SEALY FLATS: THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN Spring 2013
A Magazine fostering Community, Enthusiasm and Zest for Life!
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Art of Lutherie a cowboy’s journey
Eclectic Cocktail Mixing a sophisticated gem makes you feel right at home
Concho Curiosities Finding inspiration in San Angelo
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WEST TEXAS BLUES
IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURED ARTICLES
COMMUNITY Spotlight
Soulful cocktail sanctuary The Blue Door
Hi-Lites
Land of Oz in the Desert May & June shows at Wagner Noël
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CONTRIBUTION The Salty Dog: Street singing in Memphis
Concho Curiosities For lovers, buff, devotees, collectors, fans, fanatics and enthusiasts, there is something for everyone in
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this quaint little West Texas town.
Holistic Healing: Alternately achieve balance
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Art @ Work: An Artistic Cowboy
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Heartbeat of the Blues
Good Eats: Old-fashioned barbecue in Big Spring
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The epicenter of the San Angelo Blues scene and
NEWS & REVIEWS
how it all got started
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Tall City Blues Fest Updates
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Raise the Roof! with The Blues Foundation
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‘Coming out Swinging’ with Candye Kane
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Classic REO Speedwagon
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16
Who the hell is Buddy Guy?
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The Legend of B.B. King
RECOMMENDS Start Something the Matters + The Appetizer + Marfa Public Radio KXWT 91.3 FM
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WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR
W
e’ve come along way, baby…in just a short three months since our premiere issue in January. You’ll notice the new look and feel of the Mag plus a few more pages to boot. There’s just, as we would say here in West Texas “a lot going on ‘round here”.
We’ve been busily ‘turning over stones’ all throughout West Texas and gathering up some of the best morsels we could find to compile them for you in this issue. We’ve roamed San Angelo, been to multiple concerts, attended a lecture, interviewed artists and made progress on Tall City Blues Fest. In our Community Showcase, which features the community of San Angelo, you’ll discover a plethora of things to do that satisfy a wide variety of palettes. We’ve even thrown some history in this issue. Take a peek at Tim Kreitz’s article Day Riding the Relics of West Texas on Page 8 and another story we did called Heartbeat of the Blues that you’ll find on Page 17. We’ve also got some new additions to the mag. Starting with this issue, we’re introducing In Review’s so that we could share some of our experiences with you and hopefully inspire you to get out and indulge in a few of these fantastic happenings in West Texas. On Page 24, you’ll find Wagner Noël Upcoming Shows that we recommend you consider. You’ll also notice Community Calendar Events, highlighted throughout the Mag. We certainly can’t cover everything, nor were we trying to, but we did select a handful of events scattered around West Texas that we thought might pique your interest. Our Community Spotlight this go ‘round showcases The Blue Door, Midland’s newest cocktail lounge, which is serving up some really eclectic concoctions, and when you need to nurse a little over-indulgence from fine spirits you can try DragonFly Farms’ organic herbs and vegetables. And drum roll, please…we’ve announced this year’s Tall City Blues Fest headliners, which you can find on Page 7, along with another big announcement: the TCBF 2013 Raffle. The grand prise is a black-andwhite polka-dot Fender Strat autographed by Buddy Guy, as the grand prize. Two of the biggest highlights for me these last few months were getting to attend the B.B. King and Buddy Guy concerts, two Blues legends, both in their own right. You can read our In Review’s about both on pages 16 and 26. Getting to see B.B. King perform live, which will probably be our last opportunity, was such an honor and a treat. Even though we weren’t backstage, the way his concert went made us feel like part of his inner circle, as if we were all sitting around a campfire listening to him tell stories. At the Buddy Guy show, we did get to go backstage because we had previously arranged to get our ‘raffle’ guitar autographed. What a treat! Buddy blew us away. He was so gracious and hospitable and put on one hell of show that the whole experience will now be a indelible mark on my memory.
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WEST TEXAS BLUES
Those who missed the show missed a real treat. So much of what we were hearing before the concert was “Who the hell is Buddy Guy?” Unfortunately, the concert was only about half full as a result, which is an absolute atrocity. Buddy Guy is a Blues legend and as guitarists go, he is admired by Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Carlos Santana WTB Editor Lisa Grissom and Buddy Guy and even the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, just to name a few performers famous for their guitar playing. He was also recently bestowed with a Kennedy Center Honors lifetime achievement award for his influence on the Blues. My point is this: Just because it’s not familiar doesn’t mean it’s not worth seeing. We all recognize names like B.B. King (which a was a soldout show, by the way), Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana and we’d probably all flock to see those shows if they came through our town, Stevie notwithstanding, of course. Somehow, though, we’ve got this idea that familiar defines good, and while I don’t disagree that the aforementioned names are all amazing artists that I would love to see, I do think we need to open our minds and hearts and be willing to expand our realm of experiences by not just limiting our patronage to the things we already know. After all, being familiar doesn’t necessarily make it good; it just makes it familiar, that’s all. We have some really amazing shows and events that are happening in the West Texas area now, and these things won’t keep happening in a vacuum. West Texas should not just be a place people work and have to travel elsewhere for their fun. With so many people flocking to West Texas to work, we have to have some quality of life, some entertainment, some activities enriching our lives--and we do! It’s precisely these things for which we are trying to foster a sense of Community, Enthusiasm and Zest for Life. This is our mission. So get out there, spread your wings, expand your awareness and try new things. We promise you won’t regret it; you’ll actually be better off for it! Enjoy! Lisa J. Grissom
West Texas Blues strums the strings of connectedness that foster a sense of Community, Enthusiasm and Zest for life! This is a magazine highlighting those things that add vibrancy to our lives while keeping us grounded in what’s real. We reach beyond music into art, leisure, nightlife, travel, entertainment, food, health, entrepreneurship, innovation and history. West Texas Blues is published by Promising Projects, Inc. Promising Projects works in a multitude of capacities on projects we find interesting, with promise and purpose. West Texas Blues is a Promising Project. So is Tall City Blues Fest. WEST TEXAS BLUES MAGAZINE EDITOR Lisa J. Grissom ART DIRECTOR Ronn Reeger ASSISTANT EDITOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elizabeth McLellan CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Ed Rowland, Sam & Sara Daulong, Jon ‘Doc’ Meeks, Tim Kreitz, Jeanne Jones, Elizabeth McLellan FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRES, contact Promising Projects at 432-618-0705. West Texas Blues specifically seeks advertisers that embody the spirit of entrepreneurship and add vibrancy to their community by making thoughtful products/services available to West Texans. Please address all written correspondence, Letters to the Editor and other editorial inquires to Promising Projects at 112 South Loraine, Suite 440, Midland, TX 79701 or wtb@ promisingprojects.com. Connect with West Texas Blues on Facebook at /WestTexasBluesMag and on Twitter @WestTexasBlues for other snippets of zeal not in print. Copyright 2013 by Promising Projects, Inc. and its affiliates. All content contained herein is copyrighted by its original creator and sources have been sighted where appropriate. All rights reserved.
WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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THE SALTY DOG
An Evening in Memphis by Jon ‘Doc’ Meeks Inspired by a true story, embellished for fun
A few years ago I needed to go to the Veteran’s Hospital in Memphis for a cardiac check. While I was there, I thought it would be a great chance to go to B.B. King’s Restaurant and Blues Club and maybe catch this ‘Master of the Blues’ act. I had never seen B.B. perform live, so since I was there anyway now was the time. Look out Beale Street, here I come! The Vet hospital is near the river and not very far from Beale Street. Since it was summer, I figured a nice evening stroll was in order. Music poured out the doors of all the clubs that line both sides of the street, and as I passed by each door, I could smell the funk of cigarettes, beer and loud perfume. The bright blues and deep greens of the neon signs blinking and pulsating, reflecting off windows of buildings and passing cars looked like walking inside a kaleidoscope. It was magical. I kept strolling in the general direction of where I knew B.B.’s to be, and then I saw it...the huge, vertical red sign begging for attention. When I walked in, it was like a revival, but instead of “Amens”, my ears were saturated with “All right now”’s and “Get down, baby”’s. There were couples on the dance floor moving with the groove, ‘shakin’ the makin’s’ as we say. The band was solid, and there was no mistaking that ‘Memphis sound’. After a couple of hours, I needed to get back to the hospital because I couldn’t eat or drink anything after midnight anyway, so what’s the point, right? I started back and was about half way there when a riff of music came floating through the air. It was coming from an alleyway. I stopped and strained my ear in the direction of the sound, letting it guide me. As I got closer to the sound, I could tell the riffs weren’t as polished as what I’d heard in the Club; it was definitely a ‘home-made’ sound, which piqued my interest even more.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Western Swing Festival Snyder, TX
JUNE
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2013 marks the 17th Anniversary of the West Texas Western Swing Festival in Snyder, Texas. This event brings lovers of western swing music from as far as South Carolina, Canada and even Scotland. A burger-and-beans meal kicks off the festivities on Tuesday, June 4 followed by an informal jam session. The opening ceremonies start at noon on Wednesday, and the music and dancing continues through Saturday night. Headlining Friday night is Big Spring native, Jody Nix and the The Texas Cowboys. For more information, call the Snyder Chamber at 325-573-3558 or go to www.snyderchamber.com.
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Jon ‘Doc’ Meeks, aka The Salty Dog, is a retired Chief Petty Officer Navy Corpsman and what you might call a modern-day Renaissance man. He can play about every instrument known to man, and if he doesn’t know how to play it, he will in short order. With a jovial personality and drawing off his life experiences, he is known for captivating people with his story-telling. ‘Doc’ lives in Roswell, NM with his wife Betty, and together they raised four kids--three daughters and a son.
As I eased down a darkened alley following the pleasantries of my ear, I came upon two old black men sitting on the back stoop of an apartment building. One of the players was blowing the ‘harp’, what we blues-folk call a harmonica, and the other was playing a Silvertone through a small amp. With a six-pack of beer and a paper wrapped ‘forty’ at their feet, they were feeling no pain. Now I play guitar, and I’ve been told I ain’t half bad, so I know good when I hear it. I asked if I could sit and listen a while. What I heard there that night was the purest essence of the Blues I think I’ve ever heard. As they went, “I ain’t no doctor or no doctor’s son, but I’ll cool your fever till the doctor comes” and “I’se got a woman, lives ‘cross town, she good for me, oh yeah, she good for me”. I could have listened all night, but I had to get back to that damn hospital. Before I left, though, I had a thought. I went over to the ‘mom-and-pop’ grocery and bought a six-pack. I figured that was the least I could do. “Guys,” I said. “I’ve spent a lot more money that this but never heard better”. They thanked me, and I started my stroll toward the Hospital. On the way there, I thought about the pro’s out there playing the big stages and the clubs; maybe they had more technical chops than these alleyway bluesmen, but ain’t no way, they’ve got more heart. Later that night, back in the ward of the hospital, I was inspired to write a poem. I call it the The Street Singer. To read Doc’s Memphis-inspired poem, go to www.westtexasblues.com/thestreet-singer.
TALL CITY BLUES FEST NEWS SAVE THE FESTIVAL DATES: JULY 26-27, 2013 Tall City Blues Fest, presented by Riley Geological Consultants, will host headlining artists Chris Duarte on Friday night (July 26) and Zac Harmon on Saturday night (July 27). TCBF expects to host more than 12 acts this year and plans to announce the balance of their line-up in May.
TRIPLE-STAGE FORMAT
Continuous music will alternate across Centennial Plaza between the Riley Geological Stage and the Cimarex Energy Stage, the Festival’s two identical Main Stages. The Community Jam Stage, sponsored by Ford, is the third stage in the Festival’s triple-stage format, which will host 15-minute community jam sessions alternating between the Main Stages on Saturday. For those interested in submitting to participate as part of the community jams, go to www. tallcitybluesfest.com/jam-submission. The Festival is no longer taking submissions for this year’s Main Stage performers.
FESTIVAL VIP TICKETS
This year, TCBF made it possible to purchase individual Festival VIP tickets, which grants complementary access to the VIP Parlor and Midnight Troubadours. For more information on Festival VIP Tickets, or to purchase tickets online, go to www.tallcitybluesfest.com/vipticketing. Tall City Blues Fest is now taking submissions for Volunteers, Vendors and Art Auction entries. To submit, go to www.tallcitybluesfest. com/submit-links/.
BUDDY GUY AUTOGRAPHED GUITAR
TCBF is offering a chance to win a black-andwhite Fender Strat, autographed by legendary
Bluesman, Buddy Guy. There are seven prizes all in all to be won. Raffle tickets are $25/each, 5/$100 or 20/$300. To browse all of this year’s raffle prizes, or to purchase raffle tickets online, go to www. tallcitybluesfest.com/tcbf-2013-raffle. Ticket holders need not be present to win. Partial proceeds benefit the Blues Foundation’s Raise the Roof ! campaign toward building a Blues Hall of Fame. See page 9 for more info on the Blues Foundation and its programs.
B.B. KING’S BLUESVILLE INTERVIEW
Tune into Channel 70 on SiriusXM Radio at 2:30 PM Central time Wednesday, June 19 to listen to TCBF Festival Producer, Lisa Grissom, discussing this year’s Festival.
ABOUT TALL CITY BLUES FEST
Tall City Blues Fest (TCBF) is held in downtown Midland, Texas (Centennial Plaza) the last full weekend in July. The Festival hosts multiple stages, an outdoor Community Jam, educational clinics, an art auction and memorabilia raffle, food vendors, and a midnight spectator jam; while also giving back philanthropically into the community. In addition to bringing award-winning performers to West Texas, Tall City Blues Fest introduces new opportunities into the community, offers a culturally diverse attraction in West Texas and contributes positively to the quality of life, as well as creates tourism. For more info on Tall City Blues Fest, to sign-up for their mailing list, inquire about Community Sponsorships or to buy tickets online, go to www.tallcitybluesfest.com.
Zac Harmon hails from Jackson, MS. In 2004, Harmon won ‘Best Unsigned Blues Artist’ at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and has garnered countless other awards, acknowledgements and nominations from XM Radio, the Blues Music Awards, Jus’ the Blues Awards and Blues Revue magazine. “Zac has played every major Blues festival in the country and is wellsought after on the Blues festival circuit,” said Ronn Reeger, TCBF Talent Buyer. “We are thrilled to be able to host him as this year’s Saturday night headliner.” Harmon will also ‘key-off ’ the Festival’s Midnight Troubadours, which is a VIP-Priority spectator jam session held after-hours. “With his big Blues sound from Mississippi, Harmon can go toe to toe with some of the best blues men in the business. Please don’t be shy, go ahead and mention Harmon’s name in the same sentence with Bobby Blue Bland, Albert King and Bobby Rush—just to name a few.” -Gloria Ellis, JazzReview. com
Chris Duarte, a native Texan now working out of Atlanta, GA, is no stranger to the Billboard charts, with 11 albums under his belt and seven of those placing on Billboard’s ‘Top Blues Album’ chart, the highest peaking at number four. Duarte originally gained notoriety in the early ‘90s after garnering the attention of record label executives at SXSW, an annual film, interactive and music festival and conference held annually in Austin. Following the release of his debut album, he was named ‘Best New Talent’ by Guitar Player magazine and finished fourth in the ‘Best Blues Guitarist’ category behind Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and B.B. King. Even Joe Bonnamassa tweets him as a ‘modern legend’. WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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FEATURE STORY Day Riding the Relics of West Texas by Tim Kreitz
With the arrival of springtime upon us, there’s no better way to enjoy the beginnings of warmer weather than hopping on a motorcycle and experiencing the wide open spaces of West Texas underneath epic blue skies. I did just that in a series of Sunday’s. Though our area of the Lone Star State takes a bad rap at times for its arid features, virtually any motorcyclist in this neck of the woods can attest to the beauties of springtime here in the badlands--the scent of wildflower and Ocotillo in the air, the sun on your face, the road in front of you. It’s an experience of which no rider tires. But, where to go in just one day of riding? Well, if you’re tired of just banging around town on your day off, here are four great day riding destinations to some interesting West Texas ghost towns and ruins that’ll satisfy your spring fever for riding and still have you home by suppertime. The Trail of Tears From Big Spring, head south on U.S. Highway 87 and make the turn onto FM 821, which is the first leg of the so-called Trail of Tears; so named because its sweeping, multicamber curves have landed more than a few embarrassed bikers in the ditch over the years. Don’t sweat it, though. Take your time, ride responsibly and you’ll have lots of fun. The second leg starts with a turn onto FM 2183, ending at U.S. Highway 163 just northeast of Sterling City. Along the way, be sure to stop and see the remains of the old church at the ghost town of Hyman (32.138472,-101.134956). Fort Lancaster The ruins of Fort Lancaster are located east of Sheffield along
U.S. Highway 290, just east of the Pecos River. The Fort’s interesting story and unusual remnants make for an enthralling look into the first attempts at settling and bringing establishment to the area. After spending some time at the Fort’s State historical site, ride a few minutes east along 290 to the observation point at the top of Old Government Road (30.678816,-101.672806). It offers a spectacular view of the rugged valley below and is a great spot for sighting large birds of prey and other wildlife. Fifi’s Bridge Near Imperial, just north of Horsehead Crossing along the Pecos River, sits an abandoned trestle bridge referred to by many as “Fifi’s Bridge” (31.265912,-102.599098). The structure got its name from Odessa teenager Fifi Murphy who, in the early 70s, met with a tragic and untimely demise being murdered by her boyfriend. He buried her body near the bridge, later confessed to the crime, and lead authorities to the site. Despite its spooky past, this is a great spot to hang out when the river is running, and offers good opportunities for photography. One word of warning, though: Be prepared to ride on dirt roads for the last two-thirds of a mile leading to the bridge. P.S. The bridge is impassible, so don’t ride on it! Rattlesnake Bomber Base During World War II, Rattlesnake Bomber Base near Pyote (31.511606,-103.142495) was one of the most important military facilities in the southern U.S.. For a time, it was even the home to Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber used to drop the first atomic bomb on Japan in 1945. The site is now closed to the public, but a historical marker and monuments are accessible at the base’s original entrance, and a nearby museum is open for touring by calling ahead. The remains of the main hangar, where the ‘Pecos Parachute School’ scenes from the classic 1985 Kevin Costner film Fandango were filmed, can be seen from the I-20 service road. These destinations alone should have you putting on miles of smiles all across West Texas for a literal month of Sundays. Ride safe, and be blessed as you discover these forgotten treasures of West Texas.
Tim Kreitz is a professional guitarist and producer, currently touring the South with Creed Fisher and the Redneck Nation Band. A licensed motorcycle safety instructor, he spends as much of his free time riding motorcycles.
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BLUES FOUNDATION NEWS
RAISING THE ROOF…ON A BLUES HALL OF FAME
BLUES MUSIC AWARDS
Help Raise the Roof ! on the Blues Hall of Fame! Since its inception in 1980, The Blues Foundation has inducted new members annually into the Blues Hall of Fame for their historical contribution, impact and overall influence on the Blues; but until now the Hall of Fame has remained a virtual entity without a physical place for Blues fans to visit.
Save the Date for the 34th annual Blues Music Awards to be held at the Cook County Convention Center in downtown Memphis on Thursday, May 9. To see the list of nominees or to purchase tickets, go to www.blues.org. If you’ve never been to the Blues Music Awards, we highly recommend it for any Blues music lover; it’s like the Grammy’s for Blues music, but much more intimate and personal.
The Foundation is currently conducting a $3.5 million capital campaign called Raise the Roof ! to build the Hall of Fame, which will be the place to honor inductees year-round; listen to and learn about the Blues; and enjoy historic mementos of this allAmerican art form. The new Blues Music Hall of Fame will be the place for serious Blues fans, casual visitors and wide-eyed students. Currently, the Foundation has secured over $1.5 million in pledges and donations toward the $2.5 million construction costs, and you can help the mercury climb higher in the thermometer by being a part of the 250 Club. 250 Club members are pledging to donate $250/year for four years. Each 250 Club member will be listed on the Blues Foundation website, listed in the 2013 Blues Music Awards commemorative programs and recognized within the Blues Hall of Fame. All donations are tax-deductible.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Mex-Tex Family Fiesta
The Blues Foundation, based in Memphis, TN, is THE organization dedicated to preserving our Blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excellence, supporting Blues education and ensuring the future of this uniquely American art form. Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation has more than 4500 individual members and 200 affiliated local Blues societies representing another 50,000 fans and professionals around the world. Its signature honors and events are Blues Music Awards (held in May), International Blues Challenge (held in late January), Keeping the Blues Alive Awards (presented during the IBC) and the Blues Hall of Fame. For more info on the Foundation, its programs and membership info, go to www.blues.org.
IN REVIEW: JUNE
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Midland, TX
Mex-Tex Fiesta celebrates the Permian Basin’s melting pot of culture by offering art; music; a children’s play area; a fajitas, ribs and chicken cook-off competition; a jalapeño eating contest; a softball tournament; and a huachas tournament, which is pronounced like ‘watch-us’ and is Spanish for ‘washers’. The Fiesta will be held in Midland’s downtown Centennial Plaza, a venue change after previously being held in the Scharbauer Sports Complex commons area the last three years. For more information, call the Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at 432-682-2960.
Sweet Treats at Sealy
Being in this business sometimes presents spur-of-the-moment opportunities, like Wednesday, April 27 did. That morning, San Angelo Blues Society President, Angela Halfmann, sent out an email with a glowing review of the ‘Toughest Girl Alive’, Candye Kane, who happened to being playing a 3-night gig at Sealy Flats in San Angelo. We decided to go. It was definitely worth the trip. Complemented by her cohort, Laura Chavez, who is an amazing guitar player, Candye and Laura make quite the team when it comes to delivering the goods. In between their boogie-woogie jump style Blues songs--almost all derivatives of Candye’s life experiences, she shares authentically about her recent battle with pancreatic cancer, having grown up in a dysfunctional family and being a single mother, all of which are intended to send messages of hope, encouragement and inspiration in spite of less than ideal circumstances. After the show, we got a chance to visit with Candye and Laura. One of the greatest things about Blues musicians is their ‘down-to-Earth’ nature and how they will sit with their fans, share their food and invite them to hang out after the show. Before we left, we bought ‘Sister Vagabond’ and ‘Superhero’. Candye Kane’s newest CD ‘Coming out Swinging’ will be released June 18 on the Delta Groove Label. WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT West Texas Cosmopolitan: The Blue Door As Midland swells in population from people relocating due to oil and gas industry surges, the need is becoming ever more present for businesses that can deliver a big city feel without the big city attitude. “So many of the people that are getting transferred here are coming from the big cities and are used to a more cosmopolitan space, especially young professional types,” said Cody and Erica Reeves, the owners of Midland’s new cocktail lounge, The Blue Door, which offers the most extensive whiskey and Scotch list in West Texas. “This is the only place I know of in The Permian Basin with a seasonal cocktail menu,” said Erica when asked what makes The Blue Door different. They also concoct infusions such as mixing rum, apples and cinnamon and letting it set for four days; coffee beans, vanilla beans and bourbon and even, get this: bourbon infused with brown-sugar bacon, orange bitters and maple syrup. “It’s called ‘The Gatekeeper’ and it’s one of our most popular cocktails,” Erica told us in response to raised eyebrows about the bacon concoction. Cody and Erica also put together special events such as Scotch and Bourbon tastings, Pre-Prohibition Cocktail Mixers and soon-to-come a Kentucky Derby event with matching cocktails. “We want to be interactive with our clientele and help them develop their palette for fine spirits and liquors,” said Cody.
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While visiting with them, we couldn’t help but sense that Cody and Erica seem well-traveled. You might say they have a mission to travel the world. They shared that at least once a year they pick a far away place to sojourn. So far, they’ve ventured to Portugal, Peru, London, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, Costa Rica, Belize and Panama. According to the Reeves, the birth of The Blue Door really started 10 years ago when Cody and Erica traveled to San Francisco as a four-year anniversary present to themselves. “I’m sort of a research hound,” Erica told us. “I use travel books extensively as well as Food and Wine, Bon Appetit and Imbibe magazines
to help find bars and restaurants. I don’t usually leave very many stones unturned.” While in San Francisco, they ventured out to the infamous Starlight Room, which is the home of ‘cocktail couture’ and situated 21 stories above the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. “I was reading the cocktail menu,” said Erica. “And I didn’t know what some of the drinks were just because I’d never heard of some of the liquors. I was intrigued, and we both realized that cocktails can be interesting and creative. Looking back on it now, that’s where the original seed for The Blue Door was planted.”
To be in the know about promotions and special events, we suggest you ‘Like’ The Blue Door on Facebook. Opened July 2012 Located at 4610 N. Garfield in the Colonnade Shopping Center (just a few ‘doors’ down from The Wine Rack) Hours of Operation Tuesday-Saturday 4 PM-Midnight
Thus began a multi-year conversation of hypotheticals “If we had a bar, I would want...” or “I wouldn’t do...” until a 2011 vacation in Portugal. The couple discovered a tiny bar owned by a British couple whom Cody and Erica felt were very similar to themselves, so they returned every night. The British couple told the Reeves their story of having had regular corporate jobs, much like Cody and Erica had had, and that they just decided to change the game plan and become bar owners. The Reeves thought, “If they can do it, so can we.” So, they did. They began choosing and planning and constructing and remodeling and all that comes with starting a ‘bricks-and-mortar’ business, and 11 months later The Blue Door emerged as a fully loaded cocktail bar ready for business. So, why exactly is the bar named The Blue Door? “Well, we went through about 30 different names,” said Erica. “I would nix one and Cody would nix one. We wanted a named that didn’t sound too ‘boozy’. We didn’t want it to scream ‘Hey I’m a bar!’”
V A S H O NCRISP
A V I A T I O N GATEK E E P E R
THE K A R I C A
As it so happened, during a trip to Turkey, Erica kept noticing many of the buildings had blue doors, and she was curious about the brightly painted doors’ history. After indulging her forte of research, she came across written beliefs that painting the front door of your home blue is said to present feelings of calm, soothing, abundance and prosperity as well as to ward off evil. When Erica presented the name “The Blue Door” to Cody, he didn’t nix it, and the name felt right. The Reeves hold themselves, their cocktails and The Blue Door to a high standard. To learn how to design the curious libations that shape their menu, Erica studied the book ‘Modern Mixologist’ by cocktail pioneer Tony Abou-Ganim. “Consistency is the key to mixing great drinks,” she says. Erica and Cody are proactive owners and make it a point to visit all of the Texas distilleries of the liquor they serve to see how the entire process works from the ground up, before the bottling. They also constantly talk to bartenders and owners of other well-known bars and lounges, so they can stay up-to-date. “I want us to be setting the trends in Midland, not trying to catch up with the them,” Erica gleamed. A prudent mention to note, The Blue Door is a non-smoking bar. Enter from the South, and you walk through their all-weather, intimate patio, but on the other hand, if you park on the North side, the big Blue Door makes your destination obvious. Hearing great Blues tunes overhead just ties everything together.
We've got the warmest welcome. It starts with the warm welcome of our signature chocolate chip cookie. And that's just the beginning of all the personal touches we make before you arrive, from our Sweet Dreams™ bedding and healthy food choices to the can-do attitude of every member of our staff. DoubleTree by Hilton. Where the little things mean everything.™
117 West Wall Street, Midland, TX 79701 T (432) 683 6131 F (432) 683 0958
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HOLISTIC HEALTH
Alternative To Drugs by Dr. Ed Rowland
In the world of music, the Blues have always been special and influential, but never quite mainstream. Likewise, the world of wellness, as distinguished from the world of medicine, offers alternative and complementary therapies. One of the more popular of these disciplines is chiropractic care, which can be used for both specialized treatment, as well as a form of primary care. The idea of chiropractic therapy has been around since the ancient Greeks. It got its start as a profession in 1895, when Iowa-based D.D. Palmer cured his janitor’s deafness by pushing on an out-ofplace vertebra. He experimented for a while and then started the first chiropractic school to share what he had learned. His son B.J. eventually took over the school and turned chiropractic care into a degreed discipline. Chiropractic therapy has a different focus from regular American medicine. Instead of basing treatment on the use of drugs, chiropractic looks to the spine and its influence on the nervous system. Subtle misalignments or fixations in the spine and other joints can put pressure on the nerves and cause problems in the areas served by those nerves. Correcting that misalignment relieves the pressure and lets the body then solve the problem. Most people’s first encounter with chiropractic care is prompted by lifting or by auto accidents, but chiropractic care can also be extremely helpful for less acute, but equally problematic issues such as allergies, the knees or hips being out of alignment, rib heads being ‘out’, adjusting
the ankles and wrist bones or solving chronic headaches. Many people are also surprised to find that even visceral problems and emotional traumas often improve after chiropractic treatment.
“The body is always striving to achieve a level of homeostasis, or a state of physical ‘ok-ness’, and chiropractic care assists the body in this process.” So, in what ways are chiropractors different from M.D.s? First, chiropractic care is as much a way of thinking as it is a treatment method. Chiropractors, who are D.C.s, stand in the middle between Western biochemical-based medicine and Eastern holistic medicine. They recognize the validity and importance of biochemistry and physiology, and are as equally well trained in these areas as medical doctors. Chiropractors also look at the body through the lens of mental, emotional, energetic and spiritual well-being; hence many practitioners often embrace other disciplines like reflexology; acupuncture; massage; naturopathy, which is the use of tiny dilutions of herbal nonprescription substances; total body modification (TBM), which is a noninvasive recalibrating of your body’s electrical system; and cranial-sacral therapy. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, chiropractic training is oriented toward hands-on treatment, rather than the prescribing of prescription drugs. I find that most questions about chiropractic care fall into two categories: 1) How well trained are chiropractors? and 2) Is chiropractic treatment safe? After first earning an undergraduate degree, chiropractors must complete four years of chiropractic college to earn their doctorate. They take all the same anatomy and physiology courses as medical students, as well as radiology and chiropractic specific coursework. They then must pass rigorous national board exams to gain the right to practice. For the latter question, chiropractic care is very safe and non-invasive. If you are concerned about the idea of having someone make musculoskeletal adjustments on your body, seek a chiropractor that practices a soft-touch technique. Chiropractic care will probably never be completely mainstream; but for its role in the realm of healing and wellness, it is invaluable. The next time your neck, back or knees hurt; you have a bad headache; the allergies are being relentless or you find yourself dealing with chronic lethargy, consider chiropractic care as an option. Dr. Edward Rowland is a fourth generation Texan and a native West Texan. He has a degree in zoology and chemistry, human anatomy and a Masters in museum science in addition to his chiropractic doctorate. Prior to his returning to college to study chiropractic, he was Director of the Petroleum Museum in Midland for many years. While not privileged to be a Bluesman, he does sing with the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale and the Sun Gentlemen’s Barbershop Chorus. He currently owns Rowland Chiropractic Clinic–’Chiropractic without the Crunch’, in Odessa.
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WEST TEXAS BLUES
H I — L I T E S
OZ OF WEST TEXAS DragonFly Farms By Jeanne Jones
A
s I step through the gates of DragonFly Farms, I feel a little like Dorothy landing in Oz. West Texas seems like a far away place, and the surreal feeling that time travel just might really be possible creeps across my consciousness. Perfectly placed, luscious green plants grow in abundance everywhere I look; two separate seating areas for quiet contemplation catch my attention. This is truly an ‘Oasis in the Desert’. As I reign in my senses, I come back to reality and realize I’m standing in the middle of an organic urban farm in the heart of Midland, Texas. ‘The Gardens’, as they are called locally, are located at 2004 Harvard Ave. and run by Bill and Debbie Rutter, along with the help of a black lab named Jack.The Farm started originally as a vegetable and flower garden with some tropical plants growing in the greenhouse. Then about seven years ago, the Rutters purchased the house next door, tore it down and expanded their garden, thus marking the inception of DragonFly Farms. “We are a huge advocate for recycling,” Debbie told me, so as they tore down the house, they salvaged all the wood, metal and brick which was later used to build greenhouses, garden beds and walkways. The section of the house left standing is now their garden shed and lumber yard.
DragonFly Farms propietors Bill and Debbie Rutter
So what about this sandy soil in West Texas? This kind of soil doesn’t exactly make for an ideal plant-growing environment with the proper PH and nutrients, but Bill has got the creation of his soil base down to a science. As he was designing and cultivating his garden beds, he combined compost (then purchased from ReCom Renewable Resources) with peat moss and humus to build a soil rich in nutrients and ideal for an optimal growing environment. “All you need is water and nutrients. The sand is easy to work with if you add organic matter,” said Bill who also added that “the worst time to grow is in the summer. The other nine months of the year, it’s easy to grow plants.” Today, the Farm now produces its own compost with all the organic material produced by ‘The Gardens’. The majority of the vegetables grown at DragonFly Farms are grown from seeds, and they grow a wide variety of vegetables depending on the season. Some seeds are grown in the greenhouse while others are planted directly in the garden.
The beginning of a “savingful” relationship.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Jeanne Jones has been a healthy eating advocate for more than 15 years and believes in eating local organic produce, when available. Jones who is a strong supporter of the Midland Downtown Farmers Market and believes that buying local is a wonderful way to bring the community together.
Patrick J Willis, Agent 1631 N County Road W Odessa, TX 79763 Bus: 432-580-6100 patrick.willis.un94@statefarm.com
1101234.1
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WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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COMMUNITY SHOWCASE: SAN ANGELO, TX CURIOSITIES ON THE CONCHO
If you’re a music lover, history buff, sightseeing devotee, art collector, Blues fan, food fanatic, shopping enthusiast, outdoor Festival junkie or just itching for a reason to take a road trip, look no further than San Angelo, TX. And if you need a little help picking a date, make sure a Saturday is part of your trip. In particular, we recommend Saturday, May 11 for the Simply Texas Blues Festival. In its fifth year, the Festival is organized by the San Angelo Blues Society and will host Blues bands from around the region wishing to compete for a chance at “Memphis” in 2014. [See ‘Heartbeat of the Blues’ on Page 17] The Festival is free to attend since the daytime acts are performing in a competitive environment, which makes it a total bonus that once the competition is over, you’ll get to see Samantha Fish and Carolyn Wonderland, who will co-headline this year’s Festival. These girls are guitar-slinging FISH and, in Carolyn’s case, trumpet WONDERLAND blowing, women making Blues history! It all happens downtown on Oakes Street right in front of Sealy Flats, the most coveted place in Texas for Blues musicians to play.
D’Vine Wine Situated in the courtyard area of the Concho Crossing Shopping Center, this is a nice place to take a rest, relax and refresh with a nice glass of wine. They ferment and bottle more than 30 different sweet, dry and dessert wines on site and can even offer a private label service for your next party, event or corporate function. Miss Hattie’s Café & Saloon Today, what is a restaurant used to be the San Angelo National Bank, but there is more to this story than just a historic building. Back in 1886 when the bank was built, women were not allowed to go into the bank. As enterprising husbands soon learned, they could take a secret tunnel that connected the bank to the bordello. Need we say more? M.L. Leddy’s You may be familiar with M.L. Leddy’s in the Fort Worth Stockyards, but did you know that San Angelo has one, too? Owned and operated by fourth generation Leddy’s, the San Angelo shop actually came first. Neighbor to Sealy Flats, this place is quite extraordinary. It is complete with a retail storefront and bootmaking factory, which we were privileged to tour. 95 years in the making and still “neighbors, Kings and Presidents alike are all treated to the same Texas hospitality”; that’s how they treated us, and and we’re certainly not royalty.
Historic Blues Inn If you’re going to make it an overnight trip, we highly recommend you make a reservation at the Historic Blues Inn, which is situated right next door to Sealy Flats. The Inn is three-suite hotel that has been creatively restored, and the rooms have names like the Sonny Boy Williamson room and the T-Bone Walker room. All of the art on the wall is for sale, and most are original pieces, so even if you don’t stay, it’s worth a peek just to browse the ‘gallery’. The downtown area, immediately around Sealy and the Festival, also offers quite a bit to do, see, eat and even shop, all within walking distance. Deja’ Vu What a clever name for a surprisingly nice shop, which offers high-end resale fashion. This place is the candied apple for girls who just want to shop...on a budget. The Stagg A men’s clothing and gift shop, also located in the Concho Crossing Shopping Center*, is the right place to find a thoughtful gift for that ‘hard-to-buy-for’ man in your life. J. Wilde’s Boutique A women’s boutique shop chocked full of eclectic fashion and home furnishings. This is just a cool place to shop. Be sure and go all the way to the back; it’s actually multi-level.
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J. Dorotik’s Ice House Another brain child of Joyce Wilde, this place has a completely different energy signature than her other shop. The objective is more about home furnishings and decor, but of the repurposed variety, hence the sign above the garage door (yes, the front door is a garage door) that says ‘Back to the Basics of Life’. You might find a coffee table made out of stacked vinyl records or a gas pump turned flowerpot in a place like this; there’s just no telling. And yes, you can even find some antiques. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 EDITOR’S NOTE: Our Community Showcases feature a West Texas community in each issue of the the magazine. These are purely editorial pieces and represent the collective opinion of the editorial staff. While they do, in effect, promote a specific community; they are not advertisements and no monetary, or other type of consideration, was made in exchange.
WEST TEXAS BLUES
Miss Behavin’s APPETIZERS
Grilled Artichokes Calabrian Aioli Scallops el Adobo Adobo Rub Cayman Brac Babybacks Island Mop Marinade Cajun Brandy Criminis
MAIN DISHES
Cayenne Vodka Pasta Scallops D’Aulon Tortuga Rum Glaze Fillet of Beef
SALADS, SOUPS AND DRESSINGS
HAVEN
DESSERTS
Sam’s Seafood Grill Key Lime Pie Tortuga Berries Lemon Sorbet
Rolling Stone Vinegarette Bayou Sam’s Spring Salad Sensation Slap YO Mama Real Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
COCKTAILS
Lemon Drop Martini The Deco Rum Ramsey
A fun, fictional place, you won’t find Miss Behavin’s Haven on any street corner, but you can find these recipes on their website at www.missbehavinshaven.com.
WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
15
IN REVIEW:
Blues Pioneer B. B. King
B.B. King, perhaps one of the most respected men in Blues, put on a show at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center in January and West Texas Blues got to go. The Show was soldout, and while we were there, we got to distribute the premiere issue of this magazine, hot off the press! Playing his guitar while sitting, B.B. still has the chops although he chooses, these days, to indulge in more story-telling and playful crowd interaction than he does playing. And rightfully so. B.B. is 87 years old. He brought a kind of warm presence and gratitude to the stage, and as he told stories from the ‘old days’ while ribbing his band and talking with the audience, it became apparent that this legend has done it all. He is no longer shackled by the crowd’s expectation of him; he’s comfortable just being himself playing or singing whatever strikes his fancy at the moment, including a crowd-participating rendition of ‘You Are My Sunshine’. His band, who has played with him a long, long time can read his every whim and turn on a dime, as if the show were rehearsed that way. Maybe it was. On the day of the show we visited with B.B.’s band leader, James ‘Boogaloo’ Bolden, in his hotel room. When Boogaloo is not on the road with B.B., he works on his own band project, and while we were there we got a private listen to a few unmastered tracks that Bolden had laid out with vocalist and sax player, Evelyn Rubio, for his upcoming CD release. “B.B. has always felt it was important to make your own way in this business and not become dependent on other people,” Boogaloo mentioned when we asked why he would spend time working on his own project with a job like being B.B. King’s band leader. Having seen B.B. King live in concert has a way of making one better understand the power of Blues music and its influence our lives. The Blues are not just tales of woe; the Blues are a celebration of all that embodies our lives, both the victories and the hardships.
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WEST TEXAS BLUES
Photo courtesy of B. B. King Roadshows, LLC
UPCOMING SHOWS AT SEALY FLATS
April 12-13 Rich Del Grosso & Jonn Del Toro Richardson (Houston) May 3-4 The Joe Moss Band (Dundee, IL) May 24-25 WC Clark (Austin) May 28-30 Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials (Chicago) May 31-June 1 Ruben V (San Antonio) June 7-8 Mike Milligan & The Altar Boyz (Austin) June 14-15 Bobby Mack (Austin) June 28-29 Blues Boy Willie (Memphis) July 9-13 Grady Champion (Canton, MS; RECORDING LIVE)
t !
n s d a n
h h
HEARTBEAT OF THE BLUES WHO’S PLAYED SEALY FLATS Tommy Castro Guitar Shorty Candye Kane Chris Duarte Zac Harmon Eddie Turner Jeff Strahan Grady Champion Johnny Rawls John Nemeth Lightin’ Malcolm Cedric Burnside Ana Popovic Nick Moss Haden Sayers Samantha Fish WC Clark Curtis Salgado Carolyn Wonderland Ruben V Rich Del Grosso & John Del Toro Richardson John Lisi & Delta Funk Rockin’ Jake Eric Sardinas
What may seem like just another Blues Society actually has a story to tell. San Angelo Blues Society began as impromptu jam sessions in parking lots, allies and in what was, at the time, a primitive courtyard. Fast forward five years later, and that primitive courtyard is now a happening place to be and hear stylings from a variety of Blues musicians, many of them well-known. It’s name: Sealy Flats; and it is the heartbeat of the Blues in San Angelo. The list of performers that have played Sealy Flats is no short list, and one of the very first performers to play Sealy’s courtyard, well really back then it was just a dirt floor, was Jeff Strahan. Strahan still plays Sealy today when he’s passing through town on a tour route, and recently he recorded a “Live at Sealy Flats” album on which he reminisces about those early days before Sealy was...well, Sealy. So, what does all this have to do with the San Angelo Blues Society? Well, briefly, everything. Sealy Flats is at the heart of the Blues Society and is the epicenter for the Society’s annual Simply Texas Blues Festival. The Festival is what is commonly referred to as an preliminary IBC competition. IBC stands for International Blues Challenge, which is a worldwide hunt for the top emerging Blues performers. Blues societies from all around the world host competitions throughout the year and select a top act to represent them in the world finals, which takes place in Memphis at the end of January. Last year’s Festival yielded Mike Milligan & The Altar Boyz to represent San Angelo in Memphis at this year’s Challenge. Now we can’t go on without making it a point of strongly suggesting that you save Saturday, May 11 on your calendar to enjoy a day long affair with the Blues at the Simply Texas Blues Festival. [See ‘Curiosities on the Concho’ on Page 14]
Sealy Flats owner Rod Bridgman with WTB Editor Lisa Grissom
sites For More inFo
Sealy Flats www.sealyflats.com
Jeff Strahan www.jeffstrahan.com
Another act that loves to play Sealy Flats is Zac Harmon, who won the Blues Foundation’s prestigious IBC title of ‘Best Unsigned Band’ in 2004. Harmon’s win put his career skyrocketing on a trajectory that garnered him invitations to play every major Blues Festival in the US, Canada and Europe.
Zac Harmon www.zacharmon.com
“Winning this award is like having a $100,000 advertising budget,” said Harmon, who is also scheduled to headline this year’s Tall City Blues Fest, presented by Riley Geological Consultants. [See ‘Tall City Blues Fest News’ on Page 7]
San Angelo Blues Society www.sanangelobluessociety.com
So, if you don’t catch this year’s Festival, or if you do, Sealy Flats is a place you’ll want to go again and again. They host Blues music six nights a week Monday through Saturday, and even for breakfast Saturday morning starting at 9 AM. Evening shows start at 7 PM each night and conclude around 9 PM. Take a peek at Upcoming Shows at Sealy Flats on Page 16, and start planning a road-trip to San Angelo.
Samantha Fish www.samanthafish.com
Mike Milligan & The Altar Boyz www.reverbnation.com/ mikemilliganandthealtarboyz Carolyn Wonderland www.carolynwonderland.com Riley Geological Consultants www.rilyegeo.com
Special thanks to Angela Halfmann, President of the San Angelo Blues Society, who contributed information for this story.
Albert Castiglia
WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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ART @ WORK The Art of Lutherie By Elizabeth McLellan
A luthier, pronounced, is a maker of stringed instruments. Originating from the French term ‘lute’, it has come to commonly mean any instrument that is plucked or strummed. In the case of Michael Stevens, it means primarily electric guitars, basses and mandolins. Stevens is a custom guitar maker and as he puts it, his “designs are informed, but not constrained by the great instruments of the past.” Stevens didn’t set out to be a custom guitar designer and builder, though. As a matter of fact, his first love was drawing. “All I knew was that I could draw, and I loved art,” said Stevens. His story, while worth telling, is probably not dissimilar from many of our lives. While we are busy weaving our life’s tapestry, at the same time, the universe is also conspiring on our behalf to make sure that we do the work we were put on this Earth to do, regardless of how seemingly straight or crooked the path. Such is, and was, the case with luthier, Michael Stevens.
num casting and abstract welding, and because of his natural ability and trustworthy nature, Stevens was also the only undergraduate student with a key to the sculpting room. Then in November 1967, Stevens headed to, but never enrolled at, the University of Berkeley in California, among other reasons, to study under Peter Voulkos and continue casting, which didn’t end up happening. While in Berkeley, he often played guitar with friends and found himself wandering into more music stores and guitar repair shops. Armed with a Martin that needed some adjustments, Stevens thought $35 was too much money to spend for a simple repair that he could do himself, which he did. It was, after all, in the 60s. “I took my guitar to Jon Lundberg’s shop because they were the ‘cool’ acoustic place at the time,” Stevens recalled. “When I got the cost estimate I decided I would do it myself. I only needed a new veneer on the face of the peg head and I thought that was simple enough. Later, after
As fate would have it, it was a high school shop class that started inching the door open to what would ultimately play a significant role in his current craft of guitar making. He very quickly realized that he had talent. “I would make everything,” said Stevens reminiscently. “I made a cherry wood chest of drawers for my parents and gun racks out of walnut. I handcrafted everything and even tooled some leather wallets for Christmas gifts. I was just a cowboy kid working with my hands.” At 17, Stevens was the only student assigned to be an assistant teacher when the instructor was unavailable. Whether a storm or sickness, when the teacher was out of the room, Michael Stevens was in charge of supervising while the other students worked on their projects. With all his burgeoning craftsman abilities though, Stevens still had minimal interest in creating designer guitars like he does today for guitar legends. In 1963, Stevens was an art major at Ohio State University with his sights set on becoming an illustrator. It was not until he shared living quarters with a guy whose brother was “an excellent guitar player”, that Stevens finally learned how to play. Interestingly, he had been given a guitar at a younger age, but had no idea the sounds that picking the strings in an orchestrated sequence would produce. Once he heard it though, he was hooked, which was yet another significant event in the development of his career as a custom guitar maker. In 1965, Stevens transferred to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth to rodeo, because he was, after all, a cowboy at heart. Art was also a desire too, so while there, he studied under expert sculptor and educator Harry Geffert. From Geffert, he learned bronze and alumi-
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WEST TEXAS BLUES
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I had started doing small repairs, the girl I was dating had a problem with her guitar. I was a little slow getting back to her, and it so happened that she was also seeing Larry Jameson, so she went to his shop instead. That is when I met Larry. I wanted to see who the competition was, both for the girl and the guitar work,” Stevens said with a gruff laugh. After hitting it off with Larry, the pair joined forces at the first Guitar Resurrection in Oakland in 1968, which was shortly thereafter moved to Rose and Grove Street in Berkeley. “Larry knew a lot about guitars and how to fix them, but did most all of his stuff by hand,” Stevens recalled about the newly formed duo. “I had a lot of shop background from high school using all kinds of power tools, and I showed Larry how to put the two together. He taught me guitars, and I taught him tools, jigs and patterns. We liked each other too, so it was a perfect match.” There comes time, though, when a person needs to switch gears, so Stevens took a four-year sabbatical from the world of guitars to focus on pursuing another passion of his: horses. He spent those four years on the road training and showing Arabian horses before the guitar itch started needing to be scratched again. Matters were not helped that during the seventies the drop in oil revenues also caused the horse business to decline, so in 1978, Stevens and Jameson reunited in Austin to set up shop once again. It was at this point that Stevens began designing and building his own custom guitars. For inspiration, he would look at guitars with both beautiful design and glorious tone and combine different aspects of each to make his own custom build. “I learned the heart and soul of old guitars and came up with new ideas,” said Stevens. Soon his work had attracted the the attention of Fender and Gibson, both of which sought him to come work for them. With a job offer from Fender that he could not refuse, Stevens loaded up and moved back to California to become the Founder and Senior Design Engineer of the now legendary Fender Custom Shop. He also became the first person at Fender to have an instrument he created and produced to bear his signature on the headstock: the LJ Model. Before moving back to Cali for the Fender job, Stevens had become familiar with Buddy Guy. [See In Review: Who the Hell is Buddy Guy?”] Later, after he’d made the move to work for Fender, Buddy came to visit him, and Stevens hand-built a custom Stratocaster for
him, which became Fender’s prototype to build the Buddy Guy Standard Stratocaster with the signature black-and-white polka dot finish. While at Fender, he was involved with the production of the Eric Clapton Stratocaster, the Danny Gatton Telecaster, the Robert Cray Telecaster, the Waylon Jennings Telecaster and made the prototypes for each of these artists. But here we go, again time for a change. A third…well, um ‘passion’, brought Stevens to his current home in Alpine, Texas--his wife Alice. Stevens had known Alice since 1965, but in 1987--some 23 years later, they decided to get married. “I’d heard from Fender, went to look at the job, and decided to take her along,” Stevens reported. “I made them let her sit in on our meetings because I said ‘You’re going to talk about me when I leave, so I want someone to talk to too.’” Alice stayed in California for a little while but eventually moved to West Texas to “drill her own oil”. Stevens liked the Alpine area because he felt as though Alpine was a great pitstop for “broken-down cowboys”, which he feels accurately describes him. Michael Stevens, you might say, is a born and raised cowboy. After growing up as a “weekend arena cowboy”, meaning he spent a lot of time roping with his father and spent most of his weekends in rodeo arenas with his horses; Stevens was thrilled CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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Oz of West Texas
Curiosities on the Concho CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
Eggemeyer’s General Store San Angelo’s downtown mercantile, they sell everything from fudge to baby blankets. You can find kitchen mixers, salsas and jams, collectible dolls, children’s games, cosmetics, jewelry, decor and more in this store--all current and new, while still maintaining an air of nostalgia. They even have a wine bar! Still downtown, but a little off the beaten path are two other gems worth noting. Zero One Ale House Right around the corner from Fuentes, this Ale House is a great place to indulge in a quality, craft beer. They also offer a full menu with a few eclectic selections.
“Winter growing season is all your root vegetables and greens, while in the summer it is peppers, fennel, zucchini, squash, onions, etc.,” Bill told me. Tomatoes are their forte though; they grow everything from traditional tomatoes to heirloom, and I can testify that they are the sweetest, most delicious tomatoes in town. The Rutters’ gardening philosophy is to grow organically, so all their vegetables are grown without harsh fertilizers or pesticides of any kind. To give you a bit of background, Bill’s love for botany started at the age of four when his maternal grandmother, who was an avid gardener, introduced him to vegetable seeds. Together they would plant seeds, and Bill became fascinated as he watched this garden grow. He said he would wake up each morning and run out to the garden to see how it had changed. Bill loved it so much, he majored in it, coming out of UT Austin with a Botany degree. Today, though, he primarily sees gardening as his hobby and a way to connect with nature, rather than a career. Like many Midlanders, Bill is in the oil business. “The oil business is what pays for my expensive hobby,” Bill told me somewhat jokingly. Aside from stopping by ‘The Gardens’ on Harvard, you can also find the Rutters at the Midland Downtown Farmers Market on the corner of Texas and Pecos every Saturday morning from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Just look for the vegetable cart.
DragonFly Farms helper Jack Rutter
IN REVIEW: R E O S P E E D W A G O N The Date: February 21 The Place: Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center “Do either of you girls know how to do laundry?” He really didn’t have any idea how his words could have come across, but the look of desperation on his face told us he really needed help. Not exactly a crisis, but lead vocalist and guitarist from REO Speedwagon, Kevin Cronin, had spilled coffee on the sleeves of his brand new zip-up hoodie, which was his comfort wear for the tour bus ride to San Antonio--their next stop on the ‘Common Ground’ Tour.
You can also join their mailing list by emailing Debbie at deborah.queenofengland@ gmail.com and requesting to be added.
From left to right: Lead Vocalist, Kevin Cronin; WTB Editor, Lisa Grissom; WTB Assistant Editor, Elizabeth McLellan; Original Founding Member and Keyboardist Neal Doughty; Lead Guitarist, Dave Amato
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WEST TEXAS BLUES
Fuentes Cafe Downtown Touting the “Best Mexican Food in all of San Angelo”, we think they’re right. They’ve been serving food for more than 50 years and three generations. Just go, is all we can say.
With some tonic water and a hairdryer, we got to work on the task at hand and were able to return a dry, unstained hoodie back to Cronin before he jumped on the bus. We seized the opportunity to get a copy of West Texas Blues in their hands and snap a quick picture before they left. During the concert, Cronin gave a heartwarming message from the stage that we all lead busy lives heaped full of responsibilities and encouraged the audience just to let their hair down and relax for a bit. The sound was perfectly mixed creating an epic performance where they played all the classic hits that made them famous.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
Christoval Vineyards South of town, you’ll find the Christoval Vineyards, which is worth the 15-minute drive from downtown to get there. The 25acre estate is situated along the banks of the spring-fed Concho river and is just absolutely gorgeous. As winemaking goes, they focus on growing warm-temperate varietals, such as Tempranillo, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are open Thursday-Sunday for tastings which they do in their 17th century French style wine-tasting room and often host live music outside during the warmer months. Vino Dipinte If you’re looking to indulge a little artistic flair of your own, check out Vino Dipinte Art Gallery. It’s located behind the Museum of Fine Arts (which we didn’t get to visit), in what locals call Old Town. They offer weekly reservations-only group art instruction and encourage you to bring your favorite bottle of wine or craft beer to sip while you paint; you might call it a ‘sip and paint’. Each class focuses on a
different subject matter. Supplies are included in the price of each class and range from $35$45/person or $60/couple. To reserve your spot, go to www.vinodipinte.com.
loin, potato gnocchi and chocolate cake bread pudding served with salted caramel ice cream and berry coulis. Now how can you not get hungry about that?
Chicken Farm & Salt at the Silo House If you’re in San Angelo on the first Saturday of the month, you’ll want to make it a point, to go by the Chicken Farm north of town. This is a chickenfarm-repurposed-art-compound. Being home to more than 16 artists’ galleries and a multitude of temporary artists that set up each first Saturday, you can see anything from cigar box guitars to batik paintings.
The Silo House is only open Thursday-Saturday evenings, and reservations are required. The restaurant is BYOB, so you can bring your own bottle of wine.
And of that former chicken farm... the ice house, grain silo and chicken coops house what locals call The Silo House, which is a finedining restaurant serving a fixedprice per person, five-course dinner menu that changes weekly. Just to whet your appetite, the week we were there, we were served a fresh sourdough crostini drizzled with ricotta prosciutto and caramelized onion, sea salt rubbed beef tender-
As always, we’ve left many stones unturned. These are just a few spots that we like, but there are many more treasures left to be found in San Angelo, such as the Lilly Ponds, the Museum of Fine Arts, Fort Concho and for our morning cup of Joe, Stangos, just to name a few on our short list the next time we go back. Special thanks to Rod Bridgman of Sealy Flats who walked the streets with West Texas Blues and helped show us ‘the ropes’, as well as Rick and Kathie Whitworth at KCSA 95.7 FM Community Radio for fitting us in for an impromptu interview to talk about West Texas Blues while we were there.
ODESSA FINE CIGARS
PIPES TOBACCO
GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES
VERY FINE WINES IMPORTED BEERS LIVE MUSIC FINE CIGARS PIPES TOBACCO PATIO SEATING GIFTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE MOST DISCRIMINATING ENTHUSIAST OAK RIDGE SQUARE #2 WADLEY AND GARFIELD
432.570.5733
3152 EAST 42ND STREET SUITE O ODESSA. TEXAS 79762 432.550.5511
THEHEMINGWAYOFMIDLAND.COM
WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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The Art of Lutherie
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
to discover the opportunities that West Texas affords him. He already knew a great deal about working with horses, but since settling in Alpine, he’s come to learn more and more about working cattle, which he does on his 30-acre homestead. When time permits, Stevens reverts to his old cowpoke nature, rides his horse, conveniently named Buddy Guy and tries to get in a little day ranch work with his friends. Contrary to what you might guess though, his cowboy nature does not take much time away from building and repairing guitars in his shop, appropriately called Stevens Guitars. For those who have an interest in owning one of the world’s finest electric, stringed instruments, get in line because there is nearly a two-year backlog of custom orders that Stevens is filling. He takes all orders through phone calls and emails, and because there is no crew, Stevens handles the entire arrangement himself. In his past, Stevens would take outrageous requests for custom guitars, unlike any others, but through time he has come to maintain his own custom design templates and standards.
MICHAEL STEVENS’ CLIENT LIST Stevie Ray Vaughan Jimmie Vaughan Eric Clapton Jimmy Page Billy Gibbons Eric Johnson Albert King Otis Rush Junior Brown Robert Cray
Buddy Guy Waylon Jennings Arlen Roth Paul Glasse Christopher Cross Danny Gatton Ray Benson Bobby Weir John Nelson Nils Lofgren
“You can pick the color, size or shape of the neck, but I work in my own format. If you want a metal flake pink guitar, you’d better go find somebody else to make it”, said Stevens. Michael Stevens, world renowned luthier, is the epitome of what you might think of as a true artist. From his previous gypsy lifestyle to now ‘cowboying’ part time on his ranch, somewhere in the middle, he’s made it a point to live a purposeful life by accepting great opportunities graciously. He feels that he is “making [guitars] the way they’re supposed to be”, and continues daily to practice this legacy. More info about Stevens Guitars can be found online at www. stevensguitars.com.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Aphasia Awareness Lawn Concert
JUNE
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Midland, TX Held in Midland’s downtown Centennial Plaza, this fourth year concert to promote awareness about aphasia will feature Bennie & the Jets, an Elton John tribute act. The concert begins at approximately 6:30 PM and is free to the public. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. One of only 10 centers in the country, the Aphasia Center of West Texas seeks to bring awareness to the topic of aphasia. “Aphasia is more common than Parkinson’s disease or muscular dystrophy, and most people do not know that aphasia is a loss of speech and language caused by traumatic brain injury, usually a stroke,” said Executive Director of the Aphasia Center Kitty Binek. “Imagine knowing exactly what you want you to say, but being unable to get the words out. Aphasia affects one in 250 people in West Texas, causing them a lost or diminished ability to read, write and speak.” For more info about aphasia or the Awareness Concert, contact the Aphasia Center of West Texas at 432-699-1261.
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GOOD EATS
Al’s Bar-B-Q (Big Spring, Texas) By Sam & Sara Daulong
Armed with a personal playlist we call ‘Voodoo Blues’, we’re cruising down I-20 on a cool crisp day, toward Big Spring, Texas in search of a generations-old barbecue joint called Alís & Son BBQ, or Al’s BarB-Q, for short. Al’s Bar-B-Q is located at 1810 S. Gregg St. in Big Spring. Once you take Exit 177 off of I-20, if the wind is blowing the right direction that day, all you really have to do is roll down your window, and let your nose guide you toward the delicious smell of BBQ. Back in 1964, Al started this BBQ tradition in Big Spring, and then in 1991, his son took over the business, relocating to its present location.
From the look and feel, not much has changed since then. Entering the building immediately takes you back to those slower paced days that so many West Texans used to enjoy. Friendly, efficient and fast, ordering was quick and easy with a great menu having all the essentials that one would expect including brisket, ribs, chicken, ham, sausage, and add to that burgers, catfish, steak and chicken fingers--a well-rounded menu for almost any craving. They offer dine-in or drive-thru options and also do catering. We went for our biggest weakness: steak fingers. We hold a high ‘bar’ for this rarely seen and often ‘flubbed up’ West Texas staple dish, and we were pleased to discover that Al’s does them ‘old school’. Their steak fingers are not over-batterd, nor are they frozen, and the breading is not loose sock. You might say they’re just downright old-fashioned steak fingers, served with white cream gravy, Texas toast and homemade, hand-cut fries. We also sampled the brisket and ribs, and both get high marks in our book. The brisket was moist, very tender and had just the right amount of scald to it. The ribs were the same. Cooked well enough that neither really needed any sauce, we figured we might better try a dab anway, so we could say we sampled it. The sauce, also homemade...well nothing else needs to be said. The joint had the standard condiments and sides including green beans, potato salad and cole slaw, along with a good selection of desserts, which we could tell you about, but then we’d be ‘spilling our candy in the lobby’ and not leave you with anything to discover for yourself. We found the diner to be clean, quiet and inviting, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that you pile in the car and head to Big Spring for a barbecue run. Now that convertible weather is upon us, you can bet you’ll see our Shelby beating a path back to Alís & Son BBQ.
gift baskets
daily wine tastings specialty beer special orders intimate live music
monthly vendor tastings smoke free
Tuesday-Thursday 11-8 pm, Friday & Saturday 11-9:30 pm
432-570-WIN e
4610 NORTH GARFIELD ST, COLONNADE SHOPPING CENTER
winerackofmidland.com
Sam and Sara Daulong are both Blues lovers, in fact they met on stage. Sara is a full time mother, wife, HR Manager, bassist and graphic design artist. Sam is a corporate pilot, travels worldwide, plays Blues harp and has a web design business. They are Top Contributors for Trip Advisor, and travel extensively enjoying great music, great food and great places.
WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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WAGNER NOëL UPCOMING SHOWS THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Thursday, May 23
The Addams Family is a smash-hit, musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. LYLE LOVETT & ROBERT EARL KEEN
Wednesday, May 29
Spend the evening with these legendary Texas singer-songwriters where they will perform an acoustic evening of their well-known songs and share the humorous and heartwarming stories behind them. TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND
Thursday, June 13
TTB is an 11-piece ensemble led by husband-wife team Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. Derek is the nephew of Butch Trucks-drummer and founding member of The Allman Brothers. In addition to fronting TTB, Derek also plays his signature slide-guitar sound for The Allman Brothers. He’s currently ranked as #16 in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Susan is a guitar player in her own right, and her husky vocals are amazing. This is a MUST-SEE show! CHEAP TRICK
H I — L I T E S
Wednesday, June 19
American rock band from Rockford, IL, Cheap Trick, came by their name after attending a concert where one of the guys commented that the band they had just seen used “every cheap trick in the book” as part of their act. Known for their on-stage antics and influence on everything from pop to punk, Cheap Trick has 40 gold and platinum recording awards under their belt. They have often been referred to as the “American Beatles”. Famous for hits like ‘I Want You To Want Me’ and ‘Surrender’, Cheap Trick’s songs are an artful mix of rock, pop, new wave, punk and yes, even the Blues. Purchase tickets to these shows online at www.wagnernoel.com.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Marfa Film Festival Marfa, TX
JUNE
26-30
After a two-year hiatus, which broke several filmmakers and festival goers hearts, the Marfa Film Festival is back in action. The fourth annual five-day Festival takes place the last week of June in Marfa, Texas. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience open-air screenings set against the “vast serenity of a starlit West Texas prairie” and to watch over 50 features, shorts, music videos and experimental works. This Festival has been known to attract people from all over the world for “a breezy counterpoint to the chaotic and competitive environments often found on the film festival circuit.” No film submissions will be chosen as ‘Winner’, instead the Festival proposes a celebration of innovation through the dedication of storytelling via visual arts. For more information, call the Film Festival office at 512-485-3075 or go to www.marfafilmfestival.com.
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WEST TEXAS BLUES
IN REVIEW: Friend By Elizabeth McLellan
I find myself mesmerized by the people who have dedicated their entire lives to making a difference in the world. They make it seem so easy to abandon life’s standards and take a journey through something unfamiliar to most. Jane Goodall is one of those people and after hearing her life story, it made me want to do something to positively impact others’ lives, however small it may be.
of the Apes covered something amazing. Jane’s mother was her biggest supporter and would tell her that “if you really want something, you work hard enough, you take advantage of opportunities, you never give up, you will find a way.”
Understanding the sincerity of these words, Jane had to work as a waitress for a whole year to pay for boat fare to Kenya to visit Jane Goodall, primatologist, ethologist, her friend’s family farm. Taking full advanand friend of the apes, as she is commonly tage of the opportunity to work with reknown, is considered the world’s foremost nowned anthropologist and his wife, Louis expert on chimpanzees and has spent more and Mary Leakey, led to a decades-long than 45 years research project on studying their be- Roots & Shoots mission statement: “To the Gombe Natural havior. Goodall foster respect and compassion for all Reserve in Tanzaspoke at Midland living things, to promote understanding nia. Through Jane’s College as a part of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire dedication and pasof the Davidson each individual to take action to make the sion for the apes, she Distinguished world a better place for people, animals has received countLecture Series and the environment.” less awards, honorary on Thursday, titles April 4, which is a series of free lectures and academic degrees, and presented by speakers “whose civic leader- it all started when she fell ship, academic accomplishments, and/or in love with chimpanzees public achievements interest, enrich and after reading Tarzan at enlighten,” according to the Midland Col- age 11. She decided then lege website. that she would travel the world, and possibly live in Goodall began her talk by sharing with the Africa. crowd the childhood that lead to her career as a scientist. One of Goodall’s earli- Today, Jane Goodall travest memories of curiosity, asking questions els 300 days a year to share and figuring out answers for herself was her story with packed when she wanted to know how hens laid auditoriums and schools eggs. She spoke of waiting for hours and and speak about hope and hours on the inside of a chicken coop to compassion. She expresses see the process in action. After nearly scar- in her message that we can ing her family to death by her absence, her and should do something mother could do no scolding as she looked to protect the world we upon the eyes of a little girl who’d just dis- pass on to our children and grandchildren. Roots & Shoots, a program Goodall founded in 1991, focuses on teaching young people about the interconnectivity between people, animals and the environment. Their misson statement:
Elizabeth McLellan is the newest addition to Promising Projects, Inc., which publishes West Texas Blues and produces Tall City Blues Fest. Elizabeth always looks for opportunities to learn something new and with the diversity of this job, she gets to wear many hats ranging from administrative to project management. Elizabeth enjoys listening to music and traveling; wining and dining; laughing and smiling; communicating and socializing; and her motto is ‘Live. Love. Learn. And Share’.
WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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IN REVIEW: Who the Hell is Buddy Guy? Buddy Guy is a six-time Grammy Award Winner, and according to Eric Clapton, “is the greatest living guitarist in the world”. As a 2012 Kennedy Centers Honors Lifetime Achievement Receipient, “[Buddy Guy] has been a tremendous influence on virtually everyone who’s picked up an electric guitar in the last half century, including Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Slash, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Mayer.” George “Buddy” Guy, born in Lettsworth, LA, was ranked 30th in Rolling Stone magazine’s 2004 list of the ‘100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time’. His song ‘Stone Crazy’ was also ranked 78th in the Magazine’s 2008 list of the ‘100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. Now, by way of his March 15th concert at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, Buddy Guy is now known as the first person in the history of the Center to step off of the stage mid-song, roam around the aisles, climb up stairs and play in the mezzanine TWICE, while never missing a beat on his guitar. The 76-year-old, who seems far from his age, both on stage and off is the consummate showman, entertaining us with us with colorful stories, even dropping a laughingly hilarious expletive in reference to having broken “this f*#king string” right as he started to play a song. Back in his dressing room, we visited and listened to him tell stories about the days when Stubbs, proprietor of the now nationally famous Stubbs BBQ sauce, was still alive and he was bottling the sauce in used whiskey bottles that musicians would bring him. We found Buddy to be just as genuine and hospitable backstage as he was on stage and our assistant editor, Elizabeth, actually got tagged to go pick up KD’s Bar-B-Q for Buddy’s dinner after the show. Finely Crafted Cocktails, Beer & Wine All weather intimate patio NON-SMOKING Savor one of our specialty libations: Old Fashioned, Moscow Mule, Cosmo 2.0 or Cable Car Home to the most extensive whis whiskey and Scotch list in West Texas!
The Blue Door
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“It had to be beef ribs, not pork ribs, and the only place in town that serves beef ribs was KD’s,” said Elizabeth who walked in to pick up the order one minute before closing time. Be sure and take a peek at Tall City Blues Fest News on page 7 for a chance to win a Buddy Guy autographed Fender Strat. And telling this story is not complete without mentioning Robert Randolph, a pedal steel Blues guitarist, who put on an equally high-energy show as the opening act for Guy. Hailing from New Jersey, we caught Randolph back stage and planted the seed of Tall City Blues Fest with him. We’re just saying…
WTB RECOMMENDS: Written by Blake Mycoskie, Chief Shoe Giver and Founder of TOMS, this book’s purpose is to inspire entrepreneurs to be socially conscious in their endeavors. Mycoskie defines social entrepreneurism as having three essential ingredients: profit, passion and meaning. He touts that there is room in every business for ALL three and that our leaders, innovators and those with good ideas are no longer relegated to just the non-profit model of doing business or having to choose between profit and passion.
book very artfully, by way of real-world example, debunks the counter-intuitive nature of a socially conscious business model, i.e. How can a start-up business afford to do this?
Simply put, making a profit and making a difference are not mutually exclusive ideas, but rather ideas that can and should be contained within the same endeavor of every entrepreneur. Mycoskie’s belief is that making a profit and changing the world go hand-in-hand, and he puts forth his own venture with TOMS’ One-for-One way of doing business as an example, along with several others.
As is the case with his shoes, he’s adopted the One-for-One model with the sale of this book, meaning that for every book that is purchased, a new children’s book will be given to a child in need in the United States. Additionally, Mycoskie announced in January of this year he will be giving 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this book to the Start Something That Matters Foundation, which is 50% more than his original commitment when the book was published in 2011. The Foundation’s purpose is to provide financial support to other social entrepreneurs and help get their ideas off the ground.
Mycoskie proffers a “new way of thinking about success, defined by work that fulfills hunger for material accomplishment, philanthropic impact and personal meaning.” [Source: www.startsomethingthatmatters.com] He shares, from an insider’s perspective, about the road to starting TOMS, where he was before TOMS, why he started TOMS, the funny and not-so-funny speed bumps while building TOMS, his own evolution as a social entrepreneur, and even how TOMS got its name. The
The Appetizer Savoring the flavors of music with your chef and host, D. Grant Smith, this show started as a special project Smith came up with while studying at ACU. According to his website, Smith was “interested in a wide variety of music from an early age [and] wondered if a larger variety of styles and genres could coexist together in one hour of music.” Serving as a way to connect listeners to artists and artists to new audiences, The Appetizer’s showcase ranges from established artists to emerging artists and much in between. The Appetizer airs on Abilene’s Public Radio KACU 89.7 FM on Fridays at 2 PM and Saturdays at 9 PM.
West Texas Public Radio Did you know that public radio has been resurrected in Odessa? With the help of Marfa Public Radio, West Texas Public Radio (KXWT 91.3 FM) was born in May of last year. Broadcasting with 20,000 watts, their coverage reaches Odessa, Gardendale, Midland, Greenwood and Stanton. Since we love food here at WTB, you could imagine our exuberance when we discovered America’s Test Kitchen. The program airs Saturday afternoons from 2-3 PM. We won’t spoil your discovery; let’s just say it got five GUITAR STARS from us. If you miss the radio show, you can also watch half-hour episodes online at www.americastestkitchen.com. WESTTEXASBLUES.COM
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