Blacktop Outlaw

The fifth week of Shiner Rising Star band competition brought together three more great bands, this time to the Hard Rock Cafe stage in Dallas. Blacktop Outlaw, with its ties out of Whitesboro and Denton, emerged with the right to move into Round 2, but it was a tough call for the four judges: KHYI general manager Joshua Jones; music promoter Penny Lazo, and both John Pedigo and Taylor Young, who make up The O’s band, and who got only one vote between them.

Blacktop Outlaw drew the No. 3 slot in the line-up, and hit the stage running. The band consists of Danny Dillon, Lucas Pittman, Ethan Dorsett, Steve Howell, and Ryan, got this reviewer’s attention when it dedicated its one-allowed cover song, “Last Dance with Mary Jane,” to me. And in keeping with orientation suggestions Jones made before Week 1, the band made it their own song, rather than covering it exactly like Tom Petty wrote it.

Following their 30-minute set, the band received critiques from each judge, some criticism and some attaboys. Jones opened that up, first calliDorsett that he earned the honor of MVP of the night, citing his specific guitar tones, which Jones called great along with his style.

Jonesalso kept his word when he said he would be offering some less favorable comments, but “heed these in case you get to the second round.” He began to comment on the motions of band members, which he called “calisthenics,” which he said were originally a distraction from the music, but as they went on they became a part of the show.  He also suggested the band spend some time with Guy Clark and Ray Wylie Hubbard and Chris

Shotgun Jimmys

Knight. “Your songwriting needs a little bit more depth,” Jones said. “I know this is a negative critique, but if I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be telling you this.”

Lazo said she agreed with Jones’ comments, and commented that the harmonies were nice and also that the band relaxed with the crowd was an asset.

The O’s said it was all “good stuff,” and commented that one song, “Southern Crush,” is a ready-made hit.  There were other catchy songs and some lines in them made the O’s laugh. “That’s the kind of stuff we like to listen to when we drive eight hours to the next show.” They declared Pittman to be a bad-ass bass player, and found the third harmony in the vocals.

Just a note, too, Blacktop Outlawwas the band who remembered all its good manners, thanking the contest sponsors KHYI, Shiner Beer, and Shiner Records, and also the Hard Rock Cafe for hosting the event, and their many fans at the venue.

Shotgun Jimmys

Opening challengers  were The Shotgun Jimmys, made up of Cody Duvall, Jimmy Duvall, and Jim Gosnell (it’s a little known fact, but Cody’s other name is also Jimmy), and Fishing With Dynamite. Members there are Josh Pittman, Josh Price, and James Price. This rockabillty band chose as its required cover song a rousing version of George Jones’ “White Lightning.”

Jones said, during the critique, he would like to have seen one more “texture” instrument in addition to the stand-up bass, drums, and lead guitar. Physically, he said, the members look “like they are in three different bands” and could use more cohensiveness there.

Penny liked Jimmy Duvall’s bass, calling it “great.”

The O’s did, too. Their critique also was that they would like to have heard more harmonies. “We don’t see why you three aren’t singing together all of the time.”

Jones began the critique of Fishing With Dynamite by commenting that the band used 12 of 30-minute allowance getting ready to play. “It was a little too long, and even between sets (too much time). It seemed to die down. I also didn’t see a lot of interaction with the audience. I encourage you to interact, to build that relationship.” He did comment on the guitar playing and the Gram Parsons cover, calling them good. “Once you got revved up, you were great,” Jones concluded.
Lazo commented that she wanted to hear the conflict in the songs.

The O’s suggested the band could tighten up some, and “talk to the crowd more.”

The contestants are vying for a recording contract with Shiner Records, a gig on the 2012 Texas Music Revolution festival which KHYI hosts in March, and several other prizes which could be helpful to their careers.

This upcoming Thursday, (Aug. 30) will have Stone Rosevelt, The Bigsbys, and American Jenny hitting the stage at City Tavern in downtown Dallas. Music starts at 8 p.m.