A 16
Island Moon
Three Chords and the Truth By Ronnie Narmour ronnienarmour@gmail.com
Lighthouse Rick to retire…
Before I get started on my Winter Texan live music recommendations, I have some breaking news to tell you about. First of all, our friendly neighborhood lighthouse keeper, Rick Reichenbach, has announced his retirement and will no longer be in charge of flipping the switch (on at night, off in the day) as of May 1. Rick plans to give away all of his belongings and move to Nicaragua. Actually, I’m only half kidding here. He told me that he plans to throw all of his winter coats on the tarmac as he’s flying off to his new jungle home. Rick has taken several trips to Nicaragua in the past couple of years and is convinced that it has the amenities needed to sustain his happiness: pristine beaches, cheap rum and good cigars. There’s no word yet as to who his replacement might be, but suffice it say, it’s quite the coveted position. Between Reichenbach and his predecessor, Rick Pratt, they can claim the last 30 years at that job. Good luck in Nicaragua, Lighthouse Rick and can I have your stereo?
Tarpon Ice House to close…
The Medicare Band…
Mike Williams & Paul Taylor… This one is made for Winter Texans… Mike
Riptide plays Giggity’s every Tuesday
The Medicare Band plays Sharkey’s every Friday. The Medicare Band is one of the most recognizable and long standing “Winter Texan” bands that Port A has to offer. This nine piece ensemble, complete with a horn section (Cheo Reyes on trumpet, Jack Trowbridge on tenor sax and the band leader, Wayne Lindstad on trombone) and banjo/violin player, Don Lewis, has been around for nearly 13 years. Each winter they take up residence at Sharkey’s Beach Club every Friday (6-9) in January and February. The band plays jewels from the Big Band era of the 30’s and 40’s and enlists the talents from local songbirds, Betty Crawford and Pam Dowdy. The Reverend Tom Dowdy plays bass, Lori Roussel plays keyboards and Walt Roussel plays drums. This band is a huge hit with couples who love to dance and Sharkey’s big dance floor is more than accommodating for some fun ballroom dancing. They even play a little country here and there.
Colorado Bob Reed, Paul Fain and Ronnie Narmour harmonizing at the Tarpon Ice House
Welcome Winter Texans!!!
Welcome to all our Winter Texans who choose to make the Gulf Coast home in the winter months. Who could blame you given the beautiful weather and all the great activities we have to offer, not to mention the friendly atmosphere that our islands extend. I want to tell you about some great live music around town that is directed toward Winter Texans.
Berry and Little Richard. One cool thing about these guys… they don’t take breaks. They will play and play for three hours straight. Riptide plays every Tuesday at Giggity’s from 6:30- 10. They kicked off their string of Tuesdays this week to a nice response of Winter Texans who gave the dance floor a solid work-out. I think this thing is going to get huge.
Carol Elliott… Local folk singer extraordinaire, Carol Elliott, has several gigs coming up at the Tarpon Ice House and Shorty’s. Carol is a big hit with Winter Texans. Her music is a nice mixture Carol Elliott will of originals and familiar play the Tarpon Ice covers from such House on January artists as Patsy Cline, 10th and 24th. Roger Miller, Hank Williams, Joan Baez and Willie Nelson. Carol moved to Port A from Nashville where she was a professional performer and songwriter for many years. She has toured internationally and has five studio recordings to her credit. One of her songs, Corn, Water and Wood, was recorded by Michael Martin Murphy and won the coveted Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. She has performed before millions of people on television in Europe and was one of the regular performers at
The PA Rockers play every Wednesday at Bernies. The PA Rockers are an oldies rock band that originally was a group of Winter Texans who met in Port A. The group has had some personnel changes this season due to health concerns. The band’s founder and drummer, Mark Munson from Minnesota, will be replaced by local drummer Deb Dault this season and bassist Tommy Huff moved away and has been replaced by local bassist, Woodie Ray Lawson. Original members, Colorado Bob Reed (guitar, vocals, keys and harmonica) and John Boeckler (guitar and vocals) are returning this year as is local musician Steve Goldstein (guitar, vocals & mandolin). Everyone got all that? The band plays every Wednesday (6:30-9:30) at Bernies, usually to big, rabid crowds. This one has the feel of a 40 year high school reunion and is a must see on the Winter Texan social agenda. Colorado Bob tells me that this year they plan to play a lot more British invasion stuff since it’s the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America. I’m sure they’ll still play their share of Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and The Kingsmen too.
Riptide… Riptide is another oldies rock band who plays hits from the 50’s and 60’s. This band plays everything from Elvis to surf music to country to the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Chuck
GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BAR Antone & the All Stars Every Sunday (9-1) Mike Williams & Paul Taylor
Every Monday (5:30-9)
Riptide
Every Tuesday (6:30-10)
Stevie Start (8-12)
Happy New Year
the Kerrville Folk Festival for years. Originally from Atlanta, Elliott started out as a street singer in San Francisco and has many heartfelt songs from her life’s experiences. She will be at the Tarpon Ice House (5:30-7:30) tomorrow, Friday the 10th and again on Friday, January 24. Plus, she will play Shorty’s on Saturday, February 1st (6-9) with some of her friends that will include Father James Derkits and Tiffany Duckworth.
These shows are all early, starting in the 5:30 to 7:00 range and are artists that retired folks can relate to. There is no cover charge for any of these shows.
PA Rockers…
And, there is more earth shattering news in my arena… long time islander and close friend, Paul Fain, has announced that he has put the Tarpon Ice House on the market and will shut his doors on February 3rd. Paul opened the Ice House about six years ago and has been a mainstay in the local live music scene. One of the highlights of the year has been the annual Tarpon Music Bash held the weekend before Memorial Day each year. The “Bash”, as we’ve come to call it, hosted dozens of Hill Country, as well as Gulf Coast, musicians who descended on us with three days of non-stop music. Folks such as Al Barlow, Billy Snipes, Scott & Smiley, Collin Creel and Ashley Monical came to call the Ice House home, year after year. Fain originally opened the business as a glass blowing studio but that somehow morphed into the Tarpon Ice House, which became a reality largely due to a close friendship with the late Jim Winn, owner of the original Port A Ice House. After Winn shut down his Ice House, Fain felt there was a void in the community without it and eventually developed his concept from there. I will certainly feel the void again come February 3rd. Good luck to you, Paul and DeDe, in whatever the next chapter chooses to throw at you. You are a couple of the good guys!
January 9, 2014
Jan. 9
Red Giant (9-1) Jan. 10 Full Body Puppets (9-1) Jan. 11 Open 11am-2am Daily. Kitchen open til 1am. 722 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX
OPEN 10-5
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Daily Lunch Specials Private Dinner Parties, Personal Chef, Weddings
The men of Free Beer, Steve Goldstein, Crawford Brown, John Boeckler and Colorado Bob Reed
Mike Williams and Paul Taylor play every Monday at Giggity’s
Williams and Paul Taylor play every Monday at Giggity’s (5:30- 9). Williams plays old torch songs from the 40’s and beyond by such artists as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Cole Porter. His voice is as smooth as velvet. Taylor accompanies on piano and also sings great blues and soulful songs by artists such as Ray Charles and Nat King Cole. This combination is a delightful show that bears resemblances to the movie Casablanca. They could easily be playing the lobby bar at a grand hotel in Morocco. Also, Giggity’s has great food and runs an All You Can Eat Southern Fried Catfish special ($11.95) on Mondays and the kitchen stays open until 1:00 AM.
Free Beer Band…
The Free Beer Band is a string band who has been playing at the Tarpon Ice House for a couple of years now. The nucleus of the group has always been Steve Goldstein (guitar, mandolin and vocals) and Crawford Brown (stand-up bass and vocals) with a revolving personnel that includes Arnie Govella, Daddy Dale West, Bob Reed and John Boeckler, among others. These guys know how to have a good time and usually get all the wives involved in the show at one point or the other. It’s not unusual to see ten or twelve people on stage singing background to The Weight or any number of standard sing-alongs. Since the Ice House is closing, it’s a fair bet that they’ll be moving the show over to Shorty’s or Giggity’s in February.
♫ ♪ And that’s the truth! ♪ ♫
Live Music Tonight
Thursday, January 9 Stevie Start (8-12) @ Giggity’s Free Beer Band @ Tarpon Ice House Collin Roche @ Scuttlebutt’s Corpus Christi Symphony (Music of the Eagles) @ Selena Auditorium Friday, January 10 Red Giant @ Giggity’s Carol Elliott (5:30-7:30), Uel Jackson (8-12) @ Tarpon Ice House Uncle Willey @ Shorty’s Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Medicare Band (6-9) @ Sharkey’s The Groove @ Katz 21 Chris Sanz @ Scuttlebutt’s Kindasmooth @ South Texas Ice House Stephen Rushlow, Hope & Hospitality, David Martinez @ House of Rock
Saturday, January 11 Full Body Puppets @ Giggity’s Stevie Start @ Shorty’s Rockaholics @ House of Rock David Martinez Band @ Executive Surf Club Shadow Moon @ Katz 21 Kevin Hill @ Scuttlebutt’s Pear Ratz @ South Texas Ice House
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Uncle Willey Stevie Start Russell Edge Melissa Brooke Independent Thieves
Jan. 10 Jan. 11 Jan. 17 Jan. 18 Jan. 24
OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas
Sunday, January 12 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s Open Jam w/ Uel Jackson @ Tarpon Ice House John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s
Keep on rockin in the free world Name the artist and song this lyric came from
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Monday, January 13 Mike Williams & Paul Taylor (5:30-9) @ Giggity’s David Reichenbacher @ Port A Community Theater Open Mic @ Scuttlebutt’s Blake Sparx @ Scuttlebutt’s Tuesday, January 14 Riptide (6:30-10) @ Giggity’s Open Mic @ House of Rock Led Zeppelin 2 @ Brewster Street John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s
Wednesday, January 15 PA Rockers (6:30-9:30) @ Bernie’s Flatbroke @ House of Rock Wolfjaw @ Flats Lounge Stevie Start @ Scuttlebutt’s
Thursday, January 16 Ruben Limas @ Giggity’s Free Beer Band @ Tarpon Ice House Chris Sanz @ Scuttlebutt’s Friday, January 17 Rich Lockhart Band @ Giggity’s Russell Edge @ Shorty’s Mike Williams (6-8), Uel Jackson (8-12) @ Tarpon Ice House Medicare Band (6-9) @ Sharkey’s Funeral Kab, Golden Meanies @ House of Rock Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Hilda Lamas @ Executive Surf Club Out of Bounds @ Katz 21 Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’s Five Card Draw @ South Texas Ice House Saturday, January 18 Todd Dorn & the Sea Drifters @ Giggity’s Melissa Brooke & Mike Stite @ Shorty’s Bertha, Momma Tried, Peace & Quiet @ House of Rock The Groove @ Katz 21 Kevin Hill @ Scuttlebutt’s Cameran Nelson @ South Texas Ice House Sunday, January 19 Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s Open Jam w/ Uel Jackson @ Tarpon Ice House Slamfest II @ House of Rock John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s
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Monday, January 20 Mike Williams & Paul Taylor (5:30-9) @ Giggity’s Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School @ House of Rock Blake Sparx @ Scuttlebutt’s Tuesday, January 21 Riptide (6:30-10) @ Giggity’s Open Jam @ House of Rock John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s