STXscene #7

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Entertainment Resource Guide Issue #7 • Aug. 31 - Sept. 13, 2013 Bi-Weekly

Carrie Denniston is only 23 years old, but with a newly released album and a part in a documentary, she is just now hitting her stride.

Bee County • Karnes County • Live Oak County • McMullen County • Nueces County

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AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Documentary ‘Lightning in a Jug’ focuses on South Texas music The documentary Lightning in a Jug came about when eight extremely talented South Texas musicians, who also happen to be really good friends, came together a few times for parties or shows, and everyone there realized how amazing it always turned out to be.

The documentary focuses on Tyler McCumber, Carrie Denniston,

Daniel Brodhag, Richie Allbright, Tony Saracene, Jason Maddox, Pake Rossi, Ty Dietz as well as some other close musician friends.

The documentary weaves through a series of shows, some public and some private – put together in about a two-month period – and showcases the talent of the artists and introduces the principle members to audiences

who may not have heard of them before.

Lightning in a Jug also presents the hardships and triumphs of being an independent musician as they record new albums, load and unload equipment themselves before and after shows and, ultimately, try and get their music in front of as many people as possible.

The public is always

invited to attend the public shows and participate in the documentary as filming wraps up.

‘Lightning in a Jug’ will be at the following locations: Friday, Sept. 6 House of Rock 511 Starr St. Corpus Christi Saturday, Sept. 14 Stone Creek Bar & Grill 4402 N. St. Mary’s St. Beeville Saturday, Sept. 21 Tynan Dance Hall Tynan Saturday, Sept. 28 7 Brothers Saloon 7961 Hwy 181 N. Tuleta

Riverbend RiverRat Reunion

End of Summer Bash Friday, September 13th

tertaining n E , g in and v r t h g e n e i Pu b S nfus li c Co

My 361 Live hosts a two-day rock fundraiser Musicians in and around the 361 area code will gather for a two-night showcase of metal, punk and rock music beginning Aug. 30.

The event will take place at the famed live music venue Zeros Hard Rock Club, 6327 McArdle Rd. in Corpus Christi, and is part of the My 361 Live Local Music Slam.

But the thing that makes this event unique is that a portion of the

proceeds actually goes to South Texas Children’s Home Ministries, which has been meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of hurting children and families in crisis since 1952.

Their services include housing, counseling, job readiness programs and humanitarian aid.

Bands from Victoria, Beeville, Kingsville and Port Aransas will join Robstown and Corpus

cover photo by Paul Gonzales editor: Paul Gonzales email: Paul@stxscene.com

Christi bands during this two-day event.

Some of the acts scheduled to play are Spanish Reds, Mariam, Evacuate Whale, Surrounded by Wolves and Give Me the Creeps.

The musical genres will vary on both nights from metal to rock to punk to industrial.

A raffle will raise money for the ministry as well and include prizes from Joe’s Dallas Cowboys Bus Tours, Guitar Center of Corpus Christi, Concrete Street Amphitheater and many more.

To find out more information about the event head over to facebook. com/my361live.

Published bi-weekly by Beeville Publishing Co.

Celebrating our 19th year and kicking off our 20th as Beeville’s premier party spot with live music by

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just a little

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by Paul Gonzales

Carried Away ally found out I could sing and not just how everyone else sings.”

She can go from a whisper to a roar in a single syllable. Emotion pours from her voice buried somewhere deep inside and bellows out in a furious flame when need be.

‘And I made a total fool of myself, and for the next year, everyone called me J.Lo.’ Before you know it, the song’s over, and you’re standing there, singed with utter delight.

“I was on one of those stupid teen websites, and it had a quiz ‘Which Diva are you?’ So I took it and,

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C

arrie Denniston’s nose crinkles when she laughs. That’s how you know it’s a sincere laugh.

And it’s an infectious laugh that causes anyone around her to join in.

She has clear blue eyes and a ruffled main of redtinged, dirty blond hair.

She’ll be the girl sitting off to one side quietly chatting with a friend or just listening to another one’s story intently.

But it’s when her boots hit the stage and the microphone gently presses against her small, light pink lips that she takes everyone’s attention away.

Not to mention some of their breaths.

“I’ve been singing as long as I can remember,” Denniston said, sipping on tequila she had infused with jalapeño the night before. “But I guess it was in sixth grade that I actu-

it said I was Alicia Keys.

I had never heard of her because she was pretty brand new.

“So I listened to one of her songs, and I loved it, and I would sing it around the house and stuff, and my mom heard me in the kitchen one day and said, ‘Carrie, you can sing.’”

Later that year while attending Corpus Christi middle school, she decided to take the stage for the first time at the sixth-grade talent show.

Convinced by her mom to perform a more lively song, she abandoned the Alicia Keys tune and went with something a little bit different.

“Instead, I sang ‘Waiting for Tonight’ by Jennifer Lopez,” Denniston laughed.

“And I made a total fool of myself, and for the next year everyone called me J.Lo.” She paused to clarify. “Not in a complimentary way. I was really

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ugly in sixth grade.

Braces, frizzy hair, acne and all that.

“No, actually I didn’t have braces yet, just a giant gap in my teeth.”

At the seventhgrade talent show, she redeemed herself with the Alicia Keys song and won over her peers.

But alas, it was too late. Her parents had already planned a move to California, where she was friendless and alone.

Even Alicia Keys couldn’t save her there.

“We moved in eighth grade, which was the peak of my ugliness, and in California they’re really focused on looks and stuff.

“I was generally not accepted at all. I got teased mercilessly. I made a couple of friends, but they were just vapid and annoying, but I stuck with them because I didn’t have anyone else.”

She proceeded to float through her final junior high school year without belting out another note.

AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

‘Janis Joplin has been my hero since I was six years old, thanks to my big sister.’

It wouldn’t be until she got into high school and joined musical theater that she decided to sing again. But it still wasn’t what she longed for.

“I was pretty lost for a couple of years in California. I didn’t relate to anybody.”

After graduating, she headed east and ended up in Colorado for college.

“I joined my first band my freshman year in college. Well, I had a band in high school once, but we had two practices, and all we did was eat Cup of Noodles the whole time,” Denniston recalled, laughing.

The band she joined,

Dutch Hammer, played songs by Led Zeppelin and Heart as well as other classic rock covers, occasionally at full band open mic nights.

“I discovered how fun it is when you can actually sing Zeppelin because it’s such a huge accomplishment.

“Heart was another one. When I first did ‘Crazy on You’ I flipped out that I could actually hit those notes, and it took a couple of weeks of just forcing it. Probably really bad for my vocal chords, but I did it, and I was really proud of myself.”

But something else unexpectedly happened while she was in the band. She wrote her first song.

“I started writing songs because I fell in love with the drummer, and he inspired me to write my first song.

“He was a Buddhist, so my first song was ‘Buddhism Blues’ because he would always claim that he couldn’t have a relationship because Buddhism required you not to want anything. So that’s

what broke my heart about him.”

When Denniston performs, she wears her classic rock, soul and blues influences on her sleeve.

She’s got a power behind her voice that comes through each word and perplexes older, much more seasoned professionals.

‘Turns out I actually hate bartending.’

After all, she’s only 23.

“Janis Joplin has been my hero since I was six years old, thanks to my big sister. She used to play all that Woodstock stuff for me when I was a kid.”

Denniston even accompanied her sister to her high school classes sometimes and would draw pictures of Joplin to pass the time.

“Other than her, I love soul. Aretha Franklin and Zeppelin definitely.

I guess those are the big ones.

“Tony Saracene

is another big one,” Denniston said with a huge grin.

Tony Saracene is one of eight musicians, along with Denniston, who are the focus of a documentary called “Lightning in a Jug.” But before filming even began, she had a chance encounter with the musician and producer that would change her path in life yet again.

ed going there for fun; then they offered me a bartending job, which I thought sounded like a good time for my weekends.

“Turns out, I actually hate bartending.”

Someone who worked at Horney’s Bar had mentioned that Saracene occasionally plays there at the bar, and she mentioned to him that Denniston could sing.

“I started going to Horney’s Bar in Swinney Switch when I first moved out here because my sister and I had been to that bar when we would visit family in Texas. So I start-

“One night, he came in while I was bartending, and he asked me if I wanted to do backups for Tyler McCumber, and I said ‘sure.’

“I went in to McCumber’s Institute for the Musical Illiterate (M.I.M.I.), and I laid down a couple of tracks of backups, and they all thought it sounded good, and I thought Tyler’s music was awesome, so I just kind of kept hanging out there.”

And they struck a deal.

Instead of Denniston getting paid for her vocal work, how about they record an album for her?

She recorded “Love Ain’t Kind,” a six-song album of original material, something Denniston had always imagined

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‘I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.’ since she was a child.

“It’s beyond my wildest dreams. I can’t believe I came and lived in the

middle of nowhere and this opportunity just fell in my lap.”

Within eight months she was holding her first album in her hands. A lifetime of singing and writing all together in one shrink-wrapped package.

“I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Yet, before her move back to Texas, her family and friends had tried to keep her far away from the state and from living in a small town where nothing could possibly happen, and she might end up being sad and all alone.

‘Anyone would be lucky to hang out with these guys.’

“So I was scared, even though I knew that I loved Texas. But I did it anyway, and I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am to have met these guys. To be a part of their music and have them be a part of mine.

“And, even just socially, they’re some of the best people I’ve ever known. Anyone would be lucky to hang out with these guys.”

Denniston has been growing in popularity as

of late. She’s starting to get some traction on her album through playing live as often as possible and now being featured in a documentary, but she is still young and may have quite a ways to go until she can do it for a living.

She still has a day job as a medical editor that pays pretty well and which she enjoys.

“Right now I’m kind of at a crossroads. My job said there was an office in Austin, and I could move there, so it’s a possibility.”

Her deep blue eyes become cloudy when the subject comes up, and she begins to look around constantly.

“But I have no desire to leave where I am. I love

it here so much.

“I don’t know. I’m exhausted thinking about Austin, but I know that it’s probably a good choice, musically, so we’ll see.”

She paused for a breath.

“We’ll see.”

But no matter where the winds take her, she knows she’ll never leave any of this behind her.

Her friends, her fans, the place she’s grown to love – they will always go with her no matter where she ends up.

This was ever present in her voice as we talked.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, just a huge thank you for everyone that made my dream come true. It sounds so cheesy, but they did.

“I really can’t thank everybody enough.”

And with that, she gave a small laugh, her nose crinkling as she did.

You can listen to Carrie’s album “Love Ain’t Kind” at carriedenniston.bandcamp.com and find out where to see her next at facebook.com/CarrieDennistonMusic.

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AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 (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 Public House 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 KFC 200 E. Houston St. (361) 358-7222 Little Caesars Pizza 420 E. FM 351 (361) 358-9555 The Lodge at 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 1350 U.S. 281

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 Public House 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 Round 2 at Revolution Bar & Grill: Come dance the night away, and around midnight, we will begin BOSSY Bad Gals Pudding Wrestling. 2306 Airline Rd. in Corpus Christi.

Fri. Aug. 30

• My361 Live Local Music showcase & BarB.Q. Weekend Day 1 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.

Fri. Sept. 27

Sat. Aug. 31

• My361 Live Local Music showcase & BarB.Q. Weekend Day 2 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.

Thurs. Sept. 5

• Art Through The Lens: A Photography Display at City Church: The City Church is hosting its 2nd Art Opening featuring local photographers. The show starts at 5:30 p.m.

4425 South Staples St. in Corpus Christi.

Fri. Sept. 6

• “Lightning in a Jug” Music Documentary Filming at The House of Rock: Filming continues on the

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.

South Texas Music documentary “Lightning in a Jug” as Carrie Denniston takes the stage along with Tyler McCumber and Ty Dietz. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and there’s a $5 cover. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.

Sat. Sept. 7

• The Shake Down “Hold On” CD Release Party at Revolution Bar & Grill: The Shake Down are set to release their official debut album to the world and for only a $5 cover you can get in on all the fun! Rundown Legend and The Most will be jamming, too.

The show kicks off at 9 p.m. 2306 Airline Rd. in Corpus Christi.

Sat. Sept. 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.

Fri. Sept. 13

Luz Garza y su Conjunto, Mariachi night kicks off Diez y Seis de Septiembre along with Ballet Folklorico performances.

The gate opens at 6 p.m., and the music starts at 7:30 p.m., 214 S. FM 351 in Beeville.

Fri. Sept. 13

• 29th Annual Fiesta Bee County at Bee County Expo Center: Luz Garza y su Conjunto, Indomable Skidmore, and Lorenzo Ortiz y su Conjunto open up for Ricky Naranjo and Los Chamacos. The festivities start early with the gates opening at 10:30 a.m. and the music starting at 8 p.m. 214 S. FM 351 in Beeville.

• RiverBend RiverRat ReunionEnd of Summer Bash at The Riverbend Sports Bar: They’ll be celebrating their 19th anniversary and starting off their 20th year with a bang! Live music starts at 8 p.m. with PRYME. Whether you’re a newbie rat or an original... Don’t miss out! 1603 N. St. Mary’s St. in Beeville.

Sat. Sept. 14

• 29th Annual Fiesta Bee County at Bee County Expo Center:

Sat. Sept. 14

and bar guide continued (830) 583-9243 Desperado Saloon 312 S. Sunset Strip St. (830) 583-0371 Jerry B’s 4531 U.S. 181 (830) 583-2500

PAPALOTE

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

SKIDMORE

Al’s Friendly Bar 517 County Road 619 (361) 287-3326

THREE RIVERS

Bar @ 3 Rivers Bar & Grill 201 N. Harborth Ave (361) 786-2020 Beckett’s Dugout 800 N. Harborth Ave. (361) 786-3600 Pepe Boudreaux’s 3145 Texas 72 (361) 786-4938

TULETA

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

• “Lightning in a Jug” Music

Documentary Filming at Stone Creek Bar & Grill: Filming continues on the South Texas Music documentary “Lightning in a Jug” as Richie Allbright and Pake Rossi show up to help raise money for St. Jude. The show begins at noon, so get there early! 4402 N. St. Mary’s St. in Beeville

Fri. Sept. 20

• BOSSY Bad Gal Pudding Wrestling

• GREEN JELLO...

Jet Set Tour in CC at The House of Rock: Come out and experience PUNK ROCK PUPPET CHAOS provided by Mr. Bill Manspeaker and company! Beeville punk rockers Obliterates will be opening the show for them, so don’t miss out!

The doors open at 7 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.

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