So Long Seth

Despite a Saturday night cold front and nasty rain, I hopped in my car (the hot mess express as I like to refer to it) and set my sights on Gruene Hall.  Hopefully by now you should know that Saturday was going to Seth James last day as a member of The Departed. If you didn't and I spoiled some surprise or sprung disappointment on you, oops.  A few years back I was in the audience for the first departed show at Gruene. I counted myself lucky to be part of a sold out show to say goodbye.

Upon my arrival to the hall I was quickly greeted to the blues and delightfully smooth vocals of Aaron Stephens. Aaron has been playing at Billy's Ice every Wednesday night for a while now if I am not mistaken.  I haven't had the chance to see Aaron but I knew he had been winning over fans quite a bit lately.  It is not everyday you get to see someone make a debut performance at such a historical place.  I would like to think one day I when Aaron makes it big and wins Grammy awards, I can remind you I saw his first show at Gruene Hall.  It looks there was a video made about this night being shared on the book of faces.  I picked up a copy of his EP while I was at the show and have been listening to it all week. I did some checking and you can get the EP on ITunes, Lonestar Music, and of course at the shows.

 

 

 

There was truly an electric feeling to the festivities this evening. When Seth, Cody, Jeremy, Steve, and Chris hit the stage it was bittersweet.  They wasted no time getting into the rock and roll.  I have to admit while I have always been a ragweed Canada fan - having him and Seth together was really one of my favorite things about the band.  It will be a little weird to not hear Prayer for the lonely and Demons in the normal set list.  I, however have always wanted a follow up to Seth's last record That Kind of Man.  The Departed as it is now will be bringing back some Ragweed tunes that the die hard fans have missed since their hiatus. It is safe to say Cody will probably we working on new tunes for another record if he hasn't been already.  Also be on the look out for Cody and Stoney to go back out on the road for an acoustic run.  It is coming through Floores just before Christmas.  Just a hint for anyone looking to get me a gift.   I mentioned a moment on my personal Facebook page, but I have to share here anyway.  Seth did an amazing version of Sweet Lord.  It was probably one of the most moving things I have witnessed. Gruene Hall has bared witness to many moments of musical history I wish I could compile a documentary on all them. To be in the hall when Seth sang that song gave me a very peaceful feeling.  I looked around the crowd and you could see how this song was making people feel. There were tears in the eyes of even the toughest men as he sang.  I was hoping I could find you some better quality YouTube videos but  I didn't see any that were uploaded yet. The guys finished the night with a goodbye song that seemed fitting, Keep on Rocking in the Free World.   Keep on Rocking Seth.  I will be here waiting for new tunes with the rest of your fans. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tuesday News

Hey Friends.  So are you still out there?  I feel like I took an insane amount of time away from the highway.  I needed some time to sit at home, drink, and wallow for a period.  I went to some shows.  I listened to new stuff coming out.  Nothing really wowed me.  It wasn't that the new music was terrible or that I wasn't enjoying shows.  I just didn't have anything left to say...Plus I was also reading a lot of other blogs and was becoming increasingly more self conscience about this little highway and if it was even making any difference or if what I even said mattered.  (I deal with a lot of self doubt at any given moment.) During this time I was also reading a lot of writers who were talking about the demise of "the scene".    I was in a land of nothing. I would sit down at this computer open up to the blogger page and nothing would come.  There was plenty that I should have been sharing.  Things like the worthy kickstarters from guys like Manzy Lowry, Steve Roloff, and James Pardo's pre release sales of American Lotus.  Also missing acoustic and full band things happening that there was no reason for me to miss.  During this writer block period I got to meet some really cool people. Guys like Larry Joe Taylor and the band members of The Great Divide.

Anyway so what changed? What pulled me out of this funk? I am not really sure today.  All I know is I got my mojo back.  I found that little purpose that made me come back to the highway.  So as I sit here on my patio listening to the Cody Canada acoustic disk watching my dogs herd cows in the field I once again found my joy in story telling and what inspires writers.  I look forward to a full week of shows again.  I am hoping to catch Will Hoge Thursday, Jamie Wilson and Courtney Patton on Friday, and be there as Seth James says his goodbye to the Departed on Saturday. All this while preparing for a week long trip to Steamboat for music and good time with friends.  I look forward to seeing some old friends out at shows again and taking in new sights and sounds.  See ya'll around
soon.

 

Also how cute is this hat on Cash?! 

A little hint...I'm planning on a pup Christmas photo...Don't tell him that.

 

 

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The Road Goes On Forever...

It is seven 7 am on a Friday morning I am wondering why I am awake this early.  This is the music industry after all. Why would anyone willingly get up that early?   With coffee in hand I go to meet up with the members of Roadside Libby as they are about to embark on this four hour drive to Lewisville, TX for Western days. Lewisville Western Days is a two day event that features live music, food, beer, and various vendors from the area.  It consist of two stages each day.  The first stage featured Zane Williams, Mark  McKinney, Randy Rogers Band, and Casey Donahew Band.  The second stage which featured Roadside Libby also hosted Shane Smith and The Saints, The Damn Quails (who unfortunately got rained out) and varied array of local and handpicked bands chosen to be there.  Did I mention it was four hours away?  

That is a long way for any one to drive with no guarantee that you will have a crowd, merch sales, or even fun.  Roadside Libby founded in 2008 consists of members lead singer Andrew Van Winkle, bassist Jack Van Winkle, lead guitar player Chris Brady, fiddler Frank Martinez, and drummer Chance Gonzales.   With one goal in mind for the guys to play music they can be proud of and win over some new fans one song at a time.  It goes back to a grass roots way of doing things.  There is no agent, no manager, or record label pushing their music or buying ad space.  This is all on them.  Yes, you can find them reverbnation , ITunes, Ourtracks, and Lonestar music just to name a few places.  As of today they are ranked number seven on the reverbnation country chart.  They have a little over 800 fans on Facebook and 2400 on reverbnation.  It is a constant everyday drive that this band has to stick together and give it their all each show after show.  Touring more than two hundred days out of the year, they are seeing as many miles on the road as bands like as guys like Brandon Rhyder, The Damn Quails, etc.   The guys are currently planning on the work they are going to put into  their next release.  An Ep featuring about six new songs the band as a whole has been working on. All while still booking shows, rehearsing, and some in the band holding down day jobs to keep the dream rolling.

Four hours in the backseat of a van isn't glamorous.  It's kind of boring to be honest.  Town after little town all look the same.  Traffic in  Austin and Dallas is brutal.   While in some ways it can be as dramatic as it is portrayed in almost famous, for the most part is a bunch of dudes just going out to do what they love.  Play music and have some fun while doing that. On a good day you make some money to pay the band and put some gas in the van.  On a bad day, you may not have enough for dinner at Whataburger. 

 As the gates opened on the first day of Western Days the guys set up shop.  Some folks listened, nodding their heads to the music.  Others meandered around as they went to the beer booths and various other booths.  I have been to my share of festivals that feature lots of live music, but the set up here was tad bit off. They had most of the bands I wanted see going on at the same time.  Usually the stages have alternating sets so everyone can have a chance to hear who they want.  Zane Williams and his full band were on at the same time as Roadside Libby.  I did sneak over to see the competition on Friday. For the most part the crowds on either side weren't all that different.  As the guys came off the stage some of the folks in the crowd came up to the guys to tell them their thoughts and shake their hands.  We stayed to listen to Shane Smith's set and then left to prepare for another day and another show.

The next day arrived as  dark ominous clouds surrounded the city of Lewisville.  Sure enough not long after we loaded in the van the rain poured down.  With not much to do but hurry up and wait to see if the band could even go on, we did exactly that. We all in the group wanted to see  The Damn Quails play their set before us.  Unfortunately with mother natures plans  the quails were cancelled.  The guys once again would play the same stage and because of the rain would essentially be the first band of the evening.  Some of the familiar faces from the day before would be there again but today was different there was more traffic coming in the gate.   This meant more of a crowd coming by to listen, dance, and have a good time.   All in all some cd's were sold both by hard copy and ITunes.  More than a few people from town asked if the guys would be back next year.  With a days work done, we went off to celebrate the weekend and take part in the western days activities. 

Sunday morning came with out much fan fare. We pulled out of town and made the long trip back to San Antonio.  Few things I learned on this road trip...Costco pizza is delightful...why did no one tell me this before?  Texas roads are long and seem to never end. While the guys may not be selling out stadiums they are one of the good guys in this business.  That's not something you see every day.  Especially in this business, where nothing is ever what it seems.  As we pulled in to San Antonio everyone was ready for home.  For me I will be off this week in search of new music to check out.  For the guys of Roadside Libby they are preparing for another round of weekend shows.  To do the process of unloading gear, sound checking, playing for three or four hours, reloading the gear, and driving home once again.  As the REK song says the road goes on forever...

To see where they will be next click here.  

Free EPK from ReverbNation.com

New Music Tuesday - Owen Temple

Hello boys and girls.  It is a big week in hurricane highway land.  I have been a lady of leisure for a couple of weeks now.  You would think that with my free time I would have been writing up a storm but inspiration hasn't really hit.  This week  I get to do some fun things. Tomorrow I am going to College Station with James Pardo.  He is playing a show at the Grand Stafford Theater.  Then on Friday I leave with Roadside Libby to travel up to Lewisville for their Western Days Events.  Hopefully none of the parties involved get tired of me and leave me at the nearest bus station back home.  Fingers crossed.

Out today in the land of new releases is Stories They Tell by Owen Temple.  I feel bad for admitting this but, I really wasn't all that versed in Owen and his music till I saw him at Greenfest this past July.  He was part of the song swap that included Drew Kennedy and Josh Grider.  On that night he brought out his songs, as well as those of Gary Floater.  Gary Floater is this character that him and I want to say Adam Carroll created.  The songs are goofy but I couldn't help but stand in awe when I heard them. It was a mix of awe and did he really just say what I think he said.  When I saw this album was coming out today I made a mental note to myself to give a listen.  As I sat there listening to this album, it is simple yet striking.   With lyrics that are concise and meaningful, it is a shame this guy isn't more well known.  Also a shame that I took so long to sit down and listen to all his stuff. My favorite song on this disk is Make Something.  It has this groovy bluesy feeling going for it. Be There Soon this sweet little country number.  Once again I find myself liking this song about life on the road.  What you have here is a song about being gone for a period of time and all you can really tell the person waiting on the other end is I'll be there soon.  Homegrown is another great ballad about making a life for yourself on your own terms.  Another theme I can easily relate to and find myself gravitating to in my song choices.  Also listen to the title track to cd, Stories They Tell, Six Nations Calendonia, and Johnson Grass.

 

 

While I was looking for videos from Greenfest, I stumbled upon this video about the album he wanted to make.  Really cool insight.
 

 

Another Alabama Tribute - The Texas Version

I bet by now you have heard about this album, not to be confused with the Alabama tribute that came out a few weeks ago that featured Jamey Johnson, Aldean, and those Flatts guys.  This is hardly a breaking news post, but I felt like sharing it anyway.  Lucky for you and me, Lightning Rod Records is giving a nice little preview on their sound cloud page of their tribute to the band.  I love Why Lady Why and the slowed down version of Love In The First Degree.  Although my absolute favorite version of that song is done by James Pardo, who slowed it down after seeing a YouTube clip of Jason Isbell and Ryan Adams doing the song.  Jason Isbell and John Paul White's version of Old Flame is an awesome reinvention of the song especially with that acoustic guitar and fiddle on it.   To be honest I was never a huge Alabama fan.  I did once upon a time have a bad ass Alabama baseball tee when I was little that I wish I would have kept, that thing would have been vintage now and cool to have.  Not a bad compilation, there are some interpretations I am not a fan of on here, but that could also be that I wasn't a fan of the song in it's original state. I have not heard the other tribute cd, I really don't want to. If you have listened to both though I am always up for a discussion on your thoughts about it.

New Music Tuesday - Wide Listener

 

 

My twitter and Facebook timelines have been all abuzz about this release.   Drew Kennedy has one of the most unique voices in music.  It's a voice that is distinct and highlights the emotions in his songs. I like a good put together album.  This is one of those.  I hope that if you are a regular reader of mine you know I don't like party songs. I just can't handle those songs.  I like music that makes me think, that hit my head and my heart in a way that instantly takes me to the places the songwriters were at when the song was born.  These songs on here make me feel like I am in a movie scene.  I see the characters vividly and how the storyline plays out. The most simple and the most haunting ballad is Sleeping Alone. This what I imagine a songwriters life on the road is like.  It is the musician life that we may never understand. Lonely at times, confined to hotel walls wondering how you ended up there and what you gave up to be there.  Jesus Can See You - whoa, just whoa.  If there was ever a song about heartbreak this is it. This song plays out like an opera leaving you thinking you would hate to be on the other end of this argument.  My two other favorites include Hello Goodbye and Rose of Jericho.  Plese know that just because I only mention these four songs doesn't mean the rest of the cd isn't worth checking out.  It is well worth your time and money. I purchased the iTunes version of this cd but I do plan on getting a physical copy.  The nerd in me has to know who all had a hand in this piece of art. I know Brandy Zdan is the background vocal support on Rose of Jericho but I think she is also heard through out the album as well.  With Drew's bass vocals and Brandy's sweet and soft vocal talents combined that is a match up that I would like to hear more of for many years to come.  Those voices are meant to be combined.

 

 

 

 

 

Wide Listener - Drew Kennedy Preview

 

If you ever wanted to know what inspires a record than take a minute to watch this video from Drew Kennedy.  Wide Listener comes out next week on September tenth. I am really looking forward to hearing this album.  Drew is one of my favorite people to see play.  He and Rodney Hayden used to put on acoustic song swaps at Greune Hall and Billy's a few years back. I would always go see them. Drew even brought a full band show to China Grove General Store one time... He played to about twenty of us in the crowd that night. It was a pretty cool experience.