Brad Dunn at judges’ tableStory and pix by Mary Jane Farmer
It was a tight race for the last band to go into the finals of the Shiner Rising Star band contest. Jeremy Phifer and his Badwater Band from the Northeast Texas and into Arkansas areas, took on Brad Dunn & Ellis County, based in Austin. And it was a battle of the bands, qualified and able musicians in both groups.
Shiner Rising Star has seen 24 bands over 12 weeks competing, all wanting to take home the prize of a Shiner Records recording contract, an opening spot on 2012 Texas Music Revolution, and some other substantial prizes. Round Two has had two bands per night being allowed 45 minutes to present their originals songs around two cover songs of their choice.
This was the first time this year that both bands chose the same song as one of their two covers. Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road” was heard in its original form, but with both bands adding their own personal licks to make it more their own song.
Jeremy Phifer started off the night at Southern Junction with jump, with kick. His band consisted of himself on lead vocals and lead guitar, plus drums, steel guitar, bass guitar, and two other guitar players. Not once, but twice, Jeremy left the stage to take his guitar out among the spectators, weaving in and out of the tables surrounding the dance floor while never missing a note on the guitar.
KHYI personalities Allan Peck, Brett Dillon, and Big Gus Samuelson were joined at the judges table by songwriter Zane Williams. One by one, they offered their criticisms and attaboys after the set.
Dillon limited his comments to Phifer’s songwriting talents.
Peck said he wanted to get the bad stuff out of the way first. But there isn’t that much bad stuff, he said. One criticism was the “absence of consistency between songs, too much time passing between one selection and the next. When you do a show, you need to do a show.” On the “good stuff” side, Peck said their staging was excellent.
“On the ‘Cigarettes and Gasoline” song, I would urge you to get that to as many people as you can, because the royalties from that will pay for cigarettes and gasoline for for cigarette and gasoline for a while,” Peck said.
Zane said, “I love a lead singer who can also play lead guitar Awesome. Wish I could do that myself. For the record, I’m just hear to meet you guys and hang out, don’t consider myself worthy of judging. But I’ve done a lot of these competitions myself, to make stuff happen, I’ve been there and thought you did a good job. Kept up the energies. ‘Cigarettes and Gasoline’ was a great song, driving beat, it was my favorite of your originals.”
Williams added, “I heard a couple of pauses and build-ups and I could tell you had spent some time working together.”
Big Gus specially commented on the dynamics of the songs. “Really impressed, really catchy. They were not standard 3-chord songs. You put a lot of time in the arrangements.” Gus added that he noticed the dancers got up on the floor. “My son (who with his girlfriend was one of the dancers) is a fan and when he’s in your corner… he’s in your demographic range. If you can touch that age group that soon, you are on the right track. You guys have a bright future.”
Brad Dunn took the stage with his 6-piece group, Ellis County. When they kicked off their version of “Copperhead Road,” he asked Jeremy to join him on stage, but Phifer was, at the time, out of earshot, so that duo didn’t happen. Later, the two lead singers said they hope to get to work together sometime in the future. The dancers hit the floor, too, on Ellis County’s songs.
Dillon, at critique, said “The most important thing in songwriting is the hook, and you’ve got those. The songs are radio ready, radio friendly. Great set list.” And Dillon mentioned one song that was definite mailbox money.
Peck’s first comment brought a laugh when he said, “Steve Earle called. He wants to thank everybody for repeatedly performing his songs. He appreciates the royalties,” then again when he commented on an Austin radio station’s ratings “being in the dumpster… you can help them a lot.”
Williams said, “I thought you were professional and didn’t sound like a bigger band, I got the impression you have been doing this for a while. I like the depth of material, great grooves, and how good the drummer was. Overall, just a real super solid band.
Big Gus agreed with the comment about the band having been together for a while, it showed. I thought you were very professional. The rhythm section was impeccable, arrangement of harmonies were specific. You guys have the whole package.
Another thing that both bands did alike was, after their sets, every musician went over and shook the judges’ hands.
That said, at 9 a.m. Friday morning, everybody learned it is Brad Dunn & Ellis County who is going into the finals, being held Thursday night at Love & War in Texas, Plano. Note this: it starts at 7 p.m. instead of the usual 8 p.m., to make complete time for all five bands, won’t won’t be alloted as much time on stage. Each band has got to bring his full action to the stage without falter.
Competing Thursday night are: Sidekick Mafia, Pearl Street Riot, Blackbird Sing, Brad Dunn & Ellis County, and Dustin Perkins Band, who is the selected “Wildcard.”
Usually, the judges panel is expanded to include many of the former Rising Star winners, plus other music giants, along with the KHYI crew. The winner will be announced at Love & War after the bands have competed.
Sponsoring Shiner Rising Star are the Dallas-based Americana radio station KHYI, 95.3 on the dial, Shiner Records, and Shiner Beer. Also involved are Kona Guitars and BP Percussions. All shows are streamed live at RogueTV.net, and then can be watched later on that same Internet site. The photographs from each night, every band, will remain posted here on SceneInTown.com under the category KHYI Special Events/ Shiner Rising Star 2011.
Other tender moments… pix