The Will Callers, Ryan, Jakeb, Jake
Story by Mary Jane Farmer, pictures by Mary Jane, Mark Bickham, and Jeremy Lee. Links to photos at the end of this short article.
Texas Music Revolution opened with former Shiner Rising Star guitarist Merrol Ray pumping out “The Star Spangled Banner” on his electic guitar. It’s a tradition now, having been the third year in a row for Merrol to open the 15-hour festival, and he keeps excelling every time, almost adding a serious music feel to the tune that started as a British drinking song.
Merrol was the lead singer for Miles From Nowhere, which took the top Shiner Rising Star honor several years ago. He now leads The Regulators, and other Miles From Nowhere members have scattered. Wesley Joe Malone is with Pearl Street Riot, Joe Jordan plays bass with Whiskey Roadshow, and Adam Walker is doing some solo, acoustic gigs around northeast Texas.
The 2009 Rising Star winning band was up next, Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos. Grant, Miles Penhall on lead guitar, David Fiegelman on drums, and Rocky Garza on bass make up the band.
Grant’s got swagger, Miles has grit, David has exhuberance, and Rocky has stability. It’s a quartet that sends its listeners home ready to return for another Pistol Grip Lasso show.
Darryl Lee Rush won the first Shiner Rising Star. I have no idea how long ago that was, but do have several of his CDs produced from that win and since then. The latest one is so close to being released I can almost hear it. It will be better when I actually can hear it, tho. Love this band with its sincerity to its genre, its affection and interaction with fans and audience, and the uniqueness of every song, most of which Darryl Lee writes. Darryl Lee, Andrew, Larry, and Scott
Somebody’s Darlin‘ won, I believe, in 2008, and since has traveled the country. Johnny Cooper and Gary P. Nunn sing about taking Texas to the country, and they do that, and Somebody’s Darlin’ also is in the unique Taking-Texas-To-The-Country club — touring and developing a broader fan bass and coming home to those who have been loyal for years.
The Will Callers picked up the title Rising Star last year, and opened up the big stage at TMR. Jakeb Hall on bass and Ryan Littrell on lead guitar joined the band after their win, bringing new dimensions to the sounds, and original members Jake Murphy and Daniel Slaton kept up the quality of voice, rhythm guitar, and drums that they laid down during the competition. Littrell has since left the band, and Justin Elliott stepped into that slot.
Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos