ly features TWO Elvis impersonators and even a Doctor Nick impersonator.
In
this, the 21st century, the Savages have kept on playing their tunes for appreciative audiences and have surely earned their title of “The Band to Dumb to Die”. A few other Austin bands have been around slightly longer, but they are all built around a single front person, such as Willie Nelson or Alvin Crow or Marcia Ball. There is no other or older Austin band built as a group performing troupe than the Uranium Savages, and they performed their 500th show at Gino’s down in deep South Austin on August 23rd 2004.
Over
boyant costumes that impersonate Uranium Savages had started public figures in the news and both performing the same year as Saturday of them still regularly lampoon Night Live began American soand it been pointcial, religious ed out that there SHORTY'S and political is a more than value s and superficial comSATURDAY, SEPT. 5 positions that monality between feel deLABOR DAY WEEKEND they these 2 comedic serve comedic troupes. Both reflection and PORT ARANSAS, TX organizations their special celebrate Ameriirreverent treatcan popular music, both employ ment. As an example of this point, satire and often black humor, both the Uranium Savages are the only bring on comic characters in flamknown band in America that regular-
The
these last four decades, the Uranium Savages have played with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dr. Hook, Darryl Rhoades and his HahaVishnu Orchestra, the Austin Lounge Lizards, Joe Ely Jerry Jeff Walker, Timbuk 3, Omar and the Howlers the Rhythm Rats, Doug Sahm, the Sons of Sahm, Augie Myers, Marsha Ball, Ray Campi, Alvin Crow, the Geezenslaw Brothers, Steve Fromholtz, Steam/Extreme Heat, Harry Anderson, Chubby Checker, Balcones Fault, the Big Boys, Bubble Puppy, Shiva’s Head Band, Greezy Wheels, Wavy Gravy, Texoid, John Kelso, Joe ‘King” Carrasco. The Explosives, Esther’s Follies, the Next, Ponty Bone, Beto y los Fairlanes, Ro-tel and the Hot Tomatoes, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Bugs Henderson, Rusty Wier, Tex Thomas, Ben E. King, the Leroi Brothers, Ray Benson, the Texana Dames, the Tailgators, the Cherry-Poppin’ Daddies, Willie Nelsons …and dozens of other wonderful groups.
The Savages have played in the towns of Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Amarillo, South Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Fredericksburg, Nacogdoches, Manor Downs, San Marcos, Luchenbach, Creedmoor, and now Port Aransas. There have been over 100 of Austin’s finest musicians that have played in the Uranium Savages group - a list to long to enumerate here – but everyone in the Uranium Savages still is proud of the award given to them in the year 2000 by the Austin Chronicle…”The Uranium Savages - The Best Proof That Drugs Don’t Kill You!” WWW.URANIUMSAVAGES.COM Facebook.com/uraniumsavages
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CONTENTS SOUTH TEXAS ON THE COVER... CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
WWW STEAMMAGAZINE NET
NOBODYS CHILD BY GENEVIEVE GARAND
SEPTEMBER 2015 VOL. 4 ISS. 6
ENTERTAINMENT 5 QUICK READ 16 TROUBADOURS INSIGHT 19 3RD COAST FOODIE GIGGIT’S IN PORT ARANSAS
ALWAYS IN STEAM
ART
MUSIC
12 3RD ANNUAL STEAM MAGAZINE ART SHOW
8 INDEPENDENT THIEVES A GUITAR, MANDOLIN, & TWO VOCALS
21 STEAM PICKS FOR SEPTEMBER
COMICS 6 CD REVIEWS 7 CDs & MOVIES 20
10 RED DIRT’S FAVORED SONS TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS 17 REVERBNATION SPOTLIGHT: DILLON HAVINS
PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS COMICS EDITOR ALLENE HICKS STAFF WRITERS RICK BOWEN, DALE MARTIN, TAMMA HICKS, AUDRY OCANAS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J MICHAEL DOLAN, LORI STEINDORF, DEREK SIGNORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLENE HICKS, RUSTY HICKS
TO ADVERTISE WITH US 361-904-4339 | SALES@STEAMTX.COM SEE US ONLINE AT WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC, BOOK, ART, OR SHOW FOR REVIEW! HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SUBMISSIONS@STEAMTX.COM
ALTERNATIVE WEEKLY NETWORK 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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FOURTH 1/4 REMINDERS J. Michael Dolan (:31)
WHO CARES? J. Michael Dolan (:23) Sorry to tell you this... We don’t care that you’ve devoted hours, days, weeks, months and years on your big important project. We don’t care about all the money you’ve invested—and lost. We don’t care about your staff worries, partner problems, investor concerns or band dilemmas. We don’t care about your manager/ agent problems, legal challenges or how much you owe the government. We don’t care that “luck” has been illusive at best, and things just haven’t gone the way you planned. We don’t care that you worry and fret so much about getting it right. And we’re certainly not interested in your excuses, justifications, apologies, alibis or tales of woe. The only thing we really care about is that you continue to entertain us with your incredible talent. Wow us with your “must-have” products. Enlighten us with your persuasive words, knock our socks off with your extraordinary art, and provide us with worthy services that far exceed expectation. As long as you keep doing that, you can count on us to follow you to the moon.
Whatever resolutions, promises or plans we made at the beginning of this year, we are now, very quickly, approaching the 4th quarter. I say we because I get stuck in the mud same as you! We’re looking at four months until show time—that time at the end of the year where you’re either dancing in the endzone or dashing to get there. Truth is, the fourth quarter is never a walk-in-the-park, therefore, here are four things you can take action on right now that will prep you for the big victory dance: 1) Re-commit to that which YOU say “must” be completed by the end of this year. Not like a “note to self,” more like a ruthless commitment. 2) Chip Shot: You can’t finish it all at once but you can certainly chip away at it. Do something, no matter how big or small, every single day, 7-days a week for the rest of the year. Start chipping now. 3) Distractions Begone! Break the hypnotic grip that Facebook and social media have on you, and turn off the news! Those are by far the two biggest distractions that prevent most folks from moving forward, gaining ground, hitting the mark and achieving their goals and dreams. Your time is so very precious, use it intelligently. 4) Hunker down: The last quarter of the year always taunts you with many more curve balls than the first—that’s a good insight to know. Now is the time to step up to the plate, hunker down, stay focused, and start swinging, with every ounce of strength & smarts you’ve got. Happy New Year...
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www.theawkwardyeti.com www.lunarbaboon.com
CD REVIEWS BUDDY GUY BORN TO PLAY GUITAR (RCA ) By BOB GOTTLIEB There was much debate around the table as this new Buddy Guy disc was playing about whether there had ever been a more apt album title than this one: Born To Play Guitar. Some of the people sitting there had been hearing this man play since his early days in Chicago in, to the best of their memory, 1965 with Junior Wells. His playing has gotten better and better with each passing segment of time, and this disc strips away all pretense, and lays his soul out, stripped naked for all to see. And there were absolutely no complaints about his singing, each and everyone around the table agreed that this was the most patient, soul exposing/ bearing singing he has ever done. This man is 79 and there are certain advantages that aging gives you, the main being experience, and also how to draw the best out of what you have; however there are drawbacks to this aging and it is mainly in the battering
you have absorbed in learning these rough life lessons, and believe me your body sometimes feels every nuance of the battering this learning inflicts upon the body. This step up in intensity wasn’t just confined to him either, the spirit was contagious and infected the band and all the guests he had on this gem, including the writers. The songs are mostly written by Tom Hambridge, who also produced the disc and played drums and percussion, and various co-writers such as Gary Nicholson and Richard Fleming and of course Buddy Guy. Give a listen to his duet he does with Joss Stone, he brings a a new depth to her singing; the great guitar interplay with Billy Gibbons on “Wear You Out.” Then there is the addition of Kim Wilson’s powerful
erton, guitar, mandolin, cittern; Tom Van Schaik, percussion; Marty Muse, dobro; Denis Ludiker, fiddle; Chloe Keen, violin
ROBERT EARL KEEN HAPPY PRISONER: THE BLUEGRASS SESSIONS (DUALTONE MUSIC) By ROB DICKENS How to Make the Perfect Bluegrass Album A sure-fire, step-by-step account of how to make the ideal bluegrass album: Critical Ingredients One roots music troubadour – with enormous standing and credibility, with a vision to make a great result, an emotive leather-worn voice with an acute music sensibility, a great instrumentalist and possessing a lot of A-grade music compadres – like Robert Earl Keen Nine of the best musicians going around – like Danny Barnes, guitar and banjo; Sara Watkins, fiddle; Kym Warner, mandolin; Bill Whitbeck, bass; Rich Broth-
Basic Ingredients: Three excellent special guests – like Lyle Lovett, Natalie Maines and Peter Rowan One recorded anectdote relating to legend Bill Monroe – like Peter Rowan’s story about how “Walls Of Time” was written One Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs song – like “Hot Corn, Cold Corn” One Richard Thompson number – like “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” One Bill Monroe track – like “Footprints In The Snow” One Jesse Fuller tune – like “99 Years For One Dark Day” One A. P. Carter (of the Carter Family) number – like “East Virginia Blues” One traditional tune, lovingly arranged – like Robert Earl Keen with “Poor Ellen Smith” One song from a pair of classic country songwriters – like Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin’s “Long Black Veil” One great tune made famous by Jim Reeves – like “This World Is Not My Home” by Albert E. Brumley and Mary Reeves One Jimmie Rodgers track – like “T for Texas” One Peter Rowan and Bill Monroe cowrite – like the aforementioned “Walls Of Time” One song from Carter Stanley of the legendary Stanley Brothers – like “White Dove” One tune that sounds like an old bluegrass classic but was recorded in the 1960’s – like “Old Home Place” which
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harp playing on 2 cuts. And each one of us could feel the depth of emotion that went into “Flesh & Bone,” a Tom Hambridge/ Gary Nicholson penned tune that is a duet sung with Van Morrison that is dedicated to B.B.King that just gathers up all the emotion into one final statement that is echoed in some of the most soulful singing these two have ever put on record; backed up by Buddy’s tearing, ripping guitar work and the McCray Sisters backing vocals. The album finishes off with a beautiful tribute to Muddy Waters and what he meant to these musicians. This is one of the most heartfelt, soulful, and authentically emotional disc that has crossed this desk in a very long time. Something that was probably difficult to make because of the emotion involved but at the same time expresses the joy that these people felt had to be expressed at this time. I generally leave me out of revues but I am glad that they made this one, it is easily the most authentically emotional disc to be heard in quite a large number of years. It is true Blues with all the sorrow and happiness that involves. WWW.BUDDYGUY.COM BOB GOTTLIEB is a freelance music writer based in Arizona. www.RASCALSFAIR.com
KLKL was recorded originally by The Dillards and was written by Dean Webb and Mitch Jayne One track written by an inductee into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame – like Red Clay Ramblers founder Tommy Thompson Another traditional tune, lovingly arranged – like Robert Earl Keen with “Wayfaring Stranger”. Procedure Place all ingredients in a tiny room with the roots music troubadour calling the shots. Knead carefully all components, mix thoroughly and with much love. Give all ingredients to chance to shine through. Continually taste to savour the results, but don’t take too long as this could affect the spontaneity and overwork the ingredients thereby leading to some degredation. Presentation: Add detailed and loving notes to the product, as well as attractive photography to put it in its best light. Call the result something catchy – like Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions. Result: For one of the best experiences of the year – delicious and mouthwatering. ROBERTEARLKEEN.COM ROB DICKENS is a freelance music writer based in Australia. www.ROBDICKENS101.com
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The Independent Thieves
I love Kathleen Edwards singing and songwriting. She’s very talented.
is a musical group hailing from Corpus Christi, TX consisting of two guitar-playing singer/ songwriters, Garrett Wieland and David King. The musicians met at the weekly Executive Surf Club open-mic in downtown Corpus Christi, and soon began working on tunes together. Their focus is to pare down the instruments and work on the songs; songs that tell stories. No frills, no smoke and mirrors, just good tunes. STEAM Tell me about your album, Letter From the End of the World. Is this your first record? G Yeah, this is our first album together; we’ve recorded a lot of demos and stuff, but this is the first time we put together a record like this and paid for it with our gig monies taking us about six months to complete it at Mason Shirley’s Sound Machine Studio. He helped with the production, as well as the drums and bass. We really wanted something that we could have available for our fans, so it’s on iTunes, Amazon, and CDbaby as downloads. We recently put a widget on our website to stream the album. But my preferred method is in hand, so we have copies available at all our gigs. I’d love to release it on vinyl, but that’s in the future. STEAM In May we talked to Steve Earle about vinyl making a comeback. Have you considered that platform? G Yeah, we read that interview and he said that the whole resurgence of vinyl has changed his thought process on how he records, which kind of goes along with what we were thinking. Why not make an album with just a good 10 songs. D The idea is to put music out there that people want to listen to not skip through. And that’s the reason this album came out with only 10 songs on it, whereas you don’t see the 30 that didn’t make the cut. STEAM You met and started this group about four years ago at the Executive Surf Club, so what other bands or kind of bands were you in before?
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STEAM Where will we be able to see you this month? G Well, we have quite a few cool gigs coming up in September on the 12th Allied Island Folk Fest on South Padre Island. At the KEDT Classic Brew at the Museum of Science & history here in Corpus Christi on the 17th, which is just so much fun! This will be our second time for this annual event and for that show will have a cello player and a bass player joining us. Then we’ll be at the Steam Magazine Third Annual Art Show on the 18th. And we’ll be in Austin for the Southwest Regional Folk Alliance conference at the end of the month. Not to mention all the other shows we’ll book before this prints, so check out our website and Facebook page.
By Tamma Hicks STEAM Magazine
D I played in a number of bands; right out of high school and whatnot. I played with Tyler McCumber on and some gigs and small tours as the lead guitar player. G I was in a few bands before this; in Dig That Gun I played lead guitar. One of the things we decided, almost unconsciously, when we put this band together was not to do the big electric leads. I think we were at a point of being tired of not being able to hear ourselves and having the lyrics underappreciated. The decision was to do more songwriters singer-songwriter stuff, but it is nice to hear what you’re doing. STEAM Guitar, mandolin, what else to you guys play? D It depends on whether we’re in the studio or how much gear we want to carry to the stage. G David did most of the mandolin on the album. We didn’t do any piano on the album; however, we both play. STEAM Does the piano help in your writing? D I like it when I’m songwriting. I’m more productive with the piano because I’m not native to it like I am with the guitar and so I have to focus. On the guitar I kind of get into a rut with it; so if I’m writing and I get stuck
on something I’ll go to the piano and work on chord structure and that will usually pull me right through. G I’m no good at the piano, so it makes me focus on and the melody. STEAM How do you get the word out about your shows? D We really focus more on letting people know ahead of time that we have a gig coming up. We’ve got a great website and were both on social media, so we are doing the Internet handshake and inviting people personally to come down and see our show. We’re really just coming into ourselves in self-promoting. STEAM How did you come up with the Independent Thieves as a band name? D That’s a reference to a Kathleen Edwards song called Independent Thieves. The song talks about a band playing in a loud bar, where they watered down the drinks, and the place is loud. It reminded us of the attitude that people are not there to see the band, they’re there to have a good time and do what they want and the band is just in the background. So you need to make your audience pay attention to you. So that’s the mentality of reasoning behind the name and
STEAM What do you see in the future for Independent Thieves? D We’re working on new songs right now and have two lists. One for songs that we’ve written and want on the next project; which you should be able to hear some of those live real soon. The second list is songs we’d like to work on that might turn into something worth listening to. But basically, we want to see how far we can take this record and we want to see how interesting we can make the next one. G Just going up to Austin is our first step towards a tour and it’ll get our feet wet for traveling shows. D If were talking candidly here, I’d love to go to Europe. You know, Tyler McCumber has a tribute band in Germany from his first album. So I think that would be the goal to have our own tribute band in some foreign country, and we actually sold one of our albums online to someone in Germany. So that could be the spark to a dream of having a tribute band. G But in the meantime, we want to do some tours here, on the East coast, and maybe the Midwestern states too. Basically, we want to go get our album out, build a fanbase, and really see where we can take this. STEAM What kind of music do you listen?
Photo: Carlos Garcia
G We love Tom Petty, The Band, Bob Dylan, MilkDrive, and basically all lot of singer songwriters. STEAM So you’re not metal heads? D No not really, but I do like Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Cream. I can’t stand listening to shrill and bleary kind of music. STEAM When you’re doing shows as the opening act do you do many covers in that set? D Those sets are almost all original sets. There might be one or two real interesting songs that we cover. We do My Girl as part of the song Katy, which makes it very interesting for the audi-
ence. G We also cover Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears For Fears. Because it’s such a folky version people don’t realize what song it is until we start singing it.
STEAM So you when you play that you’re really making it your own. D Well, being a folk duo playing Tears for Fears, who has a line of synthesizers involved, we really do own the song when it’s just guitar, mandolin, and two vocals. G From the get go being in a duo, you have to own it. www.independentthieves.com facebook.com/ theindependentthieves Editor’s Note: You can listen to Independent Thieves on www.steammagazineradio.net! Tune in online or with the KryKey apps!
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odern country music faces a crisis of identity. While the more cosmopolitan genres of rock, hip-hop, and pop are free to explore modern topics and urban issues using the most up-to-date technological instrumentation, country is by and large relegated to subjects associated with its very name. While sales remain undoubtedly healthy, the top tier acts are considered by many to be disingenuous at best, full on commercial exploitation at worst. As generational demographics continue a long shift toward urban and suburban locations, the old fashioned tie-to-the-landand-people themes of country music seem less and less relevant. Increasingly, we find young musicians more involved with the concept of country music than any sort of authentic artistic expression.
We’ve all heard the efforts by folks trying
too hard to sell themselves as salt of the earth sort. Big Country Radio saturates airwaves from the Smokies to the Cascades with anthems focused on the proud American tradition of patriotism, alcohol abuse, and illplanned romances. But we don’t believe it. Dirks Bentley uses police code as the title for one Gold Single, as if the jargon alone convinces anyone that that pretty-boy banker’s son ever spent a night in the clink or dealt with the police. The feminine equivalent on Big Radio country is sadly stuck in the sad gender role of women from past decades. Bombshell starlets need not cultivate their talent so much as their wardrobe. Tired clichés like “Before He Drinks,” still receive regular rotation, as if to finish the line from that Sinatra classic, “These Boots Are Made for Walking.”
Much like our politics, country music has
come so far from its origins; it’s nearly unrecognizable in its modern, commonly accepted form. While the tabloids keep us up to date on who’s screwing whom, and who’s screwing whom over, something's been lost. It’s in the music. If one were so inclined to sink right to the heart and soul of the genre in its original sense, to see past the glossy-paged glitz and glimmer to actual ties to life in lyrics and instrumentation, I have a secret for you. Should one concern themselves with the heaven discovered in a new face to be adored, the glorious midnight drunken ram-
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By Raymond E. Lee ble, the repetitive purgatory of endless toil for diminished returns, or the finality of hell and rage in taking on a fight that cannot be won, then look to the Turnpike Troubadours.
You can order BBQ in NYC, but I advise
against it. You can also listen to the hype centered out of Nashville or Austin, but if you want the real deal you have to travel out and away from the bright city lights. From the red dirt depths of Oklahoma, something exciting’s been brewing with the Turnpike Troubadours over the last decade.
The year 2007 saw the group’s introduction
with the humble, hopeful Bossier City, which detailed life in the land of drought, Res Casinos, and 3/2 beer. Momentum grew with 2010’s Diamonds and Gasoline and saw the first signs of national exposure, along with extensive touring. There was something exciting to be found in the track listing. Opener “Every Girl” introduced their growing audience to the darkhaired figure who would feature so prominently throughout songwriter’s Evan Felker’s canon. Inclusions like "Whole Damn Town" or "7&7" proved the group was radioready, but the real triumphs were found in the peerless songwriting of McClure’s “The Funeral” or the sing-along ode “1968” to Dr. King. Powerful pieces each, invoking both tears and pride for the conflict woven throughout our lives. (“Why’s it take a funeral, boy, to bring you back to town?”)
Elizabeth Cook. But the album was so much more than that radio friendly tribute to love lost. “Before the Devil Knows We’re Dead” holds all the intensity of Flogging Molly’s underground anthem “Drunken Lullabies.” One part Springsteen and two parts Shane MacGowan, Felker’s approach to songwriting matched appeal to Americana. As opposed to sinking down from the top of society, tracks like “Gin, Smoke, and Lies,” rise from the bottom. They don’t necessarily glory in despair, but honestly reflect the depths of any mid-20-something figuring out the make of the world around them, mistakes intact and learned by. On it, Felker returns to Lorrie, this dark-haired beauty for perhaps the most arresting inclusion on the album. “Good Lord Lorrie,” isn’t just well-written and wellexecuted musically, it’s good and honest and true. It’s a song that lies in glaring contrast to the blame game coming out of Nashville or the lost-without-you drivel from singersongwriter peers. Emphatically fantastic, there are few tracks in the last 60 years of popular music that pin down the duality of a relationship so well.
“They all want to be
Hank Williams, but they don’t wanna have to die.”
The next addition, 2013’s Goodbye Normal
Street, would cement the group as both consistent and immediate. With every release from a now-stellar discography, the Turnpike Troubadours have proven that the underdog is damn worth your last dollar, and never more so than with Normal Street. “Wrecked” is oft-played at the last bastion of popular Americana, SiruisXM’s Outlaw Country (channel 60) and hyped by industry darling
This week has been an exciting one for any
fan of the Turnpike Troubadours. The band’s fourth release, the eponymous Turnpike Troubadours released on Bossier City Records. With support from Outlaw Country radio, you might already be familiar with third track single “Down Here.” It is a song out of time -- one that would have topped the country chart 20 years ago, before the industry was hijacked by pretty faces with pop dominance agendas. It’s alright. You’ll be fine You can have a nickel out of my last dime.
The
song’s chorus contains comforting words for any young person entering the hangover of their 30s after a decade of running around, chasing dreams, and partying
throughout their 20s. The song is infinitely catchy; its chorus dares you not to sing along. The bulwark of the album improves upon a process that has placed the Troubadours in a group of far more seasoned peers like the Bottle Rockets, the Old 97’s, and the DriveBy Truckers. Perhaps informed by these acts, the Troubadours' songwriting contains a mixture of go-your-own-way exuberance met in equal proportions by old-soul reflection. Tracks alternate between the glorious abandon and abundance of youth and the fine tradition of licking your wounds come Sunday morning. The sentiment is captured best in a single line from deep album inclusion and strong contender for second single, “Long Drive Home,” where Felker sings: They all want to be Hank Williams, but they don’t wanna have to die.
The new album’s music is equally alluring.
The Turnpike Troubadours have always been hot on the heels of mainstream country, showing the genre how the music can be done with integrity while still containing mass appeal. Their sound isn’t shaped in the form of the currently popular stadium anthem. Rather, they’re written to be performed in the clubs, honky-tonks, and bars from which the industry "discovers" new life. Kyle Nix’s flawless fiddle work compliments the midtempo acoustics and baleful, steel guitar twang, flitting in and around Felker’s lyrics like a bird in flight. The instrument isn’t used as a crux (country’s answer to the infamous roaring guitar lead). Instead, it maintains an even balance between rhythm and melody, propelling the songs to their own ends.
Whereas on album closeout “Bossier City,” the harp and fiddle combine forces, on “7 Oaks,” the harmonica lines dance over the juke-joint piano rolls and pre-war fiddle work with ease. Blown with the excitement of a kid out in the rain the harp lines display a touch of both blues and jazz to steal the show from all the competing instrumentation in a song about a plot to burn down the farm before the bank can claim it.
At this point, big country radio is stuck in the same place the rock market found themselves during the 80’s. Slick recordings dominated by saccharine sax and guitar leads have simply been replaced with banjo and fiddles. The top-tier musicians themselves aren’t artists any more than they are personalities.
“It’s alright.
You’ll be fine. You can have a nickel out of my last dime.” And if this be the case, then the Turnpike Troubadours are the modern country equivalent of R.EM. While a nearly impenetrable genre reigns around them the Troubadours are quietly amassing a following at the fringes of the industry. Their music isn’t concerned with trend jumping or following the herd, and neither does the group require insider connections or million dollar production shoots to gain attention. The Turnpike Troubadours have seen a rise from the cusp of obscurity based on quality alone. Their songs make the personal universal through detail saturation and modest delivery, so you probably won’t hear tracks from the self-titled ‘Turnpike Troubadours,’ on
big radio country stations. Still, relevancy prevails over hype, and while many of the big names of today will doubtlessly merge into opaque memories, the consistency and quality of Turnpike Troubadours releases means their brand of bawling and brawling, loving and leaving outsider country balladry will persist against time.
SHOW INFO: ZiegenBock Music Festival 9/5 @ Concrete Street Amphitheater Corpus Christi www.turnpiketroubadours.com Facebook.com/turnpiketroubadours Twitter.com/TpTroubadours
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GENEVIEVE GARAND QUEBEC CANADA FEBRUARY 2014 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11
SAM YEATES, AUSTIN TX SEPTEMBER 2014 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 CHANNE FELTON, NEW BRAUNFELS TX JUME 2014 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3
MARTIN MOLINA, CORPUS CHRISTI TX DECEMBER 2012 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 9
STEAM MAGAZINE 3RD ANNUAL ART SHOW SEPTEMBER 18 THRU OCTOBER 2, 2015 GALLERY HOURS: M-TH 9AM-4PM, F 9AM-8PM 509 LAWRENCE ST, 2ND FLOOR, CC TX OPENING RECEPTION! SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 6PM-10PM
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OPENING RECEPTION! SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 6PM-10PM ALFONSO HUERTA, AUSTIN TX NOVEMBER 2012 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 8 | OCTOBER 2013 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 7
ERIC ALANIZ CORPUS CHRISTI TX AUGUST 2015 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5
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Troubadour Insights
San Antonio/New Braunfels/San Marcos/Austin
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have the same success. They hope the series will follow in the footsteps of other successful musical shows on Fox like Glee and Empire. No word on whether the new show will feature a mechanical bull.
With Dale Ma tin news of her divorce Though he got his first major from Blake Shelton was a big break at Sun Studios in Memphis shock to Miranda Lambert and spent his life in Nashville, Johnfans when the news broke last ny Cash got his early inspirations month. However, the Texas for music in San Antonio. Stationed gal seems to be doing fine and there while starting his Air Force continuing with her life, curcareer, he met Vivian Liberto and rent tour and now, a project quickly fell in love with the dark near and dear to her heart. haired beauty. He carved ‘Johnny Several years ago she founded Loves Vivian’ on a river walk park the MuttNation Foundation, bench and not long ago a story a 501(c)3 organization, and about the bench being held in storhas raised over $2.1 million age was written. It was reported that dollars since its inception. the San Antonio Parks Department Miranda and her mother, Bev, had the bench and wouldn’t turn it make every effort to ensure over to the Cash family. I never that your hard-earned dollars heard any more about it, so hopefulare going to spay and neuter ly the situation was resolved. While efforts, medical treatments, in San Antonio, Cash started teachadoptions, preventions, transing himself to play guitar and some portation, legislative changes, of the ideas for his early hits were and education. MuttNation born in the Alamo City. To celebrate Foundation and Miranda Lamhis amazing career, CMT Network bert are happy to announce has just announced a brand-new their 8th Cause for the Paws – documentary film based on his exBack to Basics in Luckenbach, traordinary life. CMT will premiere “Johnny Cash: Texas benefit concert on September 18th & 19th. American Rebel” on September 12th, to coincide The proceeds from this 2-day event will allow Miwith the 12th anniversary of the death of the Man randa to continue her tireless support of helping in Black. Cash's nearly 50-year career will be exanimals in need. MNF co-founder Bev Lambert plored through original interviews with family has been busy putting the final touches on this members John Carter Cash, Rosanne Cash and special 2-day event in their home state of Texas. Carlene Carter, in addition to reflections from his Making its debut at the Luckenbach show will be contemporaries, including Merle Haggard, Willie ‘The Rig,’ a 30’ long unit fully equipped to respond Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Others featured in to any animal emergency, whether a natural or man the film include Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, John -made disaster. Get your tickets now, if they aren’t Mellencamp and Rodney Crowell. Born in Kingssold-out by now. land, Arkansas, in 1932, Cash began his singing career while stationed in the Air Force in Germany. Back in 1980, country music went through a maAfter being honorably discharged, he relocated to jor change with the release of the Urban Cowboy Memphis, where he would begin recording for Sun movie and soundtrack. Shortly after the movie, Records. In 1955, he first hit the country charts country artists were wearing beat up hats and singwith "Cry! Cry! Cry" and would soon have a huge ing about beer and rodeos. Naturally, Gilly’s Nightcrossover hit with "I Walk the Line." More than club in Pasadena, Texas was at the forefront of the 1,500 songs would follow, including "A Boy excitement. The movie became a huge fan favorite Named Sue," "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and made huge stars out of Mickey Gilley and and one of his last hits, "Hurt," which was accomJohnny Lee, among others. Recently, at a presentapanied by a poignant, award-winning music video. tion to reporters at the summer edition of the TeleCash also hosted an eclectic variety series which vision Critics Association in Los Angeles, Fox Teleaired on ABC from 1969 to 1971. An author, actor vision CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman and humanitarian whose personal life was beset discussed the development of a TV series based on with addiction, Cash was also a deeply spiritual man the 1980 film. According to Newman, “There will who would find his soul mate in June Carter. He be elements from the film in it, but it's definitely married her in 1968 and would pass away just four current day," The show, created by Hustle & Flow months after her in September 2003 at 71 years old. director Craig Brewer, who is also directing the pilot, has just started the casting process so there Gruene Hall has just announced three of the are no actors yet attached to the project. "In terms headlining acts for the 29th Annual Gruene Muof the timing, we are going to be shooting the pilot sic & Wine Fest. Starting the event off in grand in September, and we have put it on a fast track," southern rock style will be the Marshall Tucker Newman explains. "We're leaving open the possiBand on October 8, followed by an evening with bility of bringing this back at midseason as a series. Pat Green on Friday night, October 9. Saturday Otherwise, it would be something that we'd be night will bring the velvet voice of the legendary considering for either summer or fall of 2016." The Aaron Neville. Though the event has grown and original film was set in Pasadena at Gilley's, but the changed a lot, the United Way is still the primary new series will be filmed in the Austin area, as prebeneficiary of the proceeds. This is a fantastic event vious shows like The Leftovers and Friday Night for a worthwhile cause, so get your tickets now at Lights have done. The Urban Cowboy movie gruenehall.com. soundtrack went on to be an enormous seller and www.martinsmusic.com you can bet the producers of the new show hope to
The
Words by Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine
SPOTLIGHT
15-year-old Dillon Havins is no stranger to big stages and large audiences. He is a singer, songwriter, accomplished blues guitarist, and charismatic performer. Dillon is ALWAYS a true crowd pleaser to audiences of all ages. Being a teenager most people would expect you to fall into a different genre (pop, rock, rap, or country). So how did you get interested in blues and how long have you been playing? Well, I first got interested in blues music playing at the Austin Blues Society Jam at Antone’s which is now held at the Skylark Lounge. In fact, the Austin Blues Society Jam is where I met all of my band members. I've been influenced greatly by Texas country and Americana musicians such as Pat Green and Ryan Bingham, so a lot of my music could go into the Americana genre instead of Blues. I also love listening to and performing alternative rock. I have been playing guitar for 8 years and I have been performing for about 6 years. Tell me about your band members. I have been blessed with the chance of playing with many musicians over the last few years, and I am extremely grateful for my band members. My pianist is Cameron Riggs, and he has been playing shows since the age of 12, about as long as I have known him. Recently, Cameron was the featured pianist on the Texas Jazz Jam Cruise, and won the Austin Jazz Alliance's Rising Star Award. Shortly after I met Cameron, I met Shelby Cheyenne, our bassist. Shelby is not only an extremely talented bassist, but also plays guitar and drums. Therefore, if someone can't make it to a show, Shelby can play any of the instruments! Since she is extremely talented, she plays with many different people all around Texas. I met my drummer Wilson Reardon through his Dad, Mike, at the Blues Jam. When I met Mike, he told me his son was a drummer, and also asked me if I could play lead guitar for one of his shows (Mike has a band as well, for which Wilson sometimes plays the drums). It
is very rare to find a youth drummer who plays the blues, but Wilson had the genre (and any other genre you ask him to play) mastered when I played the show with his dad. Before and since then, Wilson has played many shows with us and other bands. Tell me about your original songs. What inspires the music you write? I feel as if my songwriting has changed greatly since I first started writing. These days’ different things inspire me to write songs. Sometimes it's an experience or a story, and sometimes it's just a feeling. However, most of my more recent songs have had more of a spiritual aspect to them. I know you play on some very big stages with some very big names, so please tell me about your experiences with America’s Got Talent (2012), The International Blues Challenge (2014), and in Tortola BVI (2015). Yes, I have been blessed to play on many different stages, including America's Got Talent, which was definitely a life changing experience for me. When I was on the show I got a glimpse of what it was like to play in front of thousands of people, and despite the disappointment of going home after the Vegas round, I am still very happy I got to be on the show. In regards to playing at the International Blues Challenge, it was a blast! After we won the Heart of Texas Blues Challenge in Austin, we had the opportunity to represent Austin in the youth category of the IBC. Since the youth division wasn't a competition, we
just played on Beale Street during the festival, and everyone had a great time. Recently, I went on vacation to the BVI, and I had the opportunity to play a couple of shows there on the beach, which turned out to be very fun. I was even featured in a local magazine down there. Tell me about your current album and your plans for going back to the studio. My most recent CD, Edge of the Water, is an EP of six songs, and I recorded it at my good friend and mentor Marc Eric's studio. Cameron's piano is featured on my song "Down and Out," but on my next album I want to have my whole band play. My friend Ben took the cover photo down on the beach in Port Aransas. You can currently find two of the songs from the album on ITunes. Regarding the cover songs you do, how do you choose which songs fit your style? My cover songs range so widely in genre that I can't even say exactly how I choose which ones fit my style. Sometimes I just hear a song I know I'm gonna cover it, I don't
exactly know why. I enjoy covering Texas country artists as well as old time blues songs and inspirations such as Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Occasionally, I'll throw a contemporary alternative cover into the mix. Finally, what shows do you have coming up? I will be at the STEAM Magazine’s 3rd Annual Art Show in Corpus Christi on September 18. My band and I will be playing at the Hope4Minds Battle of the Youth Bands & Family Fun Fest von October 17. I keep my website, Facebook, and ReverNation pages current with my upcoming shows and that’s the best way to find out where I’m playing. Look for Dillion Havins @
www.Dillonhavins.com On Facebook.com/ Dillon-Havins-Band On Reverbnation.com/ dillonhavins EDITOR’S NOTE: You can listen to Independent Thieves on www.steammagazineradio.net! Tune in online or with the KryKey apps!
STEAMMAGAZINE.NET
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3433 Ayers St, CC TX 361-960-2760 www.ayersstreetmusic.com
We Carry All Your Musical Needs
The Five “F” Words
t s a o C 3rd e i d o o F
By Tamma hicks, STEAM Mag.
MEDITERRANEAN SEAFOOD LINGUINI If you haven’t been to Giggity’s in Port Aransas you need to go. Why? Because they are the five Fs you want in a restaurant! Fun, Friendly, and Fast with Fantastic Food! Fun…Giggity’s has a classy yet casual atmosphere – basically you can head casually dressed after a day on the beach or dressed up for a night on the town! One of the first things you’ll notice is that the restaurant-bar is for 21+, no minors; however, they are working on an addition that will be family friendly. There is a nice dance floor and Giggity’s has more live music that anyone else in Port Aransas! Friendly… Next you’ll see the fully stocked bar that is run by happy and friendly bartenders that are great at keeping the drinks flowing. Honestly, the staff at Giggity’s is great! They’re always smiling and happy to see you whether it’s your first visit or your twentieth! They are very knowledgeable about the menu and have amazing suggestions, and most of all they are Fast! They make sure your food and drink are quickly, but aren’t about to rush you. Well that takes us to Fantastic Food and if you haven’t heard that Giggity’s is known for their sea-
GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BAR
GIGGITY’S Restaurant & Bar 722 Tarpon St. Port Aransas TX (361) 749-3663 (FOOD) 11am to 2am Daily | Kitchen Open ‘til 1am 21+ | www.giggitys.com food… Wow! Are they ever! We started with the Smoked Amberjack Crostini (a mixture of smoked amberjack, smoked poblano peppers, scallions, toasted almonds, and mayonnaise served on New Orleans French bread crostini’s) and the Calamari (calamari in seasoned flour and deep fried, served with aioli and cocktail sauce). Both were scrumptious! For our entree’s we shared the Grilled Tuna & Giant Shrimp – and they mean giant! The tuna is grilled and topped with Giggity’s Asian peanut glaze with two giant char grilled shrimp and served with grilled vegetables! Then we had their Mediterranean Seafood Linguini for which Giggity’s is well known for! Sautéed jumbo shrimp and mussels in a Greek tomato sauce with feta cheese with linguini! We were so full we didn’t have room for their famous dessert… Bacon Brownie! This is brownie made from scratch with their own cured maple bacon folded in served atop Crown Royal maple caramel sauce and fresh whipped cream. Oh my goodness, doesn’t that sound like a little bit of bacon heaven?! We’ll be back for that later! Speaking of later… guess what? Giggity’s kitchen is open until 1:00 am. Yep, you read that right! I can’t tell you how often we’ve tried to find a place to eat, let alone a GREAT place to eat after 10:00 pm. Now anytime we’re in Port Aransas we have one!
Above: Smoked Amberjack & Crostini Calamari Below: Mediterranean Seafood Linguini Grilled Tuna & Giant Shrimp
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Release dates are subject to change, and often do. Friday 4 September Jess Glynne I Cry When I Laugh Against Me! 23 Live Sex Acts Jewel Picking Up The Pieces Amorphis Under The Red Cloud Leona Lewis I Am Cruciamentum Charnel Passages Low Ones & Sixes Dâm-Funk Invite The Light Micachu & the Shapes Good Sad Happy Bad Diane Coffee Everybody's A Good Dog Shannon & the Clams Gone By The Dawn Diät Positive Energy Slayer Repentless FIDLAR Too Friday 18 September Gold Class It's You Alabama Southern Drawl Helen The Original Faces Atreyu Long Live Iron Maiden The Book Of Souls Battles La Di Da Di Jerusalem in My Heart If He Dies, If If If If If If Blessthefall To Those Left Behind Joey Cape Stitch Puppy Bob Moses Days Gone By Lou Barlow Brace The Wave Chris Baio The Names Lumisokea Mnemosyne Chris Cornell Higher Truth Mueller_Roedelius Imagori CocoRosie Heartache City Painted Palms Horizons Crossfaith Xeno Rhodes Wishes Darwin Deez Double Down The Arcs Yours, Dreamily Dave Rawlings Machine Nashville Obsolete The Dear Hunter Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise David Gilmour Rattle That Lock The Souljazz Orchestra Resistance Duran Duran Paper Gods The Wonder Years No Closer To Heaven Glen Hansard Didn't He Ramble Travi$ Scott Rodeo Keith Richards Crosseyed Heart Woolen Men Temporary Monument Lana Del Rey Honeymoon Friday 11 September Le Butcherettes A Raw Youth Beirut No No No Lucero All A Man Should Do Ben Folds So There Mac Miller Good A.M. Better Off Milk Malevolent Creation Dead Man's Path Bring Me the Horizon That’s the Spirit Mercury Rev The Light In You Craig Finn Faith In The Future Metric Pagans In Vega Farao Till It's All Forgotten Nicolas Godin Counterpoint Grey Lands Right Arm Ought Sun Coming Down Guilty Simpson Detroit's Son Phases For Life
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Robert DeLong In The Cards Robert Forster Songs To Play Rudimental We The Generation Skylar Spence Prom King Sporting Life 55 5's Steven A. Clark The Lonely Roller Swim Deep Mothers Synkro Changes Telekinesis Ad Infinitum TesseracT Polaris The Front Bottoms Back On Top The Kickback Sorry All Over The Place Friday 25 September Avicii Stories Black Breath Slaves Beyond Death Chvrches Every Open Eye Darkstar Foam Island Disclosure Caracal Doe Paoro After Don Henley Cass County Dungen Allas Sak Fetty Wap Fetty Wap Grace & Tony Phantasmagoric Kurt Vile b’lieve i’m going down Los Lobos Gates Of Gold Matthew Good Chaotic Neutral New Order Music Complete No Devotion Permanence Parkway Drive Ire Peaches Rub Silversun Pickups Better Nature Steve Hauschildt Where All Is Fled The Dead Weather Dodge & Burn
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9 / 25
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STEAM PICKS FOR SEPTEMBER Sam Yeates & Sandra Langston
10/3-11/14 ING LLERY & FRAM GA S VI @ DA TX AUSTIN
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PENING RECEPT ION 6-1 @ SUPR 0PM EME LE NDING 2ND FLO OR 509 LAW RENCE S T, CC
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FRONTIER SALOON, 9709 LEOPARD ST, CORPUS CHRISTI THURSDAYS: KARAOKE WITH HOLLY ADAMS; 9/5 JOHN CORTEZ BAND, 9/12 ROB SEWARD, 9/19 RENO PEREZ, 9/26 TY DIETZ BAND THE SANDBAR, 15202 WINWARD DR, CORPUS CHRISTI LIVE MUSIC THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY—SEE OUR AD FOR DETAILS! HOUSE OF ROCK, 511 STARR STREET, CORPUS CHRISTI TUESDAYS: OPEN MIC, WEDNESDAYS: SCARECROW PEOPLE, 9/4 THE ART OF LIVING: BENEFITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, 9/13 CORPUS CHRISTI SONGWRITERS, 9/25 VALLEJO, AND MANY MORE SHOWS! CONCRETE STREET AMPITHEATER, 700 CONCRETE ST, CORPUS CHRISTI 9/5 ZIEGENBOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL!
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