Tag Archives: Music

Oh, Those Dirty River Boys!

This is going to be part catch-up and part recent. One thing that I absolutely LOVE about Texas is the music scene. It’s pretty amazing! If you wanted, you could catch a different show each night between Ft. Worth, Denton and Dallas. One of the bands that I’ve come to love are the Dirty River Boys. Hailing from El Paso, they bring together the right amount of Texas Country mixed in with some bluegrass and a twist of rebellion. If you were to see them, you would know they’re in a band.

Back in December, they played their first show at Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth. It’s a pretty big deal to play, one that you don’t turn down. Anyone who is anyone in the music business has played there… Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks, ZZ Top, the list is endless. So it was pretty cool being able to see them play their first gig at the historic venue.

Now for a little more recent news…

There is a restaurant / bar in Arlington, Texas called The Grease Monkey. It’s pretty fun to go to as you can grab a delicious burger and hang out (inside or out) and either watch some sporting events or listen to live music. Every once in a while, they will have a private show the venue is only open to those who have purchased a ticket. It’s limited seating so if you really love a band, seeing them in a small venue is the way to go! This past January, The Dirty River Boys played at the Grease Monkey and a couple of my friends were nice enough to buy me a ticket for Christmas! Lucky me (us really) – we were front row!

This may have been my favorite Dirty River Boys show to date! Midway thru the show they all switched instruments and played something different. If you happened to walk in during this time, you would never know. Talent, folks!

Now, if you happen to be in the Oklahoma / Texas region where these guys usually play, get on out there and check them out.

If not, send an email to your local venue telling them to get in check and book these guys… they’re only going to get bigger.

No matter where you are – buy their CD. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Two Tons of Steel and the Turnpike Troubadours

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Last Saturday, a few of us headed to Dallas to see the Turnpike Troubadours. I’ve never been to the Granada Theatre – I’m glad that I finally got the chance. Completely authentic, the perfect size, seats and standing area. I’m convinced that any seat has a great view (we were in the last seated row). The venue was easy to find and parking was convenient. I look forward to going back – I already have a show in mind!

Evan (the lead singer of Turnpike Troubadours) has a HUGE fan (my current roommate) so we were bound to go. We caught the second opener for the band – Two Tons of Steel out of San Antonio. The best way to describe these guys would be Texas Country meets Country Swing. The lead singer had some Dwight Yoakam / Elvis mannerisms. They were pretty good. The stand up bassist was phenomenal. There’s not enough good stand up bassists in this world!

The Turnpike Troubadours are out of Oklahoma but its evident that Texans are forgiving them. They’re pretty great (we’ve seen them numerous times). Evan – you do seem to get a little more drunk on stage every time I see you play though. Just sayin’.

The two bands (we missed the first) complimented themselves very well. The crowd loved them. The sound was great in the theatre. If you’re looking for some good ole Texas / Texas Country bands – these are two you should definitely check out either live or just pick up their cd for your Sunday drive!

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, HOB Dallas

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On November 10th, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals paid a visit to good ole Dallas and my friend Amberly and I were not going to miss it (as usual). If you are ever looking for a wicked show to check out – this is your band. They’ll play a little rock, perhaps a ballad or two, but the magic lies in performance. Personally, anyone can sound good on a record but when GPN comes into play it’s all authentic and 110%. Guitar solos, hitting every note, the band collaborating on the drums, dancing and getting the crowd going from the stage. Everything you want will be there and it’s always a good time!

Here are a couple videos from the show!

Originally from Vermont, they’ve really paved the way in the past few years. They’ve started the Grand Point North Music Festival in Burlington, VT (which I really need to get to). Grace has also collaborated with Kenny Chesney on ‘You and Tequila’ and ‘El Cerrito Place’. They’ll even be going on an European Tour with the Avett Brothers next year! Keep an eye out – you won’t want to miss them!