A 16
Island Moon
April 3, 2014
Three Chords and the Truth By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Merle Haggard…
definitely loves his Lefty Frizzell. He ended the show, of course, with Okie From Muscogee, but not before he called the soundman down for too much high end in the mix, by asking him “Can’t you hear that or are you deef?” That’s my report… Merle was easy on the cameras and hard on the soundman…and all in all it was a good week.
Bo Porter & Al Barlow…
The amazing Dirty River Boys from El Paso will play Brewster Street this Saturday. are nothing short of exciting and are definitely a DO NOT MISS. Also on Saturday, Melissa Brooke (Port Aransas, TX) will bring her rocking cowgirl show to the Back Porch and winners of last year’s Ziegfest Battle of the Bands, Jake Ward and the Coastal Riders, will play Giggity’s. Plus Uel Jackson will be at Shorty’s and Bushbullit will be at Stingrays.
The legendary Merle Haggard performed at Selena Auditorium last Sunday. His wife Theresa Ann Lane sings backup and his 21 year old son, Ben, is on lead guitar
Al Barlow and Bo Porter performed last Friday at Shorty’s My pal, Bo Porter (Lake Travis, TX) made it down from the Hill Country and played a show at Shorty’s last Friday night. Bo hosts the picker’s circle in Luckenbach regularly and wanted some of the Port A pickers to join him. I put out a quick call to some of the usual suspects and by show time, the place was packed and we were treated to short sets by Carol Elliott, Mike Williams, Tiffany Duckworth and Tom Doran. Bo seemed to really enjoy that. I know the audience did. About two hours into the show, another old friend from New Braunsfel, Al Barlow, showed up and joined Bo on stage. These two have done many song swaps together. But just as Barlow took the stage and was getting his bearings, one of the island locals, J.R. Bradley (the boat washer guy) walked right up on stage, grabbed Barlow by the ears and gave him a big kiss right on the lips, then turned around and walked off like nothing had happened. Barlow was clearly stunned and his eyes got as big as hub caps. The audience erupted into a chorus of laughter and all I can say is, man, did that loosen the show up. It was classic and I’m still laughing about it. You got to stay on your toes around here.
It’s a good week when I can say I saw Merle Haggard, Bo Porter, Al Barlow, Todd Dorn and J.T. Colfire. Merle was incredible. I went with Rockin’ Dale Rankin, which seemed only fitting. Rankin has a special kinship to Oklahoma. Merle had a big ten piece band as you would expect. His wife, Theresa, sang backup and his 21 year old son, Ben, played lead guitar. There was one Texan in the group, Floyd Domino, the piano player. Domino is an old Austin boy who used to play with Asleep At the Wheel. He’s been around forever and a day… one of the best around. I used to see him in the Antone’s camp. He did a lot of studio work around town. It was interesting to watch the American Bank Center ushers as they lightly enforced the “no photos” policy while the concert was going on. I had a media pass and was told that I could only take pictures between the fourth and sixth song and only from the sound booth area, which was a pretty far distance from the stage. My little pocket camera was definitely the wrong equipment. When Merle first came on, there was a sea of DO NOT MISS LIST cell phone cameras that lit up the place and a Coming this weekend… flood of people who walked right up to the front This Friday, April 4th, a couple of really talented and took as many pics as they wanted. One guy even jumped up and sat on the stage right in singer-songwriters from Austin, Mandy front of Merle to take a selfie. I had to think that Rowden and Billy Abel will play Shorty’s. this loose attitude with the photos had to be at Mandy is a hoot and she and Billy have real the instruction of Mr. Haggard. When I went to chemistry. Their shows are a lot of laughs and the John Prine/Lyle Lovett show last year, the I adore their taste in music. And, when Mandy ushers were in “camera-Nazi” mode and I had picks up a fiddle or mandolin or accordion you several of them tell me to stop taking pictures or never know where the music might go. This they would confiscate my camera. My point is, is definitely a show worth checking out. On th Merle Haggard didn’t mind a bit if you wanted Saturday, the 5 , the fabulous Dirty River Boys (Austin, TX) will play a show with Pear Ratz to take his picture. He’s been on that stage for at Brewster Street. I think the 50 years and if you care Dirty River Boys are arguably enough about him to the hottest Americana/Outlaw pay $70 a ticket, then Folk act on the circuit right by golly, take your now. I’ve seen them four picture. About half way or five times in the past through the show, I couple of years and am more waltzed right up to the impressed every time. Their front of the stage and percussionist, Travis Sterns, took eight or ten shots is a whirling Dervish. He’s of him at close range. rapid fire and full of soul. I’m It felt great. Thanks not sure I’ve ever seen anyone Merle, for allowing me work a cajon the way he does. to do that. You’re real These guys are originally from people. Merle played El Paso (which might explain about 90 minutes. He a lot of things). They’ve got played many of his Chris Jordan, Stevie Start and Dan a gentle four part harmony hits and also a good number of B-sides. He Kashola at the weekly Open Jam last and an exhaustive energy Monday at Giggity’s that won’t let go. These guys
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Coming next weekend SandFest 2014…
SandFest 2014 will be going on April 11-13. The April 11-13 weekend is a whopper! First of all, it’s SandFest 2014 and that means about 100,000 people will be invading our little island for three rockin’ days of music, food and sand. A virtual army of professional and amateur sand sculptors will be creating art before your very eyes. The music line-up goes like this: on Friday we have Jared Clark, Mike Stites, and Melissa Brooke. On Saturday its Rae Ann Reed, Triggerfish, Mike Milligan and Passing Strangers. On Sunday it’s Ken Yarbrough & Mike Jones, The Sand Band, and Kara & the Dam Band. I’m playing stage manager this year, so stop by and say hi.
Patrice Pike…
Shelley King will play Shorty’s on April 11th. Father James Derkits explains, “I remember standing outside a 21+ club in Houston when I was 19, trying to hear a few lines float out the door from Patrice Pike’s band, Sister 7. I was there with the friend who turned me onto her live album “Free Love, Nickel Beer.” Patrice was kind enough to stop and say hello after the show. I was enthralled by her music and lyrics, and noticed the deep spirituality of the music as much as I appreciated her authenticity and passion when she performed. I became friends with Patrice while I was living in Houston. During a show she mentioned her Grace Foundation which raises scholarships for young adult survivors of homelessness. I stuck around to ask her more about it and find out if I could help. Since I’ve moved to Port Aransas, I’ve hoped to help bring Patrice Pike and her band down for a show, and I am grateful to fellow Patrice fans Kip Shannon, owner of the Gaff, and Bridget Brundrett, who is underwriting the show, for making it happen! I’m also very thrilled that Patrice will be joining us on Palm Sunday at Trinity by the Sea to share one of her songs during the service. Life’s journeys of love, friendship, and music never cease to amaze me.”
A super jumping weekend… On Friday, April 11th, the great Shelley King will be at Shorty’s, Lyrical Bynge will be at Giggity’s, Gary P. Nunn will be at the Back Porch, the Sand Band will be at Stingrays, Buster Jiggs will be at the South Texas Ice House, and Scarecrow People will play Brewster. On Saturday, the 12th the oldest and the friendliest bar in Port A, Shorty’s, will celebrate it 68th birthday. Stevie Start and Matt Hole and the Hot Rod Gang will keep the music going and they plan to have plenty of BBQ and suds. This will be an all day event. Also on Saturday, Mike Milligan and the Altar Boys will be at Giggity’s, Larry Joe Taylor will be at the Porch, Passing Strangers will be at Stingrays and Vallejo will be at the Executive Surf Club.
The good people at Trinity By the Sea Episcopal Church in Port A have teamed up with Kip Shannon at the Gaff to bring Patrice Pike (Austin, Patrice Pike will play TX) to town on Saturday, the 12th. the Gaff on April 12th.
♫ ♪ And, that’s the truth! ♪ ♫
Live Music Tonight
Thursday, April 3 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Wade Bowen, Shane Smith & the Saints @ Brewster Street Double R Nothing @ Katz 21 Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s
The Ones Melissa Brooke Gary P. Nunn Larry Joe Taylor Rankin Twins Ruben V
April 4 April 5 April 11 April 12 April 18 April 19
132 W. Cotter St. Port A Friday, April 4 On the Waterfront 90 Proof @ Giggity’s Mandy Rowden & Billy Abel @ Shorty’s The Ones @ Back Porch Spazmatics @ Brewster Street Beach Stone Rise @ South Texas Ice House Trisum @ Katz 21 Art Walk @ House of Rock Ray T & the City Crew @ Mandy Rowden & Billy Abel April 4 Flats Lounge Uel Jackson April 5 Robert Brown @ Shelley King April 11 Scuttlebutt’s
Thursday, April 10 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Aaron Watson, Rankin Twins @ Brewster Street Double R Nothing @ Katz 21 Mad Caddies, Mrs. Skannotto, Love Handles @ House of Rock Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s
Friday, April 11 SandFest Lyrical Bynge @ Giggity’s Shelley King @ Shorty’s Gary P. Nunn @ Back Porch Jared Clark, Mike Stites, Melissa Brooke @ SandFest Sand Band @ Stingrays Buster Jiggs @ South Texas Ice House Double R Nothing @ Katz 21 Scarecrow People @ Brewster Street Matt Hole & the Hot Rod Gang April 12 Adam Carroll, Chris Jim Dugan April 18 Carroll, Hope & Hostility Ruben Limas April 19 @ House of Rock Ray T & the City Crew @ OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas Flats Lounge Kevin Hill @ Scuttlebutt’s
Saturday, April 5 Jake Ward & the Coastal Riders @ Giggity’s Uel Jackson @ Shorty’s Melissa Brooke @ Back Porch Dirty River Boys, Pear Ratz @ Brewster Street Bushbullilt @ Stingrays Doug Stone @ South Texas Ice House Reno Perez @ Katz 21 Jimmy Wilden, HOBO, Pake Rossi @ House of Rock Kevin Hill @ Scuttlebutt’s Sunday , April 6 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s Lacuna Coil, Kying, Cliver @ Brewster Street HRVRD, RMRS, Analog Earth @ House of Rock John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s
Monday, April 7 Open Jam w/ Stevie Start @ Giggity’s Open Jam w/ Ray Summy @ Executive Surf Club Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits Open Mic @ Scuttlebutt’s Tuesday, April 8 Tiffany Tuesday @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Wednesday, April 9 Jim Dugan @ Giggity’s Wolfjaw @ Flats Lounge Chris Saena @ Scuttlebutt’s
Saturday, April 12 SandFest Mike Milligan & the Altar Boys @ Giggity’s 68th Anniversay Show @ Shorty’s Patrice Pike @ Gaff Vallejo @ Executive Surf Club Rae Ann & the Ride, Triggerfish, Mike Milligan, Passing Strangers @ SandFest Larry Joe Taylor @ Back Porch 2nd Saturday Sing-Along Piano Show @ Brewster Street Passing Strangers @ Stingrays Jake Ward & the Coast Riders @ South Texas Ice House Shadow Moon @ Katz 21 Local Licks @ House of Rock Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s
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Sunday, April 13 SandFest Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s CC Songwriters @ House of Rock Ken & Mike, Sand Band, Kara & the Dam Band @ SandFest John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Monday, April 14 Open Jam w/ Stevie Start @ Giggity’s