Josh Halverson
For many photos, click on the links below
It was one duo and two trios, the first three bands that kicked off the 10th yearly White Elephant Saloon Texas Music Showdown. One of those bands, though, was from Oklahoma.
Competing Wednesday (Feb. 11, 2015) were the Josh Halverson band from Denton, Moonlight Social from Austin, and Hellbilly Homicide from Durant, Okla.
At night’s end, everyone learned that it would be Josh Halverson Band moving into Round 2.
But they actually didn’t start the music. Brad Hines, a regular and favorite at the White Elephant and its affiliate Love Shack in the Stockyards, opened it all, giving arriving folks a friendly and welcome feeling with his songs.
Organizer for the White Elephant Saloon and KHYI (95.3 The Range) on-air personality Brett Dillon told the crowd, before introducing the bands, that the last two Texas Music Showdown winners, Green Light Pistols (2013) and Buffalo Ruckus (2014), had gone on into the Shiner Rising Star and won that one also. That speaks well for the caliber of bands in this contest, he said.
Hopefully, a list of ALL the prizes these bands are vying for will be available next week, but know they are a combination of career-enhancing and just-plain-fun prizes, including a spot at the April Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival and in the October Tommy Alverson Family Gathering.
Helping Dillon judge this week were Matthew and Brayland Smith, co-owners of Magnolia Motor Lounge and Robert Gallagher with Billy Bob’s Texas. They offered quick critiques after each group’s set.
Dillon also explained that the bands have five songs: the first is for sound check only and not judged; and of the remainder, three are to be originals and one a cover song.
Moonlight Social came as a duo, Jeremy Burchard and Jennica Scott, with an experienced
Moonlight Social
blend of co-vocals and harmonies. Jeremy plays acoustic guitar. Jennica said they have a full band, but chose to make this contest as a duo, “so we could sing the songs like they were written.” Their cover song was “Let Her Go” by the Civil Wars, whom they heard at a past Austin City Limits festival, Jennica explained. This duo also brought a couple to the dance floor. They also performed, as one of their original songs, one they have released to the radios, “Heading South.”
Critique: Dillon led off, saying he’d seen the video on “Heading South” and know they are on a radio tour now. “Great harmonies. Great job!” The Smiths, collectively said they were impressed with the vocals, stage presence, and stage presence. Gallagher said he specifically liked their second and fourth songs, asked how long they had been writing together and learned that Burchard and Scott have been together about four years. “Keep writing. You are talented and you shine together. I’d love to see you with a full band.”
Hillbilly Homicide, a rockabilly trio with David Stark on lead vocals and guitars; Randal
Hellbilly Homicide
Hickman on stand-up bass and vocals; and Victor Seeley drums, hit it hard after entertaining the crowd with not only their music and talent, but also their on-stage antics. The two on the front line kept up a constant stream of animation along with their guitar and bass licks. Their cover song was Hank 3’s “Smoke and Wine.”
Critique: Dillon called it all “A great set. You are much like Stray Cats meets Sid Vicious. The White Elephant will never be the same.” Matt Smith spoke for both of them, saying, “Yu guys are F… awesome. I love you, man.” And Gallagher commented on the way they built their songs up. “You are kick ass. Lots of energy and everybody has fun. I like that you slowed down the third song.” And to that, David responded… “This was a slow set.” “No kidding?” Gallagher reacted with a chuckle.
Last up was the trio made up of Josh Halverson on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Josh Haar on electric guitar; and Joel Irwin on drums. After the contest ended, and this band had been declared as the one moving into Round 2, the guys said they had actually only played together once before. They had met in Shiner Rising Star contest when Haar and Irwin were with contestant Troy Murph band and Halverson was in it, too, with another group of musicians. It was a mutual-respect thing, and natural that these three would pair up again in their future. Halverson did the same cover song as that night at the SRS contest, “My 38-Year-Old Cocktail Waitress,” made popular by Possessed By Paul James, and did a great rendition of it.
Critique: Dillon: “Great job, cool groove, great look, a nice 3-piece band, and really good songwriting.” Smith commented on the “dynamics between you three… and vocals are spot on. Drummer (Seeley), you were really awesome.” And Gallagher closed it out by simply saying, “Good band, buddy, good band.”
Halverson performed a few more songs, solo, before Brad Hines returned to the stage.
This contest continues every Wednesday through March 25, beginning at 8 p.m. at the historic White Elephant Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards.
For Hellbilly Homicide photos, click here
For Moonlight Special photos, click here