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2 NEW MOVIES & MUSIC 4 COMICS 5 QUICK READ 6 ALBUM COVER OF THE MONTH 7 CD REVIEWS 8 LORELEI LINKLATER: PAINTER & ACTOR 11 WAYNE KRAMER, MC5: KICK OUT THE JAMS 12 THE MISTICS: NEW MUSIC 13 LAI D B AC K T EX AS: ALBUM RELEASE 14 EVENTS 15 NEW PRODUCT REVIEW: CAJONTAB, LAUSON DRUMS 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 Alternative Weekly Network
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Don’t buy any of this!
Craving validation J. Michael Dolan (:41) When to share your brilliant idea: Never at the beginning stage: Asking others what they think of your great idea, while it’s still just an idea, is like asking for permission to be excused. It’s the perfect catalyst for procrastinating, a great justification for shelving and a wide-open back door out of the project. Never at the developing stage: Asking others what they think of your emergent project while you’re right in the middle of producing it, constructing it, writing it or crafting it is a setup for creative disaster! Always at the finishing stage: Welcoming suggestions (even hiring a consultant) when you are deep into the final stages of your project can be enlightening, inspirational, informative and revealing. It’s a way of shinning a bright light into those areas of the project that you may have overlooked or you just couldn’t see. Important because everyone has an opinion on everything; and for the most part we can’t wait to give ours.
I’ll show them J. Michael Dolan If you’re in it to prove something (even to yourself), you’ll have a tough row to hoe. I’ve seen extremely talented artists and super smart entrepreneurs crash and burn because their best work was repeatedly sabotaged by a desperate hidden agenda: – “If I don’t make it I’ll be seen as a failure.” – “I’m getting older; this could be my last shot!” – “I must prove to my family (and my self) that the work I’m doing is worthy and has merit.” Important because “I’ll show them!” is never a valid reason to struggle in any career. There’s only one thing that will propel our success: doing extraordinary work! We don’t need to prove anything to anyone. The only thing we’re beholding to is our craft, our unique talent and our dharma (our true purpose). I think if we honor THAT, we will have a fulfilling, successful career that lasts a lifetime.
J. Michael Dolan — Don’t buy that others know what they’re doing just because they’ve been doing it a long time. — Don’t buy your own story that just because you’ve been doing this a long time you can’t fail. — Don’t buy the hope that when others finally understand what you’re trying to say they will side with you. — Don’t buy that over there is better than over here. Because the instant “there” becomes “here” you’ll be looking for over there again. — Don’t buy that “everything” happens for a reason. Most things happen because of the choices and decisions we make or don’t make. — Don’t buy that more is better when “enough” can be an extraordinary achievement. — Don’t buy that it’s over. The truth is, it ain’t over till it’s over, and even then, it ain’t always over. Important because why buy conformity when going rogue is priceless.
What to focus on J. Michael Dolan — Focus on improving. Everything you’re good at today you sucked at in the past. That’s because you kept improving. — Ignore know-it-all’s. There’s nothing worse than being told what you already know by someone who doesn’t. Focus on Facts. — Don’t worry that time is running out. Stay focused on what truly matters to you…even if you’re running on empty. — Don’t focus on how hard it is. Everyone who has ever made it in showbiz worked hard. Rather, focus on how great it is to work hard on something worthy of giving it everything you’ve got. Important because a new entertainment infrastructure has been built along with a new protocol: Anything Goes! Focus on that.
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When Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” hit the charts in 1967, it turned a lot of heads, as did their second album, “Disraeli Gears.” Then came “White Room” and this double record set. The Summer of Love trippiness progressed into the ultimate in rocking British blues. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker brought their own totally unique talents to this first super-group of the 1960’s. Produced by Cream’s unofficial fourth member, Felix Pappalardi, sides one and two are studio tracks that mixes the blues of Howlin’ Wolf and Albert King with their own original compositions. It’s driving rock, Clapton’s wah-wah along with late ‘60’s psychedelia. Bruce’s heartfelt vocals and virtuoso bass gets the blood rushing and the heart pumping while Baker with keeps the train rolling with driving double kick drums. Sides three and four are live tracks recorded at Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. This was Cream live in their own element, extended jams and all, on vinyl for the first time, and the results were stunning. Each musician uses their instruments as a lead. “Traintime” features Bruce’s spot on scat vocal and blues harp wailing to Baker’s jazzy train beat, while “Toad” is 16 minutes of hard rock with an extended 13 minute drum solo showcasing Baker’s expertise with pounding double bass drums and energetic performance. Robert Johnson’s” Crossroads” belongs to Clapton, while Willie Dixon’s “Spoonful” is a band tour de force. A lot of nascent guitar gods wore the grooves out on this one, futilely trying to emulate Clapton and cutting their bass chops along
with Jack. Coming out at a time when 2-LP sets were rare and costly, this had no problem becoming the first double album to go platinum. The album’s far-out design makes one wonder how many joints were rolled on its foil cover. Cream acrimoniously spit after only two years and did not play together again until an emotional reunion in 1993 for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cream reunited again in 2005 for four dates in London and three in New York, where old wounds began to resurface. Jack Bruce died from liver disease in 2014 at age 71. Ginger Baker is 78 and has been recovering from recent heart problems. What can be said about Eric Clapton, now 73, that hasn’t been said? He can phrase a blues lick like no one else and his virtuosity never ceases to amaze me. If you need a reminder, turn it up and put on “Crossroads!”
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Who invented Country/Rock? Was it The Byrds with “Sweetheart of the Rodeo,” or The Band’s “Music From Big Pink” in 1968? Perhaps The Flying Burrito Brothers’ “The Gilded Palace of Sin” in 1969. Maybe Bob Dylan with “Nashville Skyline” or John Stewart’s “California Bloodlines,” also 1969. I suppose you could even trace it back to Carl Perkins and all the rockabilly cats of the 1950’s. It’s a subject that can be debated ‘til the cows come home. From the ashes of Buffalo Springfield came Richie Furay and Jim Messina on guitars and vocals, and Rusty Young (no relation to Neil), who played steel guitar on Furay’s county love ballad, “Kind Woman” from the last Springfield album. They founded Poco with drummer George Grantham and Randy Meisner on bass, and debuted with “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” in, you guessed it, 1969. Meisner quit the band during
the recording of that record and would eventually wind up in the Eagles in 1971. He was replaced by Timothy B. Schmidt for their eponymous second album. This album, their third, successfully captures the feel of a live Poco concert at that time with two high energy tracks to welcome you, followed by another that shows that the new guy can hold his own not only on bass, but vocals too. This is followed by a reprise of “Kind Woman” that outclasses the original Springfield version in sheer soulfulness, along with Furay’s heartfelt tenor. A toe-tapping acoustic medley from their debut album closes out side one. Side two kicks off with an acoustic version of Messina’s “You Better Think Twice” that has him owning the guitar solo. Another Furay rocker and medley close things out, leaving the listener wanting more. Many believe this to be Poco’s finest lineup. This was last album with Messina. Furay left in 1973. When Randy Meisner departed The Eagles in 1977, Timothy B. Schmidt was tapped as his replacement. Grantham also left around this time. Poco still plays occsionally, but Rusty Young is the only one that has been the constant for 50 years, over 30 albums and around 20 members. They had a small but dedicated following throughout the ‘70s, in spite of the fact that they received little to no airplay. (Jim Messina commented that Poco was too country for rock radio, and too rock for country.) Poco finally achieved chart success in 1978 with their 11th studio album, “Legend.” Who invented Country/Rock? Maybe not Poco, but they certainly helped define it.
BUDDY GUY THE BLUES IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL (SILVERSTONE/RCA) BY RICK J BOWEN
ALEJANDRO ESCOVIDO WITH DON ANTONIO THE CROSSING (YEP ROC RECORDS) BY ROB DICKENS Texas songwriting journeyman Alejandro Escovedo has moved and inspired us over the course of fifteen albums. The man has been a punk with The Nuns, a cowpunk in Rank & File, a rocker in Austin’s True Believers and a solo artist since the early 90’s collaborating with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, John Cale, Los Lobos, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey and Chuck Prophet. No Depression declared him ‘Artist of the Decade’ shortly before he was struck down with Hepatitis B, a disease from which he has finally been cleared. The Crossing follows the story of two young immigrants, one from Mexico and one from Italy, as they come to the United States (Texas) to pursue their American dream and in search of their punk rock idols. The two protagonists, Salvo and Diego, find they have arrived to a place and mood they were not expecting, mirroring Alejandro’s own experience as the child of Mexican immigrants. Two years ago, with a string of European tour dates booked, Escovedo
The living embodiment of the Blues at 81, Buddy Guy continues to use his voice and his polka dot Stratocaster as his bully pulpit to preach the message of peace, passion, party, and pure joy that is the music he loves. His 18th studio album, defiantly titled The Blues Is Alive and Well, continues his life mission of purpose and may be one of his finest efforts. Guy once again teamed up with Grammy Award winning producer/ songwriter/drummer Tom Hambridge to produce the album and write or co-write the new songs. The duo surrounded themselves with another crack studio band, and the Muscle Shoals horns along with a selection of super special guests to craft 15 new tracks that are an immaculate cross section of Blues forms and sonic delights. Guy who is well known for inspiring Hendrix with his lead guitar antics is rare form though out the album; deliver his signature cat scratch riffs as well as smooth soulful leads. They open the set with the auto biographical “A few good Years,” with Guy pleading his before the maker then boldly declaring he is “Guilty as Charged,” of being buck wild in love on the raucous Blues shuffle. Keith Richards and Jeff Beck join him on the ode to liquid gold “Cognac,” to “play some Blues and take a little nip,” The title track finds Guy channeling Chicago Bluesman Magic Sam’s iconic guitar tone
went looking for a band from the Continent to back him up. He found Don Antonio (aka Antonio Gramentieri), the leader of a seasoned, all-instrumental band from Mogdliana, in the northern Italian province of Emilia-Romagna. Says Escovedo: “Turns out they’d played with all my friends – Dan Stuart, Howe Gelb, Steve Wynn. Everybody knew them. Apparently, at one time or another, everybody toured with them as a band, made friends with them, or played the festival they put on every year.” He sent the band a list of thirty songs before meeting up in Mogdliana. “We had dinner” Alejandro says. “We rehearsed a day and a half, then did 35 gigs in 40 days in ten different countries across Europe. I fell in love with them.” The album (his first recorded in Europe) was put together in a month at a farmhouse in Villafranca and coproduced with Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Gomez, Iron & Wine). Escovedo co-wrote and performed it with Antonio, led by guitarist and composer Antonio Gramentieri. The band also comprises Denis Valentini on bass, Matteo Monti on drums, Gianni Perinelli and Franz Valtieri on horns plus Nicola Peruch on keyboards. The Crossing also features a host of guest musicians, including The Stooges’ James Williamson on “Teenage Lug-
over a straight ahead horn infused groove declaring “that as long as I’m breathing, and my heart is beating, The Blues Is Alive and Well.” Guy then passes the torch, bringing in London soul singer James Bay for the delicately jazzy duet “Blue No More,” and trades barbs with the harmonica of Mick Jagger on the low-down Blues “You Did The Crime.” The horns return for the Super charged Chicago Blues Stomp “Old Fashioned,” and his Strat howls on the Sonny Boy Williamson classic “Nine Below Zero.” Hambridge adds to the lexicon by getting Guy to rip on the country tinged boogie he penned Ooh Daddy,” and Guy counts his blessing the slinky Blues built around a takeoff of a Muddy Waters riff “Somebody Up There.” The album bookends the set with another reflection of life as a bluesman, “End of The Line,” with the consummate showman giving it his all right up to the last moment. Buddy Guy has long been certified as a living legend with The Blues Is Alive and Well serving to further cement his place in the pantheon of American music.
gage” and Wayne Kramer (MC5) on “Sonica USA”. “Waiting For Me” features Peter Perrett and John Perry (The Only Ones) recording together for the first time since 1980. Joe Ely appears on his own track “Silver City”. “Rio Navidad”, a spoken word song about a Texas ranger, was written by novelist and Richmond Fontaine/The Delines’ bandleader Willy Vlautin and read by his bandmate Freddy Trujillo. “They were looking for the America they had heard about, seen in films, heard on records,” Escovedo says. “They go looking for the MC5, the Stooges, the Dolls, the Ramones, all the American bands that they love. They go looking for the authors, Kerouac and Ginsberg. They find they are in a different America, one that wasn’t as open and free as they had believed it was going to be. “Playing with these guys, it came out naturally; it was coming out without any thought at all. The things with Italians and their music is they’re always reaching for melody. It’s always very romantic, even when it’s tragic.” The Crossing embraces us all with its cinematic sweep and humanity. It is an epic seventeen-song collection with a rich diversity and honesty in shining the spotlight on important current issues in this particularly trou-
BUDDYGUY.COM RICK J BOWEN: WABLUES.ORG
bled time (immigration, racism, loss of identity). Case in point – “Teenage Luggage” which rails against bigotry: “America is beautiful, America is ill, America’s a bloodstain, In a honky-tonk kill” The record demonstrates clarity of thought and takes plenty of risks and it is very much the better for that. It is also a great rock n roll record with big orchestral passages, punk explosions, passionate spoken word elements and delicate ballads all contained herein. The input of Antonio and his Italian confreres provides an original, masterstroke touch. ALEHANDROESCOVEDO.COM LISTENINGTHROUGHTHELENS.COM
MIKE ZITO FIRST CLASS LIFE (RUF RECORDS) BY RICK J BOWEN Fresh of his win of a Blues Music Award for “Rock Blues Artist” of the year guitar man Mike Zito delivers a very Blues centric album ‘First Class Life,’ in May of 2018. His last two records were very rock guitar heavy so this time Zito and his crew show they can play some classic Blues styles while not sacrificing high energy and indepth passionate songwriting. Zito opens the set extolling his love for blues mythology on “Mississippi Nights,” and adds more terrific slide playing on the country-tinged, heartfelt
confessional “First Class Life.” He then takes on Bobby Bland’s 1974 R&B hit “I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog,” with ease, before diving into the sublime 12 bar blues “The World We Live In.” Special guest Bernard Allison drops in with the song he wrote about Koko Taylor “Mama Don’t Like No Wah Wah,” and blazes away on lead. The mood shifts on the swampy and spooky “Old Black Graveyard,” then flips to Chicago shuffle “Dying Day,” and comical but funky “Back Prob-
lems.” Zito gets political and calls it like he sees it on the Springsteen-esque “Time For A Change.” Zito steps into the shoes of Chicago legend Earl Hooker on the lively remake of long lost Checker records classic “Trying To Make A Living,” trading solos with piano man Lewis Stephens and rocking and rolling with his hot band. A solid record, from a hard-working Bluesman. MIKEZITO.COM RICK J BOWEN: WABLUES.ORG
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 themselves don’t. “Leaving Berlin” was taken through the back window of a car. It wasn't the best quality picture but it turned out to be a pretty cool layout for my painting. “Twin Peaks” would be the one exception; it's based on a screenshot that I took from the TV show, Twin Peaks. I really like that TV show and I liked the aesthetics of this set, so I took a picture of it and this is what I came up with. Tell me about the pour technique that you have. I really like them and I see some dimensions that I haven’t seen before. I've been developing it for some years now. It makes me very happy when people like these because they're extremely experimental and I’ve been trying to perfect my technique over the years. The best way to explain my method is it's a chemical experiment in movement and how I get that movement is by combining different types of medium. It could be ink, acrylics, polyurethane, drippy acrylic paint, really anything I can get my hands on and how the mediums interact are what cause the swirls, bubbles, and flowing movement in the picture.
Oh, I make prints of all my work. I take pictures of the abstracts when they're still wet to preserve the high gloss glow and the very psychedelic and insane look. You have abstracts and perspectives. What else do you do? I do portraits; it's been a challenge and I'm working on my technique so that I can do more. I’m also open to commission work. It can be based off photos or a general gist of something that people want an original painting of. You've got such a talent for perspective and buildings, I think it would be really cool for someone to have you paint their office building. How do people find your art and where's your next show? I have a pretty good presence on the internet. I have a website, and of course you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. My next show is at the Austin School Of Film on Tillary. We haven’t scheduled a date yet because I'm working on some new pieces and are waiting for those. I am trying to put together some pop-up art shows too.
I see that some of the pieces look almost like they have been burnt or something. Oh yeah; I do all types of weird stuff like that, including lighting them on fire to get a stronger chemical reaction. I would never have thought of doing that. How long have you been producing this type of artwork? I started the pours when I was in college at California College of the Arts, so it’s been a few years. I studied a lot of technical stuff but after I graduated college I started getting more experimental. Then a friend and I developed this pouring technique which I like to call “PostAbstract-Abstract.” The idea is that people will see what they want to see in the art. That’s why I don’t name them, because what I see is not always what the viewer sees. Cool! Do you make prints of these or only sell the original canvas?
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Finally, I’m looking at all these great pieces of artwork and I noticed two things. No signature or name. Why? I sign the back for the same reason many are not named. I really think the person who owns it should name it because they're seeing what they want to see in it not just my vision or my name.
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of the generation that birthed that terminology why do you think these bands have fallen off? Good question, it might be due to decades of highly financed Republican efforts to crush descent. Skillfully, step by step and not in dramatic ways the party has been able to silence those bands. We’re in a time where the anger is so deep that people don’t want to go there and deal with it, there is no satisfaction for them. This was by design, not an accident to allow the powerful with money to not just have the wealth but political control of this country. The grassroots movement has been silenced for the most part because of that, inevitable when there is no middle class in this country, just the rich and the poor. The book you also just released, The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5 and My Life of Impossibilities talks about, amongst other things, your struggles with addiction. As we continue to lose artists year after year from drugs are we, the fans, to blame at all for wanting to be too connected to our artists? Are we not allowing them to live a life offstage and outside their artist persona? Not entirely. You have to remember that there was a time in America where if you didn’t know someone you couldn’t even buy marijuana let alone heroin and cocaine. I think the issue is that the access to drugs is much easier now as is the possibility to become addicted. Sure we might be too connected but the fact that there are handlers all around means at the end of the day the musician has to come to terms with their own willpower, accessibility is the greatest poison. By Derek Signore, Sound Magazine Photo Jenny Risher @ StratFox Theatre, Detroit
ayne Kramer, the founding guitarist and leader of Detroit's proto -punk/hard rock band the MC5, will celebrate the landmark anniversary of its incendiary debut album Kick Out the Jams with the 35+ date "Kick Out the Jams: The 50th Anniversary Tour" and a memoir The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities (Da Capo Press). We know you are performing Kick Out the Jams in its entirety but are also performing other MC5 songs as part of an encore, how did you go about picking out those additional songs? Do you find yourself scanning social media and streaming sites to see what songs fans are looking to have you performing as well? Not really, to be hon-
try becoming ever more divided? est I really think it’s kind the random factor. It’s stunning. I find it just draw dropping I think to myself ‘What songs might be fun to play tonight?’ It also depends on the special guests for the show as I’m encouraging all my friends to come and play during that second half of the performance from night to night. I’ll tell you, the band might have only recorded three popular major label albums but they’re pretty power packed. The MC5 rock Michigan in 1969. We sure Wayne Kramer, foreground. Photo: Unknown had a good thing going sometimes that in both times periods 1968 there for a minute and 2018 we have a bold faced criminal in (laughing). the White House that seems to ignore the rule of law and the will of the people. I The band was birthed thought fifty years ago that the chances of us from a performance at the making it another twenty years was very slim. 1968 Democratic National That was the era of nuclear weapons and we Convention and as such knew that if any of those weapons were used have become a pivotal it would be the end of life on earth. But I part of American History remember thinking though that if we could and Politics. Does it scare make it through those few decades it would or bother you that you can be towards a utopia…I was obviously wrong so easily draw parallels (laughing). nowadays to back when Photo: the band first emerged 50 Mike years ago with corrupt The era of the political activist group Barich seems to have passed. As you were part politics, wars and a coun-
You just became a father at 65. Is the career path of a musician something you think you will steer your child towards or, as it has its perils, do you think you will steer them down a different path? I don’t think that I’m going to have a lot of say-so in the matter (laughing). You’re only young for a little while so he’s going to have to figure out his place in the world soon. I think the important thing is to teach your children what it means to put in the effort and not to be afraid to fail. I just want him to pursue the things he’s interested in, I think that’s when we do the best…pursuing our interests. I also think that as I’m just about done being a child I think I’m responsible enough to watch one now (laughing).
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The Mistics are a four-piece alternative rock band from South Texas. Recently I sat down with the guys, Angelo, Caleb, Mo, and Miguel, to learn about the group that’s been rockin’ Corpus Christi for four years. How did you come up with the name? How did the band get formed? CALEB The band started with Angelo and me jamming together in our senior year of High School. It became a band about four years ago when Angelo put out ads for additional musicians. We came up with the name because the name makes people think of magic, spirituality, and mysticism. The logo of the Hooded Girl works because it is open to interpretation. At times she looks like she’s wearing a hood. Other times she has long hair. Sometimes she looks like she crying. Please introduce everyone. ANGELO I have a broad and diverse knowledge of many different styles of music and know in my head how I want the song structured before we began to work it out in the rehearsal room. As the band leader, vocalist, and rhythm guitar player I bring my musical producing and directing skills as well as songwriting. Our Drummer, Caleb, and I have been playing together since high school. Caleb grew up listening to country and made a defiant switch to underground metal, mixed with jazz and classical. Caleb’s background was in choir and by 13 he was the main drummer for his church. MO Last year I was playing in a Texas Country-rock cover band that broke up due to members relocating. So after years of playing covers I wanted a change, soI answered an ad for The Misitics, not knowing anything about them/ I wanted to see what kind of originals they had. The music was so good; I said I have to get with this band. I worked hard to get in and passed the audition they had for me at The House of Rock. MIGUEL I recently joined the band as the lead guitarist in November 2017; after they
had already recorded the EP. I don't have any "idols" when it comes to inspiration. Instead I get inspiration from multiple genres of music ranging from extreme death metal to the ambient sound of dream pop. Tell me about your original songs. What inspires the music you write? CALEB Angelo is the principal songwriter in the band. He's a self-taught musician from Dallas Texas who started writing music at 13. He was exposed to a broad range of musical styles because of his parents’ large range of musical tastes which included Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. ANGELO My original songs are inspired by Universal Themes, like life a n d death, heartbreak, l o v e , a n d lonelin e ss . S o m e songs deal with events in my life such as my mother passing away from Cancer, having a brake up with my girlfriend. Things like that. For example Broken City Lights deals with substance abuse issues. Where can people see you? ANGELO The band’s plan for the next few months is working on a new full length album. We'll be writing and recording new songs and we’re going to work on a music video. In the meantime our fans can go to You Tube to find our music and videos and watch our Facebook page for upcoming shows. Who are your influences? MO My original bass influences were Geddy Lee (Rush) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin). They made me want to put down the keyboard and pick up a four string, however my favorite band is The Beatles. My newest bass hero is Stu Hamm. I met him at Sam's Burger Joint in San Antonio Texas in August 2017. He's the only bassist I've heard live, where he made me want to
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By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine
punch out and go home, quit bass. Yeah, he is that good. If you could have one hour to talk to anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and what would you talk about? MO I would spend my one hour with John Lennon. I’d warn him to watch out for John Hinkley, so he wouldn't be murdered and I'd get to hear more of his genius music.
WEARETHEMISTICS.COM FACEBOOK, REVERBNATION, & BANDCAMP: WEARETHEMISTICS YOUTUBE: THE MISTICS SONGS TO THE WORLD (EP) AVAILABLE AT SHOWS AND ONLINE AT AMAZON, SPOTIFY, AND SOUNDCLOUD BOOKING: WEARETHEMISTICS @GMAIL.COM
The music from this Corpus Christi group is anything but Laid Back. The wide variety of backgrounds the four members bring to the table proves to be an outstanding musical mix ranging across a wide swath of genres and styles. This month the guys are releasing the band’s first album, Laid Back Texas, so get it while it’s hot off the press. I think it’s an interesting name for a group. How’d you come up with the name? How did the band get formed? SCOTT The band was formed by Gary Hall (original bass player and the bass player on the album) and me. We met in a church band and played for 17 years together. Gary is an attorney here in Corpus Christi. Gary came up with the name Laid Back Texas. We all liked it so it stuck. What can I say...we love this state. People always tell us that we are not so laid back and we kind of like that book cover and judging thing. We know you guys all have a musical presence in South Texas, so please introduce everyone. SCOTT We met Brent Wideman (drummer) while he was with the band Supagreen (reggae). He has been with us for about 9 years and his blend of reggae, punk, and country beats help to create this original Texas country sound we have. About 3 years ago we were playing a gig at Gully's in Flour Bluff and we met Chris Nelson (original member of "The Pear Rats"). His wife, Misty, convinced us to let Chris jam with us our next set. It didn’t take many measures to figure out we wanted him to be our lead player. His aggressive southern rock style took us to a new level, playing in perfectly to our sound. Bill Wilson is our current bass player who replaced Gary, who stepped out to take
with SupaGreen (drums), Beach Stone Rise (bass), and That Captain (bass), but Corpus is always home.
By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine care of his family. Bill has been with us about 6 months now. He has been in several bands over the years, mainly classic rock. His additions to the band will be showcased in our second album. Tell me about your new album. Also, where will it be available? SCOTT The songs are mainly written by myself although the songs "Shrimper Boots" and "Taylor's Song" were written by Gary Hall and I wrote the music. We have copies for sale at our shows and our Facebok page and we’ll be adding online retailers soon.
Tell me about your original songs. What inspires the music you write? SCOTT Our songs have great energy and lyrics that tell stories of my life and the area where we live. We don't offer up a Nashville finely tuned perfect song of generalities rather a rough around more than just the edges blend of folk'n country lyrics, musicality, and southern rock face melting leads. Any plans for touring? BRENT We’re hoping to tour a couple months next spring. I have traveled a lot
Who are your influences and how do they influence you? CHRIS As far as influences goes I've got so many I couldn't list them all. When I was very young it was the Beatles then in my teens it was hard rock, blues rock, southern rock, etc. In college and my 20's it was more metal and progressive rock. More recently, like in the past 20 years or so, I've gotten more into country pickers and even more recently reggae. That being said, my style is kinda hard to pin down. In fact, another guitar player I shared the bill with recently called me a chameleon because Laid Back plays a pretty diverse set of music, so my style changes from one song to the next; kind of like a chameleon changes colors. BILL I’ve always been a big Black Sabbath fan and their bass player Geezer Butler strongly influenced my playing style. I’m also a fan of a lot of the 3 peace bands I listened to as a kid. What was the first song you learned? CHRIS I think the first riff I ever learned was one that a lot of guitar players start with, Smoke on the Water. If you could have one hour to talk to anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and what would you talk about? SCOTT If i were to meet and talk to someone for an hour, I'd say Willie Nelson. I'd really just like to swap stories over a couple of beers and... well... ummm... you know. Where can people see you? SCOTT Right now we’re filling our calendar, so the best way to see us is by liking and following us on Facebook. We post all of our upcoming shows there.
Facebook.com Laid Back Texas Booking: brentwideman@aim.com WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET SEPTEMBER 2018 STEAM MAGAZINE 13
Borderline Band See our ad for full listing!
our local wetlands. Tues & Thurs @ 10AM
Frontier Saloon 9709 Leopard St, Corpus Christi Live Music Every Saturday Night! See our ad for full listing!
Rodeo! The Exhibition Now through 1/27/2019 Bullock Texas State History Museum 1800 Congress Avenue, Austin xplore the origins of Texas rodeos and stock shows, the very personal relationships Texans have with beloved rodeo and stock show traditions, and the lasting legacy of youth education, community involvement, and historic preservation these longestablished competitions hold. See how five of the largest Texas rodeos and stock shows — including Fort Worth (est. 1896), San Angelo (est. 1932), Houston (est. 1932), Austin (est. 1938), and San Antonio (est. 1950) — bring crowds and competitors from all parts of the world together.
Giggity’s 722 Tarpon St, Port Aransas Live Music Every Night! See our ad for full listing! Mikel May’s Beachside Bar & Grill On Bob Hall Pier, Corpus Christi Aug 9 Join us to Celebrate 5 Years of Great Food & Service! See our ad for full listing! Shorty’s 823 Tarpon St, Port Aransas Live Music Every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Nights! See our ad for full listing! Wetlands Education Center Tours University of Texas Marine Science Institute 855 East Cotter Ave., Port Aransas Did you ever want to visit and learn about a marsh without getting your feet wet? The Wetlands Education Center is a ADA compliant 3.6-acre wetland will allow you to do just that, as you stroll through seagrass, salty marsh plants, and dunes. Free guided tour to learn about the special plants and animals of
Art Show Islands Homes September 7, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM (Sinton Art Gallery 333 13738 Three Fathoms Bank Dr, Corpus Christi Live music, sushi, and beverages will be served while you view the art exhibition of the featured artist Reynaldo Santiago and other selected artists. Classic Rock 104.5 presents...9th Annual Rock & Ride Music Festival
September 8, 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM Water's Edge Park Corpus Christi Bayfront 602 South Shoreline, Corpus Christi Music Festival featuring 6 bands including Hardwired, Bad Bouys, Old Skool, Reely Rtnz, Back In Black & Iron Butterfly. Food trucks, beer tent, vendors, motorcycles, fire dancers and more. FREE admission. Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles & Whooping Cranes in the Coastal Bend September 10 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Del Mar Center For Economic Development 3209 S Staples St, Corpus Christi Dr. Donna Shaver of the Padre Island National Seashore will discuss the success rates of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle nests in the Coastal Bend. Dr. Wade Harrell of the US Fish and Wildlife Service will discuss the state of the Whooping Crane population. SMOKE FEST - 9/11 Memorial Music Festival September 15 @ 3:00 PM Centennial Plaza 301 West Bagdad Avenue, Round Rock he Round Rock Fire Department and The Tavern proudly present SMOKE FEST. Music Begins at 2pm featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard, Cody Sparks, Denny Herrin, and Six Sanchez. Check out the firefighter com-
bat challenge before the music festival starts and cheer on your local heros and civilians attempting the course. There will be family fun with face painting, bouncy houses and of course fire trucks . Roland St. John Presents "Structure Destruction" Gallery Display September 14, 7:00 PM Brick at Blue Star 108 Blue Star, San Antonio A free showing of Macro Photographic and Collage Based Images, Set Behind The Music from the Library of SEVENTYTRHEERECORDS.COM. Including New Music Crafted for this Event by Liquid Zen. This local artist creates images by various methods; using macro lens photography to capture images from sets he builds and images from his original collage work. National Alpaca Farm Days September 29 & 30 Shear Bliss Alpacas 605 Silver Creek Rd, Sinton Bring your friends, family and whomever wants to come and enjoy the day. The entry fee is zero (free!) but we do accept donations for feed. DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP? LET US KNOW! SUBMISSIONS@STEAMTX.COM
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14 STEAM MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2018 WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET
ReviewBy Rusty Hicks, STEAM Magazine In May, Louson Drums posted a blog asking what they thought they might expect by attending the Summer NAMM Convention in Nashville. They really didn’t get into answering the question, but they did express their nerves and excitement. NAMM is a lot of hard work, long hours, and crammed with people in the biggest music store setting you can imagine. During the show NAMM Representatives wander through looking for new products to showcase. In July the CajonTab® by Louson Drums was chosen as a winner in the “Best In Show - Gotta Stock It” by a panel of merchant judges. Louson Drums was founded in 2015 in Pittsburgh, PA, by two drummers with the intention to make custom drum kits as well as refurbish old ones. They quickly realized that, as craft shows and markets started going well, Cajon drums and then the CajonTab® were what they needed to focus on. The quick history to the Cajon is that it originated in the 1600’s and was developed during the periods of slavery in coastal Peru. The Cajon, Spanish for box, is played by sitting on the top and slapping, tapping, and kicking the front and sides to produce drum like sounds. What makes Cajons so popular is that they are portable, don’t take up a great deal of space, and make a good drum sound. Louson Drums takes this idea to a whole new level with their CajonTab®. What makes the CajonTab® so good? Size does not equal sound! We tested the 10 inch CajonTab® as they assured us that it has the brightest snare of all their models and as advertised it has a punchy and crisp snare tone but also a pleasing bass tone. The adjustable sound port’s cover changes the tone of the drum with the flick of a hand. This extra control over the sound allows you to find the sound you're looking for or to dial in to accompany other instruments. I’m a drummer, and as my wife would say I am always banging on something. So what I like about the CajonTab® is that my taps, slaps, and flicks along with adjusting the port cover
gives me the opportunity to create in my own space and time. Portability! Yes the standard Cajon is portable, but the CajonTab® gives you the option of playing on the go. Campfires, road trips, parades, all that fun stuff and it can sit in your lap or hang around your neck. Workmanship and quality! Each unit is made by hand and tested throughout the building process with a guarantee on their craftsmanship for 365 days. Additionally, accessories are available such as carrying cases, Cling On Acoustic Pickup for the CajonTab®, an external snare with hard maple clickers, you can even customize the color, and more, so you can really make it your own. STEAM’s Review: I highly recommend the CajonTab® and with the holidays fast approaching you should get your order in soon!
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