Category Archives: Earlier Posts

Hank’s open mic competition, semi-finals, 12/19/12

 

Hosts Tyler Rogers, Travis Parker, and Ronnie Scott

Photos and story by Mary Jane Farmer, who apologizes to Tanner Usury because his photos did not turn out well — at all. So, in the final round, it will be Tanner who gets the camera pointed at him the most intently!

In the middle of the Christmas and New Year’s season,16  musicians continued their strive to move on up in the Hank’s Texas Grill Open Mic Competition. This third year and this third week of this year’s contest had 16 people who advanced into the round, there were a couple who were unable to compete for their own personal reasons, and so there were 14 who hit the Hank’s stage with high hopes.

Each contestant brought with him or her uniqueness, talent, and a fresh approach to the art of performing in open mics, no matter where they are held. Most played solo, some had accompanists with them. They each got two songs on stage, and those two songs could have been covers, originals, or a mix of both. Judges/hosts/singer-songwriters Travis Parker, Tyler Rogers, and Ronnie Scott had the tedius task of selecting the eight who would move into the final round, to be held this coming Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Hank’s in McKinney.

Competing were Byron Adam Joyner, Kyle Brooks, Trace Thompson, Jim Stewart, Adrian Johnston, Tanner Usury, Kyle Thompson, Saille Branch, Nick Adams, Katiew Lamb, Ryan Stroeber, and Jake Reeves. Unavailable to compete were Kyle Dunlap and Vince Lujan.

Moving on into the final round Wednesday are:  Kyle Thompson (2011 champ), Kyle Brooks, Jake Reeves, Saille Branch, Adrian Johnston, Ryan Stroeber, Tanner Usury, and Katie Lamb.

The winner, among other prizes, will be scheduled for a full show at Hank’s during the upcoming year.

For all photos, click here:

Hank’s Open Mic Competition, Round 1 Week 2, 12.12.12

Host/Judge Ronnie Scott (center) explaining a “sing-off” to break a tie

Story and pix by Mary Jane Farmer. Click on the link for many photos of all the week’s musicians. And with apologies to contender Aaron King for not getting good pictures of him.

The preliminaries are over in the Hank’s Texas Grill 3rd Open Mic Competition, being held every Wednesday in December. There are now 16 musicians moving into the next round, Dec. 19.

The past two Wednesdays (Dec. 5 and 12), had a total of 30 musicians enter, with five of them returning this past week for a second shot at the chance to progress in the next and, hopefully, to the final round and the grand prizes.

Four of those five returnees, Adrian Johnston, Katie Lamb, Tanner Usury, and Kyle James Dunlap, were successful in that endeavor, and are moving on. Others selected this week were Trace Thompson, Mr. Troll, Jim Stewart, and Nick Adams. One tie showed up between Dunlap and contender Aaron King, and each performed a couple more songs. Then, it was up to the crowd to select which one moved on, and Dunlap came out on top of that sing-off.

They will join the previous week’s eight people moving on, Sam Gurksnis, Kyle Brooks, Ryan Strober, Vince Lujan, Bryan Adam Joyner, the 2011 champ Kyle Thompson, Jake Reeves, and Saille Branch, Dec. 19.

Hank’s Texas Grill hosts a well-attended open mic each Wednesday and has for years.

Participants can perform their own original songs or cover songs, and can have accompanists with them, if they want to. Prizes include a paid gig on the Hank’s stage. Previous winners are, Kyle Thompson (mentioned above) and Aubrey Lynn England.

Hosts are Ronnie Scott, Tyler Rogers, and Travis Parker, and are also kick-off artists and judges. Music starts around the 8 p.m. hour. Hank’s is on the southeast corner of U.S. 75 and White Avenue in McKinney.

Click here for all the photos for Dec. 12

 

Rusty Wier contest, Rd 1, Wk 2, 12/9/12

Chip Campbell and Brett Dillon

Story and pix by Mary Jane Farmer. I wouldn’t even try to judge the Rusty Wier songwriters contest There’s so much talent gracing the Love & War in Texas patio stage, it would have to be a tie between them, all 37 of them who are hoping to move into Round 2 in this third annual event.

Rusty Wier Songwriting Contest, Week 2 of the first round, Sunday (12/9/12) brought a great variety of music from the 12 who performed for the crowd and for judges Brett Dillon (KHYI 95.3) and Chip Campbell (ChippyFest and Honky Tonk Hearts & Renegade Nights).

First up was Shannon Choate, who sang, among his three songs, one he wrote about his mother, and used his harmonica to accent the guitar and vocals.

Cole Risner followed also with a personal song, this one about the death of his grandfather that included the lyrics “his heart couldn’t stay broken any more” after Cole’s grandmother passed away.

Adrianna Marie, with a voice unique among most women’s voices, was next, the only woman in this week’s line-up.

Big John Mills, who perhaps came the farthest to enter the contest, being from San Marcos,  sang about “going coastal” and about missing Texas.

Little Zach Hendricks

Matt Nix wrote for his family, including one with solid advice for his children, “be slow to anger,” Be loyal to a fault,” and “find the grace to stand with the one that holds your hand.”

Greg Schroeder had some original songs with mindful lyrics as well, including one about taking wooden nickels. “They say It’s easier to forgive than forget, I say that’s candy cigarettes.”

Zach Hendricks, whose little girl in the crowd kept her eyes glued to him while he sang, sang his songs about hurricanes and one his band does, “I Got The Road.”

Danny Zagotta, performer as well as singer/songwriter, presented three originals with positive messages.

David Byboth presented as one of his three songs one he said he made up about a beggar on the street. Loosely quoted, “Give him a dollar when you pass, it won’t hurt you so bad… he was fighting … he gave up most of what he had.”

Tyler Rogers complimented all those before him, and the entire Rusty Wier concept, saying, “Nowhere in the U.S. are you going to find such a concentration of good musicians.” He said of troubadours and neon nights.

Bryan Adam Joyner, among the songs he presented, say what calls a medley of his hit, “I Drink Whiskey All the time,” a song of losing a loved one.

Lastly, Jake Bays sang one he co-wrote with an unnamed “really good friend,” and two others after giving the crowd a laugh by saying he appreciated everybody staying for the headliner.

The winners of the first two Rusty Wier Songwriting Contest years were, respectively, Michael Prysock and Guthrie Kennard.

The Round One winners, those 18 who will move into Round Two, will be announced after Round One is concluded next Sunday (Dec. 16), and then everyone will take a Christmas break and Round Two begins on Dec. 30. The contests begin at 4 p.m. each applicable Sunday and there is no cover charge to attend. Love & War (Plano) is on the northeast corner of the U.S. 75/Plano Parkway intersection in Plano.

For photos of all contestants, (and a few other shots) click here

Hank’s Open Mic Competition, Round 1, 12.5.12

Open Mic hosts Ronnie Scott and Tyler Rogers

Some love open mics, others can do without them, but there’s no doubt that open mics are a valuable part of the indy, grassroots music scene, busy, ubiquitous, and hustling no matter which direction you travel. The musician/songwriter views open mics as a way  to network with other musicians, maybe finding someone they can co-write with, hone their talents before a microphone and under the lights, test-drive a new song, and even audition for the nights there are paid talent on the same stage.

Hank’s Texas Grill has offered an open mic for most, if not all, of the years it’s been open. Now, for the third year, the McKinney venue is offering more to musicians — an Open Mic Competition, which started Wednesday (Dec. 5) and continues through December. That night and this upcoming one (12.12.12 — can’t have that reiteration for another 100 years) were and are the rounds for anyone to qualify. There were 21 performers last week who vied to move on into the third round. Eight of them were successful, and will play again Wednesday, Dec. 19. Those are: Sam Gurksnis, Kyle Brooks, Ryan Strober, Vince Lujan, Bryan Adam Joyner, the 2011 champ Kyle Thompson, Jake Reeves, and Saille Branch.

Those who didn’t get selected to move on last week can get back on stage this coming Wednesday for a second try, in addition to those others who chose to wait a week. Each performer gets two songs, and it doesn’t matter whether they are original or cover songs. One, this past week, had an accompanist, the others played solo. Some stand to perform, others sit on a bar stool. Some played only guitar, others added harmonica.

Hosts are Ronnie Scott, Tyler Rogers, and Travis Parker are hosts, kick-off artists, and judges. Suggested that one get there by 7:30 p.m. to sign up. Hank’s is on the southeast corner of U.S. 75 and White Avenue in McKinney.

For photos of last week’s competition, click here

Shiner Rising Star, KHYI, 2012, KHYI — finals

The Bigsbys

Story and pix by Mary Jane Farmer. Many more photos available at the end of this feature story.

The true colors of the four Shiner Rising Star finalist band members — gentlemen all — came out Thursday night when everyone learned it was The Bigsbys who took home the top honor. Every musician gathered on the stage as KHYI General Manager Josh Jones named The Bigsbys as the winning band. When their name was announced, all the other musicians came to their sides in congratulations. Ah, the handshaking, shoulder bumping, and hugging that went on that night. It was as Jon Beaumont (New Old West) had said earlier, every band was a winner, and they seemed to recognize that.

The Bigsbys, a Palestine, Texas, based band, is made up of Alex Smith on vocals and acoustic guitar, Russell McClendon on bass guitar, Brad Hobson on lead guitar, and Nick Odom on drums. This band will soon go into the studio to record their CD, the major Shiner Rising Star prize, be equipped with new Kona guitars, have a 4-day stint at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, and have a slot on the March 9, 2013, KHYI-produced Texas Music Revolution.

This is the second year in a row that a band based outside the Metroplex/North Texas area has won the prizes. In 2011, it was the San Antonio-based Blackbird Sing which won the honor, Two members of that band, Robert Vito Salinas and Daniel Magallanez, were back with the team of 9 judges which also included first-SRS winner Darrell Lee Rush, and subsequent Shiner Rising Star band winners Merrol Ray (of the former Miles From Nowhere), Amber Farris (of Somebody’s Darling), Grant Jones (of Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos). Jamie Richards, musician, judged and non-musicians at the judges table were KHYI’s Brett Dillon, Joshua Jones, and Chuck Taylor, Tip Jones with Overdrive Entertainment, and Mark Jabben of Kona Guitars.

Coming in second place was The Kerry Davis Jr. Band, with Davis being on lead vocals, Matt Riley on bass, Aaron Bucklin on lead guitar, Lucas Albano on drums, Pat York on harmonica and Hillary (Hank) Early on steel guitar.

121 North was another top finalist and gave a great show. This 4-piece band is made up of Johnny Pope on drums, Wade Kilgore and Justin Till on shared lead vocals, and Max O’Neal on bass.

Josh Jones

Also competing was Jon Beaumont, Steve Owens, Jerrell Baker, Danny Walner, and Patrick Dougherty, who together make up New Old West.

Sponsoring this yearly contest are Shiner Beer, Shiner Records, and KHYI radio.

Another sponsor, silent, is DB Music of Sherman, who for years has provided the drums and other equipment for the contest. KHYL’s Lisa Hooks coordinates the events each year and has help from several friends and interns.

As an aside, Blackbird Sing’s CD is due to be out later this month.

Stay tuned to KHYI (95.3), or sign up on their website (www.khyi.com) for their email list to learn when applicants will begin to be taken for the 2013 Shiner Rising Star.

For The Bigsbys photos, click here

For Kerry Davis Jr. Band photos, click here

For 121 North photos, click here

For New Old West photos, click here

For other photos, click here