August 2, 2012 Island Moon A 11

By Ronnie Narmour

ronnienarmour@gmail.com

Three Chords and the Truth

Do you want the good news or the bad news. The bad news is its August in South Texas which makes it hotter than the hinges on the gates of hell. The good news is the Olympics are here and they have it televised in all the air conditioned bars on the island. My favorite place to watch is the Flat’s Lounge in Port A. They keep it so cold in there that your glasses fog up when you walk outside… which makes it the perfect environment for watching lady’s beach volleyball or synchronized diving. Last night, someone at the Flat’s told me they were actually going to make “pole dancing” an Olympic event but I can’t substantiate. Hey, it’s more athletic than those guys who dance around with long ribbons on sticks to Eye of the Tiger. I digress… let’s talk about some music.

Pear Ratz pounds it in your face…

I finally got to see Pear Ratz (Corpus Christi, TX) when they played the Back Porch last Thursday. I’ve seen their name around and had them on my “to do” list, but just hadn’t been able to connect with them until now. I had been told they were a cross between Ray Wylie Hubbard and Metallica. That’s pretty close. They play country music with a hard rock attitude, but I could elaborate by saying they are sort of like Hank Jr. meets Waylon at Hank III’s house to drink tequila and shoot tin cans (while listening to Megadeath). They have the tattoos and floppy cowboy hats and a great steel guitar player. Their sound is pure outlaw country and it’s rockin’. Their original songs have great hooks, as in their tender murder ballad, “Talking Myself Out of Killing You.”

I really dug these guys and decided to do some research. The founder, Bob Strause started out in the 80’s making thrash-metal in George West, Texas. He took the 90’s off to raise a family and jumped back in the game when Cross Canadian Ragweed and Reckless Kelly came along in the early 2000’s. Strause recognized that these were rock bands, who were putting fiddles to their distorted guitar licks, had found a home in the Texas music scene. With the help of bassist, Rod Daws, and lead guitarist, Chris Nelson (both from Live Oak county), Pear Ratz decided to give it a go in 2004. They’ve had a couple of personnel changes along the way and now have John Starek on drums and Joe Talbert on lead guitar. On their last CD, Rat Out of Hell, released in 2007, they have a couple of songs that rock as hard as they did in the 80’s, which show’s the direction Texas music has taken. I really think these guys can hold their own with any of the top bands on the Texas Music circuit today. They are rough and gritty and pound it in your face with the best of them.

W.C. Clark is one class act…The Back Porch polished off their weekend

with two tried and true acts, W.C. Clark on Friday and Gary P. Nunn on Saturday. W.C. Clark (Austin, TX) has always been one of my favorite artists. Known as the Godfather of Austin Blues, Clark is a mainstay of the Texas blues scene. He was once a member of the great Triple Threat Revue band with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton and has been an inspiration to many aspiring blues musicians for decades. W.C. Clark is required reading. And, I always love dancing to W.C. He has the

soul of Al Green and I personally think he hung the moon. I NEVER miss an opportunity to see Mr. W.C. Clark perform if at all possible. He’s simply the best and gave us another fabulous show at the Porch.

Tiffany Tuesday and Rockin’ Ricke Sunday at the Ice House…

The jams and open mics at the Tarpon Ice House continue to gather tread. Lighthouse Rick showed up last Tuesday at Tiffany’s Rum Devil show and brought his mandolin. Rick showed me his baby Taylor guitar that he’s been gathering autographs on for some time. To date he has Ray Wylie Hubbard, Davin James, Tommy Alverson, Lloyd Maines, Terri Hendrix, The Trishas, Richard Leigh, Larry Joe Taylor, Keith Sykes, Kevin Welch, Joe King Carrasco, Mike Blakely, Pauleen Reese, Joe Nick Patowski, etc, etc. Many of these artists come to the lighthouse to sit on the porch and write new songs. Rick plans to eventually donate the guitar to a good cause. He hasn’t asked me to sign it yet.

On Sunday at Rockin’ Ricke’s Open Jam at the Ice House we had quite a few unexpected musicians show up this week. Mandy Rowden (Austin, TX) was in town and played a few for us. She’s a very talented singer-songwriter. Billy Snipes has now moved to Port A from Wimberley and has become a regular. His ample talent is a great addition to our little gang. Also, there’s a gentleman that I’ve come to know through this jam that is really special. Dennis Sullivan lives in our area and occasionally shows up on Sundays and plays for us. He is nothing short of magnificent. He plays a lot of Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt and such and generally leads some great sing-a-longs. He absolutely has a beautiful voice and always turns the jam into a wonderful experience. If you haven’t made it out to one of these jams yet, you are missing out. They really are a lot of fun.

DO NOT MISS LIST

This weekend…

Tonight, Thursday, August 2nd, Antone Perez and the All Stars will be at Scuttlebutt’s and the always fun Free Beer Band will be at the Tarpon Ice House. Tomorrow night, Friday the 3rd, Ken Barnett will be at Coffee Waves and Texas Music Award Winner, Thomas Michael Riley will be at the Back Porch. On Saturday the 4th, island fave Larry Joe Taylor (Stephenville,

TX) will be at the Porch and blues diva Rae Anne Reed will be at Coffee Waves.

Next weekend…Next Thurday, August 9th, Mike Milligan and

the Altar Boys (Austin, TX) bring their jumpin’ harmonica blues to the Porch. On Friday, the 10th, Ray T and the City Crew (Aransas Pass, TX) will be at the Flat’s Lounge, rising stars Six Market Boulevard (Stephenville, TX) will be at the Porch and Samantha Aiken and the Rodeo Drive Band will be at Roberts Point Park for another edition of the Sunset Sounds outdoor music series sponsored by Port A Parks and Rec. And finally, on Saturday the 11th you have some real choices (all from San Antonio): the fabulous rockin’ roots and zydeco band,

Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra (San Antonio, TX) will be making their yearly sabbatical to the Back Porch. This is definitely a DO NOT MISS SHOW that only comes around once a year. Also on the 11th, our funky funky friends, Transistordale will play the Ice House, the delightful songbird, Lisa Morales (San Antonio, TX) will play the Third Coast Theater, blues rocker Ruben V is at Dr. Rockits and the famous Alamo City institution, The Texas Tornadoes (San Antonio, TX) with super-stars Augie Meyers, Flaco Jimenez and Shawn Sahm will play Waterburger Field after the Hook’s game. Wow! That’s a Saturday night full of great music! Be safe out there!

And, that’s the truth!

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Every Wednesday (7:00 pm)

Free Beer Band Every Thursday (7:00 pm)

Open Jam Every Sunday With Rockin’ Ricke

(5:00 pm)321 N Alister * (361) 749-2337

Jack Gant Friday Aug 3

Billy Snipes Saturday Aug 4

Transistordale Saturday Aug 11

Joe Mack Saturday, Aug. 25

Tif fany Tuesday & The Rum Devils Every Tuesday (7:00 pm)

LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT

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Live MusicThursday, August 2

The Ones @ Back Porch Free Beer Band @ Tarpon Ice House On Blast Standup Showdown Comedy Show @ House of Rock John Cortez @ Dr. Rockits Brandon Rhyder/ Ryan Beaver @ Brewster Street Antone & the All Stars @ Scuttlebutt’s

Friday, August 3

Thomas Michael Riley @ Back Porch Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Bar Nutz @ House of Rock Reno & the Groovegetters @ Dr. Rockits Latin Talk @ Executive Surf Club Spazmatics @ Brewster Street Mike Williams @ Hemingways Rockport Ken Barnett @ Coffee Waves Eclipse @ The Sea Wall Fabian Rivera @ Scuttlebutt’s

Saturday, August 4

Larry Joe Taylor @ Back Porch Rick Barton/ Hasta la Tierra/ Avenue Rockers/ Capital Crimes @ House of Rock Another Level @ Dr. Rockits Weak Day Boyz @ Executive Surf Club Mike Williams @ Hemingways Rockport Rae Anne & the Profits @ Coffee Waves Eclipse @ The Sea Wall Mad Dog Wolf @ Scuttlebutt’s

Sunday, August 5

Open Electric Jam w/ Rockin’ Ricke @ Tarpon Ice House Weak Day Boys/ Mama Tried @ Dr. Rockits

Mike Guerra & John (Chopper) Lopez @ The Sea Wall| James T. Buck III @ Scuttlebutt’s

Monday, August 6

Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Doctor Rockits Soulfly/ Lody Kong/ Incite @ House of Rock Mike Stites @ Scuttlebutt’s

Tuesday, August 7

Tiffany Tuesday @ Tarpon Ice House Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of

Rock Justin Estes @ Doctor

Rockits Collin Roche @

Scuttlebutt’s

Wednesday, August 8

Mr. Mo’s Blues Jam @ Tarpon Ice House

Kyle Park/ Cody Johnson @ Brewster Street

Open Mic @ Executive Surf Club

Open Mic w/ Wolfjaw @ Flat’s Lounge

D&S @ Doctor Rockits Kyle Park/ Cody Johnson

@ Brewster Street Mad Dog Wolfe @

Scuttlebutt’s

Thursday, August 9

Mike Milligan & the Altar Boys @ Back Porch

Kyle Park/ John Slaughter @ Brewster Street

Free Beer Band @ Tarpon Ice House

John Cortez @ Doctor Rockits

Shadow Moon @ The Sea Wall

Mike Guzman &Trisum @ Scuttlebutt’s

Friday, August 10

Six Market Blvd. @ Back Porch

Ray T & the City Crew @ The Flats Lounge

Samantha Aiken & Rodeo Drive Band @ Sunset

Sounds- Roberts Point Park

Pride & Joy @ Doctor Rockits

The Booked/ Grey Bliss/ Jiffy @ House of Rock

Lyrical Bynge @ Executive Surf Club

Another Level @ Brewster Street

Mike Williams @ Hemingways Rockport

David & Barbara Brown @ Coffee Waves

Hilda Lamas Band @ The Sea Wall

Chris Saenz @ Scuttlebutt’s

Saturday, August 11

Miss Neesie & the Earfood Orchestra @

Back Porch Lisa Morales @ Third

Coast Theater Texas Tornadoes @ Whataburger Field

Transistordale @ Tarpon Ice House

Mether Media @ House of Rock

Ruben V @ Doctor Rockits

Tonight

Live Music Every Friday

Mon-Sat 10am- 2am

Sun Noon- 2am

Vampires Welcome

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517 South Alister StreetPort Aransas, Tx

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Taylor

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Smoking on PatioPort Aransas (361) 749-JOES

The Coast Club

Mandy Rowden played the Tarpon Ice House jam on Sunday.

Miss Neesie and the Earfood Orchestra will play the Back Porch on August 11th.

Pear Ratz played the Back Porch on July 26th.

Lighthouse Rick with his baby Taylor autographed by many stars.

Dennis Sullivan, Billy Snipes and Ronnie

Narmour performed at the Tarpon Ice House jam

last Sunday.

Billy Snipes played the Tarpon Ice House jam last Sunday.

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