STXscene #5

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Entertainment Resource Guide Issue #5 • Aug. 3-16, 2013 Bi-Weekly

Love, life and the constant pursuit of evolving his music.

This young Texas country artist can’t seem to slow down.

THE PEAR RATZ RETURN - JAMES ‘THE BUTCHER’ JOHNSON - KEVIN FOWLER

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George West local country rockers The Pear Ratz have returned from France alive and well.

The band was requested to play the The Country Rendez-Vous, which takes place every year in the thousand-year-old village of Craponne, France.

When asked how the trip to France was, lead singer/guitarist Bob Strause responded with a laugh, “It’s a long ways from here.”

Every year, the biggest and best bluegrass, country, hillbilly and folk bands from all over the world descend on France to play the three-day festival.

“There were five bands that played Friday, and we finished up the night,” Strause recalled. “The production was amazing.

It was a lot bigger engine than we were used to driving with.

AUGUST 3-16, 2013

“It went extremely well, and not to toot our own horn, and you probably shouldn’t print this, but I think we were a hit,” Strause added with a laugh.

The band did have to make a few adjustments while overseas.

they could, the Ratz have nothing but great things to say about their time abroad.

of 7,000 feverous French fans made the trip seem well worth the bumps, bruises and jet lag.

“It was a culture shock “It’s not nearly as for sure. There was a big watered down as the time language barrier. scene in Texas. They can’t “But it was just a great go to Brewster Street experience; it really was. every Thursday night.

There was a lot of fly- They have to wait all year ing and lots of trains. We for this.”

“The beds are little.

And The Pear Ratz They’re like trunks with were off the beaten path for sure.” seem to have made it a mattress.

And playing in front worth their while.

“We all came out with an injury from falling out of bed or stepping up and hitting something because we were too tall.

“Rod stood up in the bus and forgot that everyone was five feet tall over there, and he’s not, so he got a big ol’ bump. And

Johnny fell out of bed and sprang his knee.

“He all limped home.”

And after taking an entire week to make the trip, play the show and take in as many sites as

P. 3

Kevin Fowler to headline Summer Fest 2013 in Beeville Kevin Fowler has always been a Texas boy at heart. He began playing piano while still a young child at his mom’s behest and then drums while in high school.

His father introduced him to country music, but at the time, he was more into rock and rollers like AC/DC, Kiss and Metallica.

And then something changed in him when he went to the Texxas Jam at the Cotton Bowl when he was about 20. He loved the mayhem and the

The short film “James ‘The Butcher’ Johnson” comes to us from Van Loan Productions and will be available to view at Vimeo.com on Aug. 5 free of charge.

It stars Kevin Gant who came to the nation’s attention a few back when indie film auteur director Jay Duplass, one half of the directing duo The Duplass Brothers, featured him in a short documentary titled simply “Kevin”.

Having met Gant while attending the Victoria Independent Film Festival a few years back, he’s one of the individuals you’d never forget. He’s a musician with a unique sound that mixes folk and blues with a crazy picking style that makes his music sound almost otherworldly.

This is his first acting role, and he knocks it out of the park. But more on

that later.

As the movie begins, you get to see Johnson, an underground street musician, enter a radio station where he’s about to get interviewed by a radio station to tell his dark history and eventual redemption.

Now, the titles are cheesy Final Cut Pro premade titles, and transitions are pretty cringeworthy. And the camera work leaves a bit to be desired as it looks to be shot on a standard HD handheld video camera.

But you have to wait for it.

Once Johnson speaks, you’re hooked. Knowing Gant personally, it’s hard to distinguish if he’s in fact playing a character or the character is simply him.

True, he didn’t commit the atrocity that Johnson did, but Gant’s always

amazing to watch. The simplicity in which he delivers his lines with sincerity and truthfulness makes you start to think you’re actually watching a documentary instead of a film.

His mannerisms and speech patterns are just a wonder to behold. Gant is great in this and is a pleasure to watch and hear.

And the fact that Gant’s songs are featured throughout is a nice touch.

The film as a whole seems to need a bit more

loud music and chanting altogether and began crowds and figured that’s concentrating on Texas what he was born to do.

Country.

He headed to Los And that’s the Kevin Angeles for a spell and Fowler we all know now. attended the Guitar But he still hasn’t lost Institute of Technology his rock star edge and and began developing his gives his all on stage, guitar and song writing which makes him one of skills. the few entertainers to After graduating, he headed to Austin and put on a great stage show, joined a few rock bands, making sure the audience eventually starting his gets their money’s worth. own Southern Rock band Fowler will be headlincalled Thunderfoot. ing Beeville’s Summer But his father’s Fest 2013 Saturday, Aug. music kept calling him. 10, with Kyle Park, Bart Eventually he left rock Crow and James Lann.

work, as the character who loses some appendages simply tucked them away and are clearly visible.

But the film is in no way bad. It’s actually really great, and the fact that director Chris Van Loan Sr. pulled out a performance like this out of Gant makes him a director to watch.

It’s definitely worth seeing when it goes live, especially if you’ve never met Gant. It’s one heck of an introduction to the man behind the music.

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P. 4

AUGUST 3-16, 2013

Thank God he’s a country boy “We’ve rented out a house for recording; we’re not recording at a regular studio.

“We’ve got a big house on the lake with a pool in the back. We just put all the stuff in the living room and the musicians just jam.

“All the recording equipment is here, so we’ve basically been living here for the entire month.”

Not too shabby for a 28-year-old Texas country musician named Kyle Park who’s heading to Beeville Saturday, August 10 for Summer Fest 2013.

He’s had his share of struggles and rough patches throughout his seven plus year career, so his chilling at a house

in Austin on the lake, recording at his leisure, doesn’t come off as pretentious.

Listening to the excited tone of his voice, he seems glad to just be working again, recording and experimenting with his sound.

“I really love making new music, and I’m fortunate enough that I’m not currently signed to a major label that dictates who produces my albums.

“I’m an independent artist right now, and there’s no better time to be in charge than right now. If I make something that fans may think sounds different, no one changed me; it’s just me doing what I do.”

Park cites everyone from Hank Williams Sr. and Michael Jackson to Metallica and Lyle Lovett as musical influences.

And listening to his records, one can tell he enjoys weaving in and out of genres, even though he wears a cowboy hat and speaks with a boyish,

country twang.

Sure, he’s had more than his share of lucky breaks, but it wasn’t as though he was sitting around on his porch picking his strings waiting for a someone to come around and notice him.

“My first album was my college money,” Park remembered. “I went to college for two years, then I basically dropped out and said I wanted to take the rest of my college money and make an album and start touring.”

So, with whatever money he had made working while going to school, he hit the road after his album was complete.

He made a pact with himself that if he hadn’t made something of himself by the time he was 25, he would pack up his guitar, get whatever student loans he could and return to school.

“I bought my first bus at 25.

“So, luckily, I’m not going back to school any time soon,” Park said laughing. “I’m going to keep doing this music thing.”

His first album, Big Time, was released in 2005 with a second, Anywhere in Texas, released in 2008.

The second was a little different in that he got an “anonymous investor”, who eventually became a good friend.

“Pretty much, the deal was if I couldn’t pay him back, I wouldn’t, but if I could, I would.

“I ended up paying him double.”

And with Park having two album’s worth of material behind him, he hit the road.

“I made $150 to drive to Lubbock several times from Austin. And you’d loose money but keep hoping that you’ll start making money soon.

“I had a great group of guys that basically played for nothing for years, so did I, but all that hard work and all that touring finally started turning around, and we started seeing some profit.”

He then went on to record and produce all of his following albums himself, releasing them under his Kyle Park Music, Inc. banner.

“The thing about pro-

ducing them is, we have record that weren’t writreally great musicians in ten or co-written by me. the studio helping out.

“One was a Ronnie Milsap song written in the ’80s, and one was a Johnny Horton song from the ’50s.

“I grew up listening to older music, and I feel like even now, as far as country music is concerned, I find myself looking back at stuff I’ve missed more than I find myself listening to the radio and finding something new.

“Hank Williams Sr. I still think is the definition of Country music.

There’s not many guys today that write songs Everyone from the bass that can stand the test player to the drummer to of time like Hank Sr.’s the guitar player as well entire catalog does.” as the engineer on site – Park brought up his we’re all producers. It’s new single titled “Fit for not like I walk in there a King”, which is a senand dictate what’s going timental tribute to one of to happen. his heroes, George Strait.

“It’s more ‘This is what His manager actually I want the song to kind of played with Strait up sound like’ and get some until he called it quits ideas on where the song earlier this year and got should go. access to all sorts of vid“Half of being a pro- eos footage and personal ducer is picking the right items throughout Strait’s guys to be in the studio sprawling career. and just sitting back and “It’s one of my favorite watching them do what videos we’ve been able to they do best.” make, and it’s not only And as far as recording because we get to tribute is concerned, he’s a bit the king, but I get to be a more direct. part of it as well. There’s “It’s an addiction I a lot of footage that no guess,” Park said laugh- one’s ever seen before.” ing.

But with Park’s busy touring schedule (seriAt the beginning of 2013, a Twitter feud ously, just check out his erupted between Country legend Ray Price and “The Voice” judge and Country singer Blake Shelton about the state of Country music today. Traditional vs. the current crop of pop country crooners.

“There’s only two songs that I cut on my new

website) and now living in a makeshift recording studio, how does he find time for personal relationships?

“It’s about finding the right girl at the right time. I’m 28 years old, and I’ve got a lot more music to play before I have to worry about settling down.

“Other people may feel like they have to settle down because they’re getting older, but I’m sort of married to my work and my career. I love playing music.

“I think that, someday, love or the right woman will just hit me in the face.” Park pauses, then let out a laugh. “Well, that’s not what I mean but...”

So, leaving that statement where it lay, we fold

P. 5 the conversation back to music and what’s next in his busy schedule.

“Honestly, I don’t write as much as I used to. A lot of people write more than I do, but I love to record new music, and the reason I’m recording right now, so early on, for one, I want to get a jump start.

“I feel like I always wait too long to start the next project, then when it comes to releasing it, I put myself in a crunch with the deadline.”

This time, Park’s entering the studio with tracks that are anywhere from 3/4 to 1/4 the way done.

It’s a different approach but one that he seems excited to talk about and seems as interested about the end result as his fans surely are.

“Usually, it’s lyrically driven; the lyrics first and the music around that. I’m writing it around the music, which is a bit backwards for country music.

“But this time I want it to be musically interesting. I want to make it feel good, not just ‘Well that’s a pretty cool song’.

“I want them to say ‘Wow, that song rocks’, then listen to the words

Park seems to be taking a different path for sure in everything he’s up to these days.

And so far, it’s all paying off. I mean, the guy’s recording in a house by the lake in Austin? and say, ‘Well, that’s pretty cool, too’.

“I think if I can get

the music down, and I’m proud of the music, and it interests me with a little bit of flare, it’ll lead me to

the right direction.

“It’s

a

different

approach for sure.”

Let’s hope he stays out of the pool long enough to get us that new record by next year.

P. 6

AUGUST 3-16, 2013 1350 U.S. 281 (361) 449-1822 Nueces Street Grill 206 Nueces St. (361) 449-2030 Pizzarriffic 407 Nueces St. (361) 449-1900 Sonic Drive-In 805 Nueces St. (361) 449-2614

GOLIAD

Eat

BEEVILLE

Artie’s Cafe 417 N. Washington St. (361) 358-1467 Beeville Diner 2503 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 362-9724 Burger Depot 515 E. Houston St. (361) 362-2400 Chili’s Grill & Bar 400 E. FM 351 (361) 354-5600 Church’s Chicken 611 N. Washington St. (361) 358-9256 Dog & Bee Pub 119 N. Washington St. (361) 354-5871 Domino’s Pizza 414 N. Washington St. (361) 358-6871 El Charro Restaurant 601 E. Houston St. (361) 542-4572 El Jardin Restaurant 806 W. Corpus Christi St. (361) 358-2922 Gasthaus Berliner Bear 2510 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 354-5444 Golden Chick 2305 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-5525 Hensley’s Cafe 307 N. Washington St. (361) 358-8414 Hong Kong Palace

301 S. FM 351 (361) 358-2861 Jalisco Mexico Taqueria 1401 W. Corpus Christi St. (361) 362-0841 K-Bob’s Steakhouse 1912 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 362-9577 KFC 200 E. Houston St. (361) 358-7222 Little Caesars Pizza 420 E. FM 351 (361) 358-9555 Shorty’s Place 702 S. Washington St. (361) 358-7302 McDonald’s (Walmart) 502 E. FM 351 (361) 358-9255 2301 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 354-5215 Mi Familia Restaurant 2017 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-9255 New China Super Buffet 2003 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-8889 O’Daddy’s 901 W. Corpus Christi St. (361) 358-5945 Pantry Stores 3803 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-4965 911 S. Washington St. (361) 358-8477 1720 E. Houston St. (361) 358-8602 Pizza Hut 1103 N. Washington St. (361) 358-2970 Sammy’s Burgers & Brew

2144 Ellis Road (361) 358-1067 Scores Sports Bar & Grill 1502 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-5055 Stars Restaurant 2403 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-0020 Stone Creek Grill 4402 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 354-5189 Subway 710 E. Houston St. (361) 358-6200 1700 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-6000 Taqueria Chapala 1805 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 354-5945 Taqueria Guadalajara 622 W. Corpus Christi St. (361) 358-1971 Taqueria Jalisco 2020 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 354-5803 Taqueria Vallarta 1611 S. Washington St. (361) 358-5948 Whataburger 1710 N. Washington St. (361) 358-8454

GEORGE WEST

Agave Jalisco Restaurant 403 Nueces St. (361) 449-8899 Burger King 4059 W. Hwy 59 (361) 449-3014 Church’s Chicken Highway 281 at Burleson (361) 449-1864 Dairy Queen

Blue Quail Deli 224 S. Commercial St. (361) 645-1600 Dairy Queen 243 E. Pearl St. (361) 645-3274 Empresario Restaurant 141 S. Courthouse Sq. (361) 645-2347 Hanging Tree Restaurant 144 N. Courthouse Sq. (361) 645-8955 La Bahia Restaurant 1877 US 183 (361) 645-3900 Subway 420 E. Pearl St. (361) 645-3709 Whataburger 348 E. Pearl (361) 645-8800

KARNES CITY

Becky’s Cafe 201 W Calvert Ave. (830) 780-4339 Big Daddy’s Tarbender’s 426 CR 298 (830) 780-3202 Dairy Queen Texas 80 (830) 780-2712 El Mariachi Jalisco Restaurant 118 Texas 123 (830) 780-3350 The Market Sat. & Sun. only 208 E. Calvert Ave. (830) 780-3841 Partner’s BBQ 204 S. Hwy. 123 (830) 780-5121 Polak’s Sawsage Farm Restaurant

2835 U.S. 181 (830) 583-2113 Taqueria Vallarta 202 Texas 123 (830) 780-2465

KENEDY

Barth’s Restaurant 445 N. Sunset Strip St. (830) 583-2468 Church’s Chicken 110 N Sunset Strip St. (830) 583-9030 Jerry B’s 4531 U.S. 181 (830) 583-2500 Lucita’s Mexican Restaurant 500 W. Main St. (830) 583-9455 Pizza Hut 106 N Sunset Strip St. (830) 583-9864 R J’s Hamburgers 420 W Main St. (830) 583-2344 Rodriquez’s Tacos 205 Texas 72 (830) 583-9800

THREE RIVERS

Agave Jalisco Mexican Restaurant 400 S Harborth Ave. (361) 786-2020 Bar @ 3 Rivers Bar & Grill 201 N. Harborth Ave. (361) 786-2020 Beckett’s Dugout 800 N Harborth Ave. (361) 786-3600 Brush Country BBQ U.S. 281 (361) 786-4335 El Tapatio 405 N. Harborth Ave. (361) 786-3949 Pepe Boudreaux’s 3145 Texas 72 (361) 786-4938 Ranch House 100 S Harborth Ave. (361) 786-2196 Sowell’s BBQ 114 W Thornton St. (361) 786-3333 Staghorn Restaurant 1019 N Harborth Ave. (361) 786-3545 Subway

S Harborth Ave. (361) 786-3308 Church’s Chicken 110 N. Sunset Strip St. (830) 583-9030 Jerry B’s 4531 U.S. 181 (830) 583-2500 Lucita’s Mexican Restaurant 500 W. Main St. (830) 583-9455 Pizza Hut 106 N. Sunset Strip St. (830) 583-9864 R J’s Hamburgers 420 W. Main St. (830) 583-2344 Rodriquez’s Tacos 205 Texas 72 (830) 583-9800

Drink BEEVILLE

19th Hole Patio Cantina 3601 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-2837 B.O.B.W.E. 1308 S. St. Mary’s St. (361) 542-4551 Chili’s Grill & Bar 400 E. FM 351 (361) 354-5600 Club 59 1610 W. Corpus Christi St. (361) 362-0591 Dog & Bee Pub 119 N. Washington St. (361) 354-5871 The Grand Dancehall 2461 U.S. Hwy 59 (361) 358-1185 Papi’s Place 1517 W. Corpus Christi St. (361) 358-7160 Roadside Tavern 2503 S. Washington St. (361) 362-1720 Scores Sports Bar & Grill 1502 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 358-5055 Stone Creek Grill 4402 N. St. Mary’s St. (361) 354-5189

P. 7

Sat. Aug. 3

at The House of Rock: Want to see some hotties struttin’ their stuff to the music of Nick Cave? Of course who doesn’t?! It all begins at 7 p.m. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

• Slave to the Grave at El Paisano Ballroom: Featuring Wolves Amongst Sheep, In the Trench and Obliterates. It’s $8 for minors and $5 for anyone over 21. 200 E. Hefferman St. in Beeville.

Fri. Aug. 30

Sat. Aug. 3

• Annual Riverbend Luau at The Riverbend Sports Bar: Bring your “coconuts”, grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts, flip flops, bikinis & swim trunks!! Everyone who attends & dresses luau style has a chance at a pair of Schlitterbahn tickets. 1603 N. St. Mary’s St. in Beeville.

Sun. Aug. 4

• Ballabajoomba Poetry Slam at The House of Rock: Ballabajoomba Open Mic and Poetry Slam is the only Nationally registered poetry reading in South Texas, in the continuous existence since October 2000. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

Wed. Aug. 7

• Run Down Legends at The House

Restaurant T’s Honky Tonk 209 N. Washington St. (361) 358-1411 Tejano Highway 1205 S. Washington St.

GOLIAD

Schroeder Dancehall 12516 FM 622 (361) 573-7002

KARNES CITY

Bar Tonik 102 N. Market St. (830) 780-5255

KENEDY

Coyotes Sports Bar 116 W. Main St. (830) 583-9243 Desperado Saloon 312 S. Sunset Strip St. (830) 583-0371 Jerry B’s

of Rock: 8 It’s beer Wednesday and the live music starts at 10 p.m. but the cheap beer is all day. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

Beeville Expo Center: Featuring Tejano heavyweights Siggno and Los Palominos. Pre-sale tickets are just $12. 214 S. FM 351 in Beeville.

Thurs. Aug. 8

Sat. Aug. 10

• Metal Show at The Entourage Sports Bar: 8 bands tear it up all day long starting at 5 p.m.

Featuring IN DYING ARMS, A Delicate Process, Serianna, Until The Grave and others.

3854 S.P.I.D. in Corpus Christi.

Fri. Aug. 9

• Summer Fest 2013 Day 1 at The

for the Ronald McDonald House from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. 5302 Leopard St. in Corpus Christi.

Sun. Aug. 11

• Summer Fest 2013 Day 2 at The Beeville Expo Center: Kevin Fowler and Kyle Park headline. Pre-sale tickets are just $12. 214 S. FM 351 in Beeville.

• Battle of the Bands at The House of Rock: Gorilla Music presents the battle to end all battles. Show up and check out the bands duke it out!

The fists fly start to fly at 3 p.m. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

Sat. Aug. 10

Wed. Aug. 14

• Cupcakin’ for Ronald McDonald’s House Charities at Gulf Coast Racing Race Track: Come out and help raise some cash

• Foosball Tournament at The House of Rock: Think you got what it takes? Register for our House of Rock Foosball

Tournament! 1st and 2nd place will receive cash prizes and all participants will receive a limited edition shirt. Register at our ‘Contest/Surveys’ page at www.texashouseofrock. com. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

Sat. Aug. 17

• After Dark Revue Tribute to Nick Cave at The House of Rock: Music by Hobo, $2.50 beers and FREE hot dogs while supplies last.

Bring your bibs, it starts at 9 p.m. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

Wed. Aug. 28

• Hobo & Hotdogs

• My361 Live Local Music showcase & Bar-B.Q. Weekend at Zeros Hard Rock Club: 20 local bands jamming over 2 days. Music starts at 8 p.m. and there’s an $8 cover for those over 21 and $10 for minors. 6327 McArdle Rd. in Corpus Christi.

Sat. Sep. 7

• Cowboys from Hellpaso at The House of Rock: Cowboys from Hellpaso (Pantera tribute) tear it up with Poetry & Prose (Primus tribute) and RPG. The hellraising starts at 8 p.m. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

Need your awesome event listed? Drop us a line at Info@stxscene. com with all the details, and we’ll be glad to gently place it on this page.

and bar guide continued 4531 U.S. 181 (830) 583-2500

PAPALOTE

Chasers Bar & Grill 10620 CR 535 Hwy. 181 (361) 287-3340

(361) 287-3326 Lucky Horseshoe Saloon 222 S. 8th St. (361) 287-0767

800 N. Harborth Ave. (361) 786-3600 Pepe Boudreaux’s

3145 Texas 72 (361) 786-4938

STAND Stuff-n-Such OUT BOUTIQUE IN THE CROWD SKIDMORE

Al’s Friendly Bar 517 County Road 619

THREE RIVERS

Bar @ 3 Rivers Bar & Grill 201 N. Harborth Ave (361) 786-2020 Beckett’s Dugout

“Bling Out Da Diva in You”

810 N. ST. MARY’S ST. • BEEVILLE (361) 358-7883

TULETA

7 Brothers Saloon 7961 Hwy, 181 N. (361) 318-5250

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P. 8

AUGUST 3-16, 2013

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