A 28
May 22, 2014
Island Moon
Three Chords and the Truth By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Road trip back home…
Meanwhile back in Port A…
for years and is a dedicated pro. By the way, I think The Roost was a good place. It’s layed out specifically for live music performances; the sound was great, the stage was big, the sight lines were unobstructed and the drink prices were reasonable.
Next stop: Gulf Coast Playboys… Billy Abel and Mandy Rowden played Shorty’s last Saturday night Honky tonking blues man Jesse Dayton performed at the Back Porch last Saturday
Preacher Keen and James Hand at the Continenal Club in Austin I finally got back home to see the family in Bastrop and got to spend some time in Austin listening to music. As always, I jumped in with my buddy, Preacher Keen, and hit the streets. Austin has changed so much since I lived there, that I don’t even want to drive there anymore if I can help it. Preacher lives out at Lake Travis and has a zippy little sports car, so he always gets that task. The growth in Austin is staggering. I moved there in the early 70’s and stayed a few decades before the population explosion started getting on my nerves. I’m told I got to experience the golden years of Austin. The ultra fast pace going on now is just freaky in my book. High rise buildings are going up daily and the traffic is nothing short of insane. It makes me so appreciate the easy going lifestyle in Port A and Padre. I’m just thankful there’s enough music around here to keep me occupied.
First stop: Guy Forsyth… And speaking of music, here’s a quick rundown of my weekend. Preacher picked me up on Thursday and we decided to hit a fairly new bar in north Austin… I mean FAR north Austin, called The Roost. It’s owned by David Cotton, who used Guy Forsyth flying to be the doorman at Steamboat Springs without a net at the and was the booking Roost in Austin last Thursday night dude at Threadgills, The Saxon Pub and Poodies, which is a pretty strong resume in the world of booking bands. The Roost books Austin dignitaries such as Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Micky & the Motorcars, Reckless Kelly and Malford Milligan, etc. We attended the Guy Forsyth/Bobby Mack show. I happened to have been the booking agent for both of these gentlemen back in the 90’s when I was with Antone’s Records and hadn’t seen either of them perform in years. Guy Forsyth is one astonishing performer. He’s got a voice strong enough to blow your hair back and his original songs have a cutting edge mix of beauty and social commentary that keeps you on your toes. I waited and waited and was finally treated to his signature stroll through the audience, singing with no microphone. His show is as theatrical as it is musical… almost vaudevillian. Bobby Mack (Dallas, TX) followed Guy with his straight blues show. He’s been doing it
Dancing zydeco to the Gulf Coast Playboys at the White Horse in Austin last Friday night The next night, Preacher and I decided to hit a couple of clubs we know well. We started out at the White Horse on the eastside. This place specializes in roots music and is a “no frills”, down-home kind of joint where the music is always great and the dance floor is always full. On this night, we were fortunate enough to catch the Gulf Coast Playboys (Houston, TX). The Playboys are a real deal zydeco band and brother they are good. They play all the traditional Cajun and zydeco tunes that Louisiana (and the Texas Gulf Coast) are famous for: Boozoo Chavis, Clifton Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, John Delafose, Nathan Williams and Cha Chas, C.J. Chenier, Zachary Richard, etc. They do a zydeco dance lesson thing in there and the whole floor was wiggling and spinning like you’ve never seen. I used to book the Playboys some back at Billy Blues in Houston and may try to re-acquaint and get them down here. Their energy is exhausting!
Next stop was the Continental Club on South Congress to hear James Hand. I’ve wanted to see James Hand ever since I saw a picture of him at age 8 sitting on Lefty Frizzell’s lap. He’s a real deal James Hand played country singer from the Continental Club Waco and has been in Austin last Friday praised by the likes of Willy Nelson and night Kris Kristoferson and was produced by Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel) and Lloyd Maines. He sings Hank, Ernest and Lefty and is as authentic as it gets. He’s a product of rodeos and dance halls and in the words of Lloyd Maines, “James Hand music uses no smoke or mirrors. There is definitely no glossing over of any aspect of his music. James writes lyrics that haven’t been written before and I suspect that he’s lived every word in these songs.” I was completely spellbound as I listened to him at the Continental. He’s complex and he’s simple and I felt like Hank Williams himself was in the room.
Open 11am to 5pm Sunday Noon-3 Closed Monday
Free Beer Band (7-10) May 22 Mike Milligan (9-1) May 23 Lyrical Bynge (9-1) May 24 Mike Williams (brunch) May 25 Antone & the All Stars (8-12) May 25 OPEN JAM (8-12) May 26 Tiffany Tuesday’s Variety Show (8-12) May 27 Stevie Start (8-12) May 28
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Carol Elliott performed at the 31st Annual Songwriters Fest in Port A last Sunday
Cap it off with the Songwriters Showcase… By Sunday, I was ready for a break but the 31 Annual Songwriters Showcase at Roberts Point Park in Port A was going on and I couldn’t miss that. I got to hear short sets from Perry Wing, Carol Elliott, Hamp Brockman & Janet
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And finally: James Hand…
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I made it back to Port A on Saturday in time to catch both Jesse Dayton (Austin, TX) at the Back Porch and Mandy Rowden & Billy Abel (Austin, TX) at Shorty’s. It was great to see all of these guys. I go back with Jesse to the mid 90’s and used to bounce his kid on my knee. To say Jesse Dayton gets around is an understatement… he’s all over the map between his shows and his movie career. Jesse had a young hot shot guitar/steel player in tow this time named, Matt Thomas, as well as his regular stand-up bass player, Chris Rhodes (Two Tons of Steel). Jesse grew up in Port Arthur and has the soul of George Jones. I can’t tell you how much I respect this fellow. I did tear myself away and stopped by Shorty’s long enough to catch the end of Mandy and Billy’s set and am glad I did. Those guys have their priorities straight and their direction in music, in my humble opinion, is perfect. I love them. They’ll be back in two weeks.
Drew, James Derkits, Tiffany Duckworth, Todd Dorn and L. Leon Sands before calling calf rope. This event goes to benefit the Port A Art Center and is put together by the efforts of Mary Rose, Preecher Williams, Woody Lawson, Dan Winship and Karen Winship. I even got into the act when they asked me to play auctioneer and sell off the original artwork for this years poster. It was the perfect cap to a long, glorious weekend.
Hamp Brockman and Janet Drew performed at the 31st Annual Songwriters Showcase in Port A last Sunday
Well folks, it’s finally here. Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and we are officially in season… which means school is out and the next three months will be dictated by a flood of tourists all driving golf carts. Set your patience meters to high and take a long, deep breath. On Friday, the 23rd, I recommend shows by Stevie Start at Giggity’s, Mike Milligan & the Altar Boys at Giggity’s, Gary P. Nunn at the Back Porch, Jul & the Chrome Wheels at Stingrays and Rotel & the Hot Tomatoes at Brewster Street. On Saturday, the 24th, watch for shows by Ruben Limas at Shorty’s, Lyrical Bynge at Giggity’s, Larry Joe Taylor at the Back Porch, Kimberly Dunn at Stingrays and Passing Strangers at Brewster. On Sunday the big show is at Concrete Street with Josh Abbott, Kevin Fowler, Wade Bowen, Whiskey Meyers and Sam Riggs. Be careful out there!
♪ ♫ And that’s the truth! ♫ ♪
Live Music Tonight
Thursday, May 22 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Tessy Lou & the Shotgun Stars @ Back Porch Brian & Diana @ Doc’s Seafood Jackson Taylor, Pear Ratz @ Brewster Street Ice House Little Ozzy, Pantera Tribute @ House of Rock Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s Starlite & the Moonbeams @ Dr. Rockits Friday, May 23 Stevie Start @ Shorty’s Mike Milligan & the Altar Boys @ Giggity’s Gary P. Nunn @ Back Porch Jul & the Chrome Wheels @ Stingrays Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Rotel & the Hot Tomatoes @ Brewster Street Ice House Shadow Moon @ Katz 21 Brian & Diana @ Doc’s Seafood Jason Clark @ Scuttlebutt’s Randy Pavlock @ Dr. Rockits The Daze @ Mikel Mays Cruise Control @ South Texas Ice House Deadhorse, Black Lung Conspiracy, NQA, Skrewface @ House of Rock Justin Fira (6-9pm) @ Boathouse Bar & Grill DJ Yogi (9:30-1:30am) @ Boathouse Bar & Grill Saturday, May 24 Ruben Limas @ Shorty’s Lyrical Bynge @ Giggity’s Larry Joe Taylor @ Back Porch Kimberly Dunn @ Stingrays Jul & the Chrome Wheels @ Coast Club Passing Strangers @ Brewster Street Ice House The Groove @ Katz 21 Ruben Limas (1:30-5:30), The Deadbeats (9-1) @ Mikel Mays Stevie Start @ Doc’s Seafood After Dark Burlesque Review @ House of Rock Jim Dugan (6-9pm) @ Boathouse Bar & Grill
Tessy Lou & the Shotgun Stars
May 22
Gary P. Nunn
May 23
Larry Joe Taylor
May 24
90 Proof
May 29
Mike Blakely
May 30
The Derailers
May 31
132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront
Stevie Start
May 23
Ruben Limas
May 24
LeBron
May 25
Independent Thieves
May 30
Noel McKay & Brennen Leigh
May 31
Mandy Rowden & Billy Abel
June 6
Uel Jackson
June 7
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Saturday, May 24 continued DJ Ragyd (9:30-1:30am) @ Boathouse Bar & Grill Kevin Hill @ Scuttlebutt’s Damn Quails @ South Texas Ice House Barney Sledge & the Sledgehammers @ Dr. Rockits Sunday , May 25 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s LeBron @ Shorty’s Josh Abbott, Kevin Fowler, Wade Bowen, Whiskey Myers, Sam Riggs @ Concrete Street Laces Out @ House of Rock Uel Jackson (4-7) @ Back Porch Lyrical Binge @ Mikel Mays John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Billy Snipes @ Fins Whitey Morgan, Cody Jinks @ South Texas Ice House Art Barrera Band @ Dr. Rockits
Memorial Day, May 26 Open Jam w/ Stevie Start @ Giggity’s Open Jam w/ Ray Summy @ Executive Surf Club Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits Brian Permenter @ Scuttlebutt’s Billy Snipes @ Fins Tuesday, May 27 Tiffany Tuesday feat David Martinez @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock Hell Yeah @ Brewster Street Ice House Kevin Hill @ Doc’s Seafood John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Run Down Legend @ Dr. Rockits
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Wednesday, May 28 Stevie Start @ Giggity’s Chicago @ American Bank Center Wolfjaw @ Flats Lounge Steven Alan Wright @ Doc’s Seafood Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s Blindfold @ Dr. Rockits