It's good to dream every once in a while. I have a dream that one day, one of the artists to perform at the Real. Texas. Festival. will be inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
That would be awesome ... particularly since the artist who typically perform at the festival are all 20-somethings or 30-somethings for the most part. If they are one day inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it would stand as a testament to their career -- that they were able to endure through one of the most uncertain periods the music industry has ever faced.
And, it would certainly be a testament to the longevity of the festival.
I know what you're thinking.
"How can a Real. Texas. Festival. artist make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Most of the folks who play the festival are all alt country artists."
Well, it can happen. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is more than just rock and roll. Take a look at the nominees for this year's class for possible induction.
Alice Cooper -- Goth rock pioneer.
Beastie Boys -- An alt-rap group ... defined the genre.
Bon Jovi -- An ultimate chameleon. Bon Jovi has morphed from rock, to pop to alt country with a duet with Sugarland.
Chic -- Three words. Ah. Freak Out!!!
Neil Diamond -- Certainly not a rock and roll artist, but a string of gold records as long as my arm.
Donovan -- 60s flower power rocker. Interesting nomination. I always thought of Donovan of being just a guy in that scene ... nothing special.
Dr. John -- Blues artist and jam band producer extraordinaire.
J. Geils Band -- They produced one of the seminal albums of the 80s with Centerfold.
LL Cool J -- Again, not a rocker by any stretch. Rap pioneer. Mamma said knock you out.
Darlene Love -- A career R&B back up singer ... again, not a rock and roll artist.
Laura Nyro -- Again, Nyro's background as as a composer and lyricist in the pop and R&B genres ... not rock and roll.
Donna Summer -- Without question, she was one of the queens of the Disco era. Last Chance," "Hard for the Money" ... greatness."
Joe Tex -- Baytown's own Joseph Arrington Jr. might be one of the earliest rappers for his style of speaking over the music. He deserves consideration for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work on the soundtrack of "Reservoir Dogs" alone. Awesome.
Tom Waits -- Bourbon-soaked vocalist and jazz artists. Perhaps he may be best known for a famous cover of his song "Downtown Train" by Rod Stewart.
Chuck Willis -- Perhaps one of the greatest one-hit wonders of all time. His one-hit even had a dance that accompanied it ... "The Stroll."
The point of all this is that it is possible that one day one of the Real. Texas. Festival. alumni could be nominated and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What would that mean for the festival? Well, probably not much.
However, festival attendees from back in the day could tell their children, friends, relatives and whatnot that they can remember when they saw them perform in Mesquite, Texas at the Real. Texas. Festival. -- and that, I believe -- is pretty cool.
There are a couple of omissions from the list -- the fact that Stevie Ray Vaughan is not already in the Hall is a travesty. No other group has created the marketing maelstrom that KISS has over the years.
I believe there are only seven acts that will be inducted. It may be just five. If it is seven, here's who we think gets in:
Beastie Boys
Alice Cooper
Neil Diamond
LL Cool J
Bon Jovi
Dr. John
Donna Summer
Who do you think will get in?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dreaming of ACL
The Austin City Limits music festival is upon us. Although I've never been, I've always been a follower of the event and have been interested in seeing how they do things down there.
First of all, let's not compare the Real. Texas. Festival. with Austin City Limits. It's just too apples to oranges.
ACL is produced by the same outfit that produces Lollapalooza -- perhaps the grandfather of the modern day music festival. Modern day ... please don't shout me down all of you Monterrey Pop Festival and Woodstock enthusiasts.
Austin City Limits has hundreds of bands performing all over the city.
However, I really like their diversity. There really is something for everyone at Austin City Limits (if you want to fight the traffic, which is awful anyway let alone when there are 70,000 people trying to get around for a music festival).
If you want Texas Red Dirt, check out Robert Earl Keen, Ryan Bingham, Carolyn Wonderland and Band of Heathens.
Want to check out some good old 90s alternative? Go see The Verve Pipe or the Flaming Lips.
Like some 2000s nu-rock? There's Muse, Switchfoot, Silversun Pickups and the Black Keys.
There's even artists on the bill from the lighter side of things such as Norah Jones, Pete Yorn and Blues Traveler. And, there are mainstream pop country rock hit makers such as The Eagles and Pat Green.
Or, if you want to attend a two-hour show and hear five songs, you can check out the Phish show -- maybe one of the greatest jam bands of all time.
The point is that music is such a subjective thing. Sure, some think Pat Green is a sell out ... he's forgotten where he's from and is not part of the Red Dirt scene anymore. He's all Nashvilled-out and over produced.
But for everyone who thinks that about Pat, there may be five other people who think Pat Green is absolute greatness. The argument can be made the Pat's career has evolved ... that he's grown as an artist and is comfortable doing what he's doing.
Same can be said for Green Day for that matter. Personally, I'm not a fan of Green Day. But I appreciate the contributions those boys have made.
I applaud Austin City Limits for being so eclectic with their line up. We've always maintained there's more to Texas music than the Red Dirt scene. Sure, Red Dirt has become a tremendous calling card for Texas music.
But there's also a large rap contingent in Houston (Mike Jones). The blues scene is still alive and well (Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights). Texas music is also Celtic (The Killdares), Tejano (Jay Perez), metal (Hell Yeah), ska (The Rude Kings), western swing (Asleep at the Wheel or the Lightcrust Doughboys), hard rock (The Toadies), Pop Rock (Bowling for Soup) and R&B (Beyonce).
It is our hope the RTF can feature great diversity in its concert line up. And, we're certainly working toward that end. We will be making some line-up announcements this winter so get ready.
We may certainly never be as diversified as Austin City Limits, but it's a nice target at which to aim.
First of all, let's not compare the Real. Texas. Festival. with Austin City Limits. It's just too apples to oranges.
ACL is produced by the same outfit that produces Lollapalooza -- perhaps the grandfather of the modern day music festival. Modern day ... please don't shout me down all of you Monterrey Pop Festival and Woodstock enthusiasts.
Austin City Limits has hundreds of bands performing all over the city.
However, I really like their diversity. There really is something for everyone at Austin City Limits (if you want to fight the traffic, which is awful anyway let alone when there are 70,000 people trying to get around for a music festival).
If you want Texas Red Dirt, check out Robert Earl Keen, Ryan Bingham, Carolyn Wonderland and Band of Heathens.
Want to check out some good old 90s alternative? Go see The Verve Pipe or the Flaming Lips.
Like some 2000s nu-rock? There's Muse, Switchfoot, Silversun Pickups and the Black Keys.
There's even artists on the bill from the lighter side of things such as Norah Jones, Pete Yorn and Blues Traveler. And, there are mainstream pop country rock hit makers such as The Eagles and Pat Green.
Or, if you want to attend a two-hour show and hear five songs, you can check out the Phish show -- maybe one of the greatest jam bands of all time.
The point is that music is such a subjective thing. Sure, some think Pat Green is a sell out ... he's forgotten where he's from and is not part of the Red Dirt scene anymore. He's all Nashvilled-out and over produced.
But for everyone who thinks that about Pat, there may be five other people who think Pat Green is absolute greatness. The argument can be made the Pat's career has evolved ... that he's grown as an artist and is comfortable doing what he's doing.
Same can be said for Green Day for that matter. Personally, I'm not a fan of Green Day. But I appreciate the contributions those boys have made.
I applaud Austin City Limits for being so eclectic with their line up. We've always maintained there's more to Texas music than the Red Dirt scene. Sure, Red Dirt has become a tremendous calling card for Texas music.
But there's also a large rap contingent in Houston (Mike Jones). The blues scene is still alive and well (Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights). Texas music is also Celtic (The Killdares), Tejano (Jay Perez), metal (Hell Yeah), ska (The Rude Kings), western swing (Asleep at the Wheel or the Lightcrust Doughboys), hard rock (The Toadies), Pop Rock (Bowling for Soup) and R&B (Beyonce).
It is our hope the RTF can feature great diversity in its concert line up. And, we're certainly working toward that end. We will be making some line-up announcements this winter so get ready.
We may certainly never be as diversified as Austin City Limits, but it's a nice target at which to aim.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Battle of the Bands winners still rockin strong
Here's a little update for everyone.
Remember Jaci and Those Guys? They were the Resource One Credit Union Battle of the Bands winners at the Real. Texas. Festival. this year.
As such, they will be on the bill for 2011. By the way, headliners are about to be signed and an announcement will be forthcoming soon.
Anyway, it's been a bit of a whirlwind for Jaci and Those Guys -- fronted by the effervescent Jaci Butler. Since winning first place at the festival battle of the bands, the group won the battle of the bands contest at the City of Richardson's Wildflower Festival.
In fact, the group was invited back to perform a song or two with Wichita Falls' own Bowling For Soup on one of the main stages at Wildflower.
The band has played many different festivals and fairs, and in June, the band traveled to Boston to compete in the Berklee College of Music battle of the bands.
And, in true Jaci and Those Guys fashion, they won it, too.
They spent five weeks in Boston studying music and performance at Berklee College. Folks, this is a big deal.
Berklee College is one of the prestigious music academies in the country. It differs from Juliard in that it seems to focus more on contemporary music where Juliard seeks to classically train its students.
Berklee College alumni have won all of music's top honors such as Grammy awards and even Oscars. Quincy Jones is an Oscar winner and a graduate of Berklee College.
Other Berklee College alumni inlcude Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, guitar slingers John Mayer and Steve Vai, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, Aimee Mann, Joey Kramer of Aerosmith, jazz greats Al Dimeola and Diana Krall, Melissa Ethridge and more.
It's mission is to teach musicianship through the music of the time. It's a genius concept really ... taking something the students are already passionate about and fanning the fires of that passion.
Jaci and Those Guys also finished as a top finalist in the Slurpee Battle of the Bands ... a nationwide contest.
Speaking of nationwide contests, the group also entered a competition that could have earned them a slot on the famous -- or infamous depending on how old you might be -- Vans Warped Tour.
The Warped Tour is one of the largest touring productions of the year. It comes to Dallas each year around the Fourth of July and features headliners a little on the edgier side of things.
Still, good music is good music. As much as the older types want to talk down the edgier stuff, good musicianship is difficult to ignore. It's musicianship that sets guitar players apart from guitar owners -- drummers apart from folks who stomp on a double kick drum pedal and hammer cymbals.
Aaron Gillespie of The Almost and Underoath is an example. Sure, that's hard, edgy music. But Gillespie is a fabulous drummer and musician.
It's good that young players like the players in Jaci and Those Guys want to put in the time to become better musicians. And, it appears there is no better place to hone those skills than a place such as Berklee College, or for guitar players, the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in California.
It makes us proud at the Real. Texas. Festival. to see some of the "up and coming bands" continue to fast track their careers. I suggest you keep an eye on Jaci and Those Guys. It would seem they could break through at any moment. Right now, just about everything they do turns to gold and they are really seizing the momentum.
At the festival, we couldn't be prouder of Mark McKinney and the success he has enjoyed since breaking into the scene in 2007-08. Sunny Sweeney, one of the 2010 festival artists, is starting to pick up steam as well.
Check out Jaci and Those Guys at www.myspace.com/jacibutler, and be sure to check them out on one of the main concert stages at the Real. Texas. Festival. in April of 2011.
Remember Jaci and Those Guys? They were the Resource One Credit Union Battle of the Bands winners at the Real. Texas. Festival. this year.
As such, they will be on the bill for 2011. By the way, headliners are about to be signed and an announcement will be forthcoming soon.
Anyway, it's been a bit of a whirlwind for Jaci and Those Guys -- fronted by the effervescent Jaci Butler. Since winning first place at the festival battle of the bands, the group won the battle of the bands contest at the City of Richardson's Wildflower Festival.
In fact, the group was invited back to perform a song or two with Wichita Falls' own Bowling For Soup on one of the main stages at Wildflower.
The band has played many different festivals and fairs, and in June, the band traveled to Boston to compete in the Berklee College of Music battle of the bands.
And, in true Jaci and Those Guys fashion, they won it, too.
They spent five weeks in Boston studying music and performance at Berklee College. Folks, this is a big deal.
Berklee College is one of the prestigious music academies in the country. It differs from Juliard in that it seems to focus more on contemporary music where Juliard seeks to classically train its students.
Berklee College alumni have won all of music's top honors such as Grammy awards and even Oscars. Quincy Jones is an Oscar winner and a graduate of Berklee College.
Other Berklee College alumni inlcude Donald Fagan of Steely Dan, guitar slingers John Mayer and Steve Vai, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, Aimee Mann, Joey Kramer of Aerosmith, jazz greats Al Dimeola and Diana Krall, Melissa Ethridge and more.
It's mission is to teach musicianship through the music of the time. It's a genius concept really ... taking something the students are already passionate about and fanning the fires of that passion.
Jaci and Those Guys also finished as a top finalist in the Slurpee Battle of the Bands ... a nationwide contest.
Speaking of nationwide contests, the group also entered a competition that could have earned them a slot on the famous -- or infamous depending on how old you might be -- Vans Warped Tour.
The Warped Tour is one of the largest touring productions of the year. It comes to Dallas each year around the Fourth of July and features headliners a little on the edgier side of things.
Still, good music is good music. As much as the older types want to talk down the edgier stuff, good musicianship is difficult to ignore. It's musicianship that sets guitar players apart from guitar owners -- drummers apart from folks who stomp on a double kick drum pedal and hammer cymbals.
Aaron Gillespie of The Almost and Underoath is an example. Sure, that's hard, edgy music. But Gillespie is a fabulous drummer and musician.
It's good that young players like the players in Jaci and Those Guys want to put in the time to become better musicians. And, it appears there is no better place to hone those skills than a place such as Berklee College, or for guitar players, the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in California.
It makes us proud at the Real. Texas. Festival. to see some of the "up and coming bands" continue to fast track their careers. I suggest you keep an eye on Jaci and Those Guys. It would seem they could break through at any moment. Right now, just about everything they do turns to gold and they are really seizing the momentum.
At the festival, we couldn't be prouder of Mark McKinney and the success he has enjoyed since breaking into the scene in 2007-08. Sunny Sweeney, one of the 2010 festival artists, is starting to pick up steam as well.
Check out Jaci and Those Guys at www.myspace.com/jacibutler, and be sure to check them out on one of the main concert stages at the Real. Texas. Festival. in April of 2011.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The envelopes please
Anyone familiar with the Real. Texas. Festival. knows the concert series is second to none. It features nothing but the best in Texas music in the Red Dirt movement -- with a several other genres on the bill as well.
Well, the Country Music Association will soon award it's best at the annual CMA awards set for November at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Or will it be the best? Is it me, or are there just too many awards shows. Take the Country genre itself. There's Country Music Television's awards, the Country Music Association and the American Country Music awards ... it's all the same stuff and most of the time the same people win.
Of course, there are some instances where an artist will win the American Country Music award for whatever category in which he, she or they are nominated. He, she or they will be nominated for the same award in the same category for the CMA awards and not win.
How does that happen?
The best new artist award at these things drive me crazy. Take the CMA best new artist award, which will come down to Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Jerrod Neimann,
Chris Young or Zac Brown Band.
Again, maybe it's just me. But doesn't it seem like Zac Brown has been around forever? The breakout album for that bunch was The Foundation ... it contained "Whatever it Is," "Toes," "Free" and "Chicken Fried."
And, it was released in 2008.
My Lord by the time the CMA awards roll around in November it will have been almost 3 years since the album was released.
So, how does Zac Brown qualify as a best new artist when you have folks like Jarrod Neimann, Chris Young and Easton Corbin running around in there.
Who will win? Oh, I'm sure it will be Zac Brown Band, but we're pulling for Chris Young. First of all, he really cut his teeth as the house band at Cowboys Arlington. He's an honorary Texan. Besides, Neimann rose to prominence with a cover of a Sonia Dada song.
That's right, I said Sonia Dada.
Easton Corbin appears to be a one-trick pony with "Little More Country than That."
What about the other major categories?
Vocal Group of the Year.
In recent years, Rascal Flatts was a lock for this and they are nominated again this year. But I think the luster is starting to rub off of that bunch. Lady Antebellum is probably the favorite here, but don't be surprised if Zac Brown doesn't win this one as well.
Vocal Duo of the Year
There is no question who wins this one. Brooks and Dunn. They're quitting and in the middle of their last round up farewell tour. They'll win just for sentimental reasons alone. They shouldn't win, but they will. Sugarland shouldn't win either. They are no more a vocal duo than the man in the moon. That whole thing centers on Jennifer Nettles, period. I'd like to see Montgomery Gentry or Steel Magnolia win, but neither will.
Single of the Year
Easton Corbin's "Little More Country than That" is a strong contender. Texas' own Miranda Lambert has two nominees and one might win it ... "White Liar." I believe this one goes to "Need you Now" by Lady A because of the crossover appeal on country and pop radio stations.
Song of the Year (award goes to songwriters)
I don't see how a song can win single of the year, but the same song can't win song of the year. Give me "Need you Now." Yuck!
Video of the Year
I like Miranda Lambert's "White Liar" here because of the star power. Jamey Johnson's in it for cryin' out loud! "House that Built Me" is good, too. I think you have to give the nod to "Water" by Brad Paisley. No way the host gets shut out of a major category in which he's nominated. I also think Paisley wins Entertainer of the Year honors.
We'll see how we do after Nov. 10 when all of the envelopes have been opened and read.
Well, the Country Music Association will soon award it's best at the annual CMA awards set for November at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Or will it be the best? Is it me, or are there just too many awards shows. Take the Country genre itself. There's Country Music Television's awards, the Country Music Association and the American Country Music awards ... it's all the same stuff and most of the time the same people win.
Of course, there are some instances where an artist will win the American Country Music award for whatever category in which he, she or they are nominated. He, she or they will be nominated for the same award in the same category for the CMA awards and not win.
How does that happen?
The best new artist award at these things drive me crazy. Take the CMA best new artist award, which will come down to Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Jerrod Neimann,
Chris Young or Zac Brown Band.
Again, maybe it's just me. But doesn't it seem like Zac Brown has been around forever? The breakout album for that bunch was The Foundation ... it contained "Whatever it Is," "Toes," "Free" and "Chicken Fried."
And, it was released in 2008.
My Lord by the time the CMA awards roll around in November it will have been almost 3 years since the album was released.
So, how does Zac Brown qualify as a best new artist when you have folks like Jarrod Neimann, Chris Young and Easton Corbin running around in there.
Who will win? Oh, I'm sure it will be Zac Brown Band, but we're pulling for Chris Young. First of all, he really cut his teeth as the house band at Cowboys Arlington. He's an honorary Texan. Besides, Neimann rose to prominence with a cover of a Sonia Dada song.
That's right, I said Sonia Dada.
Easton Corbin appears to be a one-trick pony with "Little More Country than That."
What about the other major categories?
Vocal Group of the Year.
In recent years, Rascal Flatts was a lock for this and they are nominated again this year. But I think the luster is starting to rub off of that bunch. Lady Antebellum is probably the favorite here, but don't be surprised if Zac Brown doesn't win this one as well.
Vocal Duo of the Year
There is no question who wins this one. Brooks and Dunn. They're quitting and in the middle of their last round up farewell tour. They'll win just for sentimental reasons alone. They shouldn't win, but they will. Sugarland shouldn't win either. They are no more a vocal duo than the man in the moon. That whole thing centers on Jennifer Nettles, period. I'd like to see Montgomery Gentry or Steel Magnolia win, but neither will.
Single of the Year
Easton Corbin's "Little More Country than That" is a strong contender. Texas' own Miranda Lambert has two nominees and one might win it ... "White Liar." I believe this one goes to "Need you Now" by Lady A because of the crossover appeal on country and pop radio stations.
Song of the Year (award goes to songwriters)
I don't see how a song can win single of the year, but the same song can't win song of the year. Give me "Need you Now." Yuck!
Video of the Year
I like Miranda Lambert's "White Liar" here because of the star power. Jamey Johnson's in it for cryin' out loud! "House that Built Me" is good, too. I think you have to give the nod to "Water" by Brad Paisley. No way the host gets shut out of a major category in which he's nominated. I also think Paisley wins Entertainer of the Year honors.
We'll see how we do after Nov. 10 when all of the envelopes have been opened and read.
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