03 Jun 09 The Heart of Melody – An Interview with Lena Shammas
This is the first of what we hope will be many articles written by Bill Aspinwall whose album, Free Range Trout, was reviewed by the Texas Music Journal (https://texasmusicjournal.com/texas-music-business/album-reviews/album-review-bill-aspinwall-range-trout). This article originally appeared in “Liner Notes”, the official webzine of the Houston Songwriter’s Association and is re-published with their permission. _________________________________________________________________________________ “The wealth of sense-knowledge belongs to perception, not to immediate certainty, where all that wealth was merely something alongside…
Posted by: baspinwall
Tags: Andre Cymone, Lena Shammas
28 May 09 IGNITE 2009 – An Awakening
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,…
Posted by: Rick Matos
Tags: Bethany Hoang, Billy Beacham, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Flyleaf, Francis Chan, IGNITE 2009, International Justice Ministries, Kari Jobe, Kirk Cameron, Sanctus Real, Student Discipleship Ministries, Zach Hunter
26 May 09 Anna Thomas – Matt Gaskins at Cafe Bohemia
Anna Thomas dazzled the audience at Café Bohemia in Plano, Texas on Saturday, May 23rd, with a selection of sultry jazz and lively pop standards and originals. Her originals highlighted songwriting capabilities that have come a long way in a short time. Thomas is only 13-years old. Of her originals, Thomas performed three notable songs, “Little Red” (a very sophisticated take-off on Little Red Riding Hood), “My Circle” (about comfort…
Posted by: John South
Tags: Anna Thomas, Matt Gaskins, NAMS, Neighborhood Arts and Music School
20 May 09 Album Review: Mike Darnell – The Promised Land
Mike Darnell brings us an offering of the “flues” as he calls it – a combination of Folk and the Blues. Like much of Texas music, it’s really the confluence of the many events, people and music that have impacted Darnell. He moved around the country as a youth and was impacted by folk and rock that he heard. Darnell counts “…Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Jackson…
Posted by: John South
Tags: Big Lizard Boys, Bill Aspinwall, Lloyd Daniel, Mike Darnell, Smythe and Taylor
17 May 09 Album Review – Bill Aspinwall “Free Range Trout”
Bill Aspinwall offers us an album that crosses a number of Texas musical styles including folk, pop and blues. He has brought together a talented set of friends to produce an album that highlights their versatility and creativity including Gibson, the dog and Satchmo, the cat (highlighted in “Mister Crippen’s Banjo”). This is the first of two albums that we will be reviewing that were recorded by Lloyd Daniel at…
Posted by: John South
Tags: Bill Aspinwall, Free Range Trout, Lloyd Daniel, Mike Darnell, Smythe and Taylor
10 May 09 Album Review: Connie Mims “Go Deep”
At the recent Texas Music Awards, Connie Mims was named Songwriter of Year. Though that is an honor in itself, Connie also found herself that afternoon among a quintet of Houston songwriters, all excellent musicians and performers. This year, Connie stood out among that elite group of peers as the one selected to be Songwriter of the Year. Behind that award is a career of songwriting and performing that started…
Posted by: John South
Tags: Connie Mims, Songwriting
05 May 09 Rodney Atkins Takes Southern Junction by Storm
The storms hit pretty hard in North Texas this past weekend. At the leading edge of those storms was the thunderous performance of Rodney Atkins and his band at the Southern Junction. Over the course of about 90 minutes, Rodney brought the audience a mix of his hits often interacting with members of the audience. Rodney brings an infectious enthusiasm to the stage. You can tell that this is much more…
Posted by: John South
Tags: Rodney Atkins, Southern Junction
23 Apr 09 Album Review – Blues Rockers: For Adults Only
This album has been out for a while, but it is notable from several aspects – production value, the songwriting, and the performance. The versatility of the singer/songwriters comprising the Blues Rockers is evident in the diversity of compositions presented. From the heavy rock aspects of “Democracy” and “Window Pain” to the exquisitely heart-wrenching story in “Appletown” to the bluesy “Dreaming” and “Coins and Lace”, the musicians illustrate how flexible…
Posted by: John South
Tags: Appletown, Blues Rockers, Micheal Reames, Wayne Folse
21 Apr 09 The Quebe Sisters Band Appears on The Marty Stuart Show
The Quebe Sisters Band (Grace, Sophia and Hulda Quebe, Joey McKenzie, and Drew Phelps) recently traveled to Tennessee to play several shows. While there, they also recorded a 30-minute episode of The Mary Stuart Show which will air on RFD-TV on April 25th at 7 PM Central Time. Sherry McKenzie, QSB Entertainment, reports that it was like being on a “…hip Hew Haw [with] sparkly suits, vintage country music, square…
Posted by: John South
