Wednesday, September 28, 2016

After the Show at The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe

Mike Roberts and I had a great show Saturday night in Galveston.  The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe was packed wall to wall.  Thank you for coming out.  Even Wrecks Bell showed up for the night to introduce us and crack a few one liners, first time since his stroke and we were honored.  Wrecks has turned the keys and reins to the club over to a new young couple.  He and Janet will still be in the picture, kind of like the King and Queen of England, they will make appearances and wave to the crowd from time to time.
This Thursday night, Sept. 29, Michael Hearne, Mike Roberts and I will be at  McGonigels Mucky Duck in Houston.  Showtime is 7:30
Friday night, Sept. 30, The trio is at the Rock Room in Austin.There are two shows 6pm and 8pm. The 8pm  show is sold out,  but there are still seats for the 6pm show. For reservations or more information,  please email Barbedwiremusic@earthlink.com.  
This Saturday night we are off to Kerrville,TX. for a house warming party out in the beautiful hill country.  It doesn't get much better than this!  It’s going to be a busy long weekend and full of music.  Life is good.

Next week we head west to California for a couple of shows in Ventura and Santa Barbara.  We're looking forward to spending a couple of days along side the Pacific Ocean before we head back home to Texas and catching some sites on the way back we have never seen.  I'll keep you posted as we head west and keep you up to snuff on what we are doing and our where-a-bouts!   Heading Deep in the West, stay tuned…   Shake

Thursday, September 22, 2016



Aloha!

Last Saturday night we played at Bob Moore’s House Concert in Riverside,TX.  The theme this year was Bob’s full moon Luau party. There were Hawaiian shirts everywhere(Jimmy Buffet land) and colorful leis were handed out as you came into the events entrance.  I laughed and thought to myself, Hey, I just got leid at Bob’s Luau
There’s a song there somewhere or at least a  tee shirt or bumper sticker! There were palm trees, grass skirts, a tiki totem, surf boards, Blue Hawaii. It was an island night in Riverside!  We all sang along on “Tiny Bubbles”.  I felt like I was channeling Don Ho.   There were guests singing with me on the song: Bob Dylan,  Elvis, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan all joined in on a verse. Mike Roberts wrote an ode to the event called "Luau on the Lake",  which he performed on the Ukulele.

During intermission we had a really ‘special guest' performer…
80 year young hula dancer Ms. Shirley Stroud charmed the audience with her beautiful and lovely authentic Hawaiian hula dancing.  It was the perfect touch to the night.

Into our second set, as the evening grew later, even a conga line broke out led by Father James '‘more cowbell’’ Carroll.I think I even saw a limbo bar too!  Annette and Frankie were doing the limbo rock!  Anyway, it wasn’t our usual house concert to say the least, but it was  a lot of fun and one to remember and to tell you about!! How we all got leid at Bob’s Luau.  Thank you Bob, Teri, Larry, James and Sandy for all the work you put into turning Bob’s backyard into paradise and  making it a memorable night of fun and music for everyone!

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, Sept. 23…. We’re back in Austin.  Michael Hearne,  Mike Roberts and I will be at The Strange Brew Coffee House .  It’s a great venue in South Austin for live music.   The club has great sound and up close intimate sitting.  Our show starts at 8pm. There are still seats left! I hope to see you there!

SATURDAY NIGHT, Sept. 24th  we’re heading down to Galveston for a show  at The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe.  Wrecks is selling the place, so this may be our last show there.  We’ll sure miss Janet and Wrecks and all the love they poured into that beloved establishment !  We hope the new owners will continue bringing music to the island!
 Come on down to the Island.     Aloha!  Shake

Friday, September 16, 2016



'A PEACEFUL EASY FEELING'

I’m back from the mountains, Taos, NM, and “Michael Hearne’s 14th Annual Big Barn Dance.”  It was held again this year in Kit Carson Park, located smack dab in the middle of Taos. It’s just a short walk from the old historical plaza. I was there from the first day on Thursday and already a lot of you were there and ready to listen to another year of music and to experience the vibe of the big barn dance.  It was great to see and say hello to all our friends from Texas. The Texas contingency was strong and well accounted  for.  At one point during the concerts, when the announcer asked if there was any one from Texas in the audience?  a loud roar erupted that filled the air. I talked with quite a few, some of you who told me this was your first trip, and you had heard us talk about the Barn Dance at one of our shows.  That had made you want to check it out and you were so glad you had,  and how much you were loving it!!!  I’m  happy you love and enjoy the event as much as we do.  (Hey!  Maybe Michael needs to think about doing one of these down in Texas?)

All his usual musical cohorts were there: Jimmy Stadler, Tom Faulkner, Jed Zimmerman,  Kelly Mickwee, Jimmy Davis, Lari White, Chuck Cannon,  Walt Wilkins, Trout Fishing, Gary P. Nunn , Buzz Cason, Claude Butch Morgan, HonEyhouse,  Terri Hendricks and Lloyd Maines, Susan Gibson, The Rifters,  Bob Livingston and myself.  Michael also brought in several new performers to the barn dance this year: Chris Arellano ,Jay Boy Adams, The Malena Brothers, George Ensle.  One of the new performers were the TEJAS BROTHERS from San Antonio.  They are led by front man and accordionist, songwriter, and story teller, David Perez,  I particularly loved their song “Rich Man”.  They gave a big time, first time performance to close out the first night of the barn dance.  WARREN HOOD and MARSHALL HOOD performed the next day and immediately won everyone over with their well written songs and  vocal harmony blend.  Warren’s violin and Marshall’s guitar playing reminded me of a young Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.   It was very impressive musicianship and song writing from these young men.  I hope they’ll be back next year. Another new addition this year were BRUCE ROBISON and KELLY WILLIS from Austin. They turned in a beautiful set of music that felt right at home at the big barn dance, I was happy and surprised when they chose to close their set  with  “You’ve Got A Lover”. Thank you Kelly and Bruce for the wonderful version and heartfelt performance.  It doesn’t get much better than this.  It was an honor to have two such fine songwriters pick one of my songs to sing.   Thank you both.
 
Then….add to that…. yet another new, first time to appear, The legendary songwriter/performer JACK TEMPCHENYou know, he wrote ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling ” and ‘I’m Already Gone”  which were big hits by the Eagles, plus dozens of other hit songs you know  and you’ve heard on the radio at one time or another in your life. I mean this guy has some serious mailbox money coming in.

Friday night’s concert was closed out with Trout Fishing in America.  Keith and Ezra were tearing it up and taking no prisoners and leaving the folks wanting more.  On Saturday they got more.  The action started early with dance lessons being offered at 10am and  a song writing workshop hosted by Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines.

The music kicked off at noon with Tommy Alverson and Friends.
Then HonEyhouse brought some gospel to The Church of Michael Hearne . Everyone was moved by the spirit,  Then,  Bob Livingston delivered his brand and blend of cosmic energy into the mix.  Dana Louise and the Glorious Birds were up next.  Dana Louise is an exciting up and coming new artist.  Michael introduced her to the barn dance audience a couple of years ago. She’s the daughter of Ezra Idlit from ‘Trout Fishing.'  (Ezra plays drums and Keith plays bass in the combo, they are two of the Glorious Birds).  Dana Louise is a natural. She writes great songs in her own catchy, original, and refreshing style. You’ll have to check her out live or on line to see  and hear what I mean.  We will hear much more from her.

Please allow me to digress…..Speaking of Dana Louise being Ezra’s daughter,  I must say it was also cool to see Kevin Welch and his son Dustin performing together,  Warren Hood following in the footsteps of his father Champ Hood, and Rod Taylor’s son Ry, and Tommy Alverson’s son Justin, who plays guitar with TheTejas Brothers.  Just like their parents they are all following their passion and love for music.  It is good to see  here at the barn dance the future of music and songwriting in very good and young capable hands.  The torch will be passed and carried on.

Now, back to the show…..

Bill Hearne followed with some hot picking (He taught Michael everything he knows)  Michael joined him for some fun. He introduced and brought  Ms.Bonnie Hearne up for a couple of songs.  Bill finished his set with the entire Hearne family all on stage to sing Michaels classic “New Mexico Rain”, with young Braeden Hearne playing guitar with them!

Then it was our turn… 
We kicked it off with “This Is What Happy Is” and yes being at the barn dance is what happy is!  I even changed a few lyrics to fit this auspicious occasion.   Michael and I and Mike Roberts were joined by Ezra on drums, Don Richmond, fiddle, mandolin and banjo, Jimmy Stadler on piano, Carmen Acciaolli pedal steel, Clyde Butch Morgan jumped in on a couple and Bob Livingston played a little harp on “Deep in the West” and more cowbell on Loser’s Gumbo. It was the big band at the big barn dance.  During our show we took a moment to remember the late Lorraine Wyant.  Lorraine had known and worked and helped Michael for many years. She was an integral volunteer of the Barn dance.  We lost her last year right after the barn dance .  We felt she was there watching and listening as we played one of her favorite songs, which she always requested, “Irish Prayer”.
                  ‘’your voice and your laughter are missing…
                   ’it’s an absence felt throughout the house….”   We miss and love you Lorraine.

The Rifters performed after us, playing songs from their new CD, “The Architecture of a Fire”.  Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros finished the concert portion. Then they cleared the dance floor of all chairs and spread the saw dust….
Then Texas own, Mr. DALE WATSON brought his style of honky tonk to the party!!  I could see by all the boot scooting going on that the dance floor was now officially declared open.  With bonfires glowing and people gathered around  them, the barn dance carried on with Michael and his band SXSW playing the favorites and calling all of us up on stage for a couple of songs.  He called me up for “My Acadian Angel” and “The Dare of an Angel”.  As I stood up on stage singing I looked out and saw hundreds of people standing up to the front of the stage, your faces looking up smiling, some singing along, bodies swaying to the music, having fun, and just above and over their heads… just behind them was a swirling circle of dancers moving as one.  I thought to myself…. what a scene, what a picture, what a lot of fun to be a part of and a witness to. This is what happy is!

I drove back home to Texas thinking maybe this had been the best one yet……I mean……so far. I was thinking…Thanks and congratulations Michael, Sarah Hearne and Jacy  Meador  and all of the great volunteers on number 14.  Here’s to the 15th annual Big Barn Dance.   I’ll see you all there!

Shake






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Thursday, September 1, 2016



LISTEN UP FOLKS!
MORE GOOD NEWS UPDATE:

Last night Michael Hearne and I did an over-the-phone live on-air thirty minute interview with Calvin Powers on his radio program ‘THE AMERICANA RADIO SHOW, based out of the Raleigh Durham area of North Carolina.  So check them out.  You can go to their website (americanamusicshow.com access a  pod cast of the interview/music program.  Calvin also played three songs Michael and I wrote from the  three CDs.  One from each: “SHOT GUN”  from my solo  Little Bright Band of Light “THE HIGHWAY IS A FREIND OF MINE” from Michaels solo CD,  Red River Dreams.  “THE GIRL JUST LOVES TO DANCE” from  the DUO CD  Only As Strong as Your Dreams.
Thank you Calvin for playing our music and presenting it to your listening audience and for the opportunity to  come on show and talk about our  three NEW CD releases.  It’s great and exciting to see the music slowly spreading to new audiences around the country
and overseas.

So…please go check out their website and the interview.

Thanks to ‘HOWLINDOG RECORDS’ for setting up the interview, thanks to Teri McCartney,  Don Richmond and Dee  for your belief in the music and all good work you do on behalf of it.  We really appreciate your support and help in getting the music out there to the rest of the world.  It feels good to be a part of the team.
Onward to the North Carolina area and then to Europe!  Onward!

I’ll see you all out at Bernhardts Winery this Labor Day weekend.
Bring a lawn chair and come on out on a Sunday afternoon to this beautiful pastoral setting and enjoy a few tunes floating through the air.  The music begins at 6:30pm.  I hope to see you there.  www.bernhardtswinery.com for information, reservations and don't forget the "Wine Stomp" that starts at 4:00 PM. 

More later….stay tuned
thanks,
Shake
WOW!
I received an “update” from our label Howling Dog regarding airplay our three new CD’s are getting in UK, FRANCE, GERMANY, and on Dutch radio and other places in Europe. They sent various charts from various stations and programs. I thought someone was playing a joke on me and pulling my leg and having a little fun with me. But no, it was for real!!
The first chart I opened was from Dutch Radio SKAGENSEXPRESSEN chart…106.4FM. was listed in large letters at the top of the chart as the ‘ARTIST OF THE WEEK’: 28,08 2016. Not only that, but I had five songs in their stations top ten songs. Five songs! I mean not one or two but five!
Just like the Beatles back in the day! WOW!

Number 4 was “At the Speed of Love”…number 5 “Kicking Up Gold Dust”, (from “Dreaming the Mystery”) Number 6… “I Love the Wind”, number 7… “The Girl just Loves to Dance”, and at number 9……“The Highway is a Friend of Mine” co-written with Michael Hearne and on his "Red River Dreams"!!!!! That’s fantastic and exciting news! Five of the top 10 songs. That's unheard of on the radio in this day and age!
On the “COUNTRY STEW” Euro Americana Chart ’The King of the Honky Tonk is Gone” is number 8 and “So Late So Soon” is listed at number 23. Other stations around Europe are all choosing different songs to play from the three different CDs. Michael’s Solo “RED RIVER DREAMS” and my solo CD “LITTLE BRIGHT BAND OF LIGHT”, and from our Duo CD“ONLY AS STRONG AS YOUR DREAMS”. So it’s really cool we’re getting a whole lot of airplay over there!Hopefully if we continue to get more airplay as we go along, we will be able to put together a trip and tour across the pond next year. We will see how it unfolds over the next few months. I Just wanted to share the good news with everyone.
We had two great shows at Anderson Fair last weekend. Our regular great Friday night with fans, old and new and a private party on Saturday night with some old fans and some new fans! Can't beat that! This Sunday…LABOR DAY WEEKEND….I‘ll be out at BERNHARDT’S Winery( out in Plantersville, Tx Hiway 105.) for my annual Labor Day Show! Come on out and enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon and evening under the trees with a glass of wine, some food, and listen to music for a few hours .and maybe even dance and enjoy the “Sun Down toast” led by Jerry and Jerri Bernhardt. And, come early for the Grape Stomp!!!! 4:00 for the stomp and 6:30 for music! www.bernhardtwinery.com for all the details!
For this show Mike Roberts and I will be joined by legendary guitarist JOHN INMON, so we will be rocking and rolling.
OK! ALL RIGHT! GOOD DEAL! I hope to see you there.
Shake
WOW!