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Monday, July 05, 2004
Each of the past three summers I have vacationed in Texas. I didn't necessarily plan it that way, but that's just the way it has happened. The first time was for a girl, the second time was for a guy. Wait. That doesn't sound right. The second time was to see a friend get married. This time I did it for the music.
I'm sure you've at least heard of people going to Vegas or some other exotic locale on some sort of drug or alcohol bender if not having been on one yourself. Well, friends, I went to Texas on a country music bender. With Big Snod (roommate #9) at the wheel, the whining of a steel guitar served as cocaine, and electric guitars were my amphetamines. Mixing grassroots songwriters with country royalty yielded a weekend lesson in the history of music. Even the most skeptical of country music critics would be in awe of what took place, if not Friday or Saturday most certainly, on Sunday.
Friday night Greg and I ventured out of the Metroplex to the small town of Denison where Jack Ingram awaited us at this hole-in-the-wall dive called the Yellow Rose. What it lacked in appearance it more than made up for in history. John Anderson, Johnny Lee, John Conlee, The Bellamy Bros. (I had to throw them in to break the string of Johns) are just a few of the greats who have graced the stage of the Yellow Rose. I was beyond excited because in my book Jack is second only to Pat Green as far as non-legends go, and he didn't disappoint. I've never seen a country musician who oozed "rock star" like Jack Ingram. And while there are those who might argue that he isn't exactly "country" he clears that up during the band introductions. "I'm Jack Ingram, and I play country music." As a matter of fact, he plays country music for people who don't like country music. The people who's opinion of country music is what is played on the radio. For those of you (most of you) who don't know who Jack Ingram is, well, for one he is the guy playing in the dancehall when Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick are dancing in the movie Hope Floats. But that is really a sad way to describe him. Go check him out. He may change your opinion of country music.
Saturday evening we ventured into Ft. Worth to mosey through the Stockyards. People were already flooding into town for Willie's Picnic the following day so there was plenty going on. As we walked down the street, I heard a song that I couldn't quite figure out why I knew. I looked down in the alley to see a small stage set up with Mickey and the Motorcars playing. It was a free show, so Greg and I wandered in and found a seat. M&MC is a band lead by the younger brother of the guys from Reckless Kelly linked at right. If you haven't heard these guys, check them out! I once had an enlightening conversation with their drummer. By not following his advice I have come a long way. Well, Mickey and the Motorcars were just finishing up their set, but we decided to stick around for the Burtschi Brothers. I had heard of them, but never heard their music. These guys turned out to be the discovery of the weekend, and will soon be linked at right. We then headed out to Woody's Tavern to catch Matt Powell. Woody's didn't quite have the hole-in-the-wall feel of the Yellow Rose so much as it had this strip mall feel to it. Probably because of it's location...in a strip mall. Though you may never hear of Matt Powell, I guarantee you that you will know his music someday. It is just a matter of time before a Nashville act records and makes a hit out of one of this man's incredible songs.
All this, however, was just a warm-up to Sunday and Willie Nelson's 31st Annual 4th of July Picnic. This epic concert would be one of the most physically and mentally grueling events of my life, yet the result would be among the most rewarding.
At noon, Jack Ingram kicked off the festivities with Red, White and Blues.
The music didn't stop for twelve more hours when Willie closed with I'll Fly Away. Between those two songs was a crash course in country music from legends like Ray Price to up-and-comers like Django Walker, close to 30,000 people sweating to the 100 degree heat to dancing in the spray of a fire truck's hose. Once the sun went down, you could look in the corners and see people having fun "in the Willie way." As Cross Canadian Ragweed took the stage, some frat boys informed Greg and I that it was time to "rock out with your cock out." We couldn't decide whether this was some gay come-on or if we were being challenged to a game rooster fight. Friends, heat and alcohol make people do strange things. The Ragweed set polarized the crowd as the young rushed to the stage while the older moved as far away as possible, even prompting some to stick their fingers in their ears. The Boys from Oklahoma suffer from being too country for rock n roll and too rock for country. Either way, they are a band worth checking out.
Finally Willie took the stage. What can be said about the man that hasn't already been said? From Whiskey River to On the Road, Again, is there anybody cooler? To tell the whole story it would take pages that I'm sure no one is going to read. If you made it this far, bless you, friend...and check out these artists!
PS. To put in perspective just how many bands I saw on my country music bender, a quick checklist: Jack Ingram & the Beat Up Ford Band (twice), Mickey & the Motorcars, The Burtschi Bros., Matt Powell, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Asleep at the Wheel, Cowboy Johnson, the Geezinslaws, Del Castillo, Billy Joe Shaver, David Allen Coe, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Vince Esquire, Johnny Bush, Gatemouth Brown, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Los Lonely Boys, Leon Russell, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, the Calhoun Bros, and Willie Nelson and the family...plus a handful whose name I don't know.
I'm sure you've at least heard of people going to Vegas or some other exotic locale on some sort of drug or alcohol bender if not having been on one yourself. Well, friends, I went to Texas on a country music bender. With Big Snod (roommate #9) at the wheel, the whining of a steel guitar served as cocaine, and electric guitars were my amphetamines. Mixing grassroots songwriters with country royalty yielded a weekend lesson in the history of music. Even the most skeptical of country music critics would be in awe of what took place, if not Friday or Saturday most certainly, on Sunday.
Friday night Greg and I ventured out of the Metroplex to the small town of Denison where Jack Ingram awaited us at this hole-in-the-wall dive called the Yellow Rose. What it lacked in appearance it more than made up for in history. John Anderson, Johnny Lee, John Conlee, The Bellamy Bros. (I had to throw them in to break the string of Johns) are just a few of the greats who have graced the stage of the Yellow Rose. I was beyond excited because in my book Jack is second only to Pat Green as far as non-legends go, and he didn't disappoint. I've never seen a country musician who oozed "rock star" like Jack Ingram. And while there are those who might argue that he isn't exactly "country" he clears that up during the band introductions. "I'm Jack Ingram, and I play country music." As a matter of fact, he plays country music for people who don't like country music. The people who's opinion of country music is what is played on the radio. For those of you (most of you) who don't know who Jack Ingram is, well, for one he is the guy playing in the dancehall when Sandra Bullock and Harry Connick are dancing in the movie Hope Floats. But that is really a sad way to describe him. Go check him out. He may change your opinion of country music.
If I close my eyes a while
Maybe I’d see through
I’d see through the miles
That won’t keep me from you
And an arm’s length away
Is too far of a place
Maybe what you need
Would be my saving grace
Saturday evening we ventured into Ft. Worth to mosey through the Stockyards. People were already flooding into town for Willie's Picnic the following day so there was plenty going on. As we walked down the street, I heard a song that I couldn't quite figure out why I knew. I looked down in the alley to see a small stage set up with Mickey and the Motorcars playing. It was a free show, so Greg and I wandered in and found a seat. M&MC is a band lead by the younger brother of the guys from Reckless Kelly linked at right. If you haven't heard these guys, check them out! I once had an enlightening conversation with their drummer. By not following his advice I have come a long way. Well, Mickey and the Motorcars were just finishing up their set, but we decided to stick around for the Burtschi Brothers. I had heard of them, but never heard their music. These guys turned out to be the discovery of the weekend, and will soon be linked at right. We then headed out to Woody's Tavern to catch Matt Powell. Woody's didn't quite have the hole-in-the-wall feel of the Yellow Rose so much as it had this strip mall feel to it. Probably because of it's location...in a strip mall. Though you may never hear of Matt Powell, I guarantee you that you will know his music someday. It is just a matter of time before a Nashville act records and makes a hit out of one of this man's incredible songs.
If you're looking for something
That you can pray to
And fluke luck and Jesus
Won't pick up the phone
If you're looking for something
A little bit warmer
Than the arms of addiction
Cowboy bring it on home...
All this, however, was just a warm-up to Sunday and Willie Nelson's 31st Annual 4th of July Picnic. This epic concert would be one of the most physically and mentally grueling events of my life, yet the result would be among the most rewarding.
At noon, Jack Ingram kicked off the festivities with Red, White and Blues.
Take a walk downtown
It's a beautiful day
Smoke a cigarette
Watch the parade
We sang "God Bless America"
And all of that stuff
Yeah, I should probably feel better
But I've had enough
The music didn't stop for twelve more hours when Willie closed with I'll Fly Away. Between those two songs was a crash course in country music from legends like Ray Price to up-and-comers like Django Walker, close to 30,000 people sweating to the 100 degree heat to dancing in the spray of a fire truck's hose. Once the sun went down, you could look in the corners and see people having fun "in the Willie way." As Cross Canadian Ragweed took the stage, some frat boys informed Greg and I that it was time to "rock out with your cock out." We couldn't decide whether this was some gay come-on or if we were being challenged to a game rooster fight. Friends, heat and alcohol make people do strange things. The Ragweed set polarized the crowd as the young rushed to the stage while the older moved as far away as possible, even prompting some to stick their fingers in their ears. The Boys from Oklahoma suffer from being too country for rock n roll and too rock for country. Either way, they are a band worth checking out.
Finally Willie took the stage. What can be said about the man that hasn't already been said? From Whiskey River to On the Road, Again, is there anybody cooler? To tell the whole story it would take pages that I'm sure no one is going to read. If you made it this far, bless you, friend...and check out these artists!
PS. To put in perspective just how many bands I saw on my country music bender, a quick checklist: Jack Ingram & the Beat Up Ford Band (twice), Mickey & the Motorcars, The Burtschi Bros., Matt Powell, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Asleep at the Wheel, Cowboy Johnson, the Geezinslaws, Del Castillo, Billy Joe Shaver, David Allen Coe, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Vince Esquire, Johnny Bush, Gatemouth Brown, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Los Lonely Boys, Leon Russell, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, the Calhoun Bros, and Willie Nelson and the family...plus a handful whose name I don't know.
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