July 17, 2016
Three Chords and the Truth
Back Porch and opened the show for Billy Joe on Friday. Monaco is a act you want to catch when you can. Pound for pound, last weekend was a keeper.
By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Mr. Billy Joe Shaver ladies and gentlemen...Photo by Carole Elliot voices from heaven, The Sisters Morales, showed up on Saturday with master guitarist David Spencer in tow. I spent a little time with Billy Joe before the show and man is that guy entertaining. He’s as funny and real as any of my friends. I bought his book, his new CD (Long In the Tooth) and a bumper sticker that says, “You’re only as young as the girl you feel.” Actually, Carol Elliott bought the bumper sticker for me. I’ve been listening to the CD non-stop in my truck and it’s a classic Billy Joe. There’s a lot of songs about an old aging cowboy poet, as to be expected. He gets very sentimental on occasion… “I’ll love you as much as I can. There’s not much of me left to give to you.” He does a duet with Willie Nelson (Hard to Be an Outlaw When You’re Not Wanted Anymore) and has Joel Guzman (Joe Ely) on accordion, Leon Russell on piano, Tony Joe White on guitar, Mickey Rafael (Willie Nelson) on harmonica and Gary Nicholson on electric guitar. Steve Earle wrote a moving foreword attesting to Shaver’s genius, “He didn’t have to be taught to write in iambic pentameter (the meter of Shakespear, the blues and the human heart) he lived it. Breathing in life with all its joys and sorrow.” Tom T. Hall is quoted on the album, “Billy Joe Shaver is the man for whom they will someday write,’Ode to the Songwriter.” I confess. I wept openly several times during his performance and led the charge for standing ovations all night long. I sure hope I get to see him again someday. He is simply the greatest.
Coming this weekend… The Sisters Morales with David Spencer on guitar played the Back Porch on Saturday know David Spencer as long and am a huge fan of his master guitar playing. He also plays with Tom Gilliam. The sisters disbanded a few years ago and went their solo directions. I always felt that was a mistake. Together they blend their voices like an interchangeable jacket. Both of the sisters have star quality and equally strong voices. You can’t take your eyes off of them. I’d say that at least half of their songs were in Spanish. They have a special flair for those songs, especially the mariachi styling’s. A little birdie told me that it looks like they may be back one more time this season. I’ll keep you posted.
Stray shots… I stayed pretty busy last weekend. The Chanklas (formerly Picklefish) played a scaled down show at Shorty’s on Thursday. They called it acoustic but it was pretty rocking. The group is led
Chanklas (fomerly Picklefish) played Shorty’s last Thursday. by the soulful Justin Estes with Roy Hollingshead on drums and Tommy Procter on guitar. They are very engaging. I also caught some of Todd Dorn’s show as well as a sold out show by the James Little Band at Giggity’s. Also the John Cortez Blue Band at Shorty’s was way cool. Mark Monaco and the Strayhearts (San Antonio, TX) played Thursday at the
The Sisters Morales… The Sisters Morales show was equally moving. I’ve been friends with Lisa and Roberta Morales for about 17 years. They ran my singer-songwriter open mic at the Lab in San Antonio and I reviewed their “all Spanish” record (Para Gloria) when I wrote for the S.A. Current. I
The James Little Band played Giggity’s on Friday
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Free Beer Band July 21 Chanklas July 22 Austin Heat July 23 Antone & the All Stars July 24 Open Jam w/ Selfie July 25 Paul Taylor Band July 26 Stevie Start July 27 722 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX
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Billy Joe Shaver… I think I witnessed the two best shows I’ve seen all year last weekend at the Back Porch. The legendary Billy Joe Shaver played on Friday and the
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Tonight, Thursday the 21st, the always animated funky, jazzed up blues and reggae band, Selfie will play their home stage at Shorty’s. The drawing that my pal Renee Garland did last week went over so well that she drew me another one of Selfie. I think I’ll keep that going. Also on Thursday, the Americana artist, Chris Saucedo, will play the Back Porch. On Friday the 22nd, Chanklas will be at Giggity’s with their full band, the Bad Buoys will bring their classic Selfie will play rock to Shorty’s Shorty’s on Thursday. and the soulful, Drawing by Renee soulful Austin Garland Heat (Austin, TX) will play the Porch and will be at Giggity’s on Saturday. That is the show to catch this weekend. The Heat is fronted by the charismatic Brian Scortucci who was on the Voice a few years ago. He’s a force to be reckoned with as is guitarist Austin Roach. Actually everyone in the band are standouts: Small Don Burrows on piano, Freddie Marshall on five string
Austin Heat has two shows in Port A this weekend. Gary P. Nunn will be going home to the armadillo at the Back Porch, Blindfold is at the Wild Horse, Rasta Cowboy Billy Snipes is at the Drop Anchor, the James Little Band at Treasure Island and the great Independent Thieves at Shorty’s.
On the horizon… There’s some great shows on the near horizon. Keep an eye out for Finding Friday, Mark McKinney, Mike Milligan and Texiana Bluez, John Egan Two Tons of Steel, Mike Stinson, Larry Joe Taylor, Bubba Westly, Sublime, Max Stalling, Matt Hole, Greezy Wheels, Mario Flores, Captain Legendary, and Darryl Lee Rush. That ought to keep you busy for a while. Stay safe out there. ♫ ♪ And, that’s the truth ♪ ♫
Live Music Tonight
Thursday, July 21 Selfie @ Shorty’s Chris Saucedo @ Back Porch DJ DJit @ Mikel Mays Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Billy Snipes @ Wild Horse Curtis Grimes, Isssac Jacob @ Brewster Street Chris Saucedo Somthin’ Silky @ Rockits Friday, July 22 Chanklas @ Giggity’s Bay Buoys @ Shorty’s Austin Heat @ Back Porch Christen @ The Gaff Victoria Majors @ Mikel Mays Green River Ordinance @ Brewster Street Splendiferous @ Rockits
July 21
Austin Heat
July 22
Gary P. Nunn
July 23
MAJA July 28 Finding Friday
July 29
Mark McKinney
July 20
132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront
Mike Milligan @ Giggity’s Ruben & the Rolling J’s @ Wild Horse John Egan @ Shorty’s Billy Snipes @ Cinnamon Shore Jim Dugan @ The Gaff Finding Friday @ Brewster Street Cruise Control @ Rockits
Sunday, July 31 Billy Snipes @ Behringer’s Landing Grace Roberson, Johnny Kiser @ Mikel Mays Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s Monday, August 1 Open Jam w/ Selfie @ Giggity’s
Saturday, July 23 Gary P. Nunn @ Back Porch Tuesday, August 2 Austin Heat @ Giggity’s Paul Taylor Band @ Blindfold @ Wild Horse Giggity’s Billy Snipes @ Drop Anchor Billy Snipes @ Wild Horse James Little Band @ Treasure Selfie July 21 Island Wednesday, August 3 Bad Buoys July 22 Independent Thieves @ Bubba Westly @ Giggity’s Shorty’s Independent Thieves July 23 Sublime, Rome, Dirty Heads, The Daze @ Mikel Mays Red Giant July 28 Tribal Seeds @ Concrete BELT SANDER RACES @ Street John Cortez July 29 The Gaff Hip Hop Hurray @ Brewster John Egan July 30 Thursday, August 4 Street OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas Cody Bryan Band @ Back Another Level @ Rockits Porch Free Beer Band @ Shorty’s Sunday, July 24 Billy Snipes @ Behringer’s Friday, August 5 Landing Two Tons of Steel @ Back Grace Roberson, Johnny Porch Kiser @ Mikel Mays Billy Snipes @ The Gaff Antone & the All Stars @ Flatbroke @ Giggity’s Giggity’s ull ar rill Chanklas @ Shorty’s Monday, July 25 illy nipes on aturday Saturday, August 6 Open Jam w/ Selfie @ Larry Joe Taylor @ Back Giggity’s Porch Billy Snipes @ Drop Anchor Tuesday, July 26 Caribbean Style Food Ruben & the Rolling J’s @ Paul Taylor Band @ Giggity’s 361-945-9595, 118 Cut Off Rd., Port Aransas Giggity’s Billy Snipes @ La Playa www.dropanchorportaransas.com Buddy Trevino @ Shorty’s James Little Band @ Wednesday, July 27 Behringer’s Landing Stevie Start @ Giggity’s Folk Family Revival, Sunday, August 7 Jonathan Tyler @ Rockits Billy Snipes @ Behringer’s Landing Thursday, July 28 Antone & the All Stars @ MAJA @ Back Porch Giggity’s Red Giant @ Shorty’s Billy Snipes @ Wild Monday, August 8 Horse Open Jam w/ Selfie @ DJ DJit @ Mikel Mays Giggity’s Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Tuesday, August 9 Sean McConnell, Troy Paul Taylor Band @ Cartwright @ Brewster Giggity’s Street Billy Snipes @ La Playa Somethin’ Silky @ Rockits Wednesday, August 10 Billy Snipes @ Giggity’s Friday, July 29 Finding Friday @ Back Porch Thursday, August 11 James Little Band @ Wild Billy Snipes @ Wild Horse Horse James Little on July 23 Selfie @ Back Porch Lyrical Bynge @ Giggity’s Simon Snyder on July 24 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s John Cortez @ Shorty’s Somethin’ Silky on July 25 Ruben & the Rolling J’s @ Billy Snipes @ The Gaff Shorty’s Victoria Majors @ Mikel Taylor Tumlinson on July 30 Mays 315 N. Alister Friday, August 12 Another Level @ Brewster (361) 416-1020 Gary P. Nunn @ Back Porch Street Red Giant @ Giggity’s Bandora @ Rockits treasureislandporta Billy Snipes & the Rasta 21 & Up Cowboys @ Shorty’s Saturday, July 30 Mark McKinney @ Back Porch
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