A 16 Island Moon February 20, 2014

Seen any bluebonnets yet?OK. We’re done with Valentine’s and there’s

nothing between us and Spring Break… except Fat Tuesday. I suspect our Winter Texan friends will soon begin their exodus back North. It’s been a crazy winter around here, at least as far as the weather’s concerned. The next time the Farmer’s Almanac tells us to prepare for a cold winter, I’m listening. I can’t wait to see what March throws at us. There’s usually at least one good cold snap left in there somewhere. Personally, I’m looking forward to my first wildflower sighting. Come on Spring (and go away winter)!

Gaff Bluegrass Festival…

The Gaff’s bluegrass festival went off without a hitch last Saturday. I walked into an already packed house and the Moonshine Martini boys were ripping it up on stage. Those guys, Crawford Brown and Steve Goldstein (with a little help on harmonica from Earl Wang and Colorado Bob Reed) are sure staying busy these days with double and triple duty on the Free Beer Band and PA Rockers fronts. After Moonshine’s set, the talkative Earl Wang took the

stage and serenaded us in the virtues of personal horticulture. That man has not a worry in this world. Later the headliners, Vintage Sounds (Houston, TX) gave us a “real deal” bluegrass demonstration. They were great and treated us to a collection of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Del Coury and Ricky Skaggs hits. Their mandolin player was really quite remarkable. All in all, I’d say promoter Rae Drady did an excellent job in putting this show together. It was a lot of fun and the music was exceptional.

Riptide & Free Beer…Also last Tuesday, I caught a

live performance by Riptide at Giggity’s, including a great solo performance by Riptide leader Mike Isbell. This show is directed

is named as the most charted Male Adult Contemporary artist to date. He has six gold and platinum albums, two Grammy nominations and is known for his solo piano compositions, pop-style instrumentals, and vocal collaborations with artists such as Lady Antebellum, Johnny Mathis, Martina McBride, Donny Osmond, Olivia Newton-John and others. It always amazes me when somebody is playing a big arena like the American Bank Center and I’ve never heard of him. There’s a big old world out there that sometimes passes me right on by. I mean Brickman’s discography is huge. He’s recorded over 30 albums since 1994, 20 of which charted. I’ve got to get out more.

On Saturday… On Saturday, the 22nd, island fave, Larry Joe

Taylor will be doing a song-swap at the Third Coast Theater with Nashville songwriting heavyweight, Richard Leigh. Leigh wrote

the Grammy winning number one hit for Crystal Gayle, Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue. His songs have also been recorded by the likes of Billy Dean, Mickey Gilley, Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Steve Wariner, Don Williams and Kathy Mattea. He has written nine number one hits charted on Billboard and was nominated for songwriter of the year seven times. In 1994 Leigh was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Foundation Hall of Fame. Also on Saturday, guitar genius Ruben V (San Antonio, TX) will play Dr. Rockits, Will

Owen Gage will play Katz 21, Bri Bagwell will play the South Texas Ice House, Lyrical Bynge will rock Giggity’s, Reverend’s Daughter will play Brewster Street, Kevin Hill is at Scuttlebutt’s and the adorable Tiffany Tuesday will be at Shorty’s.

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towards Winter Texans and has proven to be a huge success, as has been the weekly Free Beer Band since moving their residency over there on Thursdays. Riptide will play their last Tuesday show on February 25 but will be back on Friday, the 28th for a big “Farewell” show for the Winter Texans.

Get ready to Mardi Gras people, it’s sooner than you think…

And speaking of Fat Tuesday, our hometown Mardi Gras Parade founder and coordinator, Janet “Planet” Calvert, tells me that this year’s parade is on track for another “better than last year” year (which is hard to imagine) where thousands of spectators are again expected to assemble on the streets of downtown Port A in pursuit of the elusive bead. Janet and her merry gang of local revelers successfully made their yearly trek to New Orleans last month to buy beads, so we’re all good in that department. BTW, while the girls were in New Orleans they coincidentally ran into another bunch of Port Aransas locals who just happened to be in town (Edwin and Amy Myers, Bron Doyle, Edye Hudiburg, etc). They left a lasting Port A impression on the place. (Remember: What

happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans… or is that Vegas?) Fat Tuesday falls on March 4 this year and as always, the parade will depart the Gaff around 5:00 and wind through old town and around the flats area where several bands will be in full Mardi Gras party mode. The great accordion master, Ponty Bone and his rockin’ roots and zydeco band, the Squeezetones (Austin, TX) will be blowing it out in a major way at Giggity’s, the Mike Williams & Rocky Arnold Dixie Land Jazz Band will be on the porch at Shorty’s and the PA Rockers will be at Bernie’s. And down on Padre, the Barefoot Mardi Gras parade and party will be on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday (March 1). They’ll have

their usual parade down the beach and later that evening, a world class blow-out at the Briscoe King Pavilion with none other than my brothers from a different mother, Miss Neesie & the Earfood Orchestra (San Antonio, TX). I’ve been to several of these soirees and will attest they are not for the timid. Put your big kid panties on for this one ‘cuz Miss Neesie and those Earfood maniacs don’t mess around when it comes to throwing a party! Check out their ad in this edition of the Moon for specifics.

DO NOT MISS LIST On Thursday…

Tonight, Thursday, February 20th, there’s a top flight country show at Brewster Street Ice House with the great Max Stallling (Dallas, TX). Five Card Draw (Corpus Christi, TX) will open the show. Since 1997, Dallas native Max Stalling has worked his way into a mainstay in the Texas Music circuit. Before donning his trademark LBJ style cowboy hat, Stalling received his masters from A&M in food science and did a corporate stint as a product developer for Frito Lay. He has a smooth honky tonk delivery and five CD’s worth of original songs. BTW, Stalling is married to Heather Stalling, fiddler and vocalist for the amazing blacktopGYPSY band who be playing the Back Porch later in the season.

On Friday…On Friday, the 21st, another

smoother than summer cherries country crooner, Todd Dorn (San Antonio, TX) will return to Giggity’s. Dorn is a regular over there and always packs the house with a bag of great original songs. He’s definitely an island fave. And over at Shorty’s this Friday, trop-rocker Jerry Diaz (Beaumont, TX) will be playing a solo show. That should be good. Diaz is in town for an event billed as Pirates and Poets on Saturday at the Plantation Suites. The show also has a couple of noteworthy Texas songwriters (Matt Hogatt and Dennis Davis) on the bill. Also on Friday, Jim Brickman, will perform at the American Bank Center. I wasn’t familiar with Brickman and had to rely on my pal, the internet, to bring me up to speed. To my amazement, Brickman

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Live Music

Thursday, February 20Free Beer Band @ Giggity’sThe Electrotypes @ House of Rock Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’sMax Stalling, Five Card Draw @ Brewster Street

Friday, February 21 Todd Dorn @ Giggity’s Jerry Diaz @ Shorty’s Bar Nutz @ South Texas Ice HouseRay T & the City Crew @ FlatsMedicare Band (6-9) @ Sharkey’sJim Brickman @ Selena AuditoriumReno & the Groovegetters @ Dr. RockitsAnother Level @ Brewster Street Robert Brown @ Scuttlebutt’sDouble R Nothing @ Executive Surf ClubBright Light Social Hour, Ton Tons, Microphonic @ House of Rock The Groove @ Katz 21

Saturday, February 22Lyrical Bynge @ Giggity’s Tiffany @ Shorty’s Bri Bagwell @ South Texas Ice House4th Annual Pirates & Poets Invitational @ Plantation Suites (Port A)Ruben V @ Dr. Rockits Reverend’s Daughter @ Brewster StreetPaul Renna @ Executive Surf ClubKevin Hill @ Scuttlebutt’sWill Owen Gage Trio @ Katz 21Richard Leigh & Larry Joe Taylor @ Third Coast Theater

Sunday, February 23Antone & the All Stars @ Giggity’s John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’sKicking Dynamite @ Dr. Rockits

Monday, February 24Mike Williams & Paul Taylor (5:30-9) @ Giggity’s Colin Roche@ Scuttlebutt’s

Tuesday, February 25 Riptide (6:30-10) @

Giggity’s John Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s

Open Mic @ House of Rock

Run Down Legend @ Dr. Rockits

Wednesday, February 26Mike Williams (5:30-9) @

Giggity’sWolfjaw @ Flats Lounge

PA Rockers (6:30-9:30) @ Bernie’s

Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s

Ty Dietz @ Dr. RockitsThe Expendables, Stick

Figure, Seedless @ House of Rock

Thursday, February 27Free Beer Band @

Giggity’sAC ED, Flix, Murk @

House of Rock Fabian Rivera @

Scuttlebutt’sCody Canada & The

Departed @ Brewster Street

Friday, February 28 Riptide @ Giggity’s

Russell Edge @ Shorty’s Danny & Taxi Piano Sing Along @ South Texas Ice

HouseMedicare Band (6-9) @

Sharkey’sRay T & the City Crew

@ Flats Catherine Denise @ Dr.

Rockits Robert Brown @

Scuttlebutt’s Flashback @ Executive Surf

ClubDaves Duo @ Katz 21

Saturday, March 1Three Way Street @

Giggity’sUel Jackson @ Shorty’s

Mark McKinny @ Third Coast Theater

Doug Stone @ South Texas Ice House

Jon Wolfe, Jason Suthern @ Brewster Street

First Saturday Jam @ Farley Boat Works

Hilda Lamas @ Executive Surf Club

Sunday , March 2Antone & the All Stars @

Giggity’s

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GIGGITY’S RESTAURANT & BARFree Beer Band (7-10) Feb. 20Todd Dorn (9-1) Feb. 21Lyrical Bynge (9-1) Feb. 22Antone & the All Stars (8-12) Feb. 23Mike Williams & Paul Taylor (5-9) Feb. 24Riptide (6:30-10) Feb. 25Mike Williams (5-9) Feb. 26

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Max Stalling will play Brewster Street Ice House tonight.

Mike Isbell of Riptide plays

a solo tune for the big Tuesday

crowds at Giggity’s

Moonshine Martini played the Gaff Bluegrass Festival last weekend

Nashville star, Richard Leigh, will play the Third Coast Theater with Larry Joe Taylor

on Saturday

Ponty Bone with R.C. Banks and the Squeezetones will play Giggity’s on Fat

Tuesday, March 4.

Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra will play Barefoot Mardi Gras

on March 1.

The Vintage Sounds from Houston headlined the Gaff’s Bluegrass Festival

last weekend

Trop rocker Jerry Diaz will play two shows this

weekend in Port A

OPEN Till 2am • 823 Tarpon St. Port Aransas

Jerry Diaz Feb. 21Tiffany Feb. 22Russell Edge Feb. 28Uel Jackson March 1Stevie Start March 7Jim Dugan March 8Jul & the Chrome Wheels March 14-15