Southern Music Scene Magazine issue 2 by ricky trietsch

Lenorah New Artist Spotlight Lenorah started writing and playing the kind of music that they love, with no intention of staying within the boundaries of one genre. Being raised in the cotton farming community of Lenorah, Texas, and seeing the same, and only fifty people everyday, it was easy to see that the music these young guys produced would have a strong country background. However, that was not always the case. Each member of Lenorah started their musical career playing heavy metal music, and it definately comes out in a few of their songs. Mixing heavier rock showing their youth, and slower two-step showing their

maturity is just what these guys do best. Lyrically there is no one writer for this band. They each add in and write, based on their own experiences inspired by the lives they live in the middle of nowhere. They are living proof that a 4 piece band can produce a full live sound. Cole Mitchell (bass/backup vocals)Tanner Churchwell (lead guitar/backup vocals) Mason Rutledge (drums) and Leighton Fields (lead vocals/ guitar) are a young bunch of guys that love their music and love performing for anyone who will pay attention. They are definately a future force to be reckoned with.

FOR BOOKING INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT KALEBHILL@HOTMAIL.COM 423-213-5761

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1 August 2012

Contributing Writers Aimee Bryant, Mike Cheney

Kris Smith, Abby Gibson Advertising

Hello, If you are reading this you are reading the second issue of Southern Music Scene the magazine. First off I want to say thanks to everyone who made this possible, it has been a long time coming. We have a lot of great things planned with CD reviews and stories, we are going to cover as much as of the scene as we can and welcome all new ideas. Thanks for supporting us here at Southern Music Scene Ricky Triestch Owner Southern Music Scene

Ricky Trietsch (940)765-1202 southernmusicscene@aol.com

Southern Music Scene The magazine is published Monthly by Ricky Trietsch Denton Tx. / copyrighted 2012. all rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

September 5, 2011

Artist Title (Label)

TW SPINS

LW SPINS

Weeks on Chart

Spin +/-

Stations

Stoney LaRue Velvet (B Side/Smith Ent.)

1,402

1,347

+55

Josh Abbott Band ft Pat Green My Texas (Pretty Damn Tough)

1,268

1,177

+91

Jason Cassidy Honky Tonk Heaven (A-Blake)

1,213

1,129

+84

Eli Young Band Crazy Girl (Republic)

1,204

1,181

+23

Brandon Rhyder In the Country (Smith Ent.)

1,119

997

+122

Kevin Fowler Hell Yeah, I Like Beer (Average Joe’s)

1,094

1,282

-188

Casey Donahew Band Breaks My Heart (Almost Country)

1,041

1,203

-162

Turnpike Troubadours Long Hot Summer Days (Onward Music)

1,027

1,165

-138

Reckless Kelly Good Luck and True Love (No Big Deal)

988

769

+219

Robert Earl Keen I Gotta Go (Lost Highway)

956

805

+151

Adam Hood Flame and Gasoline (Carnival)

931

876

+55

Kyle Bennett Here in This Town (KB)

905

787

+118

Deryl Dodd Baby, Where’s My Bottle (Smith Ent.)

903

839

+64

Max Stalling 6 x 9 Speakers (Blind Nello)

835

703

+132

747

550

+197

737

752

-15

Granger Smith Sleeping On the Interstate (GS)

714

844

-130

Ryan Turner Sweet Time (RT)

665

599

+66

Brian Keane 90 Miles An Hour (BK)

659

599

+60

JB and the Moonshine Band Whiskey Days (Average Joe’s Ent.)

640

818

-178

Phil Hamilton You Can Have Me (Winding Road)

630

583

+47

Johnny Cooper Hot Mess (APEX Nashville)

610

541

+69

Jason Boland & The Stragglers Mary Ellen’s Greenhouse (APEX Nashville/Proud Souls) Cody Canada & the Departed Ballad of Rosalie (APEX Nashville/Underground Sound)

Shane Media Services 2500 Tanglewilde, Suite 106, Houston, Texas 77063 voice: 713/952-9221 fax: 713/952-1207 katie@shanemedia.com www.texasmusicchart.com

Texas Music Reviews Stoney Larue

Josie Drenner Photography

by. Mike Cheney

the audience. Stoney did it, but with an acoustic. Amazing simply doesn't feel like the proper adjective to describe his talents! As the show went on, I grew even more impressed with his ability. He also played quite a few songs off the new album titled "Velvet". Its definitely an album that requires a closer look! www.josiedrennerphotography.com

This show was the first time Stoney has been back in the Wichita Falls area in around 2 years. Needless to say, he needs to be a more frequent visitor. This show was definitely one of those that your friends will walk up to you the day after and ask if you went or not! Everyone knows his song list, which reads like a greatest hits of the Red Dirt/ Texas Music genre. Talking about that would be like me talking about the blatantly obvious. His music gets very regular play on the radio and its really not hard to pick out his voice and the songs. The biggest reason (in my humble opinion) to go see one of his shows live is his ability with the acoustic guitar is without peer in the genre! I grew up listening to Steve Vai bend electric guitar strings and make it sound like it was talking to

Josie Drenner Photography

BOTTOM LINE: Stoney is one of the legends in the genre and after seeing and experiencing the show, its very easy to see why! If he is playing near you, its worth the money to go!

Texas music’s Rising Stars

What are your future dreams?

I hope to build a strong foundation for my family. Mainly my little girls show them to not be scared of what people think and to just be yourself. I want to travel the country and give my children a very unique childhood. This music scene is not always easy to be in, for my family, and for me, but the risk is definitely worth the reward. Learning the guitar so fast was already a dream come true and I won’t stop at that. I plan to learn all I can from everybody that will teach me!

What are your hobbies besides music?

Family first and foremost. But I love to get out when I’m not gigging and go see new bands! I totally have a new perspective while watching a show you get great insight that way, as a spectator and a musician. I always try to make it a learning experience. Most of the time, the bands are very nice and will sit and chat about their experiences. The good thing about Texas Country is that you can go to any one of the artists’ gigs and meet them on a personal level and truly become a fan. As an artist, you can really connect with your fan base and do some great networking as well. I have lots to learn about all of this, I think it would be foolish of someone to say they’ve been there done that and basically know it all. There is always something new to learn and a way to improve on what you are already doing.

Also, going 4 wheeling with my husband and kiddos. I love seeing my 6 year old doing power slides around turns. Sounds crazy but she’s been riding a gas powered 4 wheeler since she was 3! She has a natural skill and it works out great because her younger sister (4) doesn’t really, so she gets to ride with big sis all the time. My husband and I also just got our Concealed Handgun License so we like to go to the range. Sometimes, I get pretty close to beating his score… its motivation.

Where was your first ever show?

Well… let’s see. I have a couple of firsts. First time I sang for a crowd, first time I performed with a live band, and first time I performed as The Heather Roberts Band. I first started this crazy ride just singing with a guy named Rick Richards in the winter of 2009. We sang in a restaurant in Garland several times. He played guitar and I would sing a few songs through-out his set. My first time performing with a live band was a few short months later. I was sharing the band with a young girl, Harley Sharrock, at the Live and Local event at Six Flags during the summer of 2010. By this time I had learned guitar and played along on most of the song we did. My current band of musicians making up The Heather Roberts Band, all played together at Thirsty Armadillo in August of 2011. This was also my EP release party. Like I said, for me, there are a lot of first and a lot of milestones! I plan on having a lot more in the near future.

Who or whom is your biggest Inspiration?

Charlie Reynolds, my dad, is a big part of all of this. I always had music in my life due to my father’s life as a musician. He inspired me to start band in middle school of which I finished out my senior year of high school. Even while I was learning written music he would always make me listen to a song and figure out the melody on the piano. This way my ear was trained as well as knowing the sheet music. It wasn’t until 2010, when my father was planning his move to Costa Rica that I thought that I would regret the decision I made when I was 14 to NOT play guitar when he offered to teach me. So my husband bought me a guitar (off ebay non-the-less) and it got here two weeks before my dad left for Costa Rica. He taught me the core of the theory of guitar and I haven’t looked back since.

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Where do you get ideas for your songs?

My best friend has inspired a few!! I always say my life is pretty uneventful, besides music, I have a husband and kids so I have to find inspiration elsewhere if I want drama. My friend, by no fault by her, has some sort of drama at any given time. Even though her situations are unfortunate, she has an awesome sense of humor about it all and her amazing personality helps as well. I guess that’s a word for the wise, you don’t mess with a songwriter or their friends! Then some just come to me driving down the road. I found the voice recorder on my iPhone definitely comes in handy when you have song ideas. I moved out when I was 18 with my now husband and some of his army pals. So needless to say this gave me good insight to the male brain; however you want to look at that either good or bad.

What family member or friend has been the most supportive in your musical career? Cisco Roberts, my husband of 9 years! Without his help, this would be nearly impossible. While going through the first steps of all of this, I didn’t have a whole lot of nerve in me. Sometimes,

it still takes a Bud Light or two in order for that to happen. But he would push me to do any and all open mics that we could fit in a week. These were just to get my jitters out! As much as it was nerve racking it was a key element in learning stage presence and skill. He is really my manager/booking agent/ merch guy, you name it. I have a full time job as well and most this stuff couldn’t get done without him. Amanda Burcie, my best friend of nearly 20 years is a very essential part to this as well. She has stuck by me since day one, she’s been there. She helps my husband with merchandise, booking and promoting. Oh and did I mention song inspirations…? I also have to mention my two girls, they are the first little voices I heard singing along to my songs. That was an awesome feeling. I have watched them blossom through this experience. They have gained so much more confidence in themselves and even been known to climb up on stage and stand with their momma.

Have you always wanted to be a musician? As a child what did you want to be when you grew up? Actually, I wanted to either be a meteorologist or a paleontologist. I loved watching the sky and digging in the ground to cool things. Like I said before, my dad has been a musician his whole life but it didn’t really cross my mind that I would be doing it someday. I was the epitome of a band nerd, not that it’s a bad thing (to all my fellow band nerds out there). But shy doesn’t begin to categorize my personality, obviously some things have changed it just took 26 years to do so.

Being such a talented singer/ songwriter name one talent

by Ricky Trietsch-Southern Music Scene southernmusicscene@aol.com

you don’t have but wish you did?

Physical coordination!!!! I always wanted to be a sports star but my body doesn’t quite understand how that works. I did cross country in high school but rarely was I not in tears at the end! Although as of right now somehow I got into coaching my youngest daughter’s soccer team. So in a way I’m getting to participate but not necessarily have to be in the action. Did I mention that it’s 3 and 4 year olds….? Oh well, you get what you get. I always look for a challenge and push my comfort zone. This opportunity came up so it just seemed perfect. Go Dragons!!!!

If you were stuck on an island and could only have 1 album to listen to who would it be?

Oh my, this one is hard! I have two faves, any Miranda Lambert album and Joey Green (local band) Vinyl Destination album. Both are very very good choices. Thanks to the Texas Country scene I know Joey Green and his band on a personal level. So that makes it even that much better. But my pick would have to be Miranda Lambert and it wouldn’t matter what album that was. She is doing amazing things in country music with breaking records and selling out Billy Bob’s two nights in a row! She is definitely an inspiration and there’s not one song that she has that I don’t like.

Abby’s Reviews

by Abby Gibson

Since the release of Brandon Jackson’s first solo release titled “The Good Times” in June Brandon has been hitting the road throughout Texas and Oklahoma to promote his new music. After leaving the regionally successful band No Justice in 2009, Brandon took a break from recording. He focused more on writing for the album and playing the songs in local acoustic shows. In August of last year Brandon joined forces with Grammy award winning producer Eric Delegard and began recording “The Good Times” at Reel Time Audio in Denton, TX. The album includes 12 tracks with 3 of those being covers from some of Brandon’s favorite artists like Radney Foster and Roger Clyne. Brandon wrote all of the original tracks on the album. He did receive help from close friend and band member Sam Caire on “Now That I Found You” and from another former member of No Justice, Tony Payne on “Last Song.” Brandon’s first single from the album “Just a Good Friend” is currently being played on radio stations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. It is also quickly becoming a fan favorite at the live shows. Plans to release a second single from the album are in the works, so be listening to your favorite radio station for that. If you haven’t gotten a chance to pick up a copy of “The Good Times,” I high recommend that you do. The album has something for everyone. It has everyone from songs that make you want to get up in dance to the ballads that you will love instantly. I would give you my pick for my favorite song on the album, but I have grown to love all of them. It’s an album that you can listen to from start to finish without skipping tracks. It will also be different from anything you hear in the scene. Brandon has his own

sound that makes him stand out from the rest. Then when you are able to catch a show and hear the songs live you gain a whole new respect for the album. I had a chance recently to sit down with Brandon and talk about everything from being on the road again to the challenges of being a solo artist. This is what he had to say. Your album has been out a few months now. What has the fan’s reaction been to the new music? “I've had nothing but positive feedback from everyone. I think some of them are even surprised positive responses! Haha! A lot of my fans were really ready for the cd to come out, and I think they had an idea of what to expect. But for those people who just stumbled on it, or bought the CD simply because they knew me from my past work, I hear some surprise in their compliments. I like that! I like that I have exceeded people's expectations with this CD. I worked really hard to make sure this music wasn't just a bunch of the same. As a musician and fan of music, I know I don't like it when artists just regurgitate the same sound or songs over and over again either. So, I made sure I didn't do that too.” You are now on the road with a full band. What do you enjoy most about being on the road again? “Just getting out there and playing full band! I love performing! I have such a great time on stage, and it's even better when you can enjoy that time with other musicians. The guys that are playing in my band are such amazing musicians, we really have a great

Aimees Articles

by Aimee Bryant

Changed My Tune-Carson Alexander of the Bleu Edmondson Band First of all, let me just stress how much of a privilege I felt it was for this amazing young man to take time from his life to even speak to me. It was by far the most enjoyable conversation I have ever had in my life, and one that really opened up my mind to the way good musicians think and feel. I am forever changed. Those of you that know who this guy is know him as the lead guitarist for the Bleu Edmondson Band. And what an amazing guitarist he is! Carson is, however, so much more than that. He has only been with Bleu and the boys for a little over a year. That opportunity arose for him by way of an old member of Bleu’s band. He set it up and Carson had about a week to learn all of Bleu’s songs. After that week was up, he arrived at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas to a packed house. This was to be his audition, and obviously he made the cut! But like I mentioned before, there is more to this guy than even I knew, and the Bleu Edmondson Band is my number one favorite! He is from West Memphis, Arkansas originally and Carson was, at eleven years old, the only child of two slightly over-protective homicide detectives. He found himself in need of a creative outlet and his initial interest, at eleven years old, was the drums. His parents, though supportive of his dreams, did not think that his grandmother could live with his adolescent drum beating, so they opted for an acoustic guitar from Wal-Mart. Carson was a natural! On his twelfth birthday he was given his first electric guitar, still a Wal-Mart brand but he wasn’t complaining! Pretty soon this young man was playing on Beall

Street, pulling from the influences of Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson. Then he was introduced to Mark Tremonti, the guitarist for the band Creed. Carson was so intrigued by Mark’s sound and it soon made him want to push for bigger and better things. During this short period of time in Carson’s life (from the ages of twelve to fifteen) his mother was struggling with alcoholism and her health was deteriorating. By the time that Carson made the big decision to move to Austin, Texas and try to find himself, his mother was in bad shape. She passed away about a month after he left West Memphis. It’s pain like this that a musician uses music to release. After telling me this story, Carson said to me: “Music is a way to let things go, it lets your anxiety out and I am lucky that I have that, though being on stage is somewhat of a selfish thing. No matter if you are hurting or happy; you help people get their own feelings out to make yourself feel good. If you are real, because trust me, they know if you are bullshitting. But if you are real and they are hurting, well, at least you made them feel good about feeling bad for awhile. When I can give that to someone, it makes me feel good, and I’ve done my job.” Once in the Austin area, Carson was noticed by Clifford Antoon and quickly taken under his wing so to speak. Things began happening very quickly for him then and he was able to experience some things he might not have otherwise been able to do. One of experiences was a jam session with Double Trouble, which he described as “the coolest night ever.”

These days, if Carson is not on tour with Bleu, he can be found teaching guitar on Wednesday nights or jamming with his own band, “So-Called Underground.” He is never without a pen and something to write on so he can have “his thoughts just splattered on paper” and he even read me lyrics he had just written the day of our interview. I refuse to share them, even though they were amazing, they are for Carson to introduce to the world. The conversation Carson and I had encompassed more than I could ever put into words…the language he spoke to me flowed just as easily as the music pours from his guitar. Several times I found myself in awe of his intelligence. It was so hard to keep taking notes, I just wanted to close my eyes and listen to the truth, pain, and passion coming through the phone. Initially, I thought I was going to have to stick to a list of questions and just get straightforward answers. I was in for a surprise though, because Carson answered most everything I had on my list without me having to ask one single thing. The best part of this interview was when

our rhythms were a perfect match. It just felt right. I don’t know how to explain it the way Carson did, but if you ever have the chance to talk to him, please, do not pass that opportunity up. You will not be the same person afterward.

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Carson was explaining to me why Johnny Lang was such a huge influence of his. He said: “Music has to be natural, like a heartbeat. Feels like you are falling backward on a trampoline; the bass player is right with you, the drummer is right with you, duh-dump.” I’m not sure if you all understand what he meant by this…but as he explained it, I actually did have my eyes closed and I could picture what it was like as a kid, playing on the trampoline with my best friend. She and I would fall back together, and then spring up again at the same time. We were in tune;

To Purchase the brand new EP from The Heather Roberts Band email Heather@theheroband.com booking info call 817-659-0010

m o r F e s n o t e c o s h e P h t d n u o r a Crosswind Ban d

Cody Chance

Recklace Kelly

Whiskey Myers

No justice

Kyle Bennett

Jason Boland

Texas born and raised, Kevin Fowler, has been performing all types of music since he was a child growing up in Amarillo, Texas. Now a staple in the Texas Red Dirt music scene, Fowler has released his seventh album, Chippin’ Away. Fowler began his career after graduating from The Guitar Institute in California with hair metal band, Dangerous Toys, in the eighties. The former rocker

Other artists have taken Fowler’s compositions and made them their own. Montgomery Gentry took ‘Long Line of Losers’ to country radio as did Mark Chestnutt with ‘The Lord Loves The Drinkin’ Man’. Fowler fans are always in full attendance as he brings down the house at every venue from Texas to Tennessee. Always performing, Fowler hardly has down time. “I really just love playing period,” Fowler said. In his own words, Fowler explains his own music, “It’s country with a bad attitude. It’s country with an edge. It’s just beer drinkin’, hell raisin’, good time music.” By attending a Kevin Fowler show, you (as the audience) will receive one of the most entertaining, high energy performances of your life.

stated, “I left that band when I realized I was writing more country songs than what we were performing on stage.” After joining Equity Music Group in 2000, Fowler has released albums which have garnered his respect in the Texas music scene. Bringing forth his own brand of Texas Red Dirt country, Fowler has acquired a fan base to rival most Nashville recording artists today. Fowler has etched his name in the Texas music scene and is preparing to make his mark in Nashville. Nashville recording artist and songwriter in his own right, David Lee Murphy produced eight tracks on Fowler’s, Chippin’ Away, released earlier this year, including his newest single, ‘That Girl’. Fowler said, “I feel like it will be our best charting song from the album.” Fowler’s previous release, ‘Hell Yeah I Like Beer’, is now enjoying rotation on the nationally known CMT (Country Music Television). The star studded video was filmed in Nashville with celebrities such as Rodney Carrington. Fowler stated, “The video to ‘Hell Yeah I Like Beer’ was really fun to film and is in rotation now.”

Discography: One For The Road (1999) Beer, Bait, and Ammo (2000) Live At Billy Bob’s (2002) High On The Hog (2002) Loose, Loud, and Crazy (2004) Bring It On (2007)

www.kevinfowler.com 12

by. Kris Smith

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