Galleywinter

Monday Sept 8th at Billy Bob’s some of the brightest names in our music scene will gather to pay tribute to a sportswriter named Richard Durrett.  If you’re unfamiliar with Richard’s story, you may ask why?  Well, the answer lies in the fact that he was an unusually kind, caring person and really thorough professional journalist.  The type of guy that by the recounting of friends would text out individual texts for Fathers Day, New Year etc instead of a group text.  The type of guy that worked his way up the journalistic ladder quickly in the cutthroat world of modern sports journalism via sheer kindness and tenacity.  Tragically, Richard passed away suddenly at his home a few weeks back.  He leaves behind a young family.  His friends have organized this concert as a way to raise funds for his kids and honor their friend.

We can’t announce the line-up exactly just yet because of some fun, music-biz legalese radius clause stuff…but just know that you don’t want to miss it. In addition to the music, the night includes one of the largest sports auctions of all time.

For complete info:

Follow @DoItForDurrett on Twitter
For More Info/To Buy Tickets:  http://doitfordurrett.com/?p=569… Keep Reading

 

An open letter to our great country from Josh Grider.

Dear America,

You are the family member that I sometimes wish did things a little different. The one I feel free to pick on, but jump to defend as soon as someone else does. The one I just can’t help but love, and know that I’m lucky to know. I was blessed to be born, and grateful for the opportunity to raise my sons within your borders. I have seen your small towns and big cities, your bestand your worst, as I’ve driven from sea to shining sea playing my songs. I know that my ability to do this came (and still comes) at a great cost to those who serve under your flag…our flag. I am forever indebted to those men and women. I wish you a Happy Birthday today, and many more to come!

As Robert Earl Keen said…”heeeey baby, it’s the 4th of July”!

I hope you have a great one everybody!

Have a great one everybody!

  by: Brandon Meyers

For anyone that has ever been, loved, or known a traveling musician, you know that the road they travel can be a rough one. Long van rides, truck stop food and way too many late nights can take a serious toll on a body. But what happens when something seriously goes wrong? In May of this year Chad Sullins, frontman for the Oklahoma band Chad Sullins and the Last Call Coalition, found out first hand just how fast things can change and go from bar lights to ambulance lights.

At a bar somewhere in Oklahoma as Chad and his bandmates readied themselves to take the stage, something went terribly wrong. Dizziness, a cold sweat and serious chest pains nearly brought Chad to his knees. Luckily there was someone close by with some sort of medical training and a quick look over lead them to believe that Chad was indeed having a heart attack. He was rushed out the back of the bar and away to the local ER where after some testing and observation they confirmed it.

At 36, Chad Sullins was having a heart attack.

I was at that show that night and, as a friend of Chad and his LCC mates Josh Rutz, Jesse Holcomb and Jeremy Clark, I drove the guys to the ER and stayed until the decision was made to transfer Chad to a heart hospital in Oklahoma City. In the next few days after lots of testing and several doctors … Keep Reading

Last night Drew Kennedy walked out in his backyard with his guitar and a cold beer.  Nothing revelatory about that per se.  Kennedy had also set up a microphone, camera, laptop and a bundle of technology that would’ve made NASA scratch their heads in amazement in the 1960′s.  Nothing particularly special about that either in this day and age.  Plenty of people Skype, FaceTime and stream content online.

No, what made this special is the manner which Drew Kennedy presented this new venture.  Instead of you coming to his gig, he was bringing his show to you.  Wherever you are on whatever device you wanted.  Tablet, laptop, phone.  Your beer.  Your couch.  Your patio.  Your recliner.  It only cost a $1 to get in and you could tip him if he did something you really dug.  He told stories.  Took requests.  Etc.  It was a typical Drew Kennedy show, yet it wasn’t.

Again.  Other artists have done this exact same thing. This one felt more natural. More intimate. More unique.  Kennedy has a knack for this.  Whether it’s writing and releasing a novel or developing his own skiing-songwriting festival, Kennedy is ahead of the curve.  This is the same way.  He’s taken a general, modern music business idea and made it his own.  The future possibilities of private remote concerts and the like is limited only by Kennedy’s imagination.  He made this avenue of musical delivery his own and has already scheduled another one for September.  If you missed last … Keep Reading

(photograph courtesy: Red Rocks Amphitheater)

Red Rocks is the mecca of music venues.  This amphitheater near Morrison, CO is often ranked as the best setting in the world to take in a show alongside places like The Gorge, Hollywood Bowl, The Greek, Slane Castle, and Royal Albert Hall among others.   The list of acts that have performed on the hallowed Red Rocks stage reads like a Who’s Who of music history:  The Beatles, U2, The Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix just to name a few.

In 2013, some performers from our little music scene were invited to join the talented roster of acts to take the Red Rocks stage.  I was unable to make it the inaugural concert that featured Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue and Casey Donahew.  So, as soon as plans were announced for a 2014 version of the show, my plans were set in motion.  I had to be there.  And I was.

What began with a 4AM alarm and hurried trip to DFW airport would end in a remote cabin in Evergreen, CO.

Red Rocks is majestic and magical.  You could really run out of adjectives to describe it.  What Wrigley is to baseball, Pebble Beach to golf, Madison Square Garden to basketball…that’s what Red Rocks is to music.  It is the venue. It’s nestled outside of Denver in the mountainside.  It’s literally carved from the earth.  There is no bad sightline and the vistas are breathtaking.  The sound can be spotty depending on … Keep Reading