A 20
Three Chords and the Truth
September 18, 2014
Island Moon Review: Todd Dorn, Jake Ward, Pete Devlin…
By Ronnie Narmour
DO NOT MISS LIST Coming this weekend…
ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Words on a page… And now from the “You get points just for showing up” department…it’s time to toot my own horn a bit. I’ve reached another milestone of sorts. This is my 200th 3C&T music column here at your Island Moon. And, I might boast, without missing one single deadline. In case you’re counting, that’s a little over 282,000 words on a page. In commemoration of this noteworthy event, my good friend, Chris Jordan, offered me his highest praise, “So what do you want, a medal?” It’s taken me five years and three months to get here, but I gotta say, the journey has been one cool ride. I’ve got the best job around. I get paid to live on an island in the Gulf of Mexico, hang out in bars and write about the live music scene. I don’t take that for granted. I try to be supportive of any and all live music I catch wind of and do my best to keep you informed. I appreciate the support my readers give me. I never really know if anybody ever reads my stuff or not (it’s not like those requests line light up), but on occasion someone will come up and let me know that they enjoy my insidious banter, and that makes it all worth it. Plus, my advertising sponsors deserve a big “hell yeah”, too. The Back Porch and the Gaff have been with me since day one and Paradise Computer for about four years now. I really appreciate all my sponsors, past and present. They make it happen. And I know this tiny milestone is a flea on an elephant’s backside compared to the number of keyboards that Dale Rankin has worn out. He’s the one real pro amongst us hacks and the guy that really makes all of this possible…Jan, too, she’s a miracle worker. I love those guys. Ok, enough of this self-absorbed narcissism, time to get back to work. I’ll do this again in a couple of years when number 300 rolls around.
Pete Devlin and Texas Moon played Shorty’s last Saturday night
Tiffany Tuesday performed at the Rock the Border benefit on Sunday. Photo by Lee Harrison. the Independent Thieves and Todd Dorn and the Sea Drifters. I even got into the act when Tiffany called me on stage to sing a duet with her. The weather couldn’t have been more cooperative, as a cool front blew in the night
It was another big weekend in Port A. Island expat, Todd Dorn (San Antonio, TX), definitely made the scene in a big way, playing the Sunset Sounds summer concert series in Roberts Point Park on Friday, Giggity’s on Saturday and the Rock the Border benefit on Sunday. He’s been playing here so often that he keeps locals Woodie Ray Lawson (bass) and Preecher Williams (drums) on retainer. If you haven’t caught Todd and the Sea Drifters yet, go way out of you way to do so. His brand of smooth country meets the island is killer. It’s easy to see why he has so many fans around here. Another couple of performances that made their mark with me this weekend; the Jake Ward and the Coast Riders show at Giggity’s and the Pete Devlin and Texas Moon show at Shorty’s. Both of these acts are in the country vein and hit the nail on the head. Ward is a young up and comer that is catching tread all over the region and Devlin in a real deal seasoned pro who sings like he’s working an old Texas dance hall on a Saturday night. That show at Shorty’s just felt like Hank Williams, himself, might have been looking over Pete’s shoulder. It just seemed like the right place for Pete to be. Lot’s of good spirits floating around in there.
Rock the Border Benefit a smashing success…
Carol Elliott played the Rock the Border Benefit on Sunday. Photo by Woodie Lawson
Father James Derkits gets the ball rolling at the Rock the Border benefit last Sunday at Trinity By The Sea in Port A. By all accounts, the Rock the Border: Families for Families benefit at Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church last Sunday, was a smashing success. According to the church vicar, Father James Derkits, their efforts raised over $6000 for St. John’s Episcopal in McAllen, who have found themselves on the front lines of this issue, giving first aid to Central American immigrants seeking asylum in our country. St. John’s rector, Rev. Jim Nelson, attended the benefit and spoke briefly about the current situation on the border and the burdens his church has assumed with the influx of families in need. He spoke of the violence from which these families are fleeing and steps they must go through to become American citizens. The benefit consisted of a BBQ dinner, silent auction and a free concert on the church’s grounds with music provided by Father James, Carol Elliott, Tiffany Tuesday,
before and made the temperatures actually pleasant for the first time in months. The community really came together to support this cause and many volunteers who offered their time are to be commended, including Johnie Swenson, Mark Admire, Suzanna Reader, Mallory Kolkaja, Lee Harrison, Elvin “Preecher” Williams, Eloy Martinez, Steven Barron and Julie Caraker.
Todd Dorn and the Sea Drifters performed at the Rock the Border benefit on Sunday. Photo by Lee Harrison.
GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BAR Free Beer Band Sept. 18 Mike Millilgan & the Altar Boys Sept. 19 J.T. Coldfire Sept. 20 Antone & the All Stars Sept. 21 Open Jam w/ Jef Wilson Sept. 22 Tiffany Tuesday Sept. 23 Garrett Wieland Sept. 24 Open 11am-2am Daily. Kitchen open til 1am. 722 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX
Keepers Horace Caldwell Pier (361) 749 - 5333 Fishing, Pole Rentals, Beer, Burgers, Wings
Jake Ward played Giggity’s last Friday night
Ruben V will playthe Back Porch on Saturday.
Tonight, Thursday the 18th, there’s a good show at Brewster Street with Bri Bagwell and Curtis Grimes. Their Thursday Texas Country Music series at Brewster has been producing, pound for pound, some of the best Americana shows to be found… anywhere. In weeks past, they’ve featured performances by Cody Canada, Bleu Edmonson, Stoney LaRue, Cory Morrow, Cody Johnson, Wade Bowen, Roger Creager, Josh Grider, Granger Smith, Reckless Kelly, William Clark Green, Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Dirty River Boys, Aaron Watson, Charlie Robison, Kyle Park, Gary P Nunn, Ryan Bingham, Uncle Lucius, Max Stalling, Whiskey Meyers, etc. The list goes on and on and is quite impressive. On Friday the 19th, jumping blues fave, Mike Milligan and the Altar Boys will return to Giggity’s… that’s a guaranteed blow-out, country singer Tracie Lynn will return to the Back Porch, singersongwriter Billy Snipes will bring his island slant to Shorty’s, Latin Talk will play the Executive Surf Club and the acoustic act, Hope and Hostility will play Doctor Rockits. On Saturday the 20th, guitar wizard, Ruben V (San Antonio, TX) will cast his most excellent spell upon the Porch, Lyrical Bynge will rock Shorty’s, and the amazing J.T. Coldfire (Austin, TX) will return to Giggity’s. I’ve had no less than a dozen people recently ask me when J.T. was coming back to town. He puts on a wicked show. Also on Saturday, the Palacios Brothers are at Doctor Rockits, Zack Walthers is at the South Texas Ice House, Metal Shop is at Brewster and Cerveza Libre with Jeff “El Jefe” Anderson is at Doc’s Seafood. Be safe out there.
♫ ♪ And that’s the truth! ♪ ♫
Live Music Tonight
Thursday, Sept. 18 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Curtis Grimes, Bri Bagwell @ Brewster Street Blake Sparx @ Scuttlebutt’s Duke E. Brown @ Doctor Rockits
Tracie Lynn Band
Sept. 19
Ruben V
Sept. 20
John Eric
Sept. 26
Scarecrow People
Sept. 27
Randy McAllister
Oct. 3
Larry Joe Taylor
Oct. 4
132 W. Cotter St. Port A On the Waterfront
Friday, Sept. 19 Tarcie Lynn Band @ Back Porch Mike Milligan & the Altar Boys @ Giggity’s Billy Snipes @ Billy Snipes Sept. 19 Shorty’s Sept. 20 Rich Lockhart @ Drop Lyrical Bynge Joe Mack & Thomas Trapp Sept. 26-27 Anchor Tiffany Oct. 3 Scarecrow People @ Jef Wilson Oct. 4 Brewster Street Bo Porter Oct. 10 77 Jefferson, Audic PIG PARTY Oct. 11 Empires @ House of OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas Rock Latin Talk @ Executive Surf Club Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s Hope & Hostility @ Doctor Rockits Timeline: Journey Tribute Band @ South Wed-Thurs 11 am - 10 pm • Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm Texas Ice House
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Saturday, Sept. 20 Ruben V @ Back Porch JT Coldfire @ Giggity’s Lyrical Bynge @ Shorty’s Billy Snipes @ Drop Anchor Cerveza Libre, Jeff “El Jefe” Anderson Trio @ Doc’s Seafood Metal Shop @ Brewster Street Hope & Hostility @ House of Rock Marco Ramirez @ Scuttlebutt’s Palacios Brothers @ Doctor Rockits Zack Walthers @ South Texas Ice House
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
Sunday, Sept. 21 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s Taj Weekes @ House of Rock John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Open Jam @ Doctor Rockits Monday, Sept. 22 Open Jam w/ Jef Wilson @ Giggity’s Open Jam w/ Ray Summy @ Executive Surf Club Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits Brian and Diana @ Scuttlebutt’s Tuesday, Sept. 23 Tiffany Tuesday w/ Brian Meyerdirk @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s Run Down Legend @ Doctor Rockits Wednesday, Sept. 24 Garrett Wieland @ Giggity’s Granger Smith, Jeff Allen, Earl Dibbles Jr. @ Brewster Street We Came As Romans, For Today, Color Morale, Crossfaith @ House of Rock Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s Reno & the Groovegetters @ Doctor Rockits Thursday, Sept. 25 Free Beer Band @ Giggity’s Granger Smith @ Brewster Street Passafire, Hip Abduction, Flatbroke @ House of Rock Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s Duke E. Brown @ Doctor Rockits