08.30.2014 - Hollywood & Vine - Glen Rose, TX

I swear, this CRS disease is getting bad... I could have sworn I wrote after the acoustic gig at Lake Weatherford Marina. Today, I log in and realize that I didn't do it. I am over 40. Can I start blaming my age? Ok. Thanks... the Marina show was fun. Heath and I always get goofy on those acoustic shows. As I recall, the night ended with a guy coming up and playing a Led Zeppelin song. Heath sang, I played guitar. I don't know what the song was called. I just followed those two. We also did that "Dont tell me me no lies and keep your hands to yourself" song. The title is a blank for me right now. Again, I played guitar with him, he and Heath sang. Neither of the songs were really my cup of tea, but they were easy enough to play and it was fun. I think the Marina is pretty much done with Summer 2014, so hopefully we'll be out there again next Summer. Great environment. 

Speaking of Summer 2014, last night was our last show of the Summer at Hollywood & Vine. Soon, the weather will be too unpredictable for outdoor shows there (see my old posts about being rained out at H&V), so they are going to move things inside next month until Spring. Unfortunately, we just have too much stuff to fit on the indoor stage. So, unless it's acoustic, we probably won't be back until Spring.

Last night was a hot one. I think we were all soaked well before we started playing. Heat like that tends to suck the life out of you. It resulted in a serious lack of beer consumption on our part. Just too hot and humid. Can you believe I said that? It was. I chugged PowerAde Zero and had a Spark Energy to combat it. Of all nights, the crowd was generous and bought us a few rounds of beer, wanted to buy us more, but it was just too hot. One of us, probably me, would have gotten dehydrated and hit the floor had we drank like we were offered. Thank you, though. Always nice to have a mystery beer show up on stage. Very much appreciated!

Show, itself, went fine. I remembered to power up the PA this time (don't ask). Josh and Ken are coming along well. Things are starting to gel on stage again. Good response from the crowd and Heath got his first experience of people dancing while he sang a song. Neat feeling, Heath, huh? Oh yeah... Heath is singing a new original song of ours! We've been easing in new material last couple of shows. I think we played 3 from the forthcoming album last night. It was a good night.

Next show, we're at Grapefest in Grapevine, TX. These are the kind of shows we really like doing. Not an all-nighter, just a straight on concert with pretty much all original music. I hope to see you there - it will be a good one... and we're on the Bud Light stage. Wonder if we'll get the courtesy cooler? Uh oh... Check our schedule at www.sanddollarrodeo.com for details. As I understand it, there is no admission charge at the festival before 5pm that day, so come on out and see us for free! 

Until then... Stay gold.

RFH

08.02.2014 - Railhead - Willow Park, TX

Hello Strangers,

It's 2am, I have a beer and some tasty Mexican "mush" leftover from last night. The Day Mars Invaded Earth on the DVR. I can't complain.

So, yes, I know I am overdue... past due. But, hopefully, not late enough to appear on my credit report. It hasn't been 30 days yet, has it? Regardless, I guess I should explain before I recap the show...

To be honest, I simply haven't wanted to write or talk about that show at Hollywood & Vine a while back. The night was very difficult for me. I could tell from the minute we all got together in Glen Rose that there was some tension and things didn't feel like the usual "team" kind of feeling. At times, I was flat out uncomfortable on stage because of the tension I could feel going on behind me. There's an odd thing that happens in a band. You tend to bond, like family, and you also feel dynamics, as a family does.

That night would be our last playing with Brian & Tony. Many factors involved in why it turned out that way. Very different factors. Timing was the only similarity. But, to spare you from reading a whole book tonight, it's probably best to just say that, while we love what we do, it is a business and sometimes hard decisions have to be made. Tony was a really nice guy. Brian, he and I just seemed in tune, musically, from day one. Love the guy and his playing style. I wish them nothing but the best. Shit happens. I will leave it at that. Years from now, you can buy the book for the details. We all move on.

After that, Heath and I went into panic mode. Luckily, we had a break in shows, so we had a few weeks to try to find replacements. However, after the emotional side of letting go, we just didn't want warm bodies. We wanted personalities that were right and guys who might get our long term goal (whether they knew it or not). So, we started auditioning...

In the mean time, Heath and I played an acoustic show at Cobra Brewing in Lewisville (another one where I didn't do the blog). A week, maybe a few days earlier, I can't remember, we hired Josh Drewes on bass. I want to say a day before or after, we hired Ken Woods on drums. I don't have the calendar with me right now - don't hold me to the dates, they'll be accurate when you buy the book LOL. Anyway, we were feeling much better by the time of the Cobra gig.

Cobra show... typical brewery gig. If you have never seen Heath and I at one, you should! It's a totally different vibe from our normal shows. Aside from not being full band, it's just a different state of mind for us. We play different material, don't take ourselves too seriously and just get stupid with the crowd. It was a good one... and we'll be doing it again at Cobra on December 13th, Mark your calendars!

So, after that, it was time to get our shit together with the new lineup. I can't tell you what an odd time it was for Heath, Trey and I. For one, I had been writing material for the new album and the original plan was an all new show come August. Oops... lineup change, that can't happen right now. With less than a month to put a three hour show together, we had to back up a bit. Sometimes, you just have to play Margaritaville because everyone knows how to play it! The good news, LOTS of new material coming your way this Fall. The Bad news... there really wasn't any, it worked out fine and we got in a few new ones in...

Of those, if you were there, you heard Heath's Keith Richards debut. He sang a whopping two songs tonight! Heath did a great take on Robert Earl Keen's I'm Coming Home and also sang a new original he wrote called Old Aledo. Good job, Heath (like the candy bar). Another we got in was one I wrote called Population You & Me. Oh, and to tell you how much NOT a country band we are, we did I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink by Merle Haggard for the first time ever. It was kind of fun and our piano boy wonder, Trey, knocked it out of the park on the solos!

Overall, it was a really good night. Yes, we had a few technical issues. But, considering that our rhythm section has been with us less than a month, screw it. It was just fine. The crowd seemed to have had a good time.

I have to send out some great big kudos to Ken & Josh for learning 30 songs that quick. I also need to thank Trey for being a trooper and keeping things together with them while I taunt the crowd. It only works when we're all in the same mindset and I thank all the guys for being into it tonight. It was a pleasure playing with you all. It felt good and I look forward to the next one. Things are about to get real good. I can feel it.

Oh, and thank you Dr. Phil for the glamour shots pre-show. Yeah, it was a long day... we were probably in Willow Park way before you were today...  oh look, now The Exorcist is on... or were those the proofs of me from the photo shoot?  Well, the Exorcist really in on. The other... eh...my night is complete.

Thanks for reading... stay gold,
RFH

Souvenirs from Railhead... gotta love being on the wrong side of the tracks!