MUSIC
Crosstown Sounds: And the Nominees Are... The final voting phase has begun for the 2024 Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards
BY FORT WORTH WEEKLY
Last week, we enlisted your help narrowing down the many great options for the 27 categories of this year’s Music Awards to a Top 5 for each award. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Now, it’s time to make your final choices.
Today thru midnight Sat, Nov 30, complete an online ballot and choose your favorites from the nominees below at FWWeekly. com/music-awards-ballot-2024/. Voting is limited to one ballot per person. We toss out the duplicates.
We will announce the winners at the Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards 2024 Ceremony. Stay tuned for updates on the location and times. Meanwhile, save the date: Sunday, December 15. And the nominees are …
Album
The nominated selections for Best Album are Better Than a Dream (Theo Carracino), The Edge of April (Rachel Gollay), Face to Face (Toxic Madness), Moral Law (LABELS), and Unraveled (Cut Throat Finches).
Song
The nominated selections for Best Song are “Calling Me Out” (Cut Throat Finches),
“Chubby Thighs” (Darstar), “Kites” (Hannah Owens), “Trainwreck” (Broke String Burnett), and “Wrong Direction” (Vintage Yell).
Open-Mic Night
The nominated selections for Best OpenMic Night are Gustos Burger Bar + More (Denver Williams), Kung Fu Saloon (John Carter & Honky Tonk Traditions w/Trenton Tebow), Magnolia Motor Lounge (Songwriter Nights), McFly’s Pub (Tommy Luke), and Pouring Glory (Fort Worth Roots).
Place to Hear Live Music
The nominated selections for Best Place to Hear Live Music are Billy Bob’s Texas, The Cicada, Haltom Theater, Ridglea Theater, and Tulips FTW.
Americana Band
The nominees for Best Americana Band are Broke String Burnett, Cut Throat Finches, Denver Williams & The Gas Money, Marfa Lights, and Vintage Yell.
Avant Garde/Experimental Band
The nominees for Best Avant Garde/ Experimental Band are The Go-Go Rillas, The Liquid Sound Company, The Rage Out Arkestra, T.E.F. (Texas Expeditionary Force), and Total Sweetheart.
Bassist
The nominees for Best Bassist are Marcus Gonzales (Royal Sons), Cyrus Haskell (Stem Afternoon), Kris Luther (Arenda Light), Tony Newman (Darstar), Maxwell Smith (Quaker City Night Hawks), and Joe Tacke (Mean Motor Scooter).
Blues Artist/Band
The nominees for Best Blues Artist/Band are Arlington Jones, Blind Dog Cooley, Dirty Pool, The Fender Benders, and Playtown.
Country Artist/Band
The nominees for Best Country Artist/Band are Cory Cross & The Burden, Ginny Mac, Squeezebox Bandits, Matt Tedder, and Two Guys Walk Into a Bar.
Drummer
The nominees for Best Drummer are Matt Mabe (Arenda Light), Josh Pitts (Darstar), continued on page 13
Crosstown Sounds
Punk Band
The nominees for Best Punk Band are A Dangerous Affair, Itchy Richie & The Burnin’ Sensations, LABELS, Mean Motor Scooter, and Toxic Madness.
Jordan Richardson (Quaker City Night Hawks), Draya Ruse (Cut Throat Finches), and Andy Weaver (Chasing Rent).
Folk Artist/Group
The nominees for Best Folk Artist/Group are Jacob Furr, Jaybirds, Darrin Kobetich, Late to the Station, and Summer Lane.
Guitarist
The nominees for Best Guitarist are Sam Anderson (Quaker City Night Hawks), Chad Beck (Royal Sons), Rowdy Carter (Arenda Light), Braedon Ward (Jaybirds), and Cory Watson (Black Tie Dynasty).
Hip-Hop/R&B Artist
The nominees for Best Hip-Hop/R&B Artist are 4 Ya Soul, BrewedUp J/O/E, DJ TeK, Legacy 4, and Retrophonics.
Keyboardist
The nominees for Best Keyboardist are John Davis (Poo Live Crew), Steve Hammond (Matt Tedder Band), Brian McCorquodale (Black Tie Dynasty), Justin Pate (Pablo & The Hemphill 7, Battle of Evermore, Brad Thompson Band, Dirty Pool), and Katie Robertson.
Latin Music Artist
The nominees for Best Latin Music Artist are Latin Express, Mariachi Espuelas de Plata (North Side High School), QUIMIKOZ, Tejano Outlaw Band, and Tejas Brothers.
Metal Band
The nominees for Best Metal Band are Iron Jaw, One-Eyed Monsters, OZONE, Prophecy TX, and Rotting Corpse.
Pop Artist
The nominees for Best Pop Artist/Group are Big Heaven, Darstar, Hayden Miller, Simone Nicole, and Phantomelo.
Producer
The nominees for Best Producer are Clint Niosi (Orange Audio), Rodney Parker, Mark Randall and Nick Tittle (Blackstone FW), Jordan Richardson, and Taylor Tatsch.
Regional Act
The nominees for Best Regional Act — meaning they are located in North Texas but beyond our circulation area — are Flickerstick, Grant Morrison, Carlos Ramos, Sunny Disposition, and The Wee-Beasties.
Rock Band
The nominees for Best Rock Band are Black Tie Dynasty, The Me-Thinks, Quaker City Night Hawks, Royal Sons, and Trauma Ray.
Singer-Songwriters
The nominees for Best Singer-Songwriter are Rachel Gollay, Keegan McInroe, Gabby Minton, Garrett Owen, and Hannah Owens.
Sound Engineer
The nominees for Best Sound Engineer are Clay Anderson, Blake Barker, Brian Garcia, Mark Randall, and Peter Weirenga.
Tribute Band
The nominees for Best Tribute Band are Bikini Whales, Chasing Rent, The Dick Beldings, Guttersluts, and Poo Live Crew.
Video
The nominated selections for Best Video are “Let It Ride” (Denver Williams & The Gas Money), “People Make a Place” (Henry the Archer), “The Stupid Way You Breathe” (The Flying Beets), “Trainwreck” (Broke String Burnett), and “Wrong Direction” (Vintage Yell).
Female Vocalist
The nominees for Best Female Vocalist are Lisa Hardaway (Darstar), Claire Hinkle (Tiny Giants), Ginny Mac, Simone Nicole, and Jenna Walsh (Jaybirds).
Male Vocalist
The nominees for Best Male Vocalist are Sam Anderson (Quaker City Night Hawks), Blake Parish (Royal Sons), Levi Ray, Sean Russell (Cut Throat Finches), and Cory Watson (Black Tie Dynasty).
ATE DAY8 of Thanks or No Thanks
BY JENNIFER BOVEE
Some of you are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with your families next week. Others? Not so much. From dining out for the big meal to events before and after (that don’t involve watching the Cowboys lose), here are some ideas for your consideration.
Hear some rocking tunes while helping gather food donations that could help some folks who need it in the coming weeks. Local Famous Records is hosting a fundraiser for the local food pantry Funky Town Fridge (FunkTownFridge.org, 682-207-7436), which helps feed people in Fort Worth food deserts. Local Famous and Torch Entertainment have teamed up to throw the inaugural Food Fest Fundraiser at the Haltom Theater (5601 E Belknap St, Haltom City, 682-250-5678). There will be local vendors, and B-Nign, Ben C Jones, Black Market Garden, The Bom Bom Boms, Despire, Double Bear, Hang Booty Disco, I Am Warbird, N.R.I.O., Passengers Unknown, The Spectacle, Temporal Distortions, Trash Puppies, and Wolves Reign are slated to perform. Tickets are $20, with 10% of all proceeds going to Funkytown Fridge, or $15 with a food donation.
From 9pm to 11pm, a trio of musically inclined friends are having a Thanksgiving Eve Pregame Jam at the new FW Thunderbird (306 Houston St, Fort Worth, @FWThunderbird). There is
The menu includes roasted turkey, smoked brisket, red chile-glazed ham, grilled salmon, cranberry-jalapeño relish, Southwest stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans, cinnamon roasted butternut squash, and a variety of pies. Plus, there will be a traditional street taco bar, an omelet station, and more. The price is $40 for adults, $12 for kids ages 6-11, and free for ages 5 and younger. Your choice of mimosas, coffee, iced tea, orange juice, and soft drinks is included. For reservations, go to OpenTable.com or call the restaurant. To purchase the Family Packs that feed 6-8 adults for $175, order at BlueMesaGrill.com no later than Sun, Nov 24.
no cover, only good vibes and good times listening to the Quaker City Night Hawks’ Sam Anderson, Royal Sons’ Blake Parish, and Arenda Light’s Kris Luther all night long. Another longtime pre-Thanksgiving party is happening again this year in Pantego. Every year, the gang at Tanstaafl Pub (409 N Bowen Rd, Arlington, 817-460-9506) hosts a jam session with local musicians covering songs from The Last Waltz. The pub’s 12th annual There’s No Such Thing as a Last Waltz is free and starts at 9pm.
If you’re thinking of spending the day in the Stockyards, consider the three-course Thanksgiving feast at 97 West Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Drover (200 Mule Alley, Fort Worth, 682-255-6497) from noon to 9pm. The menu includes entrée selections like herb-crusted turkey with sage gravy and smoked prime rib; sides of potato hash, sausage-apple stuffing, and fresh cranberry sauce; and starters like butternut-squash soup and a farm-fresh salad. For dessert, choose from pecan or pumpkin pie. Adult dining is priced at $75 per person. There is a special menu for Lil Ropers (ages 5-12) for $35, and those under 5 dine for free. For reservations, go to OpenTable.com. (If your party is five or more, please call the restaurant instead.)
Blue Mesa is once again hosting its annual Thanksgiving Buffet from 8am to 4pm.
One of the best deals in town is from Best Of winner Ol’ South Pancake House in Fort Worth (1509 S University Dr, 817-336-0311) and Burleson (225 E Renfro St, 817-9899090). For $74.99, you can pick up a Family Thanksgiving Meal that feeds four people. Meals include 3 pounds of sliced herb-roasted turkey with cornbread dressing, turkey-giblet gravy, fresh cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and two sides (baby carrots, bacon green beans, caramelized Brussels sprouts, mac ’n’ cheese, mashed potatoes, candied yams). Preorders can be placed at OlSouthPancakeHouse.com/ order. For those who prefer to dine in, plates of all of the above are $17.99 per person, including a drink and a slice of pie. The Burleson location is open 6am to 3pm daily, and Fort Worth is open 24/7.
Silver Fox (1651 S University Dr, Fort Worth, 817-332-9060), a critic’s choice for best steak in Best Of 2024, has a special
Thanksgiving Day menu from noon to 6pm with slow-roasted turkey with gravy, cornbread dressing, whipped potatoes, candied yams, sugar-snap peas, and spiced cranberry sauce for $42 per person ($18 for children 12 and younger). In addition to this Thanksgiving meal, Silver Fox will also offer a Slow-Roasted Turkey Family Meal Pack that can be preordered starting Sat, Nov 23. For more info, visit SilverFoxCafe.com. Toro Toro (200 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-975-9895) will serve a Pan-Latin Thanksgiving Dinner from 5pm to 10pm. This three-course meal by Chef Richard Sandoval will include an entree of Thanksgiving turkey breast with guava mole, watercress salad, risen au jus, and apple stuffing or grilled snapper with kimchi marinade, roasted carrots, and creamy mashed potatoes; an appetizer choice of short-rib empanadas with Yuzu avocado and queso fresco or crispy mango prawns; and a dessert of Texas pecan pie with cream and a sweet sand crumble. The cost is $95 per person. For reservations, call the restaurant or book a time slot on OpenTable.com.
Throughout November, Fish City Grill in Burleson (225 E Renfro St, Ste 117, 682250-4757), Flower Mound (2628 Long Prairie Rd, 972-899-1630), and Mansfield (581 W Debbie Ln, 817-225-2094) have some specials, including Texas redfish with Thanksgiving oyster dressing and a winter herb beurre blanc for $26.99 per person.
On the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving, three amigos — Quaker City Night Hawks’ Sam Anderson, Royal Sons’ Blake Parish, and Arenda Light’s Kris Luther — will perform at the new downtown hangout FW Thunderbird. No cover.
EATS & drinks
Howdy, Neighbor’s
This
joint aims to make downtown more inviting.
Neighbor’s House, 500 W 7th St, Ste 175, Fort Worth. 817-334-0526. 8am-3pm Mon, 8am-9pm Tue-Fri.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY EMMY SMITH
On a recent Friday, after a brutal work week and drained from fighting the cloud of impending doom that’s hung over my family since Nov. 5, I needed a “treat yo’ self” moment. Leaving my downtown office, I blew right by the chain restaurants and pricey hotel bars (which seem to multiply weekly) and bee-lined it to my new favorite after-work spot, Neighbor’s House.
Neighbor’s House’s steakhouse-quality ribeye is topped with herb butter for added indulgence.
Walking through downtown, you see a lot of shuttered businesses. Long-defunct eateries like Taverna and Bird Café still sit vacant, and it can feel like the only reason to make the trek downtown if you don’t work there would be for a special occasion dinner at one of the many chain steakhouses along Main and Houston streets. Neighbor’s House is aiming to change that, bringing an
Neighbor’s House boasts an impressive retail selection of wine and beer.
inviting experience to downtown residents and visitors alike.
Once a grocery store serving downtown residents (which explains why the website has the word grocery in it), the eatery pivoted to a full-fledged restaurant a couple of years ago. Since then, they’ve been steadily ramping up their menu and hours and collecting loyal regulars.
Throughout the week starting at 8 a.m., Neighbor’s House serves a steady stream of office workers like me from nearby Burnett
Plaza, the Frost Bank building, and others. The popular salad bar is well-stocked with more than 60 items, but the counter also serves burgers, hearty sandwiches, street tacos, and loaded baked potatoes. I had the house-smoked brisket tacos during my lunch visit, lured in by the delicious smoked meat aroma wafting from somewhere in the depths of the First on Seventh Building, where the restaurant keeps its smoker. The brisket was as melt-in-your-mouth
continued on page 21
tender as any of the area’s best barbecue joints, and the tacos were nearly bursting with meat, cheese, and toppings, satisfying my midday hunger and then some. I may have taken a short nap in my cube back at the office.
And every Friday, from 5:30 p.m. to close (perfect for the just-out-of-work crowd), Neighbor’s hosts the most affordable — and filling — steak night ’round these parts, which is why I found myself there on this particular evening.
For an astounding $40 per person, guests enjoy either a 10-ounce filet or 16-ounce ribeye, a trip to the salad bar, luscious duck fat-fried potatoes, and a vegetable medley. If you’re in the mood for seafood, you can sub in snow crab legs for the steak. And because Neighbor’s House sells a large selection of retail beer and wine, you can choose anything off the shelf to open and have with your meal. Another win for the wallet and for my weary soul. To achieve my treat yo’self moment, I ordered the humongous ribeye and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. The ribeye was cooked beautifully and was as indulgent as any steak from Del Frisco’s or Capital Grille but much more budget-friendly and without the stuffiness.
Chef-owners Kyle and Ashlee Cowan say the opportunity to bring a restaurant to fruition is the culmination of a lifelong dream after more than 20 years as chefs. While the restaurant was bustling, as we sat at the bar, they made time to chat about all sorts of things, from their transition from grocery to restaurant to Olympic sports. The Cowans seem to understand that the experience of going to a restaurant isn’t only about the food. Pleasant company and wonderful
service are crucial as well. Otherwise, people won’t keep coming. And as their name suggests, the vibe at Neighbor’s House is comfortable, homey, and welcoming.
Case in point: One recent Wednesday evening, the husband and I were looking for a place to kill time before a show at Bass
Hall. When we walked in, all the diners were eerily silent, and we looked at each other uneasily. Was this a wake? Then we realized there was a Bingo game going on, as it apparently does every Wednesday from 5 p.m. on. We happily posted up at the bar, ordered two Old Fashioneds (Neighbor’s also boasts a full bar and an impressive whiskey selection), and joined in. Soon enough, I was calling “Bingo!” and felt like I’d officially been welcomed to the Neighbor’s-hood.
While we played, we enjoyed loaded jumbo potato skins and some crispy Brussels sprouts with sweet chile sauce off the dinner menu. Both were excellent and enough to serve as a light preshow dinner, though I somehow missed the word “jumbo” and probably made a cartoonish googly-eyed face when the enormous skins arrived, generously topped with bacon, warm cheese sauce, sour cream, and green onion.
While it may feel like any semblance of a local downtown scene is slowly disappearing, the only way to ensure that doesn’t happen is to support Neighbor’s House — and a few others, like Osteria 61 next door — whether for a special occasion, an escape from intrusive thoughts, or no reason at all. See you soon, neighbor. l
No steak dinner is complete without a trip to the salad bar, and Neighbor’s House has one of the best around.