Story and pictures by Mary Jane Farmer
When Brandon Jenkins stepped up to the Main Street Liquid Company mic Tuesday night, he stepped up in front of a crowd made ready for him by two solid opening acts, the Eric Beatty Band and Matt Kimbrow, who performed solo.
Brandon Jenkins
Brandon went solo, also, It doesn’t happen often, Mark Bickham said, that someone can perform for two hours straight, singing only his own songs – no covers – and people in the crowd knowing all the words to every song.
Jenkins does and did that. The Red Dirt leader co-writes with many of his buddies in the “new” Texas music that originally came from Oklahoma. And his latest CD is a tribute to that “let’s all do well in the Red Dirt music business” attitude, titled “Brothers of the Dirt.” While Stoney LaRue wasn’t there to sing with Brandon Tuesday night, you could visualize him, or Cody Canada, or Randy Rogers collaborating with him on stage.
Brandon is quite the guitarist, too. The strength of his guitar playing is equal to that of his voice, which mixes emotion with his lyrics. You can’t hear “Finger On The Trigger,” without feeling a drug addict’s pain, or “Til The Morning Comes” without reliving the loneliness in each of us.
Brandon displayed his genuine gentlemanliness , too, when a different sound man other than his own became involved with the sound board. In one turn of a dial, it seemed, Jenkins’ voice was muted. He waited a few moments to see if it would be fixed, then, never changing the expression on his face or indicating anything other than, “I’m going to let him work this out,” Brandon left the stage. When it was fixed, he returned and picked right up where he left off. Hats off to you, Brandon.
The only fly in the ointment Tuesday night were the tables of people who chose to sit right up front, but then who never ceased their talking through the sets. Again, the gentleman, the singer seemed to concentrate on those who were listening, including KHYI host Brett Dillon and Bickham.
Eric Beatty
Matt Kimbrow
The Eric Beatty Band, from somewhere over there west of Dallas and this Richardson bar and grill (Main Street Liquid Company), played their set acoustically. Bull bass, dobro, fiddle, acoustic guitar, and harmonica produced a little swing, a little country, and a little Americana, for all that encompasses. Usually, they said, they have a drummer too. This is a new band around the area, and combined classics including Bob Wills’ “Rose of San Antone” with originals.
Kimbrow hails from on the cowboy side of Metroplex, Texas. He, like Jenkins, played a full set of original songs, his voice rich and his lyrics deep. Haven’t heard this young musician for almost a year, and want to catch him next time with his full band.
Watch the Music Scene Calendar for upcoming dates for all these musicians.
The Main Street Liquid Company, on Main Street (duh) / Belt Line Road east of U.S. Highway 75, features several musicians every Tuesday and Thursday nights and there’s never a cover charge.