san angelo spotlight - june 2011

RAY WYLIE HUBBARD

PAGE 14

PAGE 18

PAGE 13

PAGE 18

PAGE 15

Lake Nasworthy

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1ST

Stories and Songs for Pre-schoolers: Every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beaure-gard Tops in Blue at the City Auditori-um, 7pm – Free Patriotic concert performed by World Tour Air Force Entertainment, ―Rhythm Nation.‖ The tour features the 17

th FORCE

Support Squadron, Inside City Hall, 72 W. College Ave.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2ND

Stories and Songs for Pre-schoolers: Every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beaure-gard Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce of-fered for sale. Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, a children‘s show, @ the ASU Planetarium, 7pm - $3 a person. Our family feature show allows the audience to embark on an out-standing adventure as two children spend a night touring the solar sys-tem alongside their ship's naviga-tor, an astronomy book. With spec-tacular effects created at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch, Secret of the Cardboard Rocket is a show suitable for all ages. Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3 per person. Visitors will learn about scientific research, as

they follow the creation of NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft. Audiences will get an in-depth look at the mission, and how IBEX is mapping our So-lar System's boundary. Narrated by two inquisitive teenagers, audi-ences will hear from the develop-ers of the IBEX mission, and get the latest updates on the mission's discoveries.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3RD

Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 7pm - $3 per person. Visitors will learn about scientific research, as they follow the creation of NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft. Audiences will get an in-depth look at the mission, and how IBEX is mapping our So-lar System's boundary. Narrated by two inquisitive teenagers, audi-ences will hear from the develop-ers of the IBEX mission, and get the latest updates on the mission's discoveries. Secrets of the Sun @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3.00 per per-son. An intimate look at the role the sun plays in the life of our solar system. From the nuclear forces churning at the heart of the sun to the mass ejections of solar materi-al in to surrounding space, we will experience the power of the sun and its impact on the planets and ultimately life on Earth. We will trace the life cycle of the sun itself, going back to its beginnings and moving forward in time to its even-tual death.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH

Kendall Art Gallery – Fiesta in Realism Exhibit, 9am-1pm on Sat-urdays June 4 – June 25

th

1

st Saturday at the Old Chicken

Farm Art Center The first Satur-day of each month is a special treat at the Art Center. We feature work of special invited artists plus all of the art center artist‘s studios are open for visitors. Located at 2505 Martin Luther King Blvd. - FMI call 325-653-4936 Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce of-fered for sale.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8TH

Stories and Songs for Pre-schoolers: Every Wednesday and Thursday at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beaure-gard.

www.sanangelospotlight.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 9TH

Stories and Songs for Preschool-ers: Every Wednesday and Thurs-day at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beauregard Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce offered for sale. Chicken Farm Art Center – Live music in the Courtyard, 6:30pm – Free yard concert, bring a lawn chair and a cooler. The Silo House will be offering burgers for pur-chase. 2505 Martin Luther King FMI 325-653-4936 Art Thursday, 2pm-6pm @ the Museum of Fine Arts – In the Edu-cation Studio Art activities for chil-dren and their families. FREE Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, a children‘s show, @ the ASU Plan-etarium, 7pm - $3 a person. Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3 per person. Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus @ Foster Comm Coliseum, June 9

th – 12

th. Purchase

tickets at Blairs, Elite Physique, http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?orgid=31207 or by calling (325) 658-6464.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10TH

D’Vine Wine – Samaritan Coun-seling Center Benefit, 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Wine tasting event which will include music, Hor d‘oeuvres, tours of the wine making process, prizes, shopping and a silent auc-tion. $20 per person (4 tastings), 113 E. Concho Ave, FMI 325-944-2561 San Angelo Concert Series – Nora Struthers, 6:30pm – Emmanu-el Recital Hall, FMI: www.norajanestruthers.com Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 7pm - $3 per person.

Secrets of the Sun @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3.00 per per-son.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11TH

Kendall Art Gallery – Fiesta in Re-alism Exhibit, 9am-1pm on Satur-days June 4 – June 25th Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce offered for sale. Adult Birding Adventure, 9am @ the San Angelo State Park/South Gate – Bring your binoculars and camera. FMI Bob 325-944-1839 Family Day at the Museum of Fi-ne Arts, 10am-3pm Families can participate in hands on art activities, sample new foods, listen to the mu-sic of different culture and tour cur-rent exhibits for FREE. FMI 325-653-3333 Old Town Second Saturdays on Orient Street behind the Museum, 10am – 4pm - artist designers, craft vendors and more will be showcas-ing and selling their goods. This outdoor boutique style marketplace offers shoppers a variety of original and unique handmade items, home-baked goods, fresh flowers, etc. Participating will be non-profit agencies, clubs, groups and organi-zations. Musicians and food ven-dors will also be on site. FMI 325-658-1714

SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH

Leave No Kid Inside Day Camp @ the San Angelo State Park - special week-long camping activity where participants can learn all about the park . Campers will enjoy a week of projects and learning experienc-es tailored to teaching the youth about our native out-doors. Campers must be going into fourth grade, fifth and six graders to register. There is limit of 60 camp-ers. Cost is $60 payable to Friends of San Angelo State Park (includes family overnight campout) Camp-ers are asked to wear long pants and no open end shoes for hik-

ing. A parent or guardian required to accompany camper in overnight campout. Campers will provide their own camping gear - sleeping bags, tents, etc. Snacks will be provided. FMI: Kurt Kemp 325-947-2687 Summer Arts Conservatory 2011 - Registration in underway for the 2011 Summer Arts Conservato-ry. Classes in Arts, Drama, & Dance will be offered June 13 - 17 for children, youth and adults. This year's theme "A New Spin" will em-phasize the textile arts. Deadline to register is may 31st. FMI: First Presbyterian Church, 32 N. Irving Street 325-655-5694.

TUESDAY, JUNE 14TH

Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce offered for sale.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15TH

Stories and Songs for Preschool-

ers: Every Wednesday and Thurs-day at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beauregard

THURDAY, JUNE 16TH

Stories and Songs for Preschool-ers: Every Wednesday and Thurs-day at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beauregard Linedrives and Lipstick - The un-told Story of Women's Baseball at Fort Concho Quartermaster Galler-ies featuring exhibit which includes period photos and artifacts. The All-American Girls Professional Base-ball League brought national atten-tion to the women's game. Linedrives and Lipstick will be open from 10:00am to 4:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm on Sundays from June 16th - August 11. FMI: 325-481-2646 or www.fortconcho.com Art Thursday, 2pm-6pm @ the Museum of Fine Arts – In the Edu-cation Studio Art activities for chil-dren and their families. FREE

Samaritan Counseling Center Samaritan Counseling Center

BenefitBenefit——June 10thJune 10th Rooftop Sculpture Garden www.samfa.org

Fast Eddies


http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?orgid=31207

http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?orgid=31207

Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce offered for sale. Downtown Artwalk, 5pm-9pm @ the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts and downtown participating galleries and merchants. Free ad-mission to the Museum including refreshments, entertainment, and a make and take art activity for chil-dren. FMI 325-653-3333 Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, a children‘s show, @ the ASU Plan-etarium, 7pm - $3 a person. Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3 per person.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17TH

Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 7pm - $3 per person. Secrets of the Sun @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3.00 per per-son.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18TH

Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce offered for sale. Family Fun Day at the Depot, 10am – 4pm - The Railway Muse-um of San Angelo is celebrating San Angelo families this sum-mer. Along with free admission to the Museum, families can enjoy live music, children's activities, food and more. FMI: 325-486-2140

TUESDAY, JUNE 21ST


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22ND

Stories and Songs for Preschool-ers: Every Wednesday and Thurs-day at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beauregard

THURSDAY, JUNE 23RD


Art Thursday, 2pm-6pm @ the Museum of Fine Arts – In the Edu-cation Studio Art activities for chil-dren and their families. FREE Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, a children‘s show, @ the ASU Plan-etarium, 7pm - $3 a person. Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3 per person.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24TH

Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 7pm - $3 per person. Secrets of the Sun @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3.00 per per-son. SATURDAY, JUNE 25TH

Hispanorama Summer Fest, 10am – 10pm - Bands, Bands and more

bands at the Riverstage. FREE to the public. Come and enjoy a day filled with music. (No coolers please) Further information may be obtained on the Hispanorama TV show on Saturdays at 11:00 pm or on KIDY-FOX. FMI: Mike Garcia 325-340-7719 or e-mail [email protected]

TUESDAY, JUNE 28TH


WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29TH


THURSDAY, JUNE 30TH

Stories and Songs for Preschool-ers: Every Wednesday and Thurs-day at 10 and 10:30 A.M. at the Central Library. 33 W. Beauregard Concho Valley Farmers Market @ 609 S. Oakes St, 7am – 12pm – Locally grown fresh produce offered for sale. Art Thursday, 2pm-6pm @ the Museum of Fine Arts – In the Edu-cation Studio Art activities for chil-dren and their families. FREE Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, a children‘s show, @ the ASU Plan-etarium, 7pm - $3 a person. Search for the Edge of the Solar System @ the ASU Planetarium, 8pm - $3 per person.

SHOWDOWN IN SAN ANGELO - San Angelo Texas will put on its fifth annual drag boat races. June 24

th – 26

th. Come see

one of the fastest shows on the water, SHOWDOWN IN SAN ANGELO. At Lake Nasworthy, this venue has been seen by many of the regular boat racers and specta-tors as the BEST on the circuit. Boats will line up side by side and run a liquid quarter mile at speeds of up to 250 miles per hour in

less than 5 seconds. The liquid quarter mile lies between two of the most awe-some spectator areas that you will see on the cir-cuit. Walk the pits and see the boats up close. Talk to the drivers and crew and see them working on the boats for the next round. Buy t-shirts, photos, cards or posters and have your favorite driver autograph them.

FMI: www.visitsanangelo.org


Many of you have heard advertise-ments recently about investing in gold. Some guy in a very excited voice on the TV waving his hands around and screaming, ―Gold is the highest it has ever been. Invest now!‖ Ads like these always make me wince a little on the inside and leave me wondering ―what‘s the catch?‖ So recently I decided to talk to some experts and find out what the deal is on the value of gold these days.

At Angelo Gold Exchange I met up with the owners Andrew and Daryl who have been in the precious metal buying business for years. They‘re a reliable resource with genuine exper-tise in the precious metals business. Andrew and Daryl moved to the Con-cho Valley from the Big Country in Oc-tober and set up shop at 1101 Caddo St by Central High School. I asked these guys to explain what the craze is all about with gold lately. As it turns out, the guy on the TV is telling the truth. Gold has doubled in value in the past year and silver has almost tripled in value. Andrew said that currently gold sells for $1530 per ounce. In ‘06 that figure was $600, and in ‘09 it was $800.

But according the Andrew and Daryl there are a lot of gimmicks and unprofessional gold buying going on out there. Andrew explained, ―We real-ly have to know what we‘re looking at when we buy. We have a lot of tech-nology that the other guys simply don‘t have that allows us to know what the gold or silver we buy is worth. That‘s why we are aggressive buyers and pay

more than anyone else in town for pre-cious metals. We know that what we pay for is what we are getting, but the other guys are making an educated guess as to the quality of the metal they buy. So they pay less to cover the losses. With what we will pay in cash for gold in San Angelo, we are really forcing our competition to be more ag-gressive as well.‖

Andrew and Daryl have found in the recent years that their competition is no longer only other precious metal buyers, but coin collectors as well. Ap-parently since the value of silver and gold has sky-rocketed old coins are often worth more as metal than as a collectable. I asked Andrew what they buy the most. He said, ―Sterling. We buy anything that is sterling. Right now silver is going for $37 per ounce. That‘s unheard of, so we‘ll take any-thing that‘s sterling. I‘ve seen some people who buy an old set of silver-ware for five bucks at a garage sale and they turn around and bring it to us we give them five hundred. A lot of people really don‘t know what they have and are really happy to find out when they come see us.‖

So if you‘re looking to off-load some long forgotten set of dinnerware go see Andrew and Daryl down at the Angelo Gold Exchange. These guys will take care of you without any gimmicks. They‘re soon to move their shop to a location next door where they‘ve set up a discrete buying area. Or if you‘re just curious to know a little more about the value of what you do have, these guys are professional and knowledgeable, and will be able to give you a fair, mar-ket based assessment on the value of your precious metals.

By Grant Ingram


Kyle Bennett has a confusing story that needs to be set

straight. Did the Kyle Bennett Band break up a few years ago? Yes…but not really. But then again…. In any case, Bennett is still around and doing what he‘s done his entire life. Grown up in a church of 25,000 members strong, Bennett and his family all played music. His mother, by the age of 6, recorded a series of 10 seven-inch records (45‘s for those who are so vinyl savvy) who also sang back up for Larry Gatlin (back before his ―All the Gold In California‖ days made him a star) and his father, a bass player who was a member of the Gateman Trio, have had a very profound influence on his life and mu-sic. Although there is not much written or known about Kyle, his mu-sic seems to tell us all we need to know. ―We have more music com-ing out, a new album to look forward to and you WILL know who we are‖, states Bennett.

I got to speak to Kyle while on the road from Austin on the way to Corpus Christi,

Spotlight: Your family has always been active musical-ly. Would you say you‘re carrying forth a family tradi-tion? Bennett: (Laughs) Well, not necessarily in the way they‘d want me to but they are huge fans. Spotlight: Are you happy with the attention you‘ve had thus far? Bennett: It was very unexpected. I was really shocked by the turn out of all the people coming to the shows and stuff. But it‘s something you have to adapt and learn to embrace and it‘s given me the opportunity to meet some really cool people and to connect with people who our music. Spotlight: How is the solo career go-ing? Bennett: I wouldn‘t call it going solo. There was just a personnel change and I hate the way it all went. But it‘s still the Kyle Bennett Band and we still do the same songs as we did from before. I‘m Kyle Bennett and I

have a band and that‘s the way we do it. Spotlight: Is it any different from be-fore? Bennett: Well, there‘re some things that I cannot say due to legal rea-sons. But it‘s still the Kyle Bennett Band and we still sing the songs that everybody knows and loved. I wrote all those tunes. Spotlight: What‘s your take on the Texas country music scene? Bennett: Specifically I believe that it‘s a great avenue for people that like country music. You know, it‘s a great representation of Texas and what better way to do it than through mu-sic. It‘s a great deal. I think the Texas music scene is right where it needs to be.


Bart Crow is a man who is quite possibly the most honest and assertive person there is in Texas country music. He‘s not afraid to reach outside the boundaries and worry about being a misleading figure (or being any kind of figure at that). He just loves to play music and loves music in gen-eral. Consider him the James Brown of Texas country mu-sic due to his hard work and contributions. Four albums into his career speaks for itself. Not much is out there to be said on Crow and his beginnings. Hopefully this interview from his home in Austin is a good place to start.

Spotlight: Where is Bart Crow now and how did he get to where he is today?

Crow: Well, I live in Austin, Texas with my wife and we just had

our three month old boy. After I graduated high school, I was in the Army from 1995 through 1998 and that‘s where I started playing guitar. After an honorable discharge, I went to Tarleton State Uni-versity and that‘s where I started playing music. Then I moved to Austin and was playing out there and then moved to Dallas and was playing on the weekends. Then I was getting laid off from dif-ferent jobs so I moved back to Austin and started to focus on mu-sic. So 6 years later, here we are and we have running water and the electricity is still on.

Spotlight: How does Austin treat you?

Crow: Oh, I love the city. It‘s the only place I‘ve been to that the culture and the food is amazing. It‘s a great place to be; a beautiful city.

Spotlight: Explain to us what the difference between Red Dirt music and Texas country is to you and your place in both?

Crow: Man, I don‘t know if I have an answer for that. I don‘t really

know. I can say that there is a certain feel to what‘s going on out here. But to define what Texas country is and what is Red Dirt, I have no idea. I know there‘s a theme and a market and a radio station format for it but I think it‘s just a lot of independent country-esq music. For me, I just make American music, I write songs that I create but not to create for a format. That‘s what I do. I go into a studio and create parts and make it a song.

Spotlight: So you‘re a beastie boys fan?

Crow: Oh yeah, Dude! I‘m actually going to Waterloo this after-noon to get the new album on vinyl.

Spotlight: ―Wear My Ring‖ is probably your most well known

song…

Crow: Yeah man – I wrote that song and it‘s something I‘m very proud of.

Spotlight: Are you excited about playing San Angelo?

Crow: Oh yeah! We always love to play San Angelo! We‘ve been

playing San Angelo for years so we‘re always excited to come back.

Spotlight: Do you play a lot of festivals like the Texas Country Music Festival that will be taking place?

Crow: Yeah, man. I love playing festivals. It‘s a time for us to kind of let our hair down and not have to worry so much about being here and there at a certain time and doing radio and we just get to talk to fans and hang out and it‘s a lot of fun for us. We can relax a bit. And we can hear other bands we like that we don‘t always get to because we‘re always working when they are.

Spotlight: Any new music on the way?

Crow: Yeah man. We put out a live album recently but I‘ve been in the studio recording some new songs just gearing up for that. I just nailed 17 new songs down. I don‘t even know what I‘m going to do with. They‘re just some acoustic songs.

By Bob Simpson


Wednesday, June 1

Andrea Marie – Sealy Flats Coy Moses – Stagecoach Saloon Karaoke Night – Fast Eddies The Pleasants – The Deadhorse Tops in Blue – San Angelo Coliseum

Thursday, June 2

Matt Harian & Brian Hudson – House of FiFi Dubois Spring Mill Grind – Sealy Flats Psychostick/ Kill This & Plagues Within – The Deadhorse Matt Harian – House of FiFi Dubois Piano Bar Sing A Long – Miss. Hattie's Texas Chuck’s Open Mic Night – Spam‘s Bar

Friday, June 3

Kevin Fowler w/ Granger Smith – Midnight Rodeo Tablespoon – Little River Club Jeff Strahan – Sealy Flats The Tone Pirates – Stagecoach Saloon Muchos Backflips – The Deadhorse Crossing Tyler – The Wall Barefoot Mark – House of FiFi Dubois

Saturday, June 4

Silverado – VFW Ricky Stein & The Warm Guns – House of FiFi Dubois The Tone Pirates – Stagecoach Saloon Calling All War, A Black Anatomy– The Deadhorse

Sunday, June 5

Blind Nello – VFW Jeska Sheppard and Friends (every Sunday) – Sealy Flats

Tuesday, June 7

Whistlestix – Spam‘s Bar

Wednesday, June 8

Wildstreet and Black Tora – The Deadhorse

Thursday, June 9

Barefoot Mark – Chicken Farm Art Center Josh Abbott Band – Midnight Rodeo

Friday, June 10

Nora Jane Struthers – San Angelo Concert Series Tablespoon – Kimbo‘s Saloon

Monty Branham – Blaine‘s Pub High Seas Adventure, The Beat Dolls—The Deadhorse

Saturday, June 11

Black Eye Shiner – Party Ranch Erin James Band –Sealy Flats Buckshot Bradley – Blaine‘s Pub The Phuss, PTN and 3 Second Rule—The Deadhorse

Tuesday, June 14

Clay McClinton – House of FiFi Dubois

Thursday, June 16

Texas Chuck’s Open Mic Night – Spam‘s Bar

Friday, June 17

Texas Country Music Festival – Graham Central Station Mark McKinney – Midnight Rodeo Closure, Shotgun Rebels and Falling Ashes – The Deadhorse Texas Blues Runners – Sealy Flats

Saturday, June 18

Texas Country Music Festival – Graham Central Station Hosea Hargrove and The Roadrunners – Sealy Flats Faint the Fiction and Sindrone – The Deadhorse Hard Tymes – Coachman Club 21 in June – Blaine‘s Pub

Thursday, June 23

Pat Green w/ Josh Abbott – Midnight Rodeo Tablespoon – Party Ranch The Rankin Twins – Blaine‘s Pub

Friday, June 24

J.B. & the Moonshine Band – Midnight Rodeo Favors for Favors and The Black Irish – The Deadhorse Scooter Brown Band – Blaine‘s Pub

Saturday, June 25

No Dry Country – Blaine‘s Pub

Tuesday, June 28

Avey Brothers – Sealy Flats

Thursday, June 30

Cody Johnson – Midnight Rodeo Bobby Duncan – Blaine‘s Pub Texas Chuck’s Open Mic Night – Spam‘s Bar


Spotlight: Do you expect another breakthrough of some kind that was similar to that of 2007‘s ‗Seventeen‘?

O’Toole: Yeah, I mean with the new record coming out in July, we plan on being a national act and go to radio. We just had our first number one on Bill-board. So yeah, we‘re taking our first steps and the very first is to release this new record. Hopefully get a bigger fan base and keep rockin‘ and rollin‘. Spotlight: What do plan to do after the new record comes out?

O’Toole: Getting a bigger fan base, writing more music, playing for bigger

audiences; which is already happening. We‘ve sold 600 tickets in one night be-fore where as in the beginning I was just happy to play to 100 people. Spotlight: What enticed you to do a Postal Service song on your last album?

O’Toole: When I was in college, there was this girl that I hung out with you lis-tened to the Postal Service and I always liked that song. I thought it (―The District Sleeps Alone Tonight‖) was a great song and I write for great lyrics and great chord progression and it had all that. And even though it was electronic, I could still feel that I could sing to it and it delivers a message. It‘s a really well

written song. Spotlight: Speaking of recording songs, how did the ―Cricket Song‖ come about?

O’Toole: Well one of my good buddies, Gabe Wootton, wrote that song and played it in college all the time at A&M and I fell in love with that tune. And I‘ve written everything we‘ve recorded but I wanted to go outside my boundaries a little bit and record another persons‘ song so I did. Spotlight: It‘s rumored that you played baseball or wanted to be a baseball player…

O’Toole: I played baseball in high school and my senior year, I blew out my elbow and it kind of sidelined me for a little bit so I had to let it go so I kind of focused on music. But even on the road we kind of play a little baseball. And I watch baseball. I‘m a huge Astros fan. I watch them every chance I get. I love baseball. Spotlight: Does being on the road ever take its toll on you guys?

O’Toole: Yeah, of course. Just like any-thing in life. I might get burned out right after a show but I‘ll get a goodnights rest and wake up in the morning and love it all over again.

By Bob Simpson

Rich O‘Toole hails from Houston, TX (now re-siding in Austin) as one of the ―lucky ones‖ to breakout even onto the Texas country music scene by just releasing his first album. ‗Seventeen‘, released in 2007, garnered much attention not only to radio stations all over the state of Texas, but to the college crowds who wallow in the nothing-but-true-to-Texas sound (and usually settle for nothing less). Since the release of his first album, another album followed and O‘Toole still managed to keep his head above the water by avoiding each recording artists night-mare of the so called ―sophomore slump‖ by touring and attracting more fans. After a few line-up changes, Rich and the gang went to record a brand new release slated for July 12. The album is yet to be titled by his fans on his Facebook page.

I spoke to Rich from a coffee house in Austin, TX.


Spotlight: You‘re a lot younger than most of your peers in the Texas country genre. Do you feel that the media focuses too much on your age than they do your music? Cooper: I think when I first started playing music when I was 16, 17, 18, and 19, I think that might have been a bigger deal than the actual music, but I kind of showed everybody by sticking to playing and touring. It‘s like it all kind of flip-flopped. Like I came from being a

kid to just playing music to a guy who really, really wanted to play music who happened to be young.

Spotlight: You have a pretty edgy sound that‘s not the typical format in Texas country music. What do you consider your music to be? Cooper: You know, that‘s a really good ques-tion. I‘ve not even, myself, have found a label for it that I feel comfortable with. Mainly my

music is growing. It‘s constantly changing and constantly evolving and that‘s what I want as a musician is to be constantly evolving. But more than anything I want to keep that ques-tion and the answer for my listeners instead of me telling people what kind of music I play, I‘d rather have people categorize it more than me tell them what it is. Do you know what I‘m say-ing? But you‘re right man, I‘m a little bit of country, rock n‘ roll, hip hop, soul, R & B, you know so it‘s all the types of music that I loved to listen to when I was growing up and I think the older I get, I keep trying to find ways to bring them all together; all the different types of music that I love and I think the older I get, I want to try pushing it all together.

Spotlight: So how did you fall under the Tex-as country category? Cooper: Well, I live here in north Texas and I‘ve had the ability to see guys like Cross Ca-nadian Ragweed, Blue Edmonson, Stoney LaRue, Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers …you know a lot of those cats were coming through my area. And being that I‘m so close to Okla-homa, I was always, constantly hearing about these bands. So after seeing these people I got inspired to kind of follow that same ave-nue. And they were the ones that inspired me to want to go out there and play live music. And so being around all that growing up and being from around the area, I was just kind of thrown into it all and that‘s totally fine with me because that‘s where they too came from.

Spotlight: Would you consider your album, ‗Ignition‘, to be the essence of your music and the artist you portray? Cooper: Yeah, I would definitely say so. ‗Ignition‘ is where it all kind of started for me. It hit closer to home because that was back when a light bulb went off in my head that I could really do my own music. So, a lot of songs on that record are real close to me just because when I first started, I started to real-ize that I could write my own music. And they were all songs that I wrote in my room as a 16/17 year-old.

Spotlight: Besides your age and sound, what sets you apart from the rest of Texas musi-cians in the Red Dirt market? Cooper: I‘d like to say more than anything that it‘s the work ethic. I feel blessed to have the chance to even do what I love to do and make a living at it. I really, truly believe in the music that I‘m trying to do and as long as I try to keep working hard, I think that will set me apart from everybody.

Spotlight: When you‘re not out rockin‘ the world over, what does Johnny cooper do? Cooper: I‘m a sucker for sitting at home and playing video games and cooking out on the grill and I‘m a huge Mavericks fan so of course I love to watch basketball and I‘m a huge hockey fan also. So between cooking out and doing the normal stuff I do, I really love watching sports and being outside and just kicking back.

By Bob Simpson

Johnny Cooper is Texas‘ boy wonder of music. By look-

ing at him, you‘d think he was a young John Mayer that just rolled out of bed. But he‘s just the opposite. Cooper is an artist in his own right creating sounds not yet composed by an artist in his genre and incorporating many more influences in his music than the typical ‗Waylon and Willie‘ from their dad‘s old record collection that‘s been done (and is keeping on) within Texas country music.

The 22-year-old from Wichita Falls recorded his first record at the age of 16 entitled ‗Live at the Pub‘. His real breakthrough came a few years later with his album ‗Ignition‘ that landed him not only on the map of Texas music but also on its charts. With ‗Live at the Pub 2‘ slated for a release sometime this year, Cooper is still doing what he does best (and the only thing he knows how to do); playing on a stage in front of audiences and winning them over.

I talked to Johnny from his home in Wichita Falls, TX.


s

Randy Rogers is known for such hit songs as ―Kiss Me in the Dark‖ and ―In My Arms‖. The San Mar-cos resident happens to be a very shy and quiet kind of guy who ac-counts his success as just icing on the cake. He‘s still very well deep rooted in the places where he first started playing music; most notably at San Marcos‘ Cheatham Street Warehouse where he and his band recorded their first album in 2002 as a live venture.

Rogers was born in Cleburne, TX. At age six his grandmother taught him how to play music; mostly songs chosen for church hym-nals. It wouldn‘t be long after that that Rogers would envision a ca-reer in music and pursue it for a lifetime to come.

By 2005, Rogers and company saw all goals completed as some songs reached the Billboard country charts and released the critically acclaimed ‗Rollercoaster‘ album co-produced by Radney Foster. The following year, Rog-ers said goodbye to being true to the Texas independent music scene and signed on to Mercury Nashville then by 2010 released his current album ‗Burning the Day‘ on MCA Nashville, the home of Texas music legend George Strait.

I got the chance to talk to Rogers from his home in San Marcos. He didn‘t have much to say.

Spotlight: Your grandmother taught you to play music. What kind of person was she like?Rogers: She was a very religious person. And most of those songs she taught me were Baptist hymns. Spotlight: Do you cite her as an influence?

Rogers: Yeah. She was the only person who put music in my head when I was little so absolutely. Spotlight: Being a fulltime musi-cian, as you have been for awhile now, do you miss your day job? Rogers: No (laughs). The last job I had was working at Mailboxes Etc. Spotlight: Where did you form the band? Rogers: In San Marcos. Spotlight: Do you miss playing the old venues like the Nutty Brown Cafe or the Cheatham Street Warehouse or do you still play those places? Rogers: Yeah, we still play Cheatham Street. It‘s very dear to my heart and I thoroughly enjoy it. Spotlight: You got to work with Radney Foste r on you r ‗Rollercoaster‘ album. What was that like for you? Rogers: It was a dream come true. I‘ve always been a big fan of his. And from being a fan her turned into my mentor and a dear friend and has given me good ad-vice; not just musically. Spotlight: You‘re on the road a lot. Do you have a funny tour sto-ry to share? Rogers: I have a lot of funny tour stories but not any that you can print (laughs). Spotlight: How is your new label MCA Nashville treating you?Rogers: They‘re great, man! We‘ve been on Universal for five years now and we‘re going to make another record this year. Spotlight: Do you have a title for it or anything you want to share about the new album?

Rogers: No, it‘s too early for all that. It‘s in the process of getting written pretty much. We‘ll proba-bly start recording it in the fall. Spotlight: Are you touring con-sistently? Rogers: Yeah we‘re doing right around 200 shows this year. Spotlight: What are the acoustic tours that you and Wade Bowen do like? Rogers: Well, it‘s an acoustic tour we do called Hold My Beer and Watch This. It usually hap-pens in May or June and we‘ll go out and do it again this year. Spotlight: Being on a major la-bel, do you get called a ―sell out‖ by Red Dirt/Texas music fans? Rogers: I don‘t think we as a band have sold out. We decided to make the transition as a band, record our own records, and write our own songs so no, I don‘t think we ever get called a sellout. We already had our own sound to begin with and so on and so forth. Spotlight: What are you listening to these days? Rogers: Oh, I‘ve been listening to old stuff, man. I‘ve been listing to Willie (Nelson), some Merle (Haggard). Spotlight: Have you ever been offended by crowds while on stage? Rogers: Well, you know, I‘ve been nailed by a few beer bottles and stuff in my life but you know, not much really pisses me off. I‘m a pretty easy going guy.

By Bob Simpson



Spotlight: You used to be in the band West 84. What happened to those guys? Bowen: Well it was our band name and then we just dropped it eventually changed it to Wade Bowen. It was just a band that I started back in Lubbock and we were just in it together in college so we were West 84 and then Wade Bowen and West 84 and then we just dropped the name. Spotlight: How does the Wade Bowen song process work? Bowen: Kind of all over the map. I mean, I try to write songs about my life and my kids and venture off to find other stories that I hear about. I don‘t have any straight formu-las for it. I just do the best that I can with one idea at a time. Spotlight: What‘s your favorite song you‘ve written and why? Bowen: I‘d probably say my favorite song that I‘ve written is ―Turn on the Lights‖ just because I captured something going on just the way that it was. It was one of those times that my wife and I went through. I wrote that about 4 years ago. Spotlight: How are your wife and children doing? Bowen: Everybody‘s great. They‘re awe-some and having way too much fun. Spotlight: What do you like best about playing live and being on the road? Bowen: I enjoy hanging with my band;

they‘re a good group of guys. I enjoy being on the bus and the fan interaction. I love being on stage for a couple of hours. If I‘m going through something and I don‘t think I‘m going to make it, being on stage just makes it all go away. But I love it and the interaction of people that get into it when we‘re doing a show and the love they give back to us. And it‘s something else to see how a song affects other people‘s lives. Spotlight: What‘s the wildest show you‘ve ever done? Bowen: I don‘t know, man. There are quite a few wild ones. Talk about San Angelo; we‘d play at Blaine‘s Pub and people would be dancing on the tables. That was pretty fun. Those were pretty wild days. We‘ve played some pretty wild shows at the Blue Light back in the day in Lubbock. Spotlight: Any plans to work with your brother in-law Cody Canada? Bowen: No. We‘ve never really even talked about it. He‘s busy doing his new thing with

his new band and I‘m busy doing mine. He‘s kind of picking up where he left off with Cross Canadian Ragweed and staying real busy. Spotlight: You just released ‗Wade Bowen: Live at Billy Bob‘s‘. Are you supporting this album with your tour? Bowen: Sort of. We never really stop tour-ing. We‘re on the road nonstop. But it‘s good to be a part of the ‗Live at Billy Bob‘s‘ series. They‘ve been good to us. Spotlight: Tell us a little bit about the golf tournament that you host. Bowen: Well, it‘s a concert and a golf tour-nament. This year we raised around $133,000 for a charity and had about 1,800 people show up so it was a good year. We‘ve sold it out for the last seven years and it‘s a really good even and we have a lot of fun with it. And we just enjoy giving back a little bit of what‘s been given to us.

By Bob Simpson

W B ADE OWEN

Hailed as one of the most important songwriters in the new wave of Texas music, Wade Bowen takes aim on emotion and molds it in song. He‘s been all over Texas with his band and alone just him and a guitar. He‘s the ―universal soldier‖ of Texas music and recently released his second live rec-ord ―Live at Billy Bob‘s‖. Bowen is known for his song crafting and speak-ing out against post partum depres-sion; an illness his wife suffered after giving birth to their two boys almost 4 years ago. Currently residing in New Braunfels Texas, Wade was once a Red Raider studying at Texas Tech University--the place where he started playing music. Playing over 200 con-cert dates a year, he consistently keeps up his pace in the Texas music world.

Scoring

New Construction

Stencils

PolishingNail Holes Existing Floors

Acid Staining No Scratch Finish

FERTILIZERS HERBACIDES INSECTICIDES FUNGICIDES BRUSH CONTROL TREE SALES

SCOTT ANTILLEY325-234-1478

www.pinnaclespraying.com

Spring has sprung and so have the ants and weeds. Protect yourself with Pinnacle.

[email protected]

Classic Concrete Staining

Danny and Kanji AdamsSpecializing in Polished and Stained Concrete

[email protected]

San Angelo: 325-340-7268Midland: 432-212-6841

san angelo spotlight - june 2011

Documents

ibex mission

solar system

asu planetarium

pm free patriotic concert

lar systems boundary

art center artists studios

indepth look

central library