Tyler Rogers, of the Tyler Rogers Band

For photos of both bands, click on the links below.

At Sundown at Granada in Dallas, Tyler Rogers Band took the chance to go into the final four top bands in this, the 11th year, of  Shiner Rising Star. But it wasn’t without a  good showing from competitor Parallel Play. Oct. 16, 2014.

Judges were both members of the acoustic duo, The Os, and Brett Dillon, of KHYI. These two bands, different in styles but similar in professionalism and talent, brought large crowds to the downtown Dallas.

And, as usual, Marcus Rasor provided the stage equipment from DB Music of Sherman, helped by the venue’s own professional sound man.

Shiner Rising Star is hosted each year by Dallas station KHYI, 95.3; Shiner Beer; and Shiner Records. The band who rises like cream to the top will receive a recording contract and a spot on KHYI’s yearly Texas Music Revolution, to be held in March 2015.

For Tyler Rogers Band photos, click here

Jeremy Drake, of Parallel Play

For Parallel Play photos, click here

Dawn Gardin, John Garza, Chuck Taylor

For photos, click on the links below

Shiner Rising Star Round 2 got off to a good start with two great bands vying to move on into the finals. Sponsoring station KHYI officials asked Buffalo Ruckus to compete again, after the Brianna Fletcher band decided not to continue in the competition. Also competing Thursday night (Oct. 9) was Andrew Delaney & The Horse You Rode In On. And other musicians who had competed were in the crowd, just enjoying the music, including Rob Wright and Cole Risner, just there in support of the contest and the musicians.

Actually, this night could also be dubbed “The battle of the unique voices!”

This all happened at Hat Tricks in Lewisville, a regular Shiner Rising Star participating venue.

These bands are also vying for a recording contract with Shiner Records, which is a co-sponsor of the contest along with Shiner Beer. In Round 2, the bands each have 45 minutes to wow the judges with their original songs along with two cover songs. After their sets, the bands return to the stage for critiques.

Judges for this event were Dawn Gardinn (AMP Entertainment), John Garza (The Tejas Brothers), and Chuck Taylor (KHYI).

Jason Lovell, Buffalo Ruckus

Buffalo Ruckus went first on stage. Jason Lovell on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Brad Haefner on mandolin, lead guitar and vocals; and Michael Burgess on bass and vocals. They played some of their standards, including the “High Again,” which is on the Texas music charts, and one brand new original, plus covered J.J. Cale’s “The Breeze” and Charlie Daniels’ “Friend Of The Devil.”

Critique:

Gardin — Commented that the band’s sound was “100 percent totally different without a drummer.” (The band played this event as a 3-piece acoustic band, because of very short notice when asked to return to the contest, without a drummer.) She was big on Haefner’s mandolin, and on the band’s havingmentioned the sponsors. She suggested they bring in even more harmonies, as that is a strength of theirs.

Garza — This judge also suggested that they add more harmonies to their songs, and agreed with Gardin on Haefner’s mandolin. “Jason, you have a killer voice, very distinct. There’s no doubt who you are hearing when you hear your voice. Just make sure people understand those lyrics. And hats off for you all doing this, for not being derailed by not having a drummer.” In the constructive criticism department, he suggested making some changes with both Lovell and Haefner are playing acoustic guitar. “It sounded like one guitar.”

Taylor — “Your (Lovell’s) songwriting ability is really good,” and when speaking to Haefner, “I mentioned before that I think you should sing more. And you sang this time.” Taylor added, “I actually like the full band thing, but this is where you should live. I love this (acoustic trio), over the full band.”

Andrew Delaney fronts The Horse You Rode In On, which consists of Justin Whitehead on bass and backup vocals; Trevor Pulver on lead guitar, banjo and backup vocals; Jeromy Bailey on drums; and Delaney plays rhythm guitar and harmonica along with his vocals, sometimes all three at the same time. They covered two bouncy songs, one by Paul Simon, which fit in with their whole upbeat arrangements with their downbeat lyrics.

Andrew Delaney

Critique

Gardin — “I love your songwriting, the band sounded good. Maybe the drums might have been off a bit a couple of times.” She added that she liked the way the band ended the set, and had nothing bad to say.

Garza — “How do you do that, play the harmonica and another instrument (guitar) and sing at the time time? It’s like patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time,” and Delaney laughed with him. But less complimentary, more constructive criticism, “One thing driving me nuts was the snare drum a lot of the time. When you are playing acoustic, that’s not so noticeable, but full band…” Garza said this was a very very very tough competition between the two bands. “I hate to use that word ‘competition,’ because we’re all brothers. We all love and support each other.”

Taylor — Taylor opened by saying that “As many years as I’ve been judging these contests, it’s the hardest tonight! Tonight was a good night, and could have been the finale night.” He complimented the choice of a Leonard Cohen song to cover and Delaney’s songwriting ability, calling it “great.”

When Taylor announced the contest results on KHYI Friday morning, he declared it to be Buffalo Ruckus who would be advancing to the finals.

Next week, which will be Round 2 Week 2, will be at 8 p.m., at Sundown at Granada in Dallas, with Parallel Play and Tyler Rogers Band at the mics.

For Buffalo Ruckus photos, click here

For Andrew Delaney band photos, click here

 Click 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 1^st-up, 2^nd-up, and 3^rd-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 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

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 8^th 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

Technical difficulties (yeah, really)  prevented this reporter from reporting on what was said and done at this week (Sept. 11) Shiner Rising Star. However, it was done well, by both bands (the third band, led by Jud Block, had to cancel out at the last minute), The LDJ Band and the Derek Anthony Band. Juding this week were Chance Cody, formerly with KHYI and the leader of the Spur 503 band; Tip Jones, Overdrive Entertainment; and Zane Williams, singer-songwriter extraordinaire. That team of music leaders led a friendly and fun-filled evening at Tupelo Honey in Denison.

Ultimately, with only a total few points difference between the two teams, it was announced Friday morning (Sept. 12) that it would be the Derek Anthony band moving into Round 2.

Round 1 Week 7 contest will be at 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, at The Rustic in Dallas, with another strong contest between great bands, led by Tyler Rogers, Josh Halverson, and Troy Murph. Never a cover charge at the hosting venues for these contests. What started as 24 out of dozens of eager bands, Shiner Rising Star will culminate with a recording contract through Shiner Records for the one band that comes out as the winner, sometime in mid-November. Shiner Beer and radio station KHYI (95.3) are the other two sponsors.

For photos of the LDJ Band, click here

For photos of Derek Anthony Band, click here

For a collection of other photos over the contest, click here