Judges for Thursday night’s contest

For more photos, click on the links below. Remembering, too, that Flickr often inserts its paid ads in between these photos. It’s the viewer’s choice to move past those ads or click on them and learn more about the subject.

It isn’t by accident that the scores between the Matt Nix Band and Rhythm & Beards was, maybe, the closest ever in Shiner Rising Star history. According to judges Mark Janese (Curb Records), John Garza (The Tejas Brothers), and Chuck Taylor (KHYI), both bands excelled in musicianship and songwriting.

This was the 3^rd week of KHYI’s Shiner Rising Star Round 2, held at Hat Tricks in Lewisville Thursday night (Oct. 22). Both bands had, and used most of, 45 minutes to present their original songs and two cover songs in order to as Kyle Brooks (Rhythm & Beards) put it — “melt your faces.” At the end of each set, the band members returned to the stage to face the judges’ comments.

When KHYI’s Chuck Taylor made the announcement the following Friday morning, everyone learned that it would be the Matt Nix Band advancing into the final round.

Rhythm & Beards

Rhythm & Beards drew the straw that put them on stage first. Brooks, on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, is joined in the band by other bearded musicians Nate Morris on drums, Dorian Lamb on bass and vocals, and Ben Martinec on lead guitar and vocals. They dropped in a Georgia Satellite song, “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” and a Led Zeppelin song “Hey Hey What Can I Do?” between their originally-crafted songs.

Brooks, being the good sport he’s always been, pushed the Matt Nix Band during the set, and thanked the judges, Hat Tricks, Shiner Beer, and KHYI. After their set ended, members of the band also personally thanked the judges, one-on-one.

Critique — Janese opened first, saying the band was “a lot of fun, with great songwriting.” Garza agreed, adding that he noticed the band had a lot of moves on stage. His suggestion was that, since they added some harmonies, they could build those up more. “Everyone plays well, and the crowd seemed to like you. And that’s all that matters, really.” Taylor closed this critique out, re-emphasizing the band’s songwriting and harmony skills. “Excellent job,” Taylor added.

Matt Nix Band

The Matt Nix Band combined two songs named “Ride With Me” into one, beginning with the intro from Jason Isbell’s orginal, then blending that into the Zane Williams song which Pat Green recently covered on his last CD. They opened with that, then, near the closing time, covered Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Emily Webb, usually on harmony vocals, took the lead on that, with Nix and fiddler Jasmine Daniele adding their harmonies.

Also in this band are Bryant Canzoneri on lead guitar, Chris Reeves on drums, and Ryan Jarrell on bass guitar. Nix reciprocated the mutual admiration between the two bands by asking the crowd to give it up once more for Rhythm & Beards. He also thanked all those involved with the contest.

One song that Nix sang, after he explained its inspiration, was “Honky Tonk Angel,” which he said was written for the late Ronny Spears, who Nix said was his musical idol.

During the band’s critique time. Janese said, “I work in alternate country music, pop music.” He then explained the ever-changing music scene, adding that the Matt Nix Band seems to be going in the direction of the new changes. “People are looking for real artists, musicians and singers. I’m very impressed. continuing your songwriting and write with other people.” Garza commented on the band’s energy and the “harmonies going on.” He said the songs were “a little pitchy at times, but with conviction, and that’s good. The guitar(ist) could be more prominent, but the fiddler player is amazing. These are two different bands, with two styles. Different is good.” Taylor commented, too, on the pitchiness, but added, “That’s OK if you have heart and compassion.” He, too, was especially agreeable about Jasmine Daniele’s fiddle playing. “Honky Ton Angel” is probably your best song. And “Jole” was second best. I liked the mix of Jason Isbell and Zane Williams (songs).”

Shiner Rising Star, Round 2 Week 4 (and the final week of Round 2) will be at Love & War in Texas, the Grapevine location, Thursday, Oct. 29, with music beginning at 8 p.m.

The finale, will be on Thursday, Nov. 12, at Love & War in Texas, the Plano location, between Matt Nix Band, Darrell Goldman band, Whiskey Prophets, and the winner of this upcoming contest between the Jerrod Morris and Big Joe Walker bands.

For Rhythm & Beards photos, click here

For Matt Nix Band photos, click here

Darrell Goldman Band

This writer lost all her notes, including comments from the judges, so can only write a little from memory here. Click the links below for band photos

Contest was held at Club Dada in Deep Ellum, Dallas, and was between the Darrell Goldman band from Austin and the Straw Hat Society from the Paris area. Judges were all

Judges for the evening

KHYI on-air personalities — Brett Dillon, John Pedigo and Taylor Young. Young and Pedigo are also well-known songwriters and performers, The O’s. 

Darrell Goldman band chose a George Strait song (Troubadour) as one of its two required covers; Straw Hat Society opted for a Bob Dylon cover. 

The following Friday morning, KHYI announced it would be the Darrell Goldman band moving into the final round.

(Remember, as you go through these photos linked here, that sometimes Flickr adds some ad photos in between the band photos.)

Straw Hat Society

For Darrell Goldman photos, click here

For Straw Hat Society photos, click here

And as an aside, Deep Ellum was hopping what with a Wine Tasting all through the area. This pic is of a street trio setting up. They played at least three hours for tips.

The Whiskey Prophets

For more photos, click on the links below.

Shiner Rising Star 2015 moved into Round 2 Thursday night (Oct. 8, 2015) with the 4-member Whiskey Prophets band tackling solo artist Joey McGee for the right to move into the finals. Sundown at Granada on Greenville Avenue in Dallas hosted this night’s event.

Sponsoring radio station KHYI announced Friday morning that it will be The Whiskey Prophets taking that giant step toward the finals and toward the career-enhancing prizes that come along with it.

In this Round 2, each performer has up to 45 minutes to perform their original songs along with two cover tunes. That includes getting onstage, plugging in and tuning up, performing, and then removing themselves and everything from the stage.

Judges this week were KHYI’s Brett Dillon, singer/songwriter Ronnie Fauss, and Mario Tarrandell, former music reporter.

The Whiskey Prophets kicked it off. It’s Brad Roberson on lead vocals, plus acoustic guitar and songwriting; Mike Norris on drums; Jeremy Ailes on bass and back-up vocals; and Matt Hinchey on electric and slide guitar and back-up vocals, plus some songwriting.

Their cover songs included one by John Fullbright and another by the Drive-By Truckers. The Whiskey Prophets have a new CD coming out about mid-to-late October. Ailes told the audience and the judges that it was an incredible not only recording as a full band, but also songwriting together for this project, too.

Critique:

Brett Dillon led the critique at the end of The Whiskey Prophets’ set. His comments included that Roberson’s voice and stage presence reminded him of a young Bruce Springsteen. “You have a great vibe,” Dillon said. About their originals, he added that the songs had great hooks to me.

Mario Tarradell remembered that he had judged during Round 1 when this same band performed, and remembered the criticism he offered the band that night. Then, he added, that he noticed the band had put those constructive ideas into practice.

Ronnie Fauss commented that the Fullbright song “sounded different than the way John Fullbright does it.” That’s something most, if not all judges, in this contest stress — make the cover songs the bands’ own. About one song, “Pretty Girl,” that Hinchey had written and Roberson sang, Fauss offered that Hinchey should sing it himself. “If you write something from your heart, you gotta get up there and sing it from the heart.” A part of the chorus in that song, he added, may be a little wordy and might could be cut down a little.

Joey McGee stepped up to the mic after placing an electric guitar on a stand and holding an

Joey McGee

acoustic one, which he played through most of the songs. His covers were those from Bob Dylan and Whiskeytown. His stage demeanor, voice, and songs were at the same time friendly and magnetic. McGee is from the College Station area.

Critique

Tarrandell started this round, saying he “liked the no-sweetener vibe and no window dressing” style. However, he added, after a few of the solo artist’s songs, the lack of accompaniment “started to make itself very clear” with a sameness to the songs. “What you lacked tonight was the strength of accompaniment.” Then, that said, he added that it took a lot for a solo artist to command a stage. “Something that a lot of singer/songwriters wouldn’t dare to do.”

Fauss agreed with both the more positive and negative points laid out by Tarrandell. Speaking from his own experience, he said, “It’s so easy with a band behind me. Harder to hold a room by yourself. But you did it. You have a vibe that captures people’s attention.” Fauss added that the biggest challenge for a solo artist is to “have songs that pop out. Your songs stood out.” He commented, too, that he could sense a real Guy Clark feel to McGee’s songs.

Dillon’s comments were shorter and completely to the point — “Powerful, amazing, great songwriter. One of the best songwriters I’ve ever heard.”

Round 2, Week 2 will be Thursday, Oct. 15, at Club Dada in Dallas with Straw Hat Society challenging the Darrell Goldman Band. Music starts at 8 p.m., and there’s never a cover charge for these contest events.

For Whiskey Prophets photos, click here

For Joey McGee photos, click here.

Josh Halverson and Big Joe Walker

For photos, click on the links below

It’s over for another year, and the 12 bands who were involved have all made new fans and expanded their musician brotherhood base. Not bad for seven weeks of participation in the White Elephant Saloon’s 10th annual Texas Music Showdown.

The final night, Wednesday, April 1, found Josh Halverson and his band vying for top honors against Big Joe Walker and his band. Judges Brett Dillon (KHYI and contest coordinator), Tye Phelps (Love & War), Stephen Pointer, Scott Copeland, and Dave Perez selected Big Joe Walker band as the winner.

Big Joe, who plays both acoustic guitar and keyboards, and the guys — Chris Johnson on drums; Adam Carrillo on bass; Casey Green on lead guitar; and Michael Pool on fiddle (and who, btw, is now also

Big Joe Walker

working with Red Dirt legend Brandon Jenkins)  — earned themselves a wheelbarrow-full of prizes. These are: A spot on the Raz on the Braz music festival in June; an 8-hour block of recording time with Bent Leaf studio in Denison; digital distribution and CDs of those recorded songs by Smith Entertainment; personal guests of Donnie Nelson in the Presidential Suite of the Mesquite Championship Rodeo; 3-day VIP pass to the 2015 Austin City Limits fest, compliments of Tim Love; an open slot on one Shiner Sunday at Love & War in Texas; radio interview with Dillon on KHYI; performance at a Texas Legends basketball game, compliments of Donnie Nelson; automatic entry into the 2015 Shiner Rising Star band contest; gift certificates and a

Josh Halverson

cowboy hat from Wild Bill’s Western Store; an ad in Buddy Magazine; a shopping spree at Bill’s Records in Dallas; eight $15 meal coupons to Sweetie Pie’s Ribeyes in Decatur; and two night stays at the Pine Meadow Cabins in Broken Bow, Okla.

Big Joe Walker spotlighted Josh Halverson in an encore song-set after the win was announced — showing the camaraderie and mutual respect that prevailed throughout the entire contest.

Keep an eye on the White Elephant Saloon and KHYI Websites for info on the 2016 Texas Music Showdown, which will probably begin applications this winter. And make note of all the good music the White Elephant Saloon brings to the Fort Worth Stockyards.

For Big Joe Walker band photos, click here

For Josh Halverson photos, click here