Galleywinter

There’s a lot that I have lost to get what I have won… Jamie Wilson

This week the music scene lost one of the greatest fans it has ever seen in Shawn Mohr. I met him a few years ago through Galleywinter as we were going to shows and eventually we slowed down long enough to talk and hang out. He started joining our crew up in Steamboat, coming to the acoustic shows and would drive the miles for the bands he loved.

He never needed twitter, facebook or a website to show his passion for music.. he just let it speak for itself and influenced everyone he was around. And I’m posting it here on GW as a reminder that this music is powerful. It’s bonding. My and Shawn’s only common bond was this music… this site… these people. It’s so much more than words on a page or sounds through The Drop. It’s life.

Big smile, huge heart and a giving spirit was what made Shawn who he was and my only regret is that I didn’t hang out with him more. Never forget that we have no guarantees in life and we should all take the advice of one of Shawn’s favorite musicians, Sean McConnell and “Sing it like it’s your last day.” There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Shawn did this every single time.

I miss ya buddy.… Keep Reading

I must admit that I’ve seen so much music that at times I become jaded and feel like I’ve seen just about everything.  I was in a rut just like that recently when someone e-mailed me a clip of a guy named Eagle Eye Williamson performing at Gruene Hall.  They told me it was the most awesome one man band they’d ever seen.

One man band I thought….”I’ve seen one man bands before and they tend to be lame.”

But, something convinced me to open the link and venture to YouTube.  A few mere seconds later I sat mesmerized as I watched this guy with Hunter S. Thompson glasses, a scraggly beard and stringy hair fiddle with a complex set of instruments surrounding him.  I was intrigued as I watched him adjust his pedal board and I wondered what would happen next.  He was starting to lay into an extended groove that sounded as if it was being created by a four piece band.  He paused for one more adjustment, then all of a sudden…it was one of those goosebump inducing musical moments.  Pouring out of the speakers was a soulful voice that was equal parts Gregg Allman and Robert Plant’s lower register.  Below is the video I was forwarded…I’m sure you’ll feel the same way I did after you watch it.  Below that video is a short film about Eagle Eye’s life and art.

Eagle Eye Williamson’s Website

… Keep Reading

(Barry with Randy out in California)

Over the years I’ve witnessed plenty of unusual, bizarre and downright cool things at Texas Music shows.  But, one of the most surreal happened this past Friday night in Belton at a big show with Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen and Josh Abbott Band.  When I first arrived at the show, some people told me that Barry Bonds was coming.  I thought they were joking.  I asked if that meant Geoff was going to play the whole RRB set wearing a Barry Bonds mask or jersey.  They assured me that the Bonds story was legitimate and the home run king would be there shortly.

Sure enough, minutes later while Wade Bowen was onstage rocking out, Barry rolled into the venue.  He was very low-key and extremely gracious to all that wanted a picture or autograph…or just to shake his hand.  I didn’t want to gherm him out so I just shook his hand and told him it was an honor to meet him.  A friend of mine upon seeing all this go down on Twitter texted me to say “Dude!  He’s like the Waylon Jennings of baseball!”.  When asked what he meant by that, he explained that once he saw McGwire and Sosa change the rules of the game, he made his own rules…just like Waylon had done with music.

Interesting thought…maybe I should’ve brought that up to him.

But, I wouldn’t have wanted to interrupt him singing along to all the RRB songs.  … Keep Reading

I finally tore away from the Uncle Lucius experience just long enough to check out The Departed.  The experience kind of reminds me about my first Wide Spread Panic show, but not.  I’m not talking about music here.  I’m talking about the experience of live music.

I compare it to my Panic experience for a few reasons.  I, like everyone else, don’t really know The Departed catalog just yet.  When I went to Panic with my cousin John David it was the same experience minus cow pasture party favors.  I didn’t know a song really, but I knew Panic did a mean Billy Joe Shaver cover of “Old Chunk of Coal”.  I will be a diamond someday by the way in case any of you are wondering… Point being I knew nothing going in really, but who the players were and what they had already accomplished from previous endeavors.

The only thing I was familiar with at The Panic show was the paraphernalia they were slangin’ in the parking lots.  I walked into The Departed with familiarity of a couple of YouTube videos and a belief.  I got there late so I only got to hear AM Country Heaven and my opportunity to Cry Pretty by the opener Mr. Eady.  That song AM Country Heaven is really good, really good.   I didn’t know what to expect from The Departed really.  Would it sound like Ragweed?  The answer is no to that question people,  but we will be alright from all … Keep Reading

I’m going to start out by saying if you think Pat Green sold out quit reading right now.  I walked out of my house tonight feeling like shit. 

I was bruised up and cut just like ole’ Hank. – WW 
Here I am busted up again another wasted love. -CM

You know what the fuck I’m talking about.  King of Heartbreak here….  I probably deserve it every time.  I’m pretty certain I do.    Hell, I’ve even been called crazy more than once.   I got this!    I had a couple of passes to the Pat Green show at Coupland tonight…  I was going to take this  girl, but learned…  I’m too complex and hard to deal with.  Who knew?  No way!

I was going to bail on going anywhere, sleep sounded way cooler but every cowboy has to get back on the horse right?   In my best Wes Hightower, “I’ll turn it up!”  I decided to quit wallowing in my own self pity and go to the show.  I got out of bed and told Brother Bob, my eldest brother, I had tickets to PG if he wanted some.  He said, well fuck yea, why are you just now telling me?  I replied, “I have no idea.  I’m a jackass.”  Sorry about the explicit lyrics…  that is how Brother Bob talks.

If my grammar sucks on my post deal with it.  If it looks right to me that is all I care about really.  I have my own language called “Loose … Keep Reading