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Art and Music Benefit Concert – Starlight – Sunday – 8/25/13

Terlingua, Texas musicians and community to the rescue!

terlingua americana music to the rescue
Musicians for the arts.

*** Want to donate to the Terlingua Arts and Music departments?  Click the paypal “donate” button – all proceeds will go to the Art and Music Departments at the Terlingua School. ***




When I found out that the music and art teachers in Terlingua were buying music and art supplies for their students out of their meagre paychecks, I found myself channeling the Big Lebowski:  “This will not stand!”

As I shared this information with others in the community, the response was pretty much the same.

Rather than focus on why this situation exists, we just fixed it by funding the art and music departments.

On Sunday, August 25th, local artists, musicians and community members gathered at the Starlight Theatre in the Terlingua Ghost Town to raise money for the Terlingua School music and art programs.

We passed the tip jar around, there were silent- and loud- auctions, some people donated by using the above PayPal button – and by the end of the night we had raised over $800.  That will buy a lot of paint, reeds, etc.

The Starlight donated beer and food for the musicians and gave us a great, historic venue for the benefit – thanks Buckner, Sonny, Diego, Kathy and all the rest of the gang at the Starlight!

Many local artists and authors donated their work for the auction, and the bidding was fierce.  All proceeds go to the kids.

Herman and Deanna (High Sierra Bar and Grill) donated a case of beer for the auction.  Ed won.

The musicians donated their time and talent.  We are lucky to live in a community that is so rich in brilliant and giving performers and artists.  Each act played a short set and still the music went on for over six hours.

 

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This little guy was dancing to the music on the dance floor. Carmen rescued it before it got boot-scooted, and it ended up outside- where it belongs. Staff photo: Betsy Blaydes
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Pablo Menudo sang his tales of aliens and walking catfish.
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Laird Considine performed with Ted Arbogast on guitar and Trevor Hickle on bass.
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Jeff Haislip gave his usual brilliant best.
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Jeff Gavin whupped out a set of gorgeous original songs.
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Billy Lord http://BillyLordMusic.com closed out the show – Moses Martinez on drums, Nick Cooper on bass, Joshua on banjo, me on guitar. Staff photo- Betsy Blaydes
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Greg Grymes performed songs from his new CD – Nick on bass, Anna Oakley on fiddle, Moses on harmonica.
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Dancing to the Rocky Top Alien Breeding Experiment band. Staff photo- Betsy Blaydes.
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The Aliens got the room moving.
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The Starlight Theatre.
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Miss Collie Ryan – a local legend.
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Carlos Maxwell, with Ted and Laird Considine. Between ’em, I think these guys have over 75 years residency in the Big Bend.
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Billy Lord – was driving through the Big Bend on a motorcycle with his guitar on his back.
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Deanna and Herman from the High Sierra donated a case of beer for the auction – Thomas was the auctioneer, Ronda displayed the wares.
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Aliens!
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More dancing ensued.
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Alex and Marti Whitmore gave a very professional performance.

 

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Flying Shoes…

Wherein Terlingua, Texas Americana Music and the local community pitch in to buy track shoes for the track team…

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It all started at the outside bar at the High Sierra a month ago.  Aaron, the track coach, and few other late nighters were relaxing after the Legendary Jam in July and Coach said, “I’ve got some runners who can make it to State this year- if only they could afford shoes.”

Fade forward – 11.45 last night, Aaron was sitting in the back of the room with a big grin on his face while Moses, Clayton and some late-night drinkers sang some canciones en Espanol.  Brandi and I were talking at the next table, and Aaron walked over, patting the fat envelope of cash in his pocket:  “we’ve got enough money here to buy shoes for both teams, as well as some team shirts and bags!” Continue reading “Flying Shoes…”

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Legendary Jam – This Sunday 8/11 – High Sierra

Terlingua, Texas Americana Music to the rescue!

 

Terlingua musicians will once again gather to raise money for a good cause.  This time, it’s at the High Sierra on Sunday, 8/11/13, from 2 until we’re through.

Expect the usual suspects – we never know who’s going to play, but Greg, Anna, Jim, Jeff and them are back from Santa Fe where Greg cut his new CD.

This time, our charity is the Terlingua Track team.  Aaron thinks he’s got some runners who can go to State – but they can’t afford track shoes.

That ain’t right.

So, we’re gonna play some great music and pass the hat so the kids can have shoes.

c’ya there!

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Jerry Garcia’s Birthday at the Starlight with Butch Hancock

Although Terlingua tends to be a haven for singer/songwriters in the Texas Americana tradition, it’s not surprising that there’s a strong Grateful Dead influence here, too.

 

Last night we celebrated Jerry Garcia’s birthday at the starlight with music, dancing, good food and beer.  And maybe some other stuff…

Uh Clem gathered the initial band- Laird Considine on bass, me on guitar.  Mark Lewis heard the music from the porch and joined us on mandolin.

Later on, Butch and Rory Hancock came in for dinner.  Soon, Butch was singing and playing Uh’s guitar, Rory had my strat, Mike and Moses were playing drums, and I was on bass.

 

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The band- Rory, Mark, Butch, me and Mike.

In New York, LA or Austin this would have been a sold-out show with high-dollar tickets.  Butch is an amazing singer/songwriter and the band was top-notch.

Here in Terlingua, it was a free show. Continue reading “Jerry Garcia’s Birthday at the Starlight with Butch Hancock”

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Viva Big Bend 2013 – Marfa

Viva Big Bend 2013

Viva Big Bend Music Festival 2013 – Lost Horse Saloon – Marfa, Texas.

Viva Big Bend 2013
Lost Horse Saloon, Marfa

The Big Bend of Texas is the last outpost for singer-songwriters.  Totally uninfluenced by outside trends, it’s a world unto itself.  On any night, and pretty much all day long, there is music playing here.

The local bars support the local musicians with money, food and beer.  There’s always a jam going on the porch in the Ghost Town – fiddles, mandolins, guitars, and voices raised in harmony.

Occasionally, the outside world joins us – and it gets really interesting. Continue reading “Viva Big Bend 2013 – Marfa”

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Nashville to Terlingua – Texas Americana Music with a dash of Country

This week, Keith Gattis came to town and sprinkled some rockin’ country on our Texas Americana Music scene.

Keith Gattis
Keith Gattis

From Wikipedia:

Keith Gattis (born May 26, 1971 in Georgetown, Texas) is an American country music artist. Gattis has released two studio albums. He also charted one single on the BillboardHot Country Singles & Tracks chart: “Little Drops of My Heart”, which peaked at No. 53 in 1996. Since being dropped from RCA, he has written songs for George Jones, Kid Rock, Randy Houser, Charlie Robison, Gary Allan, Ashley Monroe, Waylon Payne, Sara Evans and the Eli Young Band.

Kenny Chesney recorded two of Gattis’ songs for his 2012 album Welcome to the Fishbowl. One of these, “El Cerrito Place“, was released as a single. Gattis also co-wrote Chesney’s 2013 single “When I See This Bar“, from the album Life on a Rock.

He’s played with George Jones, Dwight Yoakum and Kid Rock among others.  He’s a dangerously good guitarist and singer and an immediately likable human. Continue reading “Nashville to Terlingua – Texas Americana Music with a dash of Country”

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Changes!

The Terlingua Music Concert Series is going through some changes.  It’s a good thing.

First – there will be no Legiondary Jam at the American Legion in July.  The legion is going through some changes, too, and a lot of our favorite musicians will be in Santa Fe then, cheering Greg Grymes on as he makes his new CD.

August will be all about the Terlingua School.

After the “Second Sunday” jam at the high sierra, I was talking to the track coach.  He said, “I’ve got a group that I think can take State this year- if only we could afford track shoes.”

So, the second Sunday in August we’re having a “Second Sunday” jam at the High Sierra Bar and Grill in Terlingua.  We’re going to raise enough money to buy the team shoes.

Later in the month- similar deal.  The local art and music teachers have been buying supplies for their students out of their paychecks – and they’re about the lowest paid teachers in the State of Texas.  I’m not going to talk about the lack of support for Art, Music, and education in general in Texas except to say that it would be nice to vote in some representatives who have the kids best interest at heart.

What we’re going to do is fund those programs ourselves.  I’ll announce the details as soon as I’ve confirmed the date and location.

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Rockin’ the Ranch

Rockin’ the Ranch at Lajitas – Texas Music, BBQ, Beer, floating in a pool looking at the stars…

 

The end of the story:  we lay on comfy pool recliners, drinking excelent Malbec and watching the stars play on the turquoise water of the pool…

The resort at Lajitas is an oasis in the desert.  Literally.  Green grass covers the golf course.  There are two pools.  The suites and hotel rooms are “cowboy’ chic” and luxurious.

It’s also way out of the price range that most Terlinguans can (or will) afford.

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That’s why I was so excited when I learned about the “Rockin’ the Ranch” party the resort was putting on.  Two great bands (playing through Trevor’s new PA system.  Very cool.), against a backdrop of desert mountains and a huge sky.

Free show, $2 BBQ, $2 beer, open-swim…

Now, that’s a “local-friendly” party.

Continue reading “Rockin’ the Ranch”

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1st “Second Sunday” Jam at the High Sierra

Terlingua, Texas Americana Music

The first “Second Sunday” Jam at the High Sierra exceeded my expectations.

New location.  New time.  And the Terlingua Moon (the only “newspaper” out here) didn’t include our info, so the PR campaign consisted of flyers.  It could have been lonely…

It was a blast.  Somehow, word got out.

The room was full of locals, tourists and musicians.  George Goss started at 2:00 and Moe and Brandi closed the show around midnight.  In between, some truly amazing music happened.  Unexpected combinations of musicians played together, some new musicians showed up, and everybody played like they meant it.

It was a good show.

For the musicians, it was also a chance for good friends to hang out, play together, and share gratitude for being part of such a vibrant musical community.  For the audience, it was a free concert showcasing the region’s finest talent.

The High Sierra is a great location for the concert.  They’ve got a large selection of cold beer, great food (Tacos Alhambra (sp?) for me), cheerful staff, and the best air conditioner in the county.

The experiment was a success.  We’ll be doing a “Second Sunday” concert on a regular basis from now on.

We didn’t have a designated charity for this one, so the money raised will go to the Terlingua Music General Do-Gooder fund.

After the concert, a few dedicated partiers gathered at the outside bar for conversation under the stars.  The moon was setting- a dark gold sliver over the ghost town.  The Milky Way was a spray of diamonds across the sky.  Music played from a pickup truck.  And, somebody just happened to have a cooler of beverages.

Talking to the local track coach, I learned that he’s got a new batch of kids that he thinks can take State this year- if only they could afford shoes.

I think we’ve found our charity for the next “Second Sunday” jam.

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Having a good time.

Continue reading “1st “Second Sunday” Jam at the High Sierra”