Review of Joey Green’s Album “Whatever Lady?!
August 26, 2010
Scot G.
Joey Green is no stranger to the Ft. Worth music scene. Playing upwards of 150 shows a year on the Red Dirt Roads, Joey has become a familiar face in local venues like The Eagle’s Nest, Fat Daddy’s, and Woody’s Tavern. With the release of his third Album, it appears that Joey Green is here to stay. Released during the second half of 2009, Joey’s full length album titled, Whatever Lady?! has had an entire year to marinate.
After listening to the album from Track 1 through 10, I’ll be honest, my first response was confusion. Is this Texas Red Dirt Music? How does this fit into the mold of what has become the “Red Dirt Scene.” For 45 minutes I was constantly switching gears as I tried to define this music. At which point I was reminded of the enjoyable character of Texas Country. You don’t put limits on it, and you can’t create a mold for Red Dirt Music. Sure, there are many different dimensions to the music, and that’s why Joey Green’s latest release makes the grade.
The first track on the album “Natchitoches Blues,” immediately grabs your attention and gets you tapping on the steering wheel. Don’t make the common mistake of singing the Nacagdoches, TX Blues, which is a 2 hours drive West of Natchitoches, LA, the home city for this opening tune. This song has the feel of a crowd sing-a-long that will forever be requested wherever Joey plays. Even if you don’t know anything about Joey Green, you probably have heard this song on the Radio, and know the chorus. I would compare it to a “Fifty Dollars and a Flask of Crown” from Bleu Edmonson. It has a simple beat and simple lyrics, but gets stuck in your head long after the song is over.
Joey Green’s music is often classified as Alt-Country-Pop-Rock, and that pin-points what you’ll find on track 2 and 3. Joey kicks off “Heavy” with a piano solo of his own, word has it that he actually plays the majority of the instruments on the entire album. “Heavy” is a story about a teenage pregnancy, and gives you a grasp of how deep Joey’s songwriting can get. If you are looking for an album about drinking $1 PBRs and Texas chicks floating the river, this music isn’t for you.
If you’ve followed Joey Green in the past you will probably recognize the fourth track. “Save Me From Myself” makes a comeback from the 2004 album Outside the Circle, released with the band Defining Briscoe, and marks one of the best songs on his new album. Grab your dance partner for song 6. “Alone Tonight” gives you a twangy slide guitar and a swing beat that will have you 2-stepping around the dance floor for just shy of 4 minutes.
You will probably over look some of the best songs on the album if you are searching for only upbeat party tunes. The songwriting talents shine on the second half, as Joey tells his real life stories in “ Roommates,” “Disease,” “Lonely One,” “The Devil,” and “If I was Dead.” All five tracks paint a vivid picture of life’s struggles, disappointments, and challenges through the eyes of someone who certainly lived through them.
“Movie Screen” brings the album to an end on a high note, and then Joey sneaks in a live cut of “Bend It Till It Breaks” from a performance his band rocked at Woody’s Tavern a few years back. This songs gives you a taste of the energy in his live show. It is safe to say that this will not be the last time you hear about the musical talents of Joey Green.
ROAD TRIP TIME IN TEXAS!
July 14, 2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
“And that's what you need to do. You don't need to think. You need to drive. You need speed. You need to go out there, and you need to rev your engine. You need to fire it up. You need to grab a hold of that line between speed and chaos, and you need to wrestle it to the ground like a demon cobra! And then, when the fear rises up in your belly, you use it. And you know that fear is powerful, because it has been there for billions of years. And it is good. And you use it. And you ride it; you ride it like a skeleton horse through the gates of hell, and then you win.”
Ladies and Gentleman (hopefully not of the jury), we give you…..the Texas Red Dirt Road Trip! The idea started with this simple premise. How many shows could two guys, without adult supervision, attend over a three week period during the summer? From this simple conversation, which probably occurred after a night out in Fort Worth, emerged the Texas Red Dirt Road Trip (TXRDRT).
Over the next two and a half weeks, we will be traveling around North Texas looking for a good time and great music. We will be documenting the tall tales and folklore of the journey, so stay tuned to TXRDR for the stories and reviews. Feel free to join in on the fun at any of our stops.
Here is itinerary for the first leg of the TXRDRT.
~Wednesday, July 14
Johnny Cooper
8.0s – Fort Worth
~Thursday, July 15
Bleu Edmondson ft. Gary Kyle
Rockin Rodeo – Denton
~Friday, July 16
Drew Kennedy
Adair’s Saloon – Dallas
~Saturday, July 17
Kevin Fowler ft. Roger Creager
Lone Star Park – Grand Prairie
~Sunday, July 18
Brandon Rhyder
Mambos – Fort Worth
To steal a line from Justin, see you down the road!
DAY ONE
July 15,2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
The Texas Red Dirt Road Trip has officially started. After weeks of planning I was ready to fill up the gas tank and enjoy several days of Red Dirt Music in
North Texas.
The first stop on Wednesday was at Bill’s Records on South Lamar. While Bill’s receives mixed reviews from his patron’s, I find it to be a fascinating piece of Dallas music history. Bill Wisener operates what he calls “the last great record store.” Inside the four walls of this Music Mecca lies thousands of CD’s, Records, T-Shirts, Art, Stage, and stories. Ok, it isn’t exactly the cleanest, most organized operation this side of the Red River, but it is a must see destination if you are a fan of music. I picked up a T-shirt, a Josh Weathers’ EP, and Drew Kennedy’s Dollar Theater Movie. So, do yourself a favor and stop by Bill’s next time you are in that neck of the woods, it’s right next door to Gilley’s Dallas and Poor David’s Pub.
Wednesday night’s stop was at 8.0’s for The Ranch Texas Music Series with Johnny Cooper. I enjoyed the concert from the rooftop of The Flying Saucer
enjoying my 199 beer on the quest to 200 and a plate on the wall. By 8PM the crowds were lining up to see Johnny and his band. I was impressed with the crowd out in Sundance Square in the hot Ft. Worth summer heat. With that being said, my disappointment was that J Coop played the EXACT same set list that he played 30 Minutes north at Glass Cactus in Grapevine 2 weeks ago. Johnny played a good mix of songs from Ignition and Follow plus a few good cover songs. My highlight was his rendition of Dave Matthews new song titled “Why I Am.” I have been watching Johnny entertain crowds for almost 5 years now, and he always gives 100%. Whether you like the new sound/direction of the band or not, you can always count on seeing a high energy show with a bunch of guys that love playing music!
The original plan was to wrap up the evening after the J Coop show. However, spontaneity is the name of the game on any good road trip, so we wandered down the street to Fat Daddy's for Whiskey Myers. Fat Daddy's had a good set up, not to mention Tecate and PBR for $1. The show, however, was completely unmemorable (and not because of the $1 beers). The crowd was not much interested in Whiskey Myers and it just took all of the energy out of the music. I would be willing to give Whiskey Myers another listen, but they did themselves no favors on this
night. Our stay at Fat Daddy's was not long lived.
After a voyage to some place called Snookies, we called it a night. Night one of
the TXRDRT ended with no pending legal action and two shows on the board. Good
start. Rest assured, we will be hydrating and gearing up for Bleu Edmondson in
Denton at Rockin Rodeo for his album release show and "special treat". Eskimo
Hut, here we come!
DAY TWO
July 16,2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Words like dedication, commitment, and perseverance are thrown out a lot, but day two of the TXRDRT was the embodiment of them all. After a strong, and late, start to the road trip on Wednesday, your wayward voyagers were weary to say the least. However, a beacon in the night called our names and gave strength to the tired. That beacon is a wonderful place in Denton, TX, called Eskimo Hut. This glorious business serves the college community of Denton with frozen, alcoholic beverages…through a drive-thru. An idea so good it would seem to be illegal. Yet the merchant is allowed to petal their frozen drinks to motorist because the drinks are enclosed in a plastic bag that is impenetrable in a moving vehicle, or at least that is what we were told. Out of respect for the good people at Eskimo Hut (not to mention the advisement of our lawyers), we did not try to prove them wrong.
After enjoying a nice T-Dunk and Tripod from Eskimo Hut in a responsible and law abiding manner, we were re-charged and ready for anything Denton could throw at us. This sense of enthusiasm was needed for the final destination of the night, Rockin Rodeo. Rockin Rodeo is sandwiched nicely between the 99 cent store and Hooya!! The Ultimate Burrito, just down from Panchos, and is readily accessible from I-35. The great thing about Rockin Rodeo is that it provides a fantastic laboratory for a pair social scientists. The crowd at Rockin Rodeo is a mix of Denton’s best and brightest. It is the place to be if you want to see Affliction drenched broskis dropping half of their paychecks into the punching bag machine to prove how hard they can hit, without risking the possible damage to their pocket-flapped, designer jeans that could result from an actual fight. At the same time, Rockin Rodeo also attracts the ranch hands and roughnecks from the surrounding small north Texas towns. Throw in a collection of sorority girls wearing jean skirts with cowboy boots and you have yourself quite a fun filled night.
Cutting through all of this commotion was the reason for the trek up to Denton, Bleu Edmondson. After an introduction from the proprietor of Rockin Rodeo, which contained far less colorful language than many patrons were expecting, Bleu proceeded to play a solid show. It was a good mix of old songs, covers, and stuff off of his new album. He did a great job playing songs that both got the crowd excited, like an energetic cover of “Resurrection”, and playing slow songs that filled the dance floor. Unfortunately, the show did not end up being a CD release show for reasons unknown, but it was still a great time. We look forward to seeing him again, and catching his new album.
So day two is in the books and we are both still alive and kicking. The TXRDRT is proving to be a cruel, yet rewarding, mistress.
Day three features Drew Kennedy and a 1am cheeseburger at Adair’s in Dallas. Good times, great music, and questionable decisions await.
Day Three
July 17,2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
We knew that there were going to be bad decisions on day three. What we did not anticipate was that they were going to be made by other people. Please allow us to take a brief step out of chronological order to highlight the moment of day three that will never be forgotten. It is called the purple pantied, piggy back ride (PPPBR). Ladies, if you find yourself overcome with the desire to carry your friend around on your back, please take your attire into consideration. Step one, probably not a good idea to perform such an act in a skirt. Step two, if you have a skirt on and want to chance it, make sure the back of your dress is not lifted when you are mounted by your rider. Step three, in case of emergency; do not wear your purple granny panties when you go out. When you wear the Barney panties out of the house, you run the risk of showing them to an entire bar and having your moment of glory chronicled. These simple life rules were not taken into consideration on day three and a PPPBR occurred in full force. It was such a great moment that it literally stopped the show to give the artist a chance to stop laughing. Comedic genius.
However, the PPPBR was not the funniest occurrence of the night. That honor goes to the show Demetri Martin put on at the House of Blues. Demetri Martin was so funny that it justified the continued existence of his home state of New Jersey. I never fully realized how similar a comedy show was to a concert from the artist’s standpoint with material. In both artforms, the ever present battle exists between new material and old material. The comic knows the audience wants to hear their favorite jokes, but at the same time you want and need to mix in newer material to advance yourself and keep the show fresh. Martin did a fantastic job of finding that perfect balance. His interaction with the crowd was at times a little forced, but as the evening progressed he seemed to grow more comfortable with it. The best part of Martin, and the part that keeps us going back to see him, is that the comedy is intelligent material from a talented guy. There are no jokes for shock value, it is all quality stuff.
Speaking of great material from a talented guy, we want to thank the cook at Adair’s for making one of the best burgers in town. Much like the stand up stylings of Martin and the performance of Drew Kennedy, the burger at Adair’s is the embodiment of substance over style. There is no need to dress up something with such remarkable quality. When you order a burger at Adair’s, it is made in front of you and is served without any non-sense. At 1am, after a few pitchers of Shiner, there is nothing we would rather spend time in the booth with than an Adair’s burger.
Somewhere in the midst of the PPPBR and the midnight delight of the burger stood the main attraction of the evening, Mr. Drew Kennedy. To begin the night, the area around the stage was sparsely populated. On many occasions, we have watched artists look at a light crowd as an opportunity to mail in the show and call it a night. Drew Kennedy treated it as an opportunity to get cozy with the crowd and add some fans to the list. Drew will be the first to admit that his performances lack “pyrotechnics”, but he could care less because he “plays the music he writes and likes.” This attitude makes him a true troubadour. He is untouched by the cliques of the music scene and you can hear it with his unique style of song writing. He started the evening off with “AM Radio”, a great song inspired during his travels. His music draws you in because the songs are stories about unique American characters. “Headlights” and “Tending Bar by the Tracks in Tupelo, Mississippi” display his well crafted story telling, while “Room #27” and “A Cold Goodnight” show off his ability to put you in the moment. Even with heavy competition from the PPPBR, Demetri Martin, and the Adair’s burger, Drew Kennedy was still the best part of day three.
Day Four
July 18,2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
We are headed down the home stretch on the first leg of the TXRDRT, and exhaustion has officially set in. With a line up of Roger Creager and Kevin Fowler at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, it seemed like a no brainer to catch an electric crowd under the stars of North Texas. Over the years Lone Star Park has proven to be quite the party stop for big crowds and bad decisions.
Let us stop here and give you a good rule of thumb when enjoying an outdoor concert with Kevin Fowler: leave the toddlers at home with the babysitter. This is not the place to put your four year old on your shoulders to sing along “Don’t Touch My Willie.” We didn’t see on the website where it mentioned that Saturday’s show was going to be a Nickelodeon Sing-a-long, but the pre-k demographic was out in force. There were more strollers at the horse track than there is on a Monday morning at Stonebriar Mall. Also, given the high school population at Lone Star Park, there must have been a matinee showing of the Twilight saga.
Ok, back to the music. Roger Creager drew the short straw and got to play first before the hot Texas sun fell below the horizon. The music started promptly at 6:45, and Roger kicked off the party with the crowd pleaser “Love.” By this point we were already sweating like Patrick Ewing in the ’92 Eastern Conference Semifinals. All of the Creager standards were played, including his cover of Jimmy Buffett’s “A Pirate Looks at 40.” The highlight of the Lone Star Park experience however was when Roger got behind the keyboard and played Doug’s Song from the movie The Hangover (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91R2Zk5VYGM). Important side note, we knew what song he was playing within the first three notes. Some would say we’ve seen the Hangover too much, but we say you have not seen it enough.
Kevin Fowler finished up the evening at Lone Star Park with his typical set list of crowd sing-a-longs. He played everything from “Butterbean” to “Triple Crown.” Kevin has found his niche and is milking it for everything he can. Don’t get me wrong, Kevin is on one of the most entertaining guys in the great state of Texas, but I’ve been there done that and ready for something new. The most entertaining part of a Kevin Fowler show is the people watching, and seeing what kind of craziness unfolds. In the past, Lone Star has been the home of electrifying crowds and good times. They just didn’t show up tonight for Roger and Kevin…
We packed up our bags early to head over to Gilley’s. Word on the Red Dirt Calendar was that Wade Bowen and his guys were also playing on Saturday night on Lamar Street in Dallas. When running a marathon, there comes to a point that the athlete hits “the wall.” It is metaphysical moment when you do not think you can go any further. When we sat down in the tank to leave Lone Star Park, we hit “the wall.” The desire to pack it in for the night was calling us like a siren summoning another ship to crash into the rocks. In our hour of need, an unlikely source of strength gave us to courage to move one. The fountain drinks at the Racetrac outside of Lone Star Park saved day four from an early night.
We arrived at Gilley’s not knowing what to expect. We have been there many times before and the crowds there are as predictable as a game of craps. Some nights it will be packed for Jason Boland, and other nights it will be lackluster for Bleu Edmondson. The crowd was out in force tonight. Not only was it out in force, it was bringing it’s A game. Extra starch in the shirts and bare midriffs were the standard for the night. Wade Bowen took the stage to a full house that was ready for a good time, and Wade delivered. Wade has come a long way with his stage show over the years. His shows now are so polished and well crafted, that he can play the crowd about as well as he plays the guitar. He turned the dance floor at Gilley’s into “You Got Served – Two Steppin’.” Wade played all the songs you wanted to hear, and closed out the night with his well performed cover of “Hey Jude.”
This is where you would expect the evening to end, and this is where you would be wrong. Gilley’s is a short drive away from Dallas’ worst kept secret for late night food, Fuel City tacos. We actually overheard a girl standing in line comment that she would be willing to go to jail for late night tacos from Fuel City. We beat the late night rush and enjoyed our taco feast all while enjoying the wide variety of late night taco aficionados that arrived at Fuel City. After spending some time watching this mass of drunken humanity peacefully coexist, it occurred to us that the Obama administration should have spent all of the stimulus money on Fuel City tacos. There is no doubt that this would have lead to world peace and economic prosperity.
With that, day four was in the books and day five had officially begun. We patiently await our lunch date with Brandon Rhyder at Mambo’s in Fort Worth.
Day Five
July 19,2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
“Im am tired. I’ve got to bet to bed…Damn margaritas at Railhead…” -
Scot G. in response to day five.
Day five was going to be the responsible day of the TXRDRT, after all, it was Sunday. We loaded up and headed to Mambo’s Tapas Cantina in Fort Worth to go see Brandon Rhyder. How good were our intentions on being responsible on Sunday? So good that we opted on going to the 1pm Rhyder show as opposed to the 7pm show. The logic was that if we went to the early show it would be too early in the day to make bad decisions. Lesson learned: it is never too early in the day to make bad decisions. Fortunately, and to quote Kevin Fowler, they were some of the best mistakes we ever made.
The best decision we made that day was to choose to watch Brandon Rhyder play the Clubhouse Concerts series. We knew we were in for a good time when we arrived at Mambo’s and were warmly greeted by a pair of gentlemen with “Sit Down. Shut up. And Listen” on the backs of their t-shirts. That same mantra was hung from the wall behind the stage, and the hostesses of the afternoon, Joni, got on stage to tell the audience to be quiet or leave. While we both enjoy a rowdy crowd and an energetic show (see day four), watching an artist in the atmosphere created by Clubhouse Concerts was a fantastic experience. The venue, Mambo’s, was very intimate but at the same time not overcrowded. The stage was small and understated. It became immediately clear that this was 100% about the music and there was no way for the artist to mask a lack of talent
with showmanship.
Brandon Rhyder absolutely nailed the show. The 1pm show was the family show for the day, and was a stark juxtaposition to the madness at Lone Star Park from day four. Brandon had his own children there watching his show, and they often stole it. The great thing about the show was that it was both family appropriate and entertaining. The only way a show can be both of those things at once is for the artist to have talent and the songs have merit. While watching Brandon take requests, explain the meaning behind his songs, share stories about writing, and even decline to play a song about his daughter because he would not have been able to control his emotions, we realized that playing the Clubhouse Concerts series should be a right of passage for an artist. If an artist can not successfully play a Clubhouse Concerts show, then they should not be considered
anything more than an actor playing the part of a musician. The show was a fantastic showcase for what makes Brandon Rhyder such a phenomenal artist. His commitment to his music was on full display and it was a wonderful thing to see.
After the show, our original intention was to go home and call it a very early day. Then we checked the TXRDR website and decided to make a detour to the Railhead Smokehouse in Willow Park. This was a bad decision that turned out well. We call it a bad decision because it was a twenty minute in the wrong direction detour from the original plan, which also led to excessive margarita consumption. At the same time, it was the best mistake because there was a bevy of talent playing a free show for a good cause. Any time you get a chance to see Wade Bowen, Austin Allsup, Joey Green, Mike McClure, Stephanie Urbina Jones, TJ Broscoff, and Ryan McBride, to mention a few, it is a good idea to make the mistake. However, when you make that choice at the tail end of a five day musical marathon, you end up making statements like the one mentioned earlier. By the way, the strawberry margarita at the Railhead is stronger than it tastes.
The detour also worked out well because it gave us ample time to reflect on the first leg of the TXRDRT. So far we have logged 349 miles (according to Google Maps), spent eight hours driving, and have seen sixteen different artists at nine different shows. We have had our lives saved by Eskimo Hut and Racetrac. We have had our lives affirmed by the Adair’s cheeseburger and the Fuel City tacos. We have seen the birth of the PPPBR. All of this seemed like the tall tales of a grand journey, until we realized…
The TXRDRT is only halfway done
Here is itinerary for the second leg of the TXRDRT
“Nonsense, I have not yet begun to defile myself.”
After a week of licking our wounds, we are back for the second leg of the TXRDRT. The second leg also doubles as the home stretch, so there is no telling what can happen as we get close to the end. As long as there is not a divorce or a wedding between now and the end, it will be a success.
Once August starts, the schedule could literally take us anywhere, but below is the plan for the rest of July.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 Jason Eady ft. Walt Wilkins Mambo’s, Fort Worth
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 Zach Wather The Ranch, Las Colinas
Thursday, July 29, 2010 Jason Boland Glass Cactus, Grapevine
Friday, July 30, 2010 Rob Baird Mule Barn, Justin
Saturday, July 31, 2010 Bob Schneider House of Blues, Dallas
Grant Jones & the PGLs La Grange, Dallas
As always, we hope to see you on the trail and will keep you informed with the details.
July 28, 2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
Drinkin’, Cheatin’, Cover, La Fave, God, Hank, Love, Killing, Road, New Song, Shot, Haggard. Sprawled at the foot of the stage was a crude game board. It was made from a ripped up cardboard box and decorated using a black sharpie. This game board served as the central point of a great three hours of entertainment.
The TXRDRT was back in full force and the first stop on the second leg was Mambo’s Tapas Cantina in Fort Worth. We had enjoyed ourselves so thoroughly there for the Brandon Rhyder show, that when we saw Walt Wilkins was playing there, the decision made itself. Having seen Walt play the North Texas State Fair before, we were both excited to see him play a smaller venue and tell some stories. We can not recommend seeing a show at Mambo’s enough. It is a fantastic venue with great food, and decent drink prices. It is a calm environment to really enjoy the music and not just get caught up with being a part of a scene.The host of the evening was Jason Eady. We had both heard of him before and were interested to see him play, but the main attraction to start the evening was seeing Walt. However, as soon as the game board hit the floor all of that changed. Jason and Walt both explained that they had done this before and it was a fun game. The audience would throw quarters on the board and which ever square the coin ended up in would determine the song that would be played. Once the coin landed, each artist would take his turn at playing a song of that subject. It was destined to be a great idea for the evening when the first quarter landed on the “Hank” square. Both fired off their favorite Hank song and Walt finished his by saying, “we play Hank because we can.”
The quarters turned into dollars then into ten dollar bills as the night went on. The two guys told stories about learning to play beer pong, stories about Cory Morrow, stories about each other, and everything in between. The song that stuck out the most all night from Walt was “Dear God”. It was a great song that was punctuated with the lyrics “If I’m made in your image is this all I’ll ever be? If you’re in the thunder when will you roll through me?”. All night long, Walt played a wide variety of his songs and favorites from others. He talked about songs his wife would not let him play. He played a song he told us all was his dad’s favorite. It was classic Walt, and met our grandest expectations of the evening.
As great as Walt was, Jason Eady stole the show. His music is entirely his own and is a great mix of classic American music. Sometimes he is bluegrass. Then he will become bluesy. Then he is classic country. He has an uncanny ability to match the style of music with the lyrics in the song. The most memorable moments of the show were entirely around two of his songs. The first song that stole the spotlight was a pointed song called “AM Country Heaven, FM Country Hell.” It was a scathing tune about the evils of the Nashville music scene. The great part about the lead in to the song was the agreement that big record companies have not ruined country music; they have just ruined a means of getting that music to the people. The perspective was refreshing. The second song of particular note was called “Promises and Pieces.” Even as a pair of bankers, we both really liked this story of a bank robbery gone wrong.
These two guys played an amazing three hour show. We were completely entertained for a solid three hours. It takes an incredible artist to play off another person like these guys did, and it takes a great talent to roll the board out in front of the stage and take your chances. Between Jason, Walt, and the game board, every soul at Mambo’s left with more than they paid for. If you have not seen Jason Eady, you need to fix that immediately.
The second leg is off to a great start. Tomorrow night we are checking out Zach Wather at the Ranch in Las Colinas. We hope to see you there.
July 29, 2010
Chris K. & Scot G. 
Character is what you do when no one is looking. This simple idiom applies to music as it applies to life. It would be appropriate to say, music is what you do when no one is looking. We learned a lesson in music on Day Seven. Day Seven was the first day in the TXRDRT in which we did not have a real plan. There was not a show that jumped off the page at us, so we decided to roll the dice of a relatively new face. We started the day mistakenly writing that we were going to see “Zach Wather”. We actually ended up going to see Zack Walther. We loaded into the tank for the quick trip down to Las Colinas with zero expectations aside from the availability of cold beer.
We arrived at the Ranch in Las Colinas to find an unassuming guy playing out the live music stereotype. He was on the patio, sitting on a stool, in a semi “stage” area, wearing his sunglasses, and strumming an acoustic guitar. Aside from the two of us, there were a handful of people in the whole room that were paying the least attention. Most of the diners had their focus in Zack’s direction; unfortunately, that was only because the Rangers’ game was playing on the big screen above the stage area. For most of the patrons, the most notable event on the patio was the quarters match happening by a group of look-a-likes from the movie, Office Space. To say the least, this was not the kind of show that an artist envisions when he decides to apply his craft to the music scene.
Tomorrow is a big night. Jason Boland at Glass Cactus in Grapevine is on deck. We are looking forward to a Tim and Carol story and maybe a nautical excursion, taking the TXRDRT places it has never been before. If you see the two tall, devastatingly handsome guys at the event, don’t be afraid to say hello. We will talk to you for drinks.
DAY EIGHT
July 30, 2010
Chris K. & Scot G.Day Eight was the toughest decision to date for the TXRDRT. All on the same day; Drew Kennedy was playing in Fort Worth, Sean McConnell was playing in Denton, and Jason Boland was playing in Grapevine with Kyle Park. At the end of the day, the decision came down to one step above paper, rock, scissors. We decided to go with Jason Boland and Kyle Park because they were closest. We are simple creatures. It is impossible to properly gauge the opportunity cost of the choice, but what we do know from Day Eight is that Glass Cactus is a great place to watch a show. Now, by show we are not referring to the music. We are referring to the people and the scene at the Glass Cactus.
Urbandictionary.com defines a cougar den as “an establishment that is overflowing with cougars (older woman on the prowl).” The algebra of the night was the following: Glass Cactus = cougar den. It was a dangerous place for two wild and crazy guys to find themselves. For the first time in our lives, we were able to identify and feel empathy for the gazelle. It was terrible to find yourself surrounded by such skilled predators, watching your every move, and waiting for a chance to strike. Fortunately (for matrimonial vows) we were able to keep our wits and avoid becoming a trophy kill.
The artists did nothing to help us out in our dire situation. Kyle Park played a fantastic show. He had the energy of someone playing in front of a stadium venue, and that energy permeated the building. As the opener, he was greeted to a largely empty dance floor, but halfway through his act the floor began to fill. Kyle Park has the great talent of being a noticeably country act, while not turning the crowd away with whining songs. His music shows a great respect for his musical predecessors like George Strait. What was most impressive about Kyle Park was his ability to work the crowd without having to talk to them. He played upbeat songs to draw the interest of the venue, and then threw in the slow songs once he had them on the dance floor. He worked the crowd with his music so well, there were several forty year-old make out sessions scattered throughout the place. The songs that stood out the most were “Prove it to You” and “George Strait Song”. When he got done playing we half expected him to steal the show from Jason Boland.
We were half wrong. Jason Boland, who looks way too much like Reese Bobby, played the best show we have seen him do in the last two years. Aside from referring to the venue as the “Glass Casket”, Boland was on his game. His energy level was high. Admittedly, it can be hard to judge the energy level of Boland, but the wry smile he wore all night gave it away. The best, and most cliché, way to describe Boland’s performance is to say that Park set them up and Boland knocked them down. His performance was so inspiring that it produced what we are describing as the Make-A-Wish dance. To keep it simple, a guy that was a three danced with a girl that was a ten. It was so remarkable to watch that we found ourselves captivated and confused. The only explanation, aside from him being a multi-millionaire, was that it was a Make-A-Wish foundation wish being granted. All of this was made possible by Jason Boland playing a little miracle into existence at the “Glass Casket”.
Mr. Boland would also appreciate if Texas would “legalize it”. We assume he was referring to being able to get credit for drinking more than three beers a day at the Flying Saucer.
All in all, Day Eight was easily the most country day in the TXRDRT. Kyle Park and Jason Boland keep that classic country sound alive, and do so without being corny and contrived; just a couple good ol’ boys meaning no harm and playing their music. Of course, it would not be a Jason Boland show without Tim and Carol. If you do not know, Tim and Carol are folks wearing the highly autographed white cowboy hats that are always found in the front row or backstage. They are the white haired royalty of the Texas/Red Dirt music scene, and are the nicest people in the world. They have been known to lift the spirits of an artist suffering a personal loss by letting him finally sign their hats. Word on the street is that Carol makes some delicious desserts. If you are ever fortunate enough to have a conversation with these two good souls, they will treat you like their own and dispense some serious knowledge. It is always a pleasure to see Tim and Carol.
Day Nine is going north. We will be watching Rob Baird at the Mule Barn in Justin, TX. But not before we enjoy a delicious steak at the renowned Ponder Steakhouse. We hope to see you out there.
July 31, 2010
Chris K. & Scot G.
Mile Marker 82...That is the next exit on the Texas Red Dirt Road Trip, and it leads to a small town with a population of 1,315. Ponder, TX, home of Ranchman’s Cafe, more commonly referred to as “The Ponder Steakhouse,” was the first stop on Day 9.
Tucked between the old Ponder Boot Factory and what is best referred to as Ponder Central Park resides the Ponder Steakhouse. If you are looking for a sophisticated, elegant, and refined dining experience, you are in the wrong place. This is a true Texas eating house. There is a register at the door and relics of a long and storied history on the walls. There are bars of lye soap next to the register and a sign likening raising teenagers to nailing jell-o to a tree behind the counter. There are no secluded, self-important booths for the VIP crowd. Instead, there are two rows of tables and a few booths. It is a community dining experience. If you do not engage in conversation with the hometown folks sitting at the next table, you might have some sort of leprosy. Our server for the evening was a local girl that had personality and the capacity to interact with her table. She was funny, polite, outgoing, engaging, and knew how to sing. In fact, both servers there could have probably buried any American Idol winner with real vocal talent. Then there came the food: sixteen ounces a piece of delicious Texas beef, baked potatoes, rolls, and dinner salads. This was a real Texas meal. No frills, garnishments, or fillers littered our plates. Our steaks were prepared just as we ordered them and were brushed with fresh butter. Just as we were considering the consequences of completing the evening without the top button on our pants, our perky waitress arrived with two heaping bowls of pecan pie a la mode. Ponder Steakhouse 2. TXRDRT 0.
Needless to say we got our money’s worth, and next time you are looking for a real Texas Steakhouse, set the GPS for 110 E. Bailey Street, and bring your appetite.
On to the music...If you drive too fast south on FM 156 you can miss Justin, TX. Playing tonight was Rob Baird from Austin at The Mule Barn (www.mulebarntexas.com). This was another first time venue/artist on the 2nd leg of the road trip, and needless to say well worth the price of admission. The Mule Barn is your typical sports bar and grill you’d find anywhere across the great state of Texas. We paid our $5 to get in the door and grabbed a table in front of the NTN Video Poker screen. If you are reading this “Uno”, either decide to play or log off. Everyone is tired of waiting for you to make a move. Beers were cold and cheap unlike last night’s adventure to the Glass Cactus. Music started up around 10:30, at which point only about 50 folks were in attendance.
Tucked in the corner of the red neon lit room rests a small stage; which has seen the likes of big name Red Dirt artists such as Reckless Kelly, Mickey and the Motorcars, and Brandon Rhyder. Tonight that stage belonged to Rob Baird, and he stepped up to the challenge. The band kicked off their 16+ song set with Here comes the Day from the 2010 self titled EP, which they were handing out for FREE. Midway through the third song, radio single titled Fade Away, the attendance doubled when the local coed softball team stopped by to celebrate a birthday. With twice as many people to entertain, Rob started interacting with the locals, courtesy of some help from the Peach Schnapps shots lined up at his feet. When playing the cover song of Tom Petty’s Wildflowers, the two-steppers hit the dance floor in full force (All 6 of them). After finishing his song, Rob thanked the dancers to which he said,”You’ve got good moves. When I get a little toasty I like to shake it...” At this point the band was running on all cylinders. Next up was the highlight song of the night, a new tune that was co-written with Ben Danaher called Mississippi Moon. Rob and the band gave it the old college try, and knocked out 7 more songs before the night wrapped up as the clock struck 12.Even though the band was headed south to Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, TX after the show, the guys stuck around to talk with the softball team and newly acquired fans. At least two of the newly acquired fans will look forward to purchasing his new album in a few weeks. We recommend hopping on his website and doing the same thing.
Next up is some much needed rest as the Red Dirt Road Trip finishes up in Dallas for Rob Schneider at HOB, and late night CD Release Party of 2009 Shiner Rising Star winners, Grant Jones and the Pistol Grip Lasso’s at La Grange. This could get out of hand.
