d War
When Jake Ward & the Coast Riders entered the ZeigFest 2013 Battle of the Bands contest they were still a rock band, The Elise, but changed the name to Jake Ward& the Coast Riders as well as their genre, to Country. Jake and the guys decided that if they could play more Country they would be happier. This turned out to be a great decision and they won the contest and opened the show last October! Jake’s first show was at the Corpus Christi Jazz Festival when he got on stage in front of about 150 people (the whole world when your 6) to sing a song that his mother’s friend had written, and he’s been hooked ever since. That’s when he began playing guitar and writing music. He’ll be the first to tell you that he isn’t a lead guitar player, in fact he says, “I play a mean acoustic rhythm guitar!” Jake and Paul (Teltschik - Lead Guitar, Vocals) have been together for two and half years and have put together a solid
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By Tamma Hicks, STEAMA Mag / Photo Credits: Unknown
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group with Derek (Galvan Bass, Vocals), Daniel (Hawkins - Drummer), and Owen (Fitzsimons – fiddle). Jake Ward & the Coast Riders are releasing their first single, “Hit the Road” very soon! It was released to radio stations in April and quickly became a chart favorite. The song features Mellissa Brooke and will be on their upcoming EP. In fact if you go to their Facebook page you can order a JWCR T-shirt and the money raised will go to the production and release of the EP. While playing mostly between Corpus Christi, Fulton-Rockport, and Port Aransas they are also starting to spread their wings by playing in San Antonio, Austin, and Stephenville. They of course never pass up the chance to play somewhere new as they love building their fan base! Follow Jake War & The Coast Riders on Facebook, ReverbNation, and Twitter!
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STEAMMAGAZINE.NE
CONTENTS SOUTH TEXAS
MAY 2014 VOL. 3 ISS. 2
WWW STEAMMAGAZINE NET
ORIGINAL COVER ART BY T MARIE FERGUSON
16 & 17 THE ENDS 18 3RD COAST FOODIE: PHOENIX SALOON
ALWAYS IN STEAM
MUSIC
10 BUILD YOUR OWN CAR!
14 LONNY RAY: 50 TO 1 CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
ART
ENTERTAINMENT
12 ARTIST JENNIFER SEYMOUR
3 JAKE WARD & THE COAST RIDERS 9 BLACK WATER
PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS STAFF WRITERS RACHEL MILLS, RICK BOWEN, DALE MARTIN, TAMMA HICKS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J MICHAEL DOLAN, DEREK SIGNORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLENE HICKS WEBMASTER AFFORDABLE WEBSITE DESIGN TO ADVERTISE WITH US 361-904-4339 SALES@STEAMTX.COM SEE US ONLINE AT WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET WANT YOUR CD, BOOK, OR SHOW REVIEWED? HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SUBMISSIONS@STEAMTX.COM
11 JT COLDFIRE
QUICK READS 5
COMICS 6
CD REVIEWS 7
NEW RELEASES… CD 5
MOVIES 3
CALENDAR 8
STEAM Magazine is published monthly by STEAM Magazine South Texas Entertainment Art Music in Corpus Christi, TX. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Views expressed within are solely the authors and not of STEAM Magazine. Typographical, photographic, and printing errors are unintentional and subject to correction. Please direct all inquiries to: submissions@steamtx.com
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Drunk monkeys J. Michael Dolan (:29) “Facts” don’t kill the deal they just up the ante. They provoke you to think more clearly, and plan more intelligently. When you’re presented with the facts, you may not like what you hear, but you deal with it, and invent ways to keep moving forward. That’s what artists & treps do, they innovate. However, facts aren’t the problem. Drunk Monkeys are. Buddha described the human mind as being filled with drunken monkeys, jumping around, screeching, chattering, scratching, spitting, carrying on endlessly. We all have monkey minds, with dozens of drunken monkeys all clamoring for attention. Fear is an especially loud monkey, incessantly sounding the “what if” alarm. Procrastination is the cunning monkey, who persuades you to slow down your progress to a crawl. Resistance is the soldier monkey who prevents you from moving forward. Distraction is the bandit monkey who robs you of your focus and attention. Sabotage is the heartlessly monkey who constantly derails your dreams and visions. And Doubt is the skeptic monkey who relentlessly questions and demeans your talents and abilities. The trick to silencing the drunken monkeys? Keep your eye on the prize and your focus on the facts.
Highway 1 J. Michael Dolan (:23) Objectives are not linear. Your impossible dream, your ultimate destination is not a straight shot to the land of milk and honey. It's mostly a long and winding road, like HWY 1 heading north to Big Sur. A 60mile stretch of switchback turns, dangerous cliffs, frequent landslides, unpredictable dead ends, blinding fog and multiple distractions along the way. It’s also the most beautiful drive on earth! If you run into blinding weather, you pull over and wait it out. If you get distracted, you re-focus your sights on the destination. If you reach a dead end, you turn around and find another way. If you come to an unmarked crossroads, you follow your intuition. If you get lost, you ask an expert for help. When you’re at wit’s end and out of options, you create another option. If your destination is clear, and your resolve is strong, you’ll eventually get to where you’re going.
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WANT MORE!
www.theawkwardyetti.com www.lunarbaboon.com
ROD MELANCON PARISH LINES (MEDINA RIVER RECORDS) Bursting forth with a sound salvaged from the cutting room floor of a long lost session of the million dollar quartet at Sun Studios, Parish Lines from Rod Melancon isn’t retro it’s the real deal. Hailing from South Louisiana, as documented on the fiery honkytonk track bearing that name, Melancon delivers vocal skills full of authenticity and back country pride. The ten strong songs cover the gamut of roots rock, country and hillbilly soul, and tell us tales of a small town America that we wish still existed beyond our nostalgia. Kicking off with the Romeo and Juliette tribute ‘Duck festival Queen,’ set in Shreveport and told in brilliant prose over shimmering guitars and an urgent beat. The hyped up rave on ‘Marella,’packs a slow burning punch as Melacon builds up the momentum with a low baritone delivery against jagged verb soaked guitars. Testing the limits of sentimentality Melancon recounts his wasted youth and nights spent at’ The Curve Lounge,’ and a then creates a delta version of ‘Dock of the Bay’ with the six eight ballad “Dreamer.” You can smell the burning rubber of the Eddie Cochran licks from guitarist and producer Brian Whelan on the rambunctious ‘Mad Talkin’ Man,’ and straight ahead rock n roller ‘Wanna Go For A Ride.” Melancon then jumps up a few decades
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as he channels Springsteen for another examination of mill town dreams for “Cushing Avenue,” and chilling tale of a soldier’s return home from war on the edgy ‘Different Man.” The album closes with the autobiographical third person tone poem ‘Feathers,’ the satire a perfect mix of Cash and Dylan. Rod Melancon turned his efforts fully to music after failing to get a break as an actor and with his sophomore album Parrish Lines we the listener get to savor the spoils of his Hollywood defeat. http://www.medinariverrecords.com/ artists-2/rod-melancon
LETTERS FROM TRAFFIC ICARUS INTERATIONS (RECIPROCITY STUDIOS) Several groups have successfully mixed horn sections into a rock-pop group formula , and Seattle based Letters From Traffic look to pick up the mantle left behind by groups like Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears, and The Commodores. The group’s second full length album Icarus Iterations is a mix of energetic rock, funk, ska and soul all centered around the vocal stylings of the enigmatic Scott Concinnity. The twelve tracks kick off with low down blues burner “Dirty,” then quickly shifts into high gear with the bouncy island spiced “Nova,” featuring a stratosphere bursting solo from trumpeter Christopher Couvillion. Concinnity then lays out a tongue twisting tale of secret love on “Helicopter Eyes,” then the ensemble
delivers some vaudevillian jazz theater on “The Shag.” The guitar driven “City Ways,” with its swirling percussion hits from drummer Mathew Miller is a very Dave Mathews band styled 90’s funk rocker. The real melodic highlight of is the lilting “Whispers,” anchored by an easy strummed acoustic guitar and soaring horn lines to go with the strongest chorus of the album, this one should be shopped and the “single.” The pulsating “No Devil,” grooves along with ease, emitting an L.A rock sound. The band kicks into full swing mode for the retelling of the parable “Lazarus.” Everyone gets a say on the final track as the band trades licks around during the saucy funk rock coda “My Cat’s Tail.” Icarus Iterations is a very non Seattle sounding record and Letters From Traffic is taking a bold venture, pushing forward the horn band sound beyond the typical rhythm and blues format. www.lettersfromtraffic.com
CD Reviews By Rick J Bowen: twitter.com/RickJBowen; www.nodepression.com/profile/RickJBowen; www.facebook.com/stacyjonesband; www.stacyjonesband.com
EDDIE COTTON HERE I COME (DE CHAMP RECORDS)
On his third album Here I Come Mississippi born Eddie Cotton Jr. is out to prove everything is up to date on the delta. Guitarist singer songwriter Cotton performs with fire, snap and sass on the ten original tracks backed by Myron Bennett (bass), Samuel Scott, Jr. (drums) who hit each groove with calculated precision. Produced by Grady Champion for his DeChamp records, the 2010 IBC winner also makes a guest appearance adding his legendary harmonica skills to two tracks. The album opens with the title track that
finds Cotton channeling B.B King and Al Green as he ministers to the heart declaring ““Sometimes in a fight, you know you get knocked down, but when the dust clears, I’ll still be around, here I come.” Cotton then delivers an authentic slow blues plea for mercy ‘A Woman’s Love,” stretching his dynamic vocal and guitar skills. The jumpin’ shuffle “Pay To Play,” is a feisty double entendre on the fickle nature of love and the music business. All of his gospel music expertise shines through on the raise your hands ballad “Friend to the End,” with Sam Brady stepping out from the engineer booth to add luscious Hammond B3 to the chorus. Cotton then digs into the funk for the finger popping ‘Get Your Own,’ and slow burning ‘My Boo,’ before hitting a back porch two beat “Leave Love Alone,” with Champion joining the tent revival. Cotton plays the saucy jack as he recounts a lover’s lusty conversation during the loose shuffle ‘Back In A Bit.’ Preaching the virtues of love again Cotton lifts to form of ‘People Get Ready,’ for his own message of deliverance on ‘No Love Back.’ The final track is a classic Chicago shuffle ‘Berry So Black,’ with Cotton paying homage to his beloved blues and all those who labor to spread its gospel.
http://www.eddiecottonjr.com/
STEAM PICKS FOR MAY
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YS) BA EM SE, 1 UNDA K: TH SHRE R PLAYHOU RIDAYS – S 4 O (F DE 5/ HARB 1-MAY 18 PARA GH 5/5 1 T H L I G U O NI APR L T HR ATED UMIN & CARNIVA L L I S AY AL I BUC D YS FESTIV US CHRIST A P D R C O CASE BU NC H OW S NTOW S ’ W R O D TE AS RANS GWRI L SON RK, PORT A A U T N S A N 31 A ’S POINT P RT E B O R 18 MAY
ART EARTH W IN ART CEN D & SKY A LA ND TE LINE BLV R OF CORPUS C SCAPE EXHIBIT HRISTI, D, CORP 100 N S U APRIL 3 HO RE – MAY 2 S CHRISTI 8 FIRST FR IDAY AR T PORT A RANSAS ISTS RECEPTIO N ART CEN PORT A TER, 32 RANSAS 3 N ALIS FIRST FR TER IDAY 5/ 2 5:30-7 :30PM FIRST FR ID DOWNT AY ARTWALK OWN CO RPUS CH 5/2 RISTI
HOUSE OF ROCK, 322 STARR ST, CORPUS CHRISTI TUESDAYS OPEN MIC, BEER WEDNES DAYS, 5/4 CHUCK RAGAN, 5/22 LITTLE OZZY, 5/23 DEADHORSE, 5/30 & 31 GROUNDATION
OTHER STUFF Historic Gruene New Braunfels The Riverwalk San Antonio Morgan’s Wonderland San Antonio (F-Su) Barton Springs Austin South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center Corpus Christi
ZEROS HARD ROCK CLUB, 6327 MCARDLE, CORPUS CHRISTI 5/9 DORY DRIVE, 5/17 PIECE OF MIND, 5/24 XAPHARON, 5/30 CODE 88’S GIGGITY’S, 722 TARPON ST, PORT ARANSAS LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT! 5/2 RUBEN & ROLLING JAYS, 5/3 AUSTIN HEAT, 5/7 UEL JACKSON, 5/9 RED GIANT, 5/10 TODD DEAN & THE SEA DRIFTERS, 14 BILLY SNIPES, 5/16 3-WAY STREET, 5/17 ALOHA DAVE & THE TOURISTS, 5/21 LE BRON, 5/23 MIKE MILLIGAN & THE ALTER BOYS, 5/24 LYRICAL BYNGE, 5/28 NEIL AUSIN IMBER, 5/30 MELISSA BROOKE, 5/31 JAKE WARD & THE COAST RIDERS SHORTY’S, 823 TARPON ST, PORT ARANSAS 5/ 2 HOLD FAST FABLES, 5/3 UEL JACKSON, 5/ 9 JOHN CORTEZ BAND, 5/ 10 JIM DUGAN, 5/16 BILLY SNIPES, 5/17 MANDY ROWDEN, 5/23 STEVIE START, 5/24 RUBEN LIMAS, 5/30 INDEPENDENT THIEVES, 5/31 NOEL MCKAY & BRENNEN LEIGH THEO’S BILLIARDS, 5815-B WEBER RD, CORPUS CHRISTI 5/9 ROAD TO CALI SHOW WITH SHATTERED SUN, 5/24 UFC 173 THEO’S BONESHAKERS, 4528 WEBER RD, CORPUS CHRISTI Wednesdays: An evening with Elvis (songs and Karaoke)Thursdays: Open Mic, 5/24 UFC 173 FRONTIER SALOON, 9709 LEOPARD ST, CORPUS CHRISTI 5/5 JOHN CORTEZ, 5/10 THE ROCKOHOLICS, 5/17 BUSHBULLIT, 5/24 BEAU WALKER BAND, 5/31 TY DIETZ BREWSTER STREET ICE HOUSE, 1724 N TANCAHUA, CORPUS CHRISTI 5/6 THIRD EYE BLIND, 5/7 TOADIES, 5/8 MICKY & THE MOTORCARS, 5/15 DERYL DODD, 5/23 ROTEL & THE HOT TOMATOES, 5/27 HELLYEAH, 5/29 JOHN SLAUGHTER, 5/31 CHARLIE ROBISON DR ROCKIT’S BLUES BAR, 709 N CHAPARRAL ST, CORPUS CHRISTI LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT! 5/ 2 RENO & THE GROOVEGETTERS, 5/3 ANOTHER LEVEL, 5/ 9 RUBEN V, 5/ 10 STARLIGHT &THE MOONBEAMS, 5/17 PALACIOUS BROTHERS, 5/ 18 SOL TRIBE REGGAE BLOWOUT, 5/23 RANDY PAVLOCK, 5/24 BARNEY SLEDGE & THE SLEDGEHAMMERS, 5/30 ARRON STEPHENS, 5/31 JOHN CORTEZ STINGRAY’S TAP HOUSE & GRILL, 401 BEACH ST, PORT ARANSAS 5/3 JOHN BOYD, 5/10 MELISSA BROOKE BAND, 5/16 CHROME WHEELS, 5/17 DANICA BIRD, 5/23 CHROME WHEELS, 5/24 KIMBERLY DUNN
W E D O W H AT W E W A N T By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine
SHOWS: 5/3 Two Bros BBQ, San Antonio TX
5/22 Anderson Mills Tavern, Austin TX SOCIAL: www.Facebook.com/BlackWaterFanCentral www.reverbnation.com/BlackWaterPage This month we partnered with ReverbNation to introduce you to another great Indie band. For May’s opportunity we had more than 6,000 submissions and after listening to snip-bits, checking and rechecking artist for hours and hours… Black Water from Temple Texas grabbed our attention! When we begin these opportunities we don’t always know what it is that we’re looking for, so when we clicked play Black Water’s gritty-soulful-funky-rock it didn’t just grab us it literally had us dancing in the office! STEAM Tell me about the band and how you got together. BRANDY Black Water is the brainchild of bassist Bo Parsons. He formed a Frankenstein with us, by searching out the parts he liked most from various bands in Central Texas to get what he was looking for in Black Water. Brandon (Doyle) was in Second to Last and is a phenom-
enal guitar player. He is the newest member of the group. I was the lead vocalist for rock band Hangar 24. DAVE Brandon (Lockabey, drums) and Bo have been in a number of bands together over the last 10 years which makes our rhythm section so solid. I’m best known as the front man of KriticKill, a metal band. That is the only other group I’ve been in and was with them for 15 years. STEAM What groups are your influences? DAVE For influences, I think we all agree on the typicalnormal groups like James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Cheech & Chong. Personally, Black Water is taking me back to my roots of Americana and rock. STEAM Wait, Cheech & Chong is not your typical musical influence. DAVE While growing up in Tennessee and my parents would let me play their albums all the time and Cheech & Chong was one of those; they had some good music.
STEAM What genre does Black Water fall under and who writes your music? BRANDY We’re all in the consensus that Southern Rock is the best way to describe us. We really treat this group as a democracy, so no one person has a say over what we do. We’re all seasoned musicians and we learn from each other. Our motto is, “We do what we want!” And it’s true! STEAM Are you planning any road trips this summer? BRANDY We’ve been together for a little over a year now and things are really starting to happen, so I can’t say we have a specific tour planned but we will be traveling more for shows. We’d love to get come down to Corpus Christi and the Valley! Black Water has recently released their first EP, Black Water, with both live and studio recordings! You can purchase a copy at shows or contact them through Facebook and ReverbNation. They are working on digital distribution so stay tuned!
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SUM M RES ER SPE ER C SEA VE YO IALS! U TN OW R !
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Build Your Own Car
That Gets 100 MPG
mechanics would work most Saturdays to finish within a year. I wanted MAX to be small, light and streamlined, so I chose an efficient engine with the least amount of horsepower needed. MAX doesn’t reinvent the wheel: It uses the Locost chassis, a 32-horsepower Kubota diesel engine, and running gear (transmission, axle, brakes) from a Toyota Corolla. I drove MAX for two years with an off-the-shelf Locost body because I had it in stock at my shop, Kinetic Vehicles. All that time, I knew I’d have to make a better body to achieve 100 mpg. But over the course of thousands of test miles, I learned volumes about engine, drivetrain and chassis compatibility. At that stage, my only invention had been an adapter to fit the Kubota engine to the Toyota transmission.
From MOTHER EARTH NEWS by Jack McCornack
The roadster version of MAX is a joy to drive, but you can also add a top. Photo By Doug Snodgrass
What started in 2008 as an ambitious project to create a do-it-yourself, 100 miles-per-gallon sports car within a budget of $10,000 has come full circle. MAX (Mother’s Automotive eXperiment) now has more than 100,000 miles in its logbook and consistently achieves 100 mpg at speeds from 45 to 55 mph. The project proves triple-digit fuel efficiency is feasible — even on a tight budget, and especially if you build your own car. If I can make a 100-mpg car in my Oregon garage, what could the major automakers be giving us? It’s important to understand upfront that MAX is not comparable to a modern sedan, with all of the creature comforts most drivers expect. But it doesn’t need to be. MAX is marvelously practical as a second car, or as a primary car for those who rarely need more space than a two-seater provides. You can use MAX to get groceries or go to work. MAX is ideal for somebody like me. I live 30 miles from town and put in a lot of miles on extended business trips. I rarely need to take more than one person with me. MAX suits me well. The biggest thing you lose when you drive MAX is your anonymity. It’s a conversation starter. Car enthusiasts love its resemblance to a classic race car, so expect to field questions from curious strangers any time you stop at a gas station. This 100-mpg car can run on diesel, biodiesel or straight
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vegetable oil. The engine is a 32-horsepower turbocharged diesel — specifically, a Kubota D1105T, which normally powers anything from RV generators to heavy-duty lawn mowers. Every state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) has its own rules for custom-made DIY cars. I reviewed all 50 states’ vehicle codes and found that most have relaxed registration rules for antique and classic car replicas. In many states, a replica has to meet only the equipment and emissions standards of the year it replicates. This encouraged me to style MAX after antique and classic cars. To register your own MAX, tell your local DMV clerk that it’s a replica of a 1958 Lola Mark 1 or a 1960 Lotus Seven (depending on the body style you choose). As for safety, MAX is built to road racing standards rather than federal government standards. MAX has superior safety equipment, such as tubular steel impact barriers on its sides and rear (covered by the fiberglass body), roll bars and headrests behind the seats, racing safety harnesses, and a removable roll bar (and deer deflector) behind the windshield. To build your own car from scratch and keep the cost under 10 grand, you’ll need to weld your own chassis. You can take an evening welding class at a local junior college (as I did), or ask a welder among your circle of friends to instruct you. Perhaps you can barter services with a neighbor. And you can always have a chassis built for you by a professional.
The rest of the job is just normal car work. You’ll need the usual automotive hand tools and a few unusual ones (a drill, an angle grinder and a POP riveter). Choosing a streamlined body requires you to tackle some fiberglassing to fit the body on the chassis. None of the jobs is particularly difficult, but there sure are a lot of them. An experienced auto mechanic working with MAX is practical as a second car, or as a primary car for those who a pre-built chassis would invest at least a rarely need more space than a two-seater provides. Photo By Doug Snodgrass hundred hours in the project. Inexperienced
Many of MAX's components are readymade, including the turbocharged Kubota diesel engine. Photo By Doug Snodgrass
The major automakers make compromises so their cars will fit everybody, whereas DIY cars can be built to the dimensions and tastes of their builders. Because I built my own car, it fits me like a tailored suit. It’s the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned for cross-country cruising. MAX’s bucket seat is a perfect fit for my personal bucket, and the pedals and steering wheel are exactly where I want them. The windshield and convertible design did hurt mileage a bit — MAX currently gets about 95 mpg — but I’m hoping to get it back with a contoured fiberglass roof that has cleaner curves than the current ragtop. I’ll make it a removable hardtop and probably take it off in the summertime. Losing 5 miles per gallon sounds pretty serious, but on MAX that’s only 1 gallon of gasoline every 2,000 miles — a small price for feeling the wind in what little hair I have left. Want to try your hand at building a 100-mpg car? Study the book Build Your Own Sports Car: On a Budget by Chris Gibbs, and find all of the plans you need at Kinetic Vehicles (my shop can even build a chassis for you) at www.kineticvehicles.com. Become a part of the MAX community at http:// goo.gl/c1JaTF by trading tips, tricks and tactics in the online forum. You don’t have to build your own car exactly like MAX. There’s already an electric MAX on the road, and another builder is seeing just how low his budget can go. The more MAX cars we build, the more information we’ll have to share. Excerpted from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, the Original Guide to Living Wisely. To read more articles from MOTHER EARTH NEWS, please visit www.MotherEarthNews.com or call (800) 234-3368 to subscribe. Copyright 2014 by Ogden Publications Inc.
JT Coldfire From Texas to Europe
SHOW INFO: Wednesdays @ 10:30pm in May Friends Bar on 6th Street, Austin TX 6/6 @ Giggity’s, Port Aransas—CD Release! SOCIAL: www.facebook.com/jtcoldfire; www.jtcoldfire.com
JT It’s always nice to meet someone you have heard about. It’s even better when you get to interview him, but when we heard that JT Coldfire has a new album coming out we made it a point to meet up and find out more.
JT
We recorded new in Austin at my buddy’s studio using Austin musicians that have been with me for years. The new record will be aptly named "Makin Memories". That’s an old song I wrote when I was a teenager here in Corpus Christi. I’ve released it before but I felt it deserves a big push. The album can be bought through my website, at shows of course, and will also be available on iTunes soon enough. I’m looking to release it Memorial Day weekend.
STEAM
How long have you been in Austin and do you miss the Corpus Christi area?
JT
I’ve been in Austin since 2005 and I love it but I do miss the ocean a lot. Fishing does not cut it in Austin because what are considered keepers there, we would use as cut-bait here. It’s always great to be home.
STEAM Tell me about the guys in your band.
Band members always change in Austin because everyone needs to work and try to take care of themselves, so I use a lot of piece players.
STEAM When did you being playing guitar and who were your biggest influences?
JT
I started playing at 8 and never stopped. Hank Jr and Stevie Ray Vaughn have been massive influences on me for as long as I can remember but my father's voice is what I aspire to have.
STEAM
I really enjoyed watching your show. You have an uncanny stage presence. How did you learn to interact with the audience?
JT Crowd interaction is probably my favorite part. I’ve spent more time onstage then at any home I’ve been in. You could say that a strange town or crowd is more comfortable for me, because if someone doesn’t care for what I’m doing I don’t have to worry about seeing them again and if they do I don’t have to worry anyway; so, why worry. I guess that’s how it works for me.
STEAM
Do you have any advice for up and coming
musicians?
JT
Up and comers should always stick to their guns. I might not be a wealthy man but I’m very rewarded with all the great memories I have and people I’ve known. Every time I’ve compromised to accommodate others it’s bit me in the ass, so now I’ve been at it so long, and can do most of the work on my own, I never really have to compromise. If someone wants to change me, they don’t get me, so why worry? If they do get me, why worry? This way failure or success is all on me and I like it that way.
STEAM
Well before you get back on stage… What’s your summer looking like? Do you plan to tour or record another album?
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JT I will be on a European tour this summer all the while working on the next record. I’m excited about this and I’m glad to be a part of Texas music. By the way, I’m always playing, so I can be seen all over Texas for the next few months before I leave to Europe. Easiest way to know where I’ll be is my website or facebook page. Thanks for having me and be good or be good at it.
Lonny Ray 50 to 1
Pay out
AM Magazine Words By Tamma Hicks, STE n now Unk : dits Cre to Pho
If you didn’t see the movie 50 To 1 in the theater, be watching for it on DVD and on TV! This major motion picture features Texas actors Christian Kane, Todd Lowe, and Hugo Perez and is directed by Oscar winner Jim Wilson (Dances With Wolves). 50 to 1 is based on the true story of racehorse Mine That Bird, which won the 2009 Kentucky Derby as a 50-to-1 long shot and featured Lonny Ray’s song . STEAM Being a songwriter and musician how did you to get involved in this movie?
LR My publishing company is connected with APM Music out of Los Angeles, who is affiliated with BMI of Universal witch is one of the largest publishing companies in the world. They have four or five of my songs that they pitch on a daily basis to TV, movies, and other requests that people are looking for. Jim Wilson told the story during a radio interview: they had all the time in the world and were listening to thousands and thousands of songs that had been submitted for the scene. Within 15 seconds of hearing my song they knew it was the right one. I’m just thrilled that they chose it!
I really can’t wait to see this movie. I have seen the trailers, read the scenarios, and heard the story, which is so inspirational.
STEAM
Jim Wilson is just brilliant and how he depicts the journey of Dr. Black and the owners of Mine That Bird, how they got to the Kentucky Derby, and how it all transpired. I knew the story before I saw the movie and the movie was just spot on; it’s a beautiful story. The world premiere was in Albuquerque, NM, and when Jim Wilson invited me of course I said yes I would go, so I actually had the opportunity to meet Dr. Black and Mine That Bird.
LR
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STEAM I’m one of those people that
doesn’t know the names of actors although I recognize their faces; I have to
see the face with the name to know who it is. But I can say that I recognize all of the cast members and because of what projects the crew has worked on, I knew who they were too!
LR You know I don’t watch much television because I’m always writing, so I don’t know names and faces for that matter either. I attended a cast and crew party the night before the premier and the actors were just so down to earth and such laid-back people; is not what you would expect out of movie stars. I’ll tell you, Christian Kane is a hell of a singer, he played my guitar and sang during one of our radio interviews and because of our mutual involvement in this movie his fan base, “Kaniacs”, has picked up my music too.
STEAM Tell me about the song in the movie. LR The song in 50 to 1 is called Leaving On Your Mind. I
every Kentucky Derby and I remember that race vividly because he was such a long shot, and he won by such a wide margin it was an unforgettable race. The surprise to me was getting an email and then a call from Jim Wilson, inviting me to the world premiere. And the funny thing is, when he called I was actually in the middle of taking the garbage out and my wife yelled out to me “Can you get your big head back in the house?” and I said, “I’m a superstar now I shouldn’t be doing this.” She told me I’d be doing it next week too! You mentioned your Publishing company and the group that you go through. I think a lot of young and upcoming songwriters don’t understand the actual need for this. Could you give me a real brief 101 on why you want to use a publishing company and what they do for you?
STEAM
didn’t write this for the movie; I wrote it back in 2002 and it’s a very personal song. At the time I was traveling and playing out a lot and I just happened to come home one evening to see this look in my wife’s eyes. I knew it was time to change what I was doing, try to include her more in my career, and be more serious about my marriage. So I wrote this song as a kind of therapy for me; that’s what I do quite often when I’m writing, it gives me an outlet to say what I feel. I’m very lucky to say that we are still together and very much in love; we’ve been married for 28 years.
Lately, because of my success, I’ve had young writers come to me asking for advice. My first piece of advice is always: Don’t. This is a rough business, don’t get caught in it. I’m just kidding, but really what I do is try to explain that they need to be with a publishing company. These guys are out there playing every night, working really hard and writing the songs. Playing out and being on stage is the fun side of this business, but if you don’t go through publishing company and publish what you’ve written you aren’t going make any money. So simply put, publishing companies make sure you get paid as a writer. They also protect your work from being taken. niques that you need to write?
LR
STEAM
Was it a surprise to find out that you would had A song in this movie
STEAM As a songwriter, do you have specific tools or tech-
I actually knew that I have a song in the movie, long before it came out; I believe it was in October, maybe even before that. I was asked if I would like to know how much of the song they would use, what section it was used, and I said absolutely not; I want to see it when it’s ready. I also knew that the movie was about Mine That Bird, because I had actually watched the race. In fact, I watch
LR
LR
I’ve had hooks and ideas hit me right in the middle of the sleep; wake me up and I have to write it down. I realized a long time ago that if I didn’t make a schedule up songwriting would just consume me, so I do have a schedule that I work off of. And I do write daily; sometimes I’ll have four or five songs to work on. It’s not often that I come up with the whole song right then and there, so a schedule is what works for me. I write about 100 to 150 songs throughout the year
STEAM When a song is chosen for a movie or TV show do they buy the whole song or just the portion they use? How does that work?
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in which maybe 30 or 35 will get demoed. So it’s process and “the more you write, the better you get”, at least that’s what they say in the business, and it’s true to me.
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LR The residual royalties from BMI, which will come later as this movie is picked up in theaters around the country and then to DVD and TV. The royalties are really where the money comes from and again that’s where the publishing companies come in. I’ve had songs placed in other shows such as Showtime series Dexter, the reality shows Texas Multi Mamas and Combat Pawn, and a number of others, but it’s been this movie that has really made my music take off. Actually, for this song I wrote the song and I performed the song, so they paid an upfront performance fee as well.
STEAM This song is a country song; do you only write in one genre? LR I typically write country music. I’m from a small town north of Detroit and some of my influences are from Motown. I grew up listening to my mom’s Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross, and other Motown favorites. When I first started out, I listened to a lot of Bob Seger and a few years ago Robyn Robins, the keyboard player and founding member of the Silverbullet Band, produced one of my songs for me. Occasionally, I throw a little twist in there and I’ve written a few rock songs and a few pop songs, but generally I enjoy country music and that’s the genre, I stick with.
STEAM I know you’ve got to get going, so is there anything I missed? LR Just to call your local radio stations and request my song, Leaving On Your Mind! My music is available on iTunes and CD baby. And please see this movie! You will really enjoy it!
Lonny Ray with Cast and Crew members in front of the 50 to 1 Tour bus
THE NORTH END
San Antonio/New Braunfels/San Marcos/Austin
Troubadour Insights
Don Henley, Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Ben Harper and others. Music Road is run by Austin songwriter Jimmy LaFave, along with his business partner Kelcy Warren, a passionate music fan. Jimmy met Warren at one of his shows years ago and they became fast friends. Warren just happens With Dale Ma tin to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company called Energy Transfer Partners. cool thing about That unlikely partnerTexas is that even our ship has led Music small towns love live muRoad towards a sucsic. In the small town of cessful, small-scale Gonzales, home of the business model with a famous ‘Come & Take It’ financial security that battle during the fight for allows them to take our independence, they risks on developing are hosting the 2014 Gonartists while still genzales Main Street Concert erating a sustainable Series and Star Spangled profit. The label also Spectacular. They just anruns the recently renounced the lineup and furbished, historic the schedule, which beCedar Creek Recordgins on June 6 featuring ing studio in South Mike and the Moonpies. The Austin, which allows series will continue them to focus on crethrough July with perforating quality recordmances beginning at 6:00 ings without the prespm. There are plenty of sure of paying studio cool hotels and historic fees. The studio is also bed and breakfasts or open to the public bring your RV. For a full which helps subsidize list of entertainers and daily events, check out their website at the record label. They plan to record more records this year, including new cityofgonzales.org. albums from Jimmy LaFave and Hal Road Records, the super cool Ketchum. South Austin label, just accomplished a Foster is part of the recently truly impressive feat with the internationannounced lineup for the 2014 Americana al release of a high-profile album called 'Looking Into Music Jam scheduled for Sunday, May 18 You: A Tribute To Jackson at Gruene Hall. This year, the Jam will Browne,' featuring artists like benefit the Braunfels Foundation Trust, so Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, get your tickets now and help support
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this worthy organization. As always, there is a special guest that can’t be announced until closer to the show date. These artists are scheduled to perform: Stewart Mann & Statesboro Revue, Seth James, Terri Hendrix & Lloyd Maines, Scott Miller, Shinyribs, Adam Hood, Uncle Lucius, Micky & the Motorcars, Cody Canada & the Departed, Randy Rogers, Hal Ketchum, Radney Foster and Robert Earl Keen. Tickets are just $50 and you can purchase them online at gruenehall.com.
While we are on the subject of
Texas singer songwriters, one of my all-time favorites is Susan Gibson. Here’s a Texas gal that turned an argument with her mom into the 12 million selling single ‘Wide Open Spaces’. Thanks to the Dixie Chicks, Susan has had a lot of what songwriters call ‘mailbox money.’ It’s when you wait for the royalty check to arrive in the mailbox. Susan has written many more great songs, and is one of the best in the business. If you would like to know the full story behind ‘Wide Open Spaces’ and many others, plus how you can write a good song, you are in luck. Susan is holding a special songwriters workshop on Friday May 16 and Saturday May 17. It will be held at the Brauntex Theatre and registration forms are available online at Brauntex.org. The workshop will include eleven hours of instruction, plus an inside look at booking, promotion and the social media aspect of the music business. You will also have the opportunity to perform your completed song. All it takes is one hit song to change your life, just ask Susan.
MAY 2014
RESERVE NOW FOR SUMMER VACATIONS!
www.martinsmusic.com
STEAM PICKS FOR MAY ENTERTAINMENT * GUIDE DOGS OF TEXAS GOLF CLASSIC CANYON SPRINGS GOLF CLUB, SAN ANTONIO 5/18 1:30PM * STANDING THIEIR GROUND: TEJANOS @ THE ALAMO THE ALAMO, 300 ALAMO PLAZA SAN ANTONIO DAILY THROUGH 6/6 * SUSAN GIBSON SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP THE BRAUNTEX THEATER, NEW BRAUNFELS 5/16 & 17 ART * TIME AND WEATHER INSTALLATION AND WORKS BY JUDY YOUNGBLOOD FLATBED GALLERY, 2832 E MLK BLVD, AUSTIN APRIL 11 - JUNE 7, 2014 MUSIC * STUBB’S, 801 RED RIVER, AUSTIN 5/18 JIMMY EAT WORLD * SAXON PUB, 1320 S LAMAR, AUSTIN EVERY SUNDAY @ 7:30 THE RESENTMENTS * BROKEN SPOKE, 3201 S LAMAR, AUSTIN 5/14 MIKE & THE MOONPIES, 5/16 DALE WATSON, THURSDAYS JESSE DAYTON * GRUENE HALL, 1281 GRUENE RD, NEW BRAUNFELS 5/10 M. WARD,, 5/23 THE BAND OF HEATHENS * TAVERN IN THE GRUENE, 830 GRUENE RD, NEW BRAUNFELS MONDAYS COURT NANCE & FRIENDS, 5/25 MIDNIGHT RIVER CHIOR * THE BACKYARD LIVE OAK AMPHITHEATER, AUSTIN FULL MOON FULL LIFE CONCERT W/ JESSE COLTER & SHOOTER JENNINGS * CHEATHAM STREET WAREHOUSE, 119 CHEATHAM ST, SAN MARCOS TUESDAYS BLUE WATER HWY, WEDNESDAYS SONGWRITER’S CIRCLE, 5/8 DAMN QUAILS, 5/24 TEXAS RENEGADE
THE SOUTH END
McAllen/Pharr/Harlingen
STEAM PICKS FOR MAY ENTERTAINMENT * MCALLEN UNCORKED, WINE/FOOD/ART FESTIVAL MCALLEN CONVENTION CENTER, MCALLEN 5/15 * TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES UNIVERSITY THEATER, UT-PA 1201 W UNIVERSITY DR, EDINBURG 5-1-4 * BUTTERFLY WALK RESACA DE LA PALMA STATE PARK, BROWNSVILLE EVERY SUNDAY * GROWN’ GROWERS FARMERS MARKET FIREMAN’S PARK, MCALLEN EVERY SATURDAY ART * 5TH ANNUAL MCALLEN ART COUNCIL FINE ART EXHIBIT MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 1200 ASH, MCALLEN MAY 1 - 31 MUSIC * PHARR EVENTS CENTER, PHARR 5/16 CHARLIE DANIELS BAND, 5/17 ZENDAYA * MCALLEN CIVIC CENTER, MCALLEN 5/23 RIO ROMA * HOP SHOP BAR, 3201 S LAMAR, HARLINGEN 5/30 ENDLESS SUMMER SHOWCASE * PARADISE ROADHOUSE, 3700 E HWY 83, WESLACO 5/6 COMEDY NIGHT
Padre Island Nation-
Get Ready for Summer @ Padre Island National Seashore
al Seashore is the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world. In addition to its 70 miles of protected coastline, other important ecosystems abound, including rare www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit coastal prairie, a complex and dynamic dune system, Also of significant concern at Padre Island is wind tidal flats teeming with the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, the most endanlife, and the Laguna Madre, one gered sea turtle species in the world, which of the few hypersaline lagoon nests on the beach from late April through environments left in the world. mid-July.The National Seashore is also one of The National Seashore and sur- the few places people can see newly hatched rounding waters provide im- Kemp’s ridleys released into the wild. portant habitat for marine and With urban sprawl, climate change, polluterrestrial plants and animals, tion, and other detrimental factors continuincluding a number of rare, ing to threaten wildlife, critical ecosystems, threatened, and endangered and wild places worldwide, Padre Island species. remains a place where nature can balance Situated along the Central Fly- itself, and where people can always visit to way, Padre Island is a globally experience true quiet, solitude and a night important area for over 380 sky filled with bright starlight. migratory, overwintering, and Have you ever gone to the beach, with resident bird species (nearly half bucket in hand, hoping to find treasures of all bird species documented along the seashore? If so, then you have in North America). Thirteen of been beachcombing! these species are considered Many of the currents that flow through the species of concern, threatened, Gulf of Mexico bring endless curiosities onto or endangered.
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the beach at Padre Island National Seashore. Some items include seashells, sea beans (drift seeds), driftwood, lumber, plastics, and things that have been lost or discarded by seagoing vessels and other marine activities. The best time to go beachcombing is right after a storm passes through. Natural and cultural resources are protected at the National Seashore, but you are allowed to keep up to a five-gallon bucket filled with treasures that you find. If an animal is still living in its shell, please put it back where you found it because every living thing plays an important role in its ecosystem. Also, if you find any animal parts that belong to an endangered species (Ex., sea turtle shell), please report it to a park ranger. You should also let park rangers know if you find any historic artifacts (Ex., concretions, arrowheads, etc.).
Ayers Street Music We Carry All Your Musical Needs
3433 Ayers St, CC TX 361.960.2760 www.ayersstreetmusic.com
N.B.’s Chili History
t s a o C 3rd e i d o o F
By Tamma hicks, STEAM Mag.
White Burger on Jalapeno Bun with Sweet Potato Fries
I’m
as being one of the first establishments to serve women – of course it was in a ladies beer garden because a proper lady wouldn’t be caught in a 193 W San Antonio St. New Braunfels TX bar. This area also had a stone-walled pool for (830) 643-1400 catfish and at one time doubled as an alligator pit. M-F 11:30am-12am | Sa 11:30am-1am | Su 12pm-12am Inside, where the stage is now, there was a pen www.thephoenixsaloon.com containing a family of Hill Country deer. They had badger fights too and a parrot sat just inside the front door that would say “Have you paid your bill?” in German. In 1918 the Phoenix Saloon was closed because of Prohibition, but what is a bar to do? Build a brewery in the basement and run booze out of two tunnels, of course! The building was bought and remodeled into a department store in the early 1920’s and remained that way until the current owners, Ross Fortune Above: Fried Green Tomatoes; Right: Bowl of Chili with all the Fixings ; Below: Chicken Sandwich and Debbie Smith, remodeled and reopened the Phoenix Saloon in 2010.
not sure what I like more… Food or History. I know it’s a weird combination. Food’s easy to explain and I think just about everyone likes food. Of course there are certain foods that individuals don’t like and that’s OK too. Me? I won’t eat meatloaf, Brussels sprouts, or Oreo cookies (not even the knockoffs). Of course there are the food item crazes that everyone loves and everything is flavored like it; right now it’s bacon.
Now history
is either a subject that people find interesting or they ignore it. There is the saying that “if you don’t learn from the past, you’re bound to repeat it.” I have two thoughts on this… 1 As people evolve from generation to generation, history becomes lost and people no longer learn from it. To me, this is a scary thought as we watch the happenings in Eastern Europe. 2 Inventions. If something has already been invented, you can’t repeat that. You can improve on it, but not repeat. So, where was I going with this? The Phoenix Saloon. Not what you were thinking, huh?
The Phoenix Saloon is in downtown New Braunfels on the corner of West San Antonio Street and South Castell Avenue. When you first walk in you think what a quaint bar, it’s so old fashioned and gives you that feeling of going back in time. The Phoenix Saloon has a great history as it was built in 1871. It is credited
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The Phoenix Saloon
Behind the 40-foot long bar, fashioned from cupboards the department store had installed, are 32 beers on tap! The bartenders and wait staff are very knowledgeable and can suggest the best drink for you and the kids can sip on sodas until 9pm. They have live music every Wednesday through Sunday featuring players and bands from all over the region! The Phoenix Saloon actually has two stages - a small stage next to the front windows which is typically used for the early shows (happy hour and whatnot) and the big stage, where the pen was, in the back of the room.
As
you’re soaking in the history,
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music, and libations a very faint aroma starts tapping you on the shoulder. It’s not strong and you really don’t notice it; it’s just enough to remind you that you’re hungry, not just thirsty. Mm the smell of chili! Real chili! Now how do I mean real chili, because we can all argue that Grandma made the best? Well, MAY 2014 everyone knows that chili is a Texas original, but I mean the Phoenix Saloon is the birthplace for chili powder. Back in 1894 William Gebhardt had a café in a back room of the saloon and this is where he created chili powder by drying and mixing spices and bottling it. He sold his chili powder from the café before moving the operation to San Antonio.
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Above: Frito Pie, Below: The Blue Burger
We
asked the staff what their favorites were and Bruce, our bartender, suggested we start our meal off with fried green tomatoes. They use their own recipe that includes chili powder (of course), and the tomatoes were perfectly cooked, not soggy or hard, and I have to say these were the best I’d had in a long time! We had to try the Frito Pie, why? Because they serve it in the Fritos bag! This was a huge hit with the kids we had in tow and because it was for the kids we ordered it as a “single shot”. So what’s a “shot” you ask? Well that’s how the Phoenix Saloon describes the heat of your chili and there are four stages… Single Shot (mild), Double Shot (hot), Ring of Fire (burn, burn, burn!), and The Killer – you have to sign a waiver to have that one! The Chili, of course, is true original Texas Red made with sirloin and no beans. It’s served with a generous slice of homemade skillet cornbread, the perfect accompaniment! The burgers and sandwiches are served on your choice of fresh buns (regular, onion, jalapeño), so we tried one of each! We had an onion bun with the White-Shirt Burger which is infused with chili seasoning and served with chili mayo. Very flavorful! The Blue Burger is stuffed with blue cheese and topped with applewood smoked bacon and was on the jalapeño bun with blue cheese mayo. So good and so filling! I think our favorite though was the Chicken Sandwich. Shiner Bock marinated and grilled with spicy mango chutney on top. We had the regular bun with this, but I can imagine it would be wonderful on either the onion or jalapeño. At the end of our meal we were so full, stuffed really, that there was no room for one of their home-made cobblers and that just means we’re going back for more!
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Filming Extras
What is an Extra? Extras are an essential element of any film project. They are used to fill out the background of scenes that require a crowd such as a football game, parade or restaurant. Extras generally do not have speaking roles and will have little to no interaction with the stars of the film. Getting Started and Finding Work as an Extra Working as an extra does not require formal acting training and is a good opportunity to learn about the production on set. The Texas Film Commission Job Hotline lists Casting Calls for projects currently recruiting cast. Each announcement will include the casting call description and an email address for submissions. To apply, send an email directly to the email address listed with your contact information and recent photographs. Please be advised that you will not be contacted by the production unless you are needed for filming. Talent Agents If you are interested in pursuing a more substantial acting career in film and television, it is a good idea to have a talent agent. Agents can help you find work as an actor and provide guidance on roles that will be the best fit for you. A list of talent agents in Texas may be found in the Directory on the Texas Film Commission Web site.
314 E AVENUE G PORT ARANSAS
361.290.7143 WWW.BRONSBEACHCARTS.COM
Current Casting Calls as of 5/1/14 My All American » Independent Feature Austin area [Paid] Peace In Chaos » Independent Feature - Austin [Paid] Weekend Plans » Webisodes - Austin [Paid & Unpaid] Something in the Woods » Independent Feature - Jefferson [Deferred] Divine Access » Independent Feature - Austin area [Paid] TWG » Webisodes - Austin [Unpaid] East Texas Trials » Independent Feature Austin and Tyler [Unpaid] Eddy » Independent Short - Austin area [Unpaid] Yellow Rose » Independent Feature - Austin area [Paid] Media Mavericks » Local TV Pilot - Austin [Paid] Ride Television Network » Network/Cable TV Series - Fort Worth [Paid] The Sauce » Independent Feature - Austin [Deferred] Found Footage 3D » Independent Feature Gonzales [Paid] Hidden in the Heart of Texas: The Official Hide & Go Seek Documentary » Documentary - Dallas / Fort Worth Area [Unpaid] For more information: governor.state.tx.us/film
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