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ENTERTAINMENT 8 SUMMER NAMM: WORK, LERN, & PLAY 18 3RD COAST FOODIE MESQUITE ST PIZZA & PASTA CO
AUGUST 2015 VOL. 4 ISS. 5 ART
MUSIC
12 ERIC ALANIZ THE DARK SIDE OF PHOTOGRAPHY
15 DEZORAH SPUNKY LATIN, PROGRESSIVE ROCK 17 THE LEDBETTERS BLUEGRASS IN TEXAS
PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS COMICS EDITOR ALLENE HICKS STAFF WRITERS RICK BOWEN, DALE MARTIN, TAMMA HICKS, AUDRY OCANAS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J MICHAEL DOLAN, LORI STEINDORF, DEREK SIGNORE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLENE HICKS, RUSTY HICKS
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ALWAYS IN STEAM
QUICK READ 5 STEAM PICKS 10
COMICS 6 CD REVIEWS 7 NEW CDs & MOVIES 20
STEAM Magazine is published monthly by STEAM Magazine, South Texas Entertainment Art Music, in Corpus Christi, TX. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Views expressed within are solely the authors and not of STEAM Magazine. Typographical, photographic, and printing errors are unintentional and subject to correction. Please direct all inquiries to: submissions@steamtx.com
MONKEY MARKETING J. Michael Dolan (:23) If she has to, a monkey will suddenly leap for the trees, swing from limb to limb, and begin screaming, just to get your attention. I know it’s hard to get peoples attention these days. It’s also frustrating and challenging to figure out ways to market and promote your art & commerce—especially with so many new “social” marketing choices. However, like it or not, these are the days of trial & error. These are the days of hit &
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miss. These are the days of experimentation and exploration. These are the days of conceiving it, building it, packaging it, and tossing it into the river to see if it floats! And while these may be tough times for the Prudent, who busy themselves with the process of getting it “right.” These are golden times for the Audacious, who busy themselves with the process of trying new methods, testing new ideas, taking creative risks, and literally inventing new ways to get their best work out there, any way they can.
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GET NAKED J. Michael Dolan (:09) Nothing shuts up a “know-it-all” faster than Barenaked Facts. Nothing quiets doubt quicker than Barenaked Truth. Nothing stops procrastination faster than a Barenaked Deadline. Nothing will take you there quicker than a Barenaked Commitment. Nothing will keep you there longer than continuous, incessant Barenaked Improvement. It’s summer, get barenaked!
STICKY NOTE #1 J. Michael Dolan (:19) As long as you keep doing things you really don’t need to do, you’ll always be able to dodge those things that you really should be doing.
www.theawkwardyeti.com | www.lunarbaboon.com
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AARON BURDETT TINDERBOX (ORGANIC RECORDS ) By BOB GOTTLIEB This is the sixth full length release from this North Carolina singer-songwriter, and the second that has found its way to this small desk in this lovely corner of the Southwestern desert. The preceding disc was very good, and made me want to hear more. Now, in comes this powerhouse disc which displays great growth in songwriting and delivery. This guy seems to be the next door neighbor you would like to have -- quiet, intelligent, unassuming, and a great powerful voice singing songs you enjoy listening to. These songs speak of life unfolding and filled with meaning, and you suddenly realize you are listening to one powerful vocalist who uses the full range of his voice to channel your emotions. He writes excellent songs that tell their tales in a clear way, he has skilled musicians behind him, and he has one hell of a powerful voice. This version of his band has been together for a little less than two years, and is a more powerful band than the one he had used before. There is a very tight rhythm section of Jeff Hinkle on bass, James Kylen on percussion, and Jackson Dulaney on lap steel and electric guitar. Dulaney’s lap steel work stands out, and this group has a great
feel for Burdett's music. It is also augmented on this disc by Amanda Platt (of The Honeycutters) doing backing vocals on three songs, and Tim Surrett doing the same one song. The songs here are strong and display a wide variety Americana music. There is almost bluegrass, almost folk, almost Calypso, almost singer-songwriter, almost blues, and so on. The music shows the scope of Burdett's influences in a way that becomes seamless, much like Terrance Simien who is classified as Zydeco but at times is as R&B as Sam Cooke. Aaron Burdett is one of those artists who, if you have a chance to see him live, he is worth every penny of your admission price and your partner at the concert will be patting you on the back for your good taste. WWW.AARONBURDETT.COM .BOB GOTTLIEB is a freelance music writer based in Arizona. www.rascalsfair.com
BERT DEIVERT & COPPERHEAD RUN BLOOD IN MY EYES FOR YOU (SELF RELEASED) By RICK BOWEN When you hear the phrase “hard-driving blues,” big electric guitars and pounding drums usually come to mind. That can be easily applied to the new album from Sweden’s Bert Deivert & Copperhead Run, though their mostly acoustic sound achieves the distinction without all the excess wattage. The 12 tracks on Blood in My Eyes for You (released in June of 2015) are a mix of country, swamp, and Delta blues, centered on Deivert’s virtuoso mandolin playing and laidback vocals. The rhythm section of Per-Arne Pettersson on bass and foot stomps, plus drums from
Fredrik Lindholm, construct subdued, precise grooves that utilize intense soft sounds. Rounding out the quartet is guitarist Janne Zander, whose resonator and sweet slide playing make the perfect foil for Deivert. The opening track, "Baby Please Don’t Go," is one of the ten classics that blues fans will be familiar with, while surely enjoying how the group has reinvented it to fit their house party style. The Son House dirge "Death Letter," is delivered as a slinky swamp-funk, and the first of four tunes written by Sleepy John Estes, "Mailman Blues," is a thumping shuffle even without percussion. Petterson shows off his Bass chops on Deivert’s own tune, "Black Nanny," weaving his lines in with the mandolin and slide, to create some North Mississippi-style trance-blues. Deivert switches to acoustic guitar for his other original tune, "Cuckoo Crowed," an easy Piedmont blues with fine electric slide counterpoint. The stomp gets heavy again for “Rob and Steal,” with the trio effectively doubling the vocal on the chorus. The drums return for the final three tracks, including the stalker love song title track and the rollicking cover of R.L Burnside’s "Poor Black Mattie." Good stuff. COPPERHEADRUN.COM RICK BOWEN is a freelance music writer based in Washington. www.NODEPRESSION.com
Carlsbad, CA, July 13, 2015—The music industry arrived in Nashville, July 9-11, hungry for new products and ideas. Double-digit growth in Summer NAMM exhibitors, thousands of products, rocking events and countless educational offerings converged for NAMM’s largest mid-year gathering in seven years. While business was the focus, no one failed to mention Nashville’s music scene as the perfect opportunity to connect with friends. “With a tremendous respect for our industry's hand-crafted traditions combined with an exciting look to the future of music and audio, this Summer NAMM was perhaps the most important (and the most fun!) in recent memory,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “The NAMM team was
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By Lora Bodmer – NAMM, Director of Public Relations & Social Media grateful for the opportunity to serve and hopes that this event helped our members prepare for a successful fall and holiday selling season.” A Can’t Miss Event A theme repeated by members throughout the show was that they never miss NAMM’s summer gathering. And many first time attendees said that they’ll never miss another.
The reason? All pointed to the event’s perfect blend of business and catching up with friends set to Music City’s one of a kind soundtrack. This year’s Summer NAMM saw another increase in exhibiting companies, making it the largest mid-year event since 2006. By the time doors opened Thursday morning, 494 exhibiting companies representing more than
1,600 brands were set up and ready for business. Summer NAMM’s more intimate vibe makes it the perfect place for new brands’ first introduction to the market. Knowing that, experienced buyers build on relationships with their established vendors, but leave plenty of time to search out new brands. “I come here because I’m hoping to find that next guy, that next Gibson, that next Fender, that next JBL, Electrovoice. Somebody who’s got a 10x10 booth but with a great idea. I always want to find that little niche guy that may one day be something, and I’ll be able to say, ‘I found him,’” said Sammy Ash, Sam Ash Music Corporation. One hundred companies including Studio
MEETING CHARLIE CHASE
WORLD CLASS DRUMMERS WS HOLLAND (JOHNNY CASH), DJ FONTANA (ELVIS PRESLEY, SEATED), RICHIE ALBRIGHT (WAYLON JENNINGS) WITH MARK SNYDER (CHURCH’S CHICKEN), & GEORGIA MARGESON (WFD)
THE LES PAUL EXPERIENCE
MEETING NAMM BOD CHAIRMAN, MARK GOFF
Linked VST, Ortega Guitars, OwnPhones, Pedalboard Supplies and Bugera made their Summer NAMM debuts. Another 65 companies returned to the show after a hiatus from exhibiting including Orange Amplification, Peavey Electronics Corp. and Alesis. Timing Many manufacturers took advantage of the mid-year event to release new products that traditionally would have come out at the January NAMM Show, allowing them to profit from the upcoming holiday season. Attending Summer NAMM for the first time in five years, Zildjian’s return came down to timing. “We were ready to launch new products right now, so the timing was perfect,” said Dan Wiseman, director of brand activation for Zildjian. In an effort to reach the growing music technology audience now gathering at Summer NAMM and debut new products, Roland Corp. U.S. doubled their presence expanding demos beyond guitar-related products to also include keyboards, V-Drums, DJ and modular gear. “The timing is allowing us to debut products here that we’d traditionally have held for later in the cycle,” said Chris Halon, director of marketing for Roland. Technology Meets Music Part of the growing interest in Summer NAMM from the technology segment can be traced to the debut of TEC Tracks. The new technologyfocused educational offerings for recording, live sound and music industry professionals spanned all three days of the show. A highlight was Saturday’s keynote with A3E hosted by Microsoft highlighting The Future of Audio: Harnessing the Power of MI & New Technology. Connecting with Friends Wednesday evening’s opening party Insight has become a beloved tradition as country music icon Vince Gill and Two Old Hippies' founder Tom Bedell combine musical performances and insider stories on music making. Nashville’s Tim Akers & The Smoking Section, a band featuring some of the best session musicians in Music City, kept the crowd rocking well into Wednesday night.
WATCHING THE WORLD’S FASTEST DRUMMER CONTEST
SEMINARS, CLASSES, AND MORE!
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Then on Friday night, the music industry gathered to celebrate the world’s best retailers at NAMM’s Top AUG 2015 100 Dealer Awards. With CMT’s Cody Alan hosting, NAMM awarded seven retailers in ‘Best Of’ categories and crowned the 2015 Dealer of the Year. Musical Innovations of Greenville, SC took home the Dealer of the Year honor. Owner Tracy Leenman graciously shared the credit with her team, “All of the credit for this award goes to my staff, they are truly amazing people.” The show closed Saturday afternoon after the American Eagle Awards. National Music Council's 32nd Annual American Eagle Awards featured performances by Rosanne Cash, Jim Lauderdale, The
awards were John Oates and Dwight Yoakum. The show honored Kris Kristofferson, Jim Lauderdale, Jim Halsey and Sherman Halsey and recognized Music Makes Us, a Nashville charity working to ensure that all kids have access to music education. Throughout the show the NAMM Acoustic Nation Stage featured acoustic performances by dozens of artists including breakout country star Dustin Lynch, mash-up queen Louisa Wendorff, Tony Lucca of The Voice fame, Sabrina Lentini and more. ** About NAMM: The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM)
JIM LAUDERDALE
is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,900 members located in 100 countries and regions. NAMM events and members fund The NAMM Foundation's efforts to promote the pleasures and benefits of music, and advance active participation in music making across the lifespan. For more information about NAMM, please visit www.namm.org. **
ROSEANNE CASH
DUANE EDDY
Oak Ridge Boys and Jack Ingram. Also presenting
STEAM’S NAMM COVERAGE DOESN’T END HERE! WE ARE PARTNERING WITH NAMM VENDORS TO BRING YOU INFORMATION AND REVIEWS FOR NEW PRODUCTS!
JACK INGRAM
DAVE POMEROY, DUANE EDDY, & RUSTY HICKS
MEETING NAMM PRESIDENT/CEO JOE LAMOND
Did you go to school for photography? I went to YouTube University. (laughs) I just YouTube and Googled all the things I was looking for between photography, Photoshop, and the other programs that let me manipulate the photos so that I can get my ideas across. I studied and took from their abilities, so that I could accomplish what I wanted to do. How did you get involved with the 361 Photographers Network? Philip Perez and I are the ones that started this group as a way for the photography community to network and to share resources. Now, I believe there are over 1,100 people in the group and a good hundred, maybe 200, which really contribute to the group. The group is made up of everyone from absolute beginners to professionals, makeup artists to models to photographers and more. The best part is that everyone works together from where the shoot will be held to having models with their hair, makeup and clothing done by people who specialize in those fields and the photographers are able to come up with these images we wouldn’t have been able to get before. You’ve been doing this for about two years and now you have gone out and found your own thing. Yeah, I’m doing things I’d like to do. With ideas that I think would be cool. That’s how I came up with the birds coming out of the suitcase. I have a suitcase from a client I did a newborn shoot for. We used it as a prop and after the shoot she gave it to me. I was on a pier one day editing a wedding shoot and I was thinking that it would be really cool to find a way to use the
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suitcase. Maybe I could have it half open; maybe something would be coming out of it, so I asked Chris (Routh) who does a lot of work with me, if he was busy. We went to one of the empty fields on Ocean Drive and took pictures. Then I edited it in Photoshop, because that’s where the magic happens, and “poof” the suitcase has birds flying out of it. So what are your goals? Where do you see your photography taking you? Well, at New Year’s I made three resolutions. First, is to push my photography. Second, I wanted to be published and third I wanted to be shown in galleries. So the year is halfway over I work almost exclusively with my own photography and I’ve been published in six publications, seven now. And in September I will be in two gallery shows and a third in October. Now I’m seeing where else I can take this. Facebook.com/ Backtolife361 & EricAlanizPhotogragy backtolifeproductions.com
By Audry Ocanas, STEAM Magazine
spunky Latin, progressive rock band has shaken up the Rio Grande Valley. If you are lucky enough to attend one of their shows, a curly-haired, wild-eyed female vocalist will greet you with cryptic lyrics and a haunting voice. Rumor has it, if the band notices a new face at their show (most likely in awe), the lead singer, Danica Salazar, will make her way through the crowd until she is face to face with her new fan. The concert-goer can then expect an intimate moment with Danica singing only inches from their face as if she’s singing only to them. DeZorah incorporates many genres into their songs. They have nothing but love for many artists and sounds so blending genres is second nature to this plucky band. Listeners shouldn’t be surprised when DeZorah’s music switches from Latin drums and beats to metal! The band has said the motto for their sound could be “Music that will make you bang your head and shake your hips!” How long have you guys known each other and what made you decide to be in a band together? Eric (Alvarado Martine, Lead Guitar): I’ve known Danica for eight years, Daven I’ve known for almost three years and Trey for about two years. Knowing that Danica is very creative and talented, the idea
of starting a band with her has always been with me, the idea of sharing something so special as music with someone I love so much is a dream come true. Danica (Salazar, Lead Vocalist): Eric and I both had a strong connection to music so that is what initially brought us both together. We would always show each other music and I would go to all of Eric’s concerts when he was in a metal band. Music has always been central in our relationship so I feel like us making music together came very natural. We had dabbled a little bit in making songs while I was in college but that really didn’t work since I was living in Austin at the time. Once I graduated and had plans to move here to McAllen, Eric decided to come along and since this was the first time in years that were in the same city together (and now living together) we knew it was the perfect time to start creating music once again. When I first heard Trey play, I knew he had some incredible talent. At the time we were not looking for a drummer since we were a two piece band, but once Eric and I talked about getting a drummer that was here in the valley, Trey was the first person that came to mind. We rehearsed once for three hours to see if he would make a good fit. And he was so good that the next day he played his first
show with us at Galax Z Fair III! We met Daven when we first moved down here since both he and Eric worked in the same place. We would go see Daven play shows in the band RUKUS and we always admired how insanely talented he is on guitar. When Johnny (our former bass player) had to part ways with us, Daven picked up the bass to play with us and has been with us ever since! Trey(Fernando Jose Puga III “Trey”, Drums/Metronome): I was playing a show with Gloria Reyes in our band, Yours Truly, Gloria, when I met Eric and Danica. We talked a bit and after playing my set with Gloria, I got to see them perform. They really got me excited about music because they played without a drummer/bassist but used a recording. I thought, “These guys are great, but I have to play drums to their music SOON!” Luckily, they got a hold of me a few days later and asked to jam- it was perf! How did you decide on your name? Eric: (laughs) The Legend of Zelda. We wanted a name that we would never regret owning, so we went with the one from a video game that we could all agree with being one of the greatest. And then put “De” in front of it. Danica: And “De” doesn’t stand for Danica and Eric, we wanted to add Spanish to our name and it just kind of worked out that way!
Who are your musical inspirations? Eric: My bandmates, Omar RodriguezLopez, The Mars Volta, Tool, Kimbra, Toe, Hikes, Minus the Bear, Pantera, RadioHead and Circa Survive. Danica: The Mars Volta, Selena Quintanilla, Circa Survive, Deafheaven, The Fall of Troy, Saetia, my bandmates (current and former), Hikes, Le Butcherettes, Kimbra, At the Drive In; the list goes on! Also, even though she is not a musician, my mom is a huge inspiration to me and definitely keeps me going! Trey: System of a Down, Mastodon, Tangled hair, Hikes, Mike Portnoy, Chris Adler, and Deantoni Parks. Daven: Animals as Leaders, Guthrie Govan, Hikes, Dream Theather, Steve Vai, and Circa Survive. What type of venues do you guys perform in? Eric: All kinds! We just love getting out there and performing! We have played inside people’s houses as well as some pretty nice bars/ venues. All are greatly appreciated! What are your goals for this band? Eric: One of our short term goals as a band is to play at Fun Fun Fun Fest. Danica and I have gone for the last four years. The festival has helped us grow into the musicians we are today and we continue to grow every time we go. My 21
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blues to rock and Americana, which mirrors the kind of songs he’s specialized in since the Eagles' early days. It took him five years to complete ‘Cass County,’ because of the heavy touring schedule the Eagles have maintained over the past decade. He used studios in Dallas, Orlando and Nashville, depending on where he happened to be. Henley has several guests on the album and had hoped to record with George Jones, but it couldn’t be arranged before the singer's death in 2013. "I'll always regret that," says Henley. He hopes it doesn't take another decade and a half before he releases his next album. "I write a little bit every day," he says. "I still hope that my best work is ahead of me." Henley will tour in support of the album and at press time Dallas was one of the cities confirmed for trek, but no actual date was announced.
With Dale Ma tin new album, titled simply ‘Home’ will be out the middle of this month. It’s been six years since his last album of original music, so for his fans, this is great news. I’ve been a fan of Pat’s since ‘George’s Bar,’ his first self-released album, so I’m really looking forward to some new music. I received a press release recently that allowed for the songs to be streamed online. So far, I like what I hear. It reminds me of vintage Pat, which has been missing from his newest music. However, with six years to write Texas rock artist Jonathan Tyand plan, he realized what his fans wanted to hear. The aller and his longtime band have a bum begins with the title new album out this month, plus a track, co-written by Green handful of Texas dates to promote and Patrick Davis, with a the new disc. It’s a homecoming for chorus that states “I was blind the Dallas bred band that burst onto to the game, I sang the wrong the national scene in 2010 with the songs and disappeared for way too long, but I've release of ‘Pardon Me’. Five years later, the hard finally found my way home." Green wanted to touring band are back with their highly anticipated make a statement for the hometown fans, the ones follow up album titled ‘Holy Smoke,’ due in stores that were with him in the beginning. “I recognize on August 7. The new album reveals a more laid that what I did, I did on purpose,” Green explains. back and reflective Tyler and band that have “And it might have distanced me a bit, going out learned their lessons while riding the rollercoaster on tour with Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney of life on the road, basically playing everywhere that and Dave Matthews. I don't regret that, but at the has electricity. Tyler’s songwriting has also matured, same time, I can understand why there are people reminding you of the Gram Parsons style of counout there that aren't the keenest on it. Maybe I did try that was all the rage in the late 1960’s. “It's time sing the wrong song, I'm not above saying I'm not for the band and I to get back on the road and sure, but I did the best I could. But when you slow play,” says Tyler, “It's what we love to do more down a bit, you get tempered by age, children, than anything else. We spent the past 3 years tanwives, success and failure, and then maybe I sang gled up in a contractual mess. It lead us to part the wrong songs. I don't know. We all look back ways with our label and drop the name The Northand go, 'Man, if I had done that a little different,' ern Lights. Brandon, Jordan and I can’t wait to get but you can really get in trouble doing that. You back on the road, and we’re bringing a few new can waste a lot of years looking back." Pat doesn’t faces with us, a rotating cast of players. We’re looklook back very often, he’s always been an artist that ing forward to sharing the new music with the fans continues to evolve, which is exactly what he’s dowe've come to love over the years. We also look ing on the new album. I suggest you grab a copy as forward to making news fans out of people that are soon as possible, it’s a keeper. hearing out music for the first time.” Tyler wrote or co-wrote the bulk of the tracks on the album inMany folks don’t realize that Don Henley, a cluding the infectious groove of “Honey Pie,” as member of the Eagles, is from Linden, Texas, but well as “My Time Ain’t Long,” a co-write with rehe is. As a boy growing up in rural Texas, he used nowned Texas troubadour and legend, Ray Wylie to listen to country greats like Hank Williams and Hubbard. The band will kick off their Texas dates George Jones on the legendary Louisiana Hayride on August 6 at Stubbs in Austin, followed by shows radio show. For ‘Cass County,’ his first solo album in Wichita Falls on August 7, Dallas on August 8, in 15 years, Henley went back to those roots, reThe Woodlands on August 13, Gruene Hall in New cording in Nashville with singing partners like Braunfels on August 14 and an appearance at RowMick Jagger, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, dy Day Festival in Hitchcock on August 15. Miranda Lambert and Alison Krauss. "I got peoSpeaking of Ray Wylie Hubbard, his new CD ‘The ple whose voices move me, people whose music I Ruffian’s Misfortune’ is out now and he’s touring respect," says Henley. "They're real singers who can all over the country, joined by his son Lucas on really get the job done." He wrote most of the new guitar. In other super exciting Ray Wylie news, his songs for the album during the 160-mile drive belong awaited autobiography titled humorously “A tween Dallas and his tiny hometown in Cass CounLife….Well, Lived’. It was written with the help of ty, Texas. The drive and the landscape were his Thom Jurek and according to his website, it’s at the inspiration for a collection of songs "where the Old printer, so we should have it before too long. He’s South meets the West." Co-produced by former touring Texas in September and makes another Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers drummer swing through the Lone Star State in December . Stan Lynch, the songs stretch from country and www.martinsmusic.com
Pat Green’s
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By Lori Steindorf, STEAM Magazine
How did the Ledbetters Bluegrass Band get its name? We've had fun with that name through the years; none of us are named Ledbetters. It's a name very common in the mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee, and the eastern U.S., where Bluegrass music began. I had an uncle in Kentucky, whose name was Spencer Drake; a tall, stately gentleman. I always thought he looked like someone named Ledbetter, so I started calling him Uncle Ledbetter. When Kathy and I began performing as a duet in 1988 we went by The Ledbetters, as a joke more or less; when we became a full band a few years later, we just kept the name.
covers or both? Mostly covers- we've done some original stuff in the past – we included original songs on our album several years ago. These days we do almost all covers. We like to do a lot of the Bluegrass classicssongs people will recognize even if they are not into Bluegrass music.
What constitutes Bluegrass Music? Well, that depends on who you ask I guess. There are many young, contemporary Bluegrass artists out there whose music is different than the older traditional stuff. Not that that's a bad thing- they are fine pickers for the most part, their music is still very much Bluegrass- just a bit more modern. As far as what constitutes Bluegrass? I've heard it put this We have played many way- “If there ain't no hundreds of gigs since banjo in it, don't call it our humble beginnings in Bluegrass cause it Port Aransas. ain't!”
How did you get involved in this type of music? Almost by accident -Kathy always loved the banjo and I had secretly liked Bluegrass for some time. In the early 80's we started listening to Doc Watson music. He was known as a guitarist but he also played banjo. In 1985 Kathy and I got us a couple of cheap entry level banjos and started learning a few songs. Over a period of time we became more and more in love with the music and the rest...as the saying goes…is History!
Is your music original or do you do
Please tell us about your line-up of musicians and the instruments they play. I am so proud of our line-up of super professional pickers. We're all good friends; we all get along and enjoy each other's company. That's not always the story in many bands and it wasn't always the story in the Ledbetters until recent years. My wife of 34 years, Kathy Drake, a San
Antonio, Texas native, rhythm guitar. Austin natives Katy Rose Cox, fiddle, and Christopher Teague, lead guitar. Hunt native Chris Borchers, upright bass, and myself, Spencer Drake, banjo, also a native of San Antonio. Where do you perform? We play the Texas Folklife festival in San Antonio every June, The Poteet Strawberry Festival, The Come and Take It Festival in Gonzales, The Irish Festival at the Arneson River Theater on the River Walk in San Antonio, Annual Blue Norther Duathlon at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, and our monthly gig in San Marcos at the Triple Crown. To name a few... we also do various private functions. Where did you get your start? The Ledbetters began as a duet, Kathy and Spencer, at Yankee & Betty's Seafood Galley in Port Aransas, Texas. We began performing there in the summer of 1988. Preforming together for such a long time, you must have some great memories and stories. The Ledbetters have traveled many thousands of miles together and have many great memories, far too many to write down. We have played many hundreds of gigs since our CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
3rd Coa s Foodie t
By Tamma Hicks
SHRIMP SCAMPI
F or
Mesquite St. Not only is the staff friendly and attentive which makes it a great place to take the family for lunch and dinner, it’s a great place to meet friends, and go to before a show. Speaking of which… Chuckles Comedy Club is on the second floor, not to mention all the live music around the area, and in October Fright Night Haunted House is upstairs too!
most of us
summer is a time of nostalgia. Childhood memories of vacations and... Well, not even the vacations so much just of when life was a little bit easier or at least that’s how we remember it. I truly believe it wasn’t easier; we just had different views – usually from the backseat, having to endure whatever our parents had on the radio or worse listen to them talk, because we didn’t have cell phones, portable video games, DVD players, or tablets to entertain us… Although we did have Walkman Cassette players and boomboxes, but they really weren’t car friendly. And don’t even get me started on life without GPS! With all that being said, I think one of those feel good memories we can all share in is family night at a local pizza place. Trying to find that nostalgic feeling for my kids hasn’t been as easy.
This is why I really love Mesquite St Pizza and Pasta Company on N Mesquite Street and Starr Street in downtown Corpus Christi! First, it’s an old Corpus building that they have fully refurbished but has that nostalgic comfort – brick walls, oldtimey façade and entrance, checkerboard tablecloths, and of course a couple arcade video games round out that wholesome feeling. But not too wholesome… There’s a bar serving all the best drinks, ice cold beer, and a selection of wines! The music and TVs serve more as white noise than entertainment when the tables get busy and they do get busy! And secondly, as much as we want to reminisce about our childhood, we live in a very modern world and that’s where we want to eat, and that’s another reason we love going to
Every
617 MESQUITE ST CORPUS CHRISTI TX
MARCIE’S HAWAIIAN
JOE’S MEAT LOVER
361.882.7499
OPEN DAILY MON-TUE 11am-pm WED 11am-10pm THU-FRI 11am-12am SAT 12pm-12am SUN 3pm-8pm
ASHLEY’S MARGHERITA
ONLINE WWW.EATPIZZADOWNTOWN.COM FACEBOOK.COM/ MESQUITESTPIZZAANDPASTACO
EVENTS WEDNESDAYS Live Music 6 - 10 pm With Art Barrera $1 Pizza Slice after 6 pm! THURSDAYS John Roman’s Comedy Open Mic 9 pm FRIDAYS-SATURDAYS Chuckles Comedy Club www.chucklescorpuschristi.com
JOHN’S LASAGNA
time we have gone to Mesquite St we’ve had pizza, and let me tell you… It’s good! They make the dough and sauce fresh daily and hand toss the crust. Our favorite is John’s Lasagna Pizza because it has loads of mozzarella and ricotta cheeses and homemade meatballs. Our daughter has teased that she could eat a whole one by herself – fortunately these pizzas are very big, very filling, so she’s had to share with us. When we decided to write about Mesquite St we also decided that we weren’t going to only write-eat about the pizza, because their name also says “Pasta” but it could easily add “Steaks and Seafood”. We also needed to finish our interview with Eric Alaniz, this issues featured artist, so he and his brother Eddie (Shadow of the Giant’s Ejey) joined us. Well, this is where the nostalgia ends – I don’t remember ever getting pizza, pasta, and seafood as a kid this good!
When Eric goes to Mesquite St
APPETIZERS: FRIED PICKLES, GARLIC KNOTS, & PIZZA FRIES
he always gets the Pizza Fries and I was so glad he suggested them! Imagine peperoni pizza sans the crust on a huge pile of fries – it’s the best of two worlds! My daughter and I barely shared with the guys. Next we had Fried Pickles, because we fell in love with these l
little dill treats and get them whenever we can. The Garlic Knots rounded out our appetizers and were awesome! Tender, buttery, and not overwhelmingly garlicy.
When we do 3rd Coast Foodie stories we want you to see what you’re getting when you order, so nothing special for us. But on this occasion Mesquite St did us a favor – we asked for a large with 4 different types of specialty pizza toppings, something they rarely do. We had Ashley’s Margherita, John’s Lasagna (of course), Marcie’s Hawaiian, and Joe’s Meat Lover! Wow, I think I died and went to pizza heaven!
As the name suggests Pasta is one of
their specialties! Our daughter’s favorite pasta dish is Lasagna and Mesquite St’s Chef Marcus Rios brought his own
recipe to the restaurant when he came in six months ago from Austin. Seven layers of goodness! Actually, Rios told us that sometimes he forgets and it often is nine layers deep. He has had a large role in expanding the menu to include steak, seafood, and chicken. Rios explained that he takes extreme pride and ensures that each plate is made to order and looks appetizing, because taste is only a part of the eating experience. At this point our entrees came out!
First
we tried the Shrimp Scampi large shrimp, spaghetti, garlic, and cherry tomatoes in white wine lemon butter sauce. As Eddie exclaimed, “Oh my God!” Next we passed around the “Bowl of Pasta-Bilities” (the build your own pasta bowl) of Spaghetti with Marinara and Meatballs. I couldn’t believe the size of the meatballs… 3
CHEF MARCUS RIOS
SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS
SHRIMP SCAMPI
PIZZA FRIES
ounces each! Two of those equal the size of a steak at other places! This is when the Lasagna went half way around the table. Why only half way? Because that’s when it got to our Lasagna loving daughter! I did get a bite and it was excellent! However, the last entrée was my favorite and if I’d only held on to that selfish little kid that I could be I wouldn’t have let it get past me, but I’ve grown up and I shared the Italian Mussels. So fresh we could hear them cry when they went in the hot water! I’m only kidding, but they were extremely fresh and seasoned perfectly in a white wine sauce with fettucine.
At this point I felt a little like the
Awkward Yeti comic characters, Tongue and Stomach. Tongue and his taste buds are always trying to ITALIAN MUSSELS over eat and poor Stomach cries out, but still expands. Well, I “needed” dessert. I needed the Cannoli, like I needed another hole in my head, but it was wonderful and that nostalgic feeling of a tummy ache and needing a nap took over!
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AUG 14 8 / 14 Friday 7 August Strange Love & The Secret Language The Anthropocene Extinction Abyss After All Pain Automatic Fail To Feel Safe Genexus Positive Songs for Negative People You Disgust Me Death Magic Lonesome Son Kill The Lights Another One Deathless Black Cat Morning World Destroyer Lovers Know Friday 14 August Blackalicious Imani, Vol. 1 Grace Potter Midnight Media Jeweler $99 R/T Hawaii New Politics Vikings Pat Green Home Pete Nolan Easy Teen Daze Morning World The Good Life Everybody’s Coming Down Friday 21 August Angel Deradoorian The Expanding Flower Planet Briana Marela All Around Us Carly Rae Jepsen E·MO·TION Cocksure Corporate_Sting Disturbed Immortalized Gardens & Villa Music For Dogs Ghost B.C. Meliora Hate Eternal Infernus Method Man The Meth Lab Monogold Good Heavens Noah Gundersen Carry The Ghost Publicist UK Forgive Yourself Radkey Dark Black Makeup Rivers Of Nihil Monarchy Road Chief All My Love Rob Thomas The Great Unknown Royal Headache High Sarah McQuaid Walking Into White The Sword High Country Friday 28 August Cold Showers Matter of Choice Defeater Abandoned Destroyer Poison Season Foals What Went Down Mike Krol Turkey Monk Parker How The Spark Loves The Tinder Motörhead Bad Magic Nile What Should Not Be Unearthed Pentagram Curious Volume Tamaryn Crane Kiss The Jet Age Destroy.Rebuild The Weeknd Beauty Behind The Madness Tijuana Panthers Poster Willis Earl Beal Nocturnes Yo La Tengo Stuff Like That There Young Thug Hy!£UN35
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Adrien Reju Cattle Decapitation Chelsea Wolfe Craig Marshall Deaf Wish Don Broco Enabler Fear Factory Frank Turner Gangrene HEALTH I Am The Albatross Luke Bryan Mac DeMarco Miss May I Never Shout Never Teen Daze Telepathe The Mynabirds
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
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STEAMMAGAZINE.NET
By Lori Steindorf STEAM Magazine
By Audry Ocanas, STEAM Magazine
15
long term goal is to be able to live my life submerged in music and be able to call it my profession and my career. Danica: I’m with Eric on the long term goal, being able to fully commit ourselves to the music and for it to become our career. Another goal is for us to keep writing and growing as musicians. We want to save money to put out an album and go on tour to connect with other people and musicians around the US (and hopefully one day other parts of the world). Trey: Another for me would be to play in Japan, spreading our ideas and personalities while influencing people in other parts of the world. If you could spend a day with any musician, dead or alive,
&
who would it be and why? Eric: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. He has probably been one of the largest influences on my approach to music. When I listen to the music he creates, I hear freedom and I love that! The freedom to do whatever I want musically and not care if anyone tells you what you are doing is wrong. Sounds good to me! Danica: Kimbra! She is not only inspiring because of her musical style but because she is the main creator of her music. She is such a beast in the studio and in her live performances! I strive to become that knowledgeable in music as I continue on this journey.
Trey: Chris Adler. He has built a name for himself and started from nearly nothing. He has worked really hard on his drumming, on his band and his leadership. Daven: Steve Vai, because he is God. Anything else you’d like to ad? Danica: We are so thankful for everyone who has shared our Facebook page and has helped us get to over 1,000 likes! Come to our August shows! The 8th at PJ Pies in Mcallen. The 15th at space 16th in Mcallen. At Hi Tones in San Antonio on the 28th. See you there! Facebook.com/DeZorah Instagram.com/DeZorah
A B A B A
humble beginnings in Port Aransas; from the mountains of Cloudcroft and Ruidoso, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and from one end of Texas to the other. We've opened for such Bluegrass legends as Alan Munde, Eddie Adcock, Chubby Wise, and many more. We've played festivals and shared billing with Bluegrass legends The Osborne Bros, Ralph Stanley, J.D. Crow, IIIrd Tyme Out, Lonesome River Band, Charlie Louvin, Dan Crary, Peter Rowan, Larry Sparks, The Bluegrass Cardinals and Del McCoury. We've also done gigs with and opened for such Texas music legends as Augie Meyer, Billy Joe Shaver, Robert Earl Keene, Gary P. Nunn, Fiddlin Frenchie Burke, and Kevin Fowler to name a few.
around these parts have never heard Bluegrass music live. Please describe your style of music. High energy, happy music! Banjo, Fiddle, 2 guitars and an Upright Bass playing in time, in tune and having fun!
What kind of feedback do you get from the audience? Well, I'm happy to say that we have gotten very good feedback through the years! Many folks, especially here in Texas which is not Bluegrass country for the most part, have said how exciting the music is when heard live; many folks
As we come to a close, is there anything you wish add? We are dedicated to keeping this wonderful music form known as Bluegrass alive and well...”Kentucky Bluegrass...from the heart O' Texas!” That pretty much says it all!
How can people find out more about your band and where they can see you? Go to Facebook and type in “Ledbetters Bluegrass Band”. There is a complete Bio, pictures, schedule, etc. This month you can see us at the Triple Crown in San Marcos August 27th and in September at Lago Vista on Lake Travis in September - see our Facebook page for dates and times. October 3rd we’ll be in Gonzales, Texas for the Come and Take Festival.
facebook.com/TheLedbetters
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