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Three Chords and the Truth By Ronnie Narmour
I’ve been known to weep openly in Woody’s parking lot. I tried to spend as much time as I could at the Porch last weekend but the weather sucked and they closed early every night except Saturday when Mark Monaco (San Antonio, TX) played. This is probably the fourth or fifth time I’ve seen this band and I’ve about decided they are a pretty decent bar band. I love their fiddle player and their drummer (who plays on an abbreviated drum kit). Their material is all high energy, Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels type stuff. They are all acoustic and have excellent vocals and harmonies. I can see these guys working into a “heavy hitter’s” role next season.
ronnienarmour@gmail.com
J.T. Coldfire passes… Welcome to the band Good blues-stringin’ Heaven-fine singin’ Jesus, Mary and Joseph Been lis’nin’ to your playin’ Heaven done called Another blues-stringer back home
December 3, 2015
Island Moon got arrested. Congratulations on another great season at the Back Porch, guys. Have a good winter and we’ll see you all back in March.
DO NOT MISS LIST Robert Earl Keen at Brewster tonight…
without thinking of ratings and topping charts. Keen is set to appear this fall on season five of the nationally syndicated PBS television music event, Bluegrass Underground.” Keen will be joined on stage at Brewster by Johnny Chops of the Randy Rogers Band. The show starts at 9:00 PM.
Coming this weekend…
Back Porch closes for season…
Lord they called
Robert Earl Keen will play Brewster Street tonight.
Another blues-stringer back home Heaven done called Another blues-stringer back home
Kandice Turicchi had the honors of doing the artwork at this year’s Turkey Bowl J.T. Coldfire dead at 35. It is my dubious task to report to you that J.T. Coldfire (Uvalle) died last week at the tender age of 35. I’m beginning to feel like the grim reaper’s personal announcer. Death be knockin’ way too often this year. J.T. was a real deal bluesman. He played hard and took no prisoners. I’m sure Stevie and Albert Collins, Albert King and Freddy. Muddy and Lightnin’ too, are all playing the blues right now, welcoming J.T. into the lair. And I know Clifford is there with ‘em. Heaven’s going have to make some more room for J.T. Though he lived in Austin, his roots are from Corpus and there are many an exciting story around these parts about the young, handsome Coldfire dressed in black leather, walking the bar tops with his Strat behind his head. He was a born showman. The last couple of times he played Giggity’s this year, It was obvious that something was wrong. He was having problems getting to the gigs and didn’t look so good. Something was off from the way he usually commanded the room. When J.T. Coldfire played, all eyes were on him and he worked a room like the boss that he was. He had many, many friends in the coastal area and will be missed. His rosary & viewing is this Thursday night at 7pm at the Guardian Funeral Home of Corpus Christi. The funeral services will be on Friday morning at10am at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. R.I.P. my friend.
On Sunday, the Porch’s official last day open until March, was this year’s widely acclaimed 9th Annual Turkey Bowl. I got there early, just in time to watch Kandice Turicchi put the finishing touches on the artwork on the runway in front of the bowling pins. The manager, Burke Dawson and owner, Glenn Martin were on hand to pose for a few photos and sign autographs. By the time the event was ready to go, waitress Tracy Shores had signed up over 80 contestants. As always, Mayor Keith McMullen took on the MC duties and kept the tournament moving, which at times was like herding cats. The second round whittled down to 30 something contestants, of which three were Moon Monkeys: me, Jan Rankin and Miles Merwin. I made it to round three and Miles made it to round 4, but no cigar for us this year. A gentleman named David Downing from Corpus took home the trophy this year. BTW, thanks to the powers that be for better preparing the frozen turkeys this year. Can’t say enough good about duct tape. It was nice not having to look at giblets on the runway. All and all it was a smashing success. Nobody got hurt. Nobody
Mark Monaco and Strayheart played the Back Porck on Saturday
GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BAR IN PORT A
$
10.99
Free Beer Band
Dec. 3
Melissa Brooke Band
Dec. 4
James Little Band
Dec. 5
Antone & the All Stars
Dec. 6
Open Jam w/ Selfie
Dec. 7
Paul Taylor Band
Dec. 8
Stevie Start
Dec. 9
Open 11am-2am Daily. Kitchen open til 1am. 722 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX
Grilled Shrimp, Beef and Chicken
Catering for any Occasion Closed Monday 222 Beach St. Port A (361) 749-0022
Friday, December 4 Melissa Brooke @ Giggity’s Bubba Westly @ Shorty’s Jim Dugan @ The Gaff Spazmatics @ Brewster Street Flatbroke @ Rockits Brian Winfrey (6:30-9:30) @ Island Italian Toys for Tots @ House of Rock Saturday, December 5 James Little Band @ Giggity’s Ruben Limas @ Shorty’s Russell Edge @ The Gaff Another Level @ Brewster Street APEX @ Rockits Brian Winfrey (6:30-9:30) @ Island Italian Gatemouth, Noah & the Beyonders, Johnny 5 @ House of Rock
Designer & Builder of Food & Beverage Facilities
Lighted Pier in the Gulf of Mexico Pole Rentals
christophertoddjordan@gmail.com
Bait, Beer, Burgers & Wings
361-453-0147
Horace Caldwell Pier Port A 230 N. On the Beach (361) 749-5333
The James Little Band will play Giggity’s on Saturday It’s going to be a country music weekend on the island, so break out your boots and get ready for some scootin’. On Friday Red Dirt artist Bubba Westly (Boling, TX) will play a solo show at Shorty’s and ex-pat Melissa Brooke will play Giggity’s. You might remember Melissa as the fresh faced young country singer from Port Aransas that had started turning some heads around here. She relocated to Ft. Worth about a year ago and we haven’t seen much of her. This homecoming should be a barn burner. Also on Friday, our favorite basketball coach, Jim Dugan, will play the Gaff. On Saturday, the real deal country artist, James Little (Corpus Christi, TX) will play Giggity’s, local island fave, Ruben Limas will play Shorty’s and Russell “The Love Muscle” Edge will play the Gaff. Next week watch for shows by Ray Wylie Hubbard, The Independent Thieves, Picklefish, Todd Dorn, Buddy Trevino, Matt Hole and Aloha Dave. That ought to keep you busy for a while. ♫ ♪ And, that’s the truth ♪ ♫
Happy Holidays! Closed til March 132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront
Bubba Westly
Dec. 4
Ruben Limas
Dec. 5
Jim Dugan
Dec. 11
Selfie
Dec. 12
Stevie Start
Dec. 18
Billy Snipes
Dec. 19
OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas
Full Bar & Grill Live Music • Dog Friendly Caribbean Style Food Carol Elliott coming in January
361-945-9595, 118 Cut Off Rd., Port Aransas www.dropanchorportaransas.com
Monday, December 7 Open Jam w/ Selfie @ Giggity’s Through the Roots, Maoli, Tydings @ House of Rock
Thursday, December 10 Ruben Limas (6-9) @ Island Italian Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Sam Riggs @ Brewster Street Clarissa Serna @ Rockits Independent Thieves @ House of Rock
Friday, December 11 Brian Winfrey (6:30-9:30) @ Island Italian Picklefish @ Giggity’s Billy Snipes @ The Gaff Jim Dugan @ Shorty’s Ray Wylie Hubbard @ Third Coast Theater Splendiferous @ Brewster Street Flatbroke @ Rockits Riverboat Gamblers, Broken Gold @ House of Rock Saturday, December 12 Brian Winfrey (6:30-9:30) @ Island Italian Todd Dorn @ Giggity’s Belt Sander Races w/ Uncle Willey, Jim Dugan @ The Gaff Mandy Rowden @ Shorty’s Ray Wylie Hubbard @ Third Coast Theater Sing Along Piano Bar @ Brewster Street Another Level @ Rockits Shattered Sun, Memories in Broken Glass, Seed @ House of Rock Sunday, December 13 South Texas Grassroots @ Island Italian Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s CC Songwriters @ House of Rock CC Songwriter END OF THE YEAR BASH @ House of Rock Monday, December 14 Open Jam w/ Selfie @ Giggity’s Tuesday, December 15 Paul Taylor Band @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock
Tuesday, December 8 Paul Taylor Band @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock Wednesday, December 9 Stevie Start @ Giggity’s Scarecrow People, Arcade Hustlers @ House of Rock
CHRISTOPHER TODD JORDAN
Bubba Westly will play Shorty’s on Friday.
Live Music Tonight
Sunday, December 6 South Texas Grassroots @ Island Italian Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s
65 ft USCG certified passenger vessel Shady lower deck, sunny upper deck Clean restrooms, coolers welcome! Wheelchair accessible
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Melissa Brooke will play Giggity’s this Friday.
Thursday, December 3 Ruben Limas (6-9) @ Island Italian Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Robert Earl Keen @ Brewster Street Clarissa Serna @ Rockits
Mark Monaco & Strayheart… It is also my dubious task to report that my beloved Back Porch is officially closed until next March. I know it’s only three months, but I always go through a little adjusting period where I wander the streets lost and confused.
Tonight, Thursday the 3rd, Texas music ambassador, Robert Earl Keen (Bandera, TX) will bring his annual Christmas show to Brewster Street. In years past this meant the music and attire took on a distinct Christmas theme with the band dressing as such characters as Charles Dickens, Tiny Tim, The Three Kings and Bing Crosby. The opening act has been Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines in ugly Christmas sweaters and the REK band playing instrumental carols. This year Robert Earl is going bluegrass with no Christmas props. He has recently released a new bluegrass record entitled Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions. This is Keen’s 19th album. According to his press release, “In 2012, Robert Earl Keen was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame and has written songs for music superstars including George Strait and Nanci Griffith. In 2015, he was the first recipient of BMI’s official Troubadour Award, which honors songwriters who have written music full of passion and untamed creativity
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(361)290-7143 314 E. Ave. G www.bronsbeachcarts.com
The Gaff Beer ● Pizza ● Belt Sander Races (361) 749-5970
Wednesday, December 16 Buddy Trevino @ Giggity’s Billy Snipes @ The Gaff Scarecrow People, Arcade Hustlers @ House of Rock Thursday, December 17 Ruben Limas (6-9) @ Island Italian Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Kyle Park, John Baumann @ Brewster Street Clarissa Serna @ Rockits