A 18
Three Chords and the Truth
February 19, 2015
Island Moon Keith Sykes knocks it out of the park…
Beads, beads and more beads…
By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com I want to send a shout out and a hearty “GET WELL SOON” to our Winter Texan buddy, Colorado Bob Reed who plays for the PA Rockers
Port A royalty Heidi Hagan, Kip Shannon and Edwin Myers. The men of Free Beer, Steve Goldstein, Crawford Brown, John Boeckler and Colorado Bob Reed and Free Beer Band (guitar, harmonica, keys and vocals). Bob gave us one heck of a scare last week when he suffered a massive heart attack on the beach in Port A while walking his dogs. A good Samaritan administered CPR until ambulances arrived. Bob was placed in an induced coma and lowered his body temperature. He has been making small improvements daily, but as fellow PA Rocker, Steve Goldstein, says, “He’s recovering one day at a time but still has a hard road ahead.” The Rockers have cancelled the gigs at Bernies and the JELM and are in flux as to the future of the band. His wife Carolyn has set up an account at the Caring Bridge website (http://www.caringbridge.org/ visit/bobreed5) to keep up with his progress and to leave your comments. God bless you Bob. We’re pulling for you.
We barefootin’…
And meanwhile over in Port A, a record number of people turned out for 19th annual parade on Tuesday. I was honored to ride in the lead float with the big cheese, Edwin and Amy Meyers of Giggity’s and Kody’s fame, Steam Magazine magnates Rusty and Tamma Hicks, and several other Port A hot shots like Nikki Ikonomopoulos, Lindsey Hottell and Carol Elliott. The Meyers’ had recently gone to New Orleans and brought back a ton (literally) of throw beads… and throw we did. It was a unique experience for me to have the luxury of not running out of beads to throw. Every float I’ve ever been involved with in the past ran short of throw beads about half way through the course. Not on Edwin Meyers’ watch. No one in Port A was without a few beads by the time we got through… and that doesn’t include all the floats behind us. We threw beads even when there weren’t people to throw to. I actually (and I swear this is true) threw a bead that landed perfectly around a lady’s head. I’m very proud of that.
Singer-songwriter Keith Sykes played Shorty’s last Sunday night
Singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Keith Sykes (Memphis, TN) put on an impromptu performance at Shorty’s last Sunday. Keith was in town on his annual songwriting sabbatical and threw a show together with little notice or fanfare. Evidently the word got out, because you couldn’t have gotten any more people into Shorty’s. Evidently, Sykes has a pretty strong fan base in Port A. I even saw fans from Padre in there. Keith played 20 songs that he had written in Port A through the years and later told me, “I loved the reaction I received.” It’s pretty seldom that a crowd that big is actually quiet while a performer is singing in Shorty’s. This show was one that really sets Port Aransas apart. It was a historical night to say the least.
DO NOT MISS LIST Americana star Stoney LaRue will play Brewster Street tonight on a bill with Pear Ratz. That’s definitely a do not misser! I love
Who was that masked man?
Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra played the Barefoot Mardi Gras party on N. Padre last Saturday night I’ve officially over dosed on Mardi Gras. Didn’t think it was possible, but I’ve been in two parades, had my face painted three times, been to two huge parties and eaten enough crawfish, etouffee, and gumbo to kill a normal person, all in a 4 day period. All I gotta say is, folks on the Coastal Bend sure love to Mardi Gras. We truly live in an adult fun land down here. The Barefoot Mardi Gras parade and party was huge. It was great fun with Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra last Saturday. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the band sound better. The powers that be moved the party over to the Veranda Restaurant at Shlitterbahn and a thousand people showed up. It was a very nice place to throw a big party. I was supposed to be dressed up as a bull for the Island Moon’s float but my costume didn’t come in. So I walked the parade with Dale and Jason and Lisa. I must say, Rankin looked mighty dapper in his white tux with tails. And so did all the Moon Monkeys dressed as matadors and Spanish senoritas. A good time was had by all.
The parade ended in the flat’s area this year and it was a madhouse down there. When I walked into Giggity’s, the place was already packed and the Paul Taylor Band was in full swing. Paul had the folks up and dancing already and the place was as full as I’ve ever seen it. Ponty Bone and the Squeeztones took the stage around 8:00 and the dancers really took charge. This was one world class party. It was fun watching how uninhibited usually normal people act when they are wearing costumes. I must say, Kip Shannon and Heidi Hagan looked rather stoic in their royal crowns and capes. And local artist, Julie Caraker, is to be commended for the multitude of faces that she painted throughout the holiday. Stick a fork in it. This one is history. No one got hurt and no one (that I know of) got arrested. Et toi yall!
Julie Caraker paiting faces at the Barefoot Mardi Gras party last Saturday
GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BAR Free Beer Band (7-10) Riptide (9-1)
Feb. 19
Feb. 20
IN PORT A
Todd Dorn (9-1)
Antone & the All Stars (8-12)
Feb. 22
FAJITAS
Open Jam (8-12)
Feb. 23
ALL YOU CAN EAT
Grilled Shrimp, Beef or Chicken With all the trimmings $10.95 Every Tuesday
Catering for any Occasion Closed Monday 222 Beach St. Port A (361) 749-0022
Feb. 21
Paul Taylor Band (7-10) Billy Snipes (8-12)
Feb. 24 Feb. 25
Open 11am-2am Daily. Kitchen open til 1am. 722 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX
Open Everyday at 11 AM Daily Happy Hour Specials on House Mojitos and Margaritas 224 E Cotter, Port A (361) 749-1947
945-JUMP skydivesouthtexas.com
CHRISTOPHER TODD JORDAN Designer & Builder of Food & Beverage Facilities • Creative Problem Solving christophertoddjordan@gmail.com • Decorative Concrete • Custom Lighting • Residential & Commercial • References Provided
361-453-0147
The Paul Taylor Band played the Port A Mardi Gras party at Giggity’s last Tuesday
Larry Joe Taylor and Richard Leigh will play the Third Coast Studio Saturday.
this Texas music series these guys are doing at Brewster on Thursday nights. Keep up the good work guys! On Friday, the oldies dance band Riptide will make another appearance at Giggity’s, singer-songwriter Carol Elliott will play the Drop Anchor (5-7), the adorable Tiffany will play Shorty’s and the Journey tribute band, Timeline will play the South Texas Ice House. On Saturday the Third Coast Theater in Port A will put on their annual Richard Leigh and Larry Joe Taylor song swap. Larry Joe coined the phrase “Island Time” and needs no introduction in these parts, Richard Leigh (Nashville, TN) is a GRAMMY winning singersongwriter with a staggering body of work. He wrote the Crystal Gale hit, Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue. Also on Saturday, Todd Dorn and the Sea Drifters (San Antonio, TX) will bring his smooth country with an island slant to Giggity’s, island beat phenoms Selfie will play Shorty’s, the Walter Midi Band will play Mikel Mays, Violet Crush will play Cassidy’s Irish Pub and country crooner Jody Booth will play the South Texas Ice House. On Sunday, the South Texas Grassroots Band will play Island Italian and John Eric will play Scuttlebutt’s. Be safe out there!
♫ ♪ And, that’s the truth! ♪ ♫
Live Music Tonight Thursday, Feb. 19 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Stoney LaRue, Pear Ratz @ Brewster Street Dunebilly @ Executive Surf Club Jason Phillips @ Scuttlebutt’s Matt Krebs @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub As Above So Below, Revisions, No Questions Asked, Dythalla @ House of Rock Friday, Feb. 20 Riptide @ Giggity’s Tiffany @ Shorty’s Carol Elliott @ Drop Anchor Dan & Shay @ Brewster Street Unrehearsed & Unashamed @ Wild Horse Saloon Fabian Rivera @ Mikel May’s The Groove @ Executive Surf Club Dan & Shay, Hudson Moore @ Brewster Street Timeline @ South Texas Ice House Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s DAhhhFug Yea’s @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Saturday, Feb. 21 Todd Dorn & the Sea Drifters @ Giggity’s Selfie @ Shorty’s Richard Leigh & Larry Joe Taylor @ Third Coast Theater Ruben Limas (1:30- 5:30), Walter Midi Band (9:00) @ Mikel May’s Medicare Band (6-9) @ Coast Club Metal Shop @ Brewster Street Violet Crush @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Jody Booth @ South Texas Ice House Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s Sunday, Feb. 22 Mike Williams & Jack Trowbridge (11 AM- 3 PM) @ Giggity’s Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s South Texas Grassroots @ Island Italian Monday, Feb. 23 Open Jam w/ Selfie @ Giggity’s Brian Permenter @ Scuttlebutt’s
Opening February 27! Davin James Scarecrow People Tyler Rogers Band Mark Monaco Band Cruise Control Statesboro Revue
March 6 March 7 March 12 March 13 March 14 March 20
Cody Bryan Band
March 21
132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront
Tiffany Selfie Dennis Davis Jim Dugan Fletcher Clark Independent Thieves
Feb. 20 Feb. 21 Feb. 27 Feb. 28 March 6 March 7
OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas
Full Bar & Grill
Carol Elliott (5-7) Feb. 20 & 27 Billy Snipes (7:30- 10)
Feb. 27
361-945-9595, 118 Cut Off Rd., Port Aransas www.dropanchorportaransas.com
Best Rates Call for special pricing
(361)290-7143 314 E. Ave. G www.bronsbeachcarts.com
The Gaff Beer ● Pizza ● Belt Sander Races (361) 749-5970
Tuesday, Feb. 24 Paul Taylor Band (7-10) @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Wednesday, Feb. 25 Billy Snipes @ Giggity’s PA Rockers @ Bernies Bar Nutz @ House of Rock Jason Phillips @ Scuttlebutt’s Thursday, Feb. 26 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Fayuca, Tydings, JahSeed @ House of Rock David Martinez @ Executive Surf Club Darren McGill @ Scuttlebutt’s Get Him Geronimo @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Friday, Feb. 27 Red Giant @ Giggity’s Dennis Davis (Pirates & Poets) @ Shorty’s Carol Elliott @ Drop Anchor Unrehearsed & Unashamed @ Wild Horse Saloon Fabian Rivera @ Mikel May’s Hudson Falcons @ House of Rock Hamilton Loomis @ Executive Surf Club Spoonfed Tribe @ Vino Mio Social Club Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s Out of Bounds @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Saturday, Feb. 28 Mike Milligan & Texiana Blue @ Giggity’s Jim Dugan @ Shorty’s Ruben Limas (1:30- 5:30), Walter Midi Band (9:00) @ Mikel May’s Medicare Band (6-9) @ Coast Club After Dark Revue @ House of Rock Sunshine Collective @ Executive Surf Club Henry & the Invisibles @ Vino Mio Social Club Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s Jimmy Wilden Band @ Cassidy’s Irish Pub Sunday, March 1