By Mark Kneubuhl
Special to LIVE!
September 9, 2007
Exclusive PRESHOW Podcast Interviews for the Concho River Music Fest: | |
UPDATE (Sept. 24): The Show is over. Check these links for pics, podcasts, and stories about the Fest.
| |
| Stoney LaRue Preshow Podcast Wade Bowen Preshow Podcast | Darren Kozelsky Preshow Podcast Randy Rogers Preshow Podcast |
| Hear samples of the music these artists will perform September 22nd in the LIVE! iTunes iMix (click here) | |
It’s being billed as The Concho River Music Fest, featuring 11 big name Texas country music acts playing non-stop for 12 hours on Saturday, September 22nd at the San Angelo River Stage (16 E Avenue A, San Angelo, Texas). The extravaganza is being organized and sponsored by Blaine’s Pub, but don’t ask Leon Roach, the managing partner at the famous San Angelo bar, who his favorite band is!
“That’s a tough question. They’re all so different… but musically, they all bring something to the table. It’s just too hard to pick any one favorite”
When Roach and his partner, Steve Brown, bought Blaine’s last year there was no question in their minds which direction he wanted the popular pub on the Texas country music circuit to take.
Blaine Martin himself once said to the up-in-coming country artist Drew Kennedy, “Either on your way up or on your way down, everybody play’s at Blaine’s.”
Last year, Roach quickly settled in with a firm grip on the wheel and absolutely no intentions of taking any shortcuts with Blaine’s musical heritage.
Nor any detours.
“Blaine's Pub is in the Texas music business and we’ve had access to a great roster of musicians. The San Angelo River Stage has also hosted a lot of top-notch, fun shows. We wanted to see that tradition continue. We feel that shows like this are important for the artists, the fans and the whole scene...so we took it on!” Roach said.
And take it on they did…
Between the Bart Crow Band who will start off the show, to Randy Rodgers who will finish at midnight, the River Stage audience will be treated along the way with performances by the likes of Brandon Rhyder, Micky and the Motorcars and…
Stoney RaRue
At 3 years old, Stoney LaRue could be found belting out “Swinging” by John Anderson on his Mr. Microphone radio. The son of a struggling bass player and a nurse, LaRue understood the allure of music at an early age, and recorded his first works at age twelve. He earned accolades through school for his unmatched vocal abilities and promising instrumental talents. Many subscribe Stoney LaRue to the category of artists that are simply natural born performers, just don’t try to limit him by category.
LaRue’s emerging style impressively blends varied elements of country, blues, and soulful rock into cohesive, vocal driven performances. His abilities earned the immediate respect of then “up and coming” peers including Cody Canada, Mike McClure, Jason Boland, and other cohorts of the revitalizing Texas and Red Dirt circuits. (Listen to our exclusive podcast with Stoney LaRue )
Wade Bowen
Since his February 2006 release, Lost Hotel, Wade Bowen has become a familiar and awarded name in music, performing along the active touring highways of Texas and the Southwest and selling out top venues like the legendary Gruene Hall in New Braunfels. Carving out a dedicated fan base with his magnetic appeal and proven abilities, Wade Bowen has enjoyed a seven-year stint as a leader amongst a flourishing Americana and Alt-Country music community.
The most recent on his growing list of musical accolades, the single off Lost Hotel, “God Bless This Town”, hit #1 on the Texas Music Chart and was voted the forth best Song of the Year on both the Texas Regional Radio Report and the Texas Music Chart’s Top 30 Songs of 2006, landing just below Pat Green, Jack Ingram, and Randy Rogers on both respective charts.
Bart Crow Band
Following the footsteps of his great-grandfather, grandfather, and dad, it only seems fitting that Bart Crow would end up pursuing music as a career. His father played lead guitar in a dancehall band throughout the 80s, and that is where it all began for Bart. "Dad had hundreds of great records from people like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Bob Wills, George Strait, Lynard Skynard, and The Amazing Rhythm Aces. I would sit and listen to them for hours and hours during the summer with my sister. She and I would have talent shows, just for ourselves, she would sing Charly McClain, and I would usually sing 'Amarillo by Morning' or 'Call Me The Breeze," said Bart.
Randy Rogers Band
Southern country rocker Randy Rogers has a lot going for him: Just a Matter of Time, his band’s first album released on major Mercury Nashville label, has been getting airplay on CMT and spurred a nationwide tour. Earlier this year he toured with fellow friend and musician Wade Bowen. (read more about the Randy Rogers Band here). Listen to the Randy Rogers Podcast interview here.
Johnny Cooper
Johnny Cooper and his band are not strangers to San Angelo, having played at Blaine’s Pub several times in the past, winning over the admiration of scores of new fans.
Johnny’s music is one thing- last month his single “Texas To You,” went to #9 on the Texas music chart, but the story of him (personally), and his band is something worthy of a feature on its own.
“We’ve known Johnny since he was 7 years old,” said the band’s guitar/vocalist, James Dean. (Yep, I said James Dean!) Cooper will turn 19 this year on 9-11.
“We had been playing for years, minus Johnny, as the AA Bottom Band (an antonym for ZZ Top). The members’ average age was nearing 50 when Johnny, at the tender age of 16, called me up and asked if we would like to be ‘his’ band… well, the rest is history,” said Dean.
Johnny’s first studio project, Ignition was recorded in early 2006 at Cedar Creek Studios in Austin. The second single off the album, “Let It All Go” was a quick mover last month on the Texas Music Chart to, with only Pat Green’s new single, Way Back Texas, moving up at a faster pace (read more about Johnny Cooper here).
Bleu Edmondson
Blue Edmondson promises to be a strong performance. He started playing bars in Bryan and College Station, Texas while in college. His raspy voice combines with hard-driving guitar and sometimes-dark lyrics. “I write about darker things,” he said. “If you could channel George Jones and make it cold, it’ll be O.K.” Four days prior to the River Stage performance, Edmondson releases Lost Boy, his latest CD. Tracks to look for off the CD include “Jesus is Crying,” “Last Call” and the semi-ballad “American Saint.”
And lots more…
The Concho River Music Fest will also feature Zach Huckabee, Darren Kozelsky, and Django Walker.
Listen to our exclusive Podcast interview with Darren Kozelsky here.
Roach told LIVE! that his main concern was to keep the cost low so more people can enjoy the shows. “With the new vendors, we were able to work a deal for much lower beer prices, so that a big all-day show could be affordable for everyone, even without the cooler [BYOB],” assured Roach.
Gates will be open at 10:30 am. Tickets are $30.00 advance, $35.00 at the gate. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Blaine's Pub , Blair's Western Wear, Elite Physique , the Convention Center Box Office, or by calling 325-658-6464.
For more information, see www.blainespub.com .
Don’t miss this country music extravaganza…
Your October 2007 issue was great - it only had one major problem....The photo on the cover and inside is NOT taken in 1943......!!!!! Please look at some of the models of the vehicles...
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