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Everyone please stand for the pledge…..
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Texas Music Nation: And to the campfires by which we stand, One Nation, under Willie, invincible, with hot chili and cold beer for ALL!!!”  And so began the second annual Texas Music Nation Celebration.  And even better, this year’s proceeds went to the new non-profit organization of North Texas Musicians Emergency Fund.  More about the first recipient of that benevolence, later.  Two days (2 ½ if you count the Thursday night campfire, too) of some of the best music that Texas has to offer, a chance to try again for some CASI points toward that Terlingua brass ring, and some gorgeous pecan bottoms on which to camp right by the Brazos river.

The MissLana.com"Pound" was established just as it was getting dark on Thursday.  The event informally kicked off with the big communal campfire on Thursday evening, a little after dark.  There, we received teasing samples from many of the artists that were scheduled to play on Friday or Saturday, and from several others that just came to share and enjoy.  After we sprayed ourselves down with bug repellent (without a breeze, some of the mosquitoes were about the size of humming birds!), we all just kicked back in our chairs, sipped a cool one or two, and let the river roll on by.

Round One:
Friday, things got a little more structured.  Bodie Powell, Terry Rasor, Mike
Choate, and Dirt Stinnett opened around 3 p.m. and set the pace for all the acts to follow.  James Mills emceed and kept the show pretty close to schedule for Friday and Saturday.

Alex Whitmore and his new band, Twangit followed.  Alex seems to be working on a different level these days.  His music has always been well executed and you could count on him to lighten things up.  However, lately there is a new quality to his sound that is distinct and absolutely delightful.  “Apache Wind” is a perfect example of his change in direction.  I think Twangit is helping him express this new tone in a wonderful way.  Twangit members are David Hall, lead guitar, Josh Ingram on drums, and Bonnie Whitmore on bass.  Alex didn’t disappoint us and included his humorous favorites about aliens, dogs, etc.  But the treat was the newer music that he is now creating.  He concluded his set using his little “high-strung” guitar that really provides that Alex-only stamp.

Bonnie Whitmore and Ryan Turner played together in the next set.  This was an interesting combination.  Bonnie we know and love, Ryan we’d never seen before.  The two worked well together and the effect was very pleasant.  We look forward to hearing more from both of them in the future.

Next up was Zin Bubba (a.k.a. Bob Wiliford and company - Nancy Camm, fiddle; Larry Mc Pherson, bass; Andy Mayer, drums).  You know you can always count on ‘Bubba' to tickle your funny bone once or twice in the middle of lots of good music.  Their high-energy style was just what we needed to kick things into second gear.

It’s tough to follow ‘Bubba, but the Thrift Store Cowboys gave it their best shot. TSC is a young band (college-age) and has good sound and musical skill with their original music.  They played TMNC last October and there were subtle changes that are all for the better.  Guess more experience in the music world and with one another as a band is starting to pay off.  Daniel didn’t do near as many bunny hops and Amanda didn’t talk about marshmallows for the campfires. They are definitely catching on.  Seriously, the music is well arranged and varies pleasantly in styles.  A very lively and entertaining set.

The next act definitely classed the place up.  JoAnn Guest has a way of dignifying the presentation of heart breakers, jazz, and heart warmers.  She is always a treat and delight to listen to.  It was no accident that she is a former finalist in the BW Stevenson Singer/Songwriter competition.  The talent continues to shine through.

Doug Burr and the Lonelies were next with some of their original work.  The Lonelies - Kelly Upshaw, drums; David Sims, lots of strings (dobro, steel, mandolin, etc.); and Randy Odom on bass often get to play for the folks from the Denton and North Dallas areas.  So it was a real treat for the rest of us from the state to get to see them live.

Johnny Mack & the Mojo Cowboys played next.  I actually listened from the camp for some of this set; we took a short pause for a quick bite to eat.  They had a combination of Cajun rock and roll, blues, and as Johnny calls it, “Texas music, damnit.”  It kept the night rocking along.

Macon Greyson was up next and you certainly didn’t want to miss their high energy performance.  This group has evolved over the last couple of years into a really tight sound.  I remember Buddy Huffman from the Front Porch Boys, but this MG combination really clicks.  None of the band are new to the business, even though Macon Greyson only started in 1999.  Their experience and commitment to the music came through in every note, especially in Buddy’s vocals.  Pete Falcone on drums was beating his heart out, especially when the crowd shouted “Falcone, Falcone.” Jim Richmond and John Mastin(?).  The hour was getting late and notes got fuzzy!) guitar and bass completed the sound.  You just weren’t ready for them to quit!

The frantic heat slowed only by about a half a degree when Nathan Hamilton and No Deal took over.  I’d never had the pleasure of a Nathan Hamilton performance and I was totally caught off guard.  I never expected such a smooth and enervating experience.  The music evokes such clear, vivid images, but at the same time carries you away in the tempo.  Seldom do you get both in the same package but Nathan and No Deal deliver.  The band name, No Deal immediately made me think of Townes Van Zandt - No Deal.  The Townes influence is there, but still uniquely Nathan Hamilton.  I wish I had paid attention to him introduce members of the band, but guess I got too lost in the music (and getting too late in the evening) and missed it. Anyway, No Deal is a big deal! Sorry I can’t mention your names!

Last on the agenda for the evening was Smart Like Einstein.  Their stage antics are always entertaining and their music just slightly over the edge.  Is what he does to that stand up bass legal?  Good note on which to end the Friday performance schedule.  After a brief pause, folks wandered off to the big campfire for more mellow sounds.

Round Two:
Saturday weather played perfectly into festival plans.  The breeze picked up a bit and kept the irritating pests away and gently stirred the air under all those beautiful pecan trees.  Throughout the day, folks took short breaks and floated or paddled around in the lazy flowing Brazos.  Music got started ahead of schedule and at 11:00 (instead of 11:30), we were surprised with Mike Blakely. Mike came to support Texas music and was persuaded to play a short set to start the day.  Mike is best known for his cowboy ballads, but has a wide repertoire. He was there for music that day, but don’t miss out on his talent as an American West historical fiction author.  His books are some of the best in the genre.

Next up were the Joyful Sinners.  I’ve never used the expression before, but with these folks, nothing else quite fits.  They ROCK!  What a way to start Saturday morning.  Got the blood to pumping.  Scotty Shuffield gave us a chance to catch our breath with his sweet-flowing sounds.  Then pump things back up with the Wendel Brothers for a touch of bluegrass.  Not only is their music hopping, but their antics on stage are just as fun-packed.

Sherwin Phillips always has a story to tell, a song to sing, or some meat to cook. Saturday, he gave us a taste of his music and we accepted his gifts with glad hearts.  When he wasn’t singing, we’d cruise by the “green” camp and snitch a taste of whatever he was cooking!  Either way, Sherwin proves he has great taste.

The Mark Gorman band blessed us with the next set.  It’s now early afternoon and most folks are up and moving around pretty good.  The Mark Gorman band played some of the most traditional Texas music of the day.  But their next to the last song was their infamous "Santa Anna’s Tortillas", and they were bombarded from the audience by the delicacies.  Some flew like Frisbees (most opting that method of delivery flopped).  Others were broken into pieces, then chunked.  The most effective were tightly rolled cylindrical missiles that had some decent aerodynamic properties and had a chance of hitting their “Mark” (hehehehe). The audience was on their feet and roaring with laughter.  The band took it all good naturedly and even chucked a few back.  No serious injuries were incurred on either side of this great tortilla war.  Saw a few dogs picking at the remains, but not really sure what happened to the rest of the tortillas.  Maybe some campers forgot to pack their food and thought it was manna from heaven?  Ugh! Let’s not go there!

Poor Danny Bills had to follow that ruckus.  He gave it a great shot and we appreciated his music and his distinctly Danny vocals.  Brett Watts was ready to join in the fun with buddy Rick Gerard.  They worked in plenty of cowboy ballads and Texas waltzes during their set.  We also got a taste of Brett’s poetry, which of course, is sheer….”poetry”!  What a wonderful combination.  Immediately following Brett and Rick, Scott Fant took the stage with his essential old-school country.  Scott’s softly spoken introduction to some of his songs gave us all a little insight to the deep convictions and dry wit that are his trademarks.  Shortly after 4 p.m., we had a non-musical break to announce the chili cook-off winners.

After the chili announcements, we were introduced to the Heavenly Heathens. Aubrey Teeter and company gave us the treat of a lifetime.  Their harmony is so out of this world that it truly is “heavenly”.  Things were rolling along well during their set, with us all on the edge of our seats.  Brian Burns pitched in on the drums and began to give them a little backup percussion.  We just couldn’t believe the perfect blending of vocals that was making its way to our ears.  Then a couple of pops, a snap, and a sizzle and SILENCE.  The transformer up the hill that supplied power to the event stage and camp sites had blown.  The Heathens never even blinked an eye.  They just moved up to the front edge of the stage and kept on singing!  After a motion from Aubrey to come on down, everyone in the audience got up out of their chairs and gathered right in front of the stage so we could all hear better.  That’s how the Heathens finished up their set (several more songs): up close and personal to the audience.  I will never forget that they just improvised, never broke the spell they had created, and carried on as most “professional” artists these days would never dream of.  My hat is off to the Aubrey and the Heathens.  Remarkable!

Things were kind of quiet for a while; waiting for Texas New Mexico power to send a crew to replace the transformer.  As the natives began to grow a little restless, T-Roy Miller and Dan DeGrado did a little quick thinking and fetched their guitars and started a pickers circle right in front of the stage.  Way to go T-Roy and Dan. Always the troopers!  That kept folks appeased and gave Mike Choate a chance to figure out and rig a small sound system that could run off an alternate power source for the next couple of sets (until TNMP got things charged back up).  As soon as they got the improvised system operational, Brian Burns, with Jim Reiss took the stage for the next set.

Brian Burns jumped right into the mood and gave the crowd plenty of wonderful Texas music as only he can provide.  From his own unparalleled original music to classic covers (he even had us believing that Jethro Tull’s "Aqualung" belonged in this Texas-saturated environment!).  There is just no rational explanation of what Brian does to his audience.  That golden voice both soothes and agitates the soul.  Of one thing you are certain; he just can’t stop now!  You are never ready for his time to end.  Tommy Alverson joined him briefly to help with “I Don’t Live Here Anymore.”

T-Roy Miller with Dan DeGrado (like that combination has never been done before!) was up next and we got another chance to witness T-Roy’s stellar guitar playing.  The duo traded songs back and forth and we were all mesmerized.  Dan pleased us with selections from his new CD, "The Dragon".  And of course T-Roy didn’t forget that we wouldn’t let him be until he sang some of our favorites. For example: his song about ex-girlfriend, Wendy, his life-size, wife-size, blow-up, plastic girl.  Then to spice things up, women with folded green currency enveloped the stage and were caressing and tucking that currency ALL over the pair!  My, my, such carrying on!  Texas music fans do have a unique sense of humor and insist on displaying it.  Lots of fun.

The Fat Boys in the Round played at TMN for another year.  Mike, Dirt, Stan, and newbie John Livingston put their all into the music and had everybody ‘jamming.  They bill themselves as the “biggest” band around and guaranteed to be even “bigger” next year.

Tommy Alverson took the stage next.  He borrowed Bodie, Dirt, and Mike to give him a hand with all the music.  They are such polished and experienced musicians that it was hard to tell the difference from Tommy’s regular band.  We heard lots of Tommy-original favorites and plenty of traditional covers.  Tommy never fails to please the crowd.

I had to listen to some of John Evans from the campsite; it was time to take a quick break for something to eat.  We weren’t far and since the main sound system was back in the saddle, we had no problem enjoying them in the audio-only mode.  Since they hang out mostly in Houston, it’s difficult to catch them live around here.  We weren’t disappointed.

We were back at front row, center in plenty of time for Jay Johnson.  The gang of Jay, Dan, and Chris was there to show the crowd a blast.  That they did.  Back up vocals were provided by 2 of the sweetest missies a proud Papa Jay could ever ask for.  The sound the band has perfected these days is just awesome.  The new CD “Deep in the Heart of Texas” (produced by Tommy Alverson) is bound to be a smash.  The guys even kid that Tommy did some of the guitar work on one of the tracks and they are still trying to learn how Tommy did that!  The finale of that set presented Jay with the first check from the new North Texas Musicians Emergency Fund organization by Bodie and the Texas Music Nation.  Jay had been playing in Fort Worth recently, and someone broke into his vehicle while he was on stage and stole some equipment.  Jay was visibly moved by the gesture and very grateful.

The Saturday evening performance wrapped up with Terry Rasor and Bodie Powell in a rousing finale.  Everybody was pumped, saturated, and exuberant. The music was the finest, the facilities were beautiful and functional, the atmosphere friendly and cozy.  What else is there?  Just lots of thanks to Richard and Cindy Chaffin (owners of Buck’s on the Brazos), Bodie & Donna Powell, Texas Music Nation, Terry & Tana Rasor, Karen Zahn, James Mills and everyone else that it took to put such a great event together.  You folks are the greatest and in your own words: “We aren’t here for a long time.  We’re here for a good time! “ ….And by-golly, you deliver!

Written by Cheryl Arthur, June 2002

 

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Editor's Note:  If you are interested in joining Texas Music Nation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for the new North Texas Musicians Emergency Fund, contact Karen Zahn.

 

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