MERRY CHRISTMAS AND  A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

HEY EVERYONE—-WHY NOT TAKE A BREAK—

FROM ALL THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND HEAR SOME SHAKE?

—-A SHAKE SOLO SHOW @JP HOPS HOUSE!—

(Just me and my guitar and a suitcase 🧳 full of stories.)

I will be performing a solo show at JP Hops House this coming Saturday night December 21.

So, if you live in the Westheimer Highway 6 area come on out and request your favorite
songs, have a brew, bring a friend or two, and see if you can ‘stump the band’.

The music starts at 8pm.  I hope to see you all there! For more info go to www.jphopshouse.com!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Peace,

Shake

P.S.  Mark the calendars to bring in the New Year with me, sip some champagne and ring in 2020!  A
new decade!  I'm playing the great Anderson Fair, www.andersonfair.net for reservations!

Sent from my iPad

Hello Houston! Howdy everyone!

 

Here is a shout out to let you know I will be back in town this Friday night Oct. 4

for a ‘Saturday on a Friday night’ show at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, a great and
comfortable venue for listening to live music.

I will have special guest— John Inmon—guitarist extraordinaire—sitting in along
with Mike Roberts on bass.  John is an old friend from way back in the days

when Austin was home for all the cosmic cowboys. John was part of the Lost
Gonzo Band along with Bob Livingston and Gary P Nunn who were the backing
band for Michael Murphy and Jerry Jeff Walker.  In more recent years John also
toured with Jimmy LaFave.  John is also a very fine songwriter and producer.

He produced and played on my CD released in 2008 “What This Heart Holds”,
and recently we’ve been back in the studio working on new tracks for a future release.

I am always excited to share the stage with him.  If you haven’t heard John you need to
come out and hear us together.

So take some time and drop on by this Friday.  Come early and have dinner.  Music
starts at 7:30.—Hope to see you there.

Shake

'Friday on a Tuesday  Night"  With Shake Russell

Hey everyone in the Houston area.............here's a heads up to let you know I will be performing at Mcgonigel's Mucky Duck Tuesday night August 27th.  It will be one of my rare solo shows.  I will be knocking the dust off of a lot of tunes I haven't played in a while, along with your favories and requests!

The show is being recorded by Joshua Daughtery.  A thumb drive of the evenings performance will be made available for purchase immediately following the show.  The stereo recording along with graphics and the set list is included.  Josh always does a great job of recording the performance and putting together a superb package and souvenir of the night to take home with you!  This will be a one time deal!  Be sure and pick up a one of a kind, one night only live recording of the show.  Then you can say, "Hey, I was there!  Hear that person yelling for one more?  Well, that's me!!"

Music starts at 7:30 PM.  Come on out and have dinner and a cocktail and sit back and listen to some music and the stories behind them.

I hope to see you there.  Thanks,

Shake

“BACK FROM THE LAND OF ‘TAR HEELS’ AND ‘BLUE DEVILS”

Last week I traveled to Chapel Hill, NC. to be part of the magnificent wedding and reception of Harper Rae Jones and Tyson Creech.  There were over 300 guests, friends, and family converged upon The Fearrington Ranch “The Barn” in Pittsboro, NC. (just a little South of Chapel Hill) to celebrate and congratulate and wish the best for the newlyweds. Michael Hearne and I, along with Susan Douglass Taylor, Carey Taylor, and Dan Harlow performed during the cocktail hour on “The Terrace”.  After which the party made its way to ‘The Barn’, —lit with thousands of lights—-where dinner was served.  After dinner, the band —Liquid Pleasure—provided the high energy funky dance music. Then the band took a short break for the cutting of the cake.

After the cake cutting—- Michael and I performed a song we had written for the wedding— “SWEET HARPER RAE “(told from Tyson’s perspective). The bride and groom stood before us as we sang the song, listened and smiled, and laughed to each other at certain lyrics as if saying “hey, how did they know that??” Harper's dad told me everything.  Harper Rae and Tyson loved the song and that’s what counted, so I felt good and that the song had reached and hit its mark. It was indeed a night to remember!!

“AN ACT OF GOD AND A GYPSY LIMOUSINE! “

Getting back to Texas was a Father’s Day to remember! Thanks to a never ending storm over Houston, our three hour, nonstop flight home, scheduled to leave at 6:30 and arrive@8:30pm... touched down at 3am. Because of storms and torrential rain, many flights had been delayed and grounded through Houston all day long. Our flight ready to land in Houston was diverted to Lafayette for refueling and further instructions. When we finally arrived in Houston there were long, long, long, long lines for everything—-baggage claims, people waiting to board their flight at 3:30am, and people outside waiting for taxis—a hundred or more deep.  People were sleeping wherever they could in the terminal—-it was a mess. I felt fortunate we made it out with luggage and guitar in hand.

As we stood at the end of a very, very long line waiting for a taxi, I am thinking we will be here for another couple of hours in this line....when a young Rastafarian gentleman, dressed in a chauffeur’s suit, strolled up and asked where we were going and if we needed a Taxi?

We gave him our destination—-he gave us a price—we loaded everything in his limousine—-and we were off into the night—-listening to some reggae hip hop on the radio and making our way home.  By the way, we wish to thank the pilots of our United Flight from Raleigh, NC a thank you getting through some rough and bumpy weather with lightning all around and landing safely on the ground. 

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN

Now, I’m back home in Texas, sipping lemonade in the shade, and trying to stay out of the heat—getting ready for upcoming shows.

THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 22 I will be heading to the gulf coast playing with Michael Hearne in Palacios, TX, @ THE OUTRIGGER. We haven’t been in the area for awhile. This is our first visit to this venue, so we’re sending an invitation out and hoping to see some you folks. Show time 7:15pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 23

We will be appearing in Fulshear, TX. “THE HANSHAWS” opening at 4:15pm,  our sets at 5:15 and 7:30pm. The House Concert is hosted in the beautiful home of Belinda and Buddy Williams. Our visit last year was a fantastic Sunday evening!

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 Michael Hearne, Mike Roberts and I will be returning to “The Bugle Boy” in LaGrange, TX. We always have a great time there, plus there is live streaming going on!  So come on out and hear us live, or if you can’t, just go online-to www.concertwindow.com to make your reservation to download and watch and hear us at home. The show starts at 8pm.

I hope to see you there,

Peace

Shake

WHAT KIND OF DEAL IS THIS???

Hey! What’s Going On: OK folks, I know it’s been a while since you
last heard from me. I apologize, but I’ve been busy playing all sorts
of concerts, allover Texas the past several months.Spring sprang and
sprung and all of a sudden I look up and summertime is walking around
the corner. I have also been writing and recording new songs with Michael
Hearne @John Inmon’s Studio. So expect some new music this year!

Past Live Shows:

Last month we played the Kessler neighborhood fundraiser up in Dallas to
help raise funding to fight City Hall for my old friend Michael Coghlan. His 

neighborhood is fighting with a nearby, encroaching, agreement breaking
hospital, trying to expand into their neighborhood. We volunteered to help out
and entertain everyone for this event. We sat up on the patio roof top over the 

garage and played to the par-tiers on the lawn below. We were “The Second 

Story Men” for the evening. We opened  with “Up On The Roof” and closed

with “Rain on the Roof”. The evening was a success! The fight carries on. They 

raised $9,000 with their auction! Glad we could be part of the resistance!!

A couple of weeks ago we performed at Sandy Frey’s first house concert she
has hosted in several years. There was a brand new stage built for the occasion
and lights strung across the trees to welcome guests who arrived.There was an
air of celebration in a magical setting. Weather was threatening but cooperated
and held back for the show. It was also a 90th birthday salute and celebration to
Sandy’s mom Ms. Betty Frey. A huge “Happy Birthday” banner donned the stage,
relatives from all over, as far away as Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa were there; along
with the regular music lovers on Sandy’s email list to enjoy the evening and the
music and wish Betty the very best on her most memorable birthday. Thank you
Sandy, Kathy, Steve and Bob for all your hard work.

The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston was standing room only! Michael Hearne
and I jammed through the night. I saw several old friends and did a little time tripping
too.  It was a good, satisfying drive home.

On Memorial Day weekend -Sunday-the Trio played to over 400 people @Bernhardt
Winery in Plantersville, TX. It was a beautiful afternoon in the natural little amphitheater.

It was 90 degrees but a breeze was blowing and the canopy of the trees provided
shade for all. There was a salute to Veterans and our flag before the music began, and
a ‘sunset toast’  led by Jerry and Jerri Bernhardt. The dance floor was full all evening long.
Dogs ran free too!

Our return concert at The 4STAR Concert Hall In Brenham was a sellout show which was
also available for the first time on down stream for folks at home. Unfortunately Michael
Hearne was on grandpa duty business, awaiting the birth of his new grandchild and missed
the show. Mike Roberts and I carried on and the crowd was very supportive and sent Michael
congratulations and well wishes. Matthew Michael Naftis ....welcome to the world!! He arrived at
10:30 as we were just about closing the evening. Congratulations Sarah and Matt and Gramps.

The show on Saturday in Johnson City @The 290 Vinery was a full house of wine sipping,
music loving folk. Hey, even Grandpa made the show! It’s great to see this family run business
blossom and grow and everyone supporting it. We want to thank Mark Stevens, Warren, Alison,
and Susan, and all of you for coming out and making it possible.

The next afternoon I performed a solo unplugged concert at Julia and Randy Sulsor's beautiful
home in Elgin, TX. I played in their living room for about 60 people. No sound system no
microphone...just me and my guitar. It was almost like how I play at home except at home

I don’t have 60 people watching and listening. For me it is the most natural way to perform.

Also——-My solo shows at The Duck “Friday on a Tuesday night” have been well attended and
a lot of fun. I hope to have a few more over the summer. I will keep you updated on upcoming shows,
next one August 27th.  You can  check the Ducks website for more info. www.mcgonigels.com or
www.shakerussell.com for my live shows.

Shows Coming up:

This Saturday June 8 - The Trio is back, Michael Hearne and I with Mike Roberts will be returning to
McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. The Duck provides an intimate dinner theater setting, so come early and
have dinner, sit back and enjoy the music. Music starts at 7:30 pm. I hope to see you there.

On Sunday Michael Hearne and I head to New Braunfels  for a ‘Songwriter Show’ House Concert at

Cypress Woods House Concerts.   It will be an up front, close and personal, with lots of stories of
where songs came from, what inspired them, and wild tales from the road,kind of show. We will be
taking questions and notes. Doors at 4:15, music at 5:00 pm.  Shared meal between sets. Email 
cypresswoodshc@gmail.com to receive an invitation.  Email will be sent to confirm reservation
with specific address.  Suggested donation $20.00. Were gonna have some fun!
Peace,   Shake

After a great start In January, with a great run of shows, and recently a song swap with Michel Hearne at Threadgill’s North  in Austin, we are on our way half way through February.

Successful Solo shows , a  McGonigel’s Mucky Duck sold out show, The Hops House in Houston with a very good crowd and another  sold out show “At The Mansion Series” held on the Schreiner University campus, in Kerrville , TX.  Very inspiring to me and very humbling.

It involved a little driving through some rain and sleet to get there but worth it!

Well today, I find myself restringing my guitar and singing...“January, January, where did you go? It’s already February, time for our Annual VALENTINE SHOW at Main Street Crossing!!!”

So, if you are wondering what to do, haven’t made plans yet for Valentines night and searching for something fun, well, look no more...come on out to...MAIN STREET CROSSING” in Tomball, TX for our annual “VALENTINE DAY SHOW”.  It will be an evening of wining, dining, and love songs. MICHAEL HEARNE, MIKE ROBERTS, and I (aka ‘The Cupids’) will be performing a love themed evening of tunes. Reservations are available so make your plans, grab your sweetheart, and come on out.  Music starts @ 8pm.   Doors at 6:30, dinner @ 7:00 PM.  We hope to see you there!  www.mainstreetcrossing.com

Then Back up to Austin....

On Feb. 16 & 17 we will be @ Sycamore Creek Concerts Series out in the Dripping Springs area  off of Fitzhugh Rd. The Saturday and Sunday shows are both sold out with a wait list.  Their shows are by invitation only but you can go to their web site and fill out the form to be on the email list. www.sycamorecreekconcerts.com  It is a beautiful venue for the musicians as well  as  well as the guests!

Thanks everyone,

We will see you up the road.

Peace,

Shake

Good morning!

It’s Tuesday, January 29. It seems like I was singing “AULD LANG SYNE”,

only a couple of weeks ago. Now here comes February! We’ve already had so

 many wonderful shows to kick off the year.

Micheal Hearne, Mike Roberts, and I had two great shows over the past weekend.

Saturday night we played a ‘house concert’ in Smithville, TX. hosted by Jeri Nell

and Walt Winslett,  The Mosaic House Concert Series. It was located right on

the corner of Main Street and Loop 230 in an old historic building, with the

first floor being a cool antique and artist store and upstairs their home, their living quarters, which they generously turned  a bedroom into a backstage green room for us and  moved furniture and set up chairs in the living room to provide an intimate  listening room, concert hall for 70. We had a full house of very enthusiastic

 Unicorn loving folks. I met people not only from Smithville, but from all around

 the area; Bastrop, La Grange, Paige, Giddings and Austin, they all came out. I saw some old faces I hadn’t seen in a while and met a lot of new ones, too. Thank you both so much for your generosity and hospitality and opening your home to all of us. It was a pleasure.  I hope we can do this again next year.

On Sunday, the very next afternoon, we found ourselves at old Gruene Hall for an

early evening show from 5-8pm. It was a beautiful day and the little historic tourist area of Gruene was swarming with people sightseeing,  shopping, and enjoying the gorgeous afternoon. Inside the old dancehall where we were playing the place was packed and more crowded and over flowing,  much more than usual. From the very first song it felt like everyone, the whole room, was with us and behind us, encouraging and cheering us on song after song.  And we played a lot of songs! It always feels good driving home after an energetic show like this one was, feeling like everyone had fun and enjoyed the show. Thanks for coming out and making it a memorable one for us. And thank you Tracie for inviting us to the historic Gruene Hall!

TONIGHT!!!!....TONIGHT!!!!...TONIGHT!!!!! …TUESDAY 29

I will be doing a Solo Show at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck in Houston.  It’s an early show. The music starts at 7:30. Come on out, have dinner, set back and hear some songs and stories. Let me know if you have any requests.  I hope to see you there tonight.

Peace    Shake