THE PARTY LIST - May 25 - 31

Note: Please remember to check with the venue as to whether or not there is a cover charge or ticket required for the shows you plan to attend. Also, some venues have an age restriction. I have provided links to the venues when possible, making it easy for you to check it out.

Not all events take place in Texas. With that in mind I will begin listing them not only by day but by TEXAS and ON THE ROAD. With that in mind…

Let’s Get This Party STARTED!

TEXAS

Thursday – 25

Little Texas – Chances R - Lubbock

Friday – 26

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Hoot’s Pub – Amarillo

Little Texas – Crawfish Festival – Fredricksburg

Libby Koch – Typhoon Texas Waterpark - Pflugerville

Saturday – 27

Scott Taylor Band – Texas Maritime Museum – Rockport

            21^st Annual Rockport Festival of Wine & Food

Terri Hendrix – The Kessler Theater – Dallas

            /w Lloyd Mains PLUS Max Stalling & Heather Stalling

Johnny Lee – Retama Park - Selma

Sunday – 28

Terri Hendrix – Kerrville Folk Festival – Kerrville

            /w Band, Lloyd Mains

Tessy Lou – Poodie’s – Spicewood

Thomas Michael Riley – Luckenbach

Monday – 29

Terri Hendrix – Kerrville Folk Festival – Kerrville

            Song School /w Lloyd Mains

T. G. Sheppard – The Garage - Alvin

Tuesday – 30

Mike Blakely – Burger Burger – Fredricksburg

Randy Brown – Railhead BBQ – Willow Park

            /w Sonny Burgess

Wednesday – 31

Scott Taylor Band – Moonshine Drinkery – Victoria

ON THE ROAD

Thursday – 25

Rhonda Vincent – Back 40 Bluegrass – Curryville MO

Rodney Crowell – Bakersfield Hall of Fame – Bakersfield CA

Michael Martin Murphey – Bartlesville Community Center – Bartlesville OK

            OK Mozart Presents /w The Bartlesville Symph. Orchestra

Marc Broussard – JBGB Summer Concert Series – Fayetteville AR

Jimmy Fortune – Grand Ole Opry – Nashville TN

Friday – 26

Rhonda Vincent – First Open Bible Church – Rock Falls IL

Jimmy Fortune – Gatlinburg Convention Center – Gatlinburg TN

Saturday – 27

Rhonda Vincent – Ohnward Fine Arts Center – Maquoketa IA

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Ski Apache – Alto NM

Rodney Crowell – Rio Theatre – Santa Cruz CA

Little Texas – Atwood Music Festival – Monticello MS

Jimmy Fortune – Gaither’s Family  Fest in the Smokies 2017 – Gatlinburg TN

Sunday – 28

Ricky Skaggs – Bluegrass & BBQ Festival – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

Ragged Union – Boulder Creek Festival – Boulder CO

Rodney Crowell – Strawberry Music Festival – Jamestown CA

  

Monday – 29

NO SHOWS FOUND

Tuesday – 30

NO SHOWS FOUND

Wednesday – 31

Marc Broussard – Daryl’s House – Pawling NY

            /w Ted Broussard – Acoustic

Bellamy Brothers – Dick Clark’s American Bandstan

THE PARTY LIST - May 18 - 24

Note: Please remember to check with the venue as to whether or not there is a cover charge or ticket required for the shows you plan to attend. Also, some venues have an age restriction. I have provided links to the venues when possible, making it easy for you to check it out.

Not all events take place in Texas. With that in mind I will begin listing them not only by day but by TEXAS and ON THE ROAD. With that in mind…

Let’s Get This Party STARTED!

TEXAS

Thursday – 18

Mike Blakely – Texas Rangers Museum – Fredricksburg

Marc Broussard – The Kessler – Dallas

            Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit Concert for

                        Focus On Teens

Bellamy Brothers – Steiner Ranch Steakhouses – Austin

Dave Thomas – Hard Eight BBQ - Coppell

Friday – 19

Thomas Michael Riley – The Back Porch – Port Aransas

Marc Broussard – The Heights – Houston

Bellamy Brothers – Billy Bob’s – Ft. Worth

Dave Thomas – Raphael’s - Aubrey

Saturday – 20

Mike Blakely – Sisterdale Line – Boerne

Scott Taylor Band – Kicks Club – Angelton

            /w Josh Ward

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Brazos Park East – Waco

Tessy Lou – Riley’s Tavern

Johnny Lee – District 249 - Tomball

Marc Broussard – One World Theatre – Austin

Byrd & Street – Anderson Fair – Houston

Little Texas – Island Grove Regional Park – Greely CO

            /w Charlie Daniels Band

            Colorado Energy Festival

Bellamy Brothers – Schoepf’s BBQ - Belton

Sunday – 21

Mike Blakely – Love & War in Texas – Plano

            Plains Fire Victim Benefit

Tessy Lou – Poodie’s – Spicewood

Jeff Posey – Love and War – Plano

Monday – 22

NO SHOWS FOUND

Tuesday – 23

Mike Blakely – Burger Burger – Fredricksburg

Randy Brown – Railhead BBQ – Willow Park

            /w Mike & the Motorcars

Thomas Michael Riley – Fiddle String Concert – San Angelo

Wednesday – 24

Scott Taylor Band – Moonshine Drinkery – Victoria

Tessy Lou – Briarcliff Bacon Bistro & Bar – Spicewood

Dave Thomas – Hard Eight BBQ – The Colony

ON THE ROAD

Thursday – 18

Oak Ridge Boys – Greenwich Odeum – E. Greenwich RI

Friday – 19

Ricky Skaggs – RiverRoots Music & Folk Art Festival – Madison IN

Johnny Lee – Hard Rock Casino – Tulsa OK

Oak Ridge Boys – Paramount Hudson Valley Theater – Peeksville NY

Jimmy Fortune – Ross Country Jamboree – Scottsburg IN

Saturday – 20

Ricky Skaggs – Bloomin’ Bluegrass & BBQ – Sevierville TN

Rhonda Vincent – Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival – Gettysburg PA

Ragged Union – Las Vegas Family Bluegrass Music Festival – Las Vegas NV

T. G. Sheppard – Stargazer’s Theatre – Colorado Springs CO

Oak Ridge Boys – Tupelo Music Hall – Derry NH

Little Texas – Island Grove Regional Park – Greely CO

            Colorado Energy Festival

Jimmy Fortune – Ross Country Jamboree – Scottsburg IN

Sunday – 21

Oak Ridge Boys – Newton Theatre – Newton NJ

Monday – 22

NO SHOWS FOUND

Tuesday – 23

NO SHOWS FOUND

Wednesday – 24

NO SHOWS FOUND

TURNTABLE TUESDAY - Vagabonds

Welcome to TURNTABLE TUESDAY - yeah, I'm  a bit behind today. Traveled all day yesterday and didn't sleep well last night. I could not force myself to move. 

My experience lad me to think about the album on the turntable this week and groups like Nu-Blu. VAGABONDS truly is a representation of an artists life. Whether it's original music being performed or nods to others such as Bob Dylan and Guns & Roses with Knockin On Heaven's Door, Waylon Jennings' Good Hearted Woman, Surround Me With Love (Charly McClain) or tunes such as Gypsies On Parade, everything comes together under the cover of the beautiful gypsy caravan on the CD cover.

Songs like Knockin On Heaven's Door or Good Hearted Woman, Surround Me With Love don't exactly come to mind when you think of Bluegrass, yet they fit seamlessly in with the other nine tracks. 

Carolyn's amazing soprano kicks things off with The Bridges That You've Burned.  Their One-Sheet calls her voice 'caramel-coated... at times a tender lullaby, at times a freight train headed straight for you.'  You can hear the distinctive beat of the clickety clack of the track on the true-to-point Troublemaker. Her voice always speaks to me unlike any other bluegrass artists I've heard. 

Daniel spoke yesterday of the emotional pull of Gypsies On Parade. Their story is deep in the lyrics.

Still Small Voice is one of the two pillars of strength on this CD. The tune features vocals with Jimmy Fortune and Ben Isaacs. Both amazing multi-talented artists in their own right, but to be paired with Nu-Blu truly is added power to an emotionally charged album.

The other pillar stands strong while bringing you to your knees in 640 Battlefield Drive. I'd love to have a video for this tune to feature during July 4th week or Memorial Day. 

Though I've not singled out A Lot More Love, How Many Rivers, A Fool and Her Heart, they each bring their own special touch to the power of this album and like ingredients in a flavorful stew, they would be the that 'something missing if they weren't included.

This is my favorite Nu-Blu compilation so far and I look forward to more from them. 

I'm giving the CD 

 

You can purchase your copy of VAGABONDS by following one of the links below:

WEBSITE      iTUNES     AMAZON    SPOTIFY

Want to know more about Nu-Blu and their Social Media outlets:

WEBSITE     FB     TWITTER    INSTAGRAM    YOUTUBE   iTunes

OUT OF THE CHUTE - Nu-Blu

Today, we're stepping off the 8-seconds Q & A to do a Fast Five with a group I've featured before.

Tomorrow, their new CD - VAGABONDS will be on the Turntable Tuesday so I've focused the Fast Five on their newest project.

Vagabonds seems to have a bit more ‘travel’ in the pacing of the tunes, differing from

Your “All the Way” CD. Carolyn, I also know from our previous interview that you look

For songs that really hit you.  What was your first pick for Vagabonds and what about the tune spoke to you?

The first song pick was the title cut, "Gypsies on Parade". This song has been on my "must do" list since the first time I heard Sawyer Brown perform it way back in the eighties. When I heard it then, knowing how much they were on the road, it really touched me. Every CD Nu-Blu has ever recorded. "Gypsies on Parade" has been on the table. (I've kept it to myself because I've always been fearful that if another band heard it, they might beat me into the studio with it.) Now since spending in excess of 200 days a year on the road touring since going full time in 2011, the timing was finally right.

"Gypsies on Parade" is very emotional for me because, it's my life. I love what I do and am thankful for the opportunity to live this life I always dreamed about, but it can be very demanding, both physically and mentally. It is oftentimes very emotionally taxing having to be gone so much from family and friends.

This song is so close to my heart, that it is the only song I've ever cried on While in the studio cutting my vocals.

You teamed up with Jimmy Fortune on a single he co-wrote ‘Still Small Voice’. In a             Interview with Bluegrass Today, you spoke of what that song meant to you. Do you think people listen to that voice enough today? If not, what are some of the impacts we would see in our world today, if they did?

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. And of course each person can think of a place or choice they had to make in their life where they wish they would have listened to “that voice” or “a gut feeling.” I think that the biggest impact would be seen in a “pay it forward” fashion if more folks took the time to listen to that voice. Life is so busy and it seems we jump from one thing to the next so quickly, that if we just slow down and think it through, that we would realize many of the issues we face in life are in fact ones we create for ourselves.

CMT said ‘their sound acknowledges the traditional institutions that have shaped it yet is

innovative and daring enough to bring a fresh sparkle to contemporary acoustic music…’

What about this new album do you think is most representative of that quote?

Everything. We do hold traditional bluegrass close to our hearts, it’s what we love. That being said, good music is good music and a great song is a great song.   When we decide to record or perform a song, the decision isn’t based on whether it fits in the box or not. We decide based on how it fits us emotionally and by our fan feedback. How we treat that song is a decision made by simply listening to the song itself. It will tell you what it needs and doesn’t need, just don’t try and force it into a container that it doesn’t fit in. Some of our songs are bluegrass, some aren’t, and we are aware of that and will be the first to say it, but isn’t that the coolest thing about music? It just is, and without labels.

What makes Vagabonds different from anything you’ve done prior while still making it feel a part of the Nu-Blu family?

We feel that any band and their music are constantly shaped by the environment and people that they exist in and around. It’s no different for Nu-Blu. This album has been shaped by our life over the last couple years. Heavy touring, very little time at home, having to record parts of the album on the road, all this combined with. meeting folks from all over the world as we tour, learning from them, becoming friends and listening to their experiences. This all goes into the makeup of “Vagabonds’.

Daniel, a lot of the rise of Nu-Blu can be attributed to your attention to the businesses side of the band. What was the hardest part of ‘branding’ that you knew if you could just get that puzzle piece in place, Nu-Blu would be on its way to what you and the rest of the band knew it could be?

Well, any measure of success can never be attributed to one person. It’s taken a collective effort of current and past band members, an amazing team, lots of lost sleep, and yes, running the band as a business. That’s what it is. We exist in the business of music, and there’s as many sides to it as there are to any other business. I think that the largest challenge to “making it” in the music industry is the fact that music is something people do as a hobby and for fun as well. So that makes it much harder to separate and draw a line.

Think of it this way. If a person builds birdhouses for a hobby in the backyard and the occasional neighbor asks for one to be made as a gift, or even if that person makes a few on a weekend and sells them at a local craft fair. That’s one thing, but is that the person going to be the person that you get to build your house? No, of course not. It’s not that the talent isn’t equal or perhaps even greater on the hobbyists side, it’s more planning, permitting, and sometimes having the crew to get it done on a larger scale. That line is much more blurred inside of music, so branding is something that becomes even harder to do. There’s no magic puzzle piece, it’s having all the pieces, all at the same time working toward a common group of goals. As an artist, you have to trust your team.

We have the most talented folks working with us. I’m truly thankful everyday for them. For any artist that is struggling to “make it” the best advice I can give is set your goals, build a team and trust them to drive the train, and learn…learn all you can about the business side of music, oh, and that learning never stops…

THE PARTY LIST - May 11 - 17

Note: Please remember to check with the venue as to whether or not there is a cover charge or ticket required for the shows you plan to attend. Also, some venues have an age restriction. I have provided links to the venues when possible, making it easy for you to check it out.

Not all events take place in Texas. With that in mind I will begin listing them not only by day but by TEXAS and ON THE ROAD. With that in mind…

Let’s Get This Party STARTED!

TEXAS

Thursday – 11

Dave Thomas - Hard Eight BBQ - The Colony

Friday – 12

Mike Blakely – Dabbs Hotel Concert Series – Llano

            /w Woody Eastman

Pauline Reese – Brass Hall – Marble Falls

            Full Band /w Guadalupe Pirates

Tessy Lou – The Auslander – Fredricksburg –

Thomas Michael Riley – Hondo’s on Main – Fredricksburg

Dave Thomas - Del Norte Tacos - Godley

Mike Blakely - The Dabbs Railroad Hotel - Llano

          /w Wood Eastman $15 cover - BYOB

Aaron Lewis - Floore's - Helotes

         /w Alex Williams, Travis Marvin

Saturday – 13

Scott Taylor Band – The Barn – Mission Valley

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Red Rooster Icehouse – Hawkins

Thomas Michael Riley – Testicle Festival – Granbury

Johnny Lee – Melody Ranch - Waco

Byrd & Street - Anderson Fair - Houston 

Turnpike Troubadours - Floore's - Helotes

Sunday – 14

Susan Gibson – Luckenbach –

Tessy Lou – Poodie’s – Spicewood

Monday – 15

Susan Gibson – Western Edge Cellars – Fredricksburg

Randy Brown – Longhorn Saloon – Ft. Worth

Tuesday – 16

Mike Blakely – Burger Burger – Fredricksburg

Scott Taylor Band – Moonshine Drinkery – Victoria

Randy Brown – Railhead BBQ – Willow Park

            /w Deryl Dodd

Wednesday – 17

Marc Broussard – Sam’s Burger Joint – San Antonio

ON THE ROAD

Thursday – 11

Vince Gill – Carson Center – Paducah KY

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa OK

Texas Tenors  Starlight Theatre – Branson MO

Bellamy Brothers – Eagan Civic & Convention Center -  Anchorage AK

            AK Police Officers Assoc.

Friday – 12

Vince Gill – Holland Tulip Time Festival – Holland MI

Ray Wylie Hubbard – 801 Media Center – Ft. Smith AR

Steve Wariner – Grand Ole Opry – Nashville TN

Texas Tenors  Starlight Theatre – Branson MO

Rodney Crowell – Alberta Rose Theatre – Portland OR

Michael Martin Murphey – Knuckleheads – Kansas City MO

Marc Broussard – Artisphere – Greenville SC

Little Texas – The Throne Theater – Wilmington NC

Bellamy Brothers – Kenai High School – Kenai

            AK Police Officers Assoc.

Saturday – 13

Vince Gill – Little River Casino Resort – Manistee MI

Texas Tenors – Gillioz Theatre – Springfield MO

Rodney Crowell – Capitol Theater – Olympia WA

Nu-Blu – Peace, Love and Bluegrass – Culpepper VA

Michael Martin Murphey – Orpheum Theatre – Wichita KS

Little Texas – Anderson Music Hall -  Hiawassee GA

            /w Sawyer Brown

Sunday – 14

Vince Gill – Ford Community & Performing Arts Center – Dearborn MI

Bellamy Brothers – Carlson Center – Fairbanks AK

            AK Police Officers Assoc.

Gibson Brothers - Silver Dollar City - Branson MO

Monday – 15

NO SHOWS FOUND

Tuesday – 16

Bellamy Brothers – Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall – Juneau AK

Wednesday – 17

NO SHOWS FOUND

COMING TO KELLY'S COUNTRY!

Just a quick stop in to tell you everything is okay in our part of the Ozarks. However, storms did keep me off the internet for a couple of days, then trying to get stuff outside done before more rain moves in. I won't ask for the rain to stop. I've learned to be careful what I ask for. So I'll just keep hopping in when I can.

I had Q  & A out to a couple of artists that I was expecting to be in over the weekend. Weather in other parts of the country may have played a factor. Regarding lack of responses, I'm not doing Out of the Chute this week.

However, whenever there isn't an Out of the Chute on the calendar, I will use the space to introduce you to some of the amazing talent I've been meeting on Twitter. You may see them on Turntable Tuesday or Review Wednesday as well in various forms.

Hang with me. I'm sure we'll dry out soon enough and the Q & A's will flood my email.

Country Blessings!
Kelly

THE PARTY LIST - May 4-10

Note: Please remember to check with the venue as to whether or not there is a cover charge or ticket required for the shows you plan to attend. Also, some venues have an age restriction. I have provided links to the venues when possible, making it easy for you to check it out.

Not all events take place in Texas. With that in mind I will begin listing them not only by day but by TEXAS and ON THE ROAD. With that in mind…

Let’s Get This Party STARTED!

TEXAS

Thursday – 4

Scott Taylor Band – Colony Creek Country Club – Victoria

Susan Gibson – Fort Worth Live – Fort Worth

Libby Koch – Liberty Tree Tavern – Elgin

            /w Alice Wallace

Bellamy Brothers – Brauntex Theater – New Braunfels

Dave Thomas – Chubby’s Burger Shack – Ft. Worth

Friday – 5

Tanya Tucker – Dosey Doe’s – The Woodlands

Mike Blakely – South TX Cowboy Gathering & Western Music Festival – Seguin

Terri Hendrix – Conroe Americana Music Festival – Conroe

            /w Lloyd Maines

Thomas Michael Riley – The Club @ Baron’s Creek –

            Acoustic solo

Bellamy Brothers – Main Street Crossing – Tomball

Byrd & Street – Dahlia Café – Liberty Hill

Dave Thomas – Hard Eight BBQ - Coppell

Saturday – 6

Mike Blakely - South TX Cowboy Gathering & Western Music Festival – Seguin

Susan Gibson – The Bugle Boy – LaGrange

Terri Hendrix – UniTunes Coffee House – Fischer

            /w Lloyd Maines

Tessy Lou – Centerfest – Clute

Thomas Michael Riley – Hunt General Store – Hunt

T. G. Sheppard – Tilden Lions Club Pavilion – Tilden

Rodney Crowell – MSCA Pavilion – Madisonville

Johnny Lee – Freiheit Country Store – New Braunfels

Byrd & Street – New World Deli – Austin

Dave Thomas – Culpepper’s Steakhouse - Rockwall

Sunday – 7

Mike Blakely – Pontotoc Weingarten – Fredricksburg

Tessy Lou – Poodie’s - Spicewood

Monday – 8

Libby Koch – Hallet Oak Gallery – Halletsville

Tuesday – 9

Mike Blakely – Burger Burger – Fredricksburg

Wednesday – 10

Scott Taylor Band – Moonshine Drinkery – Victoria

Susan Gibson – Main Street Crossing – Tomball

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Shipping & Receiving – Fort Worth

ON THE ROAD

Thursday – 4

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Castle Theatre – Bloomington IL

Ragged Union – Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox – Denver CO

The Baker Family – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ

Flatt Lonesome – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ

Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ

Friday – 5

Rex Allen, Jr. – Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum – Gene Autry OK

Ronnie McDowell – Blue Suede Cruise – Tupelo MS

Rhonda Vincent – Little Roy & Lizzie Festival – Lincolnton GA

Ray Wylie Hubbard – Stoughton Opera House – Stoughton WI

Texas Tenors – Pikes Peak Performing Arts Center- Colorado Springs CO

Mark Chapman Band – Joplin Twin Hills Country Club – Joplin MO

Little Texas – Jiggy With the Piggy Festival – Kannapolis NC

Jimmy Fortune – Grand Ole Opry – Nashville TN

Josh Abbott Band – George’s Majestic – Fayetteville AR

Casey Donahew – Buffalo Run Casino – Miami OK

The Baker Family – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ

Flatt Lonesome – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ

Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ

Saturday – 6

Tanya Tucker – Choctaw Event Center – Grant OK

Ricky Skaggs – Garrison Keillor Celebrates the Ryman – Nashville TN

Rex Allen, Jr. – Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum – Gene Autry OK

Ronnie McDowell – Blue Suede Cruise – Tupelo MS

Rhonda Vincent – Grand Ole Opry – Nashville TN

Ray Wylie Hubbard – City Winery – Chicago IL

Texas Tenors – Pikes Peak Performing Arts Center- Colorado Springs CO

Oak Ridge Boys – Elijah Clark State Park – Lincolnton GA

Little Texas – Valley Fest – Dunlap TN

Flatt Lonesome – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ

Sunday – 7

Vince Gill – River City Casino – St. Louis MO

Rhonda Vincent – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ!

Rodney Crowell – Lobero Theater – Santa Barbara CA

Jimmy Fortune – American Mountain Theater – Elkins WV

Monday – 8

Texas Tenors  Starlight Theatre – Branson MO

Tuesday – 9

Rhonda Vincent – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ!

Texas Tenors  Starlight Theatre – Branson MO

Rodney Crowell – The Troubadour – West Hollywood CA

Wednesday –10

Rhonda Vincent – Silver Dollar City – Branson MO

            Bluegrass & BBQ!

Texas Tenors  Starlight Theatre – Branson MO

Rodney Crowell – Freight & Salvage – Berkeley CA

TURNTABLE TUESDAY - LOST AND FOUND

LOST AND FOUND is the new EP from Abraham Weaver. As Abraham told us yesterday, he brought in more instrumental than he used in his previous album, YOURS. When he told me he was doing more of a Texas country-rock album I was concerned. One of the things I loved most about YOURS was that I could hear Abraham's voice. So often, artists sacrifice the true beauty of an album by allowing instruments to overshadow their true talent.

Not the case with LOST AND FOUND. Abraham's soulful sound still comes through on every track. I can't say the instruments enhance his voice, but they do give the feel he was after. 

I Know A Memory When I See One is a collaboration of Rick Orozco and Randy Goodrum. I'm not familiar with Randy but Rick Orozco is one of Abraham's songwriting heroes and friend. They worked together on YOURS. Bringing Rick in on this album in some form helped with the continuity between the two albums, giving the tracks to follow a natural flow. 

Another pebble paving the way in keeping the Texas sound is songwriter Drew Womack (co-written with Tom Douglas). He's been called a 'magical songwriter' and he brings that something to Leaving October Behind.  If ever there was a perfect pair between songwriter and vocal artist, this song is the definition.

The country rock sound is evident on What's Going On (written by Abraham). the track almost has a Rick Springfield (Think Jesse's Girl) vibe that while not a true Texas train, lends to the over-all tone Abraham wanted.

When I do CD/ EP reviews I close my eyes and listen to each track. Some flow through me as a tune while others bring images to mind that would be perfect for a video. I see Abraham's soul portrayed in video on These Four Walls. I can picture him standing in an empty room of an older farmhouse, staring out the window. This song goes deep.

As Abraham told us yesterday, he saves his favorite tune for the last track. Lost and Found brings three talented songwriters together (Thom McHugh, John Nace, Westin Davis). This is another of those visual tracks. Light trailers of the cityscape/ lights of Austin zipping through in a flash. Searching. 

Overall, LOST AND FOUND keeps the Texas real while attracting a more contemporary audience. For me, the music is about the artist and Abraham is helping to bridge that gap between the West Texas Americana I love and the Austin music scene I'm finding a new appreciation for. 

I'm tipping my hat:

 .8

You can purchase the MP3 of the ALBUM or individual tracks at AMAZON

To learn more about Abraham Weaver, purchase other products and see his Tour Schedule, check out his WEBSITE.  You'll also find him on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

OUT OF THE CHUTE - Abraham Weaver

 We're kicking off May very wet here in the Ozarks. I wrote this up at the hotel in Springfield last night, not knowing whether or not I could still get down our road. Flooding here has been incredible.

Coming out of the gate this week is Abraham Weaver. I reviewed his YOURS CD a couple of years ago. You can check it out HERE.

I'll be reviewing his new album - LOST AND FOUND - tomorrow so this time I thought I'd introduce you to this talented man from Austin as a precursor to another stellar project.

Here we GO!

Thank you, Abraham for taking the time to answer these questions on a quick turn-around. 

More of a Curiosity Question:

On the album, YOURS you had the title track as the final listing. You did the same with LOST and FOUND. Any reason for placing the title track at the end? Or is this just how this EP came to me? 

The last track is my favorite track, Garth once made a comment that on each of his records he purposely placed his favorite track last. So when I recorded my first record I did the same and will continue to do so.

1 – Lost and Found has a more up-beat tempo than YOURS. What was your thought process in

how this album would have its own individuality? 

When writing and choosing songs for this EP I wanted a more Texas country rock feel, “Yours” was an all acoustic sound with the only non acoustic instrument was the bass guitar. The new EP gives a full band sound to try and compete with our Texas country feel

2 – Early in your career you opened for some amazing talents. If you could pinpoint one thing

      That was most valuable piece you gained from those openings, what would it be?

To treat everyone from the road crew to the artists with the same respect! Years ago I was fortunate enough to open for Chris LeDoux, want to talk about an amazing person… he would have given me the shirt off his back.

3 – In YOURS I heard the PA musical influences. What prompted the time in PA and how did

            That time enrich what you were already doing musically? 

PA was quite an experience for me coming from Texas, it moved me completely out of my comfort zone. Playing venues in the northeast is quite different than Texas. I started playing a lot more of my 80’s rock influences as well as tunes by Lady Gaga and Pink.

4 – I know Garth Brooks was one of your biggest influences. What was it about ‘The Dance’ that resonated with you? And how does that carry over into your music? 

Wow The Dance… what an amazing song, this musical lifestyle is not an easy one to say the least but it’s in the blood and as the song say’s I could have missed the pain, but I’d had to miss the dance. No matter how difficult the road may get, I’d rather dance!!

5 – Rick Orozco is a recurring name on your last two releases. What was it about I Know A

      Memory When I See One that brought it to this album? 

Rick Orozco is my vocal hero and I am lucky enough to call him my friend, he wrote “I know a memory when I see one” with Randy Goodrum (One of the worlds greatest songwriters) he knows me on a personal level and knew what my life was going through when he pitched it to me and have to say between “Lost and Found” and it, describe my life to a T. When it comes to writing or picking songs to put on a record it’s a very emotional process. Most might not realize it but as artists we put our hearts right out there!!

6 – Lost and Found seems to have a bit more contemporary sound to some of the tracks, without losing the Americana feel. How do you walk that line of staying in your roots while attracting a new generation?

That is a difficult part, I’ve recorded from my heart and in the end hope that people will not only appreciate my song choices and voice but that they will resonate with others in this crazy industry I chose.

7 – Stepping back in time a bit – What do you feel was the most beneficial prize from the 2015

            Texas Star Austin Award? 

The title it’s self was the most beneficial.  Capturing that title helped open up a lot of doors for me in the local Austin Texas scene.

8-  How do you want to grow musically in the next five years? 

This is a tough business to be in especially in Austin, I hope to continue to make my mark in this industry and continue making records.

Tomorrow, I'll review Abraham Weaver's latest EP. In the mean time, I invite you to check out his WEBSITE