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

Cole Risner

Now on the downhill side of Round 1, a fifth band, Cole Risner Band, has learned it will be advancing into Round 2 of the 2014 Shiner Rising Star contest.

Cole and his band, Chris Norwood on lead guitar, Mark Oswalt on bass, and Cory Phifer on drums, met head to head with Buffalo Ruckus Thursday night (Sept. 4) at Tolbert’s Restaurant in Grapevine.

The third group, Melissa Brooke Band, scheduled for this week cancelled at the last minute, and that left time for these two bands to play for 45 minutes, rather than 30 minute sets as is usual in Round 1.

Risner’s band drew the 1^st-on-the-stage straw. They provided lyric sheets for all the originals they would be playing, and covered a Chris Stapleton song (Another requirement for each band during this contest is to cover some other songwriter’s music). Dancers hit the floor during the cover song. Cole and the guys closed it down after 30 minutes, then returned to the stage for their critique.

Judges Thursday night were Chuck Taylor (KHYI), who also hosted, Dawn Gardin (AMP Inc.), and Tami Millspaugh (Universal Music Group), all three of whom work considerably with country music. As Taylor explained to the audience, “These ladies work with artists all the time and see artists in development and can offer you all some cool insight.”

Critique: Dawn told The Cole Risner Band that she loved the covers, and their harmonies and songwriting is good. “You definitely listen to the radio, the influence on your fist song was like a Hayes Carll song. And the Love & War song reminded me of Zane Williams.”

Tami responded, “I like the songwriting, and I did her a buzz (in the sound system) as well. That’s technical stuff, it happens.” She complemented them on their songs, adding, “I hear a lot of crap. You are on the way to making something of yourselves and keep it up. Don’t take any of this for granted.”

Chuck said, “You have a lot going for you. It was a little pitchy a couple of times — that happens to everybody. Two things to work on: stage presences and dress the part of a band member. You gotta be marketable to radio promoters, to radio stations. Fantastic songwriting.”

Afterward, Cole and the others in the band went to the judges’ table and shook hands with all three of them.

Buffalo Ruckus, front line

Buffalo Ruckus pulled out some new songs, spiced by some off their new, self-titled CD. Brad Haefner played mandolin and lead guitar; Jason Lovell on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Michael Burgess was on bass; and Christian Dorn on drums — the same band members as when they started together in 2013. Burgess has the technology that allows him more freedom of movement, and he went out into the restaurant during one song, stopping and playing and dancing with those in the audience.

This band took full advantage of the added 15 minutes to their set, and made their cover song, Waylon Jennings’ ‘Waymore’s Blues’ seem as if one of their own, something that judges have recommended to all bands in the previous weeks. So much so that none of the judges could identify just what song they had covered.

Critique:

Dawn told Buffalo Ruckus, “you looked like you were having a great time. But, introduce your songs. We don’t know who you are and didn’t know you did a cover.” She added that they did a nice job in mentioning the radio station, KHYI and Shiner Beer as sponsors. “I’m a big fan of the mandolin and you really brought your fans out, but I might not have ordered another round of beer from the stage. Interact with us down here more.”

Tami noticed and spoke about Buffalo Ruckus’ passion. “That’s great, and I like the segways into your songs. You continuously play and I like that. I totally missed the (Waylon Jennings) cover, didn’t know what it was.” When she added mentioned, “I don’t know where you are trying to go with your music, what you’re wanting to get played, but if you want on the charts…” and with that, Lovell smiled and responded, “We’re on the Texas chart right now.” Tami added that the band may have been too rock for the radio, “Your live concert is very rock oriented.”

Tami mentioned, too, that they and all bands should mention their Website, Facebook, Twitter, and info that their CD is available on iTunes. “Keep up the passion.”

Chuck, remembering Buffalo Ruckus from the 2013, commented that “You have gotten really strong. You are playing better now than you did in the finals last year. (Buffalo Ruckus came in second in 2013). You had some new songs, but your set was very similar to that of last year.” Burgess, he said, came in early on one song, “Don’t worry ‘bout that, but you made the face. Don’t make the face.” When Taylor complimented Haefner, saying “Brad, you are a monster on the guitar,” the crowd went wild.

To Lovell, Chuck said, “You have got one of the best voices in this competition right now. A lot of the songs tonight were rock, with an Angus Young scream type to it. Your voice is best when you actually sing instead of shouting. Overall, it was an awesome job, stronger than last year’s.”

This next week, Sept. 11, the contest moves northward to Tupelo Honey, which is in the old Katy Depot stockyards in Denison. Competing will be The LDJ Band, Derek Anthony, and Jud Block.  Music starts at 8 p.m., and there’s never a cover charge for these weekly contests.

 For photos of Buffalo Ruckus, click here

For photos of Cole Risner Band, click here

For a few more photos, click here