A 18
Three Chords and the Truth
February 4, 2016
Island Moon
By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Let the good times roll… Since I’ve dedicated a good portion of my last two columns to informing you of the Mardi Gras parades and upcoming parties about to transpire in the next five days, I hope you got the memo because this will just be a brief summary… Barefoot Mardi Gras parade on the beach at N. Padre this Saturday at 11am followed by a wild party at the Veranda (Schlitterbahn) at 7:00 with the mighty, mighty Earfood Orchestra directing your revelry… mudbugs and hurricanes aplenty. Then on Tuesday, make that Fat Tuesday, the 20th Annual Mardi Gras parade will depart from the Gaff at 5:00 and wind around the streets of Port A spewing beads and Moon Pies. After the parade, Russell Edge will perform at the Gaff, John Boyd will play at Treasure Island and the big seven piece funky funky FunkaSaurus Tex (San Antonio, TX) will be laying down a funky funky groove at Giggity’s. I’m dying to tell you what Rockin’ Dale Rankin has up his Moon Monkey sleeve but he won’t let me. Just look for our army helmets. OK, everybody got that… its Mardi Gras time and you’ve been warned. Oh, and BTW, don’t forget to work Super Bowl Sunday in there somehow.
Treasure Island…
Ty Dietz and Tony Saracene played Shorty’s last Friday
DO NOT MISS LIST This weekend… Billy Snipes lost a bet. hard earned dollars. First of all, the place is gorgeous. Tommy and Linda did an excellent job of renovating the place. They completely gutted everything and rebuilt… and did it with style and attention to detail. The bathrooms are something out of Better Homes and Gardens. The place is comfortable and warm and still has that “new car” smell. Plus, they built another bar and a stage out in the beer garden and its set up perfectly for live music. So far they only have a couple of shows going, but from my observations, finding bands to play around here is not a problem. And when I say “they”, I really mean it. This couple, Tommy and Linda, did the lion’s share of the work themselves. Their pride was never more evident than when they gave me the grand tour. And ‘they” should be proud. The place is really nice. They should do well.
Behringer’s Landing…
Tommy and Linda Saad are the owners of the new Treasure Island Bar in Port A I have some big news (at least in my little arena) for Port A live music lovers and friends of the bar. We have a couple of new places in town. You may have noticed the new ads in the Live Music Tonight box. One just opened up and the other is doing their best to get there. Enter Treasure Island and Behringer’s Landing. Treasure Island is the new spot on Alister where the Tarpon Ice House was, next to the Art Center. We’ve watched this place being torn down and slowly remodeled for the last two years. If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me what was going on over there, I’d have at least $1.85 by now. But, I waited patiently for their doors to swing open, and they finally did last weekend, with little or no fanfare. It caught everyone by surprise. The owners, Tommy and Linda Saad, are a couple of Austin expats who decided to pull up roots from big city mania and invest in our little island. I asked them what they had planned to keep us entertained and separate us from our
And right down the street, just past the Whataburger, where many bars and restaurants have been in the past 30+ years (Neptunes, Ballyhoo, Le Bugaloo, Marcel’s, Meri’s Malibu, Ed’s Beachcomber), Steve and Brenda Behringer are in the throws of opening their first nightclub and restaurant, Behringer’s Landing. When I asked Steve what brought him to Port A, he told me it was the sea air and that he’d been coming here for 30 years. The couple hails from Decatur in north Texas and are friends with a number of the bands and musicians they plan to book in their new venue. He mentioned Larry Joe Taylor, The Tejas Brothers, Sam Riggs, Derryl Dodd and Mark McKinney. They’ve built a stage in the courtyard where a swimming pool once loomed and plan to do “two or three big shows a month plus some local bands”. Over on the restaurant side, Steve tells me that we also have a new BBQ joint about to open as they will be smoking meat, They’ll also be serving seafood, steaks and pasta dishes. The business will be non-smoking inside. The plan is to get the place open by the first of March, if all goes according to plan. When I was in there, there were workmen everywhere and it just felt like something big was in the making. I’ll let you know when it does.
Buddy Trevino with Matt Martinez and JM Muniz at Shorty’s last weekend
GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BAR
LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT Bad Buoys this Friday
IN PORT A
Buy Two Entrees & Get a Free Appetizer of your Choice
James Little this Saturday BIG MARDI GRAS PARTY THIS TUESDAY
WITH FUNKASAURAUS TEX Open 11am-2am Daily. Kitchen open til 1am. 722 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX
Trinity by the Sea The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!
With this Coupon
www.trinitybythesea.org
Not good with any other offer Catering for any Occasion Closed Monday 222 Beach St. Port A (361) 749-0022
433 Trojan St., Port Aransas Sundays 9 & 11 a.m.
65 ft USCG certified passenger vessel Shady lower deck, sunny upper deck Clean restrooms, coolers welcome! Wheelchair accessible
Best Rates Call for special pricing
(361)290-7143
Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines will play the 3rd Coast Theater this Saturday.
Steve Santos and the Duke E. Brown band On the prowl… I got out and about a bit last weekend. Buddy Trevino and his pals braved a chilly night on the porch at Shorty’s last Friday. Along with his regulars, J.M. Muniz (upright bass) and Cody Strong (drums), Buddy brought the Rev. Matt Martinez along on electric guitar. Matt hosts a weekly jam at the House of Rock in Corpus every week and is involved in the CC Songwriter’s group. Over at Giggity’s, Duke E. Brown was in town with their no nonsense R&B. Those boys are the real deal and Steve Santos is a monster. On Saturday, Ty Dietz and Tony Saracene kept us warm at Shorty’s with some textbook stomp and slide and Billy Snipes showed up to play the Drop Anchor dressed in a Denver Bronco’s cheerleading outfit that could only be described as sleazy. Apparently he lost a bet.
OK, you know about all the Mardi Gras stuff. On Friday, singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Carol Elliott will perform to her ever growing crowd at the Drop Anchor from 5-7 and the Bad Buoys will play the cooler side of classic rock at Giggity’s. Guitarist and singer Ron Baker has been on injured reserve with eye surgery, but I understand he’s back in action this weekend. On Saturday, the GRAMMY award winning Texas singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix, will play the Third Coast Theater in Port A. As always, she will be accompanied by the masterful Lloyd Maines on any number of stringed instruments. Terri is an artist that I’ve followed for 20 years and Lloyd even longer (he’s from my hometown Lubbock). She has just released her 15th recording, Love You Strong, on her self pioneered Willory Records label. It has been a treat to watch this lady blossom since the old days in San Antonio when she would come play my open mic. I actually have the distinction of giving Terri her first paying gig opening for Marcia Ball for a whopping $50. Terri Hendrix is not only an amazing artist, but an amazing person… full of love and creativity. And Lloyd Maines is one of the most baddist pickers to ever come out of Lubbock County. He’s also a horse thief and a train robber and I think he hung the moon. Respect. ♫ ♪ And, that’s the truth ♫ ♪
Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra will play the Veranda this Saturday
Live Music Tonight Thursday, February 4 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Flatbroke (acoustic) @ House of Rock Rich Lockhart @ Scuttlebutt’s Rudolpho Llanes @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Justin Fira Duo @ Rockit’s Whisky Bar Josh Ward, JR Castillo @ Brewster Street Billy Snipes @ Wild Horse Friday, February 5 Bad Buoys @ Giggity’s Emily Dale @ The Gaff Ty Dietz & Tony Saracene @ Shorty’s Billy Snipes @ Treasure Island Carol Elliott (5-7) @ Drop Anchor Spazmatics @ Brewster Street Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s Shadowmoon @ Katz 21 Electrotypes @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Clarissa Serna @ Rockit’s Whisky Bar Nightowls (tribute to Al Green), Arcade Hustlers @ House of Rock Saturday, February 6 Barefoot Mardi Gras Parade @ N. Padre Beach Ear Food @ Schlitterbahn Russell Edge @ The Gaff Billy Snipes @ Drop Anchor James Little @ Giggity’s Janel @ Scuttlebutt’s Selfie @ Shorty’s Cuveralls @ Katz 21 Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines @ Third Coast Theater Lamb of God, Anthrax @ Concrete Street Zane Williams, Reverend’s Daughter @ Brewster Street Hudsnon Falcons, Avenue Rockers, Spanish Reds @ House of Rock Splendiferous @ Rockit’s Whiskey Bar Olde Dogs @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Unrehearsed and Unashamed @ Wild Horse Saloon
Happy Mardi Gras Opening Feb. 26 132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront
Ty Dietz Selfie
Feb. 5 Feb. 6 & 20
Stevie Start
Feb. 7
Billy Snipes
Feb. 8
Ruben Limas
Feb. 19
Jerry Diaz
Feb. 26
OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas
Full Bar & Grill
Live Music • Dog Friendly All You Can Eat Specials Thurs-Sun Cheap Drink Specials Carol Elliott Every Friday (5-7) Billy Snipes on Saturday 361-945-9595, 118 Cut Off Rd., Port Aransas www.dropanchorportaransas.com
G MIN CO ON! O S
CO M SO ING ON !
905 Hwy. 361, Port A, (361) 749-2662
315 N. Alister (361) 416-1020 treasureislandporta 21 & Up
314 E. Ave. G www.bronsbeachcarts.com
The Gaff Beer ● Pizza ● Belt Sander Races (361) 749-5970
Super Bowl Sunday, February 7 Antone & the All Stars (after the game) @ Giggity’s Mike Williams & Jack Trowbridge (11 AM) @ Giggity’s CC Songwriters hosted by Ty Dietz @ House of Rock Billy Snipes @ Wild Horse Monday, February 8 Open Jam w/ Selfie @ Giggity’s Buckshot @ Scuttlebutt’s Fat Tuesday, February 9 20th Annual Mardi Gras Parade @ Streets of Port A FunkaSaurus Tex @ Giggity’s John Boyd @ Treasure Island Russell Edge @ The Gaff Blake Sparx @ Scuttlebutt’s Open Mic w/ Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Wednesday, February 10 Ruben Limas @ Giggity’s Port A Rockers @ Bernie’s Scarecrow People, Arcade Hustlers @ House of Rock Michael Burtts @ Scuttlebutt’s Thursday, February 11 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Rich Lockhart @ Scuttlebutt’s Justin Fira @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Something Silky @ Rockit’s Whisky Bar Casey Donahew, Shane Smith @ Brewster Street Friday, February 12 Matt Hole & the Hot Rod Gang @ Giggity’s Billy Snipes @ The Gaff Stevie Start @ Shorty’s Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s Led Zeppelin II @ Brewster Street Carol Elliott (5-7) @ Drop Anchor Ballyhoo, Resinated, Heritage @ House of Rock Hyde After Nine @ Katz 21 Ram Danesse @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub APEX @ Rockit’s Whisky Bar