Gringo Christmas, toys, boys, boys toys, and three girl singers

By Mary Jane Farmer, Scene In Town

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Even with all the busy schedules that Texas musicians maintain, daily, weekly, and monthly, it seems they never say never when asked to donate time and talents to help others out.

Sunday (12/12/10 ) was no exception as musicians filled the Big Slick’s stage for 8 full hours, giving their time to raise Toys ForTots. It was the fourth year that Robby White has led this charity, called “A Gringo Christmas”.

Saille Branch and Kevin Clark started off the day in Westminster, a little town just in the corner of Collin and Grayson counties, with Fannin County just over the hill. Three Corners, it could be called.

Saille was a top five finalist in the most recent Shiner Rising Star contest, which was a tough to the max degree, probably the toughest in its history. He’s also putting the finishing touches on a CD he’s recorded in Denison’s studio owned and operated by Jesse Sims and Bryan Bentley. Wanna hear more from him? Call Dallas American radio station KHYI and request his release, “   “ whichw will be on the new CD.

Kevin Clark has a voice excelled only by his songwriting skills. He spent years in Nashville, writing songs for the Big Boys out there, only to give it up so he could really return to music as he loves it. Kevin is beginning again. Aké Pecha! (“Start fresh, my friend”)

Aubrey Lynn and her drummer, Jeremy, played a set packed with originals and covers including Patsy Cline”s “Sweet Dreams” and the  Dolly Parton classic, “I Will Always Love you,” both delivered with a style that the originals would have envied.

Girl singers seem to have to be better, not as good but better, than their male gendered counterparts, and Aubrey Lynn definitely fits that bill — her voice, her style, her personality. Keep your eyes on the calendars to catch this lady on stage.

Saille jumped right back up there with Chuck Allen Floyd and Jerrod Medulla, both Texas Music Charters. Ryan Littrell, who has played on stage many times with Medulla, accompanied them, picking on Robby White’s Luna guitar in a style that gave it even more class, if that is even possible.

Meanwhile, as the musicians and the fans kept pouring in, so did the toys, boxed and stacked in plain view (No, not in Plainview, Texas) and it surely gave a loving picture that a passel of young kids would be excited to have toys beneath their Christmas trees in just a couple of weeks. Baby dolls, Tonka trucks, Playdoh, rockets, dinoseaurs, tea sets, cuddly toys, all the stuff of childhood Christmases. And those who couldn’t bring toys, gave cash, and that will also be turned over to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.

Jerry Audley was joined next on stage with Robby White and Tom McElvain, plus guitar-picker extraordinaire Mark Lafon.

The new owner of Big Slicks, Preston Blackmon, runs a good ship. He’s enclosed the breezeway, and lighted up the round fireplace, so it’s not totally chilly, although most people kept their coats on, but then it was 16 degrees outside.  Garry Moore, the former lead guitar picker with the Tejas Gringos was in the audience, he’s left to go full time with his other band, Double Zero. Brad King ran sound, a perfect mix. Randy (I forget his last name, the singer from Van Alstyne who’s, like Kevin, getting back in the business after a few years off, came in for the first set and stayed through it all.

Robby and Tom have a good mix of vocals, and Jerry added bass to their higher pitches.  Plus, even well after dark, it was three pair of sunglasses on the stage, Mark being the abstainer.  They have been working together, singing and songwriting for a while, and taking that show on the road. Try catching them at Robby’’s Tales from the Honky Tonk series at Last Chance Saloon in Plano on Tuesday nights.

Santa arrived, not too late. Shook hands, many pictures taken, including one of this reporter dancing with him, and in general adding an extra touch of the season to it all.

The Tejas Gringos played a short set, but then their sets never seem long enough. Mark Lafon’s guitar adds a different dimension to it all, professionalism mixed with maturity, mixed with style.

Shutdown Town were their normal amazing, entertaining selves, Amanda and Cari and the lead, and a band rounded out by incredible lead and bass guitars and drums. This band was another top contender for the Rsing Star title this year, and gave audiences, like Saille did, incredible performances through it all.

‘nuf said.

Category: *- Features