Straw Hat Society band members

Judges Dawn Gardin, (AMP); Chuck Taylor, (KHYI); and Tip Jones (Overdrive Entertainment) collectively selected the Straw Hat Society to move into Round 2 of Shiner Rising Star 2014. Straw Hat Society beat out The Matt Nix Band and Blacktop Outlaw.

Hat Tricks in Lewisville hosted this Round 1, Week 2 contest between the three bands, and Tony Avezanno’s crew there did a bang-up good job, even served a special menu using Hatch Chili Pepper recipes.

These bands are vying for a recording contract with Shiner Records, plus some other nice, career-enhancing prizes, and Shiner Rising Star is sponsored by Shiner Beer, Shiner Records, and Dallas radio KHYI 95.3. Each band in Round 1 (there were 24 to start with and the round will end up with eight going into Round 2) have 30 minutes to get on stage, plug in, sound check, perform originals plus one cover song, and get off, without going over the 30-minute allotment. Then, they return to the stage together for critiques from the various judges.

Blacktop  Outlaw, consisting of Lucas Pittman on bass and lead vocals, Cody Pope on guitar and vocals, Dallas Durham on guitar and vocals (plus serves as the band’s management), Ryan Brown on guitar, and Steve Howell on drums, opened. They kicked it off by covering Tom Petty’s “Last Dance With Mary Jane,” then kept the vibes going with their Texas country/rock  originals.

Critique: The judges recommended that the band provide more introduction to their songs, pick a different cover song and be cutout about use of their set-up time. They also commended the band for putting on a good show.

Matt Nix and Emily Webb, Matt Nix Band

Second up was Straw Hat Society, made up of Rags O’Hooligan on vocals and guitar, Mike Donahue on guitar, Justin Longorio on washboard and kick drum, and Waylon Whitaker on ukulele. This band, which said later they have been together 13 days “in this configuration,” plays with all of them barefoot, but only one wearing a straw hat. Their cover was Todd Snyder’s “Sideshow Blues.”

Critique. Judges recognized that the Straw Hat Society band had thanked the sponsors and hosts, said that the band was different “and cool,” did a good job of talking about their songs, seemed to be having fun, and were Americana in nature.

The Matt Nix Band, another who has  entered the contest in the past, has six members: Matt Nix on lead vocals and guitar, Bryant Canzoneri on guitar, Chris Reeves on drums, Emily Webb on harmony vocals, Ryan Jarrell on bass, and Colleen Cribbs on violin/fiddle. This band supplied the judges with lyric sheets on all their songs, including their cover of Mel McDaniel’s “Louisiana Saturday Night,” and even added a verse to bring it closer to home — Texas Thursday night at Hat Tricks.

Critique:  Judges were positive and “constructive” in their remarks: high energy level, tight and polished

Blacktop Outlaw, Lucas Pittman

band, took critique suggestions from previous year and applied those, harmonies, good cover, and appreciated the lyrics sheets and the original twist on the cover song.

Next Thursday, Aug. 21, will have Whiskey Prophets, Aaron McDonnell, and Levi Cobb bands competing at Southern Junction in Rockwall/Royse City. Music starts at 8 p.m., and SoJo has the best steak dinners around.

For Blacktop Outlaw pix, click here

For Matt Nix Band pix, click here

For Straw Hat Society pix, click here

Koe Wetzel

Thank goodness that Fort Worth Weekly writer Jeff Prince did such a great story on last night’s (March 19) contest at The White Elephant Saloon… I’m just going to link it here… He got it down pretty pat!

For Koe Wetzel & The Konvicts pix, click here

For Big Joe Walker band pix, click here

For a few other pix, click here

For Link to Story, click here

I would add, again, that these men, all of them, are incredible musicians and very good sports. Every one of them’s main concern, after the announcement was made as to who would be moving on, was to congratulate those in the other bands. You just don’t see that every day!

Jason Lovell, The Buffalo Ruckus

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer — Click on the link at the end for photos

Judges for the first round of the semi-finals, White Elephant Saloon’s 9th Texas Music Showdown — Brett Dillon, KHYI; Deryl Dodd, or the Double D as everyone knows him; and Dave Perez of the amazing Tejas Brothers — sent The Buffalo Ruckus on into the finals. That band will meet the winner of the upcoming Wednesday (March 19) second week of the semi-finals, which will be between Koe Wetzel & The Konvicts and the Big Joe Walker Band. That, too, should be an amazing  night for new and old fans, and also a challenging night for both bands.

This Wednesday (March 12) was challenging and amazing. Both The Twisted Pistols and The Buffalo Ruckus shine in their respective style, and if anyone were judging apples to apples (or styles to styles), it could have been a tough choice; but judging apples to grapes is what these judges were faced with.

Each band got four original songs, one cover tune, and a sound-check additional song of their choice. At the end of the two sets, the band hung around a moment for judges’ feedback.

Twisted Pistols chose as their cover song Meat Loaf’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money,” and rocked it out in good style. Their four originals were their popular “Fair Weather Friend,” “Keep On Rollin’,” “One for the Money,” and a newer song, “Home on the Highway,” two of which Johnny Wilson switched off with the usual lead singer, Zach Hendricks, on vocals, and knocked it out with harmonies. “Home On The Highway”  gave drummer T.J. Wier an almost-solo as he started out the song. and bass player, Wade Cody, kept it all steady and even.

Dillon said he really liked the choice of covers, and they swung out there like a traveling band. Dodd stressed that he liked their tone, comparing it to Tom Petty’s band style. He, too, liked the cover song, saying it showed the depth that the band possessed. And Perez said he was impressed with the harmonies and not only the vocal switches, but the instrument switches too, between mandolin and guitar. “That gave it a change in texture,” Perez said. “And I like that driving snare back there.”

Zach Hendricks, Twisted Pistols

The Buffalo Ruckus, which only formed about one year ago today, about the time that lead vocalist Jason Lovell and his wife moved to Texas from their more-native Georgia. Guitarist Brad Haefner and bass player Michael Burgess, who had been together in a past band, were searching for a vocalist. They met on Craig’s List, Brad said, and also discovered and added drummer Christian Dorn. Been making history ever since.

The band played, for their sound check, their original “Even On The Darker Days,” and brought some songs they are working on in the studio now, “Black Hearted Woman,” “What’s a Boy,” “Moonlight Rebels,” and “If It’s For Love,” and covered Waylon Jennings’ “Waymore Blues.” Then, after the announcement, they encored with “Don’t Save Me,” and “Whipping Post.”

Critique time:  Dillon, “That was awesome — a mini-concert.” Dodd said, “You don’t miss the beat.” And Perez summed it up, saying, “You are Jay Leno bound.” Then they all got into good-natured ribbing about who was going to be the Buffalo Ruckus’ roadie (They don’t know that I get that job.) and now that Leno’s retired, who will be hosting the Ruckus on late-night.

Hard battle, won with mutual respect for each other’s band. Just some of the prizes they are going for: A set on Larry Joe Taylor fest in April and on Tommy Alverson’s Family Gathering in October, an automatic entry into KHYI’s Shiner Rising Star beginning again in late June, a Shiner Sunday opening at Love & War in Texas, a Texas Legends concert, a 4-song EP produced and distributed by Smith Music Group, a quarter-page ad in Buddy Magazine, and that’s not all… maybe I can write faster next week as Dillon reads that list out.

For more pix of Twisted Pistols, click here:

For more pix of The Buffalo Ruckus, click here:

For just pix of the night, click here: