitar music is music for mindheartsouls to sing along with. The new recording is one guitar, a whirl of musical ideas and the sound of hands, wound wires and wood. A breather from a world shrill with opinions, instant message me-me-me blogs and 24 hour news chatter, Guitarred and Feathered is universal in every language and the stories it tells belong to everyone.

The album is already getting airplay from more than thirty radio stations around the globe and appeared as album of the week on Amarillo’s High Plains Public Radio in April. Host Johnny Black wrote: “This week’s A-List CD comes to us from a truly original singer/songwriter, Brian Cutean. His new album, Guitarred and Feathered is entirely instrumental and consists of amazing finger-style guitar compositions.”

QTN’s website is www.QTNRG.org. Songs from Guitarred and Feathered are posted for listening at myspace.com/QTNstrumentals. To contact Brian for interviews, more information, or a review CD, email QTNZYME@yahoo.com.

More Words About Wordlessness:

“Guitarred and Feathered soars with a vast array of interesting, creative ideas that are beautifully presented. I quickly forgave Brian for omitting his uniquely brilliant wordplay as his guitar dances, contemplates and jests with QTN magic.” – Mike Meyer, KMHD-fm, Oregon Public Broadcasting

“Guitarred & Feathered is a pleasant surprise from Brian Cutean. Many singer/ songwriters’ ability as musicians are often overshadowed by their focus on writing and singing. This instrumental album shows another side of this musician who can really play guitar and does it well. The album does not sound like he is trying to showcase that talent as much as trying to write great songs where the guitar is the voice instead of his singing voice. Plenty of fine playing too… Highly recommended.” – Terry Currier, Owner, Music Millennium Records

“Brian is one of those rare guitarists who possesses a ‘signature touch’ that can be recognized in a moment. That touch makes no secret of his love affair with the guitar and it bubbles up in each delightful composition on this CD…A splendid piece of work that will always be a jewel in my collection.” – Kelly Mulhollan, Musician, from Still on the Hill

“Brian QTN is a wandering wordplay troubadour whose crafty lyrics and verbal punnery deflects attention from his soulful and sprightly guitar work. At times soothing, at times jaunty and whimsical, QTN’s solo guitar is like a soft feather bed that tickles your sweet spot while welcoming you home.” – Lisa Lepine, ProMOTION

“QTN is the guitarist with one foot in the groove!” – DE Knight, Seraphic Park

Austin Plans a Healthy Celebration

Sam Moore — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:13:33 +0000

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians is celebrating!

The organization that prides itself on keeping music in Austin alive and well – literally – is hosting the HAAM 5th Anniversary RockStar Brunch, Sunday, May 23 from noon to 2pm. It will be held at the Zilker Clubhouse, 200 Zilker Clubhouse Road, off Rollingwood Drive.

Music will be provided by Ocote Soul Sounds. Tickets are $50 and available at http://tickets.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?a=1&lid=42940&eid=49706

For More information, visit www.myhaam.org.

Big Names and Growing Bands Deliver at Edgefest

Sam Moore — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:42:26 +0000

For the past 18 years, KDGE (The Edge) has brought together some of the best in mainstream rock for their annual Edgefest music fest. This year was no exception as rock icons such as Courtney Love, Limp Bizkit and The Deftones performed for more than 17,000 Texans May 1 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco.

Edgefest

Splitting the park in half with two stages and 14 bands, The Edge by far exceeded last year’s festivities with a solid lineup of second stage bands, including Cage the Elephant, Metric and Phoenix, who encouraged a rather large following at the side stage.

Hole

Love her or hate her, Courtney Love and her band Hole were the most highly anticipated performers of the day. Giving up hope of ever seeing Hole perform live back in the late ‘90s, I was happy to indulge once again into those angst-driven years where Doc Martins, flannel tops and Nirvana ruled my life.

Belting out a prolific set of mid to late ‘90s post-grunge rock hits, such as “Skinny Little Bitch” and “Celebrity Skin,” Hole managed to rile the crowd; however, it was the slowly unwinding composure of lead vocalist Love that captured the entire crowd’s attention.

There could not have been two better bands to follow Hole’s performance. Spiritually-rich Switchfoot and Texas-based Flyleaf filled the air with an uplifting message and powerful set.

Switchfoot

Serving as one of the first dates on their Unite and Fight tour, which kicked off earlier in the week, Flyleaf had the crowd screaming the lyrics to the heavy and punctuated guitars of “Fully Alive” as vocalist Lacey Sturm twirled around the stage in a white and black lace dress and sparkly TOMS canvas shoes.

The band performed hits from both their debut album and latest offering, Momento Mori. It put to rest any doubts fans had about the recovery of front-woman Sturm’s voice, thanks to the flawless delivery of lyrics and some of the longest growls I have heard to date.

The Deftones

Perhaps one of the most anticipated moments of the music festival might have belonged to rock legends The Deftones. Rapid guitars, heavy double bass drums and spine-splitting screams demonstrated why The Deftones are one of the greatest rock acts in history. Their time-tested sound was obvious gazing mesmerized fans, including Pat Seals, bassist to Flyleaf who stood with the crowd enjoying the sound.

While I would have liked for The Deftones to have been the highlight of the evening, it was the over-the-top set by American-rock band 30 Seconds to Mars that stole the show. Taking up not only the main stage, but the entire Pizza Hut Park, lead singer Jarod Leto exhausted the crowd and sent roadies running to buses with videos of his performance.

Their latest hit, “Kings and Queens,” built a buzz among the crowd while the epic guitar slowly built the track from beginning to end. However, the most memorable portion of 30 Seconds to Mars came during the acoustic performance of their biggest hit, “The Kill,” where Leto unexpectedly sprung from the stage and spent the remainder of the set roaming around the arena.

With such awards as Number 1 Artist in Airplay by Mediabase and Artist of the Year by Billboard, Canadian rock band Three Days Grace was a real treat for Dallas. Having seen this band earlier in the week in Belton, I was a little less than psyched for their performance. However, when their red lights began to flash and Johnny Cash filled my ears, I found myself running across the park in time to catch their set.

Heavy guitars and fast-driving drums delivered the signature sound of Three Days Grace as the band put on one of the most visually stunning performances of the evening. Most engaged during the performance of “Hate,” the crowd jumped up and down and screamed along with the band. Despite my previous apprehension, it is hard not to acknowledge this band’s ability to put on an amazing show.

Limp Bizkit

Controversial event headliner Limp Bizkit took the stage, infusing rock and rap onto a crowd that still managed to be amazed after more than 10 hours of rock. Despite questioning why this “come-back” landed the main slot on the bill, not a body in the crowd was still as Limp Bizkit unleashed hit after hit.

While some may criticize the more than solid lineup of artists who performed at Edgefest 20, this year’s music fest was filled with both long-standing and up-and-coming bands who delivered an amazing day of music for Texas.

For more information on Edgefest 20 and future Edge events visit www.kdge.com

For more photographs from the event visit http://slrphotography.smugmug.com/Music/edgefest2010/12039979_9NvFZ

Texas Music Concert to Benefit Stabbing Victim

Sam Moore — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:46:38 +0000

Texas music stars are coming to the aid of the victim of a senseless crime.

Billy Bob’s Texas will host a special Mother’s Day performance, Texas Music Jam. Proceeds will benefit Brandi Todd. The 28-year-old was attacked in a Stephenville City Park while she watched her two children play. The random attack – her spinal cord was severed – has left her paralyzed.

Brandi Todd

Among the performers scheduled on Mother’s Day evening in Fort Worth are Jack Ingram, Charlie Robison and Zona Jones. Other singers not yet named will also join in.

In addition to the music, a live auction will certainly draw a lot of interests. Items for sale will include World Series tickets, Super Bowl tickets, and a private concert with Jack Ingram.

Tickets are $25. The Texas Music Jam will begin at 5pm. For more information, visit www.billybobstexas.com.

Texas Musician Returns Home for Performance

Sam Moore — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:38:59 +0000

Next month’s installment of the Kenneth Threadgill Concert Series will have a distinctively hometown flavor. Ben Kweller comes home to headline The Threadgill Series on Saturday evening, May 22nd inside the historic Municipal Auditorium in Downtown Greenville.

From his days in Radish through his solo albums, Kweller has been called everything from balladeer to punk rocker, anti-folker to indie-popper. On his latest album Changing Horses, Kweller turns toward country music, which was a major influence while growing up in Greenville.

Ben Kweller

Like Kenneth Threadgill, Kweller has roots in Greenville and Austin. Changing Horses was recorded in Austin, where he moved with his family after several years in New York.

This will be a special evening for Ben to perform at a venue he knows well, in front of fans, friends and family. He will showcase his acoustic side on the Steinway grand piano and Epiphone Texan guitar. His set, like Dylan, will also go electric, with help from his friend and former Radish collaborator, John David Kent. In addition to backing Kweller, John David Kent and The Dumb Angels will perform a set of their own music.

Influenced by the country and classic rock he grew up on, Kent formed the Dumb Angels in 2008 and began recording what he calls the most honest music he’s ever written. “My Girl”, the band’s first single, garnered immediate attention with heavy airplay on 95.3 FM the Range in the Dallas area. The video for “My Girl” became the “pick of the week” on CMT.com and was added to CMT’s Pure Country rotation.

Rounding out the bill is Austin’s The Band of Heathens, which features three frontmen and another Greenville native (John Chipman, drums). Named the Best New Band at the 2007 Austin Music Awards, the group has moved from relative obscurity to playing 250 dates a year for their rabid fan base. Like Kweller, they have performed on PBS’ long running show Austin City Limits. Their new album One Foot in the Ether demonstrates their evolution into a band worthy of the comparisons they receive to the Black Crowes, Little Feat and the Band.

Tickets are now on sale through Front Gate Tickets, 888-512-SHOW and www.frontgatetickets.com , as well as at Bill’s Records and CD World in Dallas and at Cavender’s, Magic Bubble and Calico Cat in Greenville. Limited tickets are available in the front reserved section. Advance tickets are $15-25. Tickets will also be available at the door from $20-30.

A Look Back at South by So What in Dallas

Sam Moore — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:41:35 +0000

By Bianca Montes

While thousands of music fans were ready to greet Austin’s annual South by Southwest conference, Dallas locals were treated March 14 to South by So What, a one-day music festival put on by Plano-based Third String Productions (TSP).

A lot of changes went into this year’s festival, including a more metallic line-up, compared with previous year’s punk-themed events. The biggest improvement, however, was the change in location. For the past two years the festival was held at the Plano Centre, but moved to Dr. Pepper Arena following TSP’s positive experience with Unsilent Night.

“We were really surprised at how good it sounded, for a hockey rink — like a regular music venue,” Harrison Blum, a spokesman for the promoter, said in an interview with Pegasus News.

I did not attend Unsilent Night, and cannot speak for the sound quality then. But judging from the sound at this performance, I was left somewhat unimpressed.

I arrived at the venue after 1 p.m., to avoid a few opening acts I wasn’t interested in seeing,. I walked into the set of Dallas-based A Tragedy At Hand. While they lack experience of band’s to follow and their instrumentation was a bit repetitive, I would not place them on the list of utter failures, such as From First to Last and A Skylit Drive.

Imagine Deas Vail having a baby with a sloppy version of Alesana, and you might have something that looks like the band, A Skylit Drive.

For the first few moments of the band’s performance, I was a bit shocked. I found the high-pitched vocals of lead singer Michael Jagmin awkward; had I not known better, I would have figured a girl was singing.

With a more than solid line-up of three headlining bands, one would not have expected stand-out artists such as Everyone Dies in Utah, Asking Alexandria, We Came as Romans and Of Mice and Men to perform on the same docket.

It was the performance of American Post-Hardcore band We Came as Romans that stole the show for me. With their flawless stream of instrumentation and precisely placed breakdowns, We Came as Romans perfectly evolved the sound of electronic-infused metalcore.

Rounding the top of the 22 bands that performed at South by So What were some of the best moments of the evening. However, North Carolina-based Alesana hands-down takes the cake for best and worst moments of the evening.

Leaving an arena chanting vulgarities is surely something Alesana does not encounter. But thanks to a lot of sound problems and the producers cutting their set short, Dr. Pepper Arena was left with one angry audience.

What many bands lacked in stage presence, Alesana killed thanks to an over the top presence highlighted by out-of-this-world stage dives. The vocal range of lead singer Dennis Lee was amazingly showcased through vocal trade-offs and gut-wrenching death growls. Sadly, if there was any band I would have liked to see more of, this was the one.

Welsh rock band Attack Attack took the task of performing after the bitter exit of Alesana, and managed to keep the seriously hissed off crowd under wraps, thanks to involving them in the biggest chicken fight I have ever seen.

Ending the evening, California deathcore band Suicide Silence put on a brutal performance of out of control drums, driving bass and guitar and seriously impressive vocals.

While some may call this year’s festival a great success thanks to a solid line-up of national touring bands, others were turned off by sound issues and cut stage shows.

In spite of some issues that could have turned this year’s event into something difficult to get on with, South by So What left Frisco, Texas with an amazingly exhausting day of rock – who could ask for more?

Real Texas Festival Brings Back Memories

Sam Moore — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:42:15 +0000

As I was checking the calendar to see what was happening in Texas music this weekend, I was reminded of fond memories. This weekend is the Real Texas Festival in Mesquite. Friday night’s entertainment will once again be headlined by Kevin Fowler.

It was one year ago that the Texas Music Journal crew really got started in our efforts to interview some of the top Texas artists, when we sat down with Kevin Fowler in his tour bus. Kevin was very gracious, a trait we have found runs common through most Texas music stars. He gave us all the time we wanted – in this case, about 20 minutes for the interview.

During the interview, we kept smelling what had to be some really awesome barbecue. When we finished, Kevin asked what it was. His manager told him that a fan had participated in a barbecue cookoff on the grounds, and had brought a platter of ribs for Kevin and the gang to enjoy. He opened them up, smelled them, and immediately offered to let us join in. Of course, we did. And they were delicious!

The headline for that story was “Eating Ribs with Kevin Fowler.” It set the tone for many stories during the past year. Later, during his show, we had our first chance to see what a Kevin Fowler crowd was like. More than 1,000 screaming fans in an outdoor festival environment was amazing. It’s not every day you get to see a “husky” fan (about 300 pounds) wearing a muscle shirt that proudly proclaimed, “Don’t Touch My Willie!”

The next day, we also had opportunities to interview the Bart Crow Band and Willie Nelson’s daughter. Everyone was great and had wonderful stories to tell.

That is the point of what we do. We try to find out the stories behind the artists, and bring them to you, our readers. Soon, we hope you also become our listeners and our viewers, as we incorporate audio and video into our stories.

If you would like to check out that story from last year, go to http://texasmusicjournal.com/texas-music-genres/country/eating-ribs-with-kevin-fowler/.

This weekend, I will be in Austin. But I guarantee you, I will still be tasting those ribs!