SRS2014, Rd 1 Wk 7, 9.18.14

| September 20, 2014 | Reply

 Tyler 8 8x10 nameClick on links at the end of this short review for photos of each band.

Three bands brought fans and made new ones when they played in the Shiner Rising Star competition at The Rustic Thursday, (Sept. 18, 2014). It was Round 1, Week 7 of the yearly Shiner Rising Star contest, sponsored by radio station KHYI 95.3, Shiner Beer, and Shiner Records. The 24 bands admitted into Round 1 have been vying for a recording contract and a place in the Texas Music Revolution 19 at Southfork Ranch in March 2015.

Each band, each week, has a 30-minute set in which to set up, perform originals plus one cover, and break down their equipment. Then, once the stage is cleared, the bands return for a critique from the judges. Scores are tallied at the end of the night, and the winner announced at 9 a.m. each Friday morning.

Judges this week were John Pedigo and Taylor Young, with The O’s and also with KHYI, and Brett Dillon, KHYI personality. Critiques were basically the same for each band — the judges liked their choices of covers, songwriting, instrumentation, and stage presence.

After drawing for 1st-up, 2nd-up, and 3rd-up on stage, The Justin-based Troy Murph Band led off, followed by The Tyler Rogers Band and the Josh Halverson Band.

Troy Murph

Troy Murph

Troy Murph Band — A very rock/country combination group made up of Troy Murph on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Collin Maloney on bass, Josh Haar on lead guitar, and Joel Irwin on drums. They chose as their cover the Chuck Pyle song, “Other Side Of The Hill,” made popular by the late Chris Ledoux, and did a really good job of it.

Tyler Rogers Band — this group from the McKinney area is made up of Rogers on main vocals and guitar, Tiago Mauro on backing vocals and guitar, Chris Medrano on bass, and his brother R.J. Medrano on drums. They presented songs from both their CDs, and their cover was a rock version of several classics, including “Staying Alive,” and “Very Superstitious.” It was a hit with the judges, who also commented that this band really “know how to play to the crowd.” TRB also provided the judges with lyric sheets to all their originals.

Josh Halverson — This was also a 4-piece group, basically from Denton, but differed in that there was no drummer, replaced by a pedal steel guitar. Josh Halverson was on vocals and guitar, Bob Hoffnar on pedal steel, Jaimee Harris on back-up vocals, and Amy Hawthorne on bass. More of a folk group, the band covered “My 38-Year-Old Cocktail Waitress,” made popular by Possessed By Paul James.

When Friday morning came, Tyler Rogers Band was announced as the band to be moving into Round Two.

Josh Halverson

Josh Halverson

Rogers said in a Facebook post, as he thanked and appreciated the other two bands,”You guys killed it and as far as I’m concerned, it probably came down to a coin flip. Can’t wait to play some more shows with you guys.”

This coming Thursday, Sept. 25, Round One closes out with its 8th week, and the bands will be Bryan Adam Joyner, Brianna Fletcher, and Tyler Roberts fronting their bands on the Love & War in Texas-Grapevine location. Music starts at 8 p.m., and there’s never a cover charge for these nights.

For photos of the Tyler Rogers band, click here

For photos of Josh Halverson and his band, click here

Troy Murph band photos, click here

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Category: *- Features, 2014, Other venues

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In the music production business, including event production, booking, photography, reporting, and other such essentials, since 1980.

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