STEAM Magazine South Texas Entertainment Art Music volume 6 issue 10 January 2018

January 2018 VOL.6 ISS.10 #70 ON THE COVER...

2 NEW MOVIES & MUSIC 4 COMICS 5 QUICK READ 6 ALBUM COVER OF THE MONTH 7 CD REVIEWS 8 ROGER FISHER: FOUNDING GUITARIST OF HEART 12 MICHAEL WILLIAMS : 22ND GRADE DROPOUT 13 LAN DON B ULLARD: MOSTLY SOBER 15 DECEMBER EVENTS PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS COMICS EDITOR ALLENE HICKS STAFF WRITERS STEVE GOLDSTEIN, TAMMA HICKS, RUSTY HICKS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J MICHAEL DOLAN, DEREK SIGNORE, ROB DICKENS, RICK J BOWEN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLENE HICKS, RUSTY HICKS

Max pic 2.64h X 2.19w

ROGER FISHER

BY JERRY & LOIS PHOTOGRAPHY

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

E

JAN 2018

CHECK OUT OUR COMICS FOR FUN & UNIQUE GIFTS!

ineedcoffee.com Lunarbaboon.com theawkwardyeti.com

STEAMMAGAZINE.NET

E

JAN 2018

The wizard in you J. Michael Dolan

The young naïve King Arthur once

asked the great wizard Merlin why he always wore robes with moons & stars on them. Merlin replied, “Why it’s because everywhere a wizard goes he is always at the center of the universe.”

That said, as 2017 draws to a close,

Grounded!

J. Michael Dolan

The ground is dependable. That’s why we need to stand our ground, even when the ground starts shaking. Here’s how to tell if you’re grounded: — You’re grounded if you consistently remain ruthlessly committed to your dream, your goal and your mission, even when petty distractions try to tempt you off course.

— You’re grounded if you can actually make smart, well thought out choices and decisions, even if they are last minute.

— You’re grounded if things are progressing, moving forward and getting accomplished—even if it’s a slow evolution.

— You’re grounded if you’re making enough to keep your world financed— even if it’s just enough.

Important because grounded doesn’t mean set, stuck or resolute. What it means is that you’re in touch with reality, even when things seem unreal, and you’re able to intelligently navigate the chutes & ladders that come your way, even when there are more chutes than ladders.

stand in the very center of your crazy, independent, creative career and take a long, deep, honest, look around.

Hunt down the petty activates (and people) that distract you from doing your best work. Search and destroy anything that continues to slow your progress. Terminate anything that thwarts your growth or stalls your advancement. Discern weakness at the very core of your creative work, and insist on accuracy and precision in all those who work with or for you.

Important because as the wizard of your world, take an intelligent look at what’s currently wanted and needed, then simply provide it—without fanfare, without praise, and without applause. Not like mythical magic, more like contemporary pragmatism.

Deep dive J. Michael Dolan

Most of us artists & treps are always

searching for deeper truth and honesty wherever we can find it. Not only from our leaders, but also in our art, our business and our careers. Genuineness and authenticity are paramount when you’re running a business, building an empire, or creating something from nothing. And it’s a struggle to find conversations that are free from the continuous hypnotic blather of gossip, rumor, hearsay and drama of the day.

That said, back in the day when I felt like I

was being eaten alive by the hoopla of Hollywood, I always found someone to take a deep dive into a bigger conversation with; a mate, a friend, certain employees, certain clients. For me it’s like a drug. I need the fix

of a deeper exchange or I’m out of balance—out of whack. I try to surround myself with friends that need the same drug, who prefer more stimulating dialog.

I even build in weekly chats with enlightened, transformed associates, colleagues and clients who need the same fix.

Important because I’m afraid if we don’t have a deeper discourse on a regular basis, with like-minded cronies, free from the distraction of everyday, commonplace chinwagging, we can easily lose touch with our dharma, our purpose, what we’re really committed to and what we are capable of achieving.

After achieving pop success while helping to spearhead the folk/rock movement in the mid-1960's, The Byrds began to splinter, leaving only singer/guitarist Roger McGuinn as the only original member left to fly on. Their ever changing roster of musicians, including the great Gram Parsons, seemed to keep the band in a constant state of flux. By 1969, their longest lasting lineup included McGuinn, Gene Parsons on drums (no relation to Gram), Skip Battin on bass, and Clarence White on guitar. Many consider this version of the band to be the most musically accomplished. Clarence White, a child prodigy, already had a reputation as a master of bluegrass guitar, first picking with his brothers Roland and Eric in The Country Boys and later with brother Roland in The White Brothers and The Kentucky Colonels. (By age 17, Clarence and The Country Boys had appeared twice on The Andy Griffith Show.) His flatpicking technique would transform the acoustic guitar from a bluegrass rhythm instrument to a soloing one, influencing players like Tony Rice and Dan Crary along the way. After the Kentucky Colonels split up in 1965, Clarence took on session work which landed him a spot on The Byrds' 1967 album, "Younger Than Yesterday." In 1969, he became a full-time Byrd. Clarence is also credited with inventing the "B-bender," along with Gene Parsons, It was a device built into his Fender Telecaster guitar that attached to the strap and would allow the second (B) string to raise a full step which emulated the sound of a steel guitar. His B-bender is on full display in

this 2-LP set. "Nashville West" and "All Things" are perfect examples. Sides one and two are live concert recordings from early 1970 that feature many of The Byrds classics, including "So You Want To Be A Rock 'N Roll Star" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." Sides three and four are made up of studio recordings. The Byrds officially disbanded in 1973.

Shortly after, 29 year old Clarence White was killed by a drunk driver while he and his brother Roland were packing their gear into a van after a show. Skip Battin died from Alzheimer's disease in 2003 at age 69. One track that particularly stands out on this album is McGuinn's "Chestnut Mare" from the studio recordings.

However, if you have an extra 16 minutes, check out the jam heavy "Eight Miles High" from the live sides.

After being signed to The Beatles’ Apple Records in 1968 at the insistence of Beatles’ roadie Mal Evans and Apple A&R chief Peter Asher, The Iveys found only limited success in Europe.

Then, in 1969 Paul McCartney gave the UK band a song he wrote called “Come And Get It” and also produced the session. The song was to be used in the 1969 film, “The Magic Christian.” But first, a name change was in order.

The Beatles had a song called “Bad Finger Boogie,” which eventually became “With A Little Help From My Friends,” and their closest confidant, Neil Aspinall, suggested the new name.

“Come And Get It” became a worldwide hit and kicked off a brief run on the pop charts.

The band consisted of Pete Ham on guitar, Tom Evans on bass, Mike Gibbins on drums, and newest member Joey Molland on guitar.

(Ham and Evans co-wrote “Without You,” later covered

by Harry Nilsson in 1971.) They signed an ill-fated management contract with an American businessman, Stan Polley. Polley was apparently skimming off the band’s profits and would eventually contribute to the band’s demise. Another problem was the inevitable comparisons to The Beatles. After five albums, Badfinger and Apple parted company. In addition to their manager’s shady dealings, Apple was having their own financial issues. Lawsuits were filed, money wasn’t paid out and the band was going broke. Pete Ham tried unsuccessfully to get his cut and consequently hung himself in his garage in 1975 at age 27. In a suicide note, he called Polley “a soulless bastard.” Badfinger was dropped from their new label, Warner Brothers, and soon disbanded. Over the years, the surviving members quarreled over past income, and in 1983 a distraught Tom Evans followed his former band-mate and hung himself in his garden at age 36. Mike Gibbins died in 2005 from a brain aneurysm at age 56.

Joey Molland remains active in music. “Straight Up” was Badfinger’s third lp. George Harrison stepped up to produce the album in an effort to spruce things up. However, George soon became very busy with his “Concert For Bangladesh” project and Todd Rundgren came in to finish things up. This album is considered by many to be Badfinger’s finest work.

Besides spawning two hits, “Day After Day” and “Baby Blue,” it also features the essence of power pop, “Money,” “Suitcase,” Name Of The Game” and “Flying.” The recommended track to seek out is the acoustic driven “Perfection.”

SAMANTHA FISH BELLE OF THE WEST (RUF RECORDS)

BY RICK J BOWEN Kansas City guitarist and rising contemporary blues sensation Samantha Fish has used several notable producers on her albums who have tried to elevate her “down home girl next door” aesthetic, but Grammy nominated Luther Dickinson may have

SCOTT MILLER LADIES AUXILIARY (F.A.Y. RECORDINGS)

BY ROB DICKENS In the 1990s, Scott Miller was a member of the very vibrant Knoxville TN-based outfit the V-Roys. The band impressed Steve Earle who signed them to his label ESquared. Not long after, both label and band were gone.

Having survived a health scare, Miller headed for his family’s Shenandoah Valley ranch and embraced the life of a cattleman. Between his post V-Roys band, The Commonwealth and his solo outings, he has amassed an impressive ten albums. Ladies Auxiliary has, however, taken four years to poke its head out.

The album name reflects the female help he received in bringing life to his songs. Bryn Davies on bass (a regular for Darrell Scott), Rayner Gellert and Deanie Richardson’s fiddle, Anne McCue on guitar and banjaroo, Jen Gunderman piano and Megan Carchman on drums. Comprising ten songs, there are eight originals (one a co-write with Robin and Linda Williams), a cover of Bill Monroe’s tune ‘With Body and Soul’ (by Virginia Stauffer) and Dave Kinney’s razor-sharp ‘Mother-In-Law’.

So impressed was Miller by McCue’s playing, he also

found the proper locale for her to shine. Fish joined Dickinson and several of his Memphis Underground musical tribe rural creative atmosphere of the legendary Zebra Ranch Studios in the North Hills of Mississippi to record her fifth studio album Belle of the West, released in November of 2017. Dickinson removed Fish from the big guitar universe she has been working hard in and set her down in a more acoustic based live on the floor atmosphere, and by doing so allowed her voice literally more breathing room, resulting in possibly her best vocal performance to date. He also called on a team of studio players who are some of the region’s most iconoclastic musicians, including solo artist and Jack White associate Lillie Mae, juke-joint legend Lightnin’ Malcolm, Squirrel Nut Zippers founder Jimbo Mathus, upright bassist Amy LaVere, Tikyra Jackson, Trina Raimey and Shardé Thomas, granddaughter of the legendary Southern bluesman Otha Turner. Opening track “American Dream,” is the first of several original songs and features Hill Country fife and drum playing from Thomas and Lillie Mae on violin. The slinky blues Blood In the Water,” features a chorus of alluring sirens who support the wicked tale of desperation and deceit. The mood downshifts to a lite country heartbreak rambler “Need You More,” and the easy going southern rocker “Cowtown.” The sorrowful tale of lost dreams “Daughters,” is a creative boundary pushing track that employs unique drum kit playing that shifts between a trip hop groove and a swinging march under mournful guitars and fiddle and fuzzy lo-fi keys and

enlisted her as producer, to great effect. The songs were recorded at Wild Chorus Studio in Knoxville and Flying Machine, Nashville.

How can this be?? Scott Miller has been nose-to-thegrindstone honing his considerable skills and putting himself in the spotlight for over a decade and it takes until now for us at Listening Through The Lens to get his goldstandard musical message. Fortunately producer Anne McCue directed my attention to this album and what a joy it is to behold.

The opener ‘Epic Love’ has everything – a wonderful love story, passionate vocals, bewitching bass and delicate piano. Embrace the reflective ‘Someday/Sometime’ with its rising chorus, the wry observations of the lilting ‘Ten Miles Down The Nine Mile Road’, the paranoia of ‘Middle Man’ and the humour of ‘Jacki With An Eye’ and ‘MotherIn-Law’. The fiddles of Gellert and Richardson infuse the album with ethereal qualities, with McCue’s multi-talented guitar and banjaroo chops enhancing everything she has a go at.

We now know about Scott Miller.

We now know that he is an outstanding talent.

We now know that Ladies Auxiliary is a wonderful collection of keen insights, music performances and arrange-

passionate vocals. Fish plays the woman scorned on the deep Blues track “Don’t Say You Love Me.” And emphasizes her point with stinging lead guitar. Jimbo Mathus co-wrote the title track “Belle of the West,” delivered here with a meticulous authenticity that gives the lovely Western ballad a timeless quality. Lightnin’ Malcolm trades verses with Fish on the RL Burnside Hill country blues Standard “Poor Black Mattie,” and we are witness to a “taking them to school” session of pure musical joy. The gritty “No Angels,” is based around an infectious guitar riff, call and response chorus and some of that famously sweet slide guitar from Dickinson. Lillie Mae’s “Nearing Home” has Fish singing harmony backup vocals to Mae’s lead on the haunting southern gothic meditation. The session ends with an off the cuff intro into the keeper take of the frenetic country stomp “Gone For Good,” that intertwines dobro slide and fingerpicking acoustic and lo-fi rhythm section thump that is part of the Zebra Ranch signature sound that the Dickinson brothers have honed into high art .

STEAMMAGAZINE.NET

SAMANTHAFISH .COM RICK J BOWEN: WABLUES.OG

ments.

SCOTTMILLER.VECTORSTAGING COM ROB DICKENS: LLISTENINGTTHROUGHTHELENS.COM

JESSE JAMES & THE MOB LIVE AT SUNBANKS 2017 (SELF-RELEASED)

BY RICK J BOWEN Indie live records have traditionally been lo-fi bootleg-type affairs, but now in the digital age, the concept has been raised to a whole new level of quality. Fresh off their appearance at the Sunbanks Festival in May comes the new EP from Northwest group Jesse James and the MOB, Live at Sunbanks 2017. The nine tracks capturing the youthful energy of this up and coming group led by young gun slinger Jesse James, a native of Chelan and alum of the Centrum Blues camp, who’s been working hard to learn his craft and make his mark on the Pacific Northwest blues scene. James is joined by his long time MOB (“Men of Blues”) comrade Giordan Montero on bass and vocals along with new addition Christian Reed on trombone and Best of the Blues Award winner Tommy Cook filling in on drums. The set opens with the first of six original

M

JAN 2018

C D R E V I E W S

tunes from James, “Finally the Jetpack Flies,” a funky love song with a quick-witted talk sing verses and rhythmic interplay between the guitar and trombone. The curiously named track “untitled,” features some thought-provoking introspective lyrics and soaring solos from James and Reed. Jesse then takes liberty with a Band of Gypsies riff and transforms it into his own rant “I Aint Mad,” and the funk continues for “The Pedestrian.” James pays tribute to his heroes on blazing rips thru “Hey Joe,” and then remakes the classic “St James Infirmary” by delivering the tome over a tasty reggae groove. The quartet jams out on blues standard “One Way Out,” for seven minutes before closing with James’ scorching blues “Between Human and Machine,” and the “Voodoo Chile-“inspired rampage “Weather The Storm.” .

JESSEJAMESMOBCOM RICK J BOWEN: WABLUES.OG

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Something I like to ask songwriters is if they have

We may rely on religion but one thing that is common to all of humanity is Music.

So, as a live performer and as a public figure it is your responsibility to help Humanity evolve and reach for the fruit at the top of the tree. And the more people that can jump on that bandwagon the better future we will all have.

any advice they are willing to share with people that have aspirations of becoming writers or performers.

There's always a balance between art and business.

You have to be able to put food on the table. That's number one. Once you achieve that then you should write from a “felt need”. Meaning that if I write what the record companies are looking for and it could be a hit, you could make a million on it, but I think it's even more important to not bring something to market just for the sake of getting money. Because if that's the bottom line, then it doesn't need to be as good to be profitable but then you're only carrying on the same bunch of BS that we already have in our world and that's insulting. What we need to reach for as songwriters is something higher that represents where Society needs to go. What is the purpose of being a musician and a writer if you can't further the evolution of yourself and Humanity? Without evolution we'll all expire.

subject… They just released the names of the 2018 Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees. What was it like to get that induction?

My brother and I were working in the studio when we got a message that we were being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And we looked at each other and smiled and we went back to where we were working because that was the important thing at the time. It was a few hours later when we looked at Facebook and it just was exploding with excitement. People were so enthused that this was happening for us and that's really when it hit home and we got excited too. It was such a validation and confirmation of what we had all strived for for so long because as you say I'm a deep person but everyone in the band had a lot of depth.

We were each into our own aspect and that's proven by the depth of the songs that we wrote together. It

I can is to shed a few words of wisdom and advice with people that are seeking it.

That is great advice. Okay, to a completely different

Roger Fisher and Shayne Dwight 2017

was really a great feeling of achievement.

I know this is a question you probably have to answer all the time but I'm going to ask it anyway. The song Barracuda I know it has something to do with the girls and how they had to deal with the Creeps in the business, but I’d like to know how did you come up with that guitar riff? Because honestly when someone thinks of rock and roll Barracuda and that guitar lick is exactly what comes to mind.

Well, I truly appreciate your comment. First, let's talk about where the lyrics came from because that is very prevalent right now. So, the song isn't just about the Creeps in the business, it's about sexual harassment.

It's about the girls having the guts, even back then, to say that with such a loud and authoritative voice that it is so wrong. It's about the conquest of rising above that and being victorious. So, it really is a song of victory and it speaks volumes about their integrity and spirit.

Okay, the guitar lick. Well when you’re on the road everyday you've only got so much that you can do.

Most of the times you’re either on the bus or stuck in a hotel room and you have all this time on your hands.

So, what we would do before a show was a sound check and we’d just sit around and jam. Back then it was typically an hour and a half to two hours before they would stop us and say you have to do something else. And you know with a jam it's always so much fun because you can just let loose.

I don't remember where we were exactly, but it was during one of these jams that I came up with this riff.

Mike, who was at the soundboard out in the middle of the Coliseum, comes running up and says you have got to remember that riff. That is one that you need. So, thanks to the Magic Man we developed an idea out of it, came up with other parts to the song, and then the sexual harassment thing it just kind of worked in with that heavy riff.

How did your brother Michael become nicknamed the Magic Man? Well that's really just such a fun story because in the early time of the band we all move to Vancouver and into his house. Literally in his house, because we were all poor and he was living off of a college grant. You'll have to read our book when it comes out to get all the little details, but when it came time to move we all would look for hours and days and yet somehow Mike would go out and just find some incredible deal and we’d move. Anybody who knows Mike, especially back then, knew that there was just something special about this guy. Good things would just happen for him.

Anyways suffice to say the name is apt.

Interesting. I thought it was Roger Fisher and Ray Roper Vineyard Jam 2017

STEAMMAGAZINE.NET JAN 2018

M

for his ability to run

sound.

Yeah well, that too.

You brought up that you two are writing a book.

When do you think it will be released?

Oh no, it's not ready. And we're in no hurry to finish our dual autobiography, because quite honestly one of the best parts is still being written! How can you write an autobiography about your life if you're still living it and if you’re writing about your best, why would you want to continue on?

You know I've always thought about that myself.

ROGERFISHER.COM

I don’t know about you but I love to listen to someone sing the oldies. Not oldies like the 70’s or 80’s, but the 40’s, 50’s and even into the 60’s with the sounds of Sinatra, Como, and Hank Williams Sr. It reminds me of my Dad who insisted that those guys were the true Golden Age of Music. Mike Williams is a crooner who, at the age of 80, performs every Sunday afternoon singing and playing guitar to those oldie songs and sometimes invites his Tailgate Dixieland Combo to play with him. He’s not just a crooner, he likes to tell stories during his set and he has a lot because before he began playing and singing he was a college professor and before that a lawyer; so he’s got some really good stories. I sat down and talked with him for a bit, but I have the feeling I didn’t even scratch the surface of who he really is.

have been playing for 40 years now.

A 22nd Grade Dropout

By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine Photos By Ronnie Narmour

So, how did you get into playing music?

My parents were both very interested in music. My dad went to law school with Hoagy Carmichael and would go listen to his combo. Do you remember Hoagy Carmichael? He wrote some hack songs like Stardust, Georgia on My Mind, Girl From Ipanema. I’m being sarcastic, those are some great classics.

Well, I'm too young for that but I bet you my dad does.

My mother was doing a radio show with her boyfriend, Don Ameche, (the actor from Trading Places, Cocoon, and others).

Actually I think she'd been engaged to him at one point. Anyway, he brought my mother home at 2 in the morning one night and my grandmother beat the crap out of him. So my mother took her broken heart to some little place in Wisconsin and that’s where she met my dad. So, if it wasn't for music I wouldn’t be here.

So, did you play your way through college?

No, really I didn't play professionally or actually even in public until 1975 or 1976 and I was close to 40 at that point. Like I said I’d go to bed early and purge myself of the frustrations of law practice either by playing guitar or petting the dog. One of those two things will

I met you on a Sunday in Port Aransas at Giggity’s. You were playing some really cool songs that I hadn’t heard Mike Williams played a few songs at the 33rd Annual Songwriter Showcase in Port Aransas in years.

Yep, I've been playing there for 3 years now. Mostly I play by myself, but for about a That'll be a lot of fun. I'm going to make at Texas State University, but right now I just help clear your head. year I played with Jack Trowbridge as a duo. sure we're out there. You've said you've can't do that. The average age expectancy for How did you end up in Port Aransas?

Rocky Arnold used to sit in with me too. He been a lawyer and a professor. So, when an American male is 78.2. I'm going to be 80 Oh, my dog died and I got drunk. I ended up passed away about 4 months ago at the age did you find time to learn guitar? the first week of January. playing guitar over at Mary Malibu, so this is of 94, but he was a great piano player; played Well, I used to go to bed early, pet the dog, in like 1982. Someone said do you want to Okay, you’re a hobbyist and a crooner with Paul Desmond for 10 years. Anyway, and play the guitar so sleep at my place and I said because, like I said, you play some music I'm a hobbyist, but I've been around some that I could get fine musicians. that isn’t heard a whole lot any more.

As a dropout I made it all the yeah. I haven't gone home through my frustrayet.

That's what I like, that's where my love is. I tions from the day. way to being a lounge singer in I wouldn't call you a hobbyist. Most hobplay some fairly adequate Tailgate Dixieland And I really didn't play byists don't hold a residency for 3 years. combo too. In fact on Sunday January 7th in front of anyone until Port Aransas and that's what I So, what keeps you here?

Well, I'm 80. I've been a lawyer. I've been a The beach, the weather, we having a birthday celebration for me at the mid 70s, about the college professor. And if I could roll back wanted to be all along, I just Giggity’s and I will be playing with the Dixiethe people? time I was going for the hands of time I'd be a student of jazz up land Combo, so please come join us. I’ve got the bar exam. Somedidn't know it.

You know some of the local guys playing -Janet Lumley, Bill Averbody had offered me bach, Eddie O, Denny Larkin, and Scott some money, 15 bucks JAN 2018 Harrington. So, we're going to blow some or so. I've never really considered myself a Dixieland from 12 to 3pm, during my set. professional musician making money. But I

M

STEAMMAGAZINE.NET

Continued on Page 14

By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine Photo: Unknown

Landon Bullard

was born in Baton Rouge, LA and raised in Texas. He claims it was a blessing to be born a Cajun and raised a Texan. He went to Texas State in 2009 and where he nursed his song-writing while fighting his fear of the stage. In 2012 he began to performing solo and shortly after started a band. In 2013 they released, Love Is Blind, which opened up the doors to share the stage with Texas greats like Randy Rogers, Cody Johnson, Reckless Kelly, Rodger Creager and many more.

Where

did your love of music come from and where did you get your start?

I was raised in a very musical family for sure.

All my brothers (two older) and parents can play and sing multiple instruments. My Mom was in a pretty popular band that toured in the 70'-80's and one of those members went on to help form "Shenandoah". She was a well-respected female studio vocalist who frequented all the popular Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. My cousin Darryl Holden also went on to play drums alongside Kenny Malone and Lonnie Wilson. I picked up my Dad's guitar, an old 80's Yamaha acoustic, and began to learn by ear around 11 or 12.

Has

country music always been your

favorite genre?

Not forever.

I initially wasn't really too into it. I mean when I was little I guess I didn't have a choice really my Dad played in a Country Cover band and all his kids had mullets and wore cowboy boots and jorts...

(Thanks for that by the way Dad). But yea I was into everything but "Real Country" until some of those stories started becoming real.

You know, like I was going through some of what those guys were writing about and guess I could connect and understand them a little more.

We are currently recording this EP at 512

How long have you been writing music

If I could talk to anyone dead or alive it

and what inspires you?

I get inspired by seeing other people work hard and attempt new things.

A lot that inspires me is what I’m either currently going through or what people close to me are. I get inspired by seeing other people work hard and attempt new things. I started writing my own music I'd say back in 2010 but didn't step on a stage for another year or two.

What was the first song you learned to play?

First song I think I learned was OAR’s (of a Revolution) "Crazy Game of Poker." I learned it because my oldest brother had learned it and was playing it all the time. So I guess, it was more or less a Monkey-SeeMonkey-Do type thing.

Mostly Sober is a pretty original band name, how did you come up with it?

I came up with the name late one night.

didn't really think too much into it other than, aside of alcohol or drugs, folks can use tons of other things to help them get through their days, obstacles, and what have you. So I write music, and am blessed to have a platform to share it. It is the best feeling in the world to get it from your head, into melody, onto a piece of paper, and in front of a crowd. It’s the best drug in the world which is why I would consider myself, Mostly Sober.

I

Tell

me about your current single re-

lease?

We

recently released our first Single, "Patron & Lime" from the self-titled EP, Landon Bullard & The Mostly Sober. On this track I have members from Jason Boland’s Camp, Damn Quails, and The Drug Store Gypsies which really helped juice the tune up a bit. Big thanks to Cody Angel, Dillon Sampson and Dillan Dostal.

Tell me more about your recording project?

Studios in Austin with Omar Vallejo. He's a freak and has made this entire project super easy to come together. I’ve written every song on the EP excluding a co-write with Mr. Drew Sebesta of DGS.

If you could have one hour to talk to anyone, who would it be and what would you talk about? would have to be Ira Cavender, aka The Breeze. Very much alive and well because I just want hear all the crazy stories from back in the day.

Where can we see you perform?

We’re currently booking up and I’m getting some really cool shows, but I can’t tell you about them yet. So best practice is to follow us on Facebook to see where we’ll be.

1-13 Headline the American Airline Center at Dallas Stars Game 1-26 Concho Pearl San Angelo 2-23 Full Band Whiskey River Saloon, San Angelo

LandonBullardMusic.com Facebook.com/ LandonBullardMusic STEAMMAGAZINE.NET

M

JAN 2018

Continued From Page 12

Betsy Bowen aka Frostbite Betty sat in with Mike Williams at Giggity's .

greatest people you'll ever meet are in Port Aransas. There's no class system. Everybody's got everybody's back. The people are not conformist by any means. It makes more sense than any place I've ever lived.

You know for example this hurricane. There wasn't one single person I met that said, “poor me”. It was more, “what can I do to help you. What can I do to make it easier for you?” You know I realize it sounds like Chamber of Commerce crap, but I believe these people are great. They really are.

You know I'm not going to argue with you. I think they are great people too.

Where did you teach School?

I taught political science and business law at Texas A&M in College Station and Del Mar in Corpus Christi. I went to Hanover University and ended up being a 22nd grade drop out. I did 4 years of college, 3 years of Law School, and 3 years of grad school. As a dropout I made it all the way to being a lounge singer in Port Aransas and that's what I wanted to be all along, I just didn't know it.

play some harp soon either. You know I'm actually in pretty good health. I exercise 3 times a week and walk 2 miles a day, so I'm doing pretty well for 80 years old.

You know I can't come up with another question.

Well, that's okay someday when you're over here in Port Aransas. We'll meet up and I'll interview you. I like journalism myself and I'd like to find out how your love of music has wove its way into what you do. You know journalism could be like my third or fourth career choice if I could go back and do it over.

Giggity’s in Port Aransas Sundays 12-3pm

Facebook.com:

Mike Williams Port Aransas

So, I know you like to do songs by Sinatra and Carmichael and other crooners, but do you have any of your own originals?

Well, actually I put out my own album a while ago and sent it out to radio stations.

Track #6 was played in Orange and track #8 in Seminole. I made $285 in royalties out of it and it cost my sponsor $5,200. It was kind of fun to see myself on the charts ahead of Hank Williams Jr. Of course that only lasted for one week. About 3 years ago I did an album of Ballads and there are a few other recordings scattered around.

I'm going to guess that you're not going out on tour too soon since you've got a residency at Giggity’s.

No and I’m not going to sit on a cloud and JAN 2018

M

Mike Williams at Giggity's STEAMMAGAZINE.NET

STEAMMAGAZINE.NET

COASTAL BEND BORDERLINE BAND See our ad for full listing!

FRONTIER SALOON 9709 Leopard St, Corpus Christi Live Music Every Saturday Night! See our ad for full listing!

GIGGITY’S 722 Tarpon St, Port Aransas Live Music Every Night! See our ad for full listing!

JOURNEY TO JUPITER RUNNING & WALKING CHALLENGE JANUARY 1, 1:00 PM moonjoggers.com/join-moon-joggers-now It's time to get moving! Are you ready to Journey to Jupiter? We are looking for runners, walkers and joggers of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels to join us on a Journey to Jupiter in 2018! Log your miles and they will be added to our total miles as a group. We are gathering people around the world to join us. Let's log enough miles to get to Jupiter! It's a 484 million mile journey, so we need your help!

We are blasting off January 1, 2018! This free registration will set you up with a free log on our website and you can become part of our Moon Joggers Facebook Community.

WOMEN'S SHELTER BENEFIT SHOW AT THE RITZ JANUARY 5, 2018 AT 6:30 PM The Ritz Theatre 715 N Chaparral St, Corpus Christi A benefit show for the Women's Shelter of South Texas will be held at The Ritz Theatre.

They will be collecting donations. The line up is as follows: 7 The Grasping Straws, 8 Kim Ew, 9 Forest.

NUECES COUNTY JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW ALUMNI COOK-OFF JANUARY 13 Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds Intersection of Hwy’s 44 & 77, Robstown Feel Free to Show Up the Day of the Event & Bring a Friend! 50+ Judges Need per Category.

All proceeds benefit the youth of the Nueces County Jr Livestock Show.

2017 KARANKAWA LODGE POW WOW JANUARY 13, 5:30 PM First United Methodist Church 900 S. Shoreline, Corpus Christi The 2017 Karankawa Lodge Pow Wow hopes

to bring the community together in dancing, singing and celebrating the brand new year with a Native American Pow Wow. Everyone is invited to come ,as hobbyist across the state of Texas will attend to celebrate and share the Native American heritage. It is a perfect opportunity to explore something new.

12TH ANNUAL YWCA RACIAL JUSTICE FORUM JANUARY 15, 9:00 AM YWCA 4601 Corona Drive, Corpus Christi 12th Annual YWCA Racial Justice Forum “Eliminating Racism: Hate Is too Great a Burden.” Area faith leaders will lead a discussion on what the faith community has done and is doing in the struggle to eliminate racism. Free & open to the public. Donations gratefully accepted. Place: YWCA Corpus Christi, 4601 Corona Drive; 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Light lunch provided to take to annual MLK march at noon.

SEAFOOD WARS: WINTER DELIGHT JANUARY 16, 7:00 PM Corpus Christi First United Methodist Church 900 South Shoreline, Corpus Christi It's that time again! Seafood Wars returns with three chefs battling it out to prepare the most delicious seafood! Guest Speakers: Captain Tony Hahn, United States Coastguard and Les Casterline of Texas Parks and Wildlife, “The Mission of Fisheries Enforcement and How We Go about It.” Featuring Chefs: The Pasta Company – Chef David Martinez; Veranda – Paige Porter; Fajitaville – Chef Antonine Cooper SOUTH TEXAS OPRY JANUARY 18, 7:00 PM Al Amin Shrine Temple 2001 Suntide Road, Corpus Christi The best Country & Western music around these parts! The Opry is held the 3rd Thursday of every month. The kitchen opens at 5 pm; the show starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $8 each. This month's featured performer is Paul Schlesinger & The Knights Of Texas Swing.

ECO-EXPERT: FIRE IN THE SEA - DEEP SEA BIOLUMINESCENCE JANUARY 18, 6 PM Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center 2446 North Oso Pkwy, Corpus Christi Dr. McKee will present about deep-sea life, bioluminescence and writing of his book, a combination of scientific reading and beautiful artistic representation of deep sea life by marine biologist Henry

Compton. Class size is limited, program is free. To reserve a space: register.ccparkandrec.com or call Caleb Harris at (361) 826-3947 or calebh@cctexas.com KEDT 30TH ANNUAL FOOD & WINE CLASSIC JANUARY 25, 7 PM Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center 402 Harbor Dr, Corpus Christi Find your new favorite wine from dozens of labels available at the many wine-tasting stations, while sampling exquisite dishes from some of the area’s finest restaurants and caterers. In addition you will enjoy live music, a photo booth and complimentary valet parking. .

NORTH END SAN ANTONIO COFFEE FESTIVAL JANUARY 6, 10 AM La Villita Historical Arts Village 418 Villita St., San Antonio A celebration of coffee - open to all coffee-lovers!

Taste amazing fresh, locally roasted coffee from all over the world. Free Admission. Meet local coffee artisans from 15 different coffee roasteries who will roast and artfully brew 50 coffees. Appreciate the many people who pilot a coffee bean from crop to cup. Listen to good music. Eat some good food.

Arts Activities.

CONFLUENCE PARK GRAND UNVEILING JANUARY 17, 10:3 AM Confluence Park W Mitchell St, San Antonio Confluence Park has transformed a former Southside industrial laydown yard into a unique, interactive learning and recreational space. The park includes a site-wide water catchment system, multi-purpose educational center with an earthen roof, demonstration ecotypes, and serves as an inviting gateway to hiking and biking trails along the Historic Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River.

WIMBERLEY ART & SOUL IN WIMBERLEY JANUARY 25-28 Wimberley, Texas Pack your bags and head to Wimberley for four action-packed days of opportunity to Learn, Create and Experience the art and soul of Wimberley brought to you by the creative community of Wimberley, Texas. There are so many activities, over 50 of them, you’ll want to experience them all, but there’s just not enough time!

E

JAN 2018

BEYOND BOLLYWOOD: INDIAN AMERICANS SHAPE THE NATION EXHIBIT JANUARY 29-APRIL 8 Asian American Resource Center 8401 Cameron Road, Austin Through a vibrant collection of photographs, artifacts, art and interactive learning stations, visitors will experience the Indian American story and explore the many dynamic roles Indian Americans have played in shaping America. This exhibit was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Museums and Cultural Programs Division is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute.

SOUTH END CONNECTING WITH CRAFTERS SATURDAYS, 10 AM McAllen Farmers Market 4001 N 23rd St, McAllen You'll find a wide variety of jewelry, handmade crafts, household goods, and much more from local area vendors. All items are home crafted locally by the vendors. Our goal is to provide a place where local crafters can connect with the local community to introduce their handcrafted products. Free Admission and Free Parking!

DISCOVERY DAYS! EVERY SATURDAY, AT 11 AM & 2 PM Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen Every Saturday you can visit the Discovery Museum at Quinta Mazatlan for a special presentation about a featured creature with activities, crafts, and exploration!

DINOSAUR BASH FAMILY FUN NIGHT JANUARY 4, 4 PM - 8 PM International Museum of Art & Science 1900 Nolana Ave W, McAllen Join us for Dinosaur Bash Family Fun Night! Activities include: Dino Bone Crafts, Dino Collages, Story Time, and Digging for Fossils.

HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP? LET US KNOW! submissions@steamtx.com