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Island Moon
Three Chords and the Truth By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Seen any bluebonnets yet? OK. We’re done with Valentine’s and there’s nothing between us and Spring Break… except Fat Tuesday. I suspect our Winter Texan friends will soon begin their exodus back North. It’s been a crazy winter around here, at least as far as the weather’s concerned. The next time the Farmer’s Almanac tells us to prepare for a cold winter, I’m listening. I can’t wait to see what March throws at us. There’s usually at least one good cold snap left in there somewhere. Personally, I’m looking forward to my first wildflower sighting. Come on Spring (and go away winter)!
towards Winter Texans and has proven to be a huge success, as has been the weekly Free Beer Band since moving their residency over there on Thursdays. Riptide will play their last Tuesday show on February 25 but will be back on Friday, the 28th for a big “Farewell” show for the Winter Texans.
Get ready to Mardi Gras people, it’s sooner than you think…
Gaff Bluegrass Festival…
Ponty Bone with R.C. Banks and the Squeezetones will play Giggity’s on Fat Tuesday, March 4.
Moonshine Martini played the Gaff Bluegrass Festival last weekend The Gaff’s bluegrass festival went off without a hitch last Saturday. I walked into an already packed house and the Moonshine Martini boys were ripping it up on stage. Those guys, Crawford Brown and Steve Goldstein (with a little help on harmonica from Earl Wang and Colorado Bob Reed) are sure staying busy these days with double and triple duty on the Free Beer Band and PA Rockers fronts. After Moonshine’s set, the talkative Earl Wang took the
The Vintage Sounds from Houston headlined the Gaff’s Bluegrass Festival last weekend stage and serenaded us in the virtues of personal horticulture. That man has not a worry in this world. Later the headliners, Vintage Sounds (Houston, TX) gave us a “real deal” bluegrass demonstration. They were great and treated us to a collection of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Del Coury and Ricky Skaggs hits. Their mandolin player was really quite remarkable. All in all, I’d say promoter Rae Drady did an excellent job in putting this show together. It was a lot of fun and the music was exceptional.
Riptide & Free Beer… Also last Tuesday, I caught a live performance by Riptide at Giggity’s, including a great solo performance by Riptide leader Mike Isbell. This show is directed
And speaking of Fat Tuesday, our hometown Mardi Gras Parade founder and coordinator, Janet “Planet” Calvert, tells me that this year’s parade is on track for another “better than last year” year (which is hard to imagine) where thousands of spectators are again expected to assemble on the streets of downtown Port A in pursuit of the elusive bead. Janet and her merry gang of local revelers successfully made their yearly trek to New Orleans last month to buy beads, so we’re all good in that department. BTW, while the girls were in New Orleans they coincidentally ran into another bunch of Port Aransas locals who just happened to be in town (Edwin and Amy Myers, Bron Doyle, Edye Hudiburg, etc). They left a lasting Port A impression on the place. (Remember: What
Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra will play Barefoot Mardi Gras on March 1.
Mike Isbell of Riptide plays a solo tune for the big Tuesday crowds at Giggity’s
happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans… or is that Vegas?) Fat Tuesday falls on March 4 this year and as always, the parade will depart the Gaff around 5:00 and wind through old town and around the flats area where several bands will be in full Mardi Gras party mode. The great accordion master, Ponty Bone and his rockin’ roots and zydeco band, the Squeezetones (Austin, TX) will be blowing it out in a major way at Giggity’s, the Mike Williams & Rocky Arnold Dixie Land Jazz Band will be on the porch at Shorty’s and the PA Rockers will be at Bernie’s. And down on Padre, the Barefoot Mardi Gras parade and party will be on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday (March 1). They’ll have
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their usual parade down the beach and later that evening, a world class blow-out at the Briscoe King Pavilion with none other than my brothers from a different mother, Miss Neesie & the Earfood Orchestra (San Antonio, TX). I’ve been to several of these soirees and will attest they are not for the timid. Put your big kid panties on for this one ‘cuz Miss Neesie and those Earfood maniacs don’t mess around when it comes to throwing a party! Check out their ad in this edition of the Moon for specifics.
DO NOT MISS LIST On Thursday… Tonight, Thursday, February 20th, there’s a top flight country show at Brewster Street Ice House with the great Max Stallling (Dallas, TX). Five Card Draw (Corpus Christi, TX) will open the show. Since 1997, Dallas native Max Stalling has worked his way into a mainstay in the Texas Music circuit. Before donning his trademark LBJ style cowboy hat, Stalling received his masters from A&M in food science and did Max Stalling will a corporate stint as play Brewster Street a product developer Ice House tonight. for Frito Lay. He has a smooth honky tonk delivery and five CD’s worth of original songs. BTW, Stalling is married to Heather Stalling, fiddler and vocalist for the amazing blacktopGYPSY band who be playing the Back Porch later in the season.
Nashville star, Richard Leigh, will play the Third Coast Theater with Larry Joe Taylor on Saturday is named as the most charted Male Adult Contemporary artist to date. He has six gold and platinum albums, two Grammy nominations and is known for his solo piano compositions, popstyle instrumentals, and vocal collaborations with artists such as Lady Antebellum, Johnny Mathis, Martina McBride, Donny Osmond, Olivia Newton-John and others. It always amazes me when somebody is playing a big arena like the American Bank Center and I’ve never heard of him. There’s a big old world out there that sometimes passes me right on by. I mean Brickman’s discography is huge. He’s recorded over 30 albums since 1994, 20 of which charted. I’ve got to get out more.
On Saturday…
On Saturday, the 22nd, island fave, Larry Joe Taylor will be doing a song-swap at the Third Coast Theater with Nashville songwriting heavyweight, Richard Leigh. Leigh wrote the Grammy winning number one hit for Crystal Gayle, Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue. His songs have also been recorded by the likes of Billy Dean, Mickey Gilley, Reba On Friday… McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, st On Friday, the 21 , another Steve Wariner, Don Williams smoother than summer cherries and Kathy Mattea. He has country crooner, Todd Dorn written nine number one hits (San Antonio, TX) will return charted on Billboard and was to Giggity’s. Dorn is a regular nominated for songwriter of the over there and always packs year seven times. In 1994 Leigh the house with a bag of great was inducted into the Nashville original songs. He’s definitely Trop rocker Jerry Diaz Songwriters Foundation Hall of an island fave. And over at will play two shows this Fame. Also on Saturday, guitar Shorty’s this Friday, trop-rocker weekend in Port A genius Ruben V (San Antonio, Jerry Diaz (Beaumont, TX) TX) will play Dr. Rockits, Will will be playing a solo show. That Owen Gage will play Katz 21, Bri Bagwell will should be good. Diaz is in town for an event play the South Texas Ice House, Lyrical Bynge billed as Pirates and Poets on Saturday at the will rock Giggity’s, Reverend’s Daughter Plantation Suites. The show also has a couple will play Brewster Street, Kevin Hill is at of noteworthy Texas songwriters (Matt Hogatt Scuttlebutt’s and the adorable Tiffany Tuesday and Dennis Davis) on the bill. Also on Friday, will be at Shorty’s. Jim Brickman, will perform at the American Bank Center. I wasn’t familiar with Brickman ♫ ♪ And, that’s the truth! ♪ ♫ and had to rely on my pal, the internet, to bring me up to speed. To my amazement, Brickman
Live Music Tonight Thursday, February 20 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s The Electrotypes @ House of Rock Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s Max Stalling, Five Card Draw @ Brewster Street Friday, February 21 Todd Dorn @ Giggity’s Jerry Diaz @ Shorty’s Bar Nutz @ South Texas Ice House Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Medicare Band (6-9) @ Sharkey’s Jim Brickman @ Selena Auditorium Reno & the Groovegetters @ Dr. Rockits Another Level @ Brewster Street Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s Double R Nothing @ Executive Surf Club Bright Light Social Hour, Ton Tons, Microphonic @ House of Rock The Groove @ Katz 21 Saturday, February 22 Lyrical Bynge @ Giggity’s Tiffany @ Shorty’s Bri Bagwell @ South Texas Ice House 4th Annual Pirates & Poets Invitational @ Plantation Suites (Port A) Ruben V @ Dr. Rockits Reverend’s Daughter @ Brewster Street Paul Renna @ Executive Surf Club Kevin Hill @ Scuttlebutt’s Will Owen Gage Trio @ Katz 21 Richard Leigh & Larry Joe Taylor @ Third Coast Theater Sunday, February 23 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Kicking Dynamite @ Dr. Rockits Monday, February 24 Mike Williams & Paul Taylor (5:30-9) @ Giggity’s Colin Roche@ Scuttlebutt’s
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Tuesday, February 25 Riptide (6:30-10) @ Giggity’s John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Open Mic @ House of Rock Run Down Legend @ Dr. Rockits
Wednesday, February 26 Mike Williams (5:30-9) @ Giggity’s Wolfjaw @ Flats Lounge PA Rockers (6:30-9:30) @ Bernie’s Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s Ty Dietz @ Dr. Rockits The Expendables, Stick Figure, Seedless @ House of Rock Thursday, February 27 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s AC ED, Flix, Murk @ House of Rock Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s Cody Canada & The Departed @ Brewster Street Friday, February 28 Riptide @ Giggity’s Russell Edge @ Shorty’s Danny & Taxi Piano Sing Along @ South Texas Ice House Medicare Band (6-9) @ Sharkey’s Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Catherine Denise @ Dr. Rockits Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s Flashback @ Executive Surf Club Daves Duo @ Katz 21 Saturday, March 1 Three Way Street @ Giggity’s Uel Jackson @ Shorty’s Mark McKinny @ Third Coast Theater Doug Stone @ South Texas Ice House Jon Wolfe, Jason Suthern @ Brewster Street First Saturday Jam @ Farley Boat Works Hilda Lamas @ Executive Surf Club Sunday , March 2 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s