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:

Musicians and judges involved in Wk 1, Rd. 1 of the Texas Music Showdown.

It’s been going on for several years, this Texas Music Showdown at the White Elephant Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards, and this year, in fact Wednesday (Feb. 12), it kicked the new year’s contest off in  style befitting the grandeur of the stately historic saloon.

It was Buffalo Ruckus, The Cody Joe Hodges Band, and The LDJ Band who took the stage, one at a time of course, by storm. They each were given one full song as a sound check, then three original songs and one cover as part of their competition.

When the LDJ Band went through its soundcheck song, they set the stage with high energy, professionalism in delivery, and personal charm that both of the following bands were challenged to meet. And Buffalo Ruckus and the Cody Joe Hodges band members each met the challenge, in strong force.

Judges were Brett Dillon, KHYI personality and coordinator for the White Elephant Saloon; Darryl Lee Rush, singer/songwriter; and Frank Jackson, Smith Music Group. They had a hard decision to make, but announced at the end they determined that it would be Buffalo Ruckus moving on into Round Two.

There are a total of 12 bands in Round One, and next week (Feb. 19) the bands are The Twisted Pistols, Random Rhodes, and Keeper of the Plains. Week 3 consists of Cole Allen, Koe Wetzel & The Konvicts, and Travis Bolt & Co. vying for the trailer-full of prizes; and Week 4 brings Kyle Stallings Band, Big Joe Walker, and the Molotov Dogs together at the White Elephant.

Round Two consists of two weeks, two bands each week; and two of those will compete for the grand prize. We’ll keep you posted.

For Cody Joe Hodges Band pix, click here

For Buffalo Ruckus Band pix, click here

For the LDJ Band pix, click here

For a few other pix, click here

The whole gang, and one photo-bomber. Can you spot him?

Round 1 has come and gone, and 21 musicians are remaining in the running for the final prizes in the 4th-ever Rusty Wier singer-songwriter challenge. This contest is sponsored by host venue Love & War in Texas (Plano), which is offering as prizes an opening set in their 2014 Shiner Sunday series, plus a season ticket for two to the entire concert series. Other prizes include studio time with Bent Leaf Studios in Denison, and some radio with on KHYI, 95.3.

The third week of this first round was Sunday, Dec. 22, and 10 of the 12 contestants scheduled to perform did so, the other two had to opt out because of sickness. Those participating were Cye Carter, Bryan Adam Joyner, Nick Flint, Matthew Jolley, Tracie Merchant, Chad Purdom, Rory Payne, Danny Zagotta, Ty Young, and Trace Thompson. Each brought three songs to the stage, in song swaps that let the evening move fast and joyfully. The outside patio, which is now more an inside patio what with all the improvements that owner Tory and all the gang have done to enclose and heat it, was filled with friends and family and even with other singer/songwriters who had tried out but didn’t make it that far. That’s just the way Texas and Oklahoma musicians are — big people with big hearts for big music!

Roger Russell, Tricia Aker, Brett Dillon (coordinator) and yours truly here were the score-givers, aka judges, and these scores were compared with the previous 24 musicians of the past two weeks. From their scores, here’s who is moving on into Round 2:  Jason Lovell, Town Walsh, Danny Zagotta, Justin Alan Pickard, Rory Payne, Tin Man Travis, David Byboth, Shannon Choate, Kyle Brooks, Chase Carpenter, Scott Sean White, Thawind Mills, Cye Carter, Chad Purdom, Ty Young, Byron Dowd, Tracie Merchant, Heath Webb, Cole Risner, Will Hancock, and Alex Gates. Not a shabby songwriter in the group!

But it’s not over yet! Now, there’s 3 weeks of seven performers each, beginning this coming Sunday, and this time they’ll have a chance to perform four of their originals.  This first group of seven will be:  Jason Lovell, Town Walsh, David Byboth, Scott Sean White, Thawind Mills, Chad Purdom, and Heath Webb. It all starts at 4 p.m., and there’s never a cover charge to get in.

For photos, click here