The Gourds in Fort Worth

concert review - December 12 at Lola's

"Literate roots party music" - the Gourds in Fort Worth

On a Saturday morning, I received a Tweet from Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell... the Gourds were in town, scheduled to perform that very evening at Lola's, a relocated / reincarnated version of the old Wreck Room west of downtown Fort (Party) Worth. Lola's website mentioned the show, but the Gourds' own site did not. Good thing I subscribe to Shinyribs' Twitter feed.

I headed to Lola's after work and arrived early in the set. I arrived during "Spanky" so I only missed about 5 songs.

Jimmy on bass

As usual, one of the highlights was the animated antics of Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell...

Jimmy in the spotlight. Claude was on stage left and I didn't get any good shots of him this time.

It's always cool to catch the Gourds around Christmastime, because they'll usually work a few holiday-themed songs into their set. December 12 at Lola's was no exception, as they offered up "Xmas in the city" (a Kevin original), "Have the Stones ever done a Christmas song" (a Jimmy original), and even worked "Away in a Manger" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" into the bridge / medley near the end of "Gin & Juice". And it's always a treat to hear them do "Last month of the year".

Lola's set list

See below for the complete set list, including encore (thanks to The Gourds News blog at:
http://thegourdsnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/12-12-09-fort-worth-tx.html )

01. Magnolia
02. El Paso
03. Ants on the Melon
04. Burn the Honeysuckle
05. Valentine
06. Spanky
07. Blanket Show
08. Bean Bowl
09. Country Love
10. Lower 48
11. Xmas in the City
12. A Few Extra Kilos
13. All the Labor
14. Thurman
15. Shake the Chandelier
16. Promenade
17. Best of Me
18. The Gyroscopic
19. Luddite
20. Have the Stones Ever Done a Christmas Song?
21. The Last Month of the Year

(Encore)

22. Tex-Mex Mile
23. Holiday Road (Lindsey Buckingham)
24. Gin and Juice > Cupid > Away in a Manger > Pride (In the Name of Love) > I Feel Love > Heart of Glass > Hate & War > Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer > Gin and Juice

It was a fun show, and I'm hoping to see 'em again soon.

WSC

np: "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Summer re-cap (lightning round)

Following my Chicago trip with M, my summer was pretty low-key. M and L each took separate trips with Mom (M to Palo Duro Canyon and L to Japan), but I didn't do much traveling. That didn't stop me from falling behind on the blog, though... so here's a "lightning round" re-cap of the past few months...

Hangin' with Sprocket (Mom's dog) on Father's Day

L at the Ft. Worth Cats game - July 5

Railroading with M

(belated) Fourth of July fireworks at Miss C's

Cycling along the Trinity River

M is really getting this bicycling thing down...

Miss C joined me for a Gourds show at the Longhorn in the Fort Worth Stockyards. It was just a few days after Michael Jackson died; the band paid its respects by throwing down a rippin' version of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" (with Kevin singing in Michael Jackson falsetto). Classic Gourds... always a good time.

Kev and the boys get rowdy at the Longhorn

The Gourds - Max, Kev, Jimmy - at the Longhorn (FW Stockyards).

My cousin Marc's wife gave birth to their son a few months ago. We attended his baptism in July. It's good to see that they're raising him proper... (see below)

Promoting the work of Johnny Cash at age 0... way to go, kid.

In early August, the kids joined me for a quick weekend trip to Turner Falls, Oklahoma. Stay tuned for photos... coming soon.

WSC

np: Elvis Costello - "Radio, radio"

No time for the blog... (7)

... just more photos. I'm almost current again.

"Billiards and Pool" ghost sign / Coca Cola ad - a non-railroad photo I snapped in Wichita Falls, TX during a railroad-themed photo shoot.

Dr. Pepper sign / storefront - Venus, TX

Chris Berman helps us make sense of the Cowboys' final game. He left out the phrase "Jerry Jones is a &$#%-ing retard", but we were all thinking it...

The Gourds at Dan's Silverleaf (Denton) on Jan 15. Highlights included a cover of Neil Young's "For the Turnstiles" --> segue into --> "Clear Night"...

... another highlight was the "Lowrider" instrumental during "High Highs & Low Lows". Viva Dem Gourds!

Check back soon for more...

WSC

np: Corb Lund Band - "5 dollar bill"

Two evenings with the Gourds

The Gourds at the Aardvark - Fort Worth TX - February 1, 2008

I met my friend Lance and his brother after work on Friday at the Aardvark -- my second night in a row to see the Gourds. Fun times!

A good-sized crowd was on hand Friday at the Aardvark...

A few observations on Gourds frontman Kevin Russell... Is there anything cooler than seeing a balding, slightly overweight, middle aged man with a chest-length beard, furiously strumming a mandolin while belting out the words to a Snoop Dogg rap song in a nasally bluegrass twang?

full-grown and cussin': Kev Russell of the Gourds

And the Snoop Dogg persona is just a small portion of the world of musical talent he brings to the stage. Kev is gifted with exceptional vocal range, from falsetto highs to Waylon Jennings lows, and even the occasional yodel. His mandolin skills are easily equalled -- if not surpassed -- by his talents on the electric guitar. The jams he threw down during the extended 10-minute version of "Do 4 U" blew me away. He's a good stage leader and a showman, but he's also a hell of a nice guy and totally down to earth -- everything you'd want in a front man for your band, on or off the stage. Every night, you can tell that he's really enjoying himself, playing music that he loves. During some of the songs, he'll dance around a bit -- a style I can only describe as "hillbilly jig". During others, he'll get really worked up in the lyrics and he'll start shouting and yelling with such conviction and intensity that you'd swear he was speaking in tongues. And the faces he makes while rockin' out on the mandolin -- if Jimi Hendrix had been a bluegrass musician, he might have looked a little like Kevin. There's never a dull moment when Kevin's on stage...

Gourds set list - Friday Feb 1, 2008 in Fort Worth (at the Aardvark):
Blood of the ram
Steeple full of swallows
Illegal oyster
Nitty gritty (Doug Sahm)
Do 4 U (with "LaGrange" intro and long instrumental jam)
Blankets warming
Burn the honeysuckle
Layin' around the house
Collections
Ants on the melon
El Paso
Omaha (Billy Joe Shaver)
All in the pack
Kicks in the sun
(Somebody Bring Me A Flower) I'm a Robot
Teacher (Jethro Tull)
How will you shine

encore:
Feelin on yo booty (R. Kelly) - Kevin & Keith only
Plaidcoat
Isis (Bob Dylan)
All the labor
Gin n Juice medley - included "Does Ft Worth ever cross your mind?", "Surrender", etc

The Gourds at Dan's Silverleaf - Denton, TX - January 31, 2008.

I had to work (off duty at 22:50) so I got there in the middle of the show. I'm not sure how many songs I missed. I got to hear them do 18 songs, so it was still worth the trip. I wasn't able to compile a good set list, but highlights included: "Take me back to Tulsa" (Bob Wills), "Oh Sister" (Bob Dylan), "I like drinking" (from the "Stadium Blitzer" album), "State of Arkansas", and "Gin & Juice".

Thursday Jan 31 at Dan's Silverleaf

The Gourds at Dan's Silverleaf

Most entertaining commentary between songs: Kevin, after they had finished "Take me back to Tulsa": "Ah, a little Bob Wills never hurt anybody. Well, except for that one guy..." And there were many references to a young woman who'd had too much to drink, climbed onstage... and then just stood there. Bar owner Dan became noticably nervous, but she left the stage without incident. Too bad, I was hoping for the same kind of "show" I experienced when I saw Hank III last summer.

During the encore, Brent Best (of Denton institution the Drams, formerly Slobberbone) joined them on stage for the final song. Was that a Neil Young cover?

Brent Best of the Drams (right) on stage with the Gourds

Top it all off with a few two-dollar Lone Stars (on tap!) and it was a danged fun evening.

WSC

np: Bobby Bare - "Dropkick me, Jesus"

Gourds show, new blog

Gourds in Dallas - December 30

My friend Mike joined me for a trip to Dallas on Sunday the 30th to see the Gourds at the Granada Theater. I hadn't seen the Gourds since back in February. Their set was heavy on material from their new album "Noble Creatures". (I initially didn't care for most of the new songs, but a few of them are starting to grow on me.) They also played plenty of eclectic cover tunes, running the gamut from R. Kelly (performed in the Gourds own unique style) to Hank Williams Jr., to their bluegrass-infused version of Snoop Dogg's "Gin n juice", mixed with an oldies / classic rock medley. Always a fun time.

Max and Kevin

Kevin, Keith and Jimmy

Kevin and Dollar Bill Johnston - "Smoke Bend"

Claude on maracas during "Plaid coat"

Kevin on guitar

Gourds set list - Granada Theater, December 30, 2007

Arapaho
Lower 48
Hellhounds
My name is Jorge
Jesus Christ with signs following
Smoke Bend (vocals by Dollar Bill Johnston)
Motherless Children (Gary Davis?) - with Dollar Bill on mandolin
Mr. Betty
Nitty Gritty (Doug Sahm)
All in the pack
Chawin chewin gum (traditional)
Plaid coat
County Orange
Flavor on the tongue
Promenade
Red letter day
Burn the honeysuckle
All my rowdy friends (Hank Williams Jr). - Max on vocals
State of Arkansas (traditional)
Kicks in the sun
Ants on the melon
How will you shine

*** Encore ***
Feelin on yo booty (R. Kelly) - Kevin / Keith only
Teacher (Jethro Tull) - Jimmy on vocals
Ooh la la (Faces)
Gin n juice medley with "Cupid", "Surrender", "Purple Rain", "Rock'n me"

Macon Greyson was the second of two opening acts at the Gourds show. (The Backsliders were the first; we didn't get there in time to see them). I hadn't seen Macon Greyson before, although I did get to see their lead singer, Buddy Huffman, play a few songs during a live studio performance at a KNON pledge drive a few years ago. They're more of a rock n roll outfit, with a country twang here and there.... they remind me a little of Cross Canadian Ragweed. Check 'em out if you get a chance.

Macon Greyson at the Granada - December 30

New year, new blog

It's time to go "live" with my new blog, Half a Lifetime Ago, featuring photos and stories from 1990. Bookmark it and check back every week or two; I'll be attempting to keep up with it all year long. http://halfalifetimeago.blogspot.com/

WSC

nr: John Steinbeck - Grapes of Wrath

np: the Gourds - "Hooky junk"

Whiskey's multimedia extravaganza

From my new iPod to dvd box sets to talk radio...

What's on Whiskey's iPod?

K and the kids gave me an iPod for Father's Day. It was quite the unexpected gift (especially for, ahem, a "Hallmark Holiday") . I hadn't necessarily felt like I needed one or even wanted one. But I guess K felt sorry for me when she saw me fumbling around with all my cd's, and probably thought it was time for my music collection to join me in the 21st century. So I've been busily installing music on it... so far, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Bob Wills are all heavily represented, as are dozens of "alt-country" artists ranging from the Asylum Street Spankers to Townes Van Zandt. I'm beginning to see the appeal of this technology... I can put it on "shuffle" and it's just like listening to the Range, only with no annoying banter between Dallas Wayne and Gail Lightfoot, and with better reception. I'll let you know when I finish converting my collection... it's gonna take a while.


remember the Kids in the Hall ?

For a few years in the mid-1990s ('93 to about '97 or so), I became hooked on the Kids in the Hall, a Lorne Michaels-produced comedy series that aired on Comedy Central. KITH has drawn comparisons to some of Monty Python's material (except that the KITH are Canadian, not British) and Saturday Night Live. They produced 5 seasons of material between 1988 and 1994, which are now available for purchase as dvd box sets (which is definitely a good thing, since Comedy Central no longer airs them). I recently picked up the box set of season 5. The skits run the gamut from hilarious to inane to bizarre and everywhere in between. Recurring themes include dating and sexuality, gay humor, and events and politics in the workplace. A favorite pastime of all five KITH was performing skits dressed in drag.... once you're familiar with the performers and their personalities, it's hard not to burst out laughing at the mere sight of one of them dressed as a woman. Some skits are better than others, and some fans and critics would argue that the KITH were running out of steam and ideas by the time the fifth season rolled around, but there's no denying that there's still some great stuff on these dvd's. Do yourself a favor and check these out. Whether it's Kevin McDonald attempting to evade a "grizzly" in a gay bar, Mark McKinney as the "Chicken Lady", or David Foley as a chronic ear-bleeder, if these don't elicit side-splitting laughter, then you're probably seriously humor-impaired. Need a sample (albeit one from an earlier season -- not Season 5)? Allow me to direct you to one of several KITH clips on youtube, this one being "Business Suit Trappers". Pure brilliance! I've got the season 3 box set on order; I'll post a short review of it later.


The return of Phil Hendrie

A couple weeks ago, I noticed on the Phil Hendrie Show website that Phil would be going back on the air on June 25. He's only been off the airwaves for about a year, after he pulled the plug on his previous show to pursue "other opportunities" in movies and on tv.

For those unfamiliar with Hendrie's previous radio work, I'll attempt to explain it. Hendrie hosted a talk show with purported "guests" who made outrageous claims or proposals, argued with and insulted callers, and became increasingly belligerent as the show went on. Of course, it was all a joke -- the guests were characters voiced by Hendrie himself, who spoke through a telephone handset to perform his guests' parts in the conversation. Listeners who were "in on the joke" could tune in nightly to hear unsuspecting callers argue with Phil's fake guests about topics ranging from racism to frivolous lawsuits to national security. (Jay Santos, a spokesman for a vigilante group called the Citizens Auxiliary Police, once advocated performing body cavity searches on young kids at amusement parks). It was some of the funniest and most unique radio I've ever heard. I listened mostly on the internet, since none of our local stations carried his shows. But I occasionally caught a staticky broadcast from some faraway AM station during a road trip. Those shows always made those late-night or early-morning miles go by a little faster.

Phil's new show is carried by Talk Radio Network affiliates, which don't include any stations in the D-FW market, but I was able to find a Las Vegas affiliate that offered live streaming. I know it's early in the going, but if what I heard Thursday night was any indication, his new show is going to be a real bore. He wasn't doing any character bits, just a few odd voices here and there as part of one of his monologues. Surprisingly enough (to me), he was taking serious phone calls from callers on real-world topics... in other words, it sounded more or less like any other talk show. Hopefully things will improve, and it will eventually transition into something more like his old show. I'd sure hate to see someone with Hendrie's talents and sense of humor become just another boring voice in talk radio.

Tuning back in to Mark Davis

Speaking of radio, I caught a few minutes of WBAP's Mark Davis on Friday morning. I began listening to Mark in 1995 when I first moved to Ft. Worth, and I've always admired his skills as a communicator. I agree with some, but not all of his political views. Politics aside, Mark is at his most entertaining when he's discussing pop cultural issues or local sports, or just shooting the proverbial sh** with his production team on the air. Unfortunately, political discussions comprise an ever-expanding percentage of his show, and quite frankly, they bore me to tears. So I don't listen to his show all that much anymore. But I'd listen to him critique movies, review concerts, and criticize Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys all day long.

Once in a while, he and his producer and technician will clown around like they did today when they played a game called "Firecracker, Drug, or Fish?" Mark would throw out a term like "Party Popper" or "Kentucky Blue" and Jeff and Sean had to guess whether it was the name of a fireworks product, a slang term for a street drug, or a kind of fish. The catch: there may have been more than one correct answer for some of the terms. It's kind of funny to think that this tomfoolery occupied at least a 10-minute segment of morning airtime on one of the state's most listened-to stations. But it's that kind of entertainment that still makes it worthwhile to flip over to the AM dial every so often. Mark's local show airs on WBAP (820 AM) from 9 to 11 am weekdays. WBAP also airs the first hour of his national show from 11 to noon. Check it out sometime if you get a chance.

Clear Channel airs the Gourds

One last radio tidbit -- I heard a Gourds song on KZPS this morning... first time I've heard them on the new "Lone Star 92.5". I still occasionally hear them on KHYI (usually "El Paso" or "Hallelujah Shine"). KZPS was playing one of their newer songs from the "Heavy Ornamentals" album. KZPS spins some good stuff, but they really need to add some Chris Knight and Hayes Carll to their playlists, whenever the Clear Channel executives decide to approve them. It wouldn't kill them to play some Ray Wylie Hubbard, either.

WSC

np: King of the Hill rerun