Sunday, December 28, 2014

Muddle 12/27/14




Last night, I performed in Temple, Texas, and then drove north to visit family in McKinney for a little post-Christmas celebration. So today, I got a chance to hang out with family, little shopping, and then I headed south to Waco to meet Chris Wallis for another great request based piano show. It's always fun performing with him, and he keeps my energy up even when I've had a long weekend! i'm really happy I got a chance to visit with family and play too great gigs this weekend, and looking forward to being able to sleep in tomorrow with my wife!






Saturday, December 27, 2014

Green Door 12/26/14




I met up with the amazing Joe Resnick in Temple, Texas tonight to perform our request piano show for the masses. we had a steady stream of requests all evening, and one table in particular stayed from note 1 to note 9,000,876. They became known as table number 22. A heartfelt thank you to table 22!


Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Holy Mountain 12/22/14




I headed to Austin, Texas to play with the Gents tonight, with guest drummer, Chris Wallis. We were the third of a three-band line up, and I had a great time, not only performing, but also listening to some Austin talent! Madeline Jennings and the Bad Disciples performed right before us, and Kathryn Legendre played before Madeline. Great show, and I'm thankful to the people who came out to the show!


Sunday, December 21, 2014

AJ's Ale House 12/20/14




Tonight was a festive party in New Braunfels, Texas with my buddy Chris Wallis on drums! We had a nice, big crowd, and they had requests from every genre imaginable. My favorite holiday tune tonight was Michael Jackson's "Thriller". Merry Christmas!!!


Saturday, December 20, 2014

Taxi's Piano Bar 12/19/14




Gig #3 of 3 tonight took place in my favorite basement bar in San Marcos! I did a request piano show with Brad Evilsizer on drums. Lots of familiar faces in the crowd tonight, and all of them in completely random musical moods. Fun times, but now I'm ready for bed! Zzzzzzzz.....


Triple Crown 12/19/14




Gig #2 of 3 was a surprise show for me tonight! Ian Lee and the Open Hearts were doing a show perfectly timed for me to make it, so I got a chance to play with another great group of musicians in San Marcos. I didn't get to play the full show because my 3rd gig overlapped, but the time I spent with the Open Hearts was a blast! I miss performing with Ian, and I'm glad tonight worked out so well.


Gruene Hall 12/19/14




My evening started with gig #1 of 3 with The Hill Country Gentlemen at the legendary Gruene Hall in Gruene, TX. We opened for Casey Donahue, and the crowd was very kind to us! These are some of my favorite gigs. Playing fun music with a great group of musicians to a packed house in a historic venue. Great first gig of the night!


Friday, December 19, 2014

AJ's Ale House 12/18/14




It was a dark and stormy night in New Braunfels. I had a decent crowd, but they were mostly quiet. I was afraid at one point the power would go out because there was so much lightening! It was still a good evening, and I'll be back this Saturday.


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Buckhorn Saloon 12/15/14




Kortnee and I entertained the masses tonight in San Antonio at one of the most interesting venues I think I've ever performed in. Rush Enterprises hired Howl2Go for their holiday party, and it was held in a museum full of taxidermy. Every continent is represented, plus they have an extensive freak show display. The crowd was interactive, and Kortnee sounded great on the songs she sang! The load in/out was a little tough because we were on the second floor, and had to wander through all of all the displays!





Sunday, December 14, 2014

Tesoro Conference Center 12/13/14




San Antonio, Texas was the site of the dueling pianos show I performed with Kortnee for Howl2Go tonight! After a good 1/4 mile load in (from the docks to the ballroom), we set up and entertained the nice crowd from 7:30p-10:30p. It was a great holiday event with delicious food and a helpful staff. Thanks to Kortnee for making it an easy show!


Saturday, December 13, 2014

House Of Blues 12/12/14







Tommy and I met up in Houston, Texas tonight to perform in the Peacock Room at House Of Blues. It was a private event, which hired Howl2Go to perform our dueling piano show. The beginning of the night was a little slow, mostly because people were eating while we were playing, which makes it hard for them to sing-along. After peoples finish their meals, they began to get into the show and our 2-1/2 hours on the stage went by very quickly! Tommy is a pro, and it was a pleasure performing with him tonight!



Friday, December 12, 2014

AJ's Ale House 12/11/14




New Braunfels, Texas was quiet tonight, but I still kept playing requests for the loyal fans at AJ's. "She's Got A Way", "Lola", and "King Of Pain" were just a few of the interesting tunes laid on my piano tonight!


Sunday, December 7, 2014

Muldoon's Saloon 12/6/14




Kortnee McDowell and I drove to El Campo, Texas to perform for the folks at the New First Bank's holiday party. We had an amazing amount of requests to choose from! Everything from the Big Bopper to Snoop Dog was given to us, and we played everything we possibly could in our three hour set. Kortnee sounded great, and it was my pleasure to gig with her for a second night in a row!


Saturday, December 6, 2014

JW Marriott 12/5/14




San Antonio small business owners were treated to a Howl2Go show tonight, performed by myself, Kortnee McDowell, and drummer Chris Wallis. We gave the crowd a non-stop, high energy two-hour show, and they called us back onstage for an encore! Kortnee sounded great on requests like "I Love Rock & Roll", while Chris kept them on the dance floor with excellent rhythms. I had a fun time, ate some truly delicious food, and sang crowd favorites, so what more could I ask for?


Friday, December 5, 2014

AJ's Ale House 12/4/14




Chris Wallis and I played about 4 hours tonight in New Braunfels to a packed house! We had tons of requests (and a couple of birthdays) to occupy our time, though. Even though we didn't play it, my favorite request tonight was for "Follow You, Follow Me" by Genesis. What a great song! Nobody ever requests it!


HEB 12/4/14




Clay couldn't make it to The Hill Country Gentlemen show today at HEB, so Chris Wallis took over drumming duties. It was overcast and drizzling, so most people stayed inside, but I could tell they were listening! The band had fun, and I always like playing shows with the Gents. There's nothing like playing music with a bunch of talented fellas!


Sunday, November 23, 2014

House Party 11/22/14




I had tons of fun this evening playing with The Hill Country Gentlemen and friends! After eating a bunch of great food Christine prepared, we entertained the guests (and each other) with some music. Clay was grooving the drums, while Jeremiah and my brother, J, traded off on bass. Kevin and Troy played guitars, while Curtis Clogston and Ian Lee joined in on dobro and mandolin, respectively. After a set of good tunes, everyone just grabbed any instrument they could and played whatever they felt. Thanks to everyone who came and warmed the house!






Saturday, November 22, 2014

Taxi's Piano Bar 11/21/14




Vince and I rocked Taxi's in San Marcos tonight! I had fun playing randomly requested tunes with him. People were a little quiet at first, but they livened up as the night went on. Singing and dancing commenced, and fun was had by all!


Friday, November 21, 2014

AJ's Ale House 11/20/14




Lots of folks hung out for my Thursday night show in New Braunfels. Some requests were first-timers for me, like "The Word" and "Psycho Killer". I played everything I possibly could, and the crowd was happy all night!


Monday, November 17, 2014

LUX Lounge 11/16/14




Tonight was my first show at LUX in Austin, TX, and I had a great time. Chris Wallis (drums) and I played from 5pm until 9pm. The crowd was requesting all the classic sing-along tunes and just enjoying their Sunday evening. One of my favorite moments was when we sang Happy Birthday to one woman, while her party used pyrotechnics to celebrate the big event!





Sunday, November 16, 2014

Lazy Hills Retreat 11/15/14




Josh Walther married Desiree Neutze this afternoon in Ingram, Texas. It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony, although a little chilly. Everyone moved inside for the reception, which was provided by Dave Caruso's Piano Wars. When Dave and I weren't dueling on the pianos, he was DJ-ing to keep the party going. It was a fun filled event over the course of a long day for me. I left my house at 11:30 AM and I won't be getting home until approximately 2 AM, but at least I don't have to return to Michigan like Dave does!





Saturday, November 15, 2014

AJ's Ale House 11/14/14




The people at AJ's were requesting tons of songs, and not really singing any of them! Strange crowd, but they really enjoyed the show. They hung out with Chris Wallis and me all night, but they were quiet. Record-breaking number of requests, so I know they were paying attention! Chris sounded great, as usual, and we're doing another show together on Sunday in Austin.


Friday, November 14, 2014

AJ's Ale House 11/13/14




The cold didn't keep people away from New Braunfels tonight. I had an unusual amount of requests for the full evening, right up to the end of the night. The one surprise song requested tonight was "Sussudio", which I was amazed that I had never played it before. Maybe I just lived it...


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Minute Maid Park 11/8/14




Howl2Go (Howl At The Moon's private event) sent Kim Krohn (piano), Kevin Humphrey (bass), Chris Wallis (drums) and me to Houston, Texas for the Kovinian Builders end of the year party. We performed a fun two-and-a-half hour, non-stop show for the people inside the old Union Station building, which is now part of the ballpark. It was a really cool space, and it was lots of fun to have some great bass & drums at a dueling piano show! Thanks, Kovinian employees!


Saturday, November 8, 2014

AJ's Ale House 11/7/14




Wurstfest, the best Wurstfest in central Texas, was happening tonight in New Braunfels. Brad Evilsizer played drums for the fest-goers as I sorted through a huge amount of requests. We had some birthday people and a random sax player wander in off the streets, all-in-all a fun and bizarre night.


Friday, November 7, 2014

AJ's Ale House 11/6/14




The crowd started in with the requests before I even sat down at the piano tonight in New Braunfels. As the bar filled, I began to notice a slightly quieter audience than normal, so I asked how many of them had been to AJ's before. Four. Four out of a crowded room, so I eased the newbies in, and before the end of the night, had them singing along and pledging to come back for another show! Cool beans!


Sunday, November 2, 2014

AJ's Ale House 11/1/14




I needed what New Braunfels gave me tonight. A packed house greeted me with energy, and great requests for Joe Resnick (drummer extrodanere) and me to perform for the people to sing and dance to. I saw more than a few people over-exerting themselves on the dance floor to the point where they ended up laying on the dance floor. Some of my favorite regulars came out to keep the show in check, and I left with a smile on my face. What more could you ask for?


Saturday, November 1, 2014

Chicago Joe's 10/31/14




A slightly stressful Halloween show was made all worth it because I got to see my friend Beca and her awesome Tardis costume! I left San Marcos, Texas for Spring, Texas at 1pm. I got to my hotel at the beginning of Houston rush hour. Got to the club at 7pm, then played non-stop piano (with my dueling partner for the night, Gary Mumford) from 8:15pm until 12:40am! I was ready to head home afterwards, so I checked out of the hotel and hit the road at 2am. Should be home by 5am. Happy Halloween!


Friday, October 31, 2014

AJ's Ale House 10/30/14




Before I hit my first note tonight in new Braunfels, Texas, a large group of people were being led down the sidewalk outside by a woman wearing a headset. as they begin to make eye contact with me through the window, I began to wave until they all started waving back. Most of them had serious looks on their faces and started to crack a smile as they interacted with me. It wasn't until the very last person walking by that I realized by the shirt he was wearing, they were part of a ghost tour and I distracted them. I then played "Monster Mash" to try to get them back in the mood. I hope it worked!


Sunday, October 19, 2014

Muddle 10/18/14




Brides, birthdays & Zoomba instructors filled Muddle in Waco, Texas tonight for the show Chris Wallis (drums) and I performed. The staff is great there, and everyone seems to have a good time! We did our standard 9:30p-12:30a set, and then the 2-hour long drive home. I'm just glad the traffic wasn't nearly as bad heading home as it was going to Waco!


Saturday, October 18, 2014

Taxi's Piano Bar 10/17/14




Tonight in San Marcos, before Roger Glenn and I did our request piano show, a band called "The Drugstore Gypsies" played an hour to an appreciative crowd. We had a good time performing the requests the crowd asked for, and it was great performing with Roger again!


Friday, October 17, 2014

AJ's Ale House 10/16/14




I had a great evening in New Braunfels tonight. There were quite a few great requests to play, and lots people singing along. Birthday girl Kelsey kept bringing me Fleetwood Mac tunes to try, and we had a random 80s flash mob take the stage to dance to "Like A Virgin". Never a dull moment.


HEB 10/16/14




The show at my favorite grocery store in San Marcos with my favorite Americana band, The Hill Country Gentlemen, was fun and challenging today. Clay, our regular drummer, just brought home a new baby girl today, so I covered him by performing on the skins. I'm comfortable behind the kit, but it's funny after playing all the tunes with the Gents on piano, how rhythmically different the drums are from what I do. I guess it's because I usually play lots of counter-rhythms to the drums! I had a great time, and the Gents sounded like the best Comboloco imaginable!


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Angry Elephant 2 10/11/14




Oh...my...God...Becky helped Chris Wallis and me sing "Tiny Dancer" in San Antonio tonight! We had a crazy crowd. They sent up endless pop 80s tunes and sang without knowing the words. The crowd didn't want us to leave, so at the end of the evening, one man took up a collection to pay us to play another half-hour. Very nice of him, and we had a fun night!


Saturday, October 11, 2014

Green Door 10/10/14




I was reunited with drummer Joe Resnick in Temple, Texas tonight for a request piano show, and it was fantastic getting to perform with him again. He's a great musician, and I always happy to gig with him. The club was slow, but we still had a bunch of great requests. The funny thing is, I had a hard time convincing the crowd that I wasn't Russell, the piano player who usually performs the show in Temple!


Friday, October 10, 2014

AJ's Ale House 10/9/14




Thursday night in New Braunfels, Texas is always so unpredictable. The evening started slow, but by the half-way point, the requests were flying in! I had some friends and fans in the audience, which always makes the evening more fun. Thanks everyone!


Sunday, October 5, 2014

Taxi's Piano Bar 10/4/14




Craziness in San Marcos tonight! The always amazing Chris Wallis, entertainment machine, kept the rhythm going for me all night in my favorite basement bar. Bachelorettes, birthdays, and bros tore up the dance floor and I just played the background music for the dancing. I had lots of fun with Chris, and the night flew by!


Saturday, October 4, 2014

AJ's Ale House 10/3/14




Mikey Gammon and I did what we do best tonight in New Braunfels, Texas. All the requests were played as they were dropped off, and all the jokes were made by Mikey. I just hope his Grandmother approves of his SnapChat usage.


Friday, October 3, 2014

AJ's Ale House 10/2/14




My night in New Braunfels, Texas was elevated by some fans who stayed with me the whole evening. Lots of good requests, even though it wasn't super-busy. There was lightening in the sky, and I think the threat of rain kept some folks home, but those who showed up had fun!


Sunday, September 28, 2014

Muddle 9/27/14




Waco, Texas was kind enough to invite Chris Wallis and I back up for a request piano show tonight. We played lots of tunes, as we always do, and the crowd brought us up some crazy ones tonight. A couple of bachelorettes rounded out the evening, and we finished up at 12:30am before driving back home to San Marcos.


Saturday, September 27, 2014

AJ's Ale House 9/26/14




Jeff Botta and I performed to a wild bunch tonight in New Braunfels. Seems like every time I started a song, someone new was onstage dancing to it! My favorite request this evening was one I have never gotten before. "Take Me Home" by Phil Collins was requested, twice, and then we played it like we had played it a hundred times before. Solid!


Friday, September 26, 2014

AJ's Ale House 9/25/14




New Braunfels, Texas had a bunch of people out running around tonight, asking for songs and whatnot. I played 'em. They sang 'em. I made a little time-lapse video over on Vine of the show. Go there to view it!


Sunday, September 21, 2014

Taxi's Piano Bar 9/20/14




Hoooowheeeee! My arms are tired. Yesterday saw me perform 5 hours of piano, and today was over 6 hours. Thank goodness for awesome crowd energy and the excellent drumming of Mr. Chris Wallis. We rounded out our evening with an all-request show in San Marcos, full of birthdays and dancing. We had fans, friends, band mates, and new people all hanging out with us. Thanks you to everyone I saw this weekend at all my different shows!


Tantra Coffeehouse 9/20/14




DanHolmesGroup made a triumphant return this evening in San Marcos! The great Chris Wallis (drums) and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Humphry (bass) joined me at 6p to perform a couple hours of our original tunes and covers we enjoy before The Hill Country Gentlemen took the stage at 8p. Chris relinquished his drumming to Clay, Kevin switched from bass to guitar, Jeremiah picked up the bass and Troy lead us with his voice and acoustic for a couple hours of Americana! It was a really fun time with two bands on a beautiful night!