SRS 2014, Rd 1 Wk 4, 8.28.14

Mary Jane Farmer | August 31, 2014 | Reply

Andrew Delaney

For photos, click on the links at the end of this feature.

Round 1 Week 4 of the 2014 Shiner Rising Star competition was perhaps more evenly, well-balanced match between bands than is usually the case. All three bands were genuine bands (no hired guns on the Love & War in (Grapevine) Texas stage); all three consisted of four musicians with more-usual instruments, i.e. acoustic and lead guitar, drums, and bass; and all three bands were closely matched in talent and presentations. Two of them provided the judges with lyric sheets for their original songs. Big time tough on the judges Chuck Taylor (KHYI); Tip Jones (Overdrive Entertainment); and Baron Lane (music blogger).

When Taylor announced their decision the following morning on K95.5, everyone learned that it was Andrew Delaney & The Horse You Rode In On who would be moving forward. The other two bands, Crazywater and Matt Begley & Bitter Whiskey, were no slouches at all. The music scene is better for all three of these bands.

In this 11th year of Shiner Rising Star, each of the 24 bands who made it into the finals is and has been competing for a recording contract with Shiner Records and a spot on the 2015 Texas Music Revolution. They have 30 minutes to get on stage, set up, perform all originals except for one required cover song, shut down and get off the stage. Then, they return for critique, intended to offer beneficial, constructive comments they can each take home with them to improve their performances.

Andrew Delaney’s band consists of two members of Four Left Turns, a band that entered SRS a few years ago and impressed the judges and crowd then. Justin Whitehead on bass and Trevor Pulver on lead guitar. Delaney plays acoustic guitar, sings lead, and is the band’s primary songwriter. On drums is a longer-timer in the band, Jeromy Bailey. They opened with Delaney’s “Ramblin’ Jack” and soon did a on-steroids version of Hayes Carll’s “Kmag Yoyo,” which really pleased all three judges.

Critique: Lots of interactive banter went on between Delaney and the judges, beginning when one of them asked about the band name, saying ‘nothing about you four says anything about horses.’ Judges agreed the band did a great job on the cover song and the harmonies “were right there, tighter than a frog’s ass,” as Lane stated it. When one of the judges mentioned Pulver’s talent on the guitar, “you are tearing it,” and Delaney pointed out that Pulver did that on only five strings for the last few songs. Lane added, “You don’t come up as a honky tonk band, more like Black Sabbath and Conflict combined.”

Taylor commended the band, saying that he noticed, “You take the criticisms (from past years’ judges) and turn them around and this is the best I’ve ever seen you in the year’s I’ve been judging these contests. You guys are really strong.”

Crazywater

Crazywater features John Hosford on lead guitar and vocals; Jeff Zuelsdorf on rhythm guitar and vocals; Eddie Holyfield on bass guitar and vocals; and Matt Morris on drums. They reside a considerable distance apart, Allen, Belton, Weatherford, and Kennedale, and yet have been together as a band since 2007. Amidst their originals, the band struck up a cover of a Drive-By Truckers song. And they did take time out to quickly re-tune guitars when it became necessary. John and Jeff also swapped lead and back-up vocals.

Critique: Jones commented, as did the other judges, that parts of the band’s show was “loud.” But, Jones added, “you are a really tight band and that was a cool, cover choice. I liked your swapping lead vocals up there.” Lane commented that this band “was the first one to reach out to me on Twitter and Facebook. I’m a blogger and that’s where I live.” Lane commented, too, that Crazywater made the cover song look easy and fun, although he knew it was not an easy song to perform.

Taylor said that the way the band set up its equipment made it “hard to hear your vocals, they were drowned out.” The cover song was good, impressive, he said, then added that one of their originals “sounded like it should have been on the radio.”

Matt Begley

Matt Begley & Bitter Whiskey drew the straw that had them go on first, and they carried it off with complete class. This band, like Crazywater, is made up of four musicians from all across Texas — Leander, Tyler, New Braunfels, and Lampasas. And, like Crazywater, have been working together since 2007. Members are: Matt Begley on acoustic guitar and vocals, Michael Reeh on led guitar; Blues Brothers’ sunglass-wearing Nick Dooley on bass and vocals; and Paul Rogers on drums. They opened by first thanking God and “those who go overseas and protect us, to make sure that our rights aren’t taken away.” They introduced their songs and chose an Alan Jackson song as their cover.

Critqiue: The judges commented on the nice twang, good tones, and choice of cover being a good match for them. Criticisms included being a little pitchy and/or sharp on harmonies. But in all, it was a “really good set,” as Taylor expressed.

And just a side note: Sound was handled by David Byboth on the board and equipment set up by Marcus Rasor and provided by DB Sound of Sherman. And another side note: all bands remembered their manners and thanked sponsors Shiner Beer and KHYI, and also the venue for hosting the contest.

Next Thursday, Sept. 4, the contest will be at Tolbert’s in Grapevine with Cole Risner, Melissa Brooke Band, and Buffalo Ruckus will be competing.

For photos of Andrew Delaney & The Horse You Rode In On, click here

For photos of Crazywater, click here

For photos of Matt Begley & Bitter Whiskey, click here