Spring is looking up

As we recover from a dry winter season, we look forward to spring. A time when the local music industry seems to come alive in East Texas. Many musicians in the area experienced a very slow time over the winter, as well as venue owners. I talked to many owners who had to cut their live shows down to just one or two a month. A backlash from the economy. People were just staying home and trying to hold onto their money. I really couldn't blame them. But this caused the live music industry around here to sort of come to a halt. Venue owners were receiving more than 50 calls a month from bands looking for a place to play! I had bands calling me looking as well. It was hard for me to tell them there just wasn't any place at the moment that was hiring. 


But, now that we are on the brink of spring people are getting ants in their pants. A long winter stuck in the house will do wonders for the local scene! People are ready to get out and enjoy themselves and that means more business for the venues around. Many are starting to book  more shows and get ready for the spring/summer season, to the delight of many musicians. 


Though it saddens me to say it, there will be the closing of a local legend this month. Mom's Biker Bar in Longview, Tx..  
Mom's has been the longest standing biker bar in Texas. This is a big disappointment to all. Mom's was not just a biker bar. It was so much more. This was a place where everyone was welcomed. I have been there and seen such an array of people it would astound you. You have your rough dressed bikers sitting at the table talking and drinking with your suit and ties. It is really a funny picture when you think about it. Everyone who walked in there felt at home. This is a prime example of how music is so  universal. 


mo blues

Ruby | MySpace Video

No matter who you are or where you are from, if you like the music being played that is all that matters. We wish that Mom's could carry on the tradition of bringing people together, but for now it must come to an end. It  is our hopes that Mom's will re-open one day soon. But for now we will miss it.


And as always when one door closes another one opens. Captain Mike has opened a venue similar to Mom's. The Pirates Club is a place to call home. When you walk in there you feel like you have walked right on the set of Cheers. The Pirates Club is on it's way to being the best music venue of East Texas.With live music going on at least two nights a week and sometime three. There is always something going on there. The spring and summer will really bring it to life. The Pirates club is right on Lake Hawkins nestled into the woods by the RV park. When the weather warms up there will be a huge outdoor area complete with volley ball sand court! Visit  http://myspace.com/paradiseharbor and get the dets on what will be going on there this year. Once you venture out there you will never want to leave.


There will be more doors opening this season and I for one am pretty excited about all the new opportunities that will come from it. Our local musicians deserve our support and the best way to show them is to go to their shows. This is one area of our economy that we need to keep alive, There is no better medicine for the heart than music. 

As we welcome the new year in who wonders what this one will bring? I for one do. Will this be a great year for the music industry? Will we see more up and coming new local artist? Will the local scene pick up? These are just a few of the questions I have been asking myself this week. Last year proved to be a real challenge for local artist. As the recession hit many of the venues cut back on live entertainment. And that hurt. It is all of our hopes that this will change this year. Though things are starting out slow, I am confident that it will all work out in the end. Let's take a walk down memory lane and see just what great ones we seen last year.

The best new local band that comes to my mind is Remedy Stick. Now this is a band that is made up of seasoned musicians that have played with the best over the years. I really didn't talk much about them last year as I didn't want to sound bias as the Bass player is mine. But the time has come to introduce you all to them.

T Jay Hammersly started playing in bands at an early age. I was always the baby in the band, Playing with guys 5 to 10 years older than myself. Playing in Bars, School Dances, The opening act for Bands come into the Dayton area. Like the Kinks, Jeff Beck, Mitch Rider And the Detroit Wheels, McCoys, Eric Burton, Young Rascals, Ted Neugent, Bugs Henderson, Played with Blues Boy Willie, And Many More.... All over the U.S.A. and U.K. ~~~
Joe Griffin is a classically trained percussionist who has recorded and performed all genres of music during his career in the music business. During a twelve year stay in Houston , Joe played with legendary Gulf Coast blues musicians “ Texas ” Johnny Brown, Joe “Guitar” Hughes, Pete Mayes, Jerry Lightfoot, and Steve Krase. In 1992 and 1999, Joe performed at the Blues Estaffete in Utrehct, Holland and in 1996 at Chesterfield ’s Café in Paris , France . Joe was also the drummer for the 1999 WC Handy nominated album, “Nothin’ but the Truth”, by “ Texas ” Johnny Brown. Additionally, Joe has opened for such artists as Buddy Guy, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Koko Taylor. ~~~
Al "Sparx" Sparkman is a Texas based singer, bass, and guitar player getting his first guitar when he was 9 yrs. old and doing his first concert at the age of just 11. In the past 40 years he has had 10 bands and has opened for Deep Purple, Nazereth, ZZ Hill, Molly Hatchet, Rick Derringer, Blackfoot, Bugs Henderson plus many more. He has played just about every live stage and beer joint from Shreveport, La. to Amarillo, Tx., from Houstn, Tx. to Branson Mo., from L.A. to N.Y. with many wounderful musicians and bands. At 50 years old he is still chasing his dreams and playing music for all those who will listen. You can hear his bass prowess on his latest record recorded with the Alan Fox Band called "Ju Ju Ear Rub" "I have to play music. It's what I do." Sparx also palyed with Blues Boy Willie along with T Jay.~~

Now we also saw an amazing band Slightly Tilted last year.

This was one band that the whole area needed to see. I did post an article about them in December, so you can go back and read all about them.

There is another band out of the Dallas area and they are Capricorn Rises. I only wish I had video of them to post. They will be blowing people away this year and I am sure all the years to follow you can check them out at www.myspace.com/capricornrises

On top of the  bands we were able to bring to light last year we also had an amazing year for individual artist. And I for one would like to personally thank all the harp and key players out there that made some of our shows the best around. We were able to see Randy Mc Dowell, Dave, Big Bob on Harp, and A fantastic Keys player Don Elbert. This is just to name a few. I have video of these amazing men and will get it posted as soon as I get it uploaded. But you can see Randy and Dave on my last post in the video Just to Muddy the Waters.

With the new Website http://www.sparx-entertainment.com/ coming along very nicely we are able to grow and florish in the new year. We have great hopes for the new year as I want many of you out there to. We will not be pushed aside for main stream music. We will expand our horizons, and continue to grow and also keep the local music alive and kicking!