By Ronnie Narmour
Three Chords and the Truth
3C&T hits triple digits…In case anybody is counting I just broke into
triple digits with my little dog and pony show. This is the 100th edition of Three Chords and the Truth since I started it in June 2009, and without missing a single deadline I might add. What can I say? I’m tenacious. Thanks for sticking with me guys! Guess I’ll knock out another 100 and we’ll throw a party. Or, maybe someone can buy me a new keyboard…this one is about worn out. I can’t make too big a deal out of this because my boss, Dale Rankin, has a whole closet full of worn out keyboards.
Ruben V…My old pal, Ruben
Vela (San Antonio, TX) graced the Back Porch stage last Friday night with one of his textbook performances. Ruben is one of those incredible musicians who have never gotten their fair shake. He was mentored by the late great Chris Holzhaus and is one of the most masterful guitarists anywhere. I’ve seen Ruben perform many dozens of times
since he first came on the scene back in the early 90’s and have never seen him put on anything less than a stellar performance every time. He is energetic and as soulful as they come. Once dubbed a blues purist, his songwriting has branched out to include some really beautiful ballads and his original material fills a big part of his live show. We are fortunate that Back Porch owner, Susan Powell, recognizes how talented Ruben is and continues to bring him down year after year. Next spring seems like a long time to wait until we get to see him again… although he does pick up the occasional gig at Dr. Rockits in Corpus from time to time.
Thomas Michael Riley…Thomas Michael Riley (Fredericksburg, TX)
played the Back Porch last Saturday night and
brought along the unmistakable talents of the great Larry Nye (of Rusty Wier and Stephen Fromholtz fame) on guitar. Riley has a smooth as silk baritone voice (á la Max Stalling) and an easy as pie delivery that really pulls you in. Plus, he’s got a big old smile and an inviting presence that you can’t help but love. By the end of the show at the Porch last weekend, he had everyone in the house on their feet either dancing, or swaying with someone in their arms, to his infectious beat. His material is country, that’s for sure… but I swear we should enlist him as a peace maker and put him out there to end all wars. When Riley is on stage, the world just seems like a happy place. His end of the night free form banter about all things to consider really seemed to make sense at the time. I say let’s run the boy for office… he really is Mr. Nice Guy.
News from the Tarpon Ice House…
Paul Fain, owner of the Tarpon Ice House in Port A has been changing things up a little, lately. For one thing, the Wednesday night “open blues jam” has turned into “Movie Night.” Paul bought a fancy new projector and now we get to watch movies and football games and you name it on a REALLY, REALLY BIG screen. On Wednesdays, Paul sets up the show on the big stage in the courtyard out back and it’s like a private viewing area that
doesn’t interfere with the rest of the club. Give him a call to see what movie is playing (361-749-BEER) or even suggest a movie you’d like to see. Anything (within reason) is possible.
Also, the new hosts of the Ice House’s Sunday night open mic, Uel Jackson and Billy Snipes, have been doing a bang up job and their shows are getting bigger and better every week. Last week, the incredibly talented Dave Ward showed up with his mandolin and really had our jaws dropping. Where has that guy been hiding. He’s good! And, our favorite fiddle sawing, tuba blowing, accordion pumping, school bus driving wild man, Kit Guterz showed up and did what he does best… amazed us. As if that wasn’t enough, the man with the most amazing voice on the island, Dennis Sullivan treated us to a good hour of his remarkable repertoire. Also, Mike Williams stopped by and treated us to a couple of great torchers. Spread the word folks, Sundays are cool at the Ice House. Bring your axes and join in! The more the merrier. Meanwhile, the adorable Tiffany has decided to take a little hiatus on her open mics. Sure going to miss those hilarious, action packed Tuesdays.
DO NOT MISS LIST
The Outlaw A Tribute to Waylon Jennings
I got a call from Rusty Hicks over at Steam Magazine and he’s been working with a six piece band out of Seattle, WA called The Outlaw, A Tribute to Waylon Jennings. The band is the brain child of lead vocalist and guitar player, Jeremy Manley, who put the band together in May of 2007 as a one time performance for Waylon Jennings’s birthday and now are touring all over the country as one of the premier Waylon Jennings tribute bands. Jessie Colter, Shooter Jennings, and Terry Jennings are supporting The Outlaw, a Tribute to Waylon Jennings in their endeavor to raise funds and awareness for the Waylon
Fund www.thewaylonfund.org. They stopped in the Tarpon Ice House last Tuesday on their way to play a gig in Ingleside and played us a couple of songs acoustically. It’s easy to see that these guys are pros and this band can really play. They’ll be back to play the Ice House this Saturday (October 20) with their full band.
The Back Porch’s countdown to closing…
As the Back Porch marches towards the inevitable end of their season in the next two weeks, I also start my annual “little lonely lost boy” routine and start pouting and sucking my thumb. If you haven’t figured out by now, I’m very fond the Back Porch and the great live music calendars they put out week to week. I spend much of my time there and have become friends with most of the employees. So when I start seeing “Turkey Bowling” and “Doggie Costume Contest” on their upcoming events fliers, I know that I will soon have to start trying a little harder to find stories through the winter. They are only closed for from Halloween until Spring Break, but it seems like forever to me. Fortunately, there are plenty of shows in Corpus to report on and I plan to get to San Antonio and Austin more… not to mention the shows at the Flats and the Ice House. Plus, the new live music venue in the flats area, Giggedies, is about to open, too. I guess it’s finally time to embrace winter on the island.
So, without further ado, here’s the rundown for the Porch’s last hurrah… this weekend is the 10th annual “Coastal Bender” that our Hill Country buddies, Kevin Higgins and the Dust Devils host every year as a sort of fan appreciation weekend. Their fans, the ”Storm Chasers” hit the island in mass and party their collective booties off. These guys are bonified maniacs and are a blast to party with. This year, the Mighty Orq (Houston, TX) will play the Friday show (tomorrow night, October 19th) with some powerhouse rock and the Devils will play on Saturday. Next Thursday (October 25th) Charlie Hagar and the Captain Legendary Band bring back their smoking Southern country rock. Then on Friday (October 26th) the Porch will have a “Pajama Party” with the popular trop-rockers, Jerry Diaz and Hannah’s Reef (Corpus Christi, TX)… that should be a hoot. The last show of the season will be on Saturday night (October 27th) when the Porch celebrates Halloween with a costume contest and the big ten piece party band, Cruise Control (Corpus Christi, TX), blowing it out with their big horn section. And don’t forget the “Doggie Costume Contest” earlier that day around 3:00 pm… that’s always good for some laughs. On Sunday we bowl frozen turkeys and drink dollar beers until Susan kicks us out, weeping openly. Wow. See why I love this place so much? Thanks for a great season Back Porch. You guys rock!
And that’s the truth!
Nov. 9th
Prince/Rodriquez & the Azel Hell Cats
Free Movie Night on Big Screen Every Wednesday
(8:00 pm)Open Mic Every Sunday321 N Alister * (361) 749-2337
Saturday, Oct. 20The Outlaw
A Tribute to Waylon Jennings
Free Beer Band Every Thursday
(7:00 pm)
LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT
The GaffBeer ● Pizza ● Belt Sander Races (361) 749-5970
Lisabellas Bistro & BarCelebrating Coastal Cuisine
361-749-4222Now Open Tues - Sat
Bar opens at 5:30pm withGrilled Pizzas & Specialty Drinks
Casual Dining at it’s Finest
Come Visit Our New Location
5009 Hwy 361 Port A @ Cinnamon Shores
Private Dinner Parties, Personal Chef, Weddings
OPEN10-5
DailyLunch
Specials
~
f acebook .com/ fe lde rga l l e r y
Live MusicThursday, October 18John Eric @ Island ItalianDeadstring Brothers @ House of RockJohn Cortez @ Dr. Rockits Wade Bowen @ Brewster Street Texas Aloha Boys @ Scuttlebutt’s Friday, October 19The Mighty Orq @ Back PorchUnwritten Law/ Reely Rotnz/ Johnny 5 @ House of RockEarl Gard @ Coffee Waves Brian Winfrey @ Island ItalianMike Williams & Rocky Arnold @ Hemingway’s RockportMatt Hole & Hot Rod Gang @ Dr. Rockits Lyrical Bynge @ Executive Surf Club Blake Sparx @ Scuttlebutt’s Ray T & the City Crew @ The Flats LoungeEarl Gard @ Coffee Waves
Elise @ The SeawallSaturday, October 20Dust Devils 10th Annual Coastal Bender@ Back PorchDilloFest @ House of RockSpark in the Dark @ Coffee Waves Mike Williams & Rocky Arnold @ Hemingway’s RockportThe Groove @ Dr. Rockits Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Metal Shop @ Brewster StreetOutlaw- A Waylon Jennings Tribute band @ Tarpon Ice House Chris Gober @ Coffee WavesDean Seltzer @ South Texas Ice HouseThe Daze @ The Seawall Sunday, October 21Open Mic w/ Billy Snipes & Uel Jackson @ Tarpon Ice HouseAcoustic Open Mic @ Neptune’s RetreatHold Fast Fables @ Dr. Rockits Teenage Bottlerocket/ Smoke or Fire/ Masked Intruders/ Spanish Reds @ House of Rock John Eric @ South Texas Ice HouseBrian Permenter @ Scuttlebutt’sMike Guerra & John Lopez @ The Seawall
Monday, October 22Collin Roche @ House of Rock
Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Doctor RockitsJohn Eric @ Scuttlebutt’s
Tuesday, October 23Justin Estes Band @ Dr.
RocketsOpen Mic w/ Rev Matt
Martinez @ House of Rock
AJ The Hawaiian @ Scuttlebutt’s
Theory of a Deadman/ Adelita’s Way/ Charm
City Devils @ Brewster Street
Wednesday, October 24Open Mic w/ Wolfjaw @
Flat’s LoungeAmerican Aquarium/
Albert Simpson @ House of Rock
Country Star Contest @ Executive Surf Club
Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s
Thursday, October 25Charlie Hagar & Capt.
Legendary Band @ Back Porch
John Eric @ Island Italian
Local Licks @ House of Rock
Antone & the All Stars @ Dr. Rockits
Casey Donahew Band/ Matt Stell @ Brewster
Street Rich Lockhart Band @
Scuttlebutt’sFriday, October 26
Pajama Party w/ Jerry Diaz & Hanna’s Reef @
Back PorchAfter Dark Burlesque
Revue @ House of RockGary Moeller @ Coffee
Waves Ray T & the City Crew @
The Flats LoungeBrian Winfrey @ Island
ItalianMike Williams & Rocky Arnold @ Hemingway’s
RockportReno & the Groovegetters
@ Dr. Rockits Flat Broke @ Executive
Surf ClubFive Card Draw @
Brewster StreetThe Cult @ Concrete
StreetGary Moeller @ Coffee
WavesFabian Rivera @
Scuttlebutt’s Red Giant @ South Texas
Ice HouseHilda Lamas @ The
Seawall
Tonight
Live Music Every Friday
Mon-Sat 10am- 2am
Sun Noon- 2am
Vampires Welcome
Feel Good MusicNo Cover
NEPTUNE’SPORT “A”s best backyard fun
SUNDAY AFTERNOONSOPEN ACOUSTIC JAM
905 Hyway 361 Port A, Texas
401 Beach Street, Port Aransas
361-749-MELT Fused Glass & WoodblockPrints
Working Studio & Gal lery www.PortAGlass.com
AshVill Construction LLCResidential, Multi-Family & CommercialAshley R. Villarreal(210) 387-2993Aaron MurrayNew Construction & Remodels(361) 332- 9884
Third Annual Padre Island Art
Walk FestivalSunday, Nov. 4
Noon til 4:00 pmBillish Park on Gypsy Street
This ad Sponsored by Miss K’s Catering and Bistro
A 16 Island Moon October 18, 2012
132 W. Cotter PortASat. 10/28 LAST DAY TURKEY BOWLING & $1 BEER!
Fri. 10/19
MightyORQ
Halloween Costume Contest
with Cruise Control
Sat. 10/20 Sat. 10/27
Pajama Party w/ Jerry Diaz & Hanna’s
Reef
Fri. 10/26
Dust Devils10th Annual
CoastalBender
SATURDAY OCT. 27 3:00 PM DOGGIE COSTUME CONTEST
Charlie Hagar and the Captain Legendary Band will play the Back Porch on Oct. 25th.
Kevin Higgins and the Dust Devils will play the Back Porch on Oct. 20th.
Thomas Michael Riley with master guitarist Larry Nye played the Back
Porch last Saturday night.
Mike Williams performed at the
Tarpon Ice House last week.
Ruben V played the Back Porch last
Friday night.
The Outlaws Waylon Jennings Tribute Band played an acoustic version of
themselves at the Tapon Ice House last Tuesday.
Recommended
