Blog Archives

I Love Open Mic Nights!

3/24/2014

Last night was one of those nights I felt very fortunate to live in Austin. I played an open mic at Twin Creek Hall (actually in Cedar Park, I think) with my friend David Patrick Dunn (a.k.a. "Buster Gut-Bucket") on the washtub bass and a young guitarist named Lee Starr.

I can easily imagine a future me saying, "I played with Lee Starr before he was famous." He is an incredibly talented guitarist and a good songwriter, too. He and Will Callery are working together right now, and he couldn't ask for a better mentor.

0 Comments

Happily playin' the blues

3/22/2014

0 Comments

Got to perform twice this week with Kevin Marin, blues harp player extraordinaire: Tuesday evening at Nolan's Bar and Thursday night at Sunset Bar & Grill (shown above).

For me the Tuesday night gig was the best. We really rocked the joint. In fact, the host gave me an unprecedented seven songs because the crowd kept asking for more. I'm not even sure what all I played, but I know it was fun.

Kevin performed with several other acts besides me, and he really awed them with his solo set, too. Whenever Kevin comes to town, I'm always glad for the chance to play with him.

0 Comments

Byrd House Studio

3/19/2014

0 Comments

This is me recording David's great song, "Big Weather Tonight" at Tommy Byrd's studio (a.k.a. "Byrd House Studio"). Still have a long way to go to get the song to where I'd like it to be, but that will have to wait until I can afford to bring in some other musicians and vocalists.

I learned a lot about studio recording. Mainly, I learned I need to be better prepared. I'm playing my six-string here because I'd forgotten about the studio date, and had sent my 12-string into David Trexler's shop for a little work.

Tommy is a wonderful engineer. Of course, I already knew that based on his work on his own CDs (Byrd & Street) and his work on Chrissie and Jimmy Joe's first CD (The Better Halves). I'm looking forward to working with him again soon.

0 Comments

A Blast and a Blast from the Past

3/10/2014

1 Comment

I had a fantastic time at last night's open mic at B.B. Rovers. The audience loved my stuff, and thankfully, I didn't have to follow Mike Why. (This guy was incredible!)

Later in the evening, David Dunn and I took an extra turn on stage, and I got to perform "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," and dedicate it to my dad. The song itself has an unusual chord progression, and I probably need a little more practice to get it to sound like I want, but it's getting there.

Speaking of my dad, while swapping stories with David and Danny Fast-Fingers, I recalled how my dad came to see the Drinks on the House "Fan Appreciation Show" at the Jam Station, a large rehearsal studio facility with a nice stage area for showcase performances.

A group of younger musicians saw David Harbaugh help my dad out of the back of my mom's big Buick. Dad wasn't moving very well that day, and he was wearing some very old-fashion looking sunglasses. One of the young players asked of nobody in particular, "Who is that?"

From behind him I responded, "Have you ever heard of Blind Charlie Dee? Well, that's him. He was one of the top blues men of the 1950s. Played with all the greats."

I kept up the charade all night with that guy. I told him things like, "Don't ask him to play; his arthritis is too much for him these days," and "No, he's not really blind; he got the nickname from the way he kept his eyes closed while he played."

Dad never knew what I was doing. He only knew that "some nice young man" shook his hand later and told him it was a pleasure to meet him.

1 Comment

Moving forward

3/7/2014

0 Comments

Just got home from Bryan after performing at Watercrest with Paul Teneyuque. This was a freebie show, a favor to my mother really, and we had a great time.

The audience was very receptive, and we got lots of ego-swelling compliments afterward. I was especially glad that my song, All Hat and No Cattle went over so well.

I wish Dad could have been there, too. I really felt his spirit when we sang "Tumblin' Tumbleweeds." I think I'm going to make it my regular closing song from now on.

0 Comments

I Love Open Mic Nights!

Happily playin' the blues

Byrd House Studio

A Blast and a Blast from the Past

Moving forward

John's blog

Archives

Categories