Bobby Duncan: Faith, Hope and Everything Else

First of all, please excuse my lack of blogging. The past few weeks have been extremely crazy and it has been very hard to sit down and give you something good.

For two weeks I was at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which was very exciting and eventful but, tiring at the same time. When my roommates and I had some time to get away at night--a very rare occasion--we would to go over to the Armadillo Palace, on Kirby Dr.

One night, as we walked in, I knew it was going to be a good night because I could hear live music in the background! As we passed through the crowd and found an open table I was able to see who was on stage: It was Bobby Duncan and I had been wanting to see him live ever since Brandon Rhyder recommended him. Let me just say, I was BEYOND impressed.

Along with his three band members, Bobby rocked the intimate and snug setting of the Armadillo Palace (which is my new favorite Houston venue/bar) and then took some time to play a a few acoustic songs alone.

Overall, I was highly pleased with the performance and my night. I hope to be able to sit down with Bobby when he comes to College Station in April for a more in depth story. Until then, I recommend picking up his album, Faith, Hope and Everything Else, produced by Walt Wilkins.

This 2009 release is a twelve-song masterpiece in my opinion. I greatly enjoy music I can put in my car, CD player, iPod, what have you, and let it play over and over again. This is exactly what I found when I first listened to this album and I have yet to tire of it.

My favorite track off the record is "Changes" -- something about the way the song is put together just really hits me and the lyrics, well, you'll just have to listen to the song to understand what I mean when i say, WOW!

Bobby writes in his album thank you credits, "this record is about the progression of life for a 22-year-old kid, and a girl who drove me crazy."

At such a young age, Bobby Duncan has a long future ahead of him in the music biz and has already established his name and sound as a force to be reckoned with.

stay tuned for an update on Bobby coming in late April...I hope!

--betsy!

TCM weekend schedule!

Spring Break is here Texas Country fans, and you know what that means--concerts galore! Check out this weekend's TCM line-up and find a show near you!

Friday, March 12
Big River - Railhead BBQ In Willow Park
Micky & The Motorcars - Billy Bob's Texas
Kyle Bennett Band / Brison Bursey - Woody's Tavern
Rich O'Toole - Silver Saloon in Terrell, Texas
Steve Helms - Bonos in Decatur, Tx
Wade Bowen - Hank's in McKinney, Texas
Drew Kennedy - Adair's Saloon in Dallas, Texas
Texas Renegade - Armadillo Palace in Houston, Texas
Mickey & The Motorcars - Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas
Lost Immigrants - Billy's Ice in New Braunsfels, Texas
Doug Moreland - Blancos in Houston, Texas
No Justice - City Limits in Stephenville, Texas
Stoney Larue - Coupland Dancehall in Coupland, Texas
Kevin Fowler - Cowboys Dancehall in San Antonio, Texas
CCR - Electric Cowboy in Tyler, Texas
Bobby Duncan - Froggy Bottoms/Beach Club
Mark McKinney - Graham Central Station in Odessa, Texas
Bleu Edmondson - JC's Dance Hall in Sweetwater, Texas
Max Stalling - Love and War in Texas in Grapevine, Texas
Johnny Cooper - Lucky Maggies Music and Diner in Diamond, MO
Aaron Watson - Midnight Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas
Bart Crow Band - Midnight Rodeo in Austin, Texas
Jason Boland and the Stragglers - Muldoons Saloon El Campo, Texas
Whiskey Meyers - Muldoons Saloon in El Campo, Texas
Jackson Taylor- Shooters Sports Bar and Grill in Gainesville, Texas
Rich O'Toole - Silver Saloon in Terrell, Texas
Casey Donahew Band - Southern Junction in Royce City, Texas
Clint Martin Band - Swiss Alp Dance Hall in Schulenburg, Texas
Cory Morrow - Wild West in Waco, Texas
Kyle Bennett Band - Woody's Tavern in Fort Worth, Texas
Charlie Robinson - Wormy Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City, OK
Roger Creager - Graham Central Station - Odessa, Texas
Cody Riley Band - The Bell Opry House in Synder Texas
Shane Rogers Band at Lone Star Saloon in Richmond
Toby Wayne Band at Outskirts in Wichita Falls
Southern Crossing - Ridglea Theatre Fort Worth, TX

Saturday, March 13
Van Darian - Railhead BBQ In Willow Park
Justin Ross - Mule Barn
County Road Zero at Tut's Crawfish Boil w/Josh Ward in Conroe
Jeremy Lynn Woodall at C&R Sports Bar in Waco
Mark Allan Atwood at The Barn in Victoria
Shane Rogers Band at Main St. Bar in Borger
Toby Wayne Band at Lone Star Saloon in Richmond
The Brad Allen Band at The Oasis Club in San Angelo
Southern Crossing - Pioneer Days in Paducah, TX
Kevin Fowler - Armadillo Place in Houston, Texas
Cory Morrow - Schroeder Hall in Goliad, Texas
Bart Crow Band - American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
Casey Donahew Band - American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
No Justice - American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas
Josh Grider Band - Back of the Bee in Maypearl, Texas
Stoney Larue - Crosswire in Paris, Texas
Wade Bowen - Dos Amigos in Odessa, Texas
CCR - Floores Country Store - Helotes, Texas
Phil Pritchett - Granada Theater in Dallas, Texas
Johnny Cooper - Hat Tricks Sports Bar and Grill - Lewisville, Texas
Zona Jones - Hideout HLSR in Houston, Texas
Mo Robson - JC's Dance Hall in Sweetwater, Texas
Jackson Taylor - JC's Dance Hall in Sweetwater, Texas
Clint Martin Band - Jerry B's in Kenedy, Texas
Rich O'Toole - Keefers Bar in Mineral Wells, Texas
Deryl Dodd - Love and War in Texas in Grapevine, Texas
Doug Moreland - Luckenbach Texas in Fredericksburg, Texas
Mickey & The Motorcars - Luckenbach Texas in Fredericksburg, Texas
Lost Immigrants - Redbud Festival in Buna, Texas
Slow Rollin Lows - Redbud Festival in Buna, Texas
Jason Boland and the Stragglers - Scooters Dance Hall in Moulton, Texas
Eli Young Band - Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo in Austin, Texas
Josh Ward Band - Tuts Bar in Conroe, Texas
Aaron Watson - Wild Country in Harker Heights, Texas
Kyle Bennett Band - Wormy Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City, OK
Jason Eady - Wormy Dog Saloon in Oklahoma City, OK
Roger Creager - House Pasture Cattle Company - Concan, Texas
Brandon Jenkins - Tequila Nights in Brownwood, Texas

Sunday, March 14

Mark Allan Atwood at Rockett Cafe in Waxahachie
Josh Langston at a SXSW Showcase in Austin
Jon Burklund & The Recycled Rednecks
Texas Renegade - Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood, Texas
Jason Boland and the Stragglers - Granda Theater in Dallas, Texas
Mark McKinney - Krush Lounge in Austin, Texas
Dub Miller - Luckenbach Texas in Fredericksburg, Texas
Jason Eady - White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth, Texas

so, raise your glass high and toast to Texas Music this weekend!

peace, love & texas music

betsy

p.s. i went and watched Bobby Duncan last night in Houston--been listening to his CD today, good stuff! make sure to check him out and be on the look out for a story coming soon!

WEEKEND madness!!

it's that time again for TEXAS COUNTRY's loyal followers to gain their weekend concert inquiries...find a show near you right here:

Friday, March 5
Smokey Robinson - Winstar World Casino

Chris Young - Billy Bob's Texas

Chase Cundiff And The Co Pilots - Railhead BBQ In Willow Park

Ryan McBride - Woody's Tavern

Phil Hamilton & The Backroad Drifters - Froggy's Beach Club

Jimmy LaFave & John Fullbright at Poor David’s Pub

Rich O'Toole - Gilley's Dallas

DIRT ROAD GYPSIES at SOUTHERN JUNCTION in Rockwall

Lee County Line - Moon River in Spicewood, Texas

Zack Walther - Armadillo Place in Dallas, Texas

Texas Renegade - Bandera Place in Houston, Texas

Bobby Duncan - City Limits in Stephenville, Texas

Whiskey Myers - Crazy Horse Saloon in Wichita Falls, Texas

Stoney LaRue - Cypress Saloon in Cypress, Texas

Granger Smith - Floores Country Store in Helotes, Texas

Josh Grider - Floores Country Store in Helotes, Texas

Cory Morrow - Hurricane Harry's in College Station

Mike McClure - Iron Horse Pub in Wichita Falls, Texas

Dub Miller - KC's Icehouse in Alvin, Texas

Phil Pritchett - Lakeside Icehouse in Bryan, Texas

No Justice - Lone Star Saloon - Uvalda, Texas

Randy Rogers Band - Longhorn Saloon in Manhattan, Kansas

Kevin Fowler - Lucky Maggies Music & Diner in Diamond, MO

Jason Boland & The Stragglers Midnight Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas

Brandon Rhyder - Midnight Rodeo in Austin, Texas

Kyle Bennett Band - Midnight Rodeo in Austin, Texas

Eli Young Band - Midnight Rodeo in San Angelo, Texas

Brandon Jenkins - West Wild in Lubbock, Texas

Roger Creager - Zydeco in Birmingham, AL

Adam Hood - Zydeco in Birmingham, AL

Lost Immigrants - White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth, Texas

Jason Eady - Threadgills Resturant Banquet in Austin, Texas

Honeybrowne - Texas Hall of Fame in Bryan, Texas

Johnny Cooper - Shooters Sports Bar and Grill in Gainsville, Texas

Josh Ward Band - Ranch in Midland, Texas

Clint Martin Band - Poodies Bar & Grill in Spicewood, Texas

Scott Wiggins Band - Muldoons Saloon in El Campo, Texas

Bart Crow Band - Muldoon Saloon in El Campo, Texas

Josh Langston at Lone Star Saloon in Richmond

Shane Rogers Band at Red Zone Sports Bar in Lubbock

JD Monson Band at Big Barn BBQ in North Richland Hills, Texas--NO COVER

Saturday, March 6

Bart Crow Band - Woody's Tavern

Snuff Garrett - Railhead BBQ In Willow Park

Texas Renegade - Mule Barn

George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Winstar World Casino

Randy Travis - Billy Bob's Texas

Cory Morrow - Gilley's Dallas

Jason Boland & The Stragglers w/Dirt Road Gypsies at Southern Junction in Rockwall

Ten Gauge Band w/Steve Ferguson Band at Last Chance Saloon (in downtown Plano, Tx)

Rich O'Toole - Red Moon Café Ennis, Texas

Jeremy Lynn Woodall at Main St. Bar in Borger

Sally Thieves at Junior's Grill and Icehouse in Round Rock

Brenda Kay at Ben Richey Boys Ranch Telethon-Abilene

Shane Rogers Band at Rocky LaRue's in Lubbock

Sunday, March 7

Mark Allan Atwood at Junior's Grill and Icehouse in Round Rock

shine up those ol' dancin' boots & support Texas Country Music this weekend! && remember, if you want to be added to our weekend schedules, send your information to the TCM headquarters!

peace, love & texas music!

betsy

TCM sits down with Brandon Rhyder

This past Friday, Texas artist Brandon Rhyder spent most of his day in College Station promoting his new record, Head Above Water, with an on-air interview at 98.3 KORA and an in-store performance at Hastings. Then he ended the night with a live/full-band performance at Hurricane Harry's.

I had the chance to sit down with Brandon before he played at Harry's to talk about his new album, feelings about the future and more--

(playing songs off the new album in-store at Hastings)

"The thing about Head Above Water is that it's not a book with 13 chapters, it's a collection of 13 completely separate books," Rhyder said. "I try not to write for a specific genre, so you've got songs like 'Rock Angel' and then ones like 'Ultimate Deceiver' put together on one record."

After playing a few off the new album at Hastings, Rhyder told the crowd that growing up his mother would tell him to really listen to what the songs on the radio were saying to him. He said that is how he wants his music to be--not categorized for the way it sounds, but appreciated for what every song specifically says to each listener.

This is the 6th album the singer/songwriter has put out since 2001 and second on the Reserve Records label. While working to put Head Above Water together, Rhyder said there were signs that something was different about this one.

"I've done the order for all six of my records, and I don't know how but, when working on this one, I knew very early on what the order was going to be," he said. "Each song has its own venue, so to speak. I knew 'Rock Angel' was going to be the first off the record and the first single; it just made perfect sense."

After spending a lot of time in Nashville with a publishing deal during 2007 and 2008, Rhyder said he was ready to come home to Texas. He missed his family, but had made a goal at the beginning of 2009 to put out another album.

"I knew I wanted to record another record, I wanted to do it close to home, I wanted to use my band, and I wanted Walt Wilkins to do it--all of these things came together really quickly," he said.

The process of making Head Above Water (which is also documented on a DVD that comes with the record) started in June of 2009 and within three weeks the album was complete. Rhyder said it is by far his favorite one yet, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that he wrote every single song on this album by himself--making it more personal and kind of a "statement record" for him.

He also called it the most up-tempo and upbeat record he has ever put out--especially the hidden track at the end, "Queen of My Roost," which showcases Rhyder's love for the 20s, 30s and 40s big band music.


(Brandon and I after the Hastings performance)

Referring to his own music as "different," Rhyder said it has been interesting to be called a "veteran" of the scene and really wants to try to be more of a voice for the artist as he moves forward in his career.

"I am really upset with music right now and where it's at," he said. "I feel like we're strangling the life out of the creativity of music. And not just country, it's music across the board. Each genre seems to have created a box for music to fit in and if the music doesn't fit in that box then it can't be popular. That's not true at all; there are a ton of really talented artists that have a lot to say, but don't fit in the box. So, I'd really like to be a voice for the artist and help get more of them heard."

Supporting and promoting upcoming Texas talent like Bobby Duncan and Clayton Gardner (who opened for Rhyder at Harry's on Friday) is his hope to help get this music heard--the kind that doesn't fit into a specific box.

"We write with depth, and while that may still have tenacity to it, it's not, for the lack of a better term, a 'beer and titties' setup," Rhyder said. "There's room for it [how we write] and we see that. I mean, we're packing houses every night, getting to do what we do and say what we say. So, all of these guys, the Bobby's and the Clayton's, that's something that is important to them also, and I obviously want to be a part of helping to spread their message."

(Clayton Gardner opening for Brandon at Hurricane Harry's on Friday)

It is evident when listening to Rhyder's albums that he is a huge advocate for the music and quite an amazing and powerful songwriter. After talking with him at Hastings, I was able to go to Harry's and watch the show as well, and let me just say that it was one of the best I've seen from him.

New and old hits, like "Freeze Frame Time," "Before I Knew Your Name" and "Let the Good Times Roll," came blaring out of the speakers for what I personally thought was the largest crowd this band has ever seen at Hurricane Harry's and the most excited. People were singing along, dancing and raising their drinks in the air to salute this musical wonder.

"To all the fans out there, thank you for allowing us to do what we do," Rhyder humbly said at the end of our interview. "That's something I say at the end of every show, because this is a grassroots effort and without the fans going out and telling their friends, neighbors or co-workers, we wouldn't be able to stand on that stage every single night."

Be sure to check out Rhyder's tour schedule to keep up with when he will be coming to a town near you, and pick up a copy of Head Above Water.

For more information on Bobby Duncan and Clayton Gardner fan their Facebook pages to keep track of their latest updates.

Stay tuned next week as I report from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo--

peace, love & texas music!

betsy