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One of the most exciting things to happen in Texicana music is the introduction of the new television series "Live at the Ranch", a Dallas take on "Austin City Limits" that is being produced by Intelecon. August 2nd was the first taping at Eddie Deen's Ranch, a combination restaurant/warehouse that has been given a western make-over that seems to be a perfect spot for the feeling the show is looking for. At the intersection of I-30 and Lamar in downtown Dallas, it makes the music seem bigger, the people more colorful, and the night all the more magical. Magical was certainly the impression that a number of people had that night, and for many different reasons. How other than magic can you explain the following phenomenon: a longhorn steer friendly enough to take pictures with (and occasionally on), Max Stalling nervous, fewer takes than a Washington politician, David Faulk's leopard collared shirt, a Western gunfight with "real" cowboys, Houston Marchman not wearing a ball cap, my wife having a good time at a show, and most of all, Woody Woodriff smiling for the camera (or what passes for a smile...more like a smirk). Like I said...magic.

Eddie Deen's Ranch was done up to look like...well...a ranch, but Texas style, of course. Each of the dinner tables had real burning lamps with bases made to look like Lone Stars and tops like horseshoes, and red checkered table cloths gave a picnic kind of feel to the place. One of the coolest visuals of the night was the screen behind the stage. It showed a virtual picture of the Ranch in a prairie setting. But the neat thing were the animations that kept popping up. The sign for The Ranch would flicker like you would expect an old country roadhouse sign to do, a car would drive by in the distance, and a bird would swoop in to give the sensation that you really were looking outside, the latest in computer graphic technology.

Let me give future Ranch visitors a couple of warnings: this is a television show. Please don't forget that and walk in front of a camera. It happened a couple of times last night, but I think they will be able to fade those out during the airing. Also, since this is a TV show there are a

lot of lights setup around the stage. You might expect it to be hot and muggy. In fact it's quite the opposite. They must have some industrial strength air conditioners or something because right next to the stage the wind from the a.c. is blowing hard and cold. So if you go wearing shorts or a short sleeved shirt, my recommendation is be prepared to sit a little further from the stage. Even with all of that I don't think it helped the artists much. Max and Houston had to stop a couple of times to "blot" the sweat away...could have been a little bit of nerves too, though.

First up to the stage was Max Stalling. I have seen my fair share of Max Stalling shows, but even I was blown away last night by the passion with which he and the band played. I have never seen an audience have a bigger reaction to Woody's guitar playing in all of the shows I have seen (and before anyone asks, no...we were not prompted by a director). Woody gave new meaning to the phrase "on fire" last night. Everything just seemed to click between Woody on lead, David on drums, and Blackie Graham on stand-up bass, and it was the perfect accompaniment to Max's vocal styling.

Houston Marchman and the Contraband took the stage next and again, the audience was great, with good reason. Houston with lead guitarist John Garrett along with Chris Schlotzhauer on steel guitar, Thurston Selby on fiddle, Jerry Abrams on stand-up bass and their new drummer (name not known...sorry), performed a tight set of Houston's best songs, including "Viet Nashville" and "Wichita Falls". Both bands were pumped up and put on the show of their careers.

Walking the crowd were cowboys and ranch hands, and during the break between the performances they walked around talking to people, performed an Old West gunfight, and helped guests with the longhorn, Regis. There was also a host and hostess of the evening. I saw interviews taking place, but was never asked to be a part of one (thankfully!), so I was not able to catch the hostesses name. Mark Mundy of KNON 89.3 radio in Dallas was the host, and he did a good job of introducing the acts and closing out each set. Some stars in the Texas

music family were in attendance also, most notably Ed Burleson, Mark David Manders, and Lance Smith (lead guitarist for Mark David Manders). It's a real pleasure to see these guys come out to support their friends and colleagues, but the thing that I really like about that? It shows that these guys are fans, too. That makes the average guy like me feel special that people we look up to and respect feel the same way we do about the music and the artists. It brings it down to a human level.

I want to give a special thanks to all of the people at my table: my wife Liza, Mark, Da Diva, Jimmy2, Leah Fleah, Stacie, Tammy Knott, Eric, and Missy. You guys make me proud with the support that you give to all of the artists, and I can't think of a better group of people to see a show with.

One last thing...I was talking to the people at my table last night, and I had this strange feeling wash over me. If twenty years from now this show is a success on the level that "Austin City Limits" has been, I will remember this night. I will know that I was at the very first show, that I helped to make history, and that I was (at least for a little while) part of something great. And then I realized that even if it never gets on the air, if no one ever gets to see it on television, I'll still have those feelings. Truly some magic, don't you agree?

Written by David Miller, August 3, 2001

Event/Date: "Live at The Ranch" Filming, August 2, 2001

Venue: Eddie Deen's Ranch

Email me about this review

Photos of 1st show below.

Click here to read a review and view pix of the second show.

Hi David,

This is Dean Daniels, the Co-Producer and Director of "The Ranch." I just wanted to drop you a note of thanks for such a great review and I'm especially glad that you had such an enjoyable experience on our inaugurational shoot!

For me, "The Ranch" is a return full circle to my own roots as the co-founder, with my father Glenn D. Daniels of CMT "Country Music Television." On March 5th, 1983 at 6:19 Pm, we made history and beat the Nashville Network on the air by 2 days with CMT (originally called CMTV) and forever changed the face of country music. Now, 18 years later, I'm once again at the helm of the most exciting movement in country music I've witnessed since then...Americana or as I also like to call it, "Texacana" music. It's nice to have this much fun and get paid for it too!

Don't be a stranger. Tomorrow and Friday night, we'll be shooting Davin James and Mark David Manders, followed the next night with Sisters Morales, Kevin Deal and Macon Greyson. Then a break for a couple of weeks to get the pilot in the can and off to taping for a full 26 week show commitment.

A couple of notes of interest...our full company name is "Intelecon Services, Inc." We're using seven cameras on the show, including roving handheld camera and camera on a jib arm. Plus, for the fun of it and future plans, we are also taping the show in Disney quality 3D! This stuff is really cool looking and Intelecon is the national leader in 3D video for entertainment and corporate video production (they made national headlines two years ago handling 3D video for KISS "Psycho Circus" and are currently touring with 3D big screen video on the Coca-Cola "Rock-ola" Latin America Concert Tour.)

Thanks again,

G. Dean Daniels

Producer/Director

"The Ranch"

Intelecon Services, Inc.