19th Annual Terlingua Music Bash

Musicians from all over the country will gather at Gareth Park, across Hwy 170 from the Terlingua Ghost Town. There will be camping and song-swapping around campfires.

Here’s the event schedule-

Fri. & Sat. Oct. 11 th & 12 th, Greg Geyson 7 pm @ High Sierra

Sun. Oct. 13 th Pat O’Bryan’s 2 nd Sunday Benefit Bash for “Catfish Calloway” .2 pm @ High Sierra, Come Play With Greg Greyson & Terlinqua Musicians

Tues. Oct. 15 th 6pm Pablo Menudo’s House Dinner

Weds. Oct.16th Open Mic at LaKiva hosted by Al Barlow

Thurs. Oct.17 th 8 am Rio Grande Music Jam Float. For info. Call BBRT @ 432-371-3033 to make your reservation. Go to Jana Laven’s event page on Facebook for details.
Thurs. Oct. 17th, Dr. Fun on the Patio @ High Sierra 4 pm-?
Thurs. Oct. 17 th Longdraw Pizza 6pm
Thurs. Oct 17 th Rocky Top Alien Breeding Experiment @ 7:30 pm Starlight Theater

Fri. Oct.18 th Open Mic 7-10 pm Starlight Theater, Hosted by Claude Butch Morgan
Fri. Oct. 18 th 5-8 pm. High Sierra Songwriter Showcase Featuring, The Whipples! John Scholten! Rachel Laven! Billy Snipes! Cary Windham! Lisa Byrn! Jenni Mansfield Peal! Al Barlow!

Sat Oct 19th The VorTexans – Terlingua blues band – at the Starlight Theatre
Sat. Oct 19 th Afternoon Open Mic @ The Whitmore’s!
Sat. Oct. 19 th, Kickoff Wig Parade 6 pm leaving Gareth Park through Ghosttown ending at High Sierra hosted by Al Barlow
Sat. Oct.19 th Best Wig Contest and Micheal O’Connor @ LaKiva
Sat. Oct. 19 th Dr. Fun @ 7 pm High Sierra

Sun. Oct. 20 th Gospel Brunch Memorial in Celebration of Phil Stevens 10:30 am @ The Easter
Egg
Sun. Oct. 20 th Trevor Reichman 2-5 pm @ High Sierra
Sun. Oct. 20 th Open Mic
Sun. Oct. 20 th, The Whipples 7 pm @ The Starlight Theater

Mon. Oct. 21 st. Claude Butch Morgan@ Starlight Theater 6-9

September 6, 2013September 10, 2013

Benefit for the Terlingua Community Garden

Last Sunday, 9/8/13, there was a FREE benefit concert for the Terlingua Ghost Town Community Garden at the High Sierra Bar and Grill.

There was a lot going on in town this Sunday. A lot of the musicians who normally play were busy being movie stars. There was a football game.

The High Sierra was absolutely packed- standing room only- by 5:00. By 8:00 the benefit was pretty much over.

New! The Alpine Daily Planet has an article about the benefit. Click HERE to read it.

The music was stellar, the auction rocked, and the community came together again to support a good cause. Shannon and Zoe were delighted with the over $500 that was raised.

Then, Monday, Nick found a tip jar that was overlooked that had some more money – by the time it was all counted, over $700 went to the Community Garden.

If you missed it and you want to donate now, click on the PayPal button below:

August 19, 2013August 27, 2013

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.

scorpion — 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

pablo — Pablo Menudo sang his tales of aliens and walking catfish.

laird — Laird Considine performed with Ted Arbogast on guitar and Trevor Hickle on bass.

jeffh — Jeff Haislip gave his usual brilliant best.

jeffg — Jeff Gavin whupped out a set of gorgeous original songs.

jam — 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

greg — Greg Grymes performed songs from his new CD – Nick on bass, Anna Oakley on fiddle, Moses on harmonica.

dancers2 — Dancing to the Rocky Top Alien Breeding Experiment band. Staff photo- Betsy Blaydes.

dancer3 — The Aliens got the room moving.

collie — Miss Collie Ryan – a local legend.

charlie — Carlos Maxwell, with Ted and Laird Considine. Between ’em, I think these guys have over 75 years residency in the Big Bend.

billie — Billy Lord – was driving through the Big Bend on a motorcycle with his guitar on his back.

Deanna and Herman from the High Sierra donated a case of beer for the auction – Thomas was the auctioneer, Ronda displayed the wares.

alexmartidancer — Alex and Marti Whitmore gave a very professional performance.

July 8, 2013July 11, 2013

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.

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”

June 24, 2013July 1, 2013

Legiondary Jam 7

Terlingua Americana Music – Legiondary Jam 7

Legiondary Jam continued the tradition of good times, great music, great food, and good friends hangin’ out.

This month, our beneficiary was the American Legion Post. The legion is under new management, and the new team has a nasty fiscal mess to clean up.

The legion is crucial to the folks who live on Terlingua Ranch. For some people, it’s their Internet cafe. For others, it’s a place to leave messages or borrow the phone (not everybody out here has a phone and cell phones don’t work). If you run out of gas or get a flat, it’s a place to go for help. UPS and Fedex leave packages for those of us who live way off-road.

Most of us moved to the desert for solitude. Sometimes, the solitude can get a little oppressive- and there are usually folks at the legion who are up for conversation, a game of pool, or to just provide a connection to another human.

This morning, it was big smile time at the Legion. They had a good night, and we raised enough donations to cover the electric and phone bill for the month.

Thanks to all the musicians who played, the cooks who provided the pot-luck dinner, and the people who listened and partied with us. Thanks to y’all, the legion is well on its way to solvency.

The new Terlingua Music “Hotter’n Hell and Cooler’n Shit” t-shirts made their debut last night, and it seems like everybody was wearing them. We’ll have those at all future jams- all profit goes to charity. Thanks to Anna Oakley for the fine design.

alband — Al Berry leades the band: Chris Baker (flute), Nick Cooper (bass), and Laird Considine (mandolin).

brandiband — Brandi, with Nick and Moses.

crowd — The legion was full, with as many people outside as in. A good night.

Continue reading “Legiondary Jam 7”

June 10, 2013June 12, 2013

Special Message From Pat Smith to his Band…

Friday night, Pat Smith and band were booked to play the High Sierra. Pat made it but his band didn’t. The previous blog post describes how a team of talented locals filled in and the show went on. (The Show Goats on!)

Pat seemed a little disappointed that his band hadn’t made the gig.

Saturday night, Pat, Maggie Montgomery, and a crowd of locals formed a pickin’ circle at La Kiva. I had planned to go, but a rainstorm came through the ranch and the roads were flooded. By the next morning, the roads were passable, but I missed that show.

It’s all part of living with nature.

When I walked into the High Sierra Sunday afternoon, the “Hangover Jam” was over. George Goss, Nick Cooper, Jim and Anna Keaveny, and Pat Smith were hanging out, drinking beer, and talking about how good the jam was.

Continue reading “Special Message From Pat Smith to his Band…”

June 8, 2013June 26, 2013

Austin/Terlingua/Luckenbach Music Mashup at the High Sierra

When musicians from Austin, Luckenbach, and Terlingua, Texas get together to jam on the border, you get real Texas music.

Last night at the High Sierra Saloon in Terlingua, Pat Smith and Maggie Montgomery pulled in after driving all day across Texas. No time to change or shower… it was show time.

The original plan was for Pat’s band to accompany him, but they were kidnapped by of viscous crew of nude marauding female pirates in a 57 Corvette – or maybe they had car trouble – it was unclear. So, word went out on the Terlingua grapevine and a band of top local hands joined Pat on stage. Chris Baker brought her flaut. Nick Cooper played his dog-house bass, Mark played mandolin and fiddle…

It was totally unrehearsed and absolutely delightful. Continue reading “Austin/Terlingua/Luckenbach Music Mashup at the High Sierra”

May 23, 2013June 8, 2013

Legiondary Jam 6 – Sunday, 5/26/13

Legiondary Jam 6 – Live Texas Americana Music from Terlingua, Texas.

At 4:00 the Legion was packed. A gang of about twenty happy bikers joined the crowd on the porch.

At 5:15 (or so) dinner was served. Ron made brisket, Wes made some amazing saucy sausages, Dave baked a ham – there were beans, salad, and hot dogs…

The music started around 6:15 (or so). George brought a new song. Al Berry and his Randi showed up and Al did a nice set. Look through the pics below for all the performers.

It was a hot night, but that didn’t slow down the dancers.

By 11:15 PM we ran out of musicians… I did a short set, and we all headed off in our various directions.

BTW, there are discussions happening about installing a swamp cooler in the legion. There’s ‘a’fixin’ta be a change in management before the next jam. Many improvements coming.

Feel free to leave a comment about ways we can make the legiondary jams better.

lj25 — Jeff and Greg played the song they wrote together…

Continue reading “Legiondary Jam 6 – Sunday, 5/26/13”

May 3, 2013May 3, 2013

Legendary Legion Jam 5 – tomahawks, knives, music…

Terlingua Texas Americana Music –

Legiondary Jam 5 was the biggest one yet!

In the early afternoon, there was a skeet-shooting contest. The great frisbee massacre continues. Wes won.

Dennis (Humping Bear) started things off with a tomahawk and knife throwing contest. This was so popular that we’re going to make it a regular attraction. Wes won this, too.

Around 5:00 the pot-luck dinner was served. There was etouffe’, chili, BBQ, bar-b-que’d bratwurst, and whiskey fudge. Or many it was fudge-whiskey.

Around 6:15 the music started, and it rolled through until midnight.

I’ll post pics here of all the acts except the Rocky Top Aliens. They kinda laid down on the job, but gave a very grounded performance. You can see all that here.

There are some videos – more coming – including a hilarious performance by the Aliens. Click on Music Videos above or click here.

Greg, with Mo on harp and Spencer Jarmon on guitar.

The ghost of Hank Williams appeared... — The ghost of Hank Williams appeared…

Ole' time Terlingua Music - Charlotte Teer, Chris Baker, and Laird Considine. — Ole’ time Terlingua Music – Charlotte Teer, Chris Baker, and Laird Considine.

Continue reading “Legendary Legion Jam 5 – tomahawks, knives, music…”

February 16, 2013

Brewski Salmineo and Friends at the Starlight, Terlingua, Tx.

Last night (2/15/13) Bruce Salmon brought a crew of top hands from Austin to the Starlight for a night of eclectic music.

On Bass: Brad Houser, who plays with Patrice Pike, the Dead Kenny Gs, and was in the New Bohemians.

On Drums: Dony Wynn, whose “other” gig is playing in Robert Plant’s band. He’s played with Brooks and Dunn, Robert Palmer, and Knuckle Yummy – and a LOT of other bands you’ve loved.

On Violin – the Berklee trained Michelle Alany. I’m not familiar with her background, but when she started rocking her violin in F#, I knew she was a talent to be reckoned with.

Continue reading “Brewski Salmineo and Friends at the Starlight, Terlingua, Tx.”