Fine Line: 'Live on I-35' Section

Adam Demetri (StunGun) and Christian Bland (The Black Angels) are the masterminds behind a masterful little fun-fest in Austin next month. The whole shindig goes down at The Red Barn…

The Red Barn is a new venue dedicated to Austin’s independent spirit, world-famous live music scene, and psychedelic music heritage. The venue was inspired by the Vulcan Gas Company, Austin’s first psychedelic venue.

…the venue is located in a renovated vintage red barn in North Central Austin.

The lo-down:

Saturday, March 8th
The Red Barn
Performing:
Cavedweller
The Astronaut Suit
The Tunnels
Horse + Donkey
Ringo Deathstarr
The Upside Down
The Quarter After
Acid Tomb
The Strange Boys
Spindrift
The Black Angels

…um…hell YEAH!

Tickets, directions and all that other crap can be found here.

“Bloodhounds on My Trail” by The “freakin’ awesome” Black Angels. Visuals by Hal “freakin’ awesome” Samples.

Sarah Jaffe Live at The Granada

Here’s the story of a lovely lady
Who was singing up some very lovely songs.
All of them shall turn to gold, then to platinum,
The road to fame not long.

Will Johnson Live at Good Records – “Vultures Await”

Here’s the story, of a man named Johnson,
Who was busy with great songs of his own,
They were four men, playing shows together,
Yet this time, he’ll be all alone.

Till the one day when the lady met this fellow
And they knew it was much more than a hunch,
That this group would somehow form a tight gig.
That’s the way it all became a Texas Tour.
A Texas Tour, A Texas Tour,

That’s the way it became a Texas Tour…

Don’t miss your chance to experience utter greatness…

Thursday, February 7th
The Double Wide (Dallas)
Sarah Jaffe / Will Johnson
9 PM – $8 Cover

Friday, February 8th
Dan’s Silverleaf (Denton)
Sarah Jaffe / Will Johnson
9 PM

Saturday, February 9th
The Mohawk Sarah Jaffe / Will Johnson / {{{SUNSET}}} w/ BILL BAIRD
10 PM – $8 Cover

I’m half tempted to hop in the car and head down to College Station for this lil’ shindig…hm…course I’d walk…or even crawl…all the way just to get a gander of my future baby’s daddy, Bob Schneider…

Austin Sound has always been a good read. Now that I’m closer to sweet sweet Austin, I’ll be over there more often than the past. Speaking of Austin, another one of my favorite Hill Country reads is Ultra8201, who hipped me to this fantabulous lil’ extravaganza…

In celebration of our first anniversary, Austin Sound presents the first annual Austin Sound Off Festival. On Saturday, September 1, some of our favorite local bands (see below for the full 13 band line-up) will take over the two stages of the Scoot Inn for an all day party starting at 3:00pm with free food and some free beer (better get there early!) to benefit the website. In addition to a great day of live music, local music bloggers from Covert Curiosity, Party Ends, Side One: Track One, Cubik Musik, and the Austinist will be spinning tunes between sets on the outside stage! Cover is only $5 for the full day, or you can RSVP with our friends over at Do512 for $3 entry. So come out and help us celebrate the great bands and fans that make Austin the live music capital of the world!

Outside Stage:
11:00pm-12:00am: Golden Bear
10:00-11:00pm: Peel
8:45-9:30pm: Brazos
7:30-8:15pm: Black Before Red
6:15-7:00pm: The Black
5:00-5:45pm: Sunset
4:00-4:45pm: Charles Potts Magic Windmill Band

Inside Stage:
12:00-1:00am: Leatherbag
9:30-10:15pm: Transmography
8:15-9:00pm: Benko
7:00-7:45pm: Virgin of the Birds
5:45-6:30pm: The Narrow Escapes
4:30-5:15pm: Tullie

“Workers Wake Up” by Peel

Vision
Texas musicians have had a profound effect on American music and culture. Casey Monahan of the Texas Music Office writes, “Americans of all kinds came to Texas and brought with them their music: Polka from the Czechs, Poles and Germans; Conjunto from Northern Mexico; Gospel, R&B, jazz and blues from Africans; classical from throughout the world. Moreover, when these Texans got together, wholly new strains appeared soon thereafter. Electric blues, honky-tonk, Tejano, Down South Hip Hop, and ragtime are all variations of American music that began in Texas through such innovation and melding.”

“Hangman Blues” by Blind Lemon Jefferson

The Texas Musicians Museum will bring their stories to life, weaving their experiences, styles and influences together. Through the quality displays, visitors can trace the thread of Bob Wills’ Texas swing to Buddy Holly’s 50′s rock and its influence on the likes of the Beatles and Eric Clapton. They can pick another thread and follow back to Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan and even further back to the early bluesmen such as T-Bone Walker and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Woven into their histories are the early African-American cowboys and their gospel-like country blues.

“Hellbound on My Trail” by Robert Johnson

The importance of culture and art to society cannot be over-emphasized. In a study titled, “The Arts, Culture and the Texas Economy,” M. Ray Perryman, PhD, President and CEO of the Perryman Group states, “At the most obvious level, the spending on producing and attending performances or organizing and viewing exhibits generates a stimulus to local areas across the globe. This type of effect is frequently measured by traditional economic impact studies of the cultural arts. At the other end of the spectrum, the enthusiastic spark engendered when a young person attends a concert for the first time may manifest itself years later in a medical breakthrough, a new technology, or an innovative corporate enterprise. The mere exposure to a bigger world provided by the arts transforms the perspectives and prospects of many.”

“T-Bone Shuffle” by T-Bone Walker

The Texas Musicians Museum’s Advisory Board is comprised of professionals in business and entertainment. They are our partners in guiding the museum’s expansion, business direction and acquisition of memorabilia.

Clifford Antone
A Port Arthur, Texas native, Mr. Antone opened Austin’s internationally reknowned night club Antone’s in 1975. An avid fan and supporter of music, in 1986 he furthered his ideas of preservation by founding Antone’s Records, home of artist’s including Angela Strehli, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lou Ann Barton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marcia Ball, Guy Forsyth and many more. He also teaches Texas music history at Texas State University.

Steven Fromholz
One of the original “Outlaws” and long recognized as a Texas Legend in the entertainment industry, Steven Fromholz brings a wealth of experience to the Texas Musicians Museum from both sides of the footlights. His
40-year-plus career includes singing, songwriting (two Grammys), acting (stage and movies), poet, playwright, white water river guide and comedian extraordinaire.

Cutter Brandenburg
Former road manager for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Texas Musicians Museum board member, Cutter Brandenburg’s website. Information and links about Vaughan and other Texas musicians, as well as information about Brandenburgs upcoming book!

Patti Coghill
Former owner – Southwest Blues Magazine, blues historian & founder of a Texas-based blues foundation, which helps with medical and funeral expenses of blues musicians.

Nancy Coplin
Board of Austin Blues Society, producer of “Live Austin” in the Bergstrom International Airport.

Timothy Duckworth
Austin-based musician & songwriter, co-songwriter and personal assistant to Stevie Ray Vaughan.

George Gimarc
Music historian and expert with 29 years in radio, including “The Rock and Roll Alternative” – the US’s first new wave/punk rock show. Resource with networks and contacts in every genre of Texas music.

Art Greenhaw
Texas Grammy Award winner, Record Producer and member of the world famous Light Crust Doughboys.

Bill Griggs
Historian, archivist and expert on Buddy Holly and early rock and roll and West Texas artists’ recordings.

Leo Hull
Dallas Real Estate Broker, Blues advocate and guitarist with the legendary band “Leo Hull and the Texas Blues Machine”.

Eric Jensen
A Texas musician and enthusisast who produces the Texas Guitar festival in Tyler. Eric’s love for Texas music and his support for the TMM make for a great relationship. He is also a well-know attorney in Tyler and the east Texas area.

Robert Johnson
Reknowned Memphis record producer, guitarist with John Entwistle’s band, Mick Fleetwood’s band, and Issac Hayes band. Collector of music memorabilia.

Doug Norwine
In addition to his own extensive music and entertainment memorabilia collection, Doug also works for Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers. He is also an award winning musician who is probably best known as the music behind four fingered sax playing cartoon character Lisa Simpson and her mentor Bleeding Gums Murphy on the Fox television show The Simpsons.

Spencer Perskin
Spencer is the original and founding member of the legendary Shiva’s Headband. He is a musician and historian of Texas Music and its music legends.

Mark Pollock
Mark spent several years in Freddie King’s band, toured with James Cotton, and was in the popular Dallas band called Cold Blue Steel. He’s the former owner of the world renowned Charley’s Guitar Shop and the co-founder for one of the worlds biggest guitar shows. The DALLAS INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL.

Rick Rosas
Musician, Songwriter & Record Producer, Bass player for Joe Walsh, Neil Young & Waddy Wachtel.

J.P. Richardson Jr.
Texas music history expert. Son of late Texas artist, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson

Tommie Ritter Smith
President and CEO of the Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame & Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage, Texas

Mark Robbins
A resident of North Texas, and multifaceted instrumentalist, Mark is an acclaimed Audio Producer specializing in LIVE performance recording, spanning genres from Classical to Blues and most everything in between. A creative force in many media types, he has worked in key roles doing Special Effects for major motion pictures, as well as remaining on the front lines of WEB development since 1984, before most people even owned a computer. An accomplished cellist, guitarist, bass player, Chapman Stick player, and too many instruments to list here, Mark gives an artist’s ear and technical inventiveness to projects, from web to film and audio recording and mastering. Mark’s web site is www.studiocerebral.com.

Rick Stuart
Live music production, music & theatre design. Assisted in the planning and building of Nextstage (now known as Nokia Live) in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Saturday, September 1st
Texas Music Museum in Hillsboro, Texas
Gates Open at 2 PM – $10.00 in Advance – $15.00 at the DOor
Leo Hull & the Texas Blues Machine / The Big Guns / Shanghai 5 / Westbound and the Barbarians of Sevilla
Purchase Tickets Online

“Better on Fire” by Shanghai 5

Driving to Austin this morning, I picked up KGSR 107.1 just in time to hear a tune by….*swooooooon*…Bob Schneider, “Come with me Tonight” in anticipation of a really cool free concert series the station hosts on Lake Travis. So once I helped the girl-child get semi-settled and after she nonchalantly demanded I leave her to her friends, I logged on to find out more about the Sunday show.

Being that Monday is the first day of the boy-child’s new school, I dunno if I’ll make the trek back to Austin for this Sunday shindig, but lemme tell ya kids, if youse in Austin or near Austin or wanna come to Austin, this Sunday’s show is a not-to-miss.

Not only is my future baby’s daddy Bob Schneider performing, but so is another one of my top 5 favorite bands, Deadman. WhaddaWonderfulWay to spend a Sunday, eh?

Speaking of my beloved Deadman, it looks as though I’ve missed some changes as of late. I’ve left word with Steven to update me on what’s-what in Deadman land, but from what I’ve learned thus far Todd Pertll is still joining the band on-stage (yay!): Pedal Steel Guitar, Backing Guitar John Michael Schoepf: Bass Guitar, Backing Vocal, Bass Pedals Josh Garner: Drums, sometimes: Brandon “Chief” Rosas: Basses, Backing Vocal and Pete Coatney: still on Drums. My only question is, where the hell is Sherilyn?

The skinny…

Friday, August 24th
The Aardvark in Fort Worth
Bob Schneider / Calhoun (we luvs us some Calhoun too)

Sunday, August 26th
Lakeway Resort and Spa in Austin
Deadman / Bob Schneider
5 PM

“Ghost Story” by Deadman (this is an old song, and Steven will most likely fuss at me, but I still love this song.)

“Enemy Inside of Me” by Bob Schneider

Artwork by Broose Dickinson

In an hour or so I’m hittin’ the road with the girl-child to settle her into her new college digs. The whole world feels very surreal about now. There’s some sort of luau for the kids and us old folks tonight, then I’ll be sent on my way so’s the girl-child can begin her new life. I’m hoping for a Phil Lee sighting since our young’un’s are attending the same school. We’ll see.

“Moon June Spoon” by Spot

I went ahead and booked a hotel room in Austin, so if I’m not too tear-stain ridden, I might hit a show. Just a few ideas…

Cactus Cafe
Sorta / Buttercup
8 PM

The Mohawk
Black Tie Dynasty
10 PM

Stubb’s
Reckless Kelly
7 PM

Hole in the Wall
Pink Nasty
10 PM

Jovita’s
LaLaLand
7 PM

Hopefully I’ll have something to show by sun-up Saturday…

Pink Nasty Live at Good Records with a Guest Appearance, SaMach’s Backside (Filmed by FineLineLive)

Lessee…I’m gonna be in Austin on Friday night after dropping off the girl-child at her place’o'higher learnin’ and Sorta is gonna be in Austin…

…and Buttercup is gonna be with Sorta in Austin….

…that means I’m gonna be with Buttercup and Sorta in Austin on Friday night! Happy days are here again…

Friday, August 24th
Cactus Cafe
Buttercup Living Again EP Release / Sorta
8 PM – 6-bucks

Danny wrote: “Speaking of Austin music, does ANYONE know if Prescott Curlywolf – who may be my all-time favorite band of Texas origin – still exists or has plans to exist or…something? Their MySpace page doesn’t say a whole hell of a lot, and I can’t find jack about them online that was written within the past few years. Not even friggin’ Wikipedia has a listing for them.”

“Cindy – Any chance I could cajole or bribe you into doing some quick investigation from your neck of the woods on the wherabouts of P-Wolf and/or the damn Damnations…? “

One Mississippi has turned into exactly what they had hoped it could be. A song writing collaborative of friends from mutually admired bands, whose intentions were to simply write good songs and record them. With that goal in mind, and two years of rotating members, One Mississippi is nearing completion of an album and has begun playing their songs at Austin clubs for the curious, more familiar with their other musical projects.

Robert Bernard and Ron Byrd have worked together for over 10 years in their band Prescott Curlywolf. Curlywolf has been on extended hiatus since drummer Chris Deener moved to New Jersey. But rather than trying to replace Deener, the logical approach was to explore song writing with different musicians in order to stretch the dynamic and avoid stagnation.

Alex Livingston of Grand Champeen shares songwriting duties and plays bass in both bands. Conrad Chouchron has played drums with Bernard in the Damnations and Mandible but is also well known for his work as a session drummer on countless projects. What resulted was simple chemistry and great songwriting. The flavor ranges from 70�s riff-rock to the sloppy pop, reminiscent of both Champeen and Curlywolf. One Mississippi songs released on Almost There’s Turn 1 and Turn 2 compilations received standout mention and show promise for what lies ahead for this group of rock veterans who chose to stir the pot.

The only thing I can find on the Damnations is the below mp3. But I ain’t done lookin’ just yet…

“New Hope Cemetary.mp3″ by the Damnations

Prescott Curlywolf on MySpace
Mandible on MySpace
Grand Champeen on MySpace
One Mississippi on MySpace

It’s not just fun. It’s not just fun fun. It’s FUN FUN FUN! And it’s a fest!

Fun Fun Fun Fest
Saturday, November 3 – Sunday, November 4
Waterloo Park in Austin
Purchase Tickets

Fun Fun Fun is a unique music festival, incorporating the best of local and touring underground, cutting-edge and just plain cool music. No jam bands, no blues rock, no such luck…just the kinda of great music you’d heard coming from the scene, since music split from the pop mainstream decades ago. 2 day, multiple stages, more than 70 bands and a huge mix of styles from indie rock to punk to dj and electronica and so on.

The event will take place on Saturday, Nov 3rd and Sunday, Nov 4th at Waterloo Park (15th and Red River Rd). Doors at noon, show starts at 1pm sharp. The event will end at 10pm in the evening (keep posted for after parties that night as well!). It’s an all ages event. No pets or outside food/beverages allowed. Come early to get parking and beat the lines. Parking on street or in Capitol Vistor’s Parking Garage: We can’t wait to see you there!

STAGE 1:
Explosions in the sky
new pornographers
of montreal
okkervil river
battles
mates of state
ted leo and the pharmacists
final fantasy
white denim
I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness
Headlights
emma pollock (delgados)
MGMT
and many more.

STAGE 2:
murder city devils (reunion show)
neurosis
the sword
against me!
lifetime
poison idea
ch3
the saints
riverboat gamblers
youth brigade
complete control
sick of it all
madball
sun trash
and many
more.

STAGE 3:
Girl Talk
Cadence Weapon
busdriver
grand buffet
Diplo
brownout!
dj jester
prince klassen and so many more.

“Welcome Ghosts” by Explosions in the Sky

“Sitting” by White Denim

“Let’s Call It Off” by Girl Talk

I didn’t do squat musically this past weekend. I painted a wall, watched the best teevee in the world, turned the usual 4-hour trip into a leisurely 7 hour stroll from San Antonio to Dallas yesterday. I hit a flea market, a handful of antique malls, and came across a cool little joint just a mere few miles from the new digs.

I spotted a few banners while speeding down I-35 just off of 1604, and one of ‘em said “Seth Walker Live.” Since Seth Walker is a big-time fave, I had to do the exit/swing-around thing to see what was what.

“Restless” by Seth Walker

From the highway, it just looked like raw land. A little closer up, it looked like a golf course. Pull into the lot, you’ll see a gate that takes you to the Rolling Oaks Sports Bar & Grill…with the golf course laid out before it. Lots of good stuff goin’ on at Rolling Oaks, including…

Thursdays
Texas Music Series
Bands and artists such as Bart Crow, Casey Donahew, Jamie Richards, Full Throttle, Doug Moreland, Honeybrowne, Travis Mitchell, Matt Martindale, perform at this series
Enjoy $1 (12oz) Shiner draft/$6 Pitchers all night long! Thursdays are “FREE” concerts w/ a can food donation to the SA Food Bank, $3 w/out.

Fridays
Live Texas Blues
Featuring bands and artists such as Seth Walker, Carolyn Wonderland, W.C. Clark, and more performing.
Enjoy $3 pints/$11 pitchers of Warsteiner Dunkel & Pilsner all night long. $7 cover

Saturdays
Live Texas Music
Featuring the best in Texas artists and bands including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Adam Hood, Ryan Turner, Darren Kozelsky, Jason Eady, Sidehill Gougers and more
Drink Specials and Cover varies

They’s havin’ one helluva shindig this weekend:

Saturday, April 28th
Inaugural Young Guns Rising Shrimp Fest at “The Oaks”
16 artists, peel-n-eat shrimp, cold beer, raffles, contests, ALL DAY FUN

Rolling Oaks also serves up some tasty vittles and boasts the coldest beer in the county.

Check it out next time you are in the Alamo City – and…um…call me…

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Completely off topic question. What the hell is with all the broken, dirty old soda-pop bottles for sale all along I-35? Seriously, every single antique mall and/or store I entered yesterday was chock full of ‘em. And not a one priced less than $15.00. Fifteen bucks for an old broken pop bottle? Hell, I’m in the wrong bidness.

Obviously there is a market for them, but I just can’t see myself entertaining TFG’s clients, and showing them my divine broken-up-dirty-Coke bottle collection. “Look at the glass!” “Isn’t it cracked and dirty!?!” “I only paid $40.00 for it!”

I’m leavin’ for San Antone early in the a.m. Too much stuff needs doin’ at the new digs to stick ’round here. So I started pokin’ around venues in Austin/San Marcos and San Antonio to see what kind of trouble I can get into while I’m in the ‘hood. That’s when I saw them. That’s when I met…how you say…perfection.

They come in the form of March Fourth Marching Band. Oh—my—GAWD, are you kidding me?! This is like…like…like a dream come true. They are a stage performing marching band of sorts, and you know how I loves me some marching band. As if the deal couldn’t get sweeter, they are performing around Austin all weekend with muy fabuloso White Ghost Shivers. Wheeeeeeeee…!!!

I can absolutely, positively, fer reals commit to attending a minimum of 1 of these shows this weekend – too damn good to pass up. If you don’t hear back from me, I’ve followed March Fourth back to Portland…

Friday, April 20th
Scoot Inn
That Damn Band / March Fourth Marching Band / White Ghost Shivers
8 PM

Saturday, April 21st
Austin Earth Day
Republic Park
4 PM – Mundi
5 PM – Guy Forsyth
6 PM – South Austin Jug Band
7 PM – Rokkatone
8 PM – March Fourth

Sunday, April 22nd
Antone’s
March Fourth / White Ghost Shivers / That Damn Band
Doors at 7 PM – Show Starts at 8 PM

“Sweet Banana” by White Ghost Shivers

My favorite picture of the boy-child at his best – covered in spaghetti

So yesterday the boy-child turned 15 whole years old. It was most definitely a 48-hour affair, complete with his band jam all night Tuesday…well into the wee hours of Wednesday morn. I made the boys wear Spongebob party hats while they dined on my special homemade McMuffin sammiches, then scooted them off to do some learnin’.

Later on last eve, we met over at Snuffer’s for birthday burgers with the family. It was one of the most enjoyable evenings I’ve had in awhile. I adore my family, and most definitely (due to my dumbassantics) don’t get to see them as much as I’d like. Anyhoo eventually the conversation turned to music (shocker, eh). My brother, who by the way was my original music mentor way back when, introducing me to the likes of Matt Bianco, Oingo Boingo and numerous others, was telling me about KT Tunstall. I, being the foolishly out of touch elder sis, was intrigued, and oh-so out of the loop. I mean the girl has won like major awards and her hit song “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” is spun on every Clear Channel station from sea to shining sea. But my head tends to sit wedged up the arse of the local/regional music scene…bottom line, the kid bro turned me on to someone I totally dig…yet again.

It’s one thing to hear KT on the radio, and quite another to see her in action live. Mi hermano sent me to the YouTube vid below. My A.D.D. sent me all over where-did-the-hours-go-YouTube, watching more KT and about a gazillion kids covering her songs…I can’t get enough of KT Tunstall…however I can get enough of the goofy covers…

My dad told me a story last night that made me awful proud to call him my dad. It seems that dad and his lovely gal were at The Auslander in Fredricksburg last weekend. He had just purchased cocktails and as he made his way back to the table, the performer did his “goodnight everybody thanks for coming” schpeel. My daddy would have none of that, no way, no how. So he did what every live music lover should do, and slapped a hundred dollar bill on the table and asked the performer how many songs that would buy hisownself and his lovely gal.

The performer, one Mr. Drew Kennedy, was much obliged, and play he did. Now Drew has at least 2 new fans in my dad and his lovely, and one in me as well. You can catch Drew giggin’ all over DdFW as well as throughout the Hill Country.

What began in 2000 with a simple gift of a guitar made possible by his grandfather has led Drew Kennedy down the winding road that he travels today. His trip has taken him through the hills of music’s greatest heroes, to the hill country of Texas where he now makes his home. That journey, seven years in the making, has culminated in the March 2007 Sustain Records release of Dollar Theatre Movie.

Produced by Gerald Boyd, Dollar Theatre Movie consists of 13 original songs, all of which were written or co-written by Drew. Each track is an insight into his musical evolution over the last two years. The first single to be released off the new record is entitled “Take Me Home” and was co-written by Peter Dawson and Drew. “Take Me Home” is a feel good song about skipping town on your job in the big city to head back home where the roads are dusty, the night sky is full of stars, and the pace of life is a little slower. “Ramblin’ Heart,” the second song on the record, is banjo-filled ode to a musicians’ hectic life on the road. “Goodbye,” which flows like a love song in reverse, is a track that paints a vivid picture of a doomed relationship in which a man removes himself from the situation in order to benefit the woman he loves. “These songs are a part of me,” says Kennedy. “Some of them are introspective, some of them were born out of the things I’ve seen out on the road, but all of them deal with the way we feel as we’re trying to fit in with the rest of the world.

I get the feeling that all of these songs have that same loose-fitting theme.” With that theme in mind, and with the help of dozens of talented musicians, Dollar Theatre Movie was born. Recorded over several months at Premium Recording in Austin, TX, this marks Kennedy’s second record, following 2003’s independent release Hillbilly Pilgrim. “The title just fit the theme,” says Kennedy. “I’m trying to write about the people you meet every day. You can find inspiration no matter where you are. I’m just one of the lucky few that gets to find inspiration in the big cities, the small towns, and everywhere in between.” The earthy arrangements and passionate lyrics of Dollar Theatre Movie represent what countless music fans around the country have come to recognize as a sound that is distinctly Kennedy’s.

With influences ranging as wide as Johnny Cash and Guy Clark to Ben Folds and Ryan Adams, the music rises as a loose cooperative between sounds that all share a common root system sewn deep within the American soil. With lyrics that show thought and intelligence, and hooks that command attention, Dollar Theatre Movie proves to be a highly satisfying ride, from the opening note to the rolling of the credits. Dollar Theatre Movie Is Kennedy’s first record release with Sustain Records, an independent Texas-based record company distributed by Universal Music & Video Distribution.

“Take Me Home” by Drew Kennedy

Dad and lovely also caught another artist they particularly enjoyed, Sheila Marshall, while on their Bluebonnet jaunt.

Sheila Marshall is a native of Nacogdoches, TX a small community deep in the heart of east Texas. Growing up surrounded by the sounds of gospel, rock and roll and country music Sheila developed a voice true to her surroundings. After college Sheila found herself working full time and spending countless hours writing and rehearsing with her first band and although the band lasted only a year Sheila made the choice to chase her dream. Before long Sheila found herself in the studio working on her very first CD. During this time the road became her home. Sheila traveled and performed an average of 50 weeks a year, her music took her around the world. Sheila has toured to places such as Asia where she performed for our troops returning for leave from the war in Iraq, A European tour that ended in France, then went on to play Alaska, Hawaii, and across the U.S. and back. During this time Sheila released an acoustic EP and gained a sponsorship from Budweiser which brought national recognition. Sheila continued writing new songs, perfecting her stage show and building a large following. Sheila has released two CD’s “Beautiful For Situation” an acoustic EP and “Makes Perfect Sense” and is currently working on a third CD for 2006.

You can also catch Sheila performing her talented little heart out all over the Lone Star State.

“Beautiful” by Sheila Marshall

Jayson Bales has a job. Jayson Bales has a wife and kids. Jayson Bales fronts a band, writes the music, plays the guitar and gigs regularly. Somehow, even with all this work and responsibility, Jayson Bales also makes time to put together a show in Austin every couple of months or so – and they’s damn fine shows indeed.

This past Friday night was no exception. In fact, it was spectacular. We gathered at Jovita’s in Austin for the wonders that are Chris Holt, Eric Neal, Jayson Bales, Greg Fontanillas, Travis Behl, Johnny Ferrell, Salim Nourallah, Rich Martin, Levi Smith, Dragan Jakovljevic, Daniel Hopkins & Jesse Hopkins. ‘Twas wondrous, simply wondrous.

The bands intermixed members, Daniel with Salim and Radiant*, Chris & Eric together, then again with Salim, Salim sitting in with Jayson’s band, little Gavin Nourallah tamborinin’ it up with Jayson and Salim…you get the gist. More surprises included an appearance by my precious Todd Pertll and darling Kate Mackley! Unexpected fun! Where the hell were you, Patrick Nichols?

Every single set was greatness. Every single song was greatness. In case you haven’t picked-up on it yet, I had a pretty damn fine time. Even TheFatGuy enjoyed himself, although there wasn’t a honky-tonker in the bunch.

Who stole the show, you ask? Why that would be Gavin Nourallah, the adorable offspring of Salim and Jayme Nourallah. The kid is a star in the making.

I haven’t seen Radiant* live in a couple of years. They were an immediate favorite of mine way, way, way back a few years ago. I was at Trees for the OhNo! show. Rahim Quazi (the keyboard player for OhNo! at the time) snagged me by the elbow and whispered, “don’t leave yet, there’s someone I really want you to meet.” That someone was Levi Smith. He handed me a burned copy of his band’s (Radiant*) album, that was in the works, and I popped it into my car stereo the minute I hit the gas. It was brilliant. Nothing has changed. The Radiant* set on Friday night was…was…amazing.

Actually, every set by every band was superb. So I just want to say, thank you thank you thank you to Jayson Bales. You made my freakin’ month.

Audio and video are here for you – just scroll down and enjoy…

Radiant Live at Jovita's

Radiant* Live at Jovita’s – Full Set (Audio)

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The Star of the Night, Gavin Nourallah – Live at Jovita’s