Shiner Rising Star, KHYI, 2013 Rd 1, Wk 7

Judges Chance Cody, Dustin Hendricks, and Nate Kipp, with contest volunteer Anita Waggoner behind them.

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. Click on the links below to view more photographs.

Three more bands from way across Texas met at Smitty’s in Denison Thursday night (Sept. 12), vying for a chance to move on into Round Two of the Shiner Rising Star competition.

It was Matt Bradshaw, from Wills Point, Texas, who won the privilege of moving on. But not without a good showing from competitors Grand Ol’ Grizzly and Blacktop Mojo, from Houston and Palestine.

Shiner Rising Star is sponsored by Shiner Beer, Shiner Records, and Dallas’ radio station KHYI, 95.3. Each band, in the first round, has 30 minutes to get on stage, wow the judges with originals plus one cover song, and leave the stage as they found it., Then, they are called back on stage for critique.

Judges this week were all singers and songwriters themselves: Chance Cody (of Spur 503), Nate Kipp (of Nate Kipp), and Dustin Hendricks (of Chapter 11)

Bradshaw, who appeared solo, was first up, and Chance Cody was the first to offer his constructive critique. Cody said he thought the first song was good, the second was better, and the third was even better. “I’m excitecd to hear something recorded and produced. Your rhythms are fun and catching, and the way you string your words together…” On the “constructive” side, he suggested that Bradshaw talk more between his songs, “tell entertaining stories, make them huge and bigger than life.”

Hendricks commented that Bradshaw’s writing was not conventional, and he particularly was impressed with ‘the wolf song,’ one of Bradshaw’s originals. “Good stage presence, and it’s all there, man.”

Kipp, too, enjoyed Bradshaw’s songs. “We were all singing harmony with you when the catch phrase came in… I liked the songs, the wording, and you took an outside approach to a lot of stuff, not head on, and that was cool. I would totally buy your record.”

Blacktop Mojo, according to Kipp, was more rock and roll than “what I’m used to. Good musicianship.”

Hendricks commented that they should take better care to tune before on stage, and then got laughs when he teased them about a mis-statement made during their set, calling KHYI something other than “The Range,” its nickname. “It’s important to know your radio station. I like the way you took the songs back to the 80s.”

Cody was positive about Blacktop Mojo’s music, too, but did say that it appeard the guitar player was not confident as he could have been.

Kipp was complimentary of the drummer, the songwriting, and the Americana quality put out there. “I’d buy your record,” Kipp said.

Then it was Grand Ol’ Grizzly’s time on stage. This band had put this gig out on Facebook invite and Twitter a couple of months ago, using social media to promote the contest and their involvement in it.

Cody noted it was the first times harmonies were used that night, and their Robert Earl Keen sound was good. “I don’t know why, but the timing of the harmonies being off was really cool, it sounded cool.”

When Nate Kipp said again that he would buy this band’s recordings, the crowd laughed when the band mentioned they just happened to have a few CDs with them.

This upcoming Thursday, Sept. 19, brings the Scott Dean band together with Stone Rosevelt at City Tavern in Deep Ellum, Dallas. The Mike Stanley Band dropped out, making the fifth band to drop out of the contest this year.

Music starts at 8 p.m., there is no cover charge for these competitions, and Thursday’s will bring Round 1 to a close. Next week, Oct. 3, will be a bi, or off, week.

Big Gus & Swampadelic will be playing at City Tavern following the end of the SRS competition.

For Blacktop Mojo pix, click here

For Grand Ol’ Grizzly pix, click here

For Matt Bradshaw pix, click here

Category: - Contests, 2013, Other venues