Kevin Fowler, “Barstool Stories,” Kevin Fowler Records — Also appeared in September 2019  issue of Buddy Magazine

Kevin Fowler has gone and done it again — released a great album. Barstool Stories, this project is called, released

Some of the songs have already been major hits, not only in Texas, but across the national charts as well. Those include “Beach Please,” which was released about 18 months go; “Country Song to Sing;” and “Better With Beer,” which is currently high on the Texas charts.

And there’s some of the first-time-on-a-record songs that have that same charting potential. “Breakin’ in a Broken Heart” is one of those and should be on the Americana/Texas music/Country music stations now. “Living These Songs I Write” probably isn’t a potential release, but it is a dynamite album cut! Roger Creager and Cody Johnson join him on “A Drinkin’ Song.” This song reminds me of something Fowler told me during an interview. He said he believes that people go out at night to have a good time, that they don’t want to hear tears-in-the-beer tunes. And he always plans to give them a fun evening. If you’ve been to a Kevin Fowler show, you understand. If you haven’t yet — it’s just a suggestion, but find one near you and partake of the party he provides. Just make sure you don’t get into the club with a “Fake I.D.,” and the song about his experience with such is another good song on this CD.

Fowler has a serious, but not at-all gloomy, side on “She’s Growing On Me” and “Heaven.” Lyrics on that song, destined to be a Texas classic, say, ‘When it’s my time to go, And I’m at the end of my road, I’ll be fine, I know, ‘Cause I’ve already gone to heaven.” Serious, but not gloomy.

This powerful CD, Barstool Stories, is available on all streaming sites and online at KevinFowler.com. Fowler will be playing Lewisville Western Days on September 27.

Items in one of the packages currently available on AaronWatson.com

Originally in June issue, Buddy Magazine

Aaron Watson, Red Bandana, Big Label Records

People are supposin’ why Aaron Watson chose to title his forthcoming CD Red Bandana, due out June 21. But, Watson is releasing a song or two at a time on the streaming sites, not all 20 songs included. So far, there’s five songs on the sites, available to those who pre-order the record.

One of those songs is called “Riding With Red,” which, without all the promo stuff that usually comes with CDs to reviewers, one could believe or imagine is about Watson’s, or even one’s own, grandfather. With lyrics like “About the time that I came around… he was slow climbing in the saddle, but once he was up, he could fly…  And I learned how to rope and I learned how to pray and how actions speak louder than any words you may say… And though he’s long gone, I’m still out here Riding With Red.” And that’s just a condensed version of the lyrics about lessons learned from a genuinely-wise mentor… Well, here’s one more… “I’ve busted broncs, I’ve hung on for dear life—to everything he had to say.”

Maybe that’s the reason for naming this project Red Bandana. I believe so. He did say in one interview that he just didn’t see the need for yet another photo him on a CD cover.

Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

Aaron Watson has the talent for uniqueness in tunes and rhythms, when using clichés, arrangements, witness “Trying Like The Devil” (which, by the way, has a line about wearing a red bandana with old blue jeans) as compared to “Old Friend.” Both upbeat, high energy tempos, yet completely different word and phrase usage. And most folks are already familiar with the celebratory break-up tune “Kiss That Girl Goodbye,” which has been on just about every state and national chart out there.

There’s one on this CD that hasn’t been opened up to the ears or the heart yet, and I check for it daily. “Ghost of Guy Clark,” it’s called.

To pre-order, go Online to AaronWatson.com. There are packages available when pre-ordering this CD.

Me and my red bandana!

Me? I’m wearing a red bandana every day until June 21, telling people about this gotta-have CD.

Mary Jane Farmer, Scene In Town

CD Review, “Home”, George Ensle, Independent/Berkalin Records

Sometimes the best music come unexpectedly. George Ensle has been producing good — no, make that great — music for decades, and this newest of his CDs, Home, is perhaps the best of them all.

Ensle either wrote or co-wrote all the songs on this 10-song project, and has some of the best co-writers one could ever ask for on his side. Tony Ramey co-wrote “Black Sheep,” a song about “the prodigal, always on the run…  black sheep always need a second chance.” And Chuck Hawthorne added his pen to one of my favorites on this project, “Gloves.” This tune is reminiscent of Guy Clark’s “Randall Knife,” yet not the same at all. The gloves were a gift from his dad when he set out to be on his own. “Wear ‘em for the greater good, and always remember, son, Always build God’s kingdom…” And a verse about how he failed when he wasn’t wearing them. And “through the years I mended fences every chance I had, and I rebuilt old foundations when they were going bad.” Lines of really growing up, growing in maturity. Lessons in life. And “All I Need,”co-written with Richard Dobson, is a song of answered prayers. “I asked for strength, and I got troubles to get me straight and strong, asked for wisdom and I got problems that taught me right from wrong… I asked for mercy and I got an old friend who needed a second chance, I got all I wanted when I got all I need.” And as I’ve listened to this CD over and over again — it’s that good — I would think with one song “That’s my favorite,” and then another song will play and it’s be, “No, wait‚ that one’s my favorite.” Ad infinitum. But, it’s settled now… my favorite is “Old Windmill Waltz,” and maybe that’s because hardly anybody every writes, plays, or sings waltzes any more. Well, George Ensle did.

Ensle has a voice that puts sweetness and sincerity in every lyric. Harmonies are added by other sweet voices such as those of Christine Albert and Kristin DeWitt. And the who’s who of the Texas Hill Country provides instrumentation.

Home is available on Ensle’s Website, GeorgeEnsle.com and on most streaming sites. He normally plays around the Texas Hill Country, and is due to play Harmony House Concerts in the Bonham area on July 6.

Mary Jane Farmer, Scene In Town

Adri Lavigne
Photo by Nicola Gell

Press release from Culture-Hype.com—NOTE by Mary Jane: This company sent all information, including a review copy of the song “Take Me Home,” the photos at good resolution, and the press release. It was done professionally with several options for opening all the information. Good job accomplished for their client!

And… they sent the advance on the song via SoundCloud. It is at the same time simply produced and filled with a yearning for a former way of life. Beautifully written and recorded. Mark your calendar and find it on the streaming sites April 26.

The French-turned-Texan’s “Take Me Home” is a lyrically soulful ode to his hometown

Not too long ago, Adri Lavigne couldn’t even speak the language in which he now effortlessly writes and sings. The Austin-based singer-songwriter was born in a remote French village of 300 people.

“There were more cows than people,” Adri says. “I loved it. It’s home.”

The artist’s debut single, “Take Me Home,” out on Friday, April 26, is a love letter to his village, Géraudot, which he and his family called home until he was 10. “Take Me Home” is just one of the many songs Adri recorded with Matt Noveskey, bassist of alternative rock band Blue October and owner of Orb Studios.

“These songs represent how much I’ve grown as a person and an artist,” he says. “This is my story; my journey.”

Adri’s journey got off to a rough start. He arrived in the States as a preteen and struggled to adjust to American culture, the classroom and the English language. Music–and the guitar in particular–was his refuge. With guitar in hand, he was able to express himself in a place where he couldn’t find the words to do so.

“It helped me adapt to my new life,” Adri says of his first guitar, an electric Fender gifted to him by his father. “I jumped right into writing songs, even though I had no idea what I was doing.”

He learned over time, as he learned the language and began to adjust to his new home. Inspired by the likes of John Mayer and Jack Johnson, Adri developed a distinct acoustic style and some serious songwriting chops. He traveled the world, and soon enough, the kid who could barely understand English was now proficient in French, English, and Spanish. Even though he made a new home in Austin, he never lost his fondness for his hometown, Géraudot.

Adri Lavigne
Photo by Nicola Gell

“That’s what this song is about,” Adri says of “Take Me Home.” “Those feelings it gave me, the person it made me. It’ll always be a part of who I am.”

Like the single, many of Adri Lavigne’s songs are tracks he developed over the course of several years. Each track is a tiny part of the road the trilingual artist has paved since he set foot in the U.S.

“I’m excited to share this journey,” Adri Lavigne says. “I can’t wait for people to be a part of it.”

Catch him onstage in Austin this month performing original music onstage in celebration of his single release on April 18 at Darwin’s Pub (223 E. 6th St.); on June 16, Lavigne will perform at at Oasis Texas Brewing Company’s Taproom (6550 Comanche Trail) overlooking Lake Travis.

“Take Me Home” will be available for purchase on iTunes and streaming on all major platforms on Friday, April 26. For more information on Adri Lavigne, please visit www.adrilavigne.com.

George Strait, “Honky Tonk Time Machine,” MCA Nashville

Review by Mary Jane Farmer

George Strait’s newest CD, Honky Tonk Time Machine, got its full release in late March, but the public heard a couple of songs ahead of the full-fledged release. The first release was “Every Little Honky Tonk,” which remains on the Billboard charts. It’s danceable, high-energy, and has imaginative lyrics, such as the lead, “Whiskey is the gasoline that lights the fire that burns the bridge. Ice creates the water that’s no longer running under it.” And the chorus continues in that style, full of similes all of which combined “That’s what happens in every little honky tonk bar.”

And by now every law enforcement officer has probably heard “The Weight of the Badge,” a tribute to the very people who put on the badge and go out regularly to protect and serve us.

“Old Violin” is a story about growing older,  “Tonight I feel like an old violin, soon to be put away and never played again.” It’s about the helplessness of feeling so much hopelessness. “Cause I can’t change this feeling in the slightest way — I try.” So much emotion in it, and Strait has just the voice to pull it off. “And just like that it hit me, Why that old violin and I, we’re just alike. We give our all to music, and soon we’ll give our life.” That’s the only song on the CD that is a pure cover, Johnny Paycheck wrote it.

And the fun ditty about “Sing One with Willie,” about Strait’s never having sang a duo with Willie Nelson. “Now I ain’t too proud, I’m gonna shout it out loud, I ain’t never got to sing with Willie.” And the good-natured lament continues until, all of a sudden, that very recognizable voice kicks and it’s Willie singing, “Back and forth up and down t he highways, wherever our big buses can go. But I think that it’s great to finally sing one with Strait.” Just pure fun. George and Willie co-wrote that with Bubba Strait and Buddy Cannon. George’s son, Bubba, co-wrote many of the songs here, as did George himself. Strait’s long-time songwriter, Dean Dillon, joined in the co-write on “Blue Water” and several other of the cuts. Actually, the truth is that George Strait co-wrote eight of the 13 tracks, possibly a record for the man who can recognize a good song and make a hit of it, even if he didn’t write it. They kept their pens out of the writing of “Two More Wishes, which was written by Jim Lauderdale and Odie Blackmon.

It’s a keeper of an album.