{Rewind} May 2004

If there is one thing that Galleywinter members are known for, it’s going out in force to see live music – and the month of May was no exception. From Cory Morrow opening up the month with a high-energy show in Burton, TX to the one and only Pat Green closing it out on Memorial Day weekend, fans of the music were definitely treated like royalty…

The Shows… I’ll go ahead and begin with a review of the May 1st Cory Morrow show in Burton, TX. The band headlined the Burton Cotton Gin Festival and set the stage on fire. According to our Texas Outlaw, once the show kicked off, he looked behind him and the crowd was wild and the party was on – there were people packed in all the way up the street and then some. As always the Morrow crowd knows how to tear it up and each show becomes a one-of-a-kind experience!

Another band that is beginning to build quite a following within Texas and beyond is The Lost Trailers. Many of you will recognize them from GreenFest this year, and these boys rip the doors off of every bar they walk into – simply amazing… The Trailers are receiving all kinds of love from the GW family. Stu, who was at the show at The Vibe on May 8th, had this to say: “There wasn’t a very big crowd but they played as there was thousands of fans. They played for at least 2 hours, with 2 encores…” With each and every performance, they are showcasing their talent through their original songs, as well as covers that just plain rock ranging from “Whiskey River” to “Sabotage” and “Paradise City” – you can’t help but throw your hands in the air and simply rock out right along with ’em. If you haven’t caught these guys yet, do, and quickly – you will not be disappointed.

Baytown has gotten a new venue that has started hosting many acoustic shows throughout the week pulling in many of the artists supported here at Galleywinter. On May 22nd, Chilly Willy’s had Matt Powell performing, and Brady Black, from the Randy Rogers band joined him on fiddle. One of the many fans to experience this show, weaver, described it by saying “MPB rocked it…then Brady got up and added to the 10 of a show it already was… that boy can play him some fiddle!”

As every May ends, the summer concert season begins, kicking off with shows around the state on Memorial Day weekend. When you have a three-day weekend, what else are you supposed to do but get rowdy and hit up as many shows as possible, right?!? Probably the most popular Texas road-trip destination on Memorial Day weekend is New Braunfels – as the river seems to attract everyone for the first float of the season. And to top it all off – the bars in the area provide plenty of entertainment once you come off of the river. There was Pat Green on Friday night at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Robert Earl Keen at Saengerhalle in New Braunfels, and River Road Icehouse had their big summer kick-off with David Allen Coe on Friday, Kevin Fowler on Saturday, and then had the biggest party yet with Roger Creager, Randy Rogers and Phil Pritchett on Sunday. Divagrl1230, who was at the Fowler show that Saturday said “The guys were definitely on top of their game. Kevin played some new stuff, too – the best was listening to the encore… none other than Thin Lizzy’s “Cowboy Song”- It totally RAWKED BALLS!!!” All in all it was definitely a weekend worthy of a few hundred miles and lots of that “yellow wine” …

The music… For those of you that are always anxiously awaiting new music from the genre that we enjoy so much – 2004 is going to be a year to remember. Already we have had Soul Gravy from Cross Canadian Ragweed, Everything Upside Down from Mike McClure, and Doug Moreland’s Everybody Knows My Name. But there is even more in the works… The Randy Rogers Band has finished their latest CD and it will be released in late August. Many have heard the songs at shows lately, and can guarantee that it’ll become a must-have in everyone’s music collection. Wade Bowen and West 84 and Jason Boland and the Stragglers are also currently in the studio working on new albums that are scheduled to be released before the end of the year. These are all highly anticipated CD’s – looks like Christmas shopping might be pretty easy this year..

The artists… Just a few notes about the artists and bands that touch our lives through their music… A big good luck and congratulations to Doug Moreland and his fiance Susan as they will be getting married towards the end of June! Also, if you haven’t checked out the Bleu Edmondson Band lately, you need to catch a show. They have added a “horn section” by the name of Matt – and he adds a great new sound to the band. He and the lead guitarist Coby Weir play off of each other really well – it is a lot of fun to watch – as the old saying goes, expect the unexpected…

On the horizon… As this article comes to a close – just a few events to highlight and get on the calendars before the summer books up completely… Beginning on Monday, June 7th, Morrow Mondays kicks off at Hills Cafe, followed by an afterparty at the Coppertank in Austin. There is a great line-up of performers each and every week – I think Tuesdays might become the official Galleywinter sick day as there will be many road-trips for these events. Pat Green has a couple of big shows coming up as well. The first one is in Dallas at Smirnoff on June 19th – there is one heck of a line up – definitely a must-see if at all possible. Pat is also headlining a July 4th concert in Austin, TX featuring another spectacular line-up including Jack Ingram! Last October many artists converged at Saengerhalle to record a tribute album for Waylon Jennings. The CD is finally ready and will be available for the first time at the CD Release Party on June 27th at Saengerhalle – and many of the artists that are on the CD will be at the release party as well. Try to make it out to this one – not only do you get your hands on the CD’s first, but all proceeds are going to Camp Sweeny – a camp for children with diabetes. And last but not least, reserve the weekend of July 10th and 11th for a Randy Rogers CD Preview Party with the people of Galleywinter. There is a concert featuring Doug Moreland on the night of the 10th, and then a float on the 11th followed by the party where we will all hear the CD for the first time. All of the details will be posted in the Randy Rogers forum, so keep tabs on it because you will kick yourself if you miss it!!

That’ll do it for the first edition of the Galleywinter Music Review… See ya where the music is playin’!!

Renee (monee2000)