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induction into the San Marcos Women's Hall of Fame, two sold out workshops at the ten year anniversary of "Life's a Song" in Port Aransas, and an upcoming sold show show at the State Theater in Austin, Texas, end 2015 for Terri Hendrix on a high note.
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's been five years in the making: Terri Hendrix kicks off ambitious Project 5 "marathon" by baring her folk roots and vulnerability on ve You Strong, due Feb. 5 on Wilory Records
though next year will mark the 20th anniversary of Two Dollar Shoes, the winsome debut album that officially launched her career, Terri Hendrix probably won't have a whole lot of time to celebrate that landmark. On top of her commitment to building the OYOU (an acronym for Own Your Own Universe) non-profit arts center in the Texas Hill Country, the Texas singersongwriter (recently inducted into the San Marcos Women's Hall of Fame) plans to spend 2016 rewarding her longtime fanbase with an epic bounty she calls "Project 5": five distinct but thematically linked releases (four albums and a book), all due in the next 12 months. To call Project 5 the most ambitious undertaking of Hendrix's career - not to mention unprecedented in her field - would be an understatement, but the pioneering independent artist has never shied away from a challenge. Going all the way back to that first album, she's bypassed labels and third-party distribution her entire career, opening her own ecommerce store long before it became the norm and successfully funding every album she's ever made through straight pre-orders on her own website alone. It's a proud tradition that continues this December, as Hendrix officially launched pre-orders for Project 5's first album, Love You Strong, set for release Feb. 5 on Wilory Records.
As
the "first piece" of the puzzle, Love You Strong offers a tantalizing glimpse of just how bold Project 5 really is, not just in scope but in the way it reveals a side of Terri that even her most diehard fans have never heard or seen before. Hendrix describes the album - her first since 2010's acclaimed Cry Till You Laugh - as "an exploration of love, trust, loyalty and conviction." It's also the most unguarded album she's ever made. "As a songwriter, I had to cut my chicken wings and leave my comfort zone to tell
recorded more than a dozen albums together, but never one quite like Love You Strong. By design, it's the most stylistically straight-forward album Hendrix has ever made - a bold move in itself for an artist usually inclined to dance all over the genre map with a freewheeling eclecticism that her fans have embraced from day one. But as Hendrix explains, "I was really thinking abut this album as a whole and how the songs fit together, and the music just didn't lend itself to leaving the earthy parameters of storytelling."
the stories I wanted to tell," she explains, referencing the carpe diem gauntlet she casts at her feet amidst the stomping rhythm of "Northern Lights." The stories she tells here range from the deeply personal to the universal, but every one of them hits its emotional mark head on with heart exposed. "This is not a happy record," Hendrix says, "but it's not a sad record, either. It's an honest record."
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ve You Strong's title track, already embraced by Hendrix's fans as a highlight of her recent live shows, is no ordinary "moon/June" love song: it's her paean to truly selfless love and sacrifice, inspired by her father's devotion as caregiver to her disabled mother. "No matter how much he loves her, he can't love her well, but he can love her strong," marvels Hendrix. Of course, there's a double meaning there, too: to love anyone that strong, be if family, friend, or romantic partner, also entails opening oneself up to getting hurt and not just in the classic broken heart sense of the word. With the deliberately unsettling "Vulnerable," Hendrix stares hard into the mirror to deliver a stark confession of self-doubt, raw nerves and family dysfunction during the holidays, while "The Rant" spares no punches in its frank assessment of taking personal responsibility for one's actions or inactions.
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though not without moments of levity (most notably "Fifty Shades of Hey," a self-effacing anthem about embracing middle age with humor, grace, and a tongue-in-cheek chorus even 20something millennials can sing along to), Love You Strong does not shrink or shy away from confronting the uncomfortable. "Feel the Time" surges with conviction over an urgent Celtic groove, but the song's bittersweet denouement hints at a collision course with mortality. "Calle De Los Ni単os" paints a haunting portrait of a traditional Mexican funeral for a child lost to violence. But like the grieving father's faith that his son will rise again - and the protagonist's "I'd bet on me to win if I were you" resolution in the "The Rant" - a strong undercurrent of hope and stubborn strength runs throughout the album. In both "Earth-Kind Rose" and "Found," the human spirit takes a beating but blooms resilient, "reaching for the light" with dignified grace under pressure. A defiant dignity also shines through "Texas Star," Hendrix's stirring tribute to Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, Molly Ivins, and Liz Carpenter, four Lone Star women of uncommon idealistic fortitude whose legacies outshine partisan politics.
As
befits a song for highly esteemed Texas women, "Texas Star" is
graced by special guest Eliza Gilkyson on harmony vocals. The rest of the album's stellar cast includes Lloyd Maines on guitars, pedal steel, dobro, mandolin, banjo, and papoose; Glenn Fukunaga on bass; Pat Manske and John Silva on drums and percussion; Riley Osbourn on keyboards; Dennis Ludiker on fiddle; Drew Womack on harmony vocals; and Bukka Allen on accordion. Hendrix herself plays guitars, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, papoose, and harmonica; she also co-produced the album with Maines. The two of them have now
ndrix's fans can rest assured, though, that her free spirit is far from tamed. After all, Love You Strong is only the first leg of her Project 5 "sonic marathon," with three more albums still to come in 2016: The Slaughterhouse Sessions (harmonica-driven acoustic blues and gospel); Who Is Ann? (an EP of lyric-driven electronica that Hendrix calls "TechnoLogical"); and Talk to a Human (another "songwriter" record that addresses both communication and the lack thereof in this social media driven world.) At year's end, she will also release an autobiography chronicling her journey as a performing singer-songwriter living with a seizure disorder. Each component of Project 5 share common themes and are meant to fit together to form a cohesive whole. Upon completion, the big picture will reveal a fulldimensional portrait of the artist not just as a proudly independent songwriter celebrating her 20th anniversary of "owning her own universe," but as a wizened middle-aged woman comfortable enough in her own skin to bare her heart, soul and vulnerabilities unafraid - and determined to live her time left on earth with passion, purpose, and principle.
CONTENTS SOUTH TEXAS
DECEMBER 2015 VOL. 4 ISS. 9
ENTERTAINMENT
ART
ON THE COVER...
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15 TROUBADOURS INSIGHT
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10 ARTIST DEBORAH GREER: THE EYES SAY IT ALL
PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS COMICS EDITOR ALLENE HICKS STAFF WRITERS RICK BOWEN, DALE MARTIN, TAMMA HICKS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J MICHAEL DOLAN, DEREK SIGNORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLENE HICKS, RUSTY HICKS
MUSIC 3 TERRI HENDRIX 8 ALBUM OF THE MONTH 11 CHARLIE DANIELS BAND: NEW ALBUM
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QUICK READ 5 COMICS 6 CD REVIEWS 7 NEW RELEASES: CDs & MOVIES 16
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KRYKEY PREMIUM RADIO 1081.0 ON THE DIAL
YOUR MAGNIFICENT GARAGE J. Michael Dolan (:33) You can have a great big impressive office and surround yourself with awards, citations, trophies and acknowledgements. However, your greatest ideas and most important work will still be the most imposing energy in the room. You can design your studio with the coolest gear and the latest technology, and surround yourself with worthy awards and platinum records. However, your greatest ideas and most important work will still be the loudest noise in the room. You can create an atmosphere of productivity and a cool creative vibe in your creative space, and surround yourself with inspiring posters, meaningful artifacts and memorable chachkies.
BASKETBALL POV J. Michael Dolan (:27) The NBA season lasts 6-months. During that time there are 82 games played. A team must win approximately 40% of those games in order to make it to the playoffs. If you win the playoffs you become champion of the world. - From the coach’s POV the intention is on winning the current game. - From the player’s POV the intention is on the very next play. - From the referee’s POV the intention is on playing by the rules. - From the broadcaster’s POV the intention is on clear, precise, play-byplay analysis. - From the advertiser’s POV the inten-
tion is on persuading, enticing and convincing the fans to buy their products. - From the fan’s POV the intention is on winning the championship. While it’s true that the goal of all participants is to win, as the head coach of your career, it’s also true that knowing the diverse POV and distinct intentions of your partners, bandmates, teammates, staff, agent, manager, producer or investors is an invaluable asset to achieving your goal and becoming a world class artist/entrepreneur.
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However, ultimately, your greatest ideas and most important work will be screaming at you the minute you walk through the door. Look, I enjoy a nice creative workspace too! However, when you take a look at the genius, brilliance and talent that have come out of small, dusty garages (from tech giants to rock gods), it becomes evident that your great ideas, your most important work, your most commanding projects, and your biggest dreams could care less whether you do your work in a small cubicle, a dusty garage or an elaborate studio. The only thing your best ideas want is to become meaningful and relevant.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX??? J. Michael Dolan (:15) Wait! Don't go “outside the box” yet! Some boxes are worth building and staying in! Especially the ones that contain a well thought out plan, along with a ruthless commitment to achieve it. We all love the notion of “thinking outside the box.” But not if the box you’re in shelters you from mediocrity, encourages you to attempt something extraordinary, and emboldens you to take premeditated risks. Wait! I think that’s what “thinking outside the box” really means in the first place!
“You don’t get better in games, you get better in practice” Byron Scott, head coach, L.A. Lakers.
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www.theawkwardyeti.com | www.lunarbaboon.com New Books Out Now! Order Yours Today!
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CD REVIEWS SAM OUTLAW ANGELENO (SELF RELEASED) By ROB DICKENS With that voice, the hat and those looks, Sam Outlaw could be a straight-up mainline Big Country Star. He could be wowing the Nashville scene, starring at the Grand Ol' Opry, working up to headlining that city's Bridgestone Arena. He could sing about beer, trucks and gals, finding love and, better still for songwriting inspiration, when love walked out the door. He could buy a ranch and ride horses. Game over. Success. But that ain't the story so far. Sam Outlaw (he was born Sam Morgan, Outlaw is his mother's maiden name) is from southern California (San Diego) and grew up on a diet of his parents' wide music tastes, West Coast country, soaking up the Bakersfield sound and 1970's pop. As he prepared to self-produce his firstfull length album, his drummer, Joachim Cooder, played some rough demos for his father, legendary guitarist, musicologist and producer Ry Cooder. I remember Cooder being interviewed at the Americana Conference in 2014 and hearing first hand his enthusiasm about the purity of Outlaw's music. To get familiar with the material, Cooder sat in with Outlaw's band to helped him determine how best to work the recording. Angeleno (Six Shooter Records) was recorded in Megawatt Studios in Los
Angeles, with a band that included Cooders Ry and Joachim, Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers) and Chuy Guzmán (Linda Ronstadt). There's also Jeremy Long, Danny Garcia and harmony vocals from Molly Jenson, Arnold McCuller and Goldsmith. Angeleno is old fashioned (there's even a track called that) and it revels in its style and simplicity, not giving a hootenanny for what's on trend. The opener “Who Do You Think You Are?” sets the scene for what ensues, with Outlaw's voice prominent and all other ingredients set perfectly around it. The track has easy mariachi horns and plenty of charm. "Keep It Interesting" lopes along gracefully, canny pedal steel, violin and guitar interloping. The twanging honky tonker is as country as you'll get on this collection, wrongs have been done, but there's a sharp plot twist. “Love Her For A While” is an ethereal homespun pleasure, while on the title track, the alluring story unfolds of a child whose soul and future is reflected in his eyes. "Country Love Song" tells of the struggles of work and the doubt-riddled decision of leaving a woman behind. The dangling electric guitar riff is simple but immaculate. It's a particular favourite of mine, as is the beautifully distressing "Ghost Town" about the loss of his mother. There's more honky tonk, as well as alcohol-soaked wit in "Jesus Take The Wheel
(And Drive Me To A Bar)" - Jesus is his designated driver, giving him the freedom for more than a few drinks at his favourite watering holes. "It Might Kill Me" sounds breezy but at its core are some dark heartbreaking lyrics. "Old Fashioned” ups the ante even further, a slow chanter with exquisite harmonies and arrangements, soulful and caressing. So sublime. So emotional. Sam Outlaw has a lot going for him. Talented singer and songwriter. A fan in Ry Cooder who guides this project with a subtlety and delicacy that is a pleasure to behold. Angeleno is an outstanding debut. It will feature in my top twenty releases of the year. By the way, I'm happy that Outlaw isn't a highly successful Country Star. WWW.SAMOUTLAW.COM WWW.ROBDICKENS101.COM
SAM BUTLER RAISE YOUR HANDS (SEVERN RECORDS) By BOB GOTTLIEB This is Sam Butler’s debut solo release of any kind, though he is a performer that has been well marinated and seasoned through his work as the lead guitar player with the Blind Boys of Alabama. He initially went out on the road with them first with his father, Sam Butler Sr. when he was 4, learned his lessons well. He didn’t just stay in the gospel genre, has done vocal work with both Keith Richards and Donald Fagan. In order to get the sound he wanted he enlisted some outstanding A list musicians such as pedal steel master Roosevelt Collier and bass by way of maestro Viktor Kraus and in demand drummer Marco Giovino, and they pull it all together under producer Brian Brinkerhoff. There is at times a murky or muddy quality, yet in some ways that seems to enhance the effect. There are 12 songs here penned by a variety of writers who for the most part are not generally associated with Gospel music such as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Van Morrison, and the way these songs are played and presented they are Gospel, or rather he makes them so. It is a very interesting first effort. Some of the songs were written with that intention, but for the most part they remain in the more obscure hidden areas of these songwriters’ efforts. That said, the songs as they are offered to us by Mr. Butler, are songs of faith and hope. It is Gospel for all of us and not necessarily the more traditional going to the Lord for miracles or cures. This is the Soul/Blues Gospel that has evolved in Sam Butler’s soul through all those years of playing guitar behind the Blind
Boys and providing the base for them to dazzle us with their vocal acrobatics (and if you haven’t heard them you should get up and give a listen to sone of the most exciting vocals groups around). Sam Provides a psychedelically, soulful guitar to all the songs he touches. A guitar that is steeped in that same driving fervor that powers gospel music to be the force that it is. Maybe we should just call this Spiritual music for all the rest of us. www.SAMBUTLER.com
By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine
harlie Daniels is a living legend, at least in my mind. He played guitar on Bob Dylan’s classic Nashville Skyline album and fiddle on many of the early Marshall Tucker Band albums before going out on his own, which I think music lovers of all genres can appreciate. Yes, even metal – Have you played his #1 hit “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock? He may not have liked what he heard, but it opened his music to a whole new generation and genre! Charlie Daniels is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Musicians Hall of Fame besides being an award winning songwriter, an accomplished musician, a literary author, and has contributed to the country, bluegrass, gospel, and southern rock genres (to name a few), and fills up every venue he performs at and… he’s just released a new live album! Not bad for a guy that recently celebrated his 79th birthday! I won’t tell you your accomplishments, but it goes without saying: you’re a big deal! And I want you to know I'm feeling a little star struck here! Good gosh, I'm no star. I'm just a fiddle player that God's been real good too. I don't really consider myself being a star I've just been very blessed that God's allowed me to do what I enjoy and has continued to allow me to do it for long as I possibly can. Let’s start with your new album,
CBD Live At Billy Bob’s Texas. How did you choose Billy bob’s? They kind of picked us. This is part of a series they've been doing for years now. Randy Rogers did one, so did Pat Green, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and a bunch more. They asked us to do one and it’s just right down our alley. We just jumped up when on stage, hooked up to some recording equipment, and there we were. The album is the CBD set for 2015, so tonight, here in Michigan, the set we play is just like the CD. That's cool. Since I've never had the chance to see you perform, I can at least listen to exactly what you sound like. I was looking at your website and I didn’t see a whole lot of upcoming shows. Have you slowed down on touring? Oh heck no! I do a whole lot of touring; go back on there and look a little harder! We did 107 shows last year, will do about the same this year with ten shows at the Grand Ole Opry and a few charity things on top of it. We stay pretty darn busy, but really that is slowed down from what we used to do. I can't do 200 plus shows anymore and really I have no desire to or need to. The number of shows we do is what I can handle comfortably and I really enjoy it.
I would love to see you come down to South Texas. We are much more about our live show than we are about studio. We'll be in Austin next year. I just saw it on the books, I don't think it's been publicized yet but we will be in Austin. This maybe a strange question, do you have names for your fiddles? No I don't, I don't think I've ever thought about doing it. A long time ago I had a name for a guitar I had but she was stolen; I called her The Rosewood Lady. But I've never gotten around to naming of my fiddles, maybe I should. (laughs)
H ave you played The
You have written five books and a huge list of songs; what do you enjoy more writing music or books? It’s no comparison; music is the big thing in my life and with any of my artistic endeavors music will always take first. I enjoy writing stories and columns; I do a column or two every week on my website. But music always takes precedence.
Devil Went Down To Georgia” in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock ?
I can remember the first time I heard “Devil Went Down To Georgia” on the local radio country radio station. I remember looking at my mom and saying that’s not country music and she told me, “It is now!” (laughs) Well it was a number one coun-
try song and it did real well in the country field. But really at that time it wasn't the type of music most people would associate with the country genre. I agree! You definitely were stepping outside the box! Going back to your writing, I know you are deeply involved in politics and, you post columns on your website which I've read many. Do you find that your political views ever get in the way of your music fan base? No because that's not part of my music, it's not part of my show. It's part of my private personal life and my opinions, the columns and interviews that I do on my website, those are my personal opinions and they don't have anything to do with my musical life; it's not part of my show. People come to see me play not to hear my opinions and that's what we do; my opinions just don't belong on the stage with me. I like the way you put that. Speaking of your personal life and politics you're involved with a program called “The Journey Home Project.” Can you tell me about it? The Journey Home Project is an outfit that my manager, 3 other people, and I started. It's our way to help service men and women coming back from military service adjust to civilian life. This may not seem like anything to those of us who have not done
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then with an X-Acto knife spread it around and scrape off the excess. I repeat this until each eye has the clarity and the points of light that I'm looking for. And that's what I feel makes my eyes have such deep expression. I keep seeing this cute little pug in your pieces. Who is he and why do you repeat him? This is Cookie and he is my muse! Anytime I get stuck on something I'm working, I can turn to him and draw or paint him and it clears my mind so that I can go back to the project I was working on or move on to the next thing. Tell me about Precarious Elephants On The Savannah. It isn’t really a piece on love is it?
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This was a mother and a teenage elephant and they were butting heads, just like our teenagers do. The mother was holding her place and really it was like she was saying, “don't you do that. I know what you’re thinking and I said no.” I called it Precarious Elephants On The Savannah because I could see this conversation taking place between them without any words, but you know exactly what she’s telling him. Tell me about your upcoming safari trip? We are going back to Tanzania for close to 3 weeks and we will be helping a biologist and his group from the Denver Zoo track leopards during their migration this winter. We will be counting and identifying the animals as they cross the trek. Do you have any shows coming up?
I try to be very active in as many of the art venues and programs as possible. I'm an active member of Studio C and I'm on the board at K Space Contemporary and the Art Museum of Corpus Christi as well as a member of the Rockport Art Centre. I feel that each of these venues has an important purpose in our area. At Studio C I have a least one piece on display each month. In September I had two paintings in the mix media division of Art Center of Corpus Christi’s Dimension XLIII show; Tiger Lily and Elephants Walking, which won first place and both pieces sold. Dianna Bluntzer, ACCC Director, has asked me to do a one person show in October 2016. She suggested that I’ll need about 30 paintings and isn’t it funny how things happen at the right time? She offers me this wonderful opportunity and, because I'm closing my law practice, I have the time to do the artwork needed to fill a solo show. For this show I am going to solely portray the animals that I see on this upcoming trip and that reason is so that, beyond what I think the piece says, it will have a real story; which I
feel is something that both intrigues the viewer and helps widen their perspective.
www.facebook.com/deborah.j.greer Top Left: Tigers Swimming 2015 Top Right: Cats On a Hot Orange Roof Bottom Left: Precarious Elephants On The Savanah
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THE NORTH END
San Antonio/New Braunfels/San Marcos/Austin
Troubadour Insights
With Dale Martin
Tom Petty is considered to
be one of the icons of classic rock, but if you are like me, you may not know a lot about the reclusive rocker. The very private music star finally opens up and tells his life story in the new autobiography simply titled “Petty,” written with the help of Warren Zanes. It chronicles Tom’s early years, growing up poor in Gainesville, Florida with parents that didn’t think the music business was a good career choice. Zanes, Petty’s co-writer, was once a guitar player for a band called the Del Fuegos, so he offers a very honest portrait of what life is like as a touring musician. With surprising honesty, Petty talks about his strained relationship with his father, his early bands, his decision to move to Los Angeles, and the formation of his band the Heartbreakers, easily one of the best bands in the history of rock music. So, now you have three new books that will make great gifts, one by John Fogerty, one by Ray Wylie Hubbard and now Tom Petty. All make perfect stocking stuffers for the music fan in your family.
The Aztec Theatre in San Antonio has been doing
a great job of bringing rock acts to our area in a historic renovated venue. Their recent partnerships with House of Blues and Live Nation have made them a desired tour stop for many major rock acts. Like Collective Soul, who recently made their debut appearance at the Aztec Theatre. A quick look at their website reveals these artists all scheduled to appear in the next few months: Machine Head, Hinder, Better Than Ezra, Grace Potter, Jamey Johnson and George Thorogood. Check out their complete schedule at TheAztecTheatre.com.
The
Dixie Chicks recently played for Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit and had such a good time, they decided to regroup and hit the road. Last week they revealed the dates for a 2016 tour that will take them all across the U.S. next summer. Following their previously announced European trek, the DCX MMXVI World Tour will kick off June 1st at the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The multi -award-winning trio will visit more than 40 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada, wrapping up their road trip with a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in October. Tickets for the DCX MMXVI World Tour went on sale November 20th. Although the "Ready to Run" trio has hit the road several times over the past decade, they haven't released a new album since the five-time Grammy winner ‘Taking the Long Way Home’ in 2006. The group toured with the Eagles in 2010, the same year members Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer formed the Court Yard Hounds duo. Each year since then, they have played a few select dates as a group, with Natalie Maines releasing her solo rock LP, Mother, in May 2013. Court Yard Hounds released their second album, Amelita, in July of that year. From October 2013 to March 2014, the group traveled North America and Europe on the Long Time Gone Tour. The biggest-selling female band of all time in the U.S., the Chicks have sold more
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than 30 million albums DEC 2015 worldwide, with two of their releases, 1998's Wide Open Spaces and 1999's Fly selling more than 10 million copies each. More information on the DCX MMXVI World Tour, including on-sale dates, is available at the Dixie Chicks' website. They are planning three shows in Texas, August 5 in Dallas at the Gexa Energy Pavilion, August 6 in Houston at the Cynthia Woods Mitchel Pavilion and August 7 in Austin at the Austin360 Amphitheater.
This fall marks the 45th anniversary
of Janis Joplin's death from an overdose in a Hollywood hotel room. Since then, the Port Arthur, Texas native has been the subject of books, reissues, a boxed set, an off-Broadway show, and a still-in-development biopic, possibly starring Amy Adams. Everyone from Kim Gordon to Pink has given Joplin props for paving the way as a woman in a male-dominated rock climate. "Even when I was 10 or 12 years old and first heard her sing," recalls Chan Marshall, a.k.a. Cat Power, "you knew she was feeling what she was singing. And I knew she was funny, because every picture I'd seen of her growing up, she was always laughing, like she was having a good life." In all those years, Joplin has only been the subject of one documentary, 1974's ‘Janis.’ That changed on November 27th, with ‘Janis: Little Girl Blue,’ filmmaker Amy Berg's look at the driven but vulnerable woman who packed more adventures into her 27 years than many musicians do in a lifetime. Those who remember Janis may recognize some of the clips in Berg's movie, including director D.A. Pennebaker's footage of the recording sessions for Big Brother and the Holding Company's Cheap Thrills and clips of Joplin attending her high school reunion in Texas. Unlike the earlier documentary, Little Girl Blue includes newly conducted interviews. Seen and heard in the movie are Joplin's family (including her siblings Laura and Michael, who oversees Joplin's estate), members of Big Brother (including guitarist Sam Andrew, who died earlier this year), the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, and close friends like Country Joe McDonald and Dick Cavett. One cool clip is an outtake from Festival Express, the documentary about the 1970 train-ride tour that featured Joplin, the Dead, the Band, and other musicians playing and partying across Canada. In the outtake, Joplin is seen singing and strumming "Me and Bobby McGee" with Jerry Garcia accompanying her on guitar, several months before Joplin recorded the song for her album ‘Pearl’, which was released after her death. For Berg, who's directed such documentaries as ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ and ‘West of Memphis,’ the ‘Janis: Little Girl Blue’ film was a labor of love dating back to 2007, when she first met with Joplin's estate to discuss a documentary. Even though it would take another eight years, and $1.5 million, for the film to come to out. "When I talked to Pink and Melissa Etheridge for the movie, I saw this theme of Janis starting their careers for them," Berg says. "Her existence gave them the courage to do what they wanted to do. In the Sixties, women were expected be mothers and secretaries, and Janis wanted to be more. She was ahead of her time as a woman in a man's world. It's still a battle to do what you want to do, have a family, make people happy and not be judged. She was constantly worried about messing up. I saw this vulnerable young woman who was just trying to find herself. Women in the entertainment business are taking charge of their lives. But we're still fighting for a lot of the same things."
www.martinsmusic.com
Release dates are subject to change, and often do.
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Return Of The Tender A Head Full Of Dreams When It's Dark Out Speedin' Bullet To Heaven Science & Magic: A Sou... Long Live The Pimp Black Market Kannon This Thing Called Life Christmas In Reno Art Angels Right On! Big GRRRL World The Buffet Stonerism Stoicville: The Phoenix Purple Tell Me I’m Pretty Royalty Code Red Darkest Before The Dawn
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continued from pg 11 it, but for people coming back from service, especially combat areas, it can be a very stressful and traumatic event. We try to help them out in any way we can. And that help could be anything from education so they can get jobs to helping them with getting furniture. Really, it’s whatever we can do to make their journey home easier and less complicated. Wow that is really a truly wonderful program! I personally have known people coming back from military service that were lost in what to do and how to move on. We are a real small operation, not big like Wounded Warriors or some of the other programs out there. We really just honor our veterans and want to help them out in our own way with the money we raise and we just do the best of our ability to help out. You know everybody has to fill a niche in and this is what we do. Again I think it's a great program is the best of luck and I hope it just continues to keep building! ~ www.charliedaniels.com
highly anticipated 14-track CD and DVD were recorded LIVE at The Lone Star State's largest honky tonk, Billy Bob's Texas, on February 20, 2015. Vivacious, raw performances make up the CD, while the DVD gives viewers a front row seat to the full concert, complete with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with Daniels. Produced and released by Smith Music Group, the new project is the latest addition to the Live At Billy Bob's Texas recording series. About The Journey Home Project: The Journey Home Project is a not-for profit organization that assists other not-forprofits in securing funds to help causes that benefit veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The Journey Home Project was founded in 2014 by country music legend Charlie Daniels and board members: David Corlew, Ed Hardy and Joe & Mercedez Longever. Conscious of the need to assist our nation’s veterans, they have set out to partner with organizations that do the most good, with the least overhead. Working in tandem with these organizations, The Journey Home Project is making a difference in the lives of American patriots. For more information, visit www.thejourneyhomeproject.
Charlie Daniels Band Live At Billy Bob’s Texas: Now available in stores and on iTunes and Amazon comes the CD and DVD release of The Charlie Daniels Band – Live At Billy Bob's Texas. The
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STEAMMAGAZINE.NET
3rd Coa s t Foodie
his month the 3rd Coast Foodie is staying home for the holidays. We talked about some of the places we could tell you about, but then came up with the following thought… Holidays are for fellowship, family, and friends. And for those of us who are far from the people we’d like to spend time with it’s a time of year that many fight with depression and loneliness. Let’s face it, even under our big Texas skies there are a lot of grey clouds in December. Ugh! It’s enough to make you want to stay in bed, but we won’t because there are things to do and food to eat! So, back to our idea… We thought we’d share some of our favorite holiday things with you because you play a big part in the STEAM family! Please remember these are just our suggestions, our memories, and ideas. What you do and how you do it is up to you; we just wish you a happy day.
Don’t hibernate, get out and meet some people! My big thing is to be around people and I believe HEB feels this way too with their Annual HEB Feast of Sharing! The Feast of Sharing is the culmination of a year-round commitment they’ve made to fighting hunger. In addition to a holiday meal you can enjoy music, arts and crafts, and kids activities‑even an appearance by Santa! Join in the festivities and experience the joy as there are events in communities all over Texas to provide holiday meals and good cheer. Here’s a link to a list of events:
www.heb.com/static-page/articletemplate/Feast-of-Sharing You can always spend the holiday with people that need you and it’s easy to do – volunteer! When the temperatures drop like they have there are lots of people in need and helping someone certainly makes me feel warmer. Shelters, Food Banks, hospitals, even animal shelters need help! Ok, so I’m not condoning the consumption of alcohol by any means, but many bars and lounges will be open. Go in, have a Coke, a cranberry juice, or a beer. Play some pool, sing some karaoke! What? They don’t serve food? Bring in a pizza! You’ll be very popular!
Speaking of food… Every Christmas since I can remember involves cookies and candies! I can remember a year when I started baking the day after Thanksgiving and didn’t stop until Christmas Eve. I think everyone I knew gained about 10 pounds in those short four weeks! My dad’s favorite is always frosted sugar cookies and of course the best are the ones you let the kiddos decorate! Isn’t it amazing how many sprinkles can fit on one cookie?! I think our favorite memory is the year I decided to make Divinity and my husband and kids had no idea what they were in for! The batter was hot, we had to move fast, spoons were flying, and we laughed so hard! It’s been many years since then and we still laugh and get excited when we talk about it! Of course when it comes to making the perfect
By Tamma Hicks STEAM Magazine
and opening presents that none of us connected the holiday drink it dots. Everyone’s has to be hoteyes were wide buttered-rum! with excitement That is one thing and as the lid came we’ve really off and the tissue missed since flew away… We moving to South started giggling and Texas because then rolling with it’s a “Yankee” laughter! Dad had drink as a friend gotten Auntie of mine ex“Poodle care prodplained, so finducts” – a dog brush, ing batter is dog shampoo, and a difficult, but dog sweater berecipes are on cause it was cold the internet! Me on Christmas Morning 1974 out! If my memory Like many, our is correct this was the last year of gag tradition is turkey and all the trimgifts between them. mings for Thanksgiving; while ham My second favorite memory is from rules Christmas. This was partially for the year we all decided to take a step our son who claims that ham with back to the olden days. There were pineapple, brown sugar, and maraabout twenty of us, so we drew schino cherries is a divine way to give names – each person got two names. thanks to the Lord. The rules were simple, we could spend up to $10 for the parts/ ingredients but each gift had to be When it comes to gift giving we have handmade. The reason this was so so many fun stories – so I’ll cut it special was because we knew our gift down to my two favorite! When I was (both giving and receiving) would be little my Dad and Auntie (his sister) unique and one of kind! I can still rewould give each other a gag gift. Now member the pair of quilted duck picI can’t remember what she gave Dad, tures I gave my Grandma and the blue but I do remember that “poodle percrocheted slippers I got and wore unmanents” were all the rage and she til they unraveled some years later. had just gotten her hair done. As we
The Fun of Gifts
were all sitting around taking turns she grabbed the box from him – a beautiful pink box with a huge bow and a furrier’s logo on it. That should have been the hint, but we were all sucked in to what we were getting
Well, that’s about all I can think of right now. So from the STEAM family to yours… We wish you a very joyous holiday season! Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and many more!
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DEC 2015
Grandma’s Pink Divinity
This is me, Tamma, in 1970 “helping” make Christmas cookies.
2 2/3 cups sugar 2/3 cup light corn syrup 1/2 cup water 2 egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla 2/3 cup coarsely chopped nuts 1/4 cup chopped/minced and drained maraschino cherries Directions: Cook sugar, corn syrup and water (use 1 tablespoon less water on humid days) in 2-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking, without stirring, to 260ºF on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hard ball that holds its shape but is pliable. Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Continue beating while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites, beating constantly on medium speed. (For best results, use electric stand mixer, not a portable handheld mixer since beating time is about 10 minutes and mixture is thick.) Add vanilla. Beat until mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. (Mixture may become too stiff for mixer.) Gently stir in nuts and maraschino cherries. Drop mixture from buttered spoon onto waxed paper. Let stand at room temperature at least 12 hours, turning candies over once, until candies feel firm. Store in airtight container. ~ Adapted from Grandma Louise’s Betty Crocker Cookbook, 1950.
Frosted Sugar Cookies for Dad 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cream of tartar Granulated sugar or colored sugar Directions Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients except granulated sugar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Heat oven to 375ºF. Lightly grease cookie sheet. Divide dough in half. Roll each half 1/4 inch thick on lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with 2to 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters. Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are light brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack and frost. Frosting: 2 cups powdered sugar, 2-4 tbsp. milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, peppermint, or coconut extract, and Food coloring. Combine sugar, two tablespoons milk, and honey, adding more milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. For piping and spreading, you're looking for a thicker frosting (like cake frosting), for dipping cookies, you'll want something a little bit thinner. Divide into five bowls and add food coloring – leave one white. Pipe, spread or dip onto cookies. Frosting will dry to a soft glossy coating. Apply sprinkles before frosting dries. ~ Adapted from Grandma Johnson’s Betty Crocker Cookbook, 1953.