Category Archives: – Venues

Chris Janson — Soaring Like An Eagle

Leave a reply

 

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmercj-7-10x8-name-b

Kind, sweet, fun, respectful, entertaining, professional, gentleman, charismatic, more-than-just-a-musician, Chris Janson absolutely took the Grand Theater fans by the same passion he threw out there, Nov. 12. He did this with, of all things, only three musicians and very little, comparatively speaking with other Nashville music icons, distracting video behind him.

Janson, known mostly for his “Buy Me A Boat,” which went into the top on most country music charts last year, is also a prolific songwriter, accomplished harmonica player, will also be known now for his having penned “Holdin’ Her” about his wife, Kelly, also his co-manager.

Chris told stories along with singing his songs, and maybe the most famous of those stories is his love for Kelly. He’s very vocal about how marriage to her has changed him 100% for the better, talks about his two ”bonus” kids she brought to the marriage, and about the two they’ve had together. He also said, proudly, that he’s been eight years without a drink, a definite plus in his life and his career. The whole story is in the lyrics to “Holdin’ Her.” It’s real and it’s heartfelt.cj-9-10x8-name

Yeah, he writes and sings and performs a lot of today’s Nashville country, but he also cut loose with some very on-point Merle Haggard songs as well as a couple of other classic country. “Do you mind if I sing you a new song?” He played a couple he had just written, and that band was right on with him.

And speaking of eagles, Chris once had his back turned to the crowd when he started waving his arms, slowly and rather tenderly. He turned, talked to the crowd and soon had them flapping their arms, Eagle style. Now, isn’t this fun?, he asked them, and the crowd kept soaring through the song.

Janson called a bevy of kiddos to the stage toward the end of this concert, and had them singing along. Great fun!

The band — a lead guitarist, bassist, and drummer — provided solid and complementary music background to his lyric, voice, and style.

Photos, click here

Chris Janson will be part of the 10-Man Jam at Billy Bob’s Texas on Sunday, Dec. 4, starting cj-12-7x-2-crowdaround 4 p.m. Joining him will be Granger Smith, Joe Nichols, Casey Donahew, Jon Pardi, and others.

Keep an eye on the Live Music Calendar here on SceneInTown.com and/or also on ChoctawCasinos.com for upcoming concerts at the Grand Theater and Gilley’s at the Durant facility and for live music at all the other Choctaw Casino locations.

 

Cole Swindell — Definitely worth the whiskey!

Leave a reply
Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Cole Swindell’s Down Home Tour will be stopping at DFW’s Billy Bob’s Texas on Nov. 26. I can assure you that this is going to be a show you don’t want to miss and here are five reasons why!

  1. It’s Bigger & Better. This will be Swindell’s 3rd Down Home Tour and after spending the summer on Florida-Georgia Line’s Dig Your Roots Tour, this Georgia boy has sharpened his performance abilities and is ready to have you rocking and singing along all night. If you saw him at Choctaw Casino’s Grand Theater earlier this year, or at the CMA fest, Toyota Stadium, or on the CMA awards show just recently — you know what I’m talking about and will want to catch him again. If not, you need to catch him at Billy Bob’s.
  2. Jon Langston. This rising country star is going to bring it. There’s a lot of chatter
    Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

    Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

    around his talent with many calling him the next big star. And there is no doubt he will be on his way after opening up for Cole. If you aren’t already a fan, you will be after you see him open the show. It’s a twofer-the-price-of-one concert.

  3. Intimate Fan Experience. For an artist like Cole, there is nothing like playing to a sold-out arena of fans who are singing every word on your songs, but it doesn’t exactly leave the fans feeling like they got much – if any – meaningful interaction with the artist. That’s why it’s important to Cole to perform in more intimate venues. Instead of feeling like you are one of tens of thousands, you will get the real fan experience at Billy Bob’s
  4. New Music. Cole just released his Down Home EP. He released his sophomore
    Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

    Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

    album, You Should Be Here, in May, so it’s rare that an artist releases more new music so soon after. But, Cole is a songwriter at heart and his desire to give fans more of his artistry is evident. Chances are you will be treated to a few songs from the EP.

  5. You Should Be Here. Literally! If you’ve never experienced Cole sing his career-defining hit “You Should Be Here” live, you are truly missing out. It’s one thing to hear it on the radio, but it will transcend you to another moment when you hear him pour his heart into his song. He is sure to tug at your heartstrings.

Catch Cole Swindell on his Down Home Tour at Billy Bob’s Texas on Nov. 26. Grab

Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

your tickets here:  Billy Bob’s Texas tickets

In case it’ll be your first time at Billy Bob’s Texas, the address for your GPS is 2520 Rodeo Plaza in Fort Worth.

 

 

 

 

Blues night at Loose Wheels Texas — 5 masters at work!

Leave a reply

All photos and very short story by Mary Jane Farmer — Click on the link below for big-gus-4-sax-1all photos.

October 21, 2016, brought together five blues bands at the premier live music venue of Grayson County (Texas) — Loose Wheels Texas. Along with the packed house and great music, there was a raffle to benefit the Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center, and with all that together, nobody left feeling blue.

The line-up, in order, was Big Gus & Swampadelic with added guitar by Oliver White, Jason Elmore & Hoodoo Witch, Andrew Jr. Boy Jones with Kerrie Lepai sharing vocals, Mike Morgan & The Crawl, and Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat.

The quote of the night was “I don’t know who put this line-up together, but it is the best one ever.” Bands took no more than 15 minutes for one to break down and the other to set up, and that kept the pace at a very brisk clip, each band playing at least one hour.

And people in attendance were still talking about the special-ness of the whole Friday evening at another event on Sunday afternoon.

Keep up with all Loose Wheels Texas activities on their Website: LooseWheelsTexas.com, or here in the Scene In Town Live Music Calendar.

For all photos, click here — (Sorry, this photographer had to leave before Jim Suhler got on stage, and been told more than once that I missed one more great performance! I believe that!)

Calibre 50

Leave a reply

all-3-7x5Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. For more photos, click on the link below

In spite of having a hard time getting from their native Sinola, Mexico, to Durant,  Calibre 50 got onto the Grand Theater stage a short time after arrival and gave the performance of a lifetime, Friday, Oct. 1.

Calibre 50 is the primo Tejano band from Mexico, having stayed on the charts with their “El Immigrante” much of 2014, and making themselves further known this year with “Amor del Bueno” and “Prestameia a Mi.” The sold-out theater was resplendent with fans who knew the words to every one of those and the other songs Calibre 50 belted from all four corners of that huge stage.

Back and forth, forth and back went Edén Muñoz with his accordion, Armando Ramos on guitar, and Alejandro Gaxiola on tuba, while Erick García kept them in sync and inspired with his drums.

Their agent, who lives in Texas, kept up via telephone with the band, and explained that they were all-1-10x8-namedetained for six hours at the Laredo border crossing bridge, then ran into stand-still traffic once they got to Texas. Meanwhile, Overdrive Entertainment’s crew, Smoke Signal Productions, had the stage, the lighting, sound, and every little detail in place for their arrival. And a small bonus to the whole night was that this concert began at 9 p.m., rather than the usual 8 p.m. start-time. Calibre 50 quickly changed into their stage clothes, then headed for their Meet n Greet before dashing up the ramp and onto the stage.

The band often, but not always, used the incredible Grand Theater screen behind them to accent their performance, and many of the videos seemed to be telling the stories in the songs.

AllMusic.com describes Calibre 50 as “An award-winning Sinaloan quartet known for an intense work ethic and a fierce dedication to fans.” Perfect!

For Calibre 50 photos, click here

Click here to follow al the Choctaw Casinos’ venue entertainment.

 

Neal McCoy leaves ’em all happy!

Leave a reply

0193-10x8-name-addedPhotos by Mary Jane Farmer — Click on the link below for more photos

Neal McCoy and his fabulous band played Thursday night, (Sept. 22, 2016) at the Four Rivers Outreach fundraising banquet, held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Sherman/Denison. Now, there’s many performers who bring a powerful and perfect concert every time they play, but few who also bring tasteful and deep-rooted humor and fun along with it. Neal McCoy did just that.

Neal has a way of including his audience in his concerts, especially private parties like this particular event was… open to anyone, but banquet ticket required. He brought one lady in who knew the title of his most recent CD You Don’t Know Me. Now, she was in the way back of the room, but he spotted her instantly when she raised her hand. And he teased and high-fived another person in the crowd, challenging that she knew the lyrics to all his songs. She pretty well did… maybe missed one of the newer ones. And this writer/photographer (there at the request of Four Rivers Outreach, and so working) got the brunt of his humor when I got up from the front table to go to the back of room and get those pix with the crowd in front of stage… “Why are you leaving… you neal-10-and-band-and-crowdhaven’t even heard the next song yet?”  Then, he posed for my camera, and that comic picture is probably easy to find here.

The crowd cracked up. The crowd cracked up a lot, even at his cornball jokes (lovingly calling them ‘cornball’ because they were crazy, but funny) that he ended by spinning around several times on stage.

But he got serious, too. He was actually crying himself when he sang a song he recorded many years ago, which was written to his wife. I wanted to ask him why the tears, but after the show, the fans (old and new) surrounded him and he stuck with every one of them until every last fan had a photo of them together, or an autograph, or just kind nice words, hugs and handshakes.

One of those spectators, who remained completely unmentioned and quiet, probably at his own request, was Rory Feek, half of the Nashville duo of Joey+Rory who played the same Four Rivers Outreach in a year past. Joey passed away earlier this year.

Just a suggestion — but maybe start saving those pennies and quarters now, to buy a ticket to the 2017 Four Rivers Outreach fundraiser, which is already scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28.

Just another suggestion — catch a Neal McCoy concert anywhere and everywhere you can. Click on that link for his full schedule, and we’ll try to keep up with it here on Scene In Town’s Live Music Calendar.

For more photos, click here

P.S. I didn’t post any of the crowd pix here, other than Rory’s, because those (and these, too) all go to Four Rivers Outreach.