Story and pix by Mary Jane Farmer

Story and pix by Mary Jane Farmer

STEPHENVILLE — Sometimes the stories around the songs are as much fun as the songs, especially when it’s someone like Radney Foster telling those stories.

Radney opened the Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival Tuesday night with a 95-minute set that included hit after hit he’s written in the past 30-someodd years. And with many of those, he told how the song came into being.

Larry Joe opened the campfire stage, which is like an outdoor house concert set around a campfire and illuminated with tiki lamps. Soft, fun, friendly, interactive with the audience, not only for Radney but also for the foursome who followed him — Matt Martindale, Deryl Dodd, Larry Joe, and Dave Perez.

Josh Abbott was also on hand, with a gift for Radney, a gift from the heart. Josh explained that he had won the Texas Regional Radio Report award for his song, “She’s Like Texas,” a fan-voted award. Josh said he was so grateful for the award and for the loyalty of his fans. But, he said, it wasn’t, in his opinion, the best song in the category. Instead, Josh said, Radney’s “Angel Flight,” which was also nominated, was the best song.

So, in front of hundreds of fans and friends, Josh handed over the prize on stage to Radney, who took it with a perplexed look in his face, then shook Josh’s hand with a grateful grip.

Josh said later that “Angel Flight” is the type of powerful song that evokes emotions every time it’s heard.

“Very few songs move you like this one,” Josh said.

 

Radney’s set included a multitude of songs made popular across the years. He opened with “Call Me Lonesome” without a lot of clarifying chatter, but before he performed his “Just Like Texas in 1880,” he explained that it was not a song about cowboy-ing quite as much as it was a song about dreaming big.  Then, he said, he wrote “God Speed” for his son, who was 5 years old when he moved out of the country.  God speed, sweet dreams, little man, the hook lines, told the tale, with the verses adding accent.  He said he recorded it five consecutive times on a cassette tape, so his son could go to sleep listening to it every night, knowing his dad loves him.

He told of Keith Urban’s recording one of his songs. He introduced it as saying it was an Australian singer who likes to marry movie stars who called him wanting to cut a tune of Radney’s “Raining on Sunday.” He told of Keith’s wife, Nicole Kidman, telling him the song was sexy. He told of that twice, smiling all the way.

Dave Perez, the anchor accordionist with The Tejas Brothers, also talked about a particular song he wrote for his father’s 75^th birthday. He said he asked his dad, as he did every year, what he wanted for his birthday. Usually, he said, his dad didn’t offer any suggestions, but that year he said he wanted a birthday party. He had never had one. So, Dave and his family planned a party they knew would be to his liking, then family and the Tejas Brothers sang him “I Am A Rich Man,” taken from knowledge of dad’s lifestyle as a roving crop-picker and the hard labor jobs he had held since to raise his family.

DD,MM, and LJT also told stories about their songwriting, but similar to what Gary P Nunn says in his lyrics, “Our DJ friends gotta do their job, so 3 1/2 minutes is all we got,” I’ve run out of time here.

And so it went, and it all begins again Wednesday and continues through Saturday night.

Go to larryjoetaylor.com for more details.

For more pix of Radney Foster, click here

For more pictures of the songswap, click here (Sorry, they are dark, but very limited light that night.)

 

The following article  is directly from the New York Times newspaper of 4/22/11, written by Robert Hoinski.To view it on that newspaper’s Web site, click here.  Then, read Larry Joe’s comments at the bottom. Don’t forget to check out the line-up in either the Festival or the Live Music calendars!

My own note:  LJ talks about “on-site correspondents.” I will be one of those, adding daily comments and pictures here on SceneIntown.com

“STEPHENVILLE

“Real Texas Music

“Texas music can mean two different things: music that comes from within the state’s boundaries — from Bun B to Townes Van Zandt to the Polyphonic Spree — or music that is derivative of country. This will be the 23rd year that Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival & Chili Cook-off has perpetuated the latter with a Kerrville-meets-Terlingua vibe.

“Mr. Taylor was a rising singer-songwriter who, instead of waiting to get an offer to play a festival, befriended all the right singer-songwriters, including Rusty Wier and Jerry Jeff Walker, and started his own. Watching him perform this year, between sets by the likes of Joe Ely and Ray Wylie Hubbard, will be an inspiration to aspiring musicians and concert promoters alike.

“The best way to make friends at the fest is to bring marshmallows for late-night jam sessions around the campfire. Imagine stumbling upon Guy Clark, Pat Green and Doug Sahm, as Mr. Taylor did at 4:30 one morning in 1997. Might your definition of Texas music then be solidified?”

Melody Mountain Ranch, April 26-30, various times.

This festival is phenomenal, music beginning at noon some days and going until late night. Food and drink vendors, and musicians bring all their merchandise for sale, plus on the big stage, large-screens for better viewing if you are farther back.

Take your own lawn chairs, hats, sturdy shoes, and ice chests are allowed. (Boots, of course, are the foot attire of choice for most folks!) You might want maybe a wagon or cart to tote all that stuff back and forth to the campgrounds. Some of those are for RVs, others for primitive tent camping.

The staff is always helpful and friendly.

There’s also a chili cook-off involved. The Web site, linked below, can help you with more information on that, ticket purchases, rules, camping, etc. It will also link you to the individual Websites of the individual performs.

Tuesday through Sunday, April 26-30

Larry Joe Taylor Festival — Melody Mountain Ranch, Stephenville, Texas, For more information, click here:   Larry Joe Taylor Festival

Tuesday — Radney Foster, Deryl Dodd, Larry Joe Taylor, Matt Martindale, Dave Perez. This performance is around a campfire, set in the woods, with minimum amplification and moonlight-style lighting. Pure magic!

Wednesday — Jed Zimmerman,  Cody Riley, The Troubaderos, Turnpike Troubadours, Mark McKinney, Rich O’Toole, Bart Crow, Kevin Fowler, Stoney LaRue, Pat Green, Stoney LaRue, Kevin Fowler.

Thursday — Randy Rogers Band, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Max Stalling, Davin James, Keith Sykes, Butch Hancock, Casey Berry, William Clark Green, Cody Canada, Kyle Park, Josh Abbott, Wade Bowen.

Friday — Reckless Kelly, Roger Creager, Johnny Cooper, Mike McClure, No Justice, Six Market Blvd., Chris Knight, Tommy Alverson, Michael Hearne, Bob Livingston, Ryan Beaver, Kylie Rae Harris

Saturday — Jason Boland, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Cody Gill, Joey Green, Walt Wilkins, Richard Leigh, Charla Corn, Tejas Brothers, Joe Ely, Deryl Dodd, Brandon Rhyder, Larry Joe Taylor.

 

Story by Mary Jane Farmer; pictures by Mary Jane, Mark Bickham, and Jeremy Lee. Go to the end of the story for links to pictures.

Don’t worry, Texas Music Revolution 15 may be over but there’s always 2012 to look forward to. Generally, it’s being held the third weekend in March, so you might want to just pencil that in when you get your new daytimers. Of course, KHYI will notify everybody of date and performers along the way.

Ted Russell Kamp

This was a first time at TMR for this California guitar picker who previously traveled with Shooter Jennings’ band as its bass player and songwriter. Best of Texas magazine said, “Kamp’s distinctive Cali-country sounds are likely what makes his presence in Texas so welcome. (He) manages to push the influences of his life on the road (this guy has literally seen the world from a tour bus) into his songs.” He spends as much time in Europe as he does the U.S., and his next trip to Texas will be May 21 and 22 at Gruene Hall in the Texas Hill Country.

Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward

One of the most absorbing bands to come out of the Texas music landscape since Steve Earle or the Old 97s, RP&50PR have dusted off the formulas of the modern Texas music establishment, incorporating the styles of such 70s and 80s music leaders as The Flatlanders and Robert Earl Keen with their more modern approach to rock music, all for a Texas music sound that will keep them at the top for years to come.

Kevin Deal Band

Country music is what it is with Kevin Deal and his band — pure country, hard driving, soul touching. Kevin writes most of his music, and his band brings it to life with fluid motion between the (sometimes) stand-up bass, steel guitar licks, and electric guitar that affix life to the brawny lyrics. Life on life’s terms.

John David Kent & The Dumb Angels

John David, Jamey Gleaves, Jason Andrew, Michael Graska, and Tony Kent make up a Texas, country rock band bringing the best of each musicians favorite style into one cohesive sound, then rock, boogy, fiddle, drumm, guitar, piano, and otherwise country while giving one of the most visual performances at TMR. This Americana band is on the move, with a new CD due out within weeks.

Spur 503

A Grayson County-based band, Spur 503 has been around for years with two CDs under their guitar straps, chosen by the public for the “Best Texoma Band” award several years running, and shared billing with Willie Nelson, Jack Ingram, Pat Green, the Randy Rogers Band, Charlie Robison, and a myriad of performers of national and regional renown. And yet, it’s a band on the threshold of a new season. Chance Cody, lead singer, is also a radio personality at KHYI, his morning show co-host Big Gus joined in with the band in several songs.

The Os

This two-man band puts out as much music as any six-piece group out there, and does it with flare and finesse. Taylor Young and John Pedigo returned from a tour of the United Kingdom just a week before TMR, and had a special stage-prop made for the occasion. Fans can probably expect to see the O on stage whenever The Os are, and you will hear rich, grit, authenticity, diversity, and style, all rolled into two.

Foster & Lloyd

Greatness belongs together. Foster & Lloyd were a duo for maybe 5 years with several hits between the mid-80s and early-90s, then went their own ways, both with success. Then in 2010, they announced a reunion, not only a tour but also the rewriting and recording of new songs together. TMR was a stop on the tour for them and a highlight of the festival for many fans of many ages.

Deadman

Old 97s

The Old 97’s showed TMR fans just what brought them to the top of the alternative country music in the 1990s. These guys are at their prime today, evidenced by their last CD “The Grand Theater” and their performance Saturday night at TMR.

Zane Williams

Texan turned Nashville turned Texan again, Zane Williams brought his full band, including Stephenville’s Kylie Rae Harris, to the stage for a performance that many in the audience said was his best ever — emphasis on the “ever.” Musically prolific, entertaining, personable, this songwriter keeps expanding his fan base with every performance.

Robert Earl Keen

REK did not disappoint. Even the sound men, who hear countless musicians over the course of any given year, commented on REK’s “awesomeness” and “genius” with the words. Nothing more needs to be said.

For photogaphs, click on the separate links below. What a blast we had taking these!     Thanks, KHYI!

Ted Russell Kamp

Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward

Kevin Deal Band

John David Kent & The Dumb Angels

Spur 503

The Os

Foster & Lloyd

Deadman

OId 97s

Zane Williams

Robert Earl Keen