Category Archives: Earlier Posts

Shiner Rising Star KHYI, Round 2 Week 1, 9.28.12

For photo albums, click on the links below.

Kerry Davis Jr.

 

Shiner Rising Star 2012 contest opened Round 2 back at Love & War in Texas, the Grapevine restaurant and its outdoor stage Thursday night (Sept. 28). Dark skies cooled the area off and kept the fans looking upward, but not a single raindrop landed on the patio stage.

The Twisted Pistols and the Kerry Davis Jr. Band both adorned the stage, each with a 45-minute set comprised of all original songs except for two required cover songs. KHYI on-air personality Chuck Taylor, singer-songwriter Phil Hamilton, and Grammy-award winner soundman Tim Kinsey were judges this round, Tim working the sound all the while he was judging.

First up on stage was Kerry Davis Jr. and his 5-piece group, which presented a variety of Americana, country, bluegrass-flavored, and other types of original music. Their two covers showed that versatility in Tom Petty’s “Last Dance With Mary Jane,” unique in its arrangement with strong accents from the steel guitar, and “Back Roads,” a Brandon Rhyder song. On Oklahoma Girl, their country style showed in the two-step song, and their original “Waiting on Rain” spoke of the devestation many jobless people face today.

Joining Kerry on stage were Matt Riley on bass and harmony vocals, Aaron Bucklin on lead guitar, Lucas Albano on drums, Pat York on harmonica and harmony vocals, and Hillery (Hank) Early on steel guitar. Davis himself played acoustic guitar and took lead vocal honors.

Critique:  The judges were in agreement on the band’s strengths, including their versatility, stage presence, and audience enjoyment. Kinsey said he definitely gave them a ‘thumbs up.’ Hamilton agreed on that, then added that he liked the pairing of harp and steel,  saying that can be “tough on stage and you did it really well.”

Taylor said he disagreed about the stage presence, but that on the band’s last song, they kicked in it. “The originals were very well written,” Taylor said.

For Kerry Davis Jr. band photos, click here

Their turn in the barrel, The Twisted Pistols began their set by asking the crowd for another hand for the Kerry Davis Jr. Band and thanking the sponsors, KHYI, Shiner Beer, and Shiner Records, followed by a big “Go Rangers!”  Then, they got down to the business of making music.

Lead singer Zach Hendrickswrote most of the originals, who writes  several of giving up and giving in, and as if daring the weather, the band

Zach Hendricks, The Twisted Pistols

performed on about “them old storm clouds, they’re rolling in…” They debuted a new song, “Hurricane,” and moved to “I’ll Be All Right,” featuring strong guitar lead by guitarist Johnny Wilson. The rhythm section is made up of Spencer Whitney on bas and harmonies and Eric Wood on drums.

The band covered Back Porch Mary’s “(All I’ve Got’s”) This Band,” and donned hard hats for their second cover, “I Was Looking For a Job (when I found this one)”

Critique:  Kinsey led the critique again, would said he liked the songwriting and performance, but would have liked to see more versatility in it.  Hamilton began his critique by saying he knows how hard it is to be be judged on something so personal and passionate as their music because, he said, “I’ve been there.”  He said the band sounded good and it was obvious they had been together a long time, but agreed with Kinsey about the need for versatility in their songs.

Taylor commented that even in the times that a singer can’t be in perfect pitch, “make sure you are always in tune.”

For Twisted Pistols pix, click here:

Kerry Davis Jr. Bandis moving into the final round, to be held in early November. The winner of the Shiner Rising Star 2012 contest will win a recording contract with Shiner Records, and several other career-enhancing prizes.

Judges Phil Hamilton, Tim Kinsey, and Chuck Taylor

 

Shiner Rising Star KHYI, 2012 Round Two begins

Error in the schedule. It is now corrected here.

(OK, so the pix are all over the page here… I’m still learning.)

Eight bands have earned the right to move into Shiner Rising Star’s Round Two, and four of those will continue into Round 3, AKA, the finals, which will be November 1 at Love & War in Texas, Plano. The finalist will receive a recording contract with Shiner Records, guitars from Kona Guitars, and several other career-enhancing prizes.

121 North

Moving on, and the weeks they will perform, are:

Sept. 27, Love & War in Texas, Grapevine — Twisted Pistols v Kerry Davis Jr. Band

Rhythm n Roses

Oct. 4, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, Dallas — Manny & The Gringaderos v The Bigsbys

Oct. 11, Jack Daniels Saloon, Dallas — Blacktop Outlaw v 121 North

Oct. 18, Southern Junction, Dallas — New Old West v. Rhythm n Roses

Then, on Thursday, Nov. 1 ,back at Love & War in Texas, Plano, where it all started this year, four of those 8 bands will compete to come out on top.

In Round 2, each band will have 45 minutes on stage to present their best show to panels of three

New Old West

judges each night. The judges are given score sheets with 10 criteria to tally up their scores. At the end of the sets, the judges will orally critique the bands, and that could include both positive and negative feedback, but the negative, if any, is geared to help the bands be the best they can be, should they move into the final, and/or in their future careers.

The bands’ songs must be originals, except for one cover song.

The BigsbysKerry Davis Jr. BandBlacktop Outlaws (stage only, their photos were lunch for this computer)

Manny & The Gringoderos

Twisted Pistols

Shiner Rising Star KHYI, Rd 1 Wk 3, 8/9/12

Rhythm n Roses

This is a repeat of the original, which apparently the Mac Gremlin ate, along with some other great sets of photos. I think I have this fixed now, and so am putting these back in.

My notes from that night are still lost, and so for now, let me repeat that the judges that night were KHYI’s Chuck Taylor, Somebody’s Darling lead singer Amber Ferris, and a third man I’ll have to be reminded of his name. Love & War in Texas, Grapevine, was packed on its outdoor patio, with lots of fans for each of the three bands.

Rhythm n Roses are moving into Round 2.

For other photos, click here

Matt Nix photos, click here

Rhythm n Roses (Moving on) photos, click here

Reverend Leon & The Repenters photos, click here

Shiner Rising Star KHYI, 2012 Rd 1, Wk 8, 9/13/12

Wow!

Big Gus, with Kerry and Melvis Brooks

That’s the only word that completely describes the three bands who competed in the 8th and final week of Shiner Rising Star’s Round 1.  Mark Shelton & The Greater Good came down from Durant to Smitty’s Bar & Grill in Denison, Adrian Johnson Band drove up from Dallas, and 121 North came all the way from McKinney, back to Grayson County, their county of their roots. Judges this week were KHYI radio personality and songwriter himself, Big Gus Samuelson, Chance Cody, leader of the Spur 503 band, and Texas musician Ed Burleson.

At the end of the contest, 121 North emerged as the week’s victor, although it wasn’t until  that was announced on KHYI’s morning show Friday. 121 North will be moving into Round 2.

Shiner Rising Star is a contest that began after sponsoring entities Shiner Beer, Shiner Records, and KHYI narrowed the field of bands from the hundreds who applied to 24 to compete in Round 1. Of those, eight are moving into Round 2.

The bands are competing for the top prize of a recording contract with Shiner Records and several other career-building prizes.

Shelton and his band hit the Smitty’s stage first. After working with the DB Sound crew until every band member was fully hooked up, Shelton asked the crowd, “Can you hear us now?” and kicked the contest into high gear.

David Mathews, KHYI, setting up

Joining Shelton, who had the lead vocals honors, was Matt Hinchey on electric guitar, Eric Grider on bass, and Kyle Walker on drums.

In keeping with the contest, each band is critiqued by the judges following their sets. Big Gus opened it for The Greater Good by, first, thanking Smitty’s for its gracious hosting. Directly to the band, he said that it showed they had rehearsed, and for its great crowd reaction tot heir music. “Awesome vocals, everything was right there, good guitar tone.” On the critical side, Big Gus spoke to the songwriting, saying he believed the songwriter could “make the hook line in your songs a little bit stronger. The songs are good, I’m not critizing them, but a bit of a stronger hook line, to get the people singing along.”

Burleson agreed, saying there was a poet among the band, and the songs’ production was great, but suggested they “slow it down a bit.”

Chance Cody also complimented the band’s overall appearance.

For Mark Shelton & The Greater Good photos, click here

The Adrian Johnston Band opened with their original “Just Another Blond,” rememberable because Adrian is a blond herself. This was a 6-piece group, and probably the most relaxed on stage, seeming as if they weren’t there for a contest, but were there for the crowd and the music.

Joining Adrian on stage were Doran Deshazo and Josh Goode on guitars, David Deshazo on bass, Philip Bradleyon

Chance Cody, Anita, and List Hooks (KHYI)

drums, and Mindy Bell on background vocals. Several of them also helped out on vocals.

Big Gus opened the critique by complimenting their appearance, “You dressed as a professional group.” He was also fond of the rhythem duo of Bradley and David Deshazo, calling them a “really solid professional good job.”

Burleson commented on the harmonies, calling them “great.”

Cody’s comments centered on the three-part harmonies and the tightness of the arrangements.

For Adrian Johnston Band photos, click here

Next up, 121 North, who performed many of the songs from their current CD, and accented that with a Jason Aldean cover song, “”My Kinda Party.” This band consists of Wade Kilgore and Justin Till alternating and leads and complementing each other on vocals, Max O’Neil and Johnny Pope way back there on drums.

Big Gus liked the voices, harmonies, and rhythm section. “It was great, there were no problems.”

Burleson opened his portion of the critique by telling Till, “You got soul, cowboy.”

Cody, who for years was KHYI’s program director, told 121 North “You are definitely a Range band, and I think that is what this whole thing (contest) is about.”  Cody did mention that the guitars were, at times, not in tune, but then ended on the upnote, “You are a really tight band, with good presentation and vocals.”

For 121 North photos, click here

This Thursday night is an bye-week, giving, especially, the KHYI production crew a break. It begins again with Round 2 on Sept. 27, the place and contestants being announced.

Shiner Rising Star, KHYI,Rd. 1, Wk 7, 9.6.12

Manny Trevin

Thursday’s night’s bands that competed in the Shiner Rising Star’s contest at Southern Junction were as diverse as the Texas music scene is in itself.  Manny & The Gringaderos, who will be moving into Round 2, had a commercial sound to them, which one of the judges addressed; Tim Platt & All That Is Beautiful, had big-band, Austin vibes; and Andrew Wade and his band brought listenable country music through Wade’s resonating voice and through lyrics that spoke to the listeners!

Shiner Rising Star, now in its 9th year, is sponsored by Dallas radio station KHYI (95.3), Shiner Records, and Shiner Beer. One the three judges Thursday night (Sept. 6) had the first year’s winner, Darryl Lee Rush, joining KHYI personalities Brett Dillon and Allen Peck as judges. Twenty-four bands are being whittled down to eight which will move into Round Two, and the main prize is a recording contract through Shiner Records, coupled with other prizes for the Round Three, or final, winner. There are other prizes, too, such as new guitars from Kona Guitars and a 4-day gig — paid — at Dallas’ Toby Keith’s I Love  This Bar & Grill

Manny Trevin and his band, The Gringaderos, opened the night’s contest and one of his original songs was about Shiner Beer, and he held a Shiner in his hand as he moved from song to song.  The band’s required cover song was a Steve Miller original, and those two, along with the remaining original songs dealt out during the allowed 30-minute slot, and got the judges’ attention big-time.

Dillon called the Gringaderos’ set “The coolest vibe I have heard you do. It’s a cool Americana vibe thing.” Dillon told Trevin he had always considered the musician “among the best songwriters.” Rush agreed with that, then added, “I enjoyed you more tonight than ever.” One thing that grabbed Rush was, he said, that the band started the set with the fiddle, and then started the drums on high hat and added from there. Darryl Lee also commented on the harmonies, especially on certain songs, and the fiddle and harmonica added their own harmonies.

Allen, Darryl Lee, Brett

“Everything sounded phenomenal out here,” Rush said from the judges’ table across the dance floor. Some of the songs, Rush said, had more Americana than Texas music sounds, and “That gives you a broader appeal. I’d call it a midwestern sound.”

Peck nodded to all of the previous comments, and then added his own about the bands’ arrangements. “You varied the tempos, and that provided all kinds of sounds necessary for commercial music. And if music isn’t commercial, you might as well stay in the living room. Tonight, we were on the receiving end of some very very very good music,” Peck complimented.

Joining Trevin as Gringaderos are Lindsey Duffin on fiddle, Justin Lea on drums, and Kevin Bach on upright bass.

Stepping up next was Tim Platt and his band, All That Is Beautiful, seven musicians led by Platt on songwriting and vocals, and with David Wade on flute and sax, Joe Cannenato on guitar, Josh Jones on drums, Melisa Platt and Nicholas Duvall on backup vocals, and Riyad Elmasri on bass guitar.

Dillon’s first comment was to Elmasri .“You did some stuff on that bass I’ve not seen before.”  He commented that Tim Platt is the Texas Jethro Tull. “The music was superb and songwriting out of this world. I feel like I witnessed a 2012 invasion of the Beatles. There is a national appeal about you guys, and I would not be surprised to see you on Letterman.

Dillon was the first to mention that the band’s music, while “very original” may not fit into the Texas music scene.  The other two judges agreed with that observation.

Rush opened his critique by saying “What you guys are doing is very original.” He commented on Platt’s songwriting, citing lyrics from one song, which basically were “Let’s stop standing in line, passing time…”  He was also a fan of the band’s chord selection, calling it “cool and unpredictable,” and the musical bridges that dotted the arrangements. “You belong on a national or international stage.”

Peck said the band’s musicianship was second to none. He was a fan of Wade’s saxophone. “You all have a future in front of you. The arrangements and musicianship shows you have spent time time in deep thought.”

For Tim Platt & All That Is Beautiful band photos, click here

The Andrew Wade Band drove to the Rockwall venue from Fort Worth to compete, and what this 5-piece group brought with them was the life and breath of inspiration. Wade was on lead vocals and guitar, Brian Tipton on lead guitar, Steven James on rhythm electric guitar, T.J. Girt on bass, and Mitch Reuther on drums. Wade’s smooth honky tonk voice, Dillon described as, “…outstanding vocal,  strong, powerful.”  Dillon also commented on the band’s choice of a cover song, saying, “Something happened to you guys when you did Prince’s Purple Rain. You really kicked it in, and the following two songs were among the coolest I’ve heard in a long time.”

Rush kept his comments short, too, saying he appreciated the band’s “bringing that Texas rock up here.” I enjoyed especially the

Best dancers on the floor!

last two (songs), probably the most marketable of your set.”

When Peck talked, he asked if KHYI had been given a copy of those songs, calling them “marketable.” He also called Wade’s vocals at having “quality, tones. We’d like to have you heard beyond these four walls.”

This Thursday night’s contest marks the end of Round 1, and will be held at Smitty’s Bar & Grill in Denison. Music begins at 8 p.m., and there is no door charge for attending any of these contests.

This was also the first and only band to bring dancers onto the dance floor.

For Andrew Wade photos, click here