By Ronnie Narmour

ronnienarmour@gmail.com

Three Chords and the Truth

Live Music

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Thursday, Jan. 19th Free Beer @ Tarpon Ice HouseMatt’s Local Showcase @ House of RockCharlie Montague @ Executive Surf Club

Friday, Jan. 20th Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats LoungeAnother Level @ Brewster Street Ice HouseFriends and Lovers Art Show @ House of RockThe Groove @ Dr. Rockits Flashback @ Executive Surf Club

Saturday, Jan. 21st Metal Shop @ Brewster Street Ice HouseKeith Sykes @ 3rd Coast TheaterLourdes @ Dr. Rockits Paul Renna @ Executive Surf Club

Sunday, Jan. 22nd Open Electric Jam w/ Rockin’ Ricke @ Tarpon Ice HouseFranken Bike #1 @ House of RockTumble Dry Low @ Bernie’s Beach HouseMonday, Jan. 23rd Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. RockitsAcoustic Monday w/ Benny Perez @ House of Rock

Tuesday, Jan. 24th Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Dr. RockitsOpen Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of RockScarecrow People @ Executive Surf ClubClarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar & Grill

Wednesday, Jan. 25th Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge PA Rockers @ Bernie’s Beach HouseBeer & Berto Show @ House of RockHOBO @ House of RockMedicare Band @ Moby Dick’s

Thursday, Jan. 26th Free Beer @ Tarpon Ice House

Roger Creager @ Brewster Street Ice House40 Pound Dog @

Executive Surf Club

Friday, Jan. 27th Ray T & the City Crew

@ Flats LoungePacifica Quartet/ Wann-dar Tan @

House of RockJohn Cortez @ Dr.

Rockits Aaron Einhouse @ Executive Surf Club

Saturday, Jan. 28th Burlesque Show @ House of Rock

Mighty Org @ Dr. RockitsDean Seltzer @ Executive Surf Club

Sunday, Jan. 29th Open Electric Jam

w/ Rockin’ Ricke @ Tarpon Ice House

Tumble Dry Low @ Bernie’s Beach House

Monday, Jan. 30th Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits

Acoustic Night w/ Art Barrera @ House of Rock

Tuesday, Jan. 31st Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Dr.

RockitsOpen Mic w/ Rev. Matt

Martinez @ House of Rock

Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club

Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar & Grill

Wednesday, Feb. 1st Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge

PA Rockers @ Bernie’s Beach HouseBeer & Berto Show @ House of Rock

Medicare Band @ Moby Dick’s

Thursday, Feb. 2nd Free Beer @ Tarpon

Ice House

Saturday, Feb. 4th Terri Hendrix @ 3rd

Coast TheaterFred Andrews & Honeybrowne @

Executive Surf Club

It may be the dead of winter but I found a few shows to tell you about. I’m especially enjoying the weekly shows at Bernie’s (PA Rockers, Wednesdays at 6:30 pm) and the Tarpon Ice House (Free Beer Band, Thursdays at 7:00 pm and the Open Jam with Ricke Burnett, Sundays at 5:00 pm). Stop by and check them out. They’re really a lot of fun. But right now, time’s a wasting. Let’s roll…

Lukas NelsonLukas Nelson and Promise of the Real (Paia,

Hawaii) played the House of Rock on January

14th. The first thing that impressed me about young Lukas Nelson was that in all of the press releases and interview offers I received leading up to this gig, not once was it mentioned that he was the son of Willie Nelson, a detail you’d think bears mentioning. And, I’m a bit ashamed to admit, it wasn’t until I discovered this little detail that I actually paid attention. Honestly, I wasn’t even aware Willie had a son. In Austin (back in the 80’s) I knew, Lana Nelson, a daughter from his first marriage. I covered a show of Paula Nelson’s, daughter from his third marriage, who played the Back Porch a couple of years ago. Fact is, Willie’s been married four times and has fathered seven children, but I’d never heard anything about 23 year old Lukas Nelson.

I decided to wait until after I’d seen his show to do my research. I wanted to hear Nelson blind with no predisposed notions in my head. So, as I walked towards the House of Rock I really had no idea what I was about to hear. Actually, I still wasn’t completely convinced he really was Willie’s son until I saw “The Bus” in front of the club. It was Willie’s old tour bus. I’d seen it in Austin a thousand times through the years. I couldn’t believe it! The original “Willie Nelson Bus” (with the horses and Indians on the side) was still alive and sitting in front of the House of Rock. OK…I’m buying it now. Seeing that bus and knowing all of the “On the Road Again” lineage attached to it, made me immediately accept young Lukas as the chosen one…no matter what he sounded like. This was Willie’s boy and I’d take a bullet for him.

I went to this show with my buddies from the Island who were all seasoned music fans. We’d all been to Willie’s shows and Fourth of July picnics, so we got to the club early expecting large numbers. Nope. Only about 50 or 60 people showed up. I’d gone to the Willie show at Concrete Street two winters ago and knew the people of Corpus could rise to the occasion in the presence of royalty. I guess young Lukas would have to prove himself before he starts filling arenas on his own. As he played it became obvious he was OK with that task. He and his band played to this small audience with

a fervor and genuine energy that would have easily blown away a crowd 100 times the size. And he was good…really good.

The band was a four piece…guitar, bass, drums and percussion (congas and timbales.) Lukas’ voice sounds remarkably similar to Willie’s. When he sang, it had that unmistakable nasal twang all over it. But, his guitar playing was anything but country. It was blues…fast, in your face, hard, screaming, rocking blues. He was clean and powerful and had his scissor kicks down. The show took on a whole new dimension when Lukas played the guitar with his teeth. He played all original material except for a couple of covers by Jimi Hendrix, one by Bob Dylan and the exceptional Sympathy For the Devil by the Rolling Stones. He didn’t introduce any of the songs or talk at all, except to introduce the band once and to sincerely thank the audience for giving him a chance. If anything, his stage presence came off as a little shy. But, the humility this fine young man exuded was noteworthy and it was obvious he wasn’t resting on anybody’s laurels. After the show, he immediately came down to the merch table and made himself available for autographs and pictures. I looked at his tour schedule and he will play 250 shows in 2012. Lukas Nelson is doing it the old fashion way...with hard work and raw talent. I’m sure the next time he comes around he won’t be playing to only 50 people. Mark my words, this boy will go far, but not just because of his daddy. As Lukas sings it, he’s only, “…riding on the trail that my father left me.”

DO NOT MISS LIST

Always… Patsy ClineThe musical tribute, Always…Patsy Cline

played at the Rialto Theater in Aransas Pass last weekend. I attended the sold out Sunday matinee. The play is based around the real life relationship of a Houston housewife, Louise Seger, and country music legend, Patsy Cline. Cline is played by Jen Rubinowitz and Seger is played by the gregarious Karen Froeschner. During the course of the show, Rubinowitz sang 25 of Cline’s songs and was backed by a live band on stage. Rubinowitz has a clear, pitch perfect singing style, capable of showcasing Patsy’s hits without a problem. But, clearly she has closely studied Cline’s phrasing and intonations. At moments one could close their eyes and believe Patsy Cline was in the room. With frequent wardrobe changes (reflecting 50’s and 60’s styles) the play had no dull spots. The band accompanied Rubinowitz faultlessly and Froeschner delighted the audience with her vivacity and unexpected asides. This is the last weekend of this production. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling (361) 758-0383 or by going to www.rialtotheater.org.

Carol Elliott

Carol ElliottCarol Elliott (Port Aransas,

TX) will play the Tarpon Ice House on Friday, January 27th from 5-7 pm. Elliott is a favorite of locals and Winter Texans alike. She was active on the national folk scene for many years before moving to Port A from Nashville. Originally from Atlanta, she’s spent 30 years in the music industry, either as a performing singer-songwriter or as a record company exec on Music Row. Her list of credentials are impressive ranging from a street performer in San Francisco to working with top artists in Nashville. She was a Kerrville Folk Festival finalist and even received compliments from a former Poet Laureate, Howard Nemerov, who said, “If I could sing like that, I wouldn’t bother with poetry.” Her song, Corn, Water and Wood, was recorded by Michael Martin Murphy and received the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame. She’ll also be back to play First Friday at the Ice House on February 3rd.

Keith SykesSinger-songwriter-recording artist, Keith

Sykes (Memphis, TN) will play the Third Coast Theater in Port A on Saturday, January 21st. Sykes is best known for co-writing “Volcano,” a hit for Jimmy Buffett. He also has had more

than 100 songs recorded by a variety of cool artists such as John Prine, Roseanne Cash, Rodney Crowell, The Judds, Jerry Jeff Walker, George Thorogood, Guy Clark, Todd Snider and Patti Loveless. He’s recorded his own albums that include I’m Not Strange, I’m Just Like You and It Don’t Hurt to Flirt. He has appeared on Austin City Limits and Saturday Night Live. Sykes is a regular visitor to Port Aransas where he often comes to write songs in the serenity of the Lydia Ann light house. Tickets are $25.

And that’s the truth!

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All You Can Eat Shrimp

A 4 Island Moon January 19, 2012

Lukas Nelson played the House of Rock on Jan. 14th

Carol Elliott will play the Tarpon Ice House on Jan. 27th

Keith Sykes will play the Third Coast Studio on Jan. 21st

Willie Nelson’s old tour bus

Karen Froeschner and Jen Rubinowitz perform in Always...Patsy Cline